The Villainess is a Millionaire Solver - Chapter 20

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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 20

No matter how much I think about it, there’s no one who would do such a thing.

“How much is the investment amount?”

At my question, the event organizer showed me a blank paper.

“At the investor’s request, we recorded it as ‘amount undetermined’ until the initial contract is finalized. But as you can see…”

He displayed a copy of an account he had received in advance in the air. The balance appeared within a magic circle formation, and the numbers were endless.

“We confirmed they possess a considerable fortune in their balance, easily passing the General Assembly’s standards.”

Good grief. Who could it really be?

It would be nice if someone recognized my genius and boldly invested… but let’s not forget what rank our guild is. It would be more convincing to say their hand slipped while trying to invest elsewhere.

‘Anyway, I just need to take care of my own interests.’

Thanks to an investor appearing at just the right time, I could conveniently slip away without lifting a finger.

I flashed a victorious smile at the now-useless ballot papers.

“I’m the one who really came here to make money. I even abandoned the Imperial Palace ball where I used to stamp my attendance and came here. I’m exactly the kind of guild master that fits today’s General Assembly’s purpose. Wouldn’t it be your loss to kick out a talent like me?”

“What a sharp Young Lady!”

The great-aunt said.

This elderly lady had been watching Prince Zikren and me bicker with great interest. Her eyes sparkling brightly.

“In comparison, our Prince is quite immature. Didn’t you originally promise this great-aunt to stay hidden a bit longer? But how can you immediately show your anger just because someone you don’t like sat next to you?”

“That’s not it. I was also trying to follow the regulations.”

Zikren pointed to one side with a displeased expression. Pamphlets were stacked there.

“Don’t you see that? The booklets are supposed to be taken directly from there, one per person.”

“Ah. I didn’t know that.”

I leisurely went and got a pamphlet. Then I spread it wide open, blocking Zikren’s blazing gaze.

“There’s an introduction about the great-aunt’s music box here too? It’s so pretty! It has a very long tradition and is a handcrafted item that requires a lot of care, isn’t it?”

“That’s right. Music boxes made by other workshops aren’t this elaborate. Just by listening to the sound, you can feel the difference, so many people seek out only our music boxes. Of course, to the big-shot guild masters gathered here, it must seem like an absurdly small product.”

The great-aunt nodded and said.

“This is exactly it. This is the kind of business talk I wanted to have. But the atmosphere seems too heated right now. Let this old woman give some advice. How about everyone calms down for a moment and then starts again? I’ve been getting thirsty anyway.”

“Understood, Lady.”

The sweating event organizer quickly followed that advice.

“Everyone, there’s a cocktail corner prepared on the terrace to the right of the Assembly Hall. As Lady Peruvian suggested, let’s take some time to quench our thirst there before starting.”

“That sounds good!”

Prince Zikren shouted as if pleased.

And immediately approached me, his golden eyes blazing fiercely.

“Princess! Let’s have a talk!”

“Ah, I’m not thirsty.”

I slipped away like an eel with the pamphlet in hand and made my escape. Meanwhile, Zikren ended up surrounded by people.

“Your Highness! Please give us at least a hint about this top-secret business!”

Everyone was in an uproar.

He won’t be able to get out of there right away, will he?

I kept glancing back as I went outside the building entirely.

‘Scary. So scary.’

Thinking about the powerful force Zikren had shown during our recent collision made me shudder.

What regulations? Since when has he lived such an upright life? He was just displeased that I entered properly and sat next to him.

‘Even so, releasing his power the moment we meet? How brutal.’

As Aldensis said, his injuries must have healed long ago, right? He’s really sturdy, so sturdy.

While grumbling internally as I walked, I suddenly stopped short.

‘Wait. Come to think of it, about those injuries…’

I recalled what Duke Carnel had said to Ruellian at the Sanctuary Chapel.

“On the very night of July 13th when my daughter ran away and picked flowers, the Second Prince seems to have experienced some kind of violent conflict. I suspect he had a duel.”

Chills ran down my spine.

What if it wasn’t a duel?

What if Prince Zikren had fought with someone, and that opponent was Aristina?

‘An accidental murder resulting from a fight. Or premeditated murder…?’

With a transcendent’s powerful strength, it would be entirely possible to take someone’s life without leaving a single wound on their body. Horrifying imaginations flashed through my mind.

‘Besides, I didn’t even get to properly see Zikren’s reaction earlier.’

Zikren is bad at lying.

If he suddenly encountered his murder victim at an event?

Even if he had already heard through rumors that I was safe, he would have been shaken in that moment.

But unfortunately, Zikren was pretending to sleep with his straw hat covering his face at that time, so I couldn’t see his initial reaction.

‘What if he picked a fight over the pamphlet to hide his agitation?’

I trembled slightly.

Zikren was already a strong suspect candidate, and now the information ‘uncertain alibi’ was added to that.

‘We already have bad blood between us.’

Old memories from my head surfaced.

In childhood, Zikren was quite a cute boy. Bright red hair, brilliant golden eyes, chubby cheeks.

With that appearance, he used to follow Aristina around annoyingly.

But then…

“Hey! Aristina!”

Zikren approached with his hands in his pockets, swaggering as usual. But for some reason, his still-baby-fat cheeks were tinged red.

He looked toward distant mountains and opened his mouth.

“You…”

“What?”

“You know…”

Zikren hesitated for a long time, then said with his eyes tightly shut.

“Would you maybe want to be an imperial consort? I’ll really treat you well.”

“What?”

Young Aristina was shocked.

“No way! Who said I’d marry the Prince? I’m going to marry the Crown Prince!”

Zikren’s face turned as red as his hair color, indistinguishable.

“What? I hate girls like you too!”

The two had such a tremendous fight that day that it would never happen twice in Imperial Palace history.

Even after that, they bickered whenever they met… After Aristina debuted in society and incidents kept occurring, their conflict became even worse.

I remember our last conversation.

“Show some restraint. My brother has dignity to maintain, but I don’t have such things.”

As Zikren turned away with his golden eyes blazing, Aristina shot back at his retreating figure.

“Really? So what are you going to do? Kill me? Go ahead and try!”

Oh, mouth! This damn mouth!

I slapped my mouth repeatedly.

“…?”

Passersby were startled by the sound and looked over. But once they realized it was me, they quickly looked away.

As expected of a day when there’s no ball, people were dressed up splendidly in fancy outfits. I could see some wearing small masks that covered their eyes. They must have come out for some air while dancing.

When I stared at them intently, they all flinched and stepped back. But I was thinking something 180 degrees different from their imagination.

‘Phew, there are so many scary things today, but I’m so grateful there are this many people at the Imperial Palace. Thank you, everyone.’

The noble men and women sat on benches in small groups, laughing and chatting, and also having private conversations.

I quickly sat on an empty bench. Perhaps because there were people around, my anxiety disappeared and positive thoughts emerged.

‘I don’t know yet. It’s just an ambiguous situation where there’s neither evidence that Zikren is the culprit nor evidence that he isn’t.’

And what can he do by acting scary toward me? With the great-aunt and other people watching, he can’t even make a peep.

If I hide like this and go back in when the General Assembly restarts, what can even the Second Prince, no matter how capable, do about it?

‘I should stop worrying and just do my own work.’

I opened the pamphlet I had brought from the event hall. And I began reading it carefully from the beginning, one by one.

But then…

After finishing reading the whole thing once and trying to review it again, someone behind me spoke to me.

“Guild Master, shall I give you some good information?”

“Not buying.”

After automatically giving a sharp response first, I flinched.

‘Wait. This voice is?’

It’s not unfamiliar. This is definitely… a voice that shouldn’t be heard in this place, right?

I slowly turned around.

“Good heavens…”

Among all the passersby who were gaping with their mouths open. A tall man stood towering there.

He wasn’t wearing sacred ceremonial robes but rather secular high noble attire, so he looked completely different from when I met him last time… But that bewitching face with black hair and dark eyes remained the same.

‘My God. I avoided one crazy bastard only to meet an even crazier one.’

But let’s stay calm. I expected to face him sooner or later anyway.

I put a little strength into the hand holding my bag.

‘That’s why I prepared something.’

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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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