The Villainess is a Millionaire Solver - Chapter 142

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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 142

“Do you like it?”

When I asked, Aldensis smiled brightly and answered.

“Yes. This is the first time I’ve received such a lovely gift.”

That much? Just how barren has his life been until now.

“I’m glad to hear that.”

When I turned my gaze, I happened to spot an empty bench.

We went over and sat down there.

I opened my mouth wide to take a bite of the apple, but at that moment, sugar and peanuts came tumbling down.

Only then did I realize.

‘This wasn’t meant to be eaten, it was for decoration.’

I had impulsively bought it just because it looked pretty.

This was a dessert that couldn’t be eaten without getting chocolate on your face or ruining your clothes.

Other people were also just going “How cute!” while admiring theirs, then going back to the stall to ask them to cut it up on a plate.

“We should do the same.”

Aldensis chuckled and took both apples back to the stall.

“Could you cut these for us?”

The stall owner had been wide-eyed ever since I bought the apples. But when the Crown Prince came asking to have them cut, he was even more surprised.

However…

‘Don’t ruin the atmosphere and pretend you don’t know.’

Everyone could feel the pressure from Aldensis’s aura.

The owner tried his best to appear natural as he cut the apples, placed them on paper plates, and handed them over with forks.

“Here you are.”

Aldensis took them and came back.

“We should have tried this kind of thing before to know better.”

“Exactly.”

I bit into a nicely cut apple piece with a crisp crunch. The sweet and sour taste of the apple did go well with the chocolate, caramel, peanut powder, and so on.

“It does taste good.”

“Indeed.”

Aldensis said as he bit into an apple piece with his characteristically neat expression.

“By the way, this is strange, Princess. Trial and error due to ignorance has always been utterly unpleasant, no matter how small the matter. But somehow this feels enjoyable.”

“I’m glad to hear that. Perhaps you’re beginning to understand the joy of festivals. Your Highness has never enjoyed a festival before. I hope you can truly experience the fun of festivals this time.”

“…”

Aldensis put down his fork and smiled.

“You could never tell just from looking at the Princess’s appearance, but the more I get to know you, the more I think you’re truly a kind person.”

“Anyone would have to become kind if they were in my position. Since you never know who might stab you in the back.”

“I won’t.”

He said seriously.

“So how about you stop drawing lines as if you might turn around and leave at any moment, and allow me to escort you? You were avoiding answering my question about where you were going…”

“No. I was going to answer. I was just thinking of going home.”

“Just home…”

Aldensis muttered something quietly.

Well, I admit it’s not exactly a glamorous destination. But do people live on style alone?

“Very well. Though it’s just around the corner from here, I’ll safely escort you there nonetheless. Of course, you might find it unreliable to entrust an escort to a member of the Royal Family who isn’t familiar with festivals. But this time, I studied in my own way to blend naturally into the festival scene.”

“You studied?”

“Yes. Would you like to see? For example, those dragon dolls that symbolize the Founding Festival can easily be bought anywhere for just 5,000 pere, but…”

Aldensis passed by the stall selling dolls and went to an archery game booth.

“People prefer to pay 7,000 pere for this uncertain game instead. That’s the charm of festivals.”

He paid the fee, took the bow, and hit a large doll. Then he started to hand the doll to me but hesitated.

“Should I have failed the first few times for fun?”

“No. You did well.”

Aldensis’s face brightened at my praise.

It seems he really did study something.

Perhaps that’s why.

Indeed, he really did look like someone enjoying a festival.

When we encountered a magician on the street, we stopped for a moment to watch. When I exclaimed “Wow!” in admiration, Aldensis put money in the magician’s hat.

Then as we continued walking and came to a marketplace, we naturally slowed our pace and browsed the small items.

Aldensis said as he bought various small items.

“Actually, these aren’t antiques but mass-produced goods from the Industrial Guild, but buying things like this is also part of the festival’s fun.”

“That’s right.”

As we continued walking, we also encountered a marionette procession.

Puppeteers in black full-body tights were controlling dolls attached to strings.

It was an event announcing the ‘Giant Parade,’ one of the main events of the Founding Festival.

“Please show us lots of love at this festival too!”

The puppet show included a scene where the founding Emperor offered his sword to the Mother of All Dragons.

Even though it was a story I already knew, the puppets’ performance was so excellent that I couldn’t help but applaud.

“If the small puppets are this impressive, how magnificent will the giants be?”

“Hmm? Haven’t you watched that parade every year, Princess?”

“Until last year, I only looked at Your Highness’s face.”

“Ah.”

While having such conversations and watching intently, I suddenly realized.

“Wait. Come to think of it, I’m enjoying the festival too without realizing it?”

“You just noticed, Princess?”

Aldensis replied without seeming particularly surprised.

“What’s wrong with that? It’s a festival after all, so it’s fine to enjoy it a little before going home, isn’t it? You’ve been having a hard time with state affairs.”

At that moment, the surroundings became quiet.

What? Were people surprised by such a statement from the model Crown Prince?

At first I thought that was it and considered it making a fuss over nothing, but looking carefully, that wasn’t it.

The reason people became quiet was because someone was walking toward us.

Against the darkening sky, amidst the waves of brilliantly shining lanterns, the white robes he wore stood out remarkably.

It was the appearance of the Holy Order’s leader, who suddenly made the festival atmosphere solemn.

People closed their mouths and gradually stepped back to make way.

I looked at Ruellian’s black hair glittering in the light and thought.

‘Come to think of it, several hours have already passed? There would be time left even after finishing his conversation with Violet.’

Ruellian spotted us and approached directly.

“Your Highness, Princess. So you were here? I heard you went to the Academy Archive…”

He stopped speaking there. His gaze fixed on the dragon doll in my hand and he lost his words.

“I don’t have such cute tastes.”

Since it seemed like other people might misunderstand too, I quickly added.

“It belongs to His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“No.”

Aldensis shook his head.

“I gave it to the Princess as a gift. Would you accept it as a commemoration of my first successful attempt at an archery game?”

“Archery game?”

Ruellian muttered. His expression seemed beyond bewildered, even shocked.

“Why? Is that so strange?”

Aldensis explained.

“On the way back after fulfilling the Princess’s request, I simply asked her to evaluate whether I truly understand what festivals are about.”

“Ah…”

“That aside, ‘so you were here?’ Did you come looking for the Princess?”

“No. I came looking for you.”

Ruellian replied.

“His Majesty is looking for you. Zicrenno was already dragged away long ago. There’s a reception banquet, isn’t there?”

“….”

Aldensis was at a loss for words.

Ruellian looked at him and asked.

“You seem quite disappointed?”

“Ah, I was just starting to get a feel for what festivals are about. The princess is truly a good teacher.”

After answering like that, he turned to me and said.

“Princess, I’m sorry I couldn’t escort you back.”

“It’s alright.”

“There’s still plenty of festival time left, so please let me ask for your help again next time.”

“Yes. Have a good reception banquet.”

I waved my hand at Aldensis.

Ruellian watched his retreating figure, then turned his gaze to look at me.

“You have a lot of stuff? Give it here. I’ll carry it.”

“Huh? People are watching, is it okay for you to be so kind to me? If we end up in tomorrow’s newspaper together, you’d be the one in trouble.”

“That kind of thinking is too old-fashioned. A clergyman should be equally kind to all people regardless of age or gender. Wouldn’t it be strange not to help carry luggage just because the other person is a young woman? If someone makes a big deal out of that, it’s their mindset that’s the problem.”

I see.

I handed over the small items I had just bought at the market to him.

“Thanks. I’ll carry the doll myself.”

“No. I should definitely carry the doll. These things are made with cheap fabric by the Industrial Guild and aren’t good for the skin. We were actually investigating it after receiving a complaint recently.”

“You’re being too kind, even caring about skin health?”

“I should be kind.”

Ruellian said as he took the doll.

“I avoided another crisis thanks to the information you gave me. At first, I didn’t know you’d become such a good business partner, but the more I see, the more helpful you are. Of course I should give you top-class treatment.”

Then he shrugged his shoulders once.

“I didn’t know you were interested in things like festivals. You should have told me earlier. Instead of this superficial course of shooting dolls and watching parades, there’s a premium course that ordinary people don’t know about. But right now there’s a much more urgent and important matter to discuss, so we can’t do that.”

“What matter?”

“Let’s go to the safest place in the world that I mentioned before and talk there.”

“Your house?”

“That’s right.”

Ruellian urged while carrying all the luggage.

“Come on, there’s nothing good about staying in a place like this, so hurry up and follow me.”

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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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