The Villainess Builds a Department Store - Chapter 19

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

The Villainess Establishes a Department Store

Chapter 19

“Father, I love you.”

“I’ll wait nicely with Mother.”

“I like Father the most in the world.”

The children took turns recording what they wanted to say to their parents who were departing on a long journey.

Listening from the side, my heart felt all warm and fuzzy at the scene.

But even during such a heartwarming moment, there was one child who remained stubbornly proud and uncooperative to the end,

“Felix? Aren’t you going to do it?”

“Hmph. What’s so great about that crude machine.”

He’ll regret it later.

I wasn’t unaware of the twisted pride of kids that age, but sometimes you need to forcibly break that pride.

“Don’t be like that and do it too. Don’t regret it later.”

“Who says I’ll regret it!”

“You never know what life will bring.”

“What? Hey, what do you mean by that! Hey!”

Instead of bothering to explain, I passed by the boy leisurely with a thin smile.

How’s that, it’s bothering you like crazy, isn’t it?

‘Is no one around?’

Just before leaving the Charmeuze Viscountcy, Felix visited the banquet hall once more.

In the middle of the banquet hall, where toys still half-cleared were piled in the corner and the faint scent of the incense he had brought lingered, stood the problematic machine.

“What’s so special about this thing…”

What made me come all the way back here for this?

He couldn’t understand it himself.

But Adelaide’s words wouldn’t leave his mind.

‘Don’t regret it later.’

‘You never know what life will bring.’

Hmph. Why would I regret anything?

Father will return safely from this trading voyage with enormous profits.

Just like always, this time too, surely.

‘But…’

As that girl said, no one knows what life will bring. Just like how Mother, who I thought would always be with me, suddenly abandoned me and left.

‘I think she did it like this…’

Felix began turning the handle just as Adelaide had done moments before.

“Ah… Father.”

However, Felix soon stopped his hand and pouted his lips.

Father, and what should I say?

Beyond the empty banquet hall window, leaves swaying in the wind made clapping sounds, cheering Felix on.

Say what you want to say. Say what you really wanted to say, what you’ll regret if you don’t say it.

Finally gathering his resolve, Felix turned the handle again.

“I love you.”

Thud.

At that moment, as if responding to his confession, something fell with a soft thump behind him.

Felix jumped up in surprise. At the same time, he realized what he had done.

Touching someone else’s belongings without permission, and it belonged to the daughter of Viscount Charmeuze no less!

If anyone had seen him, he couldn’t argue against being accused of theft.

‘If I’m accused of being a thief, I’ll surely never be able to set foot in this estate again. Father might be driven away by the Viscount too. Then what happens to our family? What about the family business?’

His startled heart shrank like a pea.

“Felix…”

A familiar voice called his name.

“Ah, Father…! This is… I mean… I was just trying to look for a moment.”

Guillaume approached with a stern expression. Felix hunched his shoulders, preparing to be scolded.

However, instead of scolding his son, Guillaume pulled him into a tight embrace.

“Father…?”

“Father loves you too.”

Father’s shoulders were trembling faintly. Could Father be crying too?

At Guillaume’s unexpected reaction, Felix could only blink his eyes blankly.

Then he soon stretched out his arms and wrapped them around his father’s neck.

“Bring me a present.”

“Yes. I’ll bring you something really wonderful.”

“And don’t get hurt.”

“I won’t hurt even a finger.”

“You must come back.”

“I promise. I’ll definitely return.”

The two remained embraced in silence for a long while after that.

Behind a pillar in the corridor leading to the banquet hall.

Adelaide, who had secretly called Guillaume out saying he had left something behind, smiled with satisfaction from the shadows.

* * *

There was still time before departure, but Father had too many things to resolve before then.

He had to finish ship repairs, prepare customs documents according to the cargo to be loaded, and recruit new crew members while investigating their backgrounds.

The times when he went to discuss Academy admission matters with Emily were practically his only outings and rest.

On such days, I could also go outside the estate with Father.

“I want to become an adult quickly.”

“An adult? Why?”

“Then I could go out alone.”

At my grumbling, Father chuckled and then turned his gaze to the window.

Since it was afternoon after lunch, it was relatively quieter than morning, but the market was still dirty and noisy as always.

Summer was coming soon, and I was already starting to worry about what would happen if it rained.

“Stop the carriage for a moment.”

Huh? We still had further to go to reach Emily’s workshop.

Father had the carriage stopped and got out, leaving me behind.

Wondering what he was going to do, I watched quietly as Father headed toward a stall selling wild strawberries and cherries.

“Could I have a basket?”

“Yes? Y-yes…”

When an obviously noble gentleman got out of the carriage and casually picked up a basket full of wild strawberries sold on the street, not only the merchant but even passersby stopped and looked surprised.

“Want some?”

Then he returned leisurely as if nothing had happened and popped a small red berry into my half-open mouth.

It was more sour than sweet, but thanks to that tartness, I could barely come to my senses.

Not forgetting to share some with the coachman, Father got back in the carriage. Then he said somewhat sheepishly,

“Once I’m on the ship, I won’t even see fresh fruit like this for a while. I find myself being greedy whenever I see it.”

“It would be nice if you could eat fresh fruit on the ship too.”

“Haha. That’s right. Even if I take a lot, there are limits to storage… The longer you store it, the less tasty it becomes.”

Father’s complaints continued until we arrived at the workshop.

Don’t worry, Father.

I’ll solve that problem for you.

When we arrived at the workshop, I left the difficult conversation entirely to Father and went out for a street walk.

It was relatively safe, on the main road, and Father could check on me directly through the window if needed, so he readily gave permission.

“Let’s see, where should I go to buy glass bottles…”

The first place I headed was the bulletin board with a map of Workshop Street.

But today, someone had arrived before me.

“You are…?”

Despite the still oversized shirt that hung loose on him, the hem stained with grime, and the worn hat pulled low over his head with holes about to tear through, it was definitely Bastian.

Bastian also seemed to remember who I was, as his eyes that had been staring blankly at me narrowed into thin slits.

“Did you buy medicine? Did that wound from back then heal completely?”

“Hmph, this is exactly why nobles are… Medicine isn’t cheap, and for a wound that heals with just some spit? What’s the point? Better to buy bread with that money instead.”

His characteristic cynical sarcasm actually felt welcome to hear.

“Then did you buy bread?”

“What’s it to you?”

It is my business. It would be quite troublesome if you starved to death.

Just then, an enormous sound came from Bastian’s stomach.

“Want some wild strawberries?”

I happened to have some wild strawberries and cherries left that Father had shared with me. When I held out a palmful of the red berries, Bastian’s expression twisted with bewilderment.

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