Chapter 292: (Gossip) Pumilla’s Fiancé and His Store 1

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A/N: We’re slightly going back in time in comparison to where we left off last chapter.

My name is Pumilla. My big brother Benjamin is the owner of the number one store in this country. And as his sister, I do my best to help him.

I really do…honestly. Everyday I read the letters reaching us, and diligently answer them.

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Recently, I’ve become really good at writing characters! My ability to read and understand has followed suit, too! I’ve even become able to read awful hand-writing!

Everyday is a battle against letters. Sometimes I win. Other times I lose.

When I begged (threatened) my brother to give me an assistant, he finally hired someone. And even though she’s just sorting the letter, that’s already a big help. Oh, and she’ll also brew some tea for me. That’s truly appreciated.

…Haah, I’m so tired.

I’m going to try that “pack,” which Lady Indra told me about, when I get back home today.

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――Oh my, another one of those.

The reason for me spending my days in such a tolling…err, fulfilling way, my former fiancé, had been recently sending me letter. I’ve been getting rid of those letters without reading them, but he’s quite persistent about sending new ones.

Well, even if I were to read them, I wouldn’t answer anyway, so it’s just a waste of time to read them in the first place.

Especially because I’ve got thiiiiiiiiis many letters I have to read! IT’S SOOOOO MANY OF THEM! As if I’d have the time to read the worthless shit of a piece of trash!

…Oh my, that won’t do, I lost my temper for a moment.

Anyway, I have no spare time to read his letters. Let’s move on to the other letters I need to read.

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Today is the day of the lottery. The lottery event is being held in front of the store and it’s been extremely popular.

This neighborhood is located in the outskirts of the capital and since my brother bought up all the land around this store, we don’t have any neighbors we could bother, even when running such a big event.

Loads of people gather each and every single time, but since we can hand the written invitation to the winners on the spot…or in other words, since I can decrease the amount of letters I must write…I want people to personally participate in the event whenever possible.

A big, round basket is being rotated around, and once it comes to a halt, the ball with the name of the winner written on it flies out of the basket with a popping sound. The ball stops in the air, bursts open, and loudly announces the name and the lottery number of the winner. I must admit, we’ve been using an amazing magic tool.

Even children, who aren’t allowed to participate in the first place, gather in front of our store to watch this, and each time a ball pops open, they squeal in joy and delight.

The winner steps forward and receives the written invitation from the deputy shopkeeper. Given that the winner’s biometric data will be registered at that moment too, they’ll be able to enter the store on the appointed day, even if the invitation is stolen. On the other hand, in case someone comes along with the invitation, who’s not the winner themselves, they get immediately arrested. Therefore, it’s the safest method for the winner to get their invitation on this occasion.

Once could also scheme to pose as winner, but as a number has been assigned to the lottery participants and since it’s not said that they’ll win until the day of the lottery event, there has been no problem with impostors thus far.

I usually join as an assistant and each time someone wins, I greet them briefly and congratulate them for winning with a smile. After all, it decreases the number of letters I need to write! That’s more than enough of a reason to congratulate them with a smile plastered all over my face!

This time, all the winners have come to personally pick up their invitation! What a wonderful day! Yahooo!

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Once the lottery ends, the next opening day for the general public is announced, and I become a receptionist for all the lottery participation requests.

Of course, it’s possible for those who already won once to apply again, but those who didn’t buy anything or caused trouble will never be able to win again since they’re black-listed. Conversely, those who paid more than a set amount of money or repeatedly bought expensive goods have been given a certificate for preferential treatment.

In other words, they are allowed to buy stuff at our store by making a booking without having to go through the lottery process again. However, this certificate loses its value if they don’t buy or visit the store for a set period of time.

Naturally, there exist ranks among the certificates. The members of the ducal family have indestructible certificates guaranteeing them eternal preferential treatment.

But that’s only natural.

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The ones applying for the lottery are asked for their names and addresses. Officially it’s for the sake of sending them a letter if they win, but it also serves as crime prevention.

Those without a proper address automatically drop out of the lottery in advance. The town, where I lived before, and its neighboring town, are banned from participation, too. Because it’s pretty much clear that anyone coming from there would be related to those people.

Now then.

I must go back, read letters, and write replies. Won’t this clamor calm down anytime soon?

Also, I’d like my brother to hire a lot more people to read the letters and write replies. I feel bloodthirst welling up in me whenever I hear my brother saying, “I’m relyin’ on you, Pumilla!”

Even though he called me over while saying that I’d just need to do housework! Isn’t a housekeeper handling all the housework nowadays!?

Let me do the housework and hire someone to write letters, for fuck’s sake!!!

…Oh my, that won’t do. I lost my temper again.

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――Just when I tried to go inside, a couple approached me.

“……Long time no see, Pumilla.”

Because the man greeted me awfully casually, I wondered whether I needed to call the Ryokus and horbs to get rid of another criminal pretending to be a friend while staring at his face for a while…

Oh, I remember.

“……Aahh, are you possibly…….”

He’s my former fiancé, the guy who revoked our engagement. Come to think of it, I also vaguely recall the gaudy woman who’s looking at me with a feel of being vastly superior while clinging to his arm.

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……Why did he come here? And how dare he stand in front of me again?

That’s quite a thick-skinned boldness.

Did he possibly come all the way to the capital to show off his marriage to his former fiancée? The woman, who spread her legs to steal my fiancé, looks awfully smug.

It sure is nice to have so much free time.

Oh my, isn’t that wonderful? The busier you are, the more profit you make, was it? Well, not a single thing is nice about that, though.

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