The Villainess is a Millionaire Solver - Chapter 203
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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 3
At that time, he thought he disliked and hated that villainess, but in fact, that too was ultimately another form of unrequited love.
When he didn’t know this fact, he vaguely thought this way: ‘I originally hated Aristina, but seeing her change for the better made my heart change and I came to like her.’
But that wasn’t it.
Zikren had simply liked Aristina consistently and unchangingly all along.
That’s why he was able to act that way in the end.
“Anyway, I wish you luck. I’ll do everything I can from this side.”
After helping Aristina escape from the Imperial Palace and running back, he shouted inwardly.
You crazy fool! You should catch her! Why are you just letting her go!
After even confronting his brother and confessing his feelings completely, to just let her go to another man. Aren’t you really crazy!
But he just wanted to do that.
If I cling desperately, Aristina will be troubled too, so let me show her a clean retreat.
Only after thinking that did he finally realize.
Because his heart had never changed even once, because he had always liked Aristina, her happiness mattered more to him than his own happiness.
To realize that only at the moment of finally letting her go – what a pathetic situation indeed.
But what could he do?
“Fool. Fool…”
Zikren sighed and stepped away from the window.
He could see the blank space of the scroll still spread white on the windowsill.
It soon transformed into the hem of a pure white dress.
Under the fluttering purple flower petals, Aristina and Ruellian standing side by side after clearing their false accusations, showing bright smiles toward each other. There could be no happier pair in this world.
Thinking about what kind of joyful time the two must be having now made him envious. How happy must they be? Even just sitting still and breathing would probably be fun, right?
Ruellian’s face must also be blooming with laughter like during the wedding.
Hmph. I vaguely imagined his bride would be a gentle and quiet young lady, but to snatch away Aristina like this…
Thinking that far, Zikren hurriedly waved his arms.
“No, that’s not right. That’s not right.”
He didn’t snatch her away. Though it stings inside, I’m still cleanly acknowledging it.
That I lost.
On the other hand, I don’t think it can only be called a defeat. These memories that remain as bittersweet recollections can be treasured forever.
Just the fact that there was once a flame-like existence that brightly illuminated his life was enough to make him fortunate.
“So then…”
There’s no need to write anything grand. Just express this feeling honestly.
Words wishing for Aristina’s happiness.
Zikren gripped his pen and pressed down firmly with each character. Though the words were concise and easy to understand, befitting his personality, perhaps because he tried too hard to write well, his palm became sweaty.
“Ah, my hand slipped.”
He tried to fix it by adding strokes, but the more he touched it, the more the letters seemed to smudge.
Well, as long as the meaning gets across properly.
As Gremory had said, the words he left soon blurred on their own on the paper, becoming a hazy mass.
Still, just in case, after blowing on it several times with his mouth to dry it, Zikren finally came out of the Prince’s Palace.
Gremory was waiting for him with an extremely bored expression.
“Really, what took you so long? What on earth were you doing in there? Don’t tell me you were endlessly lost in sentiment, reminiscing from the first moment you met our President Aristina to the last moment you parted?”
“…”
Hit right on target, Zikren panicked and thrust the scroll at him as if throwing it.
“Just take it!”
“Yes, yes. Thank you.”
Editor-in-Chief Gremory watched the Second Prince’s retreating figure disappear in the distance for a moment before turning his steps.
“Finally finished one person. At this rate, can we finish within today?”
Though he was worried, fortunately most of the targets were staying right here in the Imperial Palace. Without having to search around with difficulty, it seemed he could quickly find another one just by walking.
Indeed. As if waiting, the second target came into view.
“Crown Prince!”
At the loud call, Aldensis turned around.
“Yes.”
A dutiful smile appeared on his face. Then, as if recognizing who it was, that smile soon changed into a genuine bright laugh.
“…”
Gremory forgot what he was going to say and stared at him.
The Crown Prince had definitely changed.
“Melissa Gremory, Editor-in-Chief!”
In his welcoming attitude, not the kindness learned from observing and studying humans, but gentleness he had acquired himself naturally emanated.
This too must be the achievement of our President Aristina, right?
“Everyone, I’m going to have a brief chat with the Editor-in-Chief of 【Justice Daily】.”
After sending away his close associates, Aldensis walked with Gremory. He seemed to have many questions he wanted to ask.
“What brings you to the Imperial Palace today? Is there anything I can help you with?”
“Actually, I have a favor to ask, and I’ll explain what it is from now.”
“A favor?”
The face that asked back looked comfortable. This too was an expression he didn’t often make before.
Come to think of it, recently the Crown Prince has been devoting himself even more to successor lessons, right?
But actually meeting him like this, his attitude had a more relaxed atmosphere than expected. It was somewhat different from the rumors. If his younger brother Zikren had become diligent, the older brother had become somewhat looser?
Before, he was obsessed only with acting as the ‘perfect Crown Prince’, but now he seemed to have gained the leisure to look around.
However…
“To cut to the chase, the reason I came all the way to the Imperial Palace today is because of our President Aristina.”
As soon as that name came from Gremory’s mouth, Aldensis couldn’t help but be shaken.
At the same time as the smile lingering on his lips disappeared, his eyes became distant as if his mind had drifted somewhere far away.
“Oh my! You suddenly became wistful, didn’t you?”
At Gremory’s brazen words, Aldensis finally returned to reality.
An embarrassed expression filled his face, then fresh laughter burst out.
“Even if you’re a Transcendent, memories of unrequited love are painful. But as you can see, I can shake it off quickly now. I guess I’ve become an adult.”
“Good. Very good. Then you can write it ‘quickly’, right?”
“Write what?”
“You may know this, but it’s been almost 400 days since our President Aristina left. As a commemoration, I received this mysterious magic paper from Duke Carnel. I thought it would be nice to create a round-robin letter on this paper that only our President can read, with various people writing a word each to send to her.”
“Really? Does the number 400 have some special meaning…? No, never mind. I understand. You want to remind the Princess of our existence once more. That’s right. Aristina needs to come back quickly and work.”
“You’re certainly much more astute than a certain someone I just met. I can’t say who… Anyway, since you understand quickly, there’s nothing more to say, so I’ll just ask for a simple word. Is that possible?”
“…Wait a moment.”
“Why is your expression like that again? Are you perhaps becoming wistful again?”
“No! Not at all. It’s just… I don’t think I should write just anything carelessly.”
“That’s fine.”
“No, I don’t like that. If I’m going to do it, I should do it well. I should look up reference materials too…”
“Huh? Reference materials?”
“I’ll try to write it well once. Wait, Editor-in-Chief Gremory.”
Then Aldensis took the magic scroll without even listening to an answer and instantly disappeared somewhere.
“Reference materials?”
Gremory repeated it once more in bewilderment.
“Are you writing a thesis now? This is just a letter! Did I explain it wrong?”
He tried to follow to correct the misunderstanding, but Aldensis was nowhere to be found.
Naturally. By then he was already inside his study.
“Crown Prince!”
“Don’t mind me. I just stopped by to look something up.”
Aldensis already had no interest in anything else. After sending all the attendants away, he hurriedly approached his desk.
“Come to think of it, it’s been quite a long time since I opened this drawer.”
While listening to Gremory’s words, something he had forgotten for a long time suddenly came to mind.
It should naturally be there, right? No one would dare touch the Crown Prince’s desk.
“As expected….”
Inside the drawer were several thick books bound in Western-style binding, stacked on top of each other.
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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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