The Villainess Builds a Department Store - Chapter 51

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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 51

“Bastian happens to be looking for work. Until recently, he was delivering lunch boxes to construction workers, but now that the construction is finished, he’s out of work. Why, it was Bastian who stopped those merchants from trying to overcharge Mother outrageously two years ago, and he knows how to read and write, and also….”

“Hey, hey… why are you bringing up such old stories….”

Bastian tugged at my sleeve with a shrinking voice. It was cute seeing him embarrassed unlike his usual self, but I’m promoting you right now!

“Hmm… Young Bastian, where do you live?”

“I live… near Artisan Street.”

Near the street. It wasn’t wrong. The slums that sat with their backs against the flashy, large buildings were his home.

“Oh my. That’s too far for commuting.”

Taking that as a roundabout rejection, Bastian hung his head with a dejected expression. But at Father’s next words, he had to perk up his ears like a rabbit and lift his head again.

“There happens to be an empty room on the second floor.”

“Yes…?”

“Since you can read and write, I’ll pay you a bit more. We plan to provide two sets of uniforms per season, and for meals….”

“W-wait a moment, Baron. Wait, wait. I don’t understand what you’re saying….”

“I want to hire you as a live-in employee. Ah, if there’s somewhere else offering better conditions, let me know. I’ll match them with even better terms.”

“No….”

Bastian froze like a stone with a dumbfounded expression, only moving his mouth wordlessly.

“Bastian.”

He barely managed to move his head to meet my eyes.

“This is your chance to achieve your dream. You’re someone who steps forward to find opportunities rather than just waiting for them to come, aren’t you?”

Only then did he seem to come to his senses, blinking rapidly with a sharp breath. Then he shouted with a voice full of determination.

“I’ll work hard!”

Thank goodness.

“Do you still have the shoes I bought you?”

Instead of answering, Bastian just stared into space. Seeing his red ears, it was obvious without looking.

He probably treasured them without wearing them much, and now they’d be too small. Even if not, that was years ago, so they couldn’t still be in good condition.

“Let’s go buy shoes first. Something that matches this shop’s uniform.”

While I was at it, I asked Father for permission.

“Can I go with him?”

“If you go with Monsieur Laurent. Monsieur Laurent, a light tap on the head would be fine if necessary.”

What do you mean fine! Even if such a thing won’t happen, really?

* * *

“Our Father is a bit overprotective, isn’t he? Sorry….”

Bastian walked silently, staring straight ahead. And behind him, Monsieur Laurent followed, glaring daggers at the back of his head.

“Monsieur Laurent, do you happen to know where we should go? It doesn’t have to be Pearl Gallery.”

I would have liked to go to a men’s handmade shoe shop and buy Bastian shoes in his size for each season, but custom shoes take time to make.

Bastian needed shoes to wear starting tomorrow. And clothes too. It would be good if he had several clean spare outfits, hmm. He’d also need a notebook and pen to jot down what he learns while working. Just in case, maybe a light formal suit for formal occasions….

“Then shall we go to the flea market outside Pearl Gallery?”

“Flea market?”

I already knew about the flea market’s existence. Starting with the street vendors who were driven out when the passage construction began gathering in one place, it was now a spot where people spread out stalls to buy and sell various things, whether they were street vendors or not, and it had become a specialty of Port Nantes.

“Come to think of it, I’ve never been there.”

It sounds fun. I nodded. If it’s affordable ready-made clothes sold there, Bastian would accept them without burden.

“This is Île de Nanterre, the island of Nantes.”

The sight of vendors’ stalls clustered together really did look like an island on land. Just looking around broadly, there were clothes, tableware, shoes, accessories, and mysterious items that made you wonder who would buy such things, along with some ‘Monsieur So-and-so’ willing to pay for them, and ‘Madame So-and-so’ hitting his back trying to stop him.

“This way.”

Bastian took on the role of guide, apparently having been here before. Following him, we came to a stall selling quite decent secondhand clothes.

I’ve never chosen men’s clothes except for Antoine.

I selected several outfits with Monsieur Laurent, referencing what Bastian mainly wore in the future.

Bastian looked impressively good in whatever clothes I brought him. His long, straight limbs and face that was losing its baby fat and gradually becoming more defined, yet still showing youthful innocence in his large eyes, created a strange charm.

“I’ll take everything he’s tried on so far. And he’ll wear that one. Oh, can you deliver to this address?”

When I held out a gold coin, the merchant’s eyes widened as he hurriedly took it and bowed deeply.

After going through the same process to buy shoes and other necessities, we headed to the market center to rest for a while.

The closer we got to the center, the more lively music and delicious smells greeted us. A large whole pig, half-carved, was rotating over a fire, and people who were pleasantly drunk were singing and dancing around a large bonfire to the accompaniment of musical instruments.

We also got roasted pork, freshly baked bread, orange juice and such, and found a place to sit.

“…How do you know that song?”

“Huh?”

I must have been humming along to the song without realizing it. Bastian was looking at me with a surprised expression.

I can’t tell him that in my previous life, I was among them dressed no differently.

“I guess it stuck from hearing the servants sing it. Bastian, do you want to dance too?”

“No thanks. If I did that, that gentleman would probably push me into the flames.”

What rude talk! Monsieur Laurent is a lawyer, so he wouldn’t do such a thing in front of everyone. Unless he committed arson in the dead of night when everyone’s asleep.

“Then if I were alone, would you have danced with me?”

Maybe because it was a heartwarming scene I hadn’t seen in a while, feeling a bit wistful, I asked Bastian again.

“If you’re done eating, let’s go.”

Instead of answering, Bastian gathered the plates and stood up.

Tch, he’s really no fun.

Returning to the Pearl Gallery entrance, I finally handed Bastian a notebook and pen. It was something I had asked Monsieur Laurent to buy while Bastian was changing clothes earlier.

“This is…?”

“You’ll do well.”

Forcing the gift into the hands of Bastian, who had frozen in place in a daze, I returned to the ‘Dream House’ where my family would be waiting.

I hope he likes it.

* * *

Left alone, Bastian stood there like a faithful wife’s stone statue until Adelaide’s cloud-white hair completely disappeared into the crowd.

“…A-are you crazy? What if I can’t write!”

He shouted belatedly, but there was no one to hear. Only passersby looked at him strangely.

Bastian looked around quickly, then ducked into a deserted alley and opened the notebook.

And on the very first page, he wrote his name.

[Sebastian Velour]

Then Bastian opened the next page, hesitated for a moment, and wrote down a long name. He shivered at the scratching sound of the pen and the smooth sensation of gliding across the paper surface.

[Adelaide Valencienne de Charmeuze]

The next moment he immediately scribbled it out with black lines, but the more he did so, the more clearly her name came to mind.

She really was a strange girl. Bastian placed his hand on his heart, which was pounding as if he had been running at full speed, and pursed his lips for no reason.

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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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