The Villainess is a Millionaire Solver - Chapter 139

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 139

6. The Star of the Festival Always Appears Last

A commercial district lined with luxury shops that most people in the capital would recognize just by name.

Luxurious carriages bearing the crests of noble families came racing in unison and stopped. The servants riding behind the carriages jumped down and opened the doors.

From inside, aristocratic ladies dressed in splendid gowns stepped out.

“Come, let’s go in!”

I walked ahead, gesturing with my hand.

Serene, Lillibes, and the other young ladies who had become close to me all entered the luxury shop right in front of us together.

This was a place we usually went shopping. But today our purpose wasn’t purchasing, but market research.

With time to spare before the Founding Festival opening ceremony, we had come to see the ‘festival limited collections’ that various stores had specially prepared.

‘No matter how busy I am, I can’t miss this kind of opportunity.’

We walked around the stores, taking in the new attempts by various designers.

“They incorporated the Empire’s flag pattern into the dress like this? It’s not as bad as I thought?”

“This year, layering multiple medal-shaped necklaces around the neck is getting a good response too. You can create unique looks depending on the combination.”

“It’s pretty, but if you had to run and it hit your face, you’d lose your teeth.”

The young ladies burst into laughter at my words.

“Why are you all laughing? I’m being serious. You never know when you might suddenly need to run in life.”

“That’s true.”

We moved around in a cheerful group, exploring this store and that store.

We asked about things we were curious about, made plans for next year, and listened to expert predictions about future trends.

Studying together from the perspective of businesspeople or aspiring businesspeople was incredibly fun.

When our feet started to hurt, we went to the tea salon that Benjamin had recommended.

“Come on, to celebrate becoming an S-rank merchant guild leader, I’ll treat everyone.”

“Great!”

When we sat at our reserved seats, people’s gazes focused on us.

Not to mention Serene, Lillibes, who owned Lillibes Luxury Fashion Store, was also a popular figure in high society.

The other young ladies who had approached me without being constrained by the prejudice of me being a villainess were also good-natured and intelligent.

Seeing how people fixed their gazes and whispered when we passed by, this group was undoubtedly receiving tremendous attention in high society right now.

‘And I’m at the center of it all.’

I felt so pleased that the corners of my mouth kept rising.

Attention is a good thing.

Since gazes are focused on me wherever I go, even if someone has sinister thoughts of harming me, it would be difficult to carry them out, right?

A target that’s always surrounded by bustling crowds. Even a murderer would find it extremely frustrating.

It was a complete 180-degree change from the old days when I was a loner troublemaker that everyone avoided, and was even confined.

‘I need to keep creating situations like this.’

I thought while accepting the chocolate that Serene offered me.

I need to keep expanding my influence.

For that goal, I decided to properly utilize this Founding Festival as well.

‘It’ll go well.’

In my efforts to avoid being murdered by an unidentified culprit, I had somehow steadily extended my reach like an octopus into politics, religion, economics, media, and so on.

This way, I’m placing my people one by one in areas where the culprit might secretly hide and operate.

‘If your tail is too long, it’s bound to get stepped on.’

I need to stay sharp and watch for opportunities to start throwing snares from this side too.

I can do this well.

Burning with such determination, I emptied the cup in my hand in one go.

“…”

Oh right, this was tea?

Even though it had cooled down, it was still hot, and I almost teared up.

But on this perfect villainess face reflected in the silver teapot, not a trace of distress appeared.

As always, it was only cold and haughty.

Thank goodness.

I barely managed to swallow the tea and said.

“Now, let’s all do our best at this Founding Festival.”

“Yes!”

Everyone answered with bright smiles.

“This pie is delicious.”

“It really is. It’s not too sweet either.”

We chatted away and completely emptied the three-tiered plates in front of us.

After that, we all set off together to the Imperial Palace to watch the Founding Festival opening ceremony.

Before getting into the carriage, a loud voice from the street pierced my ears.

“Welcome! We offer discounted lodging for those participating in the Knight Tournament!”

An innkeeper was enthusiastically soliciting customers, wearing a helmet on his head and waving a flag.

‘The Princess’s commercial district revitalization plan succeeded too.’

I smiled broadly and got into the carriage.

Traditionally, the Founding Festival opening ceremony is held at the Imperial Palace Theater.

A place that played an important role since ancient times when rituals and plays were indistinguishable from each other?

The theater was a magnificent outdoor amphitheater with tiered seating arranged in layers.

The seats that could easily accommodate hundreds of people were already packed. Everyone was sitting in anticipation of the ceremony that would soon take place on the circular stage.

“Our seats should be in the front, right?”

“Yes. Probably the second row.”

The moment Serene and I just set foot at the entrance of the circular theater.

“Aristina!”

A voice calling me from below echoed thunderously.

It seemed to pierce straight through countless seats and stab directly into my ears.

I could actually see people screaming “Ah!” and covering their ears.

Someone was standing tall in the front row seats down below.

Red hair visible from far away. A physique well-trained through combat. Revealing clothing as if trying to save on fabric, and glittering golden accessories.

Given the location, today Zikren’s necklace reflected light that was even more intensely blinding.

“Ugh…”

Serene and I raised our hands to block the reflected light as we went down.

“Come to think of it, Serene. Tinted glasses might be useful at this festival. Glasses with colored glass to block light. Should we make and sell something like that?”

“That’s a good idea too.”

Serene took out her notebook and jotted down notes as she descended.

In that we both only thought about making money to live well and eat well for a long, long time, we were perfectly matched.

“I greet Your Highness the Second Prince.”

When I finally reached the bottom and offered my greeting, Zikren smiled brightly and pointed to a seat.

“I saved a seat here for you. It was the best spot among the remaining seats.”

“Thank you.”

Serene quickly sat down.

Zikren was flustered.

“Didn’t Princess Hyperion’s parents reserve a separate seat for her?”

“Ah!”

Serene jumped up.

“Oh my! I’m sorry! This was a seat you reserved just for Lady Aristina, not for both of us? How tactless of me! To sit in a seat that His Highness the Second Prince reserved for Lady Aristina!”

“…It’s not like that, so just sit down.”

Zikren, who had suddenly become a petty man, said with a scrunched face.

I held back my laughter.

To think he even reserved a seat for me. It’s actually kind of cute.

Considering our track record so far, who knows when things might go wrong again and he’ll start yelling.

I whispered to Serene.

“Let’s just sit anywhere. It’s best to enjoy it when His Highness the Second Prince gives special treatment. Though you probably felt bad about it.”

“Actually, I didn’t feel bad. It was so funny that I decided to pick a fight.”

Serene covered her mouth with a handkerchief and yielded her seat to me.

“….”

Zikren stood there for a moment with his hand on his forehead, then went to sit far away in another seat.

But when he saw someone had placed a parasol in that spot, he was chased back over here again.

“Just sit down.”

When I said that, he plopped down in the seat next to me.

True to his easygoing nature, he seemed to be in a good mood again already.

Well, who wouldn’t be in a good mood right before a festival?

It seemed there was still quite a bit of time before the opening ceremony would start. His Majesty the Emperor would have to enter first, after all.

Still, people enjoyed the atmosphere with cheerful faces without showing any signs of boredom.

Among them, I noticed merchants walking around.

They were selling things like champagne chilled in ice buckets, sandwiches that could be eaten easily, and lollipops to pacify whining children.

“What’s that?”

To satisfy my curiosity and quench my thirst, I gestured to call over a merchant.

“It’s a Gladis Guild monopoly? How do you break into something like this?”

“It’s decided by lottery every year. The Black Rose Trading Company participated too but probably lost.”

Zikren answered.

“I see. There’s a lot I need to learn.”

I nodded and poured champagne into the glasses of the two people sitting on either side of me.

Zikren leaned back leisurely, sipping his champagne and muttering.

“Forget all that, I wish the knight tournament would start soon. It seems like it’ll be the most interesting.”

“I’m looking forward to that the most too.”

Serene said with a bright smile.

“Who will win. Who will be this year’s Founding Festival couple. It’s already becoming a hot topic.”

“I need to make very good use of that opportunity.”

I fluttered the brim of my hat and fell into thought for a moment.

Just then.

“Princess!”

A small child suddenly popped out from between the seats over there and called to me.

I stood up happily.

“Princess Violet!”

Violet was wearing a cute hat tied under her chin with strings to keep it from flying away in the wind, and a dress that looked like cotton candy.

She looked especially adorable today. I smiled and took the child’s hand, saying.

“I saw on the way here that commerce is flourishing because the knight tournament is being held again. Your Highness’s plan was a success.”

“I did see that story in the newspaper. Father praised me for it too.”

Violet boasted with a proud face. Serene looked at Violet like that and shook her head.

“Congratulations. But you mustn’t do such dangerous things again. Please never do that again from now on….”

Then she lowered her voice and whispered.

“But how did you sneak in secretly? No matter how much I ask, you absolutely won’t tell me.”

“Huh?”

I asked back in confusion.

“Didn’t you just sneak in when no one was around? That’s what I thought. Did you use some special method?”

“Sneaking in is impossible. They monitored without missing a single moment after installing the door that opens the space.”

Zikren replied.

“I have no idea how you secretly got in. It would have been impossible unless you were a ghost. No matter how much I ask, you won’t say.”

“Really? Your Highness, can’t you tell us? I’m so curious.”

“Hmm….”

Violet turned her head to look at me.

“I was originally going to keep it a secret, but today is a festival day, and it’s not just anyone but Princess Aristina asking. I’ll tell you specially, just here.”

Then she said to her second older brother.

“Please cover me with your cloak.”

“What are you trying to do?”

Zikren grumbled as he spread his cloak and wrapped it around his sister.

“Now, watch carefully.”

Violet said that to us and then showed us something.

Huh?

I was looking at it absentmindedly when I was startled.

“Cough! Cough!”

The champagne I was about to swallow got stuck in my throat.

‘Wait, why is she doing that?’

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