The Villainess is a Millionaire Solver - Chapter 202

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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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Side Story 2

Zikren picked up his pen again. But instead of writing a message, he snatched up both the pen and the scroll and left the spot immediately.

“Think carefully before you write it.”

“What? Ah, Second Prince! Wait a moment…”

Gremory panicked and chased after Zikren. But his figure quickly disappeared among the lush trees of the Imperial Palace.

“Second Prince! Where have you been? Your schedule was almost completely ruined!”

As he watched the attendants running toward him, a certain voice brushed past Zikren’s ears.

-You came at 1 o’clock for a 3 o’clock appointment? What kind of prince is so idle?

The corners of his mouth curved up.

Back then, he had casually told Aristina that he came early because he was bored, but of course he had deliberately adjusted his schedule to make time. Because he wanted to go early. His schedule had always been packed tight by the hour since long ago.

“Besides, as you can see, I’m even busier now. See? All these schedules?”

Zikren smirked once more and waved his hand at the attendants.

“Cancel all of today’s schedule. Say the Second Prince got a stomachache from running around with his belly exposed.”

“What? Ah, yes!”

After dismissing all the attendants, Zikren looked around.

Location was important. He’d heard that people who are bad at studying tend to be particular about such things, but what could he do about his own thoughts? He was the Second Prince.

As he looked around with his chin raised, a certain place outside the window suddenly caught his eye.

The rose garden that bloomed beautifully with pale pink roses in early summer and was very popular.

He could see his young self anxiously pacing in front of it.

“11:30 AM. It’s 11:30. No matter how early, she won’t come before 11:25, and no matter how late, she won’t come after 11:35.”

The memory of calculating the time when Aristina would pass by that rose garden based on his observations, then waiting nervously again and again, was as vivid as if it happened yesterday.

“Idiot.”

Zikren placed the scroll on the windowsill, then crossed his arms and leaned against the window.

That day in that rose garden, young Zikren kept recalling the moment he first saw Aristina.

It was an image that appeared remarkably clearly whether then or now, even without closing his eyes.

“Move! Don’t block the way!”

He turned around at a voice too powerful to believe it came from a child, and saw some girl like a fire spirit walking down the corridor, kicking with her shoes.

She marched forward relentlessly like a four-horse carriage with the attitude that ‘court etiquette is all about momentum.’

“My goodness, whose daughter is that?”

“The Rosen Noble! That notorious…”

The people’s whispered words stuck firmly in Zikren’s ears. His gaze couldn’t leave that girl.

…That’s right.

Zikren had fallen for Aristina at first sight back then. It was a fact he had kept thoroughly secret, never telling anyone.

But because it was so thorough, it was even a secret from himself?

Was he out of his mind!

He wanted to grab his own collar and confront himself belatedly, but as Editor-in-Chief Gremory said, the carriage had already departed. The one left behind could only endlessly gaze at the thick cloud of dust the carriage had left behind.

But…

What if he had realized his own feelings just a little sooner?

Wouldn’t everything have been different then?

Such regret was indeed real.

Although he didn’t think of himself as a genius or particularly capable person, Zikren was proud that he had lived a life not too shameful as the Empire’s Second Prince.

But when he thought of Aristina, many moments became regrettable.

Among them, what he regretted most was this:

“Hmph! Why would a prince worry about such things? The Crown Prince doesn’t! Follow me! This Aristina Bianca Rosen will solve it for you!”

When he grumbled that he also wanted to pet the puppy, Aristina boldly grabbed his hand and made him stroke the puppy’s back together.

“See! It doesn’t run away when you do this! Try it first, then complain later if you want. You have to hurry before what you want runs away from right in front of you.”

The small hand touching his was very soft, and a soap fragrance wafted from the cheek right in front of his nose.

Zikren was moved in that moment. That such a small, young girl could have such bold courage and decisiveness!

A child more wonderful than this will never appear again in my life.

Young Zikren was certain.

Therefore, it didn’t take long to make up his mind.

“That, that, that rascal!”

“Tsk! Who would want to be friends with that fierce child? Tsk tsk…”

Hearing the whispered words, Zikren clenched his small fist.

If Aristina became the Crown Princess, no one would dare say such things.

Though it seemed a bit early, according to the attendants, it wasn’t particularly hasty for the Imperial family to arrange marriages in childhood.

They arranged marriages as soon as children could walk, or even while still in their mother’s womb? So there was no reason it couldn’t work.

Zikren’s mind was already filled with a rosy future.

But…

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

Unexpectedly, Aristina rejected his proposal outright, even showing disgust.

Zikren was so shocked that he briefly fell into a blackout state where his consciousness went dark.

He was the Second Prince. Everyone revered him, his words were like heaven itself, the Empire’s law and order. Whatever he said came to pass.

So he never imagined Aristina would reject him. Not just any rejection, but saying she preferred his brother? That she would marry his brother? He had heard such talk vaguely, but he never thought…

Zikren’s pride was shattered to pieces. His face turned red, his heart pounded, and his mind became completely confused.

So he ended up doing the worst thing he would regret for a long time afterward.

“I hate girls like you too! Hahahaha! You believed that! It was a lie!”

“It wasn’t a lie! You proposed sincerely! Petty! Childish! Cowardly!”

“What did you say? Are you done talking?”

When Zikren stomped his foot, the ground cracked. Aristina fell backward and landed on her bottom from the impact.

“Are you asking for a fight right now?”

The angry girl lunged forward and grabbed Zikren’s hair. The two became entangled, shouting and rolling on the ground.

Even when shocked people gathered around shouting for them to please stop, neither would let go first. They weren’t a prince and noble lady but complete wild animals.

“Haah…”

Remembering that time, Zikren let out a long sigh.

If he could go back to the past, he absolutely wouldn’t have done that.

“Really? That’s too bad. But if that’s how you feel, it can’t be helped. Anyway, I want to be friends with you. So I’ll help you. To get closer to my brother…”

In his imagination, he saw himself speaking maturely, enduring even though his pride was shattered.

He also saw two children sitting on a bench, chatting as he diligently brought information saying “Brother likes this kind of thing,” planning strategies together.

Then one day, after saying goodbye with “See you tomorrow” and walking away, when Aristina suddenly turned around, she would discover Zikren still standing there watching her retreating figure instead of leaving. At her surprised but smiling face, Aristina would feel strangely moved and stand there in a daze.

Well, couldn’t that have been possible?

But what good was imagining it 100 times? Everything was already over.

After the proposal incident, Aristina Rosen was branded as a demon in Zikren’s mind.

Whenever he heard that she was causing trouble somewhere or acting selfishly and causing accidents…

As soon as such words reached his ears, Zikren couldn’t stay still and would immediately rush over to scold her. He would raise his voice, turn red in the face, and even after that, unable to calm his anger, he couldn’t sleep and would fume.

But that meant…

In other words, whenever he heard rumors about her, he would rush to meet her. After seeing her face, he would think only of her all night long. His attention was always focused on her.

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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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