Countess Youngae’s Money-Sweeping Makeup Shop - Chapter 4

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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4

Wow, how annoying.

This is incredibly annoying.

As I headed toward the kitchen, Kiel kept watching me, Lili looked uncomfortable, and even the servants were glancing at me—whether because of Kiel or because they’d overheard our conversation earlier.

This atmosphere is so bothersome!

I was following Lili when I suddenly stopped walking, turned around, and looked at Kiel.

“I think that should be enough to clear up your suspicions.”

“…What? No. They haven’t cleared up at all. You’re not the sister I knew, which makes me even more suspicious. Who are you?”

The moment our eyes met, Kiel stood there dazed for a beat before responding slowly, his face flushing red.

It didn’t seem like he was embarrassed though.

It felt more like he was trying hard to act angry.

But I couldn’t laugh at Kiel’s reaction.

He was sharp enough to notice that Sillia had changed.

Though it would be strange if he didn’t notice something like this.

As I struggled to find words, that annoying face slowly broke into an arrogant smile.

“The young lady has lost her memory right now!”

Before I could say anything, Lili squeaked like a chick and squeezed between Kiel and me, shouting.

At Lili’s words, Kiel made a stupid “Huh?” sound and blinked his eyes slowly.

A silence that felt both short and long flowed through the corridor.

In this silence, I glanced at Lili and Kiel for no particular reason.

Was it okay for me to say something?

But what did I have that I couldn’t talk about?

I cleared my throat and shot Kiel a sharp look.

“I can barely remember who I am, so I don’t have the mental capacity to worry about you too. My head hurts and I’m hungry.”

“Why worry about it? Just go about things like usual.”

“What, get cursed at while eating garbage food?”

“You remember that well enough.”

“You know I just experienced that a moment ago.”

“Shouldn’t you be grateful that you haven’t been kicked out?”

“Why would I get kicked out?”

Kiel sneered at my question as if it were ridiculous.

Ah, making that sound, he pushed Lili aside and came closer to me.

“Eek!”

Then he lowered his head, pretending to be a caring older brother as he met my eyes.

“Why? Because you’re not part of our family. Don’t you know the difference between you and me?”

Kiel, smiling with his eyes, tapped at his own hair.

When my gaze turned to Kiel’s hair, he straightened up as if there wasn’t time to show me his hair.

“It’s different, isn’t it? You’re not of Ebennain Family blood. When you were young, we could overlook it somehow. But if your hair color is still like that now that you’re an adult, doesn’t that say it all? Look at you now. Using magic to completely fix your face!”

Kiel, now looking confident, poked my shoulder hard with his index finger.

“Which mage raised you like this? You’ve really learned to use magic well.”

“…Weren’t you the one our parents brought here anyway? Why do you keep taking your anger out on me?”

“Why am I doing this to you? It’s obvious. Because you’re clinging to this manor without the sense to leave on your own. When are you going to leave?”

“What, what…!”

His cheerful expression instantly dropped as he stared at me with empty eyes, making me flinch involuntarily.

‘If I back down here, it’s over.’

At that sentence that flashed through my mind, I clenched my fists tightly, then slowly released the tension from my hands.

I didn’t avoid his eerie gaze and looked him straight in the eyes.

When his pink pupils wavered slightly, I didn’t miss that moment and smiled, raising the corners of my mouth.

“When am I leaving? I’m thinking of making Older Brother get kicked out before me. Would that be okay? Does Older Brother have any abilities? I have makeup skills good enough to be mistaken for high-level magic, but Older Brother can what, read letters? If that’s all you have, isn’t our Lili more capable?”

“Why is she acting like this? If you’re going to go crazy, do it properly! You call that makeup? Don’t make me laugh! You must have used some kind of magic.”

“Do you really think so? Lili saw me do my makeup, so should we ask Lili? Did I mutter any magic circles or spells? Lili, did I use magic?”

In an instant, both Kiel’s and my gazes turned toward Lili.

Even so, Lili put strength in her eyes and quickly shook her head.

“The young lady did her makeup with all her own cosmetics! She didn’t use even a single bit of magic. Besides, the young lady can’t handle using mana and collapses immediately!”

‘What? I’m that weak? That’s something I’ve never heard or seen before. Why didn’t you tell me that, Lili!’

I looked at Lili with a momentarily flustered expression.

However, Lili was looking at me with eyes that said she would be a witness for me anytime, so I shouldn’t worry.

That’s not what I meant, Lili!

Anyway, I pretended nothing was wrong and looked at Kiel with a blank expression.

“Will you believe me now?”

Kiel still seemed unconvinced by Lili’s words, pursing his lips before furrowing his brow again.

“Do you think there’s any benefit to you knowing how to do that makeup or whatever? Anyway, mages have a monopoly on appearance-related things. What could you possibly do?”

“What could I do?”

I took a deep breath and let out a short “Whew.”

Then I pushed hard against Kiel’s chest with my palm.

Kiel jerked his head up and glared at me as if asking how I dared push him.

“What are you doing…!”

“I could become the Empire’s top makeup artist. And if I get recognition from our parents, Older Brother will naturally be forgotten, won’t you?”

I cut off Kiel’s words and took a step forward toward him.

I could see Kiel’s body flinch as he struggled to meet my gaze.

“Make… what?”

“Now that all your questions are answered, shouldn’t you be going? Even now, you should read one more letter to catch up to me so you won’t fall behind.”

Even seeing Kiel stammer, I confidently spoke all the words rising from within me.

Satisfied with the feeling of my chest clearing out, I turned around and took Lili with me to continue toward the kitchen.

I thought I heard some noise from behind, but it would just be a waste of my time to listen anyway.

***

The walk to the kitchen after leaving Kiel behind was very peaceful.

Whether his pride was hurt or he was genuinely anxious, Kiel didn’t follow us.

Thanks to that, all the bothersome stares disappeared too.

Lili also stopped being cautious and guided me with her shoulders straight and a confident expression, as if she’d become a victor.

The gazes that had been following Lili and me now desperately avoided us as if they absolutely didn’t want to make eye contact.

Do I really need to cause some trouble to make my life more comfortable?

Maybe being difficult would be good for the first time?

…No. Being difficult is still a bit much.

While I was having these various thoughts, Lili stopped walking.

I also stopped following Lili and stared at the large door.

Creak.

When the door opened, several servants were inside eating while laughing.

They had given me cold food, but the servants were eating warm food.

Seeing that made me feel somehow choked up.

Since I couldn’t eat, the smell of delicious food made impulsive feelings bubble up, but I calmly stood in place.

Lili clasped her hands together tightly and spoke with a determined expression.

“Excuse me, I’d like to get a sandwich.”

“Huh?”

The servants immediately turned their attention to that voice.

After exchanging glances among themselves for a moment, they soon chuckled.

“You’re taking that to the young lady, right? Why should we make it?”

“Why not?”

“She didn’t even eat lunch. Doesn’t she dislike our food?”

Are all the people here children?

I watched the situation unfold and then approached Lili’s side.

“If they ask for it, just give it to them and complain behind their backs later. Why are you trying to pick a fight like this?”

Upon hearing those words, the servants shifted their gaze from Lili to me.

And they all looked at me with wide, surprised eyes.

As silence fell over the kitchen, I let out a deep sigh and bluntly added one more comment.

“And I didn’t eat that food because it wasn’t really food. What kind of servants serve their master something completely cold?”

“Excuse me, who are you to interfere with us?”

Their voices contained both dissatisfaction and fear.

But their gazes weren’t the same condescending looks I had felt before.

It seems they can’t act boldly unless it’s toward Sillia, yet they’re being so rude to someone who might not even be Sillia.

A count’s family, they say. It’s not even a duke’s family, so is it okay for them to be this arrogant?

I turned my head to survey the surroundings and then tilted it slightly.

“Do you need to know who I am? If word gets out that the treatment of nobles here is this terrible, won’t you all get fired? Don’t you think so? With such poor training.”

At my words, gazes darted around the kitchen.

A young man who had been reading the room squeezed his eyes shut.

“We’ll make it for you. Please wait just a moment.”

Soon the kitchen filled with the sounds of food being prepared.

Listening to those sounds, I secretly patted Lili’s back.

Somehow, I felt strange.

What I could clearly tell was that it didn’t seem to be happiness I was feeling.

I felt somewhat bitter.

I’m not even Sillia.

It hurt that the bullying toward Sillia could be so easily eliminated with just makeup.

Even in the world I came from, many people were stressed because others criticized their appearance.

And they changed according to others’ thoughts to become pretty by others’ standards.

I thought makeup was one of the ways to bring out one’s individuality.

But for most people, it was something they did to avoid being criticized by others.

Here too, to be treated like a human being,

to be acknowledged by others, they have to do it.

I want to change this.

In this place where there aren’t even proper cosmetics yet, couldn’t I change things?

If I really became the Empire’s greatest makeup artist, couldn’t I tell many people that makeup is something you do for your own happiness, not for others?

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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