The Villainess Builds a Department Store - Chapter 18

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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 18

In the end, it was only after Mother stepped in that the two of them calmed down.

“What do you think you’re doing in front of the child? Philippe, go home now. And you too, if you’re going to fight, do it outside the estate. Whether you duel with swords or fists, I refuse to watch blood spill on my carpet!”

Mother shot up from her seat and barked out orders, then immediately collapsed back onto the sofa as if all her strength had left her.

Father rushed to Mother’s side in a panic, and Uncle also clicked his tongue loudly and retreated.

“Tch, when I succeed, it’ll be too late for regrets.”

I wanted to throw those exact words right back at Uncle.

No. I would throw them back at him.

Uncle left the estate with angry, stomping steps.

Had he come to instill a sense of urgency in me, just when I was feeling relieved that everything was going according to plan?

The chaotic atmosphere that had instantly engulfed the estate made my stomach churn.

* * *

Days passed until the unsettled atmosphere Uncle had left behind was completely swept away by the maids’ brooms, down to the very last speck.

Finally, carriages carrying merchants began arriving at the estate one by one.

“I wonder what everyone brought?”

The children gathered around Guillaume, each of their eyes sparkling with anticipation.

But not everyone had brought something like I had. Some children came empty-handed, either unable to find anything suitable or having given up entirely.

On the other hand, some had brought enormous sacks. What on earth did they bring?

Adults and children alike watched with eyes full of curiosity as one child untied the strings of his sack.

“That’s… barley chaff?”

What was inside was barley husks.

Since it was just a byproduct used as feed for horses and cattle, 10 francs’ worth was an enormous amount.

“Hooh… With that much quantity, it would certainly fill this room and then some.”

Someone muttered in an admiring tone.

The child’s face became even more triumphant.

But just as the child was about to pour out the contents of the sack.

“S-stop! Who’s going to clean that up!”

A very practical concern blocked the child’s way.

I could see the servants watching the situation breathe sighs of relief.

Sorry, but you’re disqualified.

Next, what Felix brought was a fairly large incense burner.

The sweet, subtle smoke that slowly rose from the incense burner instantly transformed the banquet hall into an exotic garden.

“Filling the room with fragrance… You chose quite a good item.”

Guillaume’s eyes had become as gentle as his voice. Felix’s face visibly brightened at Guillaume’s praise.

“Finally, Adele. What did you bring?”

Under everyone’s gaze, I brought out Emily’s phonograph.

“A machine?”

“What’s she going to do with that?”

“I’ve never seen anything like it… Have you ever seen such a machine?”

“It’s my first time too.”

Of course, since it was something that hadn’t existed until now.

“Could you explain what this is?”

Sometimes a demonstration is more convincing than an explanation. I smiled and slowly turned the phonograph’s handle.

— I love you, Father. I miss you. Please come quickly. Buy Antoine a present. Father. You must always stay healthy. I miss you so much. I love you too…

The murmuring noise instantly stopped at the voice flowing from the machine. Through the silence, mine and Antoine’s voices rang out as if they would reach the ceiling.

The longing, worry, and infinite affection carved into the cold, hard metal echoed repeatedly like an echo until my arm hurt too much to turn the handle anymore.

“Th… this is… Adelaide, what on earth is this! I, I just heard your voice!”

“It’s a phonograph. It’s a machine that can record sounds and play them back. I’m giving it to you, Father.”

“To me…?”

“Listen to it when you miss our voices during your business trip.”

The next moment, Father dropped to both knees and pulled Antoine and me into his arms.

Gasps and exclamations mixed together and burst out from everywhere. And I could hear sniffling sounds near my ear too.

…Father, are you crying?

“This… this is… I never could have imagined something like this…”

No, Father wasn’t the only one crying.

Since most of the people here were in similar situations, they were all either glaring at the ceiling with choked expressions or dabbing at their eyes with handkerchiefs.

Oh dear. I hadn’t intended to fill the room with the men’s sniffling.

“Adelaide. Felix. You both had good ideas about filling the room with intangible things. But while Felix only filled the room with fragrance, Adele, you filled the room not just with sound, but with love and longing for your father. You won.”

No one objected to Guillaume’s words. Even Felix, though he looked ready to die of frustration, couldn’t say anything.

“Adelaide. What do you want?”

“Please buy me medicinal herbs from Gawri.”

“Medicinal herbs from… Gawri?”

“Yes. I read in a book recently that Gawri is famous for its medicinal herbs. I need medicine that can cure Mother’s illness.”

“For something like that, that man over there who’s busy crying his eyes out is already an expert.”

Good heavens. Father was now completely in Mother’s arms, sobbing.

“…I, I saw it in that book, there’s a special ginseng among Gawri ginseng.”

“Ginseng?”

“Ginseng that’s been steamed nine times and dried nine times until it’s completely black. That’s supposed to be the best.”

Ginseng really did exist in this world. To be precise, it was wild ginseng, but anyway, the country called Gawri that existed at the eastern end of the map had strangely familiar place names and culture.

As if it was modeled after the old Republic of Korea.

“…Was there such content in a book? What book was it?”

Then Father, who had somehow stopped crying, asked me suspiciously.

It was natural for him to be suspicious, since I knew about medicine that he didn’t know about, despite having traveled around the world to find medicine for Mother.

“Well… actually, I saw it at a street stall when I went to the market…”

“Hmm…”

Did he think it was just an unreliable rumor, not even a book formally distributed in bookstores?

But since Mother’s illness didn’t have a specific name or particular symptoms, improving basic immunity and stamina was the only treatment available.

Remembering the vitamin supplement aisles that were packed during holidays, I hoped that the red ginseng here would have similar effects.

“If it’s just a rumor, there’s nothing we can do… but if it can cure Mother’s illness, I want to try anything.”

“…I’ll look into it at least once.”

“Thank you so much!”

I did it! Now I can cure Mother’s illness!

It wasn’t just the adults who showed interest in the machine. As if it was their duty to be fascinated by strange machines, the children instantly swarmed around me and the phonograph like a cloud.

“I want to try it too!”

“Wow, what’s the principle behind this?”

“W-wait! Slowly! Take turns! Hey, don’t cut in line!”

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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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