The Villainess Builds a Department Store - Chapter 69

—————
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 69

“Haah….”

As the tension finally released, I collapsed right where I stood.

Now all the evidence had been gathered.

“But… Miss, are you really sure about this?”

Too drained to answer, I could only lift my eyes to gaze up at Camille. She looked at me with warm eyes full of worry and concern as she asked.

“No matter how careful we try to be, this matter will inevitably leave a stain on your father’s name.”

“…I know. But we have to do it. If we don’t stop this now, next time it won’t just be a stain on Father’s name—the entire Charmeuze Family will become a blot, a giant period mark. Instead of continuing to write our story in history under the name Charmeuze.”

So we have to stop it while we still can, don’t we?

* * *

Finally, the day of the auction arrived.

I coordinated my outfit with a large hat that could cover my face in case of emergency.

Two carriages departed from the Charmeuze Estate with a slight time difference.

The first carriage carried Father and Uncle, while the second carried me and Monsieur Laurent.

Instead of heading straight to the auction house, I went to find Guillaume first. By whatever means he used, he had managed to get an invitation despite not being nobility.

“Are the preparations perfect?”

“Absolutely. Oh, Felix wants to come along too—is that alright?”

“Felix too?”

Then Felix, who had been hiding behind Guillaume instead of getting in the carriage, hesitantly revealed himself.

“…Ah, hello.”

“Hello Felix…?”

Felix awkwardly raised his hand in greeting. Surprised by the unexpected news of his accompaniment, I reacted a beat late.

“Felix needs to start developing his eye for these things. It’ll be a good lesson.”

Guillaume explained while patting his son’s shoulder.

Felix, whom I was seeing again after several years, had changed considerably. Not only had he grown a span taller, but his expression had also become much calmer.

They say other people’s children grow up fast.

As I observed his changes with fascination, I realized they couldn’t board the carriage because I was occupying the entrance, so I hastily moved aside.

“Will many people come?”

“Hmm? Haven’t you heard? Even though they can’t participate in the auction, people were making quite a fuss begging to at least see what items would be presented!”

“Father didn’t say anything about it. Hmm… if there are many eyes watching, that works in our favor.”

“That’s true.”

Guillaume agreed with my words. Felix couldn’t follow our conversation at all and just blinked blankly with his mouth tightly shut.

In the past, he would have been more than annoyed, telling us not to talk about things only we knew. That brat has grown up!

“Have you ever participated in an auction before, Adele?”

“No, this is my first time.”

“I see. Then take this opportunity to observe carefully along with Felix.”

The auction house we finally arrived at looked like a small theater at first glance.

But unlike theaters where the stage and audience are far apart, this place was close enough that you could see when someone raised their hand from the box seats to confirm bidding intentions.

‘Ah, there’s Father.’

So it wasn’t difficult to recognize who was sitting in the other box seats either.

Father was in a box seat a little distance from us, engrossed in heated conversation with Uncle.

I didn’t know what they were discussing, but seeing him act intimately with Uncle, patting his shoulder, made my stomach churn.

“Ugh, I’ll go wash my hands for a moment.”

Eventually, I fled from that spot. I couldn’t bear to keep watching that scene.

Father had completely changed. What was there was nothing more or less than Uncle and a stranger who resembled Uncle.

‘Father….’

I’m scared. That even after all this effort, the outcome might not change.

I’m anxious. That perhaps my judgment that I might be able to change the future was my own arrogance.

And… I’m worried.

About the shock and pain Father will receive after everything is revealed.

I bit my lower lip hard, but my eyes kept welling up and my nose kept stinging.

Eventually, I went out to the well-ventilated terrace and sat down.

That’s when it happened.

“Are you okay?”

A familiar voice came from above my head. I had been almost burying my head in my knees, so I slowly lifted my head.

“…Bastian?”

Bastian, why is he here?

“You looked like someone had died, so I thought I’d come check.”

Despite the content about being worried, his tone was still prickly. But thanks to that attitude, I felt much better.

“I can’t stay long. I came with the manager.”

“Monsieur Dubois?”

“I thought they only sent invitations to nobles, but apparently not. Other shop employees from Pearl Gallery came too.”

“I see….”

“Are you really okay?”

Bastian’s face came right up to my nose. When I flinched in surprise, Bastian also stepped back.

“What, what?”

“No, the kid was unusually listless, so I wondered if you were really sick somewhere…. Tsk, never mind then.”

“If I said I was sick, would you even escort me to my seat?”

“…What’s so impossible about that?”

When I chuckled and extended my hand, Bastian stared at my arm for a long time before grabbing my wrist and pulling me up.

Oh my. He’s really going to do it?

Having seen it somewhere, Bastian properly extended his arm and supported me.

Thanks to that, my heart could feel much lighter, at least for the few short steps back to my seat.

* * *

When I returned to the box seat, the auction had just begun.

The auctioneer was explaining something in an exaggerated tone, but the ‘real thing’ always comes last. I soon looked away and began examining the auction item list.

Let’s see, Gawri’s blue plum vase, eight-panel embroidered partition, horn craft box and a jewelry hairpin set with butterfly decorations that flutter on springs, solid ink….

For some reason, I could somehow visualize the shape and size of the items before my eyes. As if I had seen them directly.

“Hmm, I have no idea why that solid ink is treated so preciously.”

“Is there something about the Eastern Lands that even you don’t know, Father?”

Gasp. Felix is calling Guillaume “Father.” Isn’t this more surprising?

“I don’t know everything about the Eastern Lands either. How vast is that land! Felix, when you go outside Loire, you’ll understand. How narrow the world you knew was.”

“…I’m looking forward to it.”

Felix smiled faintly. Guillaume seemed very proud of his son and ruffled Felix’s hair, making it a complete mess.

I was a little envious of their relationship, like me and Father just a few months ago.

The painting we had set our trap with was scheduled to appear last.

What should I do while waiting until then?

Contrary to my worries, the auction proceeded quickly without a dull moment throughout.

They would reveal auction items and an appraiser would explain the value of the items. Then people would start bidding one by one, and the competition was quite fierce.

Among them were precious items that made me think I’d want them too, but most were objects of little real value.

Yet people competed fiercely in bidding as if they were the golden crown of a fallen ancient kingdom.

“For those people, that’s their best option.”

“Pardon?”

Guillaume, who had been watching the auction, casually explained.

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