Please Don’t Come To The Villainess’ Stationery Store! - Chapter 53

Finally, the day of the ball I was invited to came.

The man who identified himself as Mathieu really did send a document proving his title as Count.

According to the three men, he had nothing to do with Hildegart and Duke Lenox Hesman.

I called in a dresser and changed into a dress for the banquet.

A thin, off the shoulder Empire dress and very, very, sharp stiletto heels.

Waiting for the carriage, I stood by the window on the second floor and looked down.

Hildegart and Lenox still had little reaction. I could only imagine that they might be doing a background check quietly.

But there is something more important than that.

It is the fact that their miscellaneous store building is being built right across from my stationery store.

I stood by the window on the second floor of the stationery store and looked outside. The building was so big that there was a shadow reaching us from the distance.

This is a clear violation of our rights to sunshine.

‘Really, what is that. Are you the Eye of Sauron or something?’

The scale of infringement rights of the business district in the alley was also unprecedented.

“How could something like that be made so fast?”

I couldn’t help but admire the magical ability of this world.

‘It’s strange that the architectural ability is so outstanding but life magic isn’t very well-developed in this world.’

I closed the curtains and turned my back to sit by the window.

Not long ago, I got a head start against Hildegart, but the cotton candy’s weakness was that it would run out in a week.

And that magnificent building was already drawing attention.

It may be in an instant that the tide of war will be reversed if the reins here are slackened.

Dominique came out to the living room on the second floor, shaking off the water from his hair with a towel.

“A week left until the excommunication.”

These days, Dominique is practically an excommunication alert. Whenever he had the chance, he brought up the excommunication trial to me.

“Well, everything’s going to be fine. Things are going very well.”

I jumped up, lugging Dominique’s shoulders and hummed.

Neigh!

But I suddenly heard a horse crying and a rough knock on the door of the stationery store.

I checked the clock reflexively.

It was too early for Mathieu to come.

‘It looks like an uninvited guest stormed in.’

I ran to the door on the first floor and opened it.

“Who is it?”

Men in knight’s uniform with a Vaveloa pattern embroidered had determined expressions.

“The Duke sent us after hearing that the Lady is running a store with a man alone.”

I tilted my head to the side and replied annoyed.

“And?”

“…pardon?”

Their arrogant eyes slowly distorted.

They would have expected that they would be greatly welcomed by me.

‘Since they think I would have wanted to go back to Vaveloa stupidly.’

Sure enough, the thorns sent by Duke Vaveloa looked down on me with a frown.

“We’re here because the Duke sent us. If you have a guest, it’s basic courtesy to have them inside the door.”

“It’s because I don’t think of you all as my guests.”

Most of the Vaveloa household hated me. They thought I was some kind of pollutant.

The thorns in front of me are probably no exception since their eyes are glaring.

I opened the door and strode past them. They followed me with dumb expressions.

“Lady Meldenique Vaveloa!”

There was a noise in my ear.

I asked, sitting on a bench in front of the stationery store.

“What’s your business?”

Two of the thorns, who approached me in sweat, stood threateningly in front of the bench.

“His Excellency the Duke has ordered to bring the Princess back.”

“Really?”

Of course you sent multiple of them, thinking I would go.

I grinned as I looked at the ordinary carriage behind them.

‘It’s obvious what you’re thinking. You’re trying to test my abilities so you can use me.’

Duke Vaveloa, who used Hildegart, is now trying to use me as his chess piece.

What if mana is sensed and it turns out that my blood isn’t cursed?

Duke Vaveloa will probably be proud of me and present me as a prize here and there.

I feel bad from just hearing the ‘va’ from Vaveloa. It is as I get goosebumps from hearing the word cockroaches.
(T/N: Mel was making a play on words. Vaveloa and cockroaches start with the same letters in Korean, but it didn’t make sense in English so I changed it)

“It’s about the excommunication.”

Their eyes were saying that I wouldn’t be able to hold out any longer after hearing those words.

“Duke Vaveloa wants to think more about the excommunication.”

Since they were tall, they looked down at me.

‘Of course she’ll thank us. It’s that lowlife.’

Is what they are probably shamelessly thinking in this sunny day.

“His Excellency asked you to come to the family and explain your abilities.”

He nodded his head in a firm and brazen manner.

“His Excellency wants you to read this letter.”

One of the knights held out a letter to me.

I accepted the letter silently and then started to read each line out loud.

“Meldenique, I know you have pride. I know you showed your ability to come back to our family. So come back to the family now. I will cancel the excommunication.”

‘You must be wondering exactly what my abilities are.’

I didn’t exactly reveal my ability at the Petit Debutante. That’s why it was more advantageous for rumors to spread.

It was better to inflate rumors than to make it so obvious.

‘I guess the rumors of me from the Petit Debutante have been good.’

The rumors must have been too sweet for them to have been made up for the Duke.

I crumpled up the letter with one hand and grinned.

“…is what it says.”

The knight, who heard my cheerful voice, nodded.

“That is correct.”

The face of the knight was elated.

“What day will you return?”

The one who was beside me was cheeky.

“When you get back, you know that this building will belong to Vaveloa, right?”

The stationery store building that I built and remodeled preciously will belong to who?

I scowled at them.

“Every time I listen, you cross the line.”

I smiled refreshingly at the men sent by the Duke. In the meantime, I have spoken ill of Lenox and Duke Vaveloa.

I’ll just say it.

“You won’t get lost?”

I will not lose to Vaveloa.

The men were looking at me with flustered expression.

“What did you say just now?”

“You really don’t want to be forgiven?”

It was a loud voice from behind the bench that made the confrontation tense,

“Lady Meldenqiue.”

I knew without turning my head.

There was a man standing tall behind my back.

“I said I was busy.”

There was power in every syllable.

“…why won’t you get lost?”

The knight’s faces turned white.

“Who are you…”

The knights stammered as they felt the dangerous pressure.

They deserved to be overwhelmed. Unlike an ordinary aristocrat, his pressure was strangely more dangerous.

‘The person who learned is definitely different.’
(I think she’s saying the original is different from the copier kind of thing.)

I laughed in satisfaction, reminding myself of his strong back. Then I crossed my legs and spoke proudly,

“He’s my escort to a ball, is there a problem?”

“T-then, the Duke-!”

“Has nothing to do with the Lady.”

Mathieu, standing behind me, replied instead and pulled my shoulder firmly with his elegant fingertips.

I could hear a horse crossing the stationery store’s gates with good timing.

A carriage was prepared for me and my escort to take us to the ball.

“W-what disrespect is this?”

I jumped to my feet.

“I’m busy because of the ball, so I’ll be going now.”

It was no longer worth talking to theses people.

“Tell this to his Excellency.”

“W-what!”

“If you’re curious about me, come in person. I’m not the old Meldenique that you used to know.”

That’s all I have to say to my cowardly father.

I walked with strength, past the standing limbs.

Mathieu took my hand and escorted me to the carriage.