Countess Youngae’s Money-Sweeping Makeup Shop - Chapter 48

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

48

 

Purple eyes gleamed from within the cloak.

 

I hurriedly grabbed my skirt hem and curtsied.

 

“I greet the Empire’s little moon.”

 

At my greeting, Lili also hurriedly bowed deeply at the waist.

 

“Really, must we be so formal between friends?”

 

Helena spoke playfully as she approached me.

 

I pursed my lips and looked at Helena with an awkward smile.

 

“…Welcome, Helena.”

 

“I heard you opened a shop, so I came to see. How is it? Is business going well?”

 

“Surprisingly well. I wanted this to happen, but now that it’s actually happening, I’m dumbfounded.”

 

“It looks like you’re taking reservations. How booked up are you?”

 

“Reservations? Just a moment!”

 

I quickly went to the counter to check the reservation list.

 

The last, the very last reservation was…

 

“Ah! We’re booked until Thursday, two weeks from now.”

 

“Wow, that must be quite tough. You’ve become more popular than me. I came both to see Sillia and to make a reservation, but I wonder if there’s any time available.”

 

“When were you thinking?”

 

“Hmm, probably Saturday morning next week.”

 

“Saturday morning… What should I do? We’re completely booked from opening time until evening.”

 

“I figured as much. Then Sillia, could you teach me makeup even if it’s just briefly? I want to try doing it myself.”

 

Hmm, makeup lessons?

 

I’d love to help her, but I don’t think I’ll have time.

 

Just today alone, this week’s schedule is completely full.

 

I’m sorry, but I’ll have to refuse—

 

“Of course, I’ll pay generously for the cosmetics costs and lesson fees.”

 

Helena secretly made a circle with her index finger and thumb against her chest.

 

I was about to refuse, but if she’s appealing like that, I want to hear how much it is.

 

I leaned forward slightly, bringing my head close enough to hear Helena’s whisper.

 

Then Helena, seeming to understand my action, covered her mouth with one hand and whispered so only I could hear.

 

“Eight.”

 

“Eight?”

 

“Hundred.”

 

“No way.”

 

“Gold.”

 

“Oh my, crazy!”

 

Oh my, crazy.

 

That was the only thought that came to mind.

 

I began planning a makeup class schedule in my head.

 

Heat and uncontrollable laughter rose to my face, but I couldn’t control it.

 

I felt as excited as if I’d received a love confession.

 

Emergency makeup class, of course I should do it!

 

800 gold, how much is that exactly?

 

This building and the remodeling cost a little over 200 gold.

 

A price that could make almost four of these shops?

 

Helena is the best! I love you!

 

Helena, as if reading my thoughts, covered her mouth with one hand and let out a small laugh.

 

“Hehe, how about it?”

 

“How about it? I could even become Helena’s exclusive teacher!”

 

“This price includes compensation for spending time on me despite being busy, so don’t worry about it afterward.”

 

“Should I go to the Imperial Palace right now?”

 

“Ahaha, that’s not necessary. I’ll come here. It’s been fun sneaking out alone after so long.”

 

“Sn-sneaking out…?”

 

“I came out secretly. They’ve probably noticed by now.”

 

“What?”

 

“So I should get going soon. When should I come?”

 

I closed my eyes tightly and thought carefully.

 

One week until next Saturday.

 

Helping with makeup mastery for a week.

 

At least an hour and a half each time.

 

Then the possible class times are early morning and after closing time…

 

Still, after closing would be better since there’s no risk of being late, right?

 

I opened my eyes wide and grasped Helena’s hands with both of mine.

 

“Would a slightly late time be okay? Around 6:30 PM!”

 

“6:30 would be good if I eat dinner first. The later it gets, the more thrilling the rebellion becomes.”

 

“Won’t you get in trouble?”

 

“With whom? His Highness the Crown Prince? Don’t worry about that. These days, His Highness the Crown Prince is just watching my mood.”

 

“That’s a relief then. Oh, right! What’s happening with His Highness the Crown Prince? Are you preparing for divorce?”

 

“Hmm, I haven’t brought up divorce yet. I want to see His Highness the Crown Prince suffer as much as I did.”

 

Helena looked happy as she spoke with a small laugh.

 

Well, as long as Helena is happy.

 

This completely twisted the original story, but since there wasn’t any dangerous business like war, it should be fine.

 

I made class arrangements with Helena and saw her off.

 

Now it was time to go home.

 

Just thinking about all the gold I’d accumulated today made me smile broadly.

 

With this money, could I shop to my heart’s content?

 

Buying clothes in piles, buying accessories in piles.

 

Just imagining it made me happy.

 

But imagination was imagination, and reality was reality.

 

I should always prepare for situations where I might struggle with money.

 

I’ll save most of it and use only a small amount.

 

Even doing that, I’d be able to buy plenty of things I wanted to try or have.

 

Let’s work hard starting tomorrow!

 

Show them the power of a modern person who’s been through the wringer, Sillia!

 

***

 

“Haa, haa.”

 

“Miss, here’s some water.”

 

“Huh? Ah… Oh, thank you.”

 

I’m dying.

 

I’m really dying.

 

I need to hire staff, hire staff.

 

During break time, I slumped onto the sofa and gulped down the glass of water Lili handed me in one go.

 

I wanted to curse at myself for thinking I could handle this alone.

 

At this rate, collapsing was 100% certain.

 

Even though I do all the makeup myself, I needed one more person to handle customer service at the counter.

 

It was nearly impossible for Lili to do it since she was already helping me with hair styling.

 

You could visibly see that both of our dark circles had gotten worse in just a few days.

 

The fact that Lili, who normally would say she couldn’t sit with me, immediately collapsed into a seat when I told her to sit said it all.

 

“…Lili.”

 

“…Yes, Miss.”

 

“Let’s hire some staff.”

 

“That’s a good idea. At this rate, you’ll collapse again, Miss.”

 

“Yeah, you look like you’re about to collapse too.”

 

“Really? That won’t do…”

 

Just as we were having this conversation in weak voices, the back door opened.

 

And the person who entered the shop was Ricardo.

 

We couldn’t even say ‘You can’t just come in through there’ and just stared at Ricardo with soul-drained expressions.

 

Ricardo flinched and approached me with a flustered look.

 

“Yeongae, are you alright?”

 

“I’d really like to answer that I’m fine if possible, but no. I’m not alright. But what brings you here?”

 

“Ah, I had some business nearby and stopped by on my way back after finishing it.”

 

“…Jesuert Youngsik.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Do you have any appointments later?”

 

“No.”

 

I exchanged glances with Lili.

 

Originally, Ricardo’s role was just as an investor.

 

But since Ricardo now knows quite a bit about cosmetics.

 

He should be able to handle explanations or whatever.

 

I lowered my head.

 

When I raised my head again, I hid my tired face and smiled brightly and prettily.

 

“Jesuert Youngsik, if it’s alright with you, could you help me out a bit? It’s nothing difficult. You just need to guide customers and handle calculations.”

 

Ricardo looked down at me quietly, then nodded.

 

I’m saved!

 

If I’m going to use him as counter staff anyway, it would be better to have a handsome man there rather than scaring people with that mask, right?

 

Then…

 

“I can’t do it without any compensation.”

 

“Hm? Of course. I’ll definitely pay you a daily wage!”

 

“Not a daily wage, there’s something else I want to receive.”

 

“What is it?”

 

“I’ll come to work for 3 days, so how about you grant me a favor?”

 

“That’s fine with me, but what’s the favor? You can’t ask me to hand over the shop or give you a million gold, things like that won’t work.”

 

“I wouldn’t ask for such things. I’m still thinking about it, but I want to buy your time.”

 

Lili, who was beside us, covered her mouth with both hands and made a small “oh my” sound.

 

I had no idea what he wanted to do by buying my time.

 

Is he trying to go on a date or something?

 

Ah, he needs someone to go on a dessert tour with him!

 

I smiled slightly while looking at Ricardo, then remembered my schedule.

 

But I don’t have time available.

 

Because I have to come in even on holidays because of Helena.

 

“Ugh, I’m not sure if I’ll have time available.”

 

“I never said I need it right away. I’ll ask for the favor when you have some free time.”

 

“If that’s the case, then fine. But do you really have to come all three days?”

 

I held out my left pinky finger to Ricardo.

 

A hand much longer than mine followed suit and extended a pinky finger.

 

After hesitating, I looked at our slightly intertwined fingers and smiled with satisfaction.

 

“Deal made! Oh, and please hire about one… no, three staff members.”

 

“Understood.”

 

“Great!”

 

I let go of my finger and stood up from my seat.

 

I patted Ricardo’s shoulder.

 

“Now take off that mask.”

 

“Suddenly?”

 

“Since many nobles come here, make a good impression this time. Since there’s no royal ball, you need to get friendly now to expand business and such!”

 

“Ah, I understand.”

 

“And now that Youngsik really can’t escape even if it gets tough, please keep that in mind.”

 

“…? Yes.”

 

You’ve been kidnapped, Ricardo.

 

Ricardo, who knew nothing, obediently took off his mask.

 

I grabbed Ricardo’s wrist and brought him to sit in front of the mirror.

 

“Lili, could you teach Youngsik the manual?”

 

“Yes!”

 

I patted the shoulder of the bewildered-looking Ricardo, telling him it would be fine, and smiled brightly.

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