The Villainess Builds a Department Store - Chapter 17

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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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The Villainess Establishes a Department Store

Chapter 17

And Emily did it.

She’s truly an amazing person. I’m certain that Emily will soon make air conditioners and electric blankets for me too.

Fortunately, primitive recording devices existed in this place.

Based on that, Emily managed to invent a phonograph.

“Amazing! As expected of Emily. I knew you would definitely succeed!”

“This is all thanks to Miss believing in me. Rather, I should be the one thanking you.”

Emily answered with dark shadows under her eyes. She was completely exhausted from fatigue, but Emily’s eyes looking at her invention shone as bright and clear as freshly kindled embers.

“But to think of recording sound… This is a historic moment. What will you record?”

I smiled silently and gestured toward Antoine.

I pondered for a long time about what words to record, but the answer had been decided from the beginning.

“Antoine. You come here too.”

“Me too?”

“Yes. You know that Dad will be going far away for work soon, right? Let’s give him a gift so he can listen to our voices whenever he misses us.”

“Wow.”

Antoine ran to the phonograph in one breath and stood in front of the brass horn.

“Ah… Papa.”

A voice mixed with the characteristic breathing sounds of a young child began to flow through the horn and settle at the needle’s tip.

“I love you. I miss you. Come back quickly. Antoine wants presents…”

The needle carved the child’s voice longing for his father onto the solid metal cylinder with trembling hands.

Next was my turn. Now that I was actually doing it, I worried I might bite my tongue.

Clearing my throat unnecessarily, I whispered my true feelings just as Antoine had done moments before.

“Dad. You must always stay healthy. I miss you so much. I love you too.”

Did it… record properly?

To check, I turned the handle again, and the needle moved along the groove it had carved.

“Wh, whoa!”

“It’s Sister’s voice!”

And then mine and Antoine’s voices echoed throughout the room.

It couldn’t be called clean and clear sound quality by any means, and the pronunciation was unclear unless you concentrated, but it was definitely mine and my younger sibling’s voices.

“Emily! You’re a genius!”

I was so happy that I suddenly pulled Emily into a tight embrace.

Emily also jumped up and down in place with me, her face flushed with genuine joy and excitement.

Now then… it’s time for the final price negotiation.

“Emily. Can’t you sell this to me?”

“What? What do you mean!”

Emily asked in shock. Oh, but there’s no need to look so serious…

“This is a gift for Adelaide, who trusted me with this task. Please accept it as a pledge that I will continue to repay your trust.”

What? What kind of nonsense is that! Just look serious instead. Charge me a high price. Tell me to pay usage fees every time I turn the handle!

But Emily was also firm, as if she wouldn’t back down this time.

“Then… will you sell it to me for 10 francs…?”

“No.”

Huh. So that’s how you’re going to play it. I have no choice.

“Then I’ll buy those spare cylinders for 10 francs. Give me the phonograph as a bonus.”

Only then did Emily relax her expression and extend her hand to me.

“Thank you for your purchase!”

“It was a beneficial transaction.”

If you thought I’d back down so easily, you’re mistaken. The phonograph price I couldn’t pay today will be paid back tenfold by other people, so be prepared!

* * *

“I’m back! Mom, look what I bought… huh?”

“Mom’s not here.”

“That’s right. Where did she go?”

As soon as we returned to the estate, I went to look for Mother first, but her room was empty.

“Oh my. Madam had a visitor come and went to the drawing room just a moment ago.”

“A visitor…?”

A maid who had been cleaning while the room was empty explained in a kind voice.

But there were no carriages on the way in? Unless it’s an eccentric like Uncle Guillaume who would walk up to a noble’s estate on his own two feet.

“Shall we play in the playroom until the visitor leaves? I’ll bring you some snacks. The kitchen just baked a cake.”

“Cake!”

Antoine clapped his hands innocently with joy.

But I somehow got the feeling that she was trying to keep us from coming out of the guest room.

Why?

When I just stared at her without saying anything, the maid subtly avoided my eyes. Uh oh, this is getting more and more suspicious.

I was about to press her about what kind of visitor had come.

—CRASH!

From somewhere came a loud crash along with the sound of something breaking.

It was from the direction of the drawing room where the visitor and my parents would be.

“…Dad?”

I have a bad feeling. Before the maid could stop me, I ran straight down the corridor toward the drawing room.

What is this, why is my heart beating so anxiously? Everything was perfect. What could some visitor do? It’s still too early for debt collectors to come!

The source of my anxiety soon revealed itself.

“Get out of my sight right now! No matter how much money I have, I don’t have money to pay off your gambling debts!”

“Damn it! You’re abandoning your brother? The old man would be sad in his grave if he knew!”

“Get lost!”

BANG! The drawing room door opened so violently it looked like it might fall off right in front of me.

A man appeared before me as I froze in place, startled.

“What?”

“My goodness, Adelaide!”

And over the man’s shoulder, I could see Dad with his face bright red, breathing heavily, and Mother with a pale face.

“Oh, look who it is.”

Ah. Damn it.

“It’s been so long I didn’t recognize you at first.”

Of all times, of all moments. Right at this moment when I was trying to record our family’s happiness forever.

“It’s been a long time, hasn’t it, niece?”

To run into Uncle.

“…It’s been a long time, Uncle.”

What brings such an esteemed person to such a humble place?

Philippe Noël de Charmeuze.

Father’s only sibling and the man who was my uncle looked down at me with snake-like eyes.

Even in my previous life, Uncle’s gambling wasn’t something that started yesterday.

The reason he was expelled from boarding school in the first place was illegal gambling, drinking, and violent incidents.

Rehabilitation is something you only hope for with kids like Felix.

That man was irredeemable trash who couldn’t even be rehabilitated.

“Have you been well?”

I hid my nauseated feelings and smiled brightly, pretending to know nothing.

“Have I been well? Oh, I’ve been well. For someone on the verge of being kicked out of the family registry, I’ve been very, extremely, incredibly well.”

Why have you been well? Without even breaking a bone or something.

I barely managed to swallow back what I almost retorted.

Thinking of what he had done to me and my precious people made me want to grab a vase and smash his head right now.

“Sigh… Adele, the adults have things to discuss, so go to the playroom.”

Father placed his hand on his temple and let out a deep sigh.

“No, forget it. Do you think I’m going to just sit here sucking my thumb and die without my brother’s help? Ha! I’ll do something when the time comes, you know.”

“Now is that time, so please do something! Just how long are you going to live off the family’s money! Aren’t you ashamed in front of your nephews? Huh?”

This was the first time I’d seen Father this angry. I even flinched at this side of him that he had never once shown in front of me.

“I was going to do something anyway!”

And Uncle raised his voice as well, not backing down.

What a wonderful state this household is in.

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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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