I Bought the Villains With Money - Chapter 84

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 84.
I’d been uncertain, but there was indeed something to it.
“Um… Miss.”
Jennis raised her hand tentatively. She seemed to have something to say.
“Jennis, if you have something to tell me, go ahead.”
Even though I’d given her permission, Jennis hesitated. She must have wanted to tell me something privately.
“Could you step away for a moment, Rumdracks? Go sit over there at Lebert’s table.”
Lebert moved at once, but Rumdracks, curious instead, clung to Jennis.
“Get away!”
Only after Jennis snapped at him did Rumdracks finally shuffle over and plop down beside Lebert.
From there, he stared at us intently. More precisely, at Jennis’s lips.
Jennis, aware of his gaze, covered her mouth with one hand and whispered in my ear.
“A friend told me. I think the Assignment Envelope was switched, Miss.”
“…!”
I gripped Jennis’s arm in shock. If this were true, and if Julia had orchestrated it—
‘I could land a serious blow.’
But it struck me as odd that Karman remained calm despite knowing this.
‘There must be no evidence.’
“What is it? Why are your eyes so wide?” Jennis asked, stepping back.
I answered while my mind raced through calculations of whether evidence existed. “The person who did this to me. I might be able to catch them.”
“Who?”
Rumdracks rolled up his sleeves and vaulted over the sofa. His presence was fierce and menacing.
If Julia were in front of him now, he’d throttle her without hesitation.
‘His Majesty despises any wavering of royal authority. If there’s proof that someone switched the assignment to endanger the royal family, he would never let it slide.’
I reached my conclusion: there was no evidence.
“I can’t tell you because there’s no evidence.”
“Are you certain about your suspicion?”
“Yes. I’m sure of it.”
“Then there’s no problem. If there’s no evidence, we make one.”
Rumdracks said it so casually. Of course a con artist would speak of forging evidence so easily—wait. Yes! We could make it.
“Let’s make it!”
My eyes flew open.
“Rumdracks, you’re a genius at Forgery! We need to go home right now.”
I kicked off the blanket and sprang from the bed. Jennis caught me as I tried to bolt from the room.
“Miss, you’re still in your nightclothes.”
Now that she mentioned it, I was.
I laughed sheepishly. Behind Jennis, Rumdracks clicked his tongue, and Lebert’s face flushed crimson.
***
Royal Studies classes were postponed indefinitely. Cassion had not yet regained consciousness.
Simultaneously, an Investigation into the Royal Studies professors began.
It was a procedure to verify whether any course content posed a danger to the prince, princess, or myself.
The professors objected, but Karman’s resolve was so firm that they all cooperated.
And Cassion remained under Gardian’s care.
Gardian’s treatment was kept under the strictest security. No one knew what he was doing inside.
I tried to find out through Jennis’s friend, but Gardian’s barrier was impenetrable even to a mouse.
‘Is His Majesty all right?’
As worry accumulated, Rumdracks appeared bearing welcome news.
“There. The documents are finished.”
The envelope Rumdracks brought was identical to the Assignment Envelope I’d received from Professor Umbreller.
“How is it? I made it using the envelope I slipped from that professor’s office, based on your description.”
“It’s perfect. Even I’d be confused. What about the Map inside?”
“I made a simple map and put it in. Does the contents need to be exactly the same?”
I shook my head. This sealed envelope would have more than enough value as it was.
‘I didn’t even know what was originally inside it.’
I picked up the document envelope and stood.
“I’m going out.”
“Where are you going?”
“To give a warning.”
Rumdracks tried to follow, but I stopped him.

Now was the time for him to work as the operator of the Phoenix Bank.
I placed the documents into my bag and boarded the carriage.
“To Braiting Palace, please.”
The person I was to meet today was Julia.
***
Despite Cassion and Diana coming close to death, Julia was not pleased. The result had exceeded what she’d intended.
She’d meant only to frighten Cassion and Diana, to dampen their spirits. The bomb incident last time had only served to embolden Diana instead.
She’d wanted merely for Cassion, already frail by nature, to take to his bed for a time.
But Cassion had remained unconscious for days without waking, and Diana had nearly died of hypothermia.
She wished they’d simply died outright if it was going to be like this.
Nursing such dark thoughts, Julia had not stirred from Braiting Palace these past few days.
Then Diana had reached out to her first.
Asking if they might meet.
The message had not been welcome, but Julia found no good reason to refuse. And in any case, since Diana was Cassion’s betrothed and had been seriously ill, she needed at least to play the part of one concerned.
Julia accepted, and Diana had just arrived.
“Lady Diana has come, Your Majesty.”
The door opened and Lena announced her. Diana entered behind.
Diana, who ordinarily carried nothing with her, had brought a large bag today.
Julia’s gaze touched upon Diana’s bag, then fell away.
“Good morning, Your Majesty. The room is rather cold. Cough.”
As Diana coughed, Julia waved her hand dismissively.
A servant added more wood to the hearth, and Lena closed the window.
“Diana, I heard you’ve been through quite an ordeal. It seems your health still hasn’t improved.”
Julia spoke words she didn’t mean.
“I should have sent word sooner myself. But as you know, Dayson and Umilre came down with colds, and everything has been in chaos. Do forgive me.”
Julia’s words were true enough.
On the day Diana and Cassion nearly froze to death, Umilre and Dayson had also been caught in the cold wind. Both had fallen ill.
Diana gave an inward laugh.
What she and Cassion had endured was hardly the level of a common cold.
Nearly frozen to death! In an age where magic and medicine had advanced so far, and they were nobles and royalty no less!
Diana kept her composure in check and took the seat Julia had offered.
“Warm tea and medicine to restore the body’s heat. Your Majesty specially ordered these for Lady Diana.”
Lena set two cups before Diana—one medicine, the other tea.
“Thank you most kindly, Your Majesty.”
Julia smiled with satisfaction at Diana’s thanks and dismissed Lena and the other attendants.
“What brings you to see me, Diana?”
After watching Diana sip her tea for some time, Julia spoke.
“I found something amusing near your palace, Your Majesty.”
Diana smiled brightly and withdrew something from her bag.
Julia’s eyebrows shot up at the sight of it. What Diana had produced was the Assignment Envelope that Anderson had burned—Umbreller’s very own.
‘It’s identical to the envelope Anderson burned. How is this possible!’
“What is that supposed to be amusing about?”
Julia smoothed her startled expression and looked away from the envelope.
She lifted her teacup with studied casualness, her eyes skimming over the envelope on the table. The more she looked, the more identical it appeared to the one Anderson had brought.
Julia’s finger, reaching for the cup’s handle, fumbled awkwardly instead.
Seeing Julia’s confusion, Diana smiled.
“Professor Umbreller’s Assignment Envelope.”
“Professor Umbreller’s Assignment Envelope?”
Julia’s voice trembled thinly. At her agitation, Diana wanted to cry out in triumph.
‘Rumdracks must have recreated it perfectly.’
“Diana, why did you bring such a thing here?”
“I found it near your palace, Your Majesty.”
“I don’t know what you mean. I’ve never seen that envelope.”
“How strange. Professor Umbreller said he’d certainly delivered his Assignment Envelope to Your Majesty.”
“I never received an Assignment Envelope from him! The envelope was brought by Anderson—”
Flustered, Julia made a mistake. I smiled thinly.
“So it was Lord Anderson who switched them.”
“I misspoke. Let us forget you heard that.”
Julia settled back onto the sofa.
“Your Majesty, I’ve suffered greatly because of this. His Highness still lingers at death’s door.”
Just before arriving at Julia’s chamber, Diana had learned from Gardian that Cassion had awakened.
But there was no need to tell Julia the truth outright.
“If I take this Assignment Envelope and go find Karman, will that suffice?”
“It won’t matter. That’s a forgery.”
Julia was no fool. Diana’s lips pressed into a thin line.
Julia adjusted her posture and let out a scornful laugh.
‘It’s definitely a fake. I saw Anderson burn it with my own eyes. She must have heard somewhere that the Assignment was switched and brought this thinking I’d be easy to deceive. How little you understand me, Diana.’
Julia inwardly mocked Diana’s shallow ploy.
At first, she had been startled at seeing an identical envelope, but upon reflection, it made no sense whatsoever.
“How are you so certain it’s a forgery?”
“Well… actually, I don’t need to prove it’s fake. You need to prove it’s genuine, shouldn’t you?”
Diana continued, her smile serene and unhurried.
“I have quite a few mage friends, Your Majesty. Among them, there’s one who’s remarkably skilled at restoration magic—bringing back things that have vanished.”
Rumdracks, who could conjure nonexistent things with such artistry that it seemed like true magic. His work was nothing short of miraculous.
“So this is authentic.”
Diana was pushing her luck, and Julia’s patience was wearing thin.
“That’s impossible. I’ve never heard of a spell that could restore something completely reduced to ash.”
Ah, Diana’s lips curved into a long, knowing smile.
“You burned the documents.”
……!
Julia’s expression shifted to one of chagrin as she stared at Diana.
“I see how things stand now. I’ll take my leave. Your Majesty should be in your study, yes?”
Diana reached toward the envelope on the table to slip it into her bag.
I Bought the Villains (Serialized)
Author | Lee In-hye
Publisher | Kim Ju-hyung
Published by | J Plus Media Co., Ltd. – Tiramisu
Marketing | Han Jae-hyuk
Address | 11th Floor, Ace Techno Tower 8th Unit, 11 Digital-ro 33-gil, Guro-gu, Seoul (Guro-dong, 1101)
Email | [email protected]
Homepage | http://blog.naver.com/jayplemedia1
ⓒ Lee In-hye 2021
※ This work has been published by J Plus Media Co., Ltd. in accordance with a contract with the copyright holder.
Without permission from the company and author, the content may not be used in any form or by any means.
Violations may result in criminal and civil legal liability.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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