The Villainess is a Millionaire Solver - Chapter 155

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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 155

“Isn’t that Ruellian?”

“He was nowhere to be seen all day, and now we meet him here.”

Zikren and Aldensis spotted Ruellian and paused their conversation momentarily.

“You look like you’re having fun, Your Highness.”

I said a word toward Ruellian. Then he replied.

“The one who looks like she’s having fun is the Princess, isn’t it?”

“No. Anyone can see that Your Highness looks much more like you’re having fun, don’t you think?”

I said, pointing at his surroundings with my finger.

“…?”

He tilted his head and looked around. Then he seemed to understand what I meant belatedly.

“What kind of strange imagination are you having? Princess, don’t you know about the Saint’s Procession of the Imperial Tournament?”

“I’m ignorant, so I don’t know much about it.”

“It’s an event held during the Imperial Tournament according to tradition, for the religious community and various prestigious families of the Empire to foster friendship with each other. Young ladies from prestigious families who have shown devout faith dress in ancient saint costumes during the festival period and distribute small amulets carved from sacred wood….”

He said, looking around at the young ladies with high faith surrounding him.

“Since the 【Imperial Knight Tournament】 is being held after such a long time, the atmosphere is expected to be overheated, isn’t it? His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress seem to be very worried about safety issues at the venue. So they’ve prepared additional measures besides mobilizing Holy Knights on a large scale.”

“I see.”

Zikren nodded and picked up his words.

“They had flowers containing divine power hidden one by one in the baskets, so they could exert power in case of emergency. Right?”

Ah, so that’s what it was?

After staring with suspicious eyes, I suddenly felt embarrassed.

I understand Ruellian’s reaction from earlier too.

Since this was work, he probably didn’t even think about the fact that he was currently with beautiful women.

That’s why he was only giving me accusatory looks saying ‘you’re just playing around.’

‘No. That’s unfair. I also ended up like this while working.’

I said, subtly avoiding his gaze.

“I see. I misunderstood, Your Highness. Actually, we’re also on our way back from meeting the Empress just now. Besides discussing safety issues, we were busy because the Crown Prince’s bride selection came up and then got canceled.”

“Ah, so you were busy?”

Ruellian also seemed to finally clear up the misunderstanding that I had been lazy and fooling around.

“But Princess, the Crown Prince’s bride selection was canceled?”

“Oh, that’s right.”

Aldensis was listening to our conversation and suddenly came to his senses.

“It would be better to handle this quickly before this matter reaches Father’s ears. Let’s go, Zikren.”

“Wait.”

Zikren was about to follow his brother but stopped for a moment and looked back at me.

“Don’t worry too much, Aristina. If something happens that day, I absolutely won’t just stand by either.”

Leaving those words, he disappeared.

Now only Ruellian and the aristocratic ladies remained here.

Ruellian finished his discussion with the young ladies and sent them away, then walked toward me.

As the people around disappeared, he immediately threw off his dignified attitude and grumbled.

“I was really having intimate conversations with the young ladies because of work. To look at me like I’m some impure person, I almost got hurt.”

“Sorry.”

I apologized with an awkward smile.

“You were even distributing flowers, so I completely misunderstood. I’m causing a lot of hurt to people around me today.”

Hearing that, Ruellian pressed further.

“What else happened? Aldensis and Zikren? What was that talk about going to handle things before His Majesty the Emperor finds out?”

“There’s one broken item because of the Crown Prince’s bride selection I mentioned earlier. Anyway, it’s not a very important story.”

“Right. Work talk would be important. Oh, but before that….”

Ruellian was about to bring up something but stopped. I asked.

“What?”

“No. It would be better to say it at the very end later.”

What kind of story could it be?

I felt puzzled, but for now I told him what I had just heard from the Empress.

“The Empress accepted my words and decided to provide maximum force on the day of the knight tournament. Imperial Knights, Empress’s Guard, up to 8 mages, up to 5 defensive magic circles, up to 10 offensive magic circles, plus divine weapons capable of physical attack and defense.”

“Good. We need to deploy Holy Knights and temporary saints there too, so we’ll need to coordinate the movement lines well in advance so they don’t get tangled.”

Ruellian asked in an even lower voice as he walked.

“What did she say about that dead maid that Sion knew about? I’ve started investigating that direction too.”

“You too?”

I asked back, thinking it was unexpected.

“Since it’s a matter inside the Imperial Palace, isn’t there no one who can investigate as well as the Empress?”

“That’s another unknown matter.”

Ruellian answered with a cautious attitude.

“I’m not saying I suspect the Empress, but a maid being murdered is an unsavory matter. So someone in the Imperial family might have covered it up, right? Actually, just looking into it a little, such circumstances seemed to show.”

“Really?”

I tilted my head.

“Maybe that’s why the Empress didn’t seem to be able to find out any information quickly either. She said she would continue trying though.”

“Let’s have our Master Guild continue investigating too. If we compare the information found from both sides, it will be much easier to grasp the truth.”

“That’s right.”

I nodded.

The encirclement net toward the unidentified opponent was gradually tightening.

That day, the Empress and Ruellian would join forces to create an impenetrable iron wall, preventing that guy from escaping.

Additionally, I had also prepared a surprise gift that would shock that guy.

I don’t know why he’s obsessed with Windfearer, but I can’t let him steal precious evidence either.

Touching the leather gloves in my pocket, I recalled.

Aristina’s mother’s research that said even black magic could be dealt with if you just beat it up recklessly.

‘In the worst case, I can buy time by swinging my fists.’

Double and triple traps were waiting for that guy.

No matter how elusive and mysterious the figure was, this time I felt like we could do something.

I raised my head.

“So now we just need to do a final check of the plan at the venue and wait for him to appear?”

“That’s right.”

While having our secret conversation and walking, we were already outside the Imperial Palace.

But as soon as we came outside, Ruellian suddenly stopped.

“You were going to say let’s part ways because you’re busy now, right? Wait just a moment before that. There’s somewhere I absolutely need to take you.”

“Where?”

I asked back.

“Don’t tell me it’s still not finished? That plan to tell me about festival attractions that aren’t well known to me and be recognized as the top expert?”

“No. That’s not it.”

Ruellian chuckled and shook his head.

“There was something I was trying to say earlier. Work is important, but that’s important too.”

“Oh, right. What is it?”

“There was a reason I entered the Imperial Palace late today. I had deployed twice as many informants to find out if any suspicious figures were wandering around the capital, and I happened to obtain some information. But it’s something too concerning to just let pass.”

“What on earth is it?”

Instead of answering, Ruellian gestured for me to follow.

It was still daytime when we entered the Imperial Palace, but time had passed and dusk was beginning to fall.

Lanterns lit up one by one on the street where sunset had settled. Smoke from grilling skewers and such rose thickly from the stalls lining the street.

Ruellian took me and walked quickly through them.

After walking for a while, a park appeared.

It’s a park with a small artificial lake made by drawing water. It was a place where people from the capital often came for picnics.

Among the memories stored in my head, scenes of coming here to play with the Elders in childhood remained faintly.

I looked at Ruellian and asked.

“Why did you bring me to this park?”

“Look over there.”

He pointed to a spot with his finger.

People were sitting on benches around the lake.

Among them, one particular bench looked unusually empty. There were no children playing nearby, and even dogs absolutely wouldn’t approach it.

A bench that seemed to be surrounded by an invisible barrier.

I could see the back of a person sitting alone there.

A straight back that didn’t lean against the backrest. Long hair of a pale color bathed in the sunset light. Proud shoulders that seemed to shut out the entire world.

It was a terribly familiar sight.

‘Isn’t that Duke Carnel?’

I was dumbfounded.

“Why is Father here? He should be at one of these places: the fashion show, precious items auction, cake cafe, or jewelry exhibition.”

“I don’t know what happened, but…”

Ruellian answered.

“I received information that the head butler of the Rosen Duchy was going around the festival grounds looking for the Duke. Since he’s someone with frail health, I wondered where he might have gone, so I deployed some informants and found traces of the Duke here. He seemed to be in a gloomy mood, so I sent someone to look after him.”

“…”

Only then did I notice.

At a spot slightly away from Duke Carnel’s bench, a man in black clothes was standing holding a parasol.

Next to him, another man was walking back and forth carrying a tray with cocktails.

“From the looks of it, you two had a fight, but instead of the daughter, it’s the father who left home to wander around.”

Ruellian clicked his tongue as he spoke.

“Hurry up and escort him back before the sun sets.”

Then he grabbed me and walked toward Duke Carnel.

The Duke was sitting blankly, gazing at the lake. Then, hearing footsteps, he turned his head to look.

“…”

Our eyes met directly.

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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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