The Villainess Builds a Department Store - Chapter 64

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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 64

“Excuse me.”

“Hmm?”

“I wasn’t planning to eavesdrop, but I suddenly heard something that sounded like a ray of light in the darkness.”

At the sudden appearance of the gentleman’s words, Philippe’s gaze swept up and down his counterpart.

The gentleman had the typical appearance of a nouveau riche. Though wrapped in flashy silk and lace, his gestures revealed an undeniable vulgarity that flowed freely.

Particularly eerie were his green eyes that gleamed in the darkness like those of a reptile.

“Is it true that there’s a panacea in the Eastern Lands?”

“Ahem, hmm. I suppose my voice was too loud.”

That’s when it happened.

“Please! Anything is fine, so please tell me. What exactly is this panacea from the Eastern Lands!”

The green-eyed gentleman clung to Philippe. When the flustered Philippe tried to push him away, the man’s strength was so great that Philippe’s body swayed as the man grabbed and shook him.

“L-let go of me! How can I speak if you don’t let go!”

In the end, it was Philippe who gave in first.

Still having some semblance of shame, the green-eyed gentleman ordered additional drinks and food. When Philippe recognized the label of the alcohol the staff brought, he immediately straightened his posture.

‘I thought he was just an ordinary nouveau riche, but is he actually an incredibly wealthy nouveau riche?’

Perhaps he might become an enormous catch. Having finished his calculations in a short time, Philippe smiled magnanimously as if nothing had happened and offered the gentleman a seat.

“So, you’re curious about the panacea from the Eastern Lands?”

“Yes. Actually, I also have a sick nephew… *sob* Poor thing! For that child’s sake, I can do anything.”

“Oh my! How pitiful… I understand your situation well. But monsieur, if anyone could buy it just because they have money, would it really be a panacea?”

“Please! I beg of you. I have plenty of money. Ten million, no, even a hundred million gold I would give!”

Finally, the gentleman pulled out a checkbook from his breast. At his ready-to-scribble stance, Philippe instinctively knew he was a big fish.

The country rich man who had been mentioning his elderly mother just moments ago was no longer in his consideration.

“…In an age where even titles can be bought with money, you’ll surely be able to obtain it.”

Philippe extended his hand first.

The gentleman, Alain Lemur, gladly clasped that hand.

Not knowing he was extending his hand to a trap, Philippe vigorously shook the clasped hand.

“You are my nephew’s lifesaver. Valuable information should naturally be paid its due price. This is merely my sincerity, so please accept it.”

Alain Lemur placed a considerably heavy pouch of gold coins in front of Philippe.

Philippe’s eyes gleamed with greed as he opened the pouch.

Everything was exactly as Adelaide had instructed.

‘Still, he’s family, doesn’t he have even a trace of affection?’

‘A sword cannot cut water, but gold coins can cut blood. You should know that better than anyone, shouldn’t you?’

Even thinking about it again, those weren’t words that should come from a child’s mouth.

Recalling the young brat who couldn’t even make proper eye contact with him yet tried to maintain a deliberately calm and cold attitude, Alain showed Philippe a naive smile.

* * *

Mother’s shop ‘House of Dreams’ was packed with customers again today, leaving no room to step.

Bastian, who caught my eye, lightly raised his eyebrow in acknowledgment before immediately focusing on serving customers.

Though Bastian was clearly the youngest employee in the shop at a glance, his skillful explanations to customers felt as professional as the manager’s.

At the cash register, gold coins and bills endlessly went in and out of the safe, while at the wrapping station beside it, customers were deliberating between Eastern paper and cloth for wrapping.

“Oh my, Lady Adelaide. Have you come to see Bastian?”

The manager who spotted me asked in a gentle tone.

Bernard Dubuois, the manager of ‘House of Dreams’ and the person who practically ran the shop in Mother’s place, was a seasoned merchant, a master of customer service, and a warm-hearted adult.

Though he had shown a fierce side last time due to Bastian leaving without notice, he was also another pride of this shop, peacefully resolving most problems with hearty laughter.

“Sorry. It seems I came during a busy time. I’ll come back later.”

To me, who felt awkward saying I was happy Mother’s shop was doing well but hadn’t expected it to be this busy, Monsieur Dubuois chuckled and winked, saying there was no need for that.

“Not at all. Rather, you’ve come at just the right time. Bastian! Could you come here for a moment?”

Bastian, who had been serving a customer, excused himself and approached us.

“Bastian. It’s your break time.”

“Then I’ll take a break after serving that customer over there.”

“No. Go right now. Elaine, could you serve that gentleman?”

“But manager…!”

Monsieur Dubuois stopped Bastian’s words with a gentle but stern look.

“You should have taken a break three hours ago.”

“But still!”

“Are you planning to make me a terrible boss who doesn’t even guarantee the break time written in the contract?”

Only then did Bastian firmly shut his mouth. His face, clearly full of dissatisfaction, looked exactly like a child, making me laugh.

“Working hard is good, but you have to follow the rules. Come on, I’ll buy you ice cream.”

“…Buy me soda too.”

“Yes, yes.”

I forcibly dragged the reluctant Bastian outside. When I bought him lemon-flavored soda, he must have been quite thirsty because he gulped down an entire cup right there without breathing.

“Ugh… It feels like sparks are flying from my throat…!”

“That’s what you get for drinking it all at once like that.”

When I handed cold water to the suffering Bastian, he drank that down in one go too. Geez, he’ll get indigestion at this rate!

“Were you very thirsty?”

“Well… it’s a job that involves a lot of explaining.”

“Then why didn’t you take a break earlier?”

“What if customers look for me when I’m on break? Should I just abandon them irresponsibly?”

“Yes.”

What kind of obvious thing are you saying? Your right to rest is legally guaranteed. How many people fought to secure this basic right… Ugh, never mind. Let’s drop it.

“It’s not about responsibility. If you work forgetting even your break time, what about the other employees? Being passionate is good, but you can’t infringe on other people’s rights.”

“…Hmph.”

Though he huffed sulkily while avoiding eye contact, it was fortunate that he seemed to know what he’d done wrong.

When I bought Bastian a large ice cream as promised, he held a spoon in his mouth and opened his notebook.

It was a familiar notebook. The one I’d bought him as a memento on his first day working at ‘House of Dreams’.

The cover had become tattered from frequent use, and the pages were quite swollen. Opening to nearly the last page, Bastian began muttering something under his breath.

“What are you memorizing?”

“Regional conversational characteristics of Gawri.”

“You learned about that too?”

“No. I just researched it myself by reading books.”

“Why?”

With his gaze still on the notebook, Bastian answered briefly.

“So I can make recommendations to customers. I can’t just recommend things blindly without knowing what the paintings are about or why they’re famous.”

“That’s impressive. But what are you reading so intently?”

I was prepared to snatch it away if he refused, but Bastian surprisingly handed over the notebook obediently.

Quickly skimming through the notebook, I couldn’t help but be shocked.

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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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