The Villainess Builds a Department Store - Chapter 71

—————
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 71

“One… one million… one million… francs.”

The auctioneer forgot his role and muttered in a strangled voice.

“Ahem.”

When Guillaume cleared his throat, the auctioneer finally came to his senses and checked if there were any other bidders.

There couldn’t be any.

“…Monsieur Hedebeau. Congratulations! You’ve won the highest bid, so please share your thoughts!”

Guillaume headed to the stage amid gazes mixed with envy and jealousy.

Now, the real performance begins.

Reporters flocked toward Guillaume as he received the painting.

“Monsieur Hedebeau! Is there a reason you valued this painting so highly?”

“Was collecting Eastern paintings your hobby?”

“There’s criticism that this is speculation rather than collecting. What do you think about that!”

However, instead of responding to the questions, Guillaume furrowed his brow and kept his mouth tightly shut.

His eyes trembled as they wandered all over the painting, as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

His mouth constantly twitched as he anxiously bit his lower lip, as if trying to say something.

And his face grew pale in real time.

I didn’t know Guillaume had such acting skills. Anyone could see that Guillaume looked like something had gone wrong.

“Why is Father acting like that?”

Enough to make Felix worry.

* * *

“Monsieur Hedebeau? Is there some problem with the painting?”

Guillaume should have been happy to get the painting he wanted, but he was staring at the painting with a very serious expression, so the auctioneer lowered his voice and asked.

“Hmm…”

“Monsieur Hedebeau?”

Guillaume’s head whipped around. What was etched on his face was clear anger.

The auctioneer unconsciously stepped back at Guillaume’s suddenly changed expression.

“M-Monsieur?”

“The painting seems a bit… strange?”

Guillaume tilted his head and deliberately spoke loudly enough for the reporters to hear clearly.

“S-surely you’re not suspecting it’s a forgery?”

The serious-faced winning bidder, and the equally pale auctioneer.

The reporters instinctively realized there was a problem with the auction and prepared to write down whatever came out of their mouths.

Nothing had been fully revealed yet, but they were already thinking about the headline for the front page of tomorrow’s newspaper.

“If, by any chance, you suspect it’s a forgery… I’ll call an appraiser.”

Still, he had to do what he could until the end. The auctioneer tried to maintain a calm attitude.

But Guillaume frowned as if his suggestion was unpleasant and suddenly raised his voice.

“How can I trust an appraiser affiliated with the auction house!”

“Th-then we’ll call a different appraiser…”

“…That would be good.”

Guillaume turned his head and looked around the hall. There were more than ten appraisers here.

They were companions who explained the value of items on behalf of participants’ insufficient knowledge.

“Gentlemen, would you help me out?”

In the chaotic atmosphere, appraisers came up to the stage one by one.

People who were flustered and didn’t know what to do in the unexpected situation.

Or people who calmly tried to examine the painting first.

And… the fraudulent appraiser.

‘You won’t be leaving here peacefully today.’

Rather than being anxious about his skills being exposed, the fraudulent appraiser was extremely calm, just stroking his mustache.

Wow, you really have to be that shameless to commit fraud. He should have tried acting instead. Even if he couldn’t play a prince, he would have done well as a talking rock.

Even crawling out on all fours would be too good for you. I glared at the fraudulent appraiser with all my might and gritted my teeth.

“I wonder how many proper appraisers are among them?”

“Huh?”

Then Felix muttered while resting his chin at an angle.

“It hasn’t been that long since we started full-scale exchanges with Gawri, yet there are so many people who claim to be appraisers and are knowledgeable about Gawri culture?”

When I heard it, that wasn’t entirely wrong either.

Thinking that perhaps Bastian might be the person who knows the most about Gawri paintings among the people here, I suddenly became anxious.

When my expression hardened, Felix continued as if to reassure me.

“But if there’s a real one among them, it might actually be a good opportunity.”

“Why do you think it’s an opportunity?”

Felix had become quite smart while I wasn’t looking, so could he give another clever answer this time too?

“Well, if they succeed in proving that their appraisal results are correct here, their value will increase accordingly.”

“You really have studied a lot, haven’t you?”

“Of course. I’m going to take over Hedebeau Company after Father someday. I need to see, learn, and experience as much as possible from now on.”

At his serious answer with no trace of humor, I became solemn as well.

I had lectured Felix a few years ago to change the future where he would ruin Hedebeau Company.

And now Felix, who was in the process of changing the future, was in front of me.

And by his own will, no less.

While I was at it, I decided to check one more thing.

“Then is your goal to become a merchant like Guillaume?”

“No.”

Felix immediately denied it. Then he looked around once and lifted his chin up, lowering his voice and whispering as if it were some great secret.

“I’m going to become a better merchant than Father. Hah, I haven’t even told Father about this yet…”

Was it really a secret? But why are you telling me?

“So you keep it secret too.”

“Hmm, I’ll think about it.”

“What? How can you say that!”

“That’s why when you say things like that, you should have added a confidentiality clause to the contract beforehand.”

“What kind of contract between friends…”

You, if you had said that in front of Guillaume and my father just now, you would have been laughed at terribly.

And since when were we friends? Are you trying to inherit even the relationship between our fathers?

“Because we’re friends, we need to make it even more official and certain.”

That young one wouldn’t know that this is advice born from experience.

If all friendships were solid even in the face of money, why would people long for and cherish friendships that money can’t buy?

As bitter memories surfaced, I also felt relieved that at least now I didn’t have to worry about Felix and the future of Guillaume Company.

As long as Felix doesn’t go through a turbulent adolescence.

‘Friend…’

Honestly speaking, I had no intention of making friends. I have a lot to do, and I’m sick of being betrayed by shallow emotions like friendship.

But if you really want to be treated as a friend by me.

I held out my palm toward Felix.

“Pay the friendship fee.”

Felix’s mouth dropped open with a face that said ‘what kind of thing is this.’ Then he stammered back.

“Y-you want me to pay upfront without even writing a contract? What kind of highway robbery is this?”

Monsieur Laurent, who had been quietly listening to our conversation, had an expression that crumbled miserably as if wondering what he had just heard.

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