The Villainess is a Millionaire Solver - Chapter 188

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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 188

Through Tesseud’s gaze, I felt something more than simple anger.

A more fundamental killing intent, perhaps?

But I couldn’t back down even a little.

Fortunately, Ruellian stood firmly in front of me, and there were also Benjamin and Gremory Editor-in-Chief who had come to testify to the truth even at the risk of their lives.

Also, Father and our Duke’s Mansion family members were watching my back with fire in their eyes.

So I looked around the garden that had now become a courtroom with confidence, without being intimidated.

“Is there anyone else who has something to say?”

That’s when it happened.

“Dean!”

A scholar came running from behind the crowd, shouting loudly.

The only person who calls me Dean.

It was the Director of our Rare Plant Academy.

“Benjamin wasn’t at the Guild Office, so I asked around and came looking! Now I see that you’re here too, Dean? What a relief!”

Your Dean fled right before the engagement ceremony, received a wanted order, and is now standing in court?

The Director, who couldn’t read the atmosphere at all, said that and then glanced toward the judge.

“Moreover, it’s even more fortunate that Theseus Marquis is here too. He’s the only person who can give important testimony about Amaranthia Flowers and dark magic, but I was disappointed because I heard he was in seclusion and couldn’t be met.”

And he cheerfully shouted.

“Theseus Marquis knows about the dark magic called ‘Serpentas’, right? According to testimonies from various black market dealers, quite a number of artifacts related to that magic were excavated in the Riohas region where you went missing while hunting monsters. The timing also matches when Theseus Marquis visited that place.”

People began murmuring again.

“Serpentas? Isn’t that a guild name?”

“It’s the name of a Master Guild…”

The Dark Guild people who had brought Count Reno here chattered.

According to that very Count, ‘Serpentas’ referred to the evil language that a mad and corrupted dragon left behind before its tongue was cut off.

Also, when Ruellian’s parents were murdered, that name was written on the paper that fell from his father’s embrace.

‘And…’

I looked back at Sion standing next to Father and asked.

“I also heard the hallucination ‘Serpentas’ from the black rose you gave me as a gift.”

“Yes, Aristina. At that time, I foolishly gave you an item containing cursed energy, trying to harm you without knowing my place. I found that black rose in a monster’s cave, and thinking about it now, artifacts from the Riohas region might have traveled far through monsters. They’re always fighting wars and plundering from each other.”

While saying that, Sion stared directly at Tesseud.

He couldn’t speak openly since his life would be forfeit if it wasn’t the truth, but he seemed to be hinting that the item was related to the Mysterious Figure who had taught him dark magic.

When several people showed interest and agreed with the academic discussion, the Director seemed excited.

“You don’t know how much trouble I went through to find all that out. To think I’d become a dark magic expert while researching Amaranthia Flowers.”

At those words, Ruellian turned his gaze to look at him. The Director flinched.

“Oh! I misspoke! I meant expert only in words. I don’t know how to use dark magic at all. It’s not something just anyone can use anyway…”

But Ruellian wasn’t looking at the Director for that reason.

He hardened his expression and asked.

“I’m curious about one thing – then what meaning does the phrase ‘Two-Faced Serpentas’ have? I thought that phrase was a provocation hinting at someone’s identity…”

“Well.”

The Director stroked his chin.

“That could be possible, but ‘Two-Faced Serpentas’ is itself a magic spell. According to my interpretation, two faces means life and death. Like a snake with two heads, life and death may seem like polar opposites but are ultimately one. This is powerful magic that can instantly kill a perfectly healthy living person. However, there’s a precaution…”

He explained with sparkling eyes.

“This dark magic called Serpentas is a kind of language, isn’t it? The moment you speak it aloud, you yourself hear those words with your ears. Then the caster also takes damage.”

“What if you write it on paper?”

“That’s fine in urgent situations. You can write with your eyes closed. Though there’s the risk that if you write it wrong, you’d waste that powerful magic without even getting to use it.”

I asked.

“Is it perhaps single-use?”

“Yes, of course, Dean.”

The Director explained as if to a child.

“For a non-mage to use advanced magic, it’s only possible by injecting it into the head through magic scrolls, right? Serpentas dark magic uses the language of other races, not human language, so we humans originally can’t use it. Once you use it, that’s the end. Until you get the same scroll again and inject it into your head…”

The knowledge he boasted about with innocent cheerfulness was all decisive testimony.

Tesseud had obtained dark magic artifacts not well known to the world during the expedition he left on just before marrying Empress Imelda.

But when he returned and learned that his lover had already married the Emperor, he somehow didn’t report those dark magic artifacts to the Emperor.

He might have just lost all motivation, or forgotten due to despair…

When the necessary moment came, he used it without hesitation.

The paper found in Ruellian’s father’s embrace was, it turns out, a murder weapon.

Tesseud knew that the evil dark magic would adversely affect the caster. Yet he didn’t teach Sion that fact.

“Anyway, the story went off on a tangent…”

The Director coughed a few times and said.

“The conclusion is, someone researched using Amaranthia Flowers and dark magic to find a way to meet the dead. Now that I know this fact, I should report it. The books owned by the Ancient Text Research Foundation all commonly mention Serpentas dark magic stories…”

He turned his gaze to look at Tesseud again.

“As far as I know, in this Capital City, the only person who has any connection to Serpentas dark magic is Theseus Marquis, who went on an expedition to the Riohas region. Did any individual approach you trying to extract information? If you remember, it would be a great help in my report.”

Silence flowed.

Everyone looked at Tesseud.

No one opened their mouth, but I could feel that everyone was thinking the same thing at this moment.

‘What if that “certain individual” is himself?’

The Director had joined late and knew nothing, so he couldn’t suspect the great knight Theseus Marquis at all.

But would the others really be the same?

I had already raised all sorts of suspicions about Tesseud. Including the suspicion that he was behind the Ancient Text Research Foundation.

Unless they were fools, they couldn’t help but know that all circumstances pointed to one fact.

‘Wow! What is this?’

I could see Benjamin and Gremory Editor-in-Chief looking at Tesseud with such expressions.

The two of them had investigated the Ancient Text Research Foundation at my request while still knowing nothing.

But who knew that result would cause such a butterfly effect.

Theseus Marquis, whom no one suspected, had committed all those corruptions and even dabbled in dark magic that even the Holy Order couldn’t grasp. And listening to the story, even murder?

And killing me, who employed them as Guild President and Newspaper Company President?

Such shock and horror were clearly revealed on both their faces.

Other people were equally gripped by shock, though not as much as them.

Seeing people’s reactions beginning to lean toward my side, I finally emerged from behind Ruellian’s back.

“…”

Tesseud was silently looking at me.

Maintaining silence wouldn’t be a good choice, but in this situation, even with ten mouths he’d have nothing to say.

“Respected Judge.”

I spoke toward Tesseud.

“The testimony of all the witnesses I prepared is finished. What do you think about all these suspicions directed at you as judge?”

“…”

He still remained silent.

“Why aren’t you saying anything? Will you deny that these are all ridiculous suspicions?”

I pressed him while looking around at the people.

“Unfortunately, since Theseus Marquis is the judge, he’s not a subject who needs to be verified through this soul trial. Since he didn’t stake his soul, it doesn’t matter if he lies. If you want to make us believe that what you say is the truth, why don’t you also stake your soul and try speaking?”

In the continuing silence, the Royal Knights shouted.

“Stop! This is disrespectful to the judge!”

I ignored their words and shouted.

“How long will you keep your mouth shut like that? Let’s clarify it clearly! You’re a knight so you like tournaments, right? Not the knight tournament you interfered with and ruined recently, but isn’t this a true knight tournament? Let’s have a match between you and me over the truth!”

“Enough. He will never respond.”

A cold voice came from behind.

It was Grace. She had been keeping silent while watching how the situation unfolded, but finally stepped forward.

She looked at Tesseud with eyes flashing with a strange radiance and slowly opened her mouth.

“Look at all these things you’ve done, you who are the most praised knight in the Empire. Sins pile up one by one, growing like a snowball, and eventually they’re exposed like this. Isn’t that right, Theseus Marquis? As that Young Lady told me, it’s absurd that a person should die simply for witnessing something.”

Then Grace sighed.

“Even though everything is so clear, he will never be able to admit a single word with his own mouth. It’s like a spell that binds the soul. Now it has become madness beyond obsession.”

Her voice began to tremble.

“This old woman cherished Empress Imelda like family and devoted lifelong loyalty to her, so in a moment of madness, I made the wrong choice. But to pay for that sin, even if belatedly, and for the Late Duke and Duchess Lacroix who were wrongfully accused, I will reveal the truth here. The truth is that night, Her Majesty brutally murdered the maid Eloise…”

“Shut up!”

A terrifying roar burst from Tesseud’s mouth.

At the same time, blood burst from Grace’s mouth.

“Ah!”

People screamed.

The old maid staggered as if she would collapse on the spot, but the next moment she stood upright again.

Before anyone knew it, Ruellian was firmly holding Grace.

From the floor where the two stood, a pure white pillar of light rose up, spinning around to create a defensive barrier.

I felt relieved.

‘He was prepared.’

Tesseud had promised the dead Empress Imelda that he wouldn’t harm Grace, but as the situation became urgent, he ultimately abandoned even that promise.

It seemed Ruellian had anticipated that Tesseud would act this way and prepared in advance.

“I am still the Agent of the Divine. God will be with you, Grace. Don’t worry about anything and speak the truth.”

Ruellian spoke with a sacred demeanor befitting the leader of the Order, firmly supporting Grace.

In his eyes shone a determination to protect this witness no matter what happened.

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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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