The Villainess Builds a Department Store - Chapter 75

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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 75

Guillaume, who had returned to Hedebeau Company’s office, offered a glass of cold water to his old friend who had aged ten years in an instant.

“Guillaume… I don’t even deserve this kind of treatment from you.”

Charles, who had emptied the entire glass of water, muttered in a powerless tone. Regardless, Guillaume sat down across from him and brought up an unexpected old story.

“Do you remember the day we were first swindled?”

“Hm?”

How could he forget? It was an incident where a young master who knew nothing of the world and a reckless youngster full of bravado charged in boldly, only to be literally stripped bare, left with nothing but their socks.

“I was the one who suggested we go, not knowing they were fraudsters. But instead of blaming or abandoning me, you trusted me and gave me another chance.”

“Thanks to that, next time you skillfully took even that fraudster’s belt.”

At the time, it was truly a moment when everything went dark and I just wanted to die, but looking back, it was a pleasant memory.

“I trust you. As long as you trust me, forever. So don’t make that face.”

You need to be our company’s regular customer and face for a long, long time. Guillaume added playfully, giggling.

Suddenly Charles’s eyes grew hot. His nose tingled and a hot, lumpy emotion clogged his throat tightly.

“…Thank you… And… really, really sorry…”

That was the only thing Charles could say.

“Oh my! After acting sincerely for the first time in a while, my facial muscles are cramping. When I was young, I could put on all kinds of acts without batting an eye.”

Guillaume groaned and stretched, then rubbed around his mouth.

Suddenly Charles felt the hot lump that had been blocking his throat slide down.

“…Acting?”

Charles’s eyes widened. Guillaume giggled at the reaction that was exactly as he had expected and waved his hand.

“That’s right. Since you wouldn’t understand with ordinary words, I just used shock therapy.”

“Then, that forgery was…”

“You know how if you stick a picture on a window where light comes in and put paper over it, it shows through completely? Since brushes, paints, and even paper were in the warehouse, I put them to good use.”

Crack. Guillaume watched with amusement as the noble lord forgot his dignity and froze with his mouth hanging open.

“I’m thinking of withdrawing from the auction business now.”

“You’re not withdrawing, you’re running away! If this fact becomes known…!”

“It’s something that can be solved if only you keep your mouth shut. Whether I wash my hands of it or run away, that’s my problem, and you should now worry about how to apologize to your family.”

“Hmm…”

Guillaume’s words were right. Charles touched his chin again with a gloomy face.

When he came to his senses, the first person who came to mind was his wife.

Since he was her husband’s only brother, she couldn’t even take a strong tone – how frustrated she must have been, and how much she must have suffered inwardly.

When he remembered finally raising his voice, Charles felt like burying his head on the table.

And then there were the children…

No matter how young the children were and how little they knew, they couldn’t have failed to notice the change in the estate’s atmosphere – how should he soothe that anxiety and worry?

And it wasn’t just the children.

He wasn’t sure if Monsieur Laurent would accept his apology and intention to rehire him.

“…I’m really sorry. Because of me, you… I’ve caused too many people to suffer…”

Charles bowed his head deeply to Guillaume.

“I’m really glad that Guillaume, you’ve been by my side, following my young and rash period and even into the age when I became completely filled with stubbornness and self-righteousness.”

Charles, who raised his head again, had the same honest and upright eyes as when Guillaume first met him.

* * *

“I don’t know anything about it! I was also deceived by that fraudster!”

Damn, blast, curse it!

Philippe was sweating profusely, trying somehow to escape from the journalists who were rushing at him like a pack of starving dogs.

“How did you meet the appraiser!”

“Did you really not know he was a fraudster?”

“Philippe! We trusted only you! Surely what we won at auction isn’t also a forgery?”

Just when he thought he had barely escaped from the journalists, this time the riffraff who had invested in him clung to him.

Roughly shaking off those who were hanging on his arms and grabbing his shoulders, Philippe shouted in a voice filled with irritation.

“Damn it! I said I don’t know! That bastard showed me a Royal Academy graduation certificate! I, I’m also a victim!”

Suddenly silence fell.

“You were the ones who wanted to make contracts! You were happy to make contracts then, so why are you making a fuss now! Do you think I only lost a penny or two?”

What a shameless person… Someone in the crowd clicked their tongue.

While everyone was shocked, Philippe didn’t miss the opportunity and fled from the auction house.

His head was throbbing. His heart was pounding and his legs were trembling.

He wanted to drink alcohol and escape from this reality. Even if he was called a coward, even if he was cursed as despicable, he just wanted to run away like this.

‘What should I do from now on?’

At this rate, it was only a matter of time before the fact that he had sold the Royal Family’s name would be discovered.

Gaspar would also certainly abandon him for their own safety once he learned of this matter.

So he couldn’t return. But if he stayed like this, angry customers would find him – what should he do?

‘That’s right! The wild ginseng!’

Indeed, heaven does not abandon me. He had one last stronghold remaining. If only the ship carrying the wild ginseng arrived safely, he could make a fortune again.

First, he needed to contact that man – that nouveau riche whose nephew was sick. He would pay the highest price. Then he’d take that money and board a ship to Gawri. And there he’d start a completely new life!

Philippe had found another escape route this time too.

* * *

‘Nice weather.’

The sunlight was bright, Antoine’s eyes were sparkling. Amidst the fountain’s water stream soaring high into the sky and shattering brilliantly, even the blowing wind carried the sweet fragrance of the garden’s flowers.

How long has it been since such a peaceful moment…?

Slurp, sip. As I drank the fruit soda with ice, the clean and refreshing sweetness burst through my chest that had been stuffily blocked for the past few months, and a thrilling sensation spread throughout my entire body.

“Older Sister!”

“Yes?”

When I turned my head at the sound of my younger sibling calling me, Antoine splashed water toward my face. Splash!

“Antoine, you!”

“Kyaaa! Kyaha!”

Since the child’s hands were so small, it was only to the level of a few water droplets splashing. However, I jumped up from my seat, grabbed my clothes, and started chasing Antoine.

Come to think of it, when was the last time I played with Antoine? Feeling guilty enough about how long ago it seemed, I decided to play with Antoine with all my might to make up for my regret.

Before long, Mother’s garden was filled with mine and Antoine’s high and bright laughter. Mother was sitting in the pavilion, watching us siblings with a pleased smile on her face.

“Oh! It’s Father!”

Then I saw Father coming out of the estate.

Father, who had become a stranger over the past few months, fortunately quickly returned to his original form that we knew.

Of course, since it was a case involving blood relations, Father couldn’t escape the investigation network either, but thanks to adult circumstances that I didn’t need to know about, he was able to return to the estate easily.

However, unlike Antoine, who decided to forgive Father after receiving a sincere apology, toys, and candy as big as his own face, Mother was still treating Father coldly.

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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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