Please Don’t Come To The Villainess’ Stationery Store!

I moved my feet as if I was sprinting, quickly escaping so the dumbfounded Lennox couldn’t retort.

Thinking of Lennox, who had been struck dumb after being insulted by me, filled me with satisfaction.

I quickly headed towards the imperial palace’s government offices.

While on the move, the Dominic in my hand vibrated briefly.

‘Why?’

Dominic and I were in a contractual relationship. He wasn’t human anymore but had transformed into a sword, the basis of our contract, which perhaps made us more attuned to each other’s thoughts.

Dominic urgently sent me a telepathic message.

‘Are you really okay, Mel? Still, that guy is a duke.’

‘Insulting Lennox?’

I scratched the bridge of my nose.

That little brat would surely be plotting his revenge.

‘It’s okay. Our families are equals. For now, at least.’

And it didn’t seem like he would distance himself from me unless I went too far.

‘Besides, he’s always been worse to me.’

Thinking of the abusive words Lennox would always hurl at Meldenik made my fists clench with anger.

‘He’s always despised and bullied me.’

How ridiculous it was that he was left speechless by a single ‘get lost’.

Heh.

I snorted loudly.

Dominic hesitated for a moment before continuing.

‘…Right, if he says anything, I’ll protect you.’

I nodded and, whistling, headed back towards the imperial palace’s government offices. I wanted to complete one of my goals for visiting the palace: filing for business registration.

Fortunately, I was able to quickly complete the business registration within the royal palace.

Of course, while registering the business, I received many disapproving looks, though not overtly…

But those looks actually helped me.

Within the palace administration, the name Meldenik Babeloa was famously considered incompetent.

So, the administrative staff just casually issued me a permit without asking further, thinking, ‘This one will ruin the business again.’

‘The fact that people think I’m incompetent isn’t too bad.’

Especially seeing how they issue permits without properly checking the business plan or putting in any real oversight.

Filled with ambition for success, I excitedly left the administration.

I stopped briefly on the roadside, continuing to pack documents into the long bag that held Dominic transformed into a sword.

Then, a low and gentle voice came from behind me.

“You dropped this document.”

I turned around to see a man holding out a white piece of paper.

It seemed I had dropped it because of the many documents I had.

“Yes, it’s mine, thank you.”

I received the document with my name on it. Our hands brushed lightly by accident.

After handing me the document, the man whispered quietly.

“Are you serious?”

“…Yes?”

A low laugh sounded above me.

“It would be better to marry me than Duke Hessmann.”

“Ah, anyone would be better than him.”

As soon as my words ended, a clear laugh was heard overhead.

“It feels good.”

It was a medium-low, languidly sweet voice.

I was finishing up the documents with a look of indifference when I hesitated. There is only one person who could ask me something like this.

‘Could it be the man who was wearing a shirt earlier?’

I seem to have only caught a glimpse of his back.

I lifted my head to see the face of the man who had spoken to me. However, he had already walked past me.

Only a cool fragrance carried by the breeze remained where he had passed.

I tilted my head and then adjusted my bag.

Now that the business registration was complete, I had no reason to come back to this palace.

I probably wouldn’t meet the man with black hair, seemingly associated with Lennox, again.

The feeling was slightly strange.

But that was all. Since I wouldn’t see him again in the future.

***

I returned to the shabby stationery shop building again.

“It’s comfortable without dust.”

The inside of the building was much more organized and cleaner than yesterday, thanks to Dominic who had awkwardly cast a cleaning spell that morning.

I sat on a chair with a missing leg in the large studio space on the first floor, looking at Dominic.

He had since transformed from the appearance of a sword into a human.

“Let’s go to the shopping district tomorrow for the remodeling.”

“Let’s do that.”

“Hmm… Luckily, we have some money, so let’s decorate it properly, alright?”

The money given by Duke Babeloa was roughly 200 million Beckerels.

It would take about 100 million to hire a wizard to remodel the building. The remaining 100 million Beckerels could be used to purchase items for the stationery shop.

Though it was mere pocket change for Duke Babeloa, it was more than enough, even excessive, for a small business owner like me.

“Alright.”

He quietly responded.

I suddenly became curious.

Why does this sword suddenly look so thoughtful?

“What’s on your mind that makes you have such an expression?”

“Is that man we saw earlier your fiancé, Mel?”

Ah, it’s because of the incident with Lennox earlier.

I calmly answered.

“Yes. He was. Not anymore.”

He seemed amazed that I wasn’t hurt by it.

Could the mutual contract between the sword and human allow them to roughly infer each other’s emotions?

I began to feel a discomfort similar to what he was feeling.

Dominic muttered as he roughly ran his hands through his black hair, “…Yeah, it’s obvious, but it’s a shame about you.”

“Right.”

“Even though you encourage fraudulent contracts and use a sword as great as me for such unworthy tasks.”

A bit strange.

‘Why does it feel like he’s insulting me?’

I looked at him suspiciously.

“What, you. You’re not badmouthing me instead of Duke Hessmann, are you?”

“No.”

Dominic snapped out of it.

I laughed and playfully hit Dominic, then came back to my senses.

There was no time for jokes. There was something important to do this evening.

I rummaged through the clutch I had placed on the table earlier.

I then took out two sheets of high-quality paper and a fountain pen brought from my family home.

Fortunately, the precious paper was enchanted, so it came out without any creases.

Holding the pen in my right hand, I cheerfully said, “Since I’ve already informed Lennox, I’m going to write a letter demanding an annulment right now.”

While I was rummaging through the clutch, Dominic, who had been pacing the worn room, suddenly came up to me and nodded.

“That’s a very good idea.”

“I should also demand a disownment. I thought it would be immediate after I left, but why is the reaction so slow?”

To be precise, this is it.

It’s about why you haven’t excommunicated me and just let Lennox swarm around like flies!

Let’s go our separate ways.

Dominic’s expression turned to one of bewilderment at my earnest wish to cut ties with Babeloa.

“…You are a noble, do you intend to give up your status?”

There would be many who would lick the soles of the Duke’s feet just to bear the name of the Babeloa dukedom.

And Dominic would know this fact well, so it made sense that he found my decision hard to understand.

However, there is my father, the Duke, who dislikes me, my stepmother, the Duchess of Babeloa, who tries to kill me, and my younger sister and the main character, Sheria, who feels superior to me.

To completely sever ties with them, I had to give up the name of Babeloa.

And by giving up the name of Babeloa to become a commoner, any engagement talks with the Hessmann family would naturally be broken off.

‘I’m not really greedy anyway.’

I said to him with a smile.

“Yes, I’m quite confident about it.”

“…Confident about what?”

“The confidence that if I set my mind to it, I can regain my status?”

‘There is a way to regain nobility. It’s just not necessary yet.’

I looked at him with a confident face and smirked.

“Why, I have you, the strongest force, don’t I moved my feet as if I was sprinting, quickly escaping so the dumbfounded Lennox couldn’t retort.

Thinking of Lennox, who had been struck dumb after being insulted by me, filled me with satisfaction.

I quickly headed towards the imperial palace’s government offices.

While on the move, the Dominic in my hand vibrated briefly.

‘Why?’

Dominic and I were in a contractual relationship. He wasn’t human anymore but had transformed into a sword, the basis of our contract, which perhaps made us more attuned to each other’s thoughts.

Dominic urgently sent me a telepathic message.

‘Are you really okay, Mel? Still, that guy is a duke.’

‘Insulting Lennox?’

I scratched the bridge of my nose.

That little brat would surely be plotting his revenge.

‘It’s okay. Our families are equals. For now, at least.’

And it didn’t seem like he would distance himself from me unless I went too far.

‘Besides, he’s always been worse to me.’

Thinking of the abusive words Lennox would always hurl at Meldenik made my fists clench with anger.

‘He’s always despised and bullied me.’

How ridiculous it was that he was left speechless by a single ‘get lost’.

Heh.

I snorted loudly.

Dominic hesitated for a moment before continuing.

‘…Right, if he says anything, I’ll protect you.’

I nodded and, whistling, headed back towards the imperial palace’s government offices. I wanted to complete one of my goals for visiting the palace: filing for business registration.

Fortunately, I was able to quickly complete the business registration within the royal palace.

Of course, while registering the business, I received many disapproving looks, though not overtly…

But those looks actually helped me.

Within the palace administration, the name Meldenik Babeloa was famously considered incompetent.

So, the administrative staff just casually issued me a permit without asking further, thinking, ‘This one will ruin the business again.’

‘The fact that people think I’m incompetent isn’t too bad.’

Especially seeing how they issue permits without properly checking the business plan or putting in any real oversight.

Filled with ambition for success, I excitedly left the administration.

I stopped briefly on the roadside, continuing to pack documents into the long bag that held Dominic transformed into a sword.

Then, a low and gentle voice came from behind me.

“You dropped this document.”

I turned around to see a man holding out a white piece of paper.

It seemed I had dropped it because of the many documents I had.

“Yes, it’s mine, thank you.”

I received the document with my name on it. Our hands brushed lightly by accident.

After handing me the document, the man whispered quietly.

“Are you serious?”

“…Yes?”

A low laugh sounded above me.

“It would be better to marry me than Duke Hesman.”

“Ah, anyone would be better than him.”

As soon as my words ended, a clear laugh was heard overhead.

“It feels good.”

It was a medium-low, languidly sweet voice.

I was finishing up the documents with a look of indifference when I hesitated. There is only one person who could ask me something like this.

‘Could it be the man who was wearing a shirt earlier?’

I seem to have only caught a glimpse of his back.

I lifted my head to see the face of the man who had spoken to me. However, he had already walked past me.

Only a cool fragrance carried by the breeze remained where he had passed.

I tilted my head and then adjusted my bag.

Now that the business registration was complete, I had no reason to come back to this palace.

I probably wouldn’t meet the man with black hair, seemingly associated with Lennox, again.

The feeling was slightly strange.

But that was all. Since I wouldn’t see him again in the future.

***

I returned to the shabby stationery shop building again.

“It’s comfortable without dust.”

The inside of the building was much more organized and cleaner than yesterday, thanks to Dominic who had awkwardly cast a cleaning spell that morning.

I sat on a chair with a missing leg in the large studio space on the first floor, looking at Dominic.

He had since transformed from the appearance of a sword into a human.

“Let’s go to the shopping district tomorrow for the remodeling.”

“Let’s do that.”

“Hmm… Luckily, we have some money, so let’s decorate it properly, alright?”

The money given by Duke Babeloa was roughly 200 million Beckerels.

It would take about 100 million to hire a wizard to remodel the building. The remaining 100 million Beckerels could be used to purchase items for the stationery shop.

Though it was mere pocket change for Duke Babeloa, it was more than enough, even excessive, for a small business owner like me.

“Alright.”

He quietly responded.

I suddenly became curious.

Why does this sword suddenly look so thoughtful?

“What’s on your mind that makes you have such an expression?”

“Is that man we saw earlier your fiancé, Mel?”

Ah, it’s because of the incident with Lennox earlier.

I calmly answered.

“Yes. He was. Not anymore.”

He seemed amazed that I wasn’t hurt by it.

Could the mutual contract between the sword and human allow them to roughly infer each other’s emotions?

I began to feel a discomfort similar to what he was feeling.

Dominic muttered as he roughly ran his hands through his black hair, “…Yeah, it’s obvious, but it’s a shame about you.”

“Right.”

“Even though you encourage fraudulent contracts and use a sword as great as me for such unworthy tasks.”

A bit strange.

‘Why does it feel like he’s insulting me?’

I looked at him suspiciously.

“What, you. You’re not badmouthing me instead of Duke Hesman, are you?”

“No.”

Dominic snapped out of it.

I laughed and playfully hit Dominic, then came back to my senses.

There was no time for jokes. There was something important to do this evening.

I rummaged through the clutch I had placed on the table earlier.

I then took out two sheets of high-quality paper and a fountain pen brought from my family home.

Fortunately, the precious paper was enchanted, so it came out without any creases.

Holding the pen in my right hand, I cheerfully said, “Since I’ve already informed Lennox, I’m going to write a letter demanding an annulment right now.”

While I was rummaging through the clutch, Dominic, who had been pacing the worn room, suddenly came up to me and nodded.

“That’s a very good idea.”

“I should also demand a disownment. I thought it would be immediate after I left, but why is the reaction so slow?”

To be precise, this is it.

It’s about why you haven’t excommunicated me and just let Lennox swarm around like flies!

Let’s go our separate ways.

Dominic’s expression turned to one of bewilderment at my earnest wish to cut ties with Babeloa.

“…You are a noble, do you intend to give up your status?”

There would be many who would lick the soles of the Duke’s feet just to bear the name of the Babeloa dukedom.

And Dominic would know this fact well, so it made sense that he found my decision hard to understand.

However, there is my father, the Duke, who dislikes me, my stepmother, the Duchess of Babeloa, who tries to kill me, and my younger sister and the main character, Sheria, who feels superior to me.

To completely sever ties with them, I had to give up the name of Babeloa.

And by giving up the name of Babeloa to become a commoner, any engagement talks with the Hesman family would naturally be broken off.

‘I’m not really greedy anyway.’

I said to him with a smile.

“Yes, I’m quite confident about it.”

“…Confident about what?”

“The confidence that if I set my mind to it, I can regain my status?”

‘There is a way to regain nobility. It’s just not necessary yet.’

I looked at him with a confident face and smirked.

“Why, I have you, the strongest force, don’t I?”

Dominic looked at me, flustered, then blushed red.

Inside, I’ve lived a very long time, but it was cute to see such a lovely boy, who appears only seventeen on the outside, be flustered.

He repeatedly caressed my face, murmuring softly.

“What… Certainly, I am a reliable, supreme sword.”

I nodded my head towards Dominic.