The Villainess is a Millionaire Solver - Chapter 181

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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 181

Among the noble men and women who had dressed up splendidly to visit the Imperial Palace, our appearance blended in naturally without any sense of discord.

Everyone passing by did look at us, but it was interest, not suspicion. No one thought we looked suspicious.

Of course.

Who would ever think that the wanted criminals who had turned the entire Empire upside down would boldly apply for an audience and enter the Imperial Palace?

We had caught them completely off guard.

Through the procedure called ‘audience,’ which was the only way the Imperial Palace allowed outsiders access, we had successfully entered the interior of the Main Palace quite naturally.

And just as naturally, we passed through the waiting room and emerged into the long corridor of the main building.

This was the heart of the Imperial Palace.

Having broken through this gateway, we could now move anywhere with ease.

The layout of the Imperial Palace interior that I had learned while following Aldensis around clearly came to mind.

“But the problem is where we need to go to meet Grace…”

“I’ll go find out.”

Sion said in a lowered voice.

“Since you two tend to draw attention, please act naturally here.”

“Good.”

Ruellian nodded.

“Oh, can you also get a child-sized cloak? I’ll repay this favor several times over later.”

“…”

One of Sion’s eyes under his hat briefly turned toward him.

Everyone knew that Ruellian properly repaid both grudges and debts. But the fact that he had specifically voiced those words seemed meaningful.

“It’s fine. I’m doing this because I want to anyway. I’ll be back soon.”

After answering like that, Sion disappeared.

We stood there pretending to chat while waiting.

I thought it was taking a bit longer than expected…

After a while, Sion returned to us with quick steps.

He first handed over a pink cloak with a large ribbon attached, then spoke.

“That maid named Grace is currently at the Sanctum Palace.”

“Ah, the Sanctum Palace…”

That was one of the pavilion mansions. Built with timber containing pure energy, it was used as a place for the imperial family to rest briefly or recover from illness.

As I recalled that far, a thought crossed my mind.

I frowned and looked at Sion.

“Then by any chance, at the Sanctum Palace right now…”

“Yes, that’s right. His Highness the Crown Prince and His Highness the Second Prince are there now. Unlike other times, it’s become impossible to sneak in quietly.”

“…”

I thought we had safely passed through the gateway by entering the Main Palace.

As if the real game was just beginning, a second gateway was waiting for us.

‘Go ahead and try to get your hands on Grace if you can.’

It seemed like Tesseud was saying that to us.

Ruellian asked as if he couldn’t understand.

“What justification could they possibly have for sending Grace there? Isn’t she just a maid?”

“I thought it was strange too, so I dug into that a bit as well.”

Sion answered.

“It’s not well known since it’s old history, but Grace has a slightly higher status than just ‘any maid.’ She was the only maid that the late Empress Imelda brought from her family home, so even His Majesty the Emperor knows that maid’s name. That’s why they sent her to the Sanctum Palace to give her light duties while she recovers from the poisoning.”

“I see…”

“Everyone else there are people who originally worked at that place. Since both the Emperor and Empress are currently very worried, Duke Dillen, the late Emperor’s youngest brother, has gone to the Sanctum Palace as the person in charge.”

Duke Dillen.

The image of a short, stocky old man came to mind.

A person who once had succession rights to the throne, even if he was pushed back in the hierarchy, was spending his old age comfortably in the Imperial Palace?

That meant he wasn’t particularly threatening to his competitors.

Duke Dillen was just a playboy.

“He’s rather simple-minded, isn’t he?”

“Not exactly a brilliant person.”

Ruellian picked up on my words.

“If we play it right, he might let us in without thinking.”

“I think so too.”

Sion agreed.

“Since the most idle person among the imperial elders ended up in charge of guarding the Sanctum Palace, he’s not a very difficult opponent. We can definitely deceive him.”

“Deceive?”

I racked my brain.

“Since our setting is that we’ve returned from wandering foreign countries, should we say we know some treatment that could help the Crown Prince and Second Prince? But if we suddenly appear and say that, wouldn’t it look suspicious?”

“Of course it would be suspicious. We actually are suspicious people. It would be nice if we had an impostor…”

Sion immediately responded to Ruellian’s words.

“I have the perfect person for that job. I actually got caught by someone on my way back here.”

Caught? Is that why he was late?

I asked in surprise.

“Who?”

“Don’t worry, my lady. They’re an ally. Their perception is so amazing that they recognized me and immediately followed me. They pressed me almost to the point of grabbing my collar, asking if there was anything they could help with.”

Sion answered like that while looking in a certain direction.

From among the noble men and women who had gathered busily for social activities, someone stepped forward as if they had been waiting. It was a noble lady who had cleverly hidden her face by tying the strings of her wide-brimmed hat tightly.

“What is this? I helped you escape because you said you didn’t want to get engaged, so why did you come back here?”

I was startled once again.

“Serene!”

“Lady Aristina!”

Serene exclaimed in a hushed voice while grabbing my hand.

“I followed Sion and have been standing over there the whole time, but you didn’t recognize me.”

“Sorry. You should have come with Sion instead of standing separately.”

“Actually, I couldn’t get used to seeing Lady Aristina with a changed appearance. I was being shy by myself. No matter how I look at you, you don’t seem like Lady Aristina. You’re really amazing, aren’t you? And I’m happy. Because you have the same black hair as me.”

Serene couldn’t speak loudly and kept her voice as low as possible while showing her joy, then slightly turned her gaze to the side.

“By the way, I never dreamed you two would appear together. Using your shared status as fugitives to approach our Lady Aristina…”

“Princess Hyperion.”

Ruellian interrupted Serene’s words with a face that was both absurd and troubled.

“Isn’t it too carefree to say such things in this situation? You can’t not know what it means to be having a conversation with us right now…”

“That’s right.”

I said while gently releasing Serene’s hand.

While I was moved by Serene’s brave appearance, I was also worried.

“You can’t help me. This is completely different from helping someone escape from an engagement ceremony. If we get caught, you’ll also become a serious criminal who aided traitors.”

“We just won’t get caught.”

Serene’s attitude was resolute.

“I’ve lived as a good child all this time, building reputation and trust, so I could use it at an important time like this. To save my friend’s life…!”

Each word contained firm conviction and courage, making me feel solemn.

I muttered.

“You really are a wonderful protagonist.”

“That’s right. I really feel like I’ve become the protagonist of my own life right now.”

Serene said with shining eyes.

“Now, let’s hurry to the Sanctum Palace.”

“Let’s go.”

Sion said.

“I’ll watch your backs. If there are any suspicious movements, I’ll block them by any means necessary. Now, we don’t have time.”

That was right.

If you’re grateful for the help, then all the more reason you must survive. That’s the only way you can repay it.

Right now we are in great danger.

No matter how naturally we blended in among the noble men and women, it felt like there were eyes watching us from somewhere.

For now, we had disrupted the Imperial Knights that Tesseud uses like his limbs and temporarily tied up his funding sources, but we didn’t know when or how he might find new ways to move.

“Got it.”

We parted ways with Sion.

All three of us left the Main Palace with tense nerves, heading toward the Sanctum Palace through the long corridor.

Through the lushly overgrown trees, we could see priests busily going in and out.

A short, white-haired old man in glittering ceremonial robes was standing there blankly with his arms crossed, but when Serene slightly lifted her hat brim to show herself, he quickly snapped to attention.

“Well, who is this? Isn’t this Princess Hyperion?”

“Duke Dillen! How are you?”

Serene greeted him with a bright smile.

“I was just passing by and stopped in for a moment. You must have many worries because of His Highness the Crown Prince and His Highness the Second Prince, right?”

“Indeed, I’m starting to get worried. Since they’re children who inherited dragon blood, what’s supposed to be just sleeping for one night could end up being decades.”

Duke Dillen sighed and lamented, then noticed the two of us standing behind Serene.

His small eyes instantly widened.

A woman with a scorpion tattoo on her shoulder and a man with his face half-covered by a silver mask.

“Who might you be? I don’t think I’ve seen you before…”

“They’re new friends I made recently.”

Serene said with a smile.

“Count and Countess Calliente have been traveling abroad for quite some time and just returned to the country. Do you know how we became friends? Well, I was coming back from praying for His Highness the Crown Prince and His Highness the Second Prince when I suddenly felt dizzy and collapsed, and the Count who happened to be passing by immediately treated me. Through some mystical medical technique… what was it again?”

“Constitutional medicine.”

I answered in a sultry voice.

“My husband and I love traveling here and there, so we’re well-versed in mysterious foreign arts. I heard that His Highness the Crown Prince and His Highness the Second Prince are currently experiencing some kind of problem?”

“Ah, they’ve simply fallen into a deep sleep, that’s all…”

Duke Dillen tried to take a step back, but Serene quickly blocked him.

“Instead of talking here, how about we sit down and chat over some tea? You have no idea how learned and knowledgeable my new friends are. Who knows? They might have some useful information. Right now we need to listen to everyone’s stories.”

Serene spoke without hesitation while subtly stepping inside the door. Ruellian and I immediately followed.

“That’s true.”

Duke Dillen, who firmly trusted Serene, obediently nodded and followed along.

And so we successfully managed to enter the interior of the Sanctum Palace.

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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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