Please Don’t Come To The Villainess’ Stationery Store! - Chapter 45

Soon after, a professor in the upper class of the elementary school walked to Melissa’s and Axion’s table.

“There will be a short break and then part two will begin. It will be time to reveal the items Prince Axion and Princess Melissa prepared.”

Melissa, who saw the professor’s gentle face, bit her lips. There was no time for further delay.

‘I’ll have to ask for a short break.’

But as soon as Melissa rose, Axion spoke.

“Melissa.”

“Yeah?”

Melissa responded briefly and looked toward Axion.

But Axion wasn’t looking at Melissa. Instead, the boy pointed toward the door.

“The door is opening!”

“Maybe…!”

“Is something wrong, Princess?”

When the professor asked, Melissa shook her head.

“No, I think someone is coming in!”

Was it because the boys and girls were cheering together? The tip of the red dress was visible through the opening of the door.

At a distance, the face was invisible, but it was definitely her.

Meldenique finally came!

Axion’s face, which was full of anxiety, lit up.

People were making a lot of noise because it was still break time. But even in the midst of the bustle, Hildegart sharply caught the opening door.

“Was someone else coming?”

Hildegart’s words of displeasure drew everyone’s attention belatedly to the door. Due to the concentrated atmosphere, the guard spoke loudly.

“Duke Vaveloa’s young lady, Meldenique Vaveloa is entering.”

People were buzzing because they didn’t know why Meldenique came.

“My, why did she come here?”

“Why did she come all the way here?”

“Wouldn’t she be coming crying for investments for her business?”

There was a buzz all around.

Duchess Hildegart’s expression was distorted for a moment, but she soon smiled gracefully and fanned herself.

“My daughter, Vaveloa came. Although, I don’t know why.”

The lady beside her continued.

“Oh my, where does she think this is?”

“…she does business in front of the academy.”

“What kind of mass things will she do this time?”

“It’s a precious day for children, you don’t think she would do anything, do you?”

“You never know. Think about what she’s done so far!”

The children’s negative feelings piled up in their heads listening to the adult’s small talk.

But it had no effect on Meldenique..

Meldenique crept up to the center of the hall, dressed in an alluring wine red dress.

The adults pretended not to like it, but small exclamations erupted between the children. Meldenique today was too beautiful.

Although she didn’t take care of her hair for a while, her blonde hair remained the same, her almond eyes, and her slightly smiling red lips. Her hair was tied up in a ponytail, emphasizing her beautiful neckline.

But how’s her attitude?

She walked confidently to the table where Melissa and Axion were sitting, which was in everyone’s sight.

It was completely different from the past, when she cried or made a fuss. Even a single gesture was dignified and graceful. People shut their mouths.

The current Meldenique’s appearance was imprinted clearly in everyone’s mind.

Every child in that space liked Meldenique.

Like it was nothing, she stood casually and gracefully by Axion and Melissa.

Meldenique, who overwhelmed the crowd’s attention, spoke for the first time.

“Hi, I’m a little late. Were you worried?”

Meldenique smiled naturally and sat in the empty chair that was for her.

Melissa handed the rose she was holding in Meldenique’s hand.

“Unni!”

“Y-you’re so so pretty today.”

“Like an angel!”

Having received roses, she skillfully sniffed them and whispered,

“Thank you.”

Axion’s and Melissa’s words were what every child in that space wanted to say.

Meldenique’s beauty, to the the children who hadn’t debuted yet, seemed perfect.

Meldenique, feeling the attention on her, swept her hair behind her ear.

“I prepared something really fun for you today.”

Melissa’s eyes opened wide.

Come to think of it, Meldenique looked a little different today.

“You can look forward to it.”

She nodded her head continuously as she looked at Meldenique wink.

***

I looked around a lot.

‘Perfect.’

I tried so hard to overwhelm everyone with my visual!

Basically, Meldenique was a very beautiful woman. Maybe, that’s why even a little effort brought everyone’s admiration.

Even in the midst of a thorny gaze, I stood up straight.

‘Let’s hear what my customers have to say first.’

Leaning comfortably on the backrest, I listened carefully to the voices heard from all over the place.

“Can’t I go talk to her, Mother?”

A small voice, apparent of favor, was heard.

“Ah, no. I told you earlier. That person is Princess Meldenique.”

“Did you say she eats people? She doesn’t look like that though?”

The kids naive questions touched my heart.

‘Just how far does Meldenique’s notoriety reach?’

The adults whispered scary storied and stopped the children from approaching me.

No child seemed to be able to approach me.

‘Still, they seem to like my appearance.’

My main clients were children. So I just wanted to impress the children to a certain extent.

‘The stuff I developed will take care of the rest.’

I smiled gloatingly, looking down at the enchanted clutch on my knee.

I grinned, feeling the waves of pure mana hovering gently around my heart.

‘This amount of mana is more than enough. I don’t know if I can do it properly though.’

This was a gamble.

But, unless I bet on a winning move, I won’t be able to leave a deep impression.

I looked around quietly.

‘I’m definitely at an absolute disadvantage in this situation.’

Hildegart’s and Viscount Telin’s sneering faces stung me.

The hall they made was too extravagant.

Furthermore, the large table in the center and the myriad of shiny phantom stones on it made it even more obvious.

“Those people, they really brought phantom stones.”

Melissa looked at me with a sorry face.

“After touching the phantom stone and seeing the vision, your mana amplifies by five percent.”

Axion, who was next to me, shouted with a runny nose.

“I just asked the knights! I heard that it’s a total nightmare, is everyone crazy?”

Did parents here want their children to stand out even more by raising their mana, even if they would have nightmares through the phantom stone?

‘Interest in me was definitely lost. Since they brought the phantom stones.’

I clicked my tongue when I saw a hundred or so in the middle of the hall.

Whether it was disposable or multi-use, it must have cost a fortune to get so many phantom stones.

I looked in the direction of Hildegart. Even though she was sitting at a distance, a sneer on her mouth was seen.

‘If this event fails, Madame Hildegart will be hit hard.’

All of Vaveloa’s property came from the Duke and the Vaveloa’s senate.

It must have been hard to afford the phantom stones.

She must have borrowed money from Duke Vaveloa.

The Duke must have paid for it gladly, believing that Madame Hildegart would never fail.

‘I don’t think it was a penny or two.’

I glanced at Duchess Vaveloa.

She, along with Viscount Telin, looked down at me and smiled insolently.

As if she were trying to show the difference between us.

“Now, shall we check the items prepared by Duke Hesman’s young lady and the eight prince?”

I lifted myself up, holding a clutch in one hand and Melissa’s hand in the other.

Axion followed me closely.

The children focused on me with expectation, but the parents’ eyes were dispersed.

In the meantime, there were many who were greedy and focused on the phantom stones.

‘The phantom stones are definitely great.’

But the adults didn’t know much.

No matter how fancy, beautiful, or expensive the things they bring in, cats were only interested in crumbling wrappers or boxes.

Children were similar to cats. There was only one thing that would attract children’s attention.

Something exciting, something that looks fun.

Finally, Melissa, Axion, and I stood at the center of the podium.