Please Don’t Come To The Villainess’ Stationery Store! - Chapter 31

Prince Cassian was still expressionless. But he gave me a serious nod.

“You’re serving me a drink.”

“Yes.”

He caught the slushy glass in front of him with his eyes.

I looked at him and gave him a number in my head. One, two, three… do adults not like my slushy drink?

But did I look too excited? Carat looked at it and spoke hurriedly.

“That drink is dangerous!”

“……?”

It’s not dangerous at all though. There was an empty cup in front of Carat, but he continued to talk.

“The thing called slushy… It’s so delicious. I think there are medications in it.”

Although a devil made it, it isn’t drugged though?

I looked at Prince Cassian with a serious and friendly face.

‘Is he joking?’

I was a little scared, but now I knew what kind of person Carat was. His adult-like way of speaking was so cute.

‘How delicious is it that he’s advertising my drink in front of the Prince?’

You’re a good friend.

Impressed, I put my hands together in front of my chest.

“Thank you for the compliment, Carat.”

The tip of Carat’s eyebrows went up and down as if he was protesting. Meanwhile, Prince Cassian took a sip of the slushy without any doubt.

“It’s my first time having a drink like this.”

“No it’s not, Brother-.”

“…it’s my first time.”

“I developed it myself. How is it? It’s refreshing, right?”

I laughed with satisfaction.

It was because Zion, who was listening to Cassian and me converse, was so cute.

“…yes, it’s a unique taste.”

I guess my slushy isn’t effective for him. . Except for the subtle tip of his lips, he had the same expression on his face.

Axion, who saw his brother’s face, was happy. His mouth was wide open and his chubby cheeks were crumpled in both hands.

Cassian spoke after giving Axion a short glance.

“So what’s the answer to my question, Princess Meldenique Vaveloa?”

‘For now, I must hide my ambition to seduce all the children in this Empire.’

It wasn’t good to show this ambition openly because he could tell Lenox.

I looked at him and spoke vigorously.

“Just, opening a stationery store is my dream.”

“Did you say it’s your dream?”

“Yes. As you know, I’ve done a lot of business…”

Ah, my mistake.

“No, because I’ve failed a lot of businesses. That’s how I felt. My real dream is not to do such a big business.”

“Then?”

“To find small happiness in a normal business.”

Cassian stared at me. He didn’t seem to believe it at all. But there was no reason to be anxious. It was inevitable even if he wasn’t on my side.

I continued in a comfortable tone.

“The truth is, I wanted to open a stationery store in front of the academy and talk to the children. I also wanted to make good memories for the children.”

I meant what I said.

I wanted the children who would graduate from the Academy to come to my stationery store and make memories. Just like my childhood. I hoped that children would have such happiness, opening up small hopes in a desolate competitive society.

‘The kids will be happy, and I’ll also be a big hit. I’ll become the president of children.’

His eyes looked up to me.

But I didn’t care if he didn’t believe me. I didn’t mean to make Prince Cassian my perfect helper. He also didn’t have to become my helper. This man just needs to do a little favor for our stationery store.

I shrugged my shoulders and spoke to Cassian, “Your Highness the Crown Prince is welcome to come anytime.”

He stared at me without answering. As if he were trying to make it possible that I was speaking the truth.

And Dominique quietly asked because the conversation wasn’t clear, “Why are you inviting this person?”

Instead of pointing out Dominique’s rudeness, the Prince looked at me.

I answered, looking at Dominique.

“It’s just, because everyone has a childhood. Even nice adults need a place to reflect on their memories.”

Nice adults were limited. Including a man who had an affair, my family was very much excluded.

I made up my mind and spoke to Cassian.

“So… it’s not bad for adults who graduated to stop by the stationery store in front of the Academy and look back on their memories.”

“……”

“I don’t know what you’re saying, but you’re cool…Mel!”

Axion spoke. That child already believed in everything I said.

I smiled at Axion.

Cassian spoke quietly while looking at us.

“You’re different from the rumors.”

“Rumors are usually exaggerated.”

“That’s right, I was also rumored to have a horn on my butt…scold them, Brother!”

Axion helped me sullenly.

Then Cassian stroked his little brother’s head and said with a smile, “I’ll believe you. But Meldenique. You’ll have to be careful.”

As expected, he didn’t seem to be persuaded by my honest words. Well, would there be any reason to be persuaded by the words of a woman who had always played cheaply?

I asked back, shrugging my shoulders.

“Yes?”

But I failed to win him over, and my thoughts seemed to have slipped away.

Cassian spoke calmly, “Because many people are wary of you and regard you as an enemy. You can’t live as an ordinary stationery store owner.”

Is it a favor or a warning?

I tried to read his face, but it was very difficult. The prince had a poker face.

So I decided to answer simply.

“Is Your Highness also considering me to be your enemy?”

The way to treat a person who looked friendly at first glance but drew a line to everyone was simple. By talking straightforwardly.

He replied after frowning slightly, “Not yet.”

His words seemed sincere.

I smiled broadly at him.

“Then that’s enough.”

“That’s right! The two of you aren’t enemies, you’ll be marrie-.’

Cassian, whose ears turned red, hurriedly blocked his brother’s mouth.

It was a serious conversation, but it became comedic with Axion.

“…haha, I don’t mean to be naive either.”

Whether it’s Lenox, Hildegart, Duke Vaveloa, or Sheria…

Looking at me like that, he smiled momentarily and then hardened his face again.

‘You can laugh comfortably though. Is it because you think you’ll look weak if you laugh in front of me? .’

I glanced at the small clock that was inside the stationery store. It’s almost time to eat now, so I think it would be better if they leave now.

“It looks like it’s time for us to part now.”

Saying that to Cassian, I glance at Dominique. He had an unpleasant expression, but he seemed to keep deliberating on what I was saying.

Leaving Dominique in thought, I decided to give some money to the guests who were leaving.

‘Finally! The time I’ve been waiting for has finally come.’

It was no exaggeration to say that he played with the children with all his might this time.

I bit my lips to calm my excitement. Then Carat looked at me more suspiciously.

“Xion, Carat.”

Whether he did or not, I called Axion and Carat first.

‘Since they’re the first official customer of the stationery store, I’ll give you lots of presents. .’

I smiled with remorse as I handed both of them a pretty package full of beer candies.

“Share it with your friends.”

“Yeah! I’ll advertise it to my friends.”

“…it looks unique. I-Is it beer?”

“Yes. It’s beer-shaped candy. There’s no actual alcohol in it so you can relax.”

“How do I believe that!”

Carat’s eyes were filled with distrust.

I hummed and spoke.

“I put yellow candy on a white stick and a jelly that looks like white foam on top. It’s just sweet candy!”

The white jelly above is soft and the yellow candy below is hard.

“With the soft jelly and yellow candy, it has a sweet taste. Sweet and sour, right?”

The boy who saw my smile opened his eyes wide.

“Why are there so many fascinating things about Mel? By any chance, by any chance!”

I was a little nervous.

I haven’t even developed all my alchemy talents yet, so I can’t let rumors spread.

“Are you an angel?”

I gave a ‘pft’ and shook my head with a smile.

Axion looked at me with an innocent face.

I laughed at the cute Prince.

‘You’re so loveable.’

“There’s a funny magic inside the candy.”

“Magic?”

“B-beer candy and even magic…!”

I laughed joyfully as I patted Carat’s and Axion’s head, children with different charms.

Carat gulped down the beer candy in his hand.

‘I can see that you’re excited, Carat.’

Beer candy has an immediate effect for children who want to look mature.

I laughed smugly inside.

“Make sure to try it, okay? Advertise it a lot too.”

I winked towards the boys.