Countess Youngae’s Money-Sweeping Makeup Shop - Chapter 42

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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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42

 

“Oh my, I’m exhausted.”

 

I slumped down with my arms resting on the sofa.

 

I wanted to punch my past self for thinking it would be less difficult now that we were in the final stages of preparation.

 

What do you mean less difficult! This is the most difficult part!

 

First, for the remodeling, I had to choose everything from wallpaper colors to furniture types and sign designs, and arrange the layout.

 

Doing all this made me realize just how amazing business owners really are.

 

Having to look at various options and make careful choices caused tremendous physical and mental fatigue.

 

It would be nice if it ended there, but next I had to go check the condition of the cosmetics.

 

I had to check everything one by one, from colors to types to empty containers.

 

Although it’s called a makeup shop, makeup alone wouldn’t bring in much money initially, so I planned to create small sample-like packages for sale.

 

That’s why I’m suffering twice as much like this.

 

Of course, I won’t mainly focus on the cosmetics sales business.

 

I planned to fold the cosmetics sales business when rival companies appeared and cosmetics supply became somewhat easier!

 

From then on, just makeup!

 

As I rested against the sofa, the forgotten pain began to throb again.

 

Have I been pushing myself too hard lately?

 

It was natural for my whole body to ache, and I felt a strange headache and dry eyes.

 

When I groaned, Lili, who had prepared medicine in advance, quickly approached and handed me a water cup and medicine.

 

“Miss, how about resting a little today? There’s still some time left until the shop is completed. I think it would be okay to rest a bit.”

 

“Hm? Oh, I can’t today. I promised to go check the colors today. If I delay by one day, all the other schedules will be pushed back too.”

 

“But still…”

 

Along with her worried voice, Lili’s eyebrows drooped.

 

I waved my hands dismissively, took the medicine and water, and stood up from my seat.

 

I still felt a bit dizzy, but since we’d be traveling by carriage, I could rest then and the medicine would take effect.

 

I slowly moved my steps, got into the carriage, and closed my eyes.

 

Once today’s work is done, I really need to rest tomorrow.

 

***

 

When I opened my eyes, I saw a familiar building.

 

This was the building I had purchased with the money left over after calculating the expenses.

 

Although it was located in a corner of the town, it had good ventilation so the people doing color mixing could work comfortably.

 

It felt somewhat like confining people and making them work only, which didn’t sit well with me.

 

But when they saw the monthly salary I offered, they begged me to please let them do exactly that.

 

I realized anew that money really is wonderful.

 

I got out of the carriage and entered the building, where three people were inside.

 

Gabil, Beliw, Michelle.

 

Yes, I had hired all three of them.

 

Gabil handled basic colors like base shades, shading, and highlighters,

 

Beliw worked on point colors and deep shades,

 

Michelle created intermediate colors that harmonized well with Gabil and Beliw’s colors.

 

With the colors they completed, I was overflowing with new cosmetics.

 

To improve the color payoff and staying power slightly, I mixed small amounts of ointment into the completed colors and used my ability to make them similar to modern eyeshadows.

 

I had tried to make the ointment myself by getting the recipe from the child I had bought from before.

 

The child was so clever that even when offered a fortune, they said they absolutely couldn’t reveal the recipe.

 

However, they said they could make it in large quantities, so I made a bulk supply contract with the child.

 

They no longer seemed like a child, but if they had the ability, such things weren’t important.

 

After all, the only ointment that showed proper, extremely effective results was from this shop.

 

“How is it?”

 

Gabil asked in a nervous voice.

 

After testing the color payoff on the back of my hand, I stared down at the colors.

 

Soon I smiled brightly and nodded.

 

“Good! With this, we’re done creating cosmetic colors before the shop opens!”

 

Beliw and Michelle must have been so nervous that they collapsed into their chairs.

 

I placed three pouches in front of Gabil, who was smiling sheepishly.

 

“This is a bonus. Thank you for working so hard despite the tight deadline. It’s not much, but use this for a company dinner.”

 

The three people looked at the pouches, blinked their eyes, then smiled brightly with their faces marked by long dark circles.

 

“Yes. Thank you, Miss!”

 

“There won’t be work for a while, so make sure to rest well.”

 

“I’ll keep that in mind. …This is an old man’s nagging, but I think you should rest too, Miss. You look very tired.”

 

“Oh my, do I look that way? Even though I put on makeup, does it show that much?”

 

I touched my face while looking at Gabil, who was smiling slowly.

 

Gabil was more individualistic than I thought and wasn’t someone who worried about others.

 

The fact that he was worried meant I looked extremely tired.

 

I nodded, saying I understood, wiped my hands, and returned to the carriage.

 

With this, the urgent matters are finished.

 

Now what’s left is checking the shop before opening and mixing the dyes and ointments…

 

My thoughts became hazy and my eyes slowly closed.

 

Thud.

 

***

 

“Yeongae! Yeongae, are you alright? Please open your eyes! What are you doing? Quickly call the doctor!”

 

I heard a noisy voice near my ear.

 

However, my lips wouldn’t move.

 

No, I couldn’t move them was more accurate.

 

I had no strength to move.

 

With that voice, my consciousness faded again.

 

***

 

“Miss, Miss…”

 

Tears dripped down Lili’s cheeks.

 

With her cleanly washed hands, she carefully held Sillia’s cold hand.

 

Although she didn’t believe in God, Lili prayed to anyone, if there was a god in this world, that Sillia would open her eyes again.

 

If she was crossing a path, she would even give her own life, so please let Sillia return.

 

The reason Lili devoted herself to Sillia like this was because of a very small incident.

 

Sillia was a timid but cheerful and kind owner.

 

She had also made the Ebennain Estate a generous place.

 

It was not long after Sillia had come to the manor.

 

Young Lili had tripped over a threshold.

 

But unfortunately, she ended up spilling the cookies from the basket onto Sillia.

 

Now she would be fired and if unlucky, wouldn’t even receive severance pay.

 

Even if she did receive it, the people in the alleys would take it all away and she’d starve without being able to eat.

 

Worrying about how to live in the future, she kept bowing and apologizing to Sillia.

 

The count nearby naturally announced Lili’s dismissal.

 

But Sillia embraced such Lili.

 

“Lili is my friend. I don’t have any friends here yet, so I think I’d be lonely if Lili disappeared.”

 

“But she spilled cookies on you, Sillia.”

 

“It’s not like she spilled tea… Ah, Father, I think it would be sad to lose one’s job over a momentary mistake.”

 

Sillia, who remembered Lili’s name that she had heard before and allowed her to continue working at the manor, was like a benefactor to young Lili.

 

The feelings Lili developed from that time continued until now.

 

Even if everyone betrayed Sillia, Lili would stay by her side until the end.

 

Lili, breathing with difficulty and trembling, brought the hand she was holding to her forehead.

 

‘Please, please wake up, Miss.’

 

Flinch.

 

Sillia’s fingertips moved.

 

Her weak heartbeat began pounding normally again, echoing through the bedroom.

 

Her brow furrowed slightly.

 

“Mmm, uh. Cheese….”

 

‘Does she want cheese?’

 

Lili carefully let go of her hand and stood up from her seat.

 

Looking at Ricardo in front of her, she clenched both fists tightly.

 

“I’ll go bring the attending physician. Could you watch over her for a moment?”

 

“Yes. I understand.”

 

After bowing to Ricardo who answered calmly, she quietly walked toward the attending physician and the Count.

 

***

 

Bang!

 

Not long after Lili left, the door opened roughly.

 

Ricardo turned his head thinking they had already returned, and red hair entered his view.

 

The red-haired man glared at him once before turning his gaze back to Sillia.

 

“It would be better if you moved more quietly, Young Master Guardrid.”

 

Sharp gazes poured from behind Ricardo’s back, but Ricardo didn’t seem to care and neither looked in that direction nor spoke a word.

 

Felix licked his lips before letting out a subdued voice as he approached the bed.

 

“…Why are you here, Young Master?”

 

“I think entering a lady’s room so easily is problematic.”

 

“Isn’t that the same for you, Young Master?”

 

“I was the first to discover that Ebennain Yeongae had collapsed.”

 

“That doesn’t give you reason to enter as you please. I’m an old friend of Ria’s, so I received permission to visit.”

 

“Is that so.”

 

“Yes. So I think you can leave now, Jesuert Young Master.”

 

Looking down at Sillia sleeping peacefully, it seemed like a very slight vitality was returning to her pale skin.

 

Ricardo, who soon stood up from his seat, looked at Felix.

 

His blue eyes shone clearly.

 

“I heard you and Ebennain Yeongae are friends.”

 

“….”

 

“I am not friends with her. I don’t intend to be in the future either.”

 

“What do you mean by that….”

 

“The possessiveness one has toward a close friend takes away many things.”

 

While Ricardo turned and left Sillia’s room, Felix couldn’t say anything and stared at the door silently for a while.

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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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