The Villainess is a Millionaire Solver - Chapter 16

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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 16

Through the wide-open door, Crown Prince Aldensis with golden hair and blue eyes strode in.

His appearance in a uniform adorned with golden epaulettes was exceptionally striking. A face more sculpted than any statue, with pale, long fingers. A perfectly textbook and restrained demeanor.

All of these things made him feel like a ‘beautiful person.’ Everyone would be mesmerized by this dazzling sight.

‘So how dangerous is he?’

I thought while glancing at Aldensis.

He too, just like the first suspect Ruellian I had met earlier.

Muscles trained in martial arts hidden beneath his uniform. Veins protruding on the back of his hands. Light yet powerful footsteps.

All these things that others would find attractive only appeared to me as characteristics advantageous for murder.

“Duke Carnel.”

Aldensis first exchanged greetings with father, then turned around.

“Princess Aristina.”

I faced him.

Wasn’t this our first meeting since the incident? If Aldensis was the murderer? This would be the first time he directly confirmed that the person he killed was alive and moving.

Wouldn’t he show some small sign of disturbance?

Hoping to discover something in Aldensis’s eyes, I stared intently into them.

“….”

But I couldn’t read anything from his blue eyes.

I could only faintly sense false kindness disguised as courtesy, and a hint of annoyance.

‘Is that really all there is?’

I bowed my head and paid my respects as my body had been trained to do.

“I greet Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

Then, following Duke Carnel’s instructions, I kept my mouth firmly shut and sat down following the two men.

Aldensis immediately turned his head to look at the Duke.

“Duke Carnel, I don’t know how to begin. Our Imperial Court nearly committed a very grave mistake this time. If the truth had only been revealed after irreversible damage was done, what would have happened? My heart still runs cold thinking about it.”

At least you know that much.

Since I had no right to speak, I only commented inwardly.

“Not at all. Not at all.”

Duke Carnel shook his head.

“Even our own family accepted that our daughter’s crime was certain, so it goes without saying what outsiders thought. I can only be grateful that the Imperial Court gave us a reprieve instead of immediate punishment. I heard you were greatly angered upon hearing the news.”

“I was indeed shocked thinking the poisoning charges were true. But afterward, when I heard that Princess Aristina was adamantly claiming her innocence, I cooled my head. I had already discussed with Ruellian that there was no decisive evidence proving the Princess’s crime.”

“I see.”

Though the conversation was clearly about me, the two men talked as if I wasn’t even present.

It was intentional disregard, but thanks to that I could observe the Crown Prince to my heart’s content, which was actually beneficial for me.

“Yes, Duke. Still, I never would have guessed there was such a background to this. To commit a crime using mysterious foreign items brought in through illegal trade.”

Aldensis frowned his pale forehead slightly, as if greatly dismayed.

But was that sincere?

According to the memories in my head, he was clumsy with human emotions. He didn’t react naturally, but acted according to what he had learned.

For example, like this. A child who looks down at a chick they cared for day and night when it dies without any emotion, then only mimics crying after seeing a friend cry.

If people knew the Crown Prince’s true nature, they would have felt chilled, but thanks to his skillful concealment using his transcendent abilities, most people didn’t notice.

“I plan to immediately strengthen investigations into this matter. There’s more work now, but considering the scale of the incident, it seems to have ended well.”

“Indeed. I have no complaints either. All the criminals received severe punishment, and Princess Hiperion has safely recovered. We’ve cleared up the misunderstanding and she’s even hosting a tea party in return.”

“Really? Serene is? That’s truly fortunate.”

How harmonious.

I became a complete third party and watched the two of them.

Duke Carnel at least occasionally glanced at me with hawk-like eyes, but Aldensis didn’t spare me a single look.

I could feel very clearly how tiresome he found me.

While I sat quietly with my mouth shut, they continued their cozy conversation.

“By the way, I haven’t seen His Highness the Second Prince anywhere. I heard he was injured – is it serious by any chance?”

“It’s not. Ruellian came personally and healed him right away. That fellow is probably busy now. I gave him some secret instructions.”

“Ah. Well, you’re both probably busy. The Imperial Palace ball is coming up soon too.”

“Yes. Probably….”

Aldensis nodded.

“Duke, you’ll be absent again this time, won’t you? If you would grace us with your presence, everyone would welcome it.”

“Haha.”

Duke Carnel shrugged as if he understood the hidden intention in the Crown Prince’s words.

“I’d like to attend, but having just gone through such a major incident, there’s much to handle. I’m also taking this opportunity to reorganize my connections.”

“Yes. I understand.”

“But please don’t worry, Your Highness. My daughter has deeply reflected on this incident. Also, I will sternly warn her, so she won’t cause a commotion at the ballroom like in the past.”

As expected, they were already worrying about the disaster I might cause at the Imperial Palace ball.

But regarding this matter, I had something to say too….

Since I had no right to speak, I could only keep my mouth shut without saying anything.

“A commotion, Duke? Isn’t it natural for there to be topics of conversation at a ball?”

The Crown Prince smiled kindly while saying words he didn’t mean.

“Who in the Empire doesn’t know that the Princess has a lively personality? However, this Imperial Palace ball is quite important, and there are reasons why it absolutely must proceed well to the end….”

“I understand, Your Highness. I will firmly impress that point upon my daughter. Having gone through such trouble due to gossip, and with Your Highness speaking so earnestly. If my daughter is human, wouldn’t she feel something?”

At Duke Carnel’s words, the Crown Prince nodded lightly.

Then, for the first time since the conversation began, he looked in my direction.

“Well then, Princess Aristina. Let’s meet at the Imperial Palace ball. I’m very much looking forward to seeing the Princess’s completely transformed appearance at the ballroom that day.”

He said with a bright smile.

‘Hurry and answer.’

Duke Carnel signaled me with his eyes. Finally, I had the right to speak.

“A completely transformed appearance of mine – I’m very much looking forward to it too.”

As if I truly meant it, I clasped my hands together in front of my chest as I spoke.

“But what should I do, Your Highness? I’ll be too busy that day to show you such an appearance. I have to go somewhere other than the Imperial Palace ballroom.”

Aldensis asked with a puzzled expression.

“Where are you going?”

“The Imperial Merchant Guild Assembly.”

“…?”

At the unexpected answer, both men were surprised and momentarily speechless.

So they should have asked me first before barking up the wrong tree. Whether I intended to attend the ball.

Since it’s an Imperial Palace ball that the Crown Prince attends, they thought I’d hike up my dress and come running? Everyone got ahead of themselves.

“Why? Am I mistaken about something?”

I widened my eyes innocently and asked back.

“That’s what it said in the economic journal. That the third quarter regular merchant guild assembly is coming up soon. It’s an event where Imperial merchants gather to exchange information, interact with each other, meet big investors to secure new contracts and receive investments – I absolutely can’t miss it.”

The Crown Prince’s gaze fixed on my face.

“You read… economic journals?”

“Yes. Because my asset report was in such a mess.”

“You looked at your asset report too?”

“Oh, of course. Shouldn’t a Princess naturally look at such things?”

I answered calmly.

Stop it already. Even if a chimpanzee suddenly came to the blackboard and solved calculus problems, you wouldn’t be this surprised.

‘What kind of scheme is this damn Princess plotting now?’

Behind Aldensis’s elegant smile, such doubt seemed to show through.

His bright blue eyes didn’t leave my face. It was a sharp gaze hiding his intent to see through any scheme I might have devised.

But I had nothing to feel guilty about. Because what I was saying now was 100 percent sincere.

“This incident made me realize something. For a person not to be falsely accused, they must have power. Where does that power come from? There are various methods, but among them, there’s one that’s most fundamental. Having a solid financial foundation. That’s exactly my problem right now.”

What are these words from the only daughter of a great tycoon?

Exactly. I’m flabbergasted too.

Indeed, my current state was very serious.

【Aristina Bianca Rosen’s Complete Asset Inventory】. Every single item on that document had X marks crossed out all over it.

All show and no substance.

That was exactly what it looked like.

“I live luxuriously as befits a princess, but there’s actually no real wealth at all. Originally, I had real estate, foundations, and all sorts of things in my name… But every time I displeased Father, he took them away one by one. He said I lacked the ability to manage them, so he would manage them for me instead.”

He called it management, but it was essentially confiscation. After being stripped of everything piece by piece, even the remaining real estate and funds slipped away like grains of sand because of this attempted poisoning incident.

To protect even one more asset of the ducal family, they had swiftly transferred everything to the branch family.

‘That branch family is exactly the problem.’

Since Aristina, the direct heir, was unreliable, the branch family had been threatening her position.

Duke Carnel was someone who prioritized the welfare of the entire family above all else. Therefore, he could easily make a branch family descendant his heir instead of his own child.

‘Then I’d really become a penniless beggar and get kicked out.’

I knew the situation was precarious, but I hadn’t realized I was pushed this close to the edge of a cliff.

“If I were to describe my situation in one phrase, it would be like a magnificent ship with holes in it, sinking into the ocean. In such circumstances, a ball? Even if it’s hosted by the Imperial Palace, that’s just not possible.”

I smiled brightly at the Crown Prince.

“So please forgive my absence, Your Highness.”

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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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