The Villainess Builds a Department Store - Chapter 60

—————
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 60

“I truly considered that bastard my brother. I believed I could trust him with my younger sibling, I believed that completely….”

Alain confided his story to me. An old tale that didn’t appear in the original work, that even the past me didn’t know, and probably very few people know even now.

Alain had a sworn brother who was like a real sibling to him. Having survived together in the slums, they truly regarded each other as family, and when that man proposed to his younger sister, Alain was more delighted about becoming a true family than when he became the top figure of the underworld.

But that man betrayed Alain and his younger sister. No matter how much like a brother he was, no matter that he was his sister’s fiancé, he couldn’t escape execution. No, rather because of that, he had to be executed as an example all the more.

Thus he lost his brother, and his younger sister lost her fiancé. All that remained were wounds that couldn’t be healed, a shattered family relationship, and only the child left in his sister’s womb.

Ironically, the relationship between the siblings that had been on the verge of breaking was able to recover again thanks to that child… that was the story.

My impression after hearing his entire story was simple. Wow, I definitely shouldn’t get involved with the nephew. I mustn’t forget, my goal is ultimately a life that’s long, slender, and lustrous like silk thread.

“I can do anything for those children. If I can just save my nephew, I wouldn’t regret dying a hundred times. That’s the only brotherly duty I can perform and my atonement.”

So how precious must his nephew be.

“I’ll grant anything. Please save my nephew.”

Alain Lemur bowed his head before me.

Ah, I did it.

An indescribable thrill, an elation as if feathers were sprouting from my fingertips made my heart pound wildly.

As adrenaline surged and the corners of my mouth twitched, I covered my mouth with my hand.

If I smile here, I’ll really seem like a villainess.

* * *

‘Who exactly are you?’

Bastian exhaled with difficulty, struggling to somehow understand the situation before his eyes.

He couldn’t understand Adelaide speaking down to Alain, nor Alain Lemur bowing his head to such an Adelaide instead of being displeased. No, his mind refused to accept and understand it.

The Adelaide he knew was a bit strange but fundamentally a good kid. However, from a little while ago, she had been acting as if she’d become a completely different person.

The arrogant attitude typical of nobles who act as if it’s natural for others to be beneath them, a composure that didn’t match her age, boldness that didn’t shrink even before Alain but rather lifted her chin high. Or perhaps a complete loss of fear.

Seeing Adelaide like this, Bastian realized anew that she was fundamentally a different being from himself from birth.

When he glanced back, an eerily large flame was flickering in Adelaide’s deep blue eyes. Even though she was covering it with her hand, Bastian felt he could tell what expression she was making underneath.

It was strange. The Adelaide he knew would sympathize as if it were her own problem after hearing Alain’s circumstances, but she was definitely not someone who would feel ecstasy at having someone’s weakness in her grasp.

Such a person felt unfamiliar, as if only her appearance was the same while the soul dwelling within was someone else entirely.

“You said you’d do anything.”

A stranger spoke through Adelaide’s mouth and voice. Bastian found that eerie too and swallowed his breath.

Clearly the high, clear voice chirping like a young bird was hers, but the content contained in that voice was far from gentle, filled with anticipation like a hunter snatching an opportunity they’d waited for a long time.

“I’d like you to bankrupt my uncle.”

And when an unbelievably heartless statement flowed from the mouth of a twelve-year-old girl, not only Bastian but even Alain doubted their ears.

“Your uncle?”

Alain asked back. Unlike Bastian who still found Adelaide unfamiliar, perhaps accepting the little one before him as someone worthy of conversing with as an equal, he was only surprised that the target was a relative and didn’t care at all that she wished for someone’s bankruptcy.

“Do you have a specific plan?”

Adelaide pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded.

It wasn’t specific, nor was it carefully crafted, but as long as her uncle displayed the same greed as before, it was closer to a prophecy that would surely be realized rather than a plan. Adelaide could be certain of it.

The security guards saw them off as they left Alain’s house with a completely different respectful attitude than when they first visited.

They even returned the remaining candy stick to Bastian.

When he came to his senses, Bastian found himself holding the withered candy stick and arriving in front of the passage.

Only when facing the familiar scenery could Bastian return to reality. So many unbelievable things had happened in succession that it felt like he’d had a strange dream.

Among them, the most terrible dream was Adelaide who had changed like a stranger.

“Hey, Adele.”

What if Adelaide is still the Adelaide I don’t know? To hide his anxious heart, he called her gruffly, and Adelaide turned her head to gaze quietly at Bastian.

Her deep blue eyes swayed quietly like a calm sea each time her abundant eyelashes fluttered, waiting for him to speak.

Though she looked a bit tired, her expression was as kind and upright as always, allowing Bastian to feel relieved.

“You brat, Bastian! How can you leave the shop empty for so long without a word! Don’t you come running right now? You can forget about today’s wages!”

However, when the shop manager who spotted him waved his fist in the air with a terrifying expression, Bastian’s vision went pitch black again.

Faced with a reality more terrible and frightening than dreams, Bastian looked at Adelaide with the meaning of asking her to say something instead.

Adelaide smiled at them with a smile as thin as silk thread.

* * *

I’m tired.

Not only was I physically exhausted from running around all day on these short legs, but I felt like I’d used up an entire year’s worth of social skills dealing with Alain.

Since no one would see, I lay down completely on the carriage seat. It was a bit bumpy, but drowsiness soon came over me with that swaying.

When I opened my eyes again, the carriage had already arrived at the estate. Thankfully, the maid and coachman waited for me to wake up instead of rousing me.

“Just wake me next time. You need to get off work.”

“Oh no, miss. Thanks to you, I got to smoke a cigarette and do some thinking too.”

“What were you thinking about?”

At my question, the coachman blinked, then answered with a bright smile.

“I’m satisfied with my job right now. The pay isn’t bad, and there’s a miss who treats even a mere coachman like me so politely. So I was thinking it would be nice if this happiness could last for a long, long time.”

It was an unexpected comment.

Happiness that would last for a long, long time. Right. For that, I can’t make tired sounds here. Feeling like I was suddenly alert, I stretched fully and jumped down from the carriage.

“Thank you! Thanks to you, I remembered what I need to do. Rest well!”

But what greeted me when I returned home was an atmosphere that was somehow tensely strained, unlike usual.

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