LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 267
TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 267
Tetra Shuen.
A woman in love with Mikhail.
The adopted daughter of the Tower Master, making her a disloyal daughter with two parents. She was a girl with an extraordinary family tree and a strong backing, but also a tragic woman destined to confess to Mikhail and be rejected.
“Ohoho…”
Personally, I liked Shuen.
Not in a romantic sense, but as a reader, I found Shuen, a clumsy villainess different from the typical Young Lady, endearing.
With her clumsy personality and artificial laughter of “Ohoho,” her words could be a bit harsh, but she was a Noble Lady who didn’t harm others, making her enjoyable to watch.
-Hey, Shuen, why do you disappear every lunchtime? Want to eat with me?
-Ohohot…! I appreciate your offer, Yuria, but I don’t want to sit with a commoner, so I go to a separate restaurant!
-I see…?
She was a mild-mannered woman, different from villainesses who fell into deep despair because of love.
Her only flaw was her excessive fangirling due to her first love, but she was one of the extras I liked in the novel.
And she was a character with significant presence too.
Smiling, I greeted the purple-drilled hair figure who entered through the door.
“Welcome. This is the SU Convenience Store, where happiness begins.”
“Ohoho…! Don’t greet me, commoner.”
“Are you okay from your fall?”
“Because you caught me…! Wait a moment! Why are you acting so familiar?! I’m a Noble, and you’re a commoner!”
“I’m just glad you weren’t hurt.”
“…Ugh!”
Seeing Shuen blush, I smiled warmly and began introducing the convenience store.
It seemed she had come here because of Mikhail.
“Then, may I give you a brief introduction? It’s a slow day with no customers, so I’d like to at least do some business.”
“No need. I’ve already seen the flyers.”
“Ah… You came after reading the flyers?”
“Of course…! I learned that this is a vulgar shop selling all sorts of random items.”
“You’ve got it exactly right.”
Nodding at Shuen’s provocation, I smiled. She was trying to pick a fight, but nothing she said was wrong. In fact, I was happy she had read the flyer and come to visit.
Compared to the Misamo members who threw eggs just a few minutes ago, she was like an angel. I cautiously approached Shuen and continued introducing the store.
“At SU Convenience Store, we sell everything except what we don’t have, including nail clippers, combs, snacks, black tea, and more.”
“How chaotic.”
“It is, but we also sell cherished items for some customers, so I hope you won’t think too poorly of us.”
“Cherished items?”
“Yes, like a handkerchief Mikhail used or a beverage bottle Ruin drank from and discarded…”
“T-This vulgarity!!!”
Shuen blushed furiously and glared at me.
“Is it because you’re a commoner?! How can you say such undignified things?!”
“Haha… Then I’ll dispose of them. I just happened to pick them up by chance.”
“Ughhh…!”
“I apologize if I made you uncomfortable.”
Seeing me apologize politely, Shuen bit her lip and muttered, ‘T-This isn’t how it’s supposed to be…’ Then she stomped over to the food section where Mikhail had been and furrowed her brow.
“Hmmm…”
“…”
“Hmmm…!”
“Ma’am.”
“Hmmm!!”
“Ma’am?”
“Ack!”
I lightly tapped Shuen’s shoulder to get her attention.
Startled, Shuen jumped back and shouted at me.
“What are you doing?!”
“Are you looking for something? Like the Mandrake Candy Mikhail ate, for example.”
“…”
Shuen glared at me and then spoke in a timid voice, asking how I knew.
“How did you know? Don’t tell me… Are you using mind-reading magic or stalking…?”
“Your imagination is running wild.”
“…”
Still wary, Shuen reached out like a drenched cat for the candy I held.
“Would you like it?”
“Yes.”
“How many do you need?”
With a serious expression, Shuen replied.
“A box.”
“Pardon?”
“Give me all of it. You’re not going to tell me you’re out of stock, are you?”
Shuen boldly offered to take care of the unsold stock.
Amused by the customer willing to buy the least popular item at the academy in bulk, I let out a chuckle and shook my head.
“No, I’m just surprised because you asked for so much.”
“If I ask for it, just give it to me, commoner.”
“Understood, ma’am.”
I brought out a box of Mandrake Candy from the storage room, placed it on the counter, and looked at Shuen.
“Is one box okay?”
“Uh… A small box…”
“Pardon?”
“…Ohoho! Of course! What else could I have meant by one box? Surely you didn’t think I meant a palm-sized box? What do you take me for…!”
Suppressing a smile at Shuen’s prideful yet naive demeanor, I clenched my fist, feeling like I had caught a pushover.
“By the way, ma’am.”
“Why do you keep talking to me, commoner?”
“Ah, my apologies. Seeing such a dignified Noble Lady, I couldn’t help but want to say a few more words.”
“Ohoho!!! Then I shall permit it.”
“Thank you.”
Watching Shuen cover her mouth as she laughed, I decided to poke at her weak spot. I didn’t want to let go of this easy target.
“About this candy.”
“Yes.”
“Are you buying so much to share with your friends?”
“…”
Shuen, who had been searching her bag for her money pouch, flinched at the question and glared at me.
“…What?”
“Mandrake Candy has a recommended daily intake of 10 pieces. Eating more than that leaves a bitter taste in your mouth… I was just curious if you were planning to eat it all yourself.”
“…”
“Haha… That’s not the case, right?”
Blushing, Shuen shook her head and shouted at me.
“Of course not! Do you think I’m a pig?!”
“Pfft…!”
“Why are you laughing?! If you’re a clerk, act like one and just ring it up!”
“Ah… Haha. Understood.”
As I opened the register, I threw a playful jab at Shuen.
“Then you’ll come back again, right? If you’re sharing with friends, you’ll need to buy more.”
“T-That’s…!”
“Next time you come, I’ll throw in a small box for free.”
“Ugh…! As expected of a commoner, giving freebies…! Fine, I get it. I have tons of friends, so I’ll just come back tomorrow.”
“Pfft… Understood.”
Suppressing my laughter, I wiped the tears welling up in my eyes and spoke to Shuen.
“See you again soon.”
“Sure thing, commoner.”
Bowing slightly, Shuen grabbed the candy box and tried to move.
“Ugh…”
The candy box didn’t budge.
A flustered Shuen stared at the box with trembling eyes, her expression filled with confusion as to why it wouldn’t move.
“Should I carry it for you?”
“…No, thank you!”
Huffing and puffing, Shuen lifted the box.
“Haaah…”
As she plopped down in exhaustion, I let out a dry laugh, hung the [Away from Desk] sign on the convenience store door, and picked up the box.
“Oh…”
Shuen blushed as she looked at her rolled-up sleeves and exposed arms.
“Should I carry it all the way to the dormitory?”
“Yes… No, fine. Go ahead, commoner.”
“Understood.”
And that evening.
“Ptooey! Why does Senior Mikhail eat such awful candy…!”
At the dormitory, Shuen, like Hansel and Gretel, threw candy out the window, sighing with a forlorn expression.
“Haa… What should I do?”
Curious about the love Senior Mikhail once had for this candy, she had bought too much, falling victim to clever marketing.
“The Misamo members must have already bought theirs.”
Receiving an allowance from her household, Shuen sighed as she looked at her now-empty wallet.
“I made a promise with that man…”
Shuen thought to herself.
That man, Ricardo.
He must be a devil.
*
-Ding.
The next day, Shuen came to the convenience store again.
-Oh ho ho! Commoner, I’m here to buy candy again!
And the day after that.
-Oh ho ho… Commoner. Candy again today.
And the day after that, Shuen stopped by the convenience store to buy candy. Her goal was to figure out the man named Ricardo and to annoy him as revenge for Senior Mikhail.
-Oh ho ho! You’re as vulgar as ever today, commoner.
Hanna sighed as she watched Shuen.
“Why does that woman keep coming here?”
“Hmm… Who knows?”
“She came yesterday! And today! She’s like a ghost that died eating candy!”
I smiled faintly and looked at Hanna.
“Maybe she wants to get closer to me.”
“Butler.”
Hanna, with a cold expression, glared at Shuen, who was wandering near the shelves, and said,
“Having a chest isn’t always the answer.”
“Pfft! That’s not it.”
“Still…!”
Hanna pouted her lips and clenched her fists. Even though she was fuming, she continued organizing the inventory, and her actions brought a smile to my face.
“I’m more worried, honestly.”
“Huh?”
“It’s nothing.”
Today as well, Shuen lingered around the spot where Mikhail had once picked out items. She smiled sweetly at the snacks he had touched and sighed in relief when she saw there was only one left in stock. She looked like a girl in love.
I smiled bitterly and thought to myself.
‘It must be hard to endure.’
Having witnessed women fail in love, I understand better than anyone the pain of unfulfilled love.
It feels like an emptiness in the chest.
And the sorrow of endlessly shedding tears.
Having seen how painful unrequited love can be, I couldn’t help but feel drawn to her.
Because I already knew how her love would end.
-I’ve liked you for a long time…!
-Is that why you called me here?
-It’s not a fleeting feeling. I truly…
-You’re just like that other woman, Shuen, letting love ruin you.
I couldn’t help but worry.