Countess Youngae’s Money-Sweeping Makeup Shop - Chapter 41

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

41

 

At Berinea’s words, I looked at Ricardo.

 

I couldn’t see his expression because he was wearing a mask, but something about his gaze and the atmosphere rising from him seemed a bit scary.

 

I deliberately avoided looking at Ricardo and tightly grasped Berinea’s hand.

 

“Jesuert Youngsik will come if he wants to, won’t he?”

 

Once again, a large hand appeared from behind and carefully embraced my waist.

 

It was Ricardo.

 

Why has he been creating distance between Berinea and himself since earlier?

 

I was gradually getting annoyed.

 

A voice lower than before rang out, sounding displeased about something.

 

“I’ll go together. It would be troublesome if I became an irresponsible person by leaving it to Yeongae Sichel.”

 

“Ricardo, if you hold her like that, Yeongae will be startled… Ah.”

 

Smack.

 

Ricardo’s other hand struck away Berinea’s hand that was reaching toward me.

 

His personality seems to have become more eccentric lately.

 

I let out a deep sigh and grabbed Ricardo’s hand to remove it from my body.

 

“Contract. Let’s go write up the contract. And it would be better to fix the habit of cursing after seeing only one side, Jesuert Youngsik.”

 

After smiling brightly at Berinea, I stared intently at Ricardo who had ruined the good atmosphere, then left him behind and took the first step.

 

***

 

Sillia, Berinea, and Ricardo sat together at a restaurant table eating the food they had ordered.

 

At the table, the two women chatted happily, forgetting Ricardo’s presence.

 

Listening to their conversation, Ricardo gazed at Sillia.

 

When she was with him, she rarely smiled like that, but just talking a bit about dresses and makeup made her giggle, which somehow irritated him.

 

No, there had been many irritating things lately.

 

As if the world didn’t want them to be alone together, someone always interfered.

 

When he tried to buy her a gift, didn’t Yeongseok Gaderid interfere?

 

When they tried to dine alone, this time it was Berinea.

 

Even so, Sillia never took Ricardo’s side.

 

Always, always.

 

Standing next to other people was extremely irritating.

 

Was it because they were business partners?

 

There was no way a business partner would rank below the relationship of close friend.

 

He quietly cut his steak alone and put a piece in his mouth.

 

Should he have corrected things when Sillia first came to the manor?

 

If he had said then that he wasn’t interested in business and that becoming close was his goal, wouldn’t she have paid more attention?

 

Disappointed, yes. He seemed to feel disappointed.

 

She tried to get close with other people just fine, but when she was with him, she always just liked his face and talked about business.

 

His dissatisfaction must have shown on his face without Ricardo realizing it.

 

His distant hearing gradually became clearer as Sillia’s voice reached him.

 

“…Youngsik, Youngsik? Did we make some mistake? Or are you uncomfortable somewhere? Your expression doesn’t look good.”

 

“…Ah. No, nothing at all.”

 

“I told you so! Even when Ricardo is spacing out alone, his expression gets all scrunched up like wrinkles will form right away!”

 

“That’s right. If you scrunch your expression often, wrinkles form easily, so it’s better to always smile!”

 

“Even if I get wrinkles, it’s fine since Yeongae Ebennain will like my face.”

 

“What?”

 

Heat and bewilderment rose to Sillia’s face.

 

Was she embarrassed? Why?

 

Sillia, who had been moving her lips, seemed to steel herself and glared at Ricardo with a firm voice.

 

“A wrinkled face, well? I think she’d prefer the face of Yeongae Sichel, who works hard on skincare and always smiles?”

 

“I am beautiful.”

 

“Do you think you’ll always be beautiful? Isn’t that too much confidence?”

 

“Between Berinea and me, who is more beautiful?”

 

Gulp.

 

Why was I getting nervous over something like this?

 

Jesuert, Jesuert Youngsik.

 

Say ‘Jesuert Youngsik’, Sillia.

 

No, say ‘Ricardo’.

 

Wasn’t I the one you thought was most beautiful?

 

Every time Sillia’s eyes went to Berinea, Ricardo’s heart seemed to drop with a thud.

 

The gaze that finally stopped was directed toward Ricardo.

 

“Um, I’m sorry to Yeongae Sichel, but,”

 

Thump thump.

 

“For now, it’s Jesuert Youngsik?”

 

Thump thump thump.

 

Even when he passed the Academy, his heart hadn’t raced this much.

 

Each word, each syllable that came from Sillia’s mouth shook Ricardo’s heart.

 

And when he saw her expression making an awkward smile as she finished speaking, dark magic ran wildly through his heart.

 

He felt like his breath would be cut off.

 

Even swallowing saliva seemed difficult, so Ricardo hurriedly poured a glass of water into his mouth.

 

Even so, his chest felt uncomfortable as if he had indigestion.

 

Hah, he exhaled a trembling breath, put on his mask, and stood up from his seat.

 

“I remembered something urgent, so I’ll leave first. I’ll leave the carriage behind, so you can take your time eating and return whenever you’re ready.”

 

He couldn’t take in what Sillia’s expression was like.

 

Ricardo couldn’t pay attention to anything other than himself because of his neck burning as if on fire.

 

It was just before he rode the borrowed horse back.

 

The clicking sound of shoe heels came from the restaurant.

 

Wondering if Sillia had come down, he looked toward the door and saw Berinea appear and approach Ricardo.

 

“Ricardo!”

 

“What?”

 

“Why are you suddenly leaving?”

 

“I told you. I remembered something urgent.”

 

“What kind of business?”

 

“There’s no reason I need to tell you, is there?”

 

“Why have you become so prickly? You’re gentle with Yeongae Ebennain, but did I commit some crime?”

 

“I was always like this. If there’s a crime, you should realize it yourself and fix it to become a better person.”

 

“What?”

 

Ricardo’s gaze briefly turned toward Berinea, but that gaze wasn’t particularly affectionate.

 

Soon his gaze turned forward and Ricardo rode off without any farewell.

 

***

 

“What? What’s he saying?”

 

“I don’t know. He’s always like that. Though he did seem to be in a particularly bad mood today!”

 

Berinea had gone down saying she’d ask Ricardo why he was leaving, but returned looking a bit dejected.

 

Still, seeing her trying to smile made my heart ache.

 

I rolled my eyes around before making eye contact with Berinea, who sat back down, and covered the corners of my mouth with both hands.

 

“Um, excuse me.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“Do you perhaps like Jesuert Youngsik?”

 

When I asked the question, Berinea blinked her eyes, then her hearty laughter stopped abruptly, her face turned bright red, and she covered her face with both hands.

 

Although no answer came back, just from this reaction I could somewhat guess Berinea’s feelings.

 

But I’m sure even in the original work, there was no description of Berinea dating Ricardo until the end.

 

Did Ricardo keep pushing her away?

 

This cute girl?

 

I let out a deep sigh and grasped Berinea’s hands with both of mine.

 

“I don’t know if it’ll help, but shall I do your makeup?”

 

“What? Uh, why?”

 

“What? Well, because I hope Yeongae Sichel can gain courage and pursue Jesuert Youngsik more boldly?”

 

“Yeongae, don’t you like Ricardo?”

 

“My opinion all of a sudden? Hmm, well? He’s good as a business partner, but as someone to date? I guess not really.”

 

“Why? Ricardo seems to treat you well…”

 

“Rather than treating me well, it feels more like business manners. Sometimes he seems childish in strange ways too.”

 

“Then you’re not interested in Ricardo?”

 

“I suppose not? And it makes me even less interested knowing he’s the man my potential friend has a crush on?”

 

“…Potential friend?”

 

“Yeongae Sichel! I had the immediate thought that we’d get along well the moment I saw you!”

 

Berinea, who had been looking at me with a bewildered expression, opened and closed her lips.

 

Did I say something wrong?

 

When I tilted my head, Berinea shook her head from side to side.

 

Then she smiled brightly like before and pulled out one hand to cover the back of mine.

 

“Yeongae, then could you do that makeup thing for me too?”

 

“Oh my, of course!”

 

“I think if I’m prettily dressed up, I’ll be less hurt even if things don’t work out with Ricardo.”

 

“What are you saying? You’ll definitely work out with Jesuert Youngsik! When, when shall I do it for you?”

 

“Um, not right now, but after you open your shop. I want to be your makeup shop’s first customer. Oh, is it already booked?”

 

“Not yet! Right now I only have home visit makeup appointments booked. Then Yeongae Sichel will be the very first!”

 

“If someone of higher status than me asks for a reservation, will I get pushed back?”

 

“Hey, don’t you know reservations are first-come, first-served? Of course Yeongae Berinea will be first no matter what. You’re even a ‘customer,’ right?”

 

I whispered quietly so only Berinea could hear and gave a light wink.

 

Then Berinea, who had burst into loud laughter for a moment, tried to reduce her voice and giggled.

 

“Yeongae really loves money. Just like me!”

 

“Because money makes life free!”

 

“That’s right. If you just have lots of money, life can be freer without having to make choices!”

 

I, who had been laughing quietly along with Berinea, let go of her hands.

 

Soon we slowly ate a slice of sweet lemon cake served for dessert while continuing our conversation about clothes.

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