The Villainess is a Millionaire Solver - Chapter 178

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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 178

7. The Villainess Never Dies Even When She Dies.

Marialara Port.

This port, located some distance from the Imperial Capital, was bustling with unprecedented activity.

All of Palomares and its surrounding ports had been sealed off to prevent two traitorous criminals from fleeing overseas.

“They tried to assassinate both the Crown Prince and Second Prince together!”

“Fortunately, they weren’t seriously injured and should wake up soon. They’re just sleeping.”

“The culprits will be caught soon too. They’re closing in on them.”

People gathered at the port for arrivals and departures eagerly gossiped about that tremendous incident.

But after a few days, even that began to die down, and the topic shifted to other stories.

“Hey, the passenger ship Constanza that came in recently was carrying ‘Salome of Delamorte.'”

“What’s that? A type of liquor?”

“Don’t go around spouting such ignorant nonsense. That’s a masterpiece painting. A priceless work of art. But some kids in third class were rushing to get off and ended up damaging that painting!”

“Right! I was there too! The painting’s owner was furious, ranting that the kids should be sold as slaves to pay for the painting immediately, when another passenger stepped in and said ‘Here, take this and get lost,’ throwing down a billion on the spot!”

“My goodness! Who was that generous person? I’d like to buy them a cocktail at least.”

They’re a married couple. Count and Countess Calliente. They had an arranged marriage at a young age and wandered foreign countries before returning home this time. I heard they made an enormous fortune in trade – truly impressive!”

“Right. And the Countess was an incredible beauty, wasn’t she? The Count was somewhat chilling, but had a strange charm.”

“What an impressive couple. If it weren’t for all this chaos, they would have turned the social world upside down!”

The young couple at the center of all this bustling gossip.

They were now sitting in a restaurant somewhere along the docks.

The Countess had long black hair flowing down and particularly red lips. She wore a boldly cut red dress with a fur shawl, and a scorpion tattoo was clearly visible on her exposed shoulder. She was indeed a stunning beauty, just as people said.

Meanwhile, the Count sitting across from her was tall with a very confident demeanor. He covered half his face with a silver mask, making him look chilling yet somehow possessing a charm that kept drawing people’s gazes. Though no one had seen his bare face yet, everyone gossiped that judging by his nose bridge and jawline alone, he must be an incredible handsome man.

Wherever this young couple appeared, that place alone seemed to stand out as if illuminated by stage lighting.

No one dared approach them to strike up a conversation.

But their gazes couldn’t leave them.

“Count and Countess Calliente…”

Only the sound of their names being spoken spread noisily around.

* * *

‘This should be enough.’

Calmly receiving the gazes pouring from all directions, I lifted my lips from the glass.

The true identities of Count and Countess Calliente, who had suddenly returned home and caused a sensation, were none other than Ruellian and me.

Although we had successfully escaped the Security Forces’ encirclement and fled, it was impossible to penetrate the strict surveillance and enter the capital’s center. So we chose a strategy that caught them off guard. Since everyone would expect us to hide and run around, we decided to do the exact opposite.

As soon as Ruellian shook off the Security Forces, the first thing he did was restore contact with several of the most loyal Dark Guilds. Thanks to the experience he had accumulated while operating in the underworld and the Dark Guild’s help, we were able to perfectly forge our identities. Then, after disguising ourselves through divine magic, we boldly returned to high society while causing a huge sensation.

The next thing we did was find out how the situation was unfolding.

Especially the situation at our mansion.

‘Phew…’

Setting down my glass, I sighed inwardly.

Even amid all this chaos, there was one fortunate thing.

Since his daughter was framed for attempting to assassinate the Crown Prince and Second Prince, I was terribly anxious that our family would also be completely ruined…

“He truly is an excellent head of the family.”

Like Ruellian’s praise as he read the newspaper, Father had taken a very strong stance.

He began holding out by mobilizing all the most capable lawyers in the capital to request a truth investigation, insisting that his daughter could never have done such a thing. The entire Duke’s family united and strongly asserted their position with bulging neck veins.

That wasn’t the only surprising thing.

The Hyperion Duchy also joined in afterward.

‘This is unjust. If they succeed in overthrowing the House of Rosen this way, any family could face such false accusations in the future.’

The Hyperion Duke’s family formed this public opinion and drew in other major noble families one by one. Additionally, people I had helped to survive bombarded the authorities with petitions, temporarily paralyzing government office operations.

“Everyone is truly grateful.”

I spoke in a lowered voice.

“It’s completely different from when I was falsely accused of poisoning before. Far from death petitions, people’s opinions are divided and everyone seems confused. They’re holding out very well.”

“But the other side won’t just sit still either.”

Ruellian replied from behind his newspaper.

“If they forge some decisive evidence again, the situation will quickly reverse.”

“Right.”

I answered while fidgeting with the ring on my finger.

My weapon was still intact.

With Ruellian’s help, I had succeeded in moving the money just before the accounts were frozen.

“‘Use this money well to temporarily tie up Tesseud’s hands and feet, and safely secure witnesses including Maid Grace to clear my name.’ That should be roughly the plan.”

“Good.”

Ruellian nodded.

“We need to hurry. We don’t know what might happen to the witnesses. We’ve found out everything we needed to know, so now it’s time to act.”

“Right.”

We stood up from the table.

People were still glancing at us.

Ruellian extended his gloved hand to me and attempted an escort with perfect manners.

“My lady.”

At his words that rang out clearly for everyone to hear, my ears turned red.

‘My lady.’

Though I’d heard this address many times while playing Count and Countess Calliente, I still couldn’t get used to it.

“…”

I couldn’t react immediately and stared at Ruellian for a moment.

At least my situation was somewhat better.

He was an Agent of the Divine who had been lectured since childhood to stay away from women until his ears were calloused. He said he’d never even played house.

-So I find this situation very awkward too. I’m worried I might not be able to act well.

That’s what Ruellian had said.

He definitely said that, but…

“Let’s go, my lady.”

Look at this? Since I was hesitating, he even urged me loudly. For someone who said he was awkward and unsure about acting, he was calling me that quite calmly.

‘I can’t lose.’

What can’t I do to survive?

I took his hand while making a coquettish nasal sound.

“Yes, darling.”

When I linked arms and pressed close to him, I felt his body stiffen.

Why is watching him get flustered so entertaining?

With that thought in mind, I pressed even closer to him.

“Why are you so surprised? Darling. If we’re a married couple of ten years who had an arranged marriage in childhood, we should at least do this much. Actually, shouldn’t we be more intimate?”

“…”

Ruellian remained silent, frozen stiff.

Had he really turned to stone from just this much? I was thinking that when…

“You’re right, darling.”

With a nonchalant reply, his hand slipped up onto my waist.

Ruellian spoke without batting an eyelash.

“Is this enough?”

“…P-probably?”

“No. As you said, if we’re a married couple of ten years, we should do at least this much.”

He suddenly lowered his face and pressed his lips to my cheek.

Divine power was transmitted through the brief contact.

Though it wasn’t the direct transmission method of lip-to-lip contact, enough energy flowed in to maintain the divine magic currently concealing my identity for much longer.

“…”

Toward me, who was flustered after suddenly receiving a kiss on the cheek, he smiled slyly. His eyes seemed to say, ‘Why are you so flustered when I just recharged you?’

‘Is this really a man who’s never played house and maintained his purity? Isn’t he actually a sly fox?’

It seemed like I had provoked him for nothing and didn’t even break even. My face felt hot.

Perhaps it was fortunate that my face was naturally thick, so my emotions didn’t show easily.

Ruellian was also currently distorting his appearance with a mysterious mask, so he just looked peaceful.

To anyone watching, we would have looked like an intimate married couple. The kind of couple who, even after 10 years of marriage, still felt like newlyweds.

“….”

People still couldn’t take their eyes off the two of us. Envious gazes poured down on us.

Rich, free to travel without being tied down to anything, and even having such a good relationship.

Even I thought it was enviable.

‘But the reality is that we’re in the middle of a very fierce struggle for survival.’

As I walked along affectionately linking arms with Ruellian, I organized the tasks we needed to do in my head.

First, according to the information obtained from the Dark Guild, there was one document we had purchased by paying a large sum to an informant.

【Internal Whistleblowing Report on the Imperial Knights】.

Recalling that thick document, I muttered to myself.

‘First, I’ll cut off the right hand.’

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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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