Countess Youngae’s Money-Sweeping Makeup Shop - Chapter 46
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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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46
Ding-a-ling.
The door opened and a clear bell sound rang out.
Berinea’s head turned toward the door.
There stood Ricardo, holding a white paper box.
“I bought some walnut pie.”
Ricardo answered with a calm expression, but his gaze was directed not at Berinea, but at Sillia.
A gentle smile appeared on his face as he looked at her.
Berinea quietly watched this scene, then took a deep breath and smiled coolly at Ricardo.
“Ricardo.”
When she waved her hand, Ricardo’s gaze shifted to her red eyes.
As Berinea met Ricardo’s eyes, her heart began to pound and heat rose slightly to her face.
Her mouth alternated between sweet and bitter tastes.
Sillia winked at Berinea and sent her an encouraging look.
Really, she was a woman impossible to hate.
Receiving encouragement while heading into a duel with a predetermined defeat.
It felt strange.
The mirror over there caught her eye.
Berinea examined herself in the mirror once.
“I tried my best thinking ‘passion! Red rose!’ while doing it.”
Passion, red rose.
It was just as Sillia had said.
Berinea wasn’t just Berinea Sichel,
She was Berinea Sichel, a single beautiful and passionate rose.
Thinking this way, the strange feeling disappeared.
Her confidence surged up.
Berinea stood up from her seat, waved her hand gracefully, and smiled brightly at Sillia.
“I’ll be back!”
Sillia also clenched her fist as if cheering her on and smiled brightly.
“Come back safely!”
Berinea approached Ricardo, took the walnut pie from him, placed it on the counter, and linked arms with him.
An ambiguous emotion that was either confusion or bewilderment appeared on his face.
Nevertheless, Berinea didn’t care and headed outside with Ricardo.
“I have something to say. Let’s go for a walk!”
***
A cool breeze blew gently, and from far away came the sound of children’s laughter and merchants selling their goods.
Berinea and Ricardo walked along a quiet, deserted path.
When they were walking across the stone bridge,
Berinea stopped at the edge of the shadow cast by a building.
When she suddenly stopped, Ricardo tilted his head with an expressionless face and looked at Berinea from where the shadow ended and light poured down.
At that moment, many thoughts flashed through Berinea’s mind.
The past when she hesitated without confessing after falling in love, and her heart when she decided to confess while departing on a journey.
She had embarked on a journey to absorb designs from all fields so she could face Ricardo in her most beautiful and radiant form.
And today’s Berinea was the result of that journey.
During her travels, she had thought countless times.
About days when she and Ricardo would laugh and chat affectionately like lovers.
Just imagining it made her happy.
But when she returned, what Berinea saw was Sillia by Ricardo’s side.
At first she felt jealous, then she envied Sillia whom Ricardo cherished.
However, she soon understood the reason why it had to be that way.
A person who loves everything about themselves couldn’t help but be more attractive than anyone else.
Of course, Berinea loved herself too, but she had continuously yearned for Ricardo’s attention.
Perhaps because of that, even she thought she seemed a bit lacking.
Thinking only of herself somehow made her heart feel much more at ease.
Berinea exhaled and looked at the man before her.
“Ricardo, I said I had something to tell you.”
“Yeah.”
Her lips felt heavy.
She wanted to say ‘Oh, it’s nothing’ again.
She took a deep breath.
“Haaah.”
“Berinea.”
“Ricardo Youngsik.”
Ricardo flinched slightly, as if it was strange to hear this formal address from Berinea’s mouth.
Only then was she ready to accept whatever came.
Even if she might be cut off like Ricardo’s friends, she should confess at least once in her life to someone she had loved unrequitedly for so long.
“Yes, well. Ricardo Youngsik, I’ve liked you since long ago.”
She said it.
Berinea thought she would be nervous and trembling, wanting to run away.
But instead, she felt refreshed and her body became lighter.
It felt like all her strength was draining away.
Ricardo’s expression was still emotionless, but his eyes held a bitter look as if he was genuinely sorry.
“Berinea, I—”
“You’re rejecting me, right?”
“…”
“You like Ebennain Yeongae, don’t you.”
“Berry.”
“Right?”
Ricardo, who had been moving his lips, turned his head with a reddened nape and hesitated.
Soon he nodded very slowly.
Berinea stretched upward, put her hands behind her back, and walked toward the sunlight.
“I thought so. My confession—well, don’t forget it. I expected rejection from the start, but I don’t want to be treated the same as other yeongaes.”
When the corner of her mouth twitched, she turned around and gave Ricardo a bright, refreshing smile.
“I’m your 17-year-old friend, aren’t I? Think of me as special! Ah, how refreshing—! Now I’ll like someone cute instead of a stone like you. I’m sick of you, you nagging fool!”
“Stone…?”
“Yes, you stone-head Youngsik. Practice smiling a bit. Your expression is always stone-like and blunt—I’m sure Ebennain Yeongae gets so excited.”
“…Yeongae said she likes my face.”
“If you rely on your face, she’ll go to another man. That guy, you know, that Youngsik who follows her around.”
“Felix Galdrid?”
“Ah! Right. That Youngsik. That Galdrid Youngsik has various expressions. If it were me, I’d marry that Youngsik.”
“Why?”
“Well, because living with you seems like it would be boring. Even that handsome face only lasts a year or two. They say the beauty period ends the moment you turn thirty.”
Uncharacteristically, darkness filled Ricardo’s face as if worries had piled up.
Sigh, Berinea exhaled and approached Ricardo, hitting his back hard once.
Since this was the first time he’d been hit like this, Ricardo showed a flustered expression.
Berinea stared at that face and grinned.
“You have research results, don’t you.”
“Research results…?”
“Me, I mean me. Now you can improve your shortcomings. If you rejected me, you need to get your act together and properly seduce Yeongae!”
“…”
“You lack expression and reaction. Do it properly for Yeongae. If you’re going to woo her, go in properly and express yourself clearly!”
“I understand.”
“Good, now that you understand. Oh, there’s something I was curious about.”
“What?”
“Will we still be friends from now on?”
“If I refuse, can’t we be friends?”
“Well, that’s not it. I was thinking you might cut ties with me.”
“What do you take me for… I wouldn’t cut ties over something like that after maintaining our relationship for 17 years.”
Berinea blinked a few times, then her expression briefly hardened.
Waves crashed in her heart.
Though she always nagged and looked at him with contempt, it seemed she had secretly harbored affection for him as a friend.
Just knowing that fact filled Berinea with joy.
She smiled brightly and nudged Ricardo with her shoulder.
“That’s kind of touching? I almost cried from doing it wrong. If I cried, Ebennain Yeongae would have been sad, so I have to hold back.”
“When are you going to take etiquette lessons again?”
“Friends can be like this with each other. How long are you going to keep saying that! You need to stop nagging too.”
“…You need to stop clinging to Ebennain Yeongae.”
“Huh? I can’t do that. I’m going to become the closest friend among Ebennain Yeongae’s friends.”
At Berinea’s answer, Ricardo frowned.
Berinea also looked at Ricardo’s reaction as if it were absurd.
The two people crossed the bridge while bickering and returned to the makeup shop where Sillia was waiting.
***
After Ricardo and Berinea left, I sat alone on the sofa looking toward the door.
Will the confession succeed?
I hope it succeeds.
They’re both attractive people.
Thinking about the people who would get together thanks to my makeup made me smile foolishly.
‘But if they get together, will Ricardo be staying at Berinea’s clothing store?’
The smile stopped at the thought that flashed through my mind.
I thought it didn’t particularly matter, but looking at the empty shop in front of me, I felt a strange loneliness.
Huh? Lonely?
I couldn’t understand why I suddenly had such thoughts.
Is it because I’ve been sticking around with Ricardo so much?
Will it naturally disappear when customers increase?
I think it’s because I’m alone, so I should bring Lili to handle hair together.
Then these random thoughts will disappear too, and makeup feels different depending on the hair!
When hair styling is included, what would be a reasonable price…
Ding.
I heard the sound of the door opening.
“Welcome-”
As I immediately got up and looked toward the door, I flinched without realizing it.
The people who opened the door and entered were Berinea and Ricardo.
The two seemed more intimate than before they left.
Did the confession succeed?
That’s great!
It’s great, really great.
But I felt strange.
My heart ached.
I lowered my head and looked down at my heart.
When I placed my hand on my left chest, my heart was beating rapidly.
Why is this happening?
“Ebennain Yeongae!”
My confusion was brief as Berinea looked at me, smiled brightly, and approached.
I quickly lowered my hand and put on a business smile.
It was difficult to smile sincerely.
Really, why am I like this? I should sincerely congratulate them!
But the corners of my mouth wouldn’t follow my will.
“Yeongae, welcome back! How did it go?”
Berinea exchanged glances with Ricardo, then looked at me and smiled.
“Well-”
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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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