The Villainess is a Millionaire Solver - Chapter 146

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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 146

To think that the sacred flowers decorating the late Emperor’s coffin had been stolen.

The Empress was quite shocked at this astounding situation. However, she seemed to regain her composure soon after seeing my confident attitude.

“To think you didn’t know this fact despite visiting this place several times. It would have been very troublesome if someone else had noticed first, wouldn’t it?”

The Empress muttered this and then looked at me.

“You certainly have something extraordinary about you, Princess. I was right to think of summoning you quickly.”

She then clasped my hands together.

It was the moment when vague expectations turned into clear conviction.

“I’m so glad you’re here, Princess.”

“Not at all.”

I spoke with a confident smile as always.

“Please don’t worry too much, Your Majesty. While it’s true that person is elusive, who knows what will happen this time. Isn’t the Knight Tournament an event where the Empire’s finest knights gather? For a criminal to jump into the middle of that is far too reckless. With just one word of command from Your Majesty, every knight there would immediately obey.”

“That’s a valid point.”

“Right? As long as we keep our wits about us, things absolutely won’t go the way that person wants. You must steel your resolve with that in mind.”

“You’re right.”

The Empress’s eyes became clear. She finally seemed to have gained courage.

“Help me by staying at my side, Princess. Just say the word and I’ll give you my full cooperation in anything.”

The Empress said this while gripping my hands firmly.

“What preparations should we make right now? Do you have any plans in mind?”

Once she decided to trust me, she became very proactive.

In that regard, she seemed exactly like her daughter Violet. Both mother and daughter had honest personalities. It seemed like she would immediately get to work if I suggested anything.

‘But I don’t have anything to say right now…’

Then something suddenly came to mind.

I carefully began speaking to the Empress.

“I’m not sure if this is directly related to this incident, but…”

“Whether it’s direct or indirect, if there’s anything you think might be helpful, please speak freely.”

As expected, the Empress responded proactively.

I told her.

“There’s one thing that’s been weighing heavily on my mind.”

“What is it?”

“It’s about a certain Palace Maid. Around the time Windfearer disappeared 11 years ago, there was probably a maid who died. She had crimson hair, blue eyes, and freckles on her face. If possible, I’d like to know about that maid.”

That maid was precisely the victim who had been killed by Windfearer before Aristina.

According to Sion, the Mysterious Figure had given information about that maid. Sion didn’t know anything beyond that.

‘How did the Mysterious Figure know that the maid had been murdered? Could it be that he was directly involved?’

If we investigated the maid, who knows what clues might emerge.

However, I was very hesitant to readily begin such an investigation.

If someone tried to dig into the death of a Palace Maid, the Imperial Court would be very displeased.

Moreover, it wasn’t even an ordinary death but a murder case. From the position of a mere princess, it would be crossing the line.

‘But if I can investigate through the Empress like this, it’s a different story. Who would dare say anything if the Empress looks into the death of a Palace Maid?’

For the Empress, this wasn’t difficult at all. She readily agreed.

“Fine. That much is easy. Is there anything else?”

“Hmm…”

Having the Empress’s help really is convenient and nice.

My gaze now turned to the coffin before me.

The amaranthia, which despite being picked long ago, still maintained its fresh appearance befitting a sacred flower.

Seeing it reminded me of something else.

“When Your Majesty sought the amaranthia flowers, everyone said you surely had another purpose. Your Majesty also acknowledged that fact earlier. You said you used them for your originally planned purpose first, then decorated the late Emperor’s coffin. Essentially, decorating the coffin was only a secondary purpose.”

The Empress nodded.

“That’s right.”

“Then what was the real purpose? Perhaps that might also help us learn about the Mysterious Figure.”

“Ah…”

The Empress readily opened her mouth this time as well.

“People said I received amaranthia flowers from various families to select the Crown Prince’s bride. That it was a test to assess the qualities of those families’ Young Ladies. But that’s half right and half wrong.”

“Half right and half wrong?”

“It is related to selecting the Crown Prince’s bride. But it wasn’t the process that mattered, but the flowers themselves. It’s not a well-known secret, but the heavenly flower amaranthia has the power to look deeply into a person’s soul. The Imperial Court has traditionally used that power to find companions for the Royal Family.”

“Companions?”

I asked back.

I didn’t know amaranthia flowers had such power. Looking into souls to determine matches. Was it like Imperial-style compatibility reading?

“So if the results show they’re well-matched, do you pair them together?”

“Similar. We use it as an important reference for finding soulmates. We receive oracles using amaranthia flowers to learn each candidate’s score before making judgments.”

The Empress slowly continued, recalling those times.

“Aldensis didn’t get good scores with anyone, which gave us quite a headache. We needed a great many amaranthia flowers. But in the end, we couldn’t get any results and leaned toward Serene Hyperion, whom everyone recommended. The oracle results were also positive. However…”

The Empress’s brow furrowed slightly.

“It turned out to be wrong from the beginning. Whether someone did it intentionally or it was a simple mistake. It had been changed to finding a human companion instead of a dragon’s companion.”

“Ah, if it’s that story, I heard it from the Crown Prince. He said you had to start over from the beginning.”

“That’s right.”

The Empress nodded.

“The relationship with Serene Hyperion seems to be over anyway. Since it’s the Founding Festival period and Young Ladies from various families will be gathering, I thought to take this opportunity to explore while we’re at it. That was until we received this warning letter.”

“Please don’t worry too much.”

I comforted the Empress.

“I think it will go well this time. The Crown Prince seems to have become more emotionally rich lately.”

“Oh, you noticed too, Princess? He’s certainly different from before.”

“Right?”

While we were having a harmonious conversation, I suddenly felt a gaze on my profile.

When I turned my gaze, Ruellian was staring intently at me.

Due to his promise with the Empress, he had to keep his mouth shut like a statue, but he seemed to have a lot to say…

‘Or not? Am I mistaken?’

When our eyes met, he quickly turned his head away. It seemed like he meant we should leave here quickly.

‘Right. This isn’t the time for this.’

I roughly wrapped up the conversation and paid my respects to the Empress.

“Then I’ll visit you again.”

“Yes.”

The Empress nodded with a much more relaxed expression.

The three of us left the Mourning Hall.

The Empress called the Attendants in the corridor and returned to her quarters, while we headed in the opposite direction.

Once we came out to the outdoor space, the tension finally melted away completely.

Thinking about how I had been suddenly dragged here without knowing why and entered full of tension, it felt like I had been dreaming.

“Phew…”

A sigh of relief naturally escaped my lips.

“I completely misunderstood the Empress. We did confirm her true intentions earlier, right?”

“Yes.”

Ruellian replied.

“While transmitting divine power, I can faintly sense the state of one’s soul. The Empress’s heart was sincere.”

“I thought so. The room happened to be so dim, and she kept saying things that sounded meaningful…”

Thinking about how the misunderstanding kept growing made me laugh helplessly. I even went so far as to hide behind Ruellian.

It was fortunate that the Empress was too preoccupied with the warning letter to notice, otherwise the atmosphere might have become awkward and we might not have achieved such good results.

‘Though this is all thanks to Ruellian smoothly handling the situation.’

I glanced at him.

To hide behind him when there was an exit right next to us. My subconscious must have judged that place to be safer than the exit.

‘When did I come to trust him that much?’

Ruellian wasn’t a fool either, so he must have realized what my actions meant.

To him, I was just a contract partner who provided useful information. How presumptuous of me to rely on him like that.

I felt embarrassed, as if a secret in my heart had been discovered.

Even though he hadn’t said anything, I felt guilty and started making awkward excuses.

“I was out of my mind earlier and did something foolish. I didn’t mean anything by it. That place just looked safe. I’m sorry if I startled you.”

“No.”

Ruellian looked at me.

Then he suddenly said.

“I was grateful.”

“…?”

“You’re so guarded and don’t trust anyone. But to rely on me like that….”

His violet eyes gleamed with intense light.

“So this day has finally come. I was even moved by that thought. I was so determined not to let even a hair on your head get hurt that I couldn’t see anything else.”

Was it my imagination that it sounded like personal feelings were mixed in? It must be because he’s a clergyman who has to protect the weak, right?

While I was thinking that, he spoke as if he had read my mind.

“If it were someone else, I wouldn’t care. But because it’s you.”

I unconsciously flinched for a moment.

Fortunately, my aloof attitude was so ingrained that my emotions didn’t show easily. That was just a business-like statement anyway.

-You’re a contract partner who’s very helpful to me.

Surely words like that would follow.

That’s what I was thinking….

But somehow it was quiet.

“…?”

I briefly raised my eyes that had been looking down and looked at Ruellian.

He was still staring at me intently without taking his eyes off me.

“So that’s why I did that.”

The moment Ruellian muttered as if talking to himself.

Something glinted near his chest.

The place where the sacred mark was thoroughly hidden so that no one else could ever know.

A small radiance was visible there.

It was slowly twinkling and spreading like waves sent by starlight.

“….”

I stared with wide eyes.

Somehow it was a radiance that seemed to perfectly resemble the red rose color that was the Rosen Family’s symbolic color.

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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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