The Villainess Builds a Department Store - Chapter 62

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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 62

Camille surprisingly accepted my request to visit the Academy for cross-verification.

“I was actually thinking it would be good to visit the Academy or other schools to give the young master some motivation.”

“Motivation?”

My heart sank for a moment. Had the gloomy atmosphere at home since Father changed also negatively affected Antoine?

“There’s a big difference between simply thinking you want to go somewhere and actually setting your goal on a place you’ve seen with your own eyes and walked through yourself.”

I secretly breathed a sigh of relief. It didn’t seem to be that serious. Like students going on campus tours during vacation? I understood.

Anyway, with the atmosphere at home like this, staying here would only make Antoine restless, so Mother would have no choice but to agree to taking him along.

“Antoine has never traveled without his parents before – will he be okay?”

“That too will be a great learning experience.”

Well… that’s true.

“Then please take good care of him. Both Antoine and Emily. If Emily needs something but can’t bring herself to ask and is suffering in silence, could you buy it for her instead of me? Bill me for the cost. If she gets stubborn about it with that personality of hers, just tell her that my sponsorship includes Emily’s comfortable living and make it so she can’t refuse.”

“I understand completely.”

Her very reliable answer, as if she knew exactly what I was worried about, put my mind at ease.

“But… Camille, may I ask you something?”

Camille tilted her head curiously.

“May I ask what your major was?”

Ever since I heard that she had attended the Academy, I had been constantly curious about what Camille might have majored in.

Somehow, Camille seemed to suit every major I thought of. Literature and arts, of course, but also mathematics and science seemed possible given how she usually explained things to Antoine at a child’s level yet with depth.

Foreign languages, law, politics, history also suited her… Surely not swordsmanship? But Camille’s well-balanced figure and elegant bearing were somehow not much different from those of a trained knight.

Instead of answering, Camille only smiled with her characteristically picture-perfect elegant smile.

What? Really, what’s with her since yesterday!

* * *

Camille sent a postcard saying she had arrived safely at the Academy.

Antoine had trouble sleeping for a few days without his parents or me, but now he’s completely adapted and is exploring the Academy more joyfully than anyone. Emily is also doing well, so I’m relieved.

When she said the task I requested would take a little more time, I decided to do what I could right now instead of waiting leisurely.

The person I was going to meet this time was Guillaume.

“Adele? Where are you going?”

Just as I was about to leave, I ran into Father who was coming out of the study.

Father’s appearance, which I felt like I was seeing for the first time in days… resembled Uncle more than the Father I knew.

It wasn’t just because his beard had grown or his eyes were bloodshot.

Rather, how should I put it – his entire impression had changed. The usual kind and gentle gentleman was nowhere to be found, and the person in front of me now was nothing more or less than someone possessed by the demon called money.

“Father…”

When I reached out my hand, Father bent down as he always did and brought his face to my palm.

The rough texture of his grown beard felt like it was scratching not my palm but my heart.

“Are you sleeping well? It seems even harder to see you than when you were sailing.”

“Haha. I’ve been busy with work lately. Don’t worry. I’m doing all this for our family’s sake. Yes, if only this investment succeeds… it will happen.”

But Father, we’re already rich enough, aren’t we? We have a title, wealth, and even honor – to do better than this, we’d have to become royalty, wouldn’t we?

“Father wants to give only good things to his beloved wife, Adelaide, and Antoine.”

Ah. So that was it.

I finally understood why Father had gotten caught up in this ridiculous fraud.

Father had decided to stop sailing. That meant his income would decrease accordingly, and no matter how much existing wealth remained, Father couldn’t help but worry about the reduced income.

‘Even so, there must have been other means – why did it have to be this kind of fraud!’

No, wait. Father is clearly a victim. Don’t blame the victim – let’s curse the fraudsters who targeted Father’s anxiety and came to him.

“Are you going to Mother’s shop?”

I pondered my answer. And somehow I had a premonition that I shouldn’t tell him honestly, so I gave a vague response.

“By the way, are you still talking frequently with that boy Bastian?”

Father suddenly mentioned Bastian. But somehow his expression wasn’t good. I could even sense displeasure, as if something didn’t sit right with him.

“Adelaide. You’re old enough now, so refrain from playing with such commoner children. Mother’s shop already has many noblewomen coming and going, and it won’t look good in their eyes.”

…I never expected such words to come from Father’s mouth.

“Yes. While we’re on the subject, stop associating with Guillaume Hedebeau as well. Especially joining in adult conversations. Father knows how smart Adelaide is, but to adults who don’t know, it’s rude behavior.”

After patting my head, which had frozen in shock, a few times, Father headed toward the garden. When I hurriedly turned around, I could see him taking out a cigar from his coat as he went outside.

Father had completely changed.

I stood there for a long time, shocked as if the ground beneath my feet was crumbling.

* * *

Guillaume was also quite disappointed by Father’s completely changed appearance and grabbed me to pour out his complaints.

“Everyone except that fool knows it’s a fraud! Really, blinded by those titles of royalty and nobility! Do you know what your father said? That I’m being jealous!”

Bang! Guillaume stamped his foot and exploded in anger. In that sight, there was no trace of his usual respectful attitude toward royal authority. How should I put it – thinking of Father who was about to be defrauded because of that very royal family, it was truly an ironic scene.

“Do you think I’ve only seen one or two people get defrauded in my time reaching this position? Adelaide, do you know what those fools have in common? Even if their long-time friend – no, not their parents but their dead great-great-grandfather came back to life to talk them out of it, they’d still trust the fraudsters more!”

I obediently nodded in agreement.

“Idiots who would rather choose ruin than admit they’ve been defrauded – and to think such a fool was my old friend! I don’t know whether I should resent that bastard Charles, or resent my own eyes for considering him a friend without knowing he was such an idiot…”

Guillaume looked so truly, truly sad and distressed as he said this that I couldn’t say anything. It seemed like any comfort I offered now would be useless.

“What if we exposed it all in front of everyone? If it turned out everyone was actually a victim, they might be less ashamed since they weren’t the only ones fooled, and might admit it.”

Though I said it as if joking, I was serious.

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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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