The Villainess is a Millionaire Solver - Chapter 197

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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 197

Could a person really be that happy?

That’s what I thought as I looked at Ruellian’s face, which looked completely different from usual. His violet eyes sparkled with a light I’d never seen before, and his face was full of smiles.

Who would have imagined that he, who had always been so stiff in front of people, could make such an expression?

Only I would be able to see this face, right?

Seeing him so happy made me happy too.

‘A true love covenant ceremony means betting your entire life on the other person, right? But maybe he was more worried about me rejecting him than the burden that comes with it?’

It was the first time such a big man looked cute to me.

Trying hard to suppress the corners of my mouth from rising, I asked Ruellian.

“So when exactly do we hold this covenant ceremony?”

Instead of answering, he asked me back.

“When would you like to do it?”

“As soon as possible.”

I answered immediately.

I thought there was no need to drag things out once a decision was made…

And since Ruellian was this happy just from getting permission for the covenant ceremony, I wanted to see how much more radiantly happy he’d be when we actually did it.

At my straightforward answer, he smiled brightly once again.

“Then shall we hold the ceremony right after we finish dealing with the last remaining matters?”

“Good.”

The moment I answered that.

One of the silver branches surrounding us gently extended toward us, as if reaching out a hand.

Ruellian smiled and broke off that silver branch.

I asked.

“What’s that for?”

“The tree is giving this to me to use on the covenant ceremony day. I have to say these words while presenting it to you then: ‘I swear to love only you for eternity, will you become my companion?'”

Just hearing the explanation made my heart start racing, as if I’d actually received such a confession at a real covenant ceremony.

And…

This man, whose face was already flushing again even though this wasn’t the actual situation, felt incredibly endearing to me.

It was the same for him. Should I say he found me endearing for finding him endearing?

‘You’re quite cute. No, you’re cuter.’ We exchanged such looks for a moment.

Others would wonder what on earth we were doing if they saw us.

I never thought such a day would come in my life.

Struggling to survive, I actually managed to survive, and I met someone I could share the life I protected.

Someone who showed me smiles that made my heart flutter more than anyone else in the world.

Someone who gave me special emotions I’d never felt with others.

Someone who made me treasure the time we’d spent together so far, but look forward even more to the days we’d share in the future.

That person said to me.

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

As if I’d been waiting for it, those words came out of my mouth very naturally.

Without either of us taking the lead, we pulled each other into a tight embrace and faced each other. And in the sparkling light, we gazed at our reflections in each other’s eyes.

To think we’d be sharing all these beautiful things in the world together from now on.

How wonderful would that be?

I smiled happily with such thoughts…

Soon after, Ruellian’s lips pressed firmly against mine.

They were very hot and soft lips.

* * *

The Central Square of the Imperial Capital, where citizens gathered whenever anything happened.

Today, with journalists crowding the place as well, it was even more chaotic than usual.

On a platform set up in the middle of the square, a shocking announcement was made.

“Today, I’m finally making this official announcement: the identity of the thief who has been stealing all sorts of treasures under the nickname ‘Black Phantom’ in the newspapers… is me.”

Ruellian Lacroix, the head of the Holy Order and the Empire’s only Agent of the Divine.

The journalists stirred slightly at his declaration.

Actually, it wasn’t that surprising.

When Princess Violet almost exposed his identity, he somehow managed to smooth things over…

But later, when Tesseud appeared in thief costume and lied about being the Late Duke Lacroix.

Suspicions arose once again around Ruellian, who had rescued me in the exact same appearance as that person.

-So it really was the Lacroix father and son who’ve been playing thief all along!

Those suspicions became accepted fact while Ruellian was wanted.

So making this declaration now was just beating a dead horse.

Both I and Ruellian really hated beating dead horses.

But there was still a reason we arranged this occasion.

It was because of the declaration that would follow.

“The reason I created and operated as the thief was to avenge my parents.”

Ruellian spoke while looking at the people, not even glancing at the prepared statement.

“I figured that if I imitated that bastard who appeared like a ghost, murdered my parents, and disappeared, some information would surely reach my ears. Or perhaps the perpetrator himself might appear before me. So I came up with the idea of an undefeated thief to create buzz.”

Then he pulled out another bundle of papers from under his statement and revealed them to the people.

“All the treasures I stole were connected to the Holy Order. However, they had been unjustly confiscated by past power holders or had changed owners for unfair reasons. When I retrieved them, I gained power according to the sacred will of the Order. Afterward, I quietly returned the treasures to where they originally belonged.”

Monastery people waking up in the morning, opening their doors, and finding treasure bundles neatly placed outside.

Precious statues that had magically returned to the altar of a rural chapel that had been emptied by plunder.

Such scenes flashed before my eyes.

“Those who dealt in such treasures were generally not completely honest people. Investigation showed that most cases involved funds of unclear origin, making it impossible to compensate through the Order’s relic preservation fund.”

Ruellian spoke with sarcasm.

“For some normal cases that didn’t fall into that category, I compensated through the Holy Order’s relic preservation fund I just mentioned. I reviewed and handled each case carefully so no one could claim unfairness.”

Ruellian handed the list to his aide standing beside him and said.

“But even so, causing social disturbance through thievery was definitely wrong. Therefore, I will once again entrust the position of head of the Order to the delegate who served in my absence…”

“Huh?”

The Bald Delegate, who had been listening absentmindedly, made a strange sound in surprise. Ruellian pretended not to see him and continued.

“And I will temporarily step down from the position of head and reflect while serving the people as an ordinary cleric. That’s all.”

The journalists and citizens became noisy all at once.

They thought this was just an occasion to announce he was the thief, but unexpectedly it was a declaration of self-reflection.

“Is it real? Or just a public announcement?”

“It’s real, apparently! The delegate has already been appointed as acting head!”

“Really, to that extent?”

Among the surprised and confused people, I calmly clapped my hands.

‘Leave him be. He wants to do it.’

Anyway, as long as he remained the Empire’s only Agent of the Divine, the position of head of the Holy Order would follow Ruellian until his death. He could never become an ordinary cleric.

But as he said, causing social disturbance while playing thief was undeniable, so it was right to reflect like this.

So this was something we’d already discussed among ourselves.

“Wait! Then when will you return…”

“Your Excellency! Young Lady Aristina!”

Leaving the swarm of approaching journalists behind, we left the square. We got into a carriage waiting there and immediately departed for the next location.

Belmare Port.

When our carriage arrived at the small village by the docks, the old chapel keeper who was gathering nets ran over in surprise.

“Could it be…?”

“Tobias.”

Seeing Ruellian getting out of the carriage and greeting him, the old man just stood there dumbfounded for a moment.

Though he now knew the identity of the underground guild owner in the chapel, he still seemed unable to adapt. Especially seeing him appear in white vestments with a holy sword.

To think that the man who helped the villagers while wearing a bizarre mask was actually His Excellency Lacroix, head of the Holy Order.

Toward the old man who just stared at him blankly with narrowed eyes, Ruellian spoke gently.

“Tobias, I’m not sure if everything was done as I instructed….”

“Ah, yes!”

Tobias finally came to his senses.

“Everything was done exactly as you said. Thank you so much, Your Highness.”

He looked at Ruellian with a deeply moved expression.

Just then, the surroundings became noisy and a crowd of people appeared.

Tobias looked at us with an embarrassed expression and said.

“Oh my! I told them to come say goodbye when you two finished your business and were about to leave, but they couldn’t wait!”

“Haha….”

The villagers approached with sheepish smiles. I could see that tavern owner Joseph and the others who had fled to escape the Security Forces’ pursuit had all safely returned.

They bowed their heads toward us.

“Now we can all live as free people without any worries. Thank you so much.”

“Don’t mention it. If I hadn’t been wanted, this would have been finished much faster.”

Ruellian accepted their gratitude with an attitude that was both blunt and friendly.

After congratulating these simple people on clearing their names.

We headed to the chapel to wrap up our business here.

Taking the elevator down underground, a massive stained glass greeted us.

The stained glass that had controlled the Information Guild all this time and provided great help with Ruellian’s work.

Its final mission was to clear the names of these villagers.

Ruellian had succeeded in finding three witnesses to the tax collector murder case through persistent tracking via the Dark Guild.

They were peddlers who had been drinking in a corner of the dining room when the fight broke out between the officials and the villagers.

They had tried not to get involved in this matter, but finally changed their minds after Ruellian’s persistent persuasion. As soon as Ruellian cleared his name and regained his authority, he contacted the witnesses again and cleanly revealed the truth of the past.

“I’m glad the final mission was something meaningful.”

Ruellian stood before the stained glass and muttered.

“Now this is over too.”

Since he had quit being a thief and the Master Guild’s existence had also been brought into the open, this stained glass had now become completely useless.

When Ruellian placed his hand on the surface and injected divine power, the colored glass pieces all blazed brilliantly at once.

And the next moment.

With a loud bang, everything shattered into pieces.

“Let’s go.”

“Yeah.”

Behind us as we turned away with relief, a dazzling explosion occurred.

It was a spectacle more magnificent than fireworks.

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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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