Countess Youngae’s Money-Sweeping Makeup Shop - Chapter 53

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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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53

 

“This is practically a losing business for me! Where does it make sense to mass-produce cosmetics just because someone wants to learn makeup?”

 

“What loss? I said I’d pay you money. Isn’t alchemy something you can do lying down anyway?”

 

“That’s true, but… The price doesn’t match. The price! In the time it takes to make that, I’d earn more changing nobles’ faces, you know?”

 

“Do you have customers?”

 

“I will soon!”

 

“Honestly, this is a losing business for me. It costs money, I have to get materials, and I have to teach makeup too. If you don’t like it, quit. I won’t do it unless it’s on my terms.”

 

“…”

 

“Oh, yeah. Keep sulking like that. Geez, if I can’t go out anyway, I might as well lie down and get some sleep.”

 

I stretched fully and sat back down on the sofa, then flopped down.

 

Lightly ignoring Lucian who looked wronged, I tapped the sofa with my feet.

 

“Hey, Mr. Mage. I have quite a temper. So if you don’t treat me properly, I’ll cause a ruckus too. Bring me some grapes.”

 

“Ha! What kind of ruckus would you cause? Have you ever seen a kidnapper wait on their victim? Go ahead and cause a ruckus.”

 

“Mmm. Okay, then. Let’s talk, you and I.”

 

There were several cushions placed on the sofa.

 

It seemed like either the room’s owner or Lucian slept here sometimes.

 

I grabbed a cushion and fidgeted with it.

 

It wouldn’t burst easily.

 

I sat up and kneaded the cushion here and there.

 

Where should I throw it for the best effect?

 

“Well, if it’s negotiation, I’ll listen once.”

 

“Hm? I never said I meant talking with words.”

 

“What do you-”

 

Thwack-!

 

The cushion hit Lucian square in the face as he shrugged his shoulders.

 

And as if to show off, the cushion burst right in front of Lucian’s eyes.

 

Huh? It bursts?

 

If it bursts already, I can’t cause a proper ruckus!

 

I was going to return to my childhood and play by throwing cushions like skipping stones.

 

But the bursting actually worked out better than that.

 

As the cushion burst and feathers flew, I could see his shocked expression through the flying feathers.

 

“What, what, what…! I even cast magic on that one on purpose! How did that burst!”

 

“Ah- really?”

 

I grinned and pulled all the remaining cushions into my arms.

 

“Hey, hey! What, what are you doing?”

 

“I don’t even need physical conversation. Just make the deal properly and everyone stays safe.”

 

“But that deal is completely my loss…!”

 

“I see-.”

 

I pinched the cushion as if to grab it.

 

Then Lucian, sweating nervously in confusion, reached out his hand to me.

 

“Haa, ha… Calm down! Wait, just wait a moment! I’ll, I’ll do it! I’ll do it!”

 

“Yeah. I can’t trust you, so don’t you have some kind of magic paper for writing contracts? The kind where punishment comes back if you don’t keep your promise.”

 

“Cunning bastard.”

 

“Hm? What did you say?”

 

“Ah, ah! Really-! Wait! I’ll, I’ll bring it! If you touch even one of my babies, I really won’t let it slide!”

 

“I’m a pacifist as long as promises are kept. Let’s go for a win-win situation, shall we?”

 

“What kind of win-win is this, damn it.”

 

While continuing to mutter complaints, he quickly brought paper and handed it to me.

 

I took the brownish paper that looked like it might have ancient documents written on it and examined it here and there.

 

When I held out my hand asking for a pen, he sighed but also handed over a pen.

 

After pondering briefly and writing the contract for 5 minutes, I handed the paper along with the pen to Lucian.

 

“Sign it.”

 

When he received the paper, he skimmed it with his eyes and signed the confirmation section in less than 10 seconds.

 

“Done, right? Now let go of my babies.”

 

As soon as Lucian finished signing, the paper glowed and fluttered as if awakening, then came down to me neatly organized as if typed on a computer.

 

I read the paper and a smile rose to my face.

 

Got him good.

 

This is why you need to read contracts carefully, Lucian.

 

I put down the cushions, got up from my seat, and brushed off the area around my pajama skirt.

 

“Let’s go now.”

 

“…Where to?”

 

I pointed with my finger to right below the central clause of the contract.

 

“Lucian will remove Sillia Ebennain from the Mage’s Tower within 5 minutes based on the contracted time.”

 

“What? I didn’t see anything like this!”

 

“Well, I wrote it in really tiny letters. You should have looked carefully.”

 

Lucian said it was ridiculous and snatched the paper from me, holding it with both hands and scrunching his expression as he read the contents again.

 

“In addition to the cosmetics production deal, Lucian will work for life as Lucy at Sillia Ebennain’s ‘Miracle Makeup’ shop…?”

 

“You didn’t see that either? How did someone so easily fooled become a tower master? More importantly, aren’t you going outside? If 5 minutes pass, your cushions will burst.”

 

I took the paper and waved it gently.

 

Lucian clenched his fists, trembled, and his eyes welled up with tears.

 

But the cushions must have been important because his pupils started turning a bright orange color.

 

Then a magic circle appeared above his head like before.

 

Along with flashing light, my vision blurred again.

 

When my vision became clear again, there was a large gate in front of me.

 

I looked around and grabbed the handle to push it.

 

The door won’t open? The cushions will burst… Ah, is it the other way?

 

When I pulled the other way, the door opened easily and wide.

 

“Wow, finally!”

 

A fresh forest scene that didn’t waver spread out before my eyes.

 

I smiled with satisfaction and went outside holding the paper.

 

But how do I get home from here?

 

“Ebennain Yeongae?”

 

I heard a familiar voice from behind me.

 

As soon as I turned my head around, I saw Ricardo.

 

I blinked my eyes.

 

I believed in you, Ricardo! You came to rescue me!

 

I smiled brightly and ran toward Ricardo, grabbing him with both hands.

 

“Did you come to rescue me?”

 

“…Ah, yes. But you came out on your own.”

 

“Mm, that’s how it turned out. What time is it now, by any chance?”

 

“There are still about 2 hours left until the shop opens.”

 

“What? Already? Will it take long to get from here to the manor?”

 

“It’s a bit of a distance. I can’t use teleportation magic here either, but if I use teleportation magic as soon as we leave, we’ll arrive within an hour.”

 

“Will Yeongae, will Yeongae be at the shop now?”

 

“If you call for her, she would return even if she were somewhere else.”

 

“Hm? Why?”

 

“Yeongae said she wanted to become friends with Ebennain Yeongae.”

 

“Really?”

 

Berinea wants to become friends with me?

 

I gripped Ricardo’s hand tightly.

 

Her eyes sparkled, unable to hide her excitement.

 

“Let’s hurry! Every moment counts. Let’s go straight to the village, not the manor.”

 

“Understood.”

 

As soon as I let go of his hand, Ricardo walked toward the black horse he’d ridden before, then wrapped his cloak around me.

 

Come to think of it, I’m in my nightgown right now!

 

I tried to ignore my burning cheeks and quietly mumbled “Thank you.”

 

With his help, I mounted the horse, and Ricardo climbed on as well.

 

He reached his arms around both sides of me to grasp the horse’s reins.

 

I had forgotten one thing.

 

Every time his arms touched me, my heart pounded.

 

Me, Ricardo…

 

No, the more I think about it, the more shaken I become.

 

I was about to shake my head to clear my thoughts when I heard a tickling voice from behind.

 

“You seem so eager to get close to others, so why do you only treat me as business?”

 

“Huh?”

 

I was so flustered that my voice cracked.

 

I kept my head down, clenching and unclenching my hands as I fidgeted with the reins he’d told me to hold.

 

Cold sweat seemed to trickle down the back of my neck.

 

Whether he knew this or not, Ricardo pressed me further.

 

“Don’t you keep your distance whenever I try to get closer?”

 

“Distance? That’s a misunderstanding.”

 

“…I feel like I’m becoming more childish these days.”

 

My breath caught involuntarily, as if I were undergoing some inescapable interrogation.

 

I moved my lips but swallowed my words.

 

Then I felt a strong heartbeat from somewhere.

 

“I’m jealous. Of those who make you smile, those you want to befriend. Especially those with outstanding looks.”

 

“…Jealous?”

 

“I want you to be loved by many people. But I want you to only have interest in me.”

 

“That’s…”

 

“I know. I know that’s impossible. Instead, I hope that the face you find most appealing would be mine.”

 

“Pfft, why specifically the face?”

 

“Isn’t my face the only thing about me that you find romantically attractive?”

 

“Well, actually, I find your appearance attractive as a makeup artist. Like an appealing canvas, I suppose.”

 

“A canvas, you say. Then you don’t feel any romantic attraction toward me?”

 

“That’s… I don’t think that’s it. But His Highness the Crown Prince is all I’ve ever experienced regarding love and such. So even I don’t really understand my own feelings…”

 

“Do you dislike me talking like this? Is it burdensome?”

 

“…No.”

 

“Then that’s enough. For now, I’ll work hard to become the appealing canvas you desire. So please covet me most as your canvas.”

 

“That’s no different from being a makeup test subject…”

 

“I don’t mind.”

 

My heart was pounding both from behind and from my chest.

 

Does this man realize what he’s saying to me right now?

 

Heat rushed from my tingling neck all the way to the top of my head.

 

As I gripped the reins tightly, trembling breath brushed past above my head.

 

“At least I can claim the position of being your canvas.”

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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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