The Villainess is a Millionaire Solver - Chapter 169

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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 169

Theseus Marquis is a Sword Master, a person who has reached the ultimate physical limits that humans can achieve.

Therefore, using his body like performing acrobatics is as easy as eating cold porridge.

He was a swordsmanship genius and a noble, so he had been coming and going from the Imperial Palace like his own home since childhood, and now he even lives here.

Therefore, he would know the location of each building, shortcuts, and secret passages like the back of his hand.

‘Come to think of it, I never suspected him at all.’

When I first made a list of suspects, I put all sorts of people on it, but I never even thought of Theseus Marquis.

There was no connection at all.

‘But when I think about it, there’s no one who fits better than him.’

He knows very well about Windfarer, the weapon that killed me.

He can find out as much as he wants about internal palace affairs like information about the Founding Festival.

Although he’s known to be mourning the Empress’s death and not taking a single step out of his hideaway, if he decided to secretly go out, who would know? He’s an elusive Sword Master.

‘That’s right! That’s right!’

Feeling increasingly chilled, I stared at the person standing before me.

The most respected knight in the Empire, wearing medals that sparkled like stars on his chest.

His face, visible between his long hair, seemed to retain the appearance that made all the women in the Empire flutter in his youth.

Since he’s like a younger brother to the Emperor, he must be over forty now, but he looks as if he’s forgotten time.

While I guessed it was because he had been training in martial arts while cut off from the world, somehow even that aspect of Theseus Marquis felt eerie and inhuman.

‘No matter how I think about it, it seems right… Could I be suspecting the wrong person right now?’

I could hear the sound of my heart beating in my ears.

I tried to act as nonchalant as possible, facing Theseus Marquis and bowing on one knee in greeting.

“Thank you for congratulating me on my engagement.”

Theseus Marquis fixed his gaze on me and opened his mouth.

“That aside, I told you to come find me anytime if you had something to ask of me, so why haven’t you come? I said my quarters would always be open to the Young Lady.”

That’s right.

After I found Windfarer, he deliberately came to that place and said that to me.

At the time, I thought it was special treatment.

I thought it was an opportunity to build friendship with the Sword Master and teacher of the Crown Prince and Second Prince, and I even thought Theseus Marquis wasn’t as eccentric as I’d expected.

But thinking about it now, it feels like there was another meaning hidden in the words he said then.

“Anyway, you did something very meaningful for me. I want to repay you somehow…”

Could that repayment have another meaning?

Does he mean I should pay the price for digging up past matters that should have been buried?

No wonder. Even though I thought it was special treatment, it somehow felt burdensome and I didn’t want to get close.

‘Looking back, wasn’t my intuition already working then?’

I felt my face hardening, but I smiled as naturally as possible.

“I was actually planning to visit you soon. By the way, this is surprising. Weren’t you in seclusion? I understood that you rarely appeared at such official occasions…”

“Since it’s the engagement ceremony of His Highness the Crown Prince, whom I taught personally, I decided to come out of the graveyard for a while to attend. Aldensis is my precious student before he is the Crown Prince.”

The words sound very plausible, but didn’t you deliberately take on this task and call me here? To test what I know?

“Theseus Marquis, Young Lady.”

Palace Attendants appeared before me as I was on full alert. The one in front was holding up a large basin.

“Here it is.”

“Ah.”

Theseus Marquis took the basin from the Attendant’s hands.

“Well then, Young Lady. According to protocol, please receive the flower prepared by the Imperial Court. This time it’s a golden rose, the symbol of House Rosen.”

“Yes.”

I stepped forward and showed my respects.

A golden rose floated on the gently rippling water in the basin.

Even to my eyes, accustomed to luxury goods, it was an extremely delicate and beautiful object.

But in my tense state, that beauty didn’t register well.

‘This reminds me of when I received the obsidian rose as a gift from Sion.’

Beautiful roses that people prepared for me usually had thorns.

With such thoughts, I heightened my vigilance even more and carefully reached out my hand.

My reflection on the calm water surface suddenly wavered.

The next moment.

A mysterious radiance burst forth from the basin.

“Ooh…!”

All the Attendants, Maids, and my escorts who were watching in a circle exclaimed in amazement.

I asked them.

“What is this?”

“It’s one of the Imperial Court’s sacred objects.”

An elderly Maid spoke calmly.

“In the old days, whenever the Imperial Family welcomed a new person, they would reflect that new person in this basin once. If they were a witch or someone who used evil magic, their image in the mirror would appear distorted, and those with keen eyes could see it.”

“Usually nothing happens, but this is the first time I’ve seen such radiance emerge. How truly auspicious. I shall report this to His Majesty and His Highness immediately.”

Amid everyone’s praise pouring out.

Theseus Marquis said nothing and only watched me.

‘As I thought, he was trying to test me.’

My suspicion was gradually turning into conviction.

I had died once. For a very brief moment, my soul had left my body.

Only the murderer knows that fact.

But a person who definitely died appears again, perfectly alive?

Didn’t he speculate that some evil magic was involved in that process?

If you don’t know the inside story, you’d have no choice but to think that way.

Reviving a dead person is impossible without evil sorcery.

‘But that’s not it, you know?’

My being alive now is a miracle.

A miracle created by two mothers joining forces.

And it’s also the result of human triumph that I barely achieved by enduring until now.

The Imperial Court’s sacred object also acknowledged that fact and responded with radiance.

‘No matter how learned you may be, you wouldn’t know that amazing story, would you?’

I picked up the rose while looking straight at Theseus Marquis.

He calmly opened his mouth.

“I’m sorry if I surprised you. It’s just an old custom…”

“Not at all. The more thorough, the better.”

“That’s true.”

A faint smile appeared on his face.

“I’ve thought this before, but we seem to have many things in common. Should I say we’re similar types of people? I feel like we would communicate very well. More than any other person.”

Then he looked straight into my eyes.

“Young Lady, you are a fascinating person in many ways.”

Darkness was settled in his pupils.

Facing that darkness, my chest felt blocked. The sensation of strength draining from my entire body. The pain of wanting to breathe but being unable to.

The fear I felt while dying vividly came back to life.

My body began to tremble.

“You are also very interesting, Marquis.”

I put all my effort into hiding the fact that I was trembling. My imposing demeanor and cold voice were of great help.

“Thank you. Then let’s meet at the engagement ceremony shortly.”

Pretending not to know anything, pretending not to notice anything.

For now, I took the golden rose, handed it to my attendant, finished my greeting properly, and turned around.

I felt a persistent gaze from behind.

Barely suppressing the urge to run away, I managed to leave the courtyard and enter the building again.

Only then did I quietly ask the Maid following right behind me.

“Originally, that ritual of reflecting in the basin isn’t essential, right?”

“Yes. There was no such thing during His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress’s engagement ceremony last time.”

“I see.”

My legs began to tremble.

I thought I shouldn’t show signs of being shaken, but the darkness I had seen in Marquis Tesseud’s eyes earlier came to mind, and fear surged up.

“Young Lady, are you alright?”

The Holy Knights asked as they approached.

“….”

I reflexively backed away. I couldn’t trust the knights anymore. I didn’t know which of them might be Marquis Tesseud’s confidant.

‘I feel dizzy….’

Dizziness washed over me.

“Young Lady!”

I must have staggered slightly without realizing it, as the maids rushed to support me in alarm.

Just then.

“Aristina!”

A familiar voice reached me.

It was Aldensis.

The people who had been moving about in confusion immediately stopped and stepped aside.

“It seemed to be taking too long so I came to get you, but what’s wrong? Where do you feel unwell?”

Aldensis’s voice came from right in front of me.

That gentle and soft voice was filled with concern for me.

I could picture how kind and worried his expression must be. I could visualize it perfectly without even looking.

Right. It’s okay now.

The person I love has appeared. I can find courage again. We can get through this together.

I blinked and pulled myself together.

“Aldensis….”

“Yes. Aristina. It’s me.”

Large, warm hands grasped mine tightly.

My wavering vision settled, and I could see Aldensis clearly before my eyes.

The one I had so desperately wanted to be with. My destined companion.

But….

The moment I faced that beautiful face I had dreamed of so much.

‘Huh…?’

I was overcome by a strange feeling.

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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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