The Villainess Builds a Department Store - Chapter 81

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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 81

“Me…?”

Adelaide smiled and patted his shoulder encouragingly as he just blinked his eyes blankly.

“Yeah. When you become rich later, let me know then.”

“When I become rich…”

“You’re going to sail on ships, right? Someday you’ll have your own shop too. I’m sure you can do it.”

“You talk as if you’ve seen the future or something.”

“Gasp, you caught me.”

Adelaide drew large circles with her eyes and mouth and gasped as if her secret had been discovered. At that sight, Bastian couldn’t help but chuckle.

She really was a strange girl.

She would lead situations with insight and knowledge superior to most adults, yet when she showed such clumsy moments like this, he got confused about which was the real Adelaide.

When she kept her mouth shut, she looked as elegant as the noblewoman in the cameo pendant, but the words that actually came from that mouth were as friendly as his own, having spent his whole life on the streets. That was probably why he sometimes forgot she was a viscount’s daughter.

“Do you really need to see the future? Just looking at your notebook…”

“Ugh, stop talking about the notebook!”

“Come to think of it, don’t you need a new notebook? Let’s go buy one! Since you’re working in an office now, let’s get a fountain pen too, and also…”

Adelaide chattered away on her own and pulled his arm. Before they knew it, their escorting positions had switched, but neither of them minded.

When he was with Adelaide, he could forget who he was.

This place felt like somewhere he could belong.

He felt like he had become someone who was allowed to be here, and it seemed like he really could become that.

This street that he had hated terribly just moments ago felt quite pleasant for the sole reason that he was walking with Adelaide.

“…That’s how it will be.”

Someday, I’ll become someone who suits not only this street but also you.

Bastian made this promise without the person in question knowing, and firmly etched into his eyes the sight of Adelaide energetically leading him.

* * *

Seasons flowed and flowed until one bright day when full summer was just around the corner.

That day had finally come.

“Antoine, you can do well, right?”

“Yes!”

Unlike Antoine’s spirited answer, I sniffled and kept wiping my blurring eyes.

“Honey, don’t drink too much wine just because I’m not here. Go to bed early. And don’t perk up your ears at talk about useless investments or whatever. You know?”

“Of course I know. I’ll just wait for you to return safely.”

Today was the day Antoine would go to Cité Lutèce to take the entrance exam for boarding school.

Mother and Camille were accompanying him. Camille suggested that I should come along too to experience the capital’s atmosphere, but I promised to do so next time.

And for good reason, there were only a few days left.

Until the day that problematic ‘panacea’ would arrive at Port Nantes.

I had to witness with my own eyes how Nantes would be turned upside down because of it, or more precisely, how Alain would find his uncle and finish him off for good.

“Sister? What are you thinking about?”

“Hm? Oh, I was thinking about how I’d kick the butts of any kids who get in Antoine’s way!”

“Sister, I’m not a little kid anymore.”

I was left speechless. Indeed, as he said, Antoine no longer ran around the corridor wildly or spoke with mumbled pronunciation, but instead spoke clearly and sat dignifiedly and calmly to read books.

Hiding my wistful and regretful feelings, I took out the necktie I had prepared as a farewell gift and tied it around Antoine’s neck.

“That’s right. You’re a proper student now. Antoine, rather than doing your best, just enjoy yourself.”

“Yes!”

Such a spirited answer too, my little brother! I felt reassured as I saw the three of them off.

Finally, the carriage carrying the three disappeared from sight, and just as I was about to go back into the house.

“…Huh? Father, did someone come by?”

“Hm? I wonder?”

Father stopped while climbing the stairs and tilted his head. Likewise, I also looked puzzled as I just fiddled with the letter envelope stuck in the window frame.

When exactly, and who had left this? Anyway, since there would be no clues without opening the envelope, I checked the contents.

And I froze right there.

[Capture Complete]

The moment I saw that one sentence, chills ran down my spine. At the same time, I could tell who had left this letter.

Alain Lemur, he had finally found his uncle.

* * *

“Monsieur Charmeuze! We finally meet!”

“Hii, hiiiik!”

In the most secluded and deep alley among the alleys of Port Nantes, at its dead end, Philippe couldn’t believe the reality before his eyes.

Why was the nouveau riche who had generously opened his purse of gold coins for his nephew here? And with burly men who clearly looked like they could use some force!

“You… you are…”

“Surely you haven’t forgotten me. Haha. I hear you’ve been having busy days?”

“That’s… there was a misunderstanding! Yes, a misunderstanding! It’s really just a trivial misunderstanding, but people needed a scapegoat to tear apart and shift responsibility to…”

“Aha. So Monsieur Charmeuze became an innocent scapegoat, took all the blame, and is now on the run like this?”

“Yes! That’s exactly it! I, I am innocent. Innocent without a single shame before heaven!”

“…So you say.”

For a moment, the gentleman’s green eyes flashed in the darkness.

“Then I can trust that panacea you promised as well?”

“Hiccup.”

When a hiccup came out involuntarily, Philippe hurriedly covered his mouth with his hand. However, he couldn’t stop the sound of air leaking between his fingers.

“Hm? Why such a reaction?”

“No, no! It’s not that. It, it really exists! It’s real!”

“Really? You’re really serious, betting your life on it?”

“Of course!”

Let’s just get out of this situation somehow. Cornered, Philippe blurted out recklessly without knowing what he was saying.

“Then Monsieur Charmeuze should bet his life too.”

“…What?”

“Why? My nephew’s life is at stake here. So shouldn’t you bet your life too to make it fair?”

“That, that’s…”

When he gestured, rough-looking men who had been waiting in the darkness approached and forcibly made Philippe stand up. Then they began forcibly dragging him away.

“What, what’s this! Let go! Let go, I say! You lowly things! How dare you, do you know who I am!”

“Just in case Monsieur Charmeuze gets beaten to death by the victims beforehand, which would be troublesome, I’m taking responsibility to escort you to a ‘safe place,’ so don’t worry. Why, are you afraid I might kill Monsieur Charmeuze or something?”

“Let go! Let gooooo!”

“Hahaha. Dead people don’t beg to be killed from their mouths. So I won’t be killing Monsieur Charmeuze. You can rest assured.”

That’s the same thing!

That was Philippe’s last memory.

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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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