The Villainess is a Millionaire Solver - Chapter 41

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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 41

While having such thoughts and staring at the spot where Ruellian had disappeared, Aldensis and Zikren also followed my gaze to look in that direction.

“Ruellian seems to think our operation isn’t very good, doesn’t he?”

“Of course, brother. He doesn’t know anything at all. What we’ve prepared…”

“Shh!”

I quickly snapped out of my thoughts and stopped Zikren from speaking.

“The fact that the three of us are participating in the operation is unavoidable since the Chief of Imperial Security and others already know…”

At this point, I blinked my eyes rapidly at the two of them.

“But the fact that we’re going to hide 10th-rank golems disguised as security guards in the exhibition hall should absolutely not be mentioned in such a public space. You never know who might be eavesdropping.”

Perhaps Ruellian might still be lurking around listening, or maybe one of his confidants could be hiding somewhere. So I laid another trap card.

“Wow…”

The brothers were impressed by my brilliant deception.

“To be this cautious! Aristina, you really become scary when someone touches your hobbies, don’t you?”

“The Princess is right. I think I let my guard down a bit just because we’re inside the Imperial Palace. I’ll be careful.”

“Yes. I’ll be careful too, of course. And now we need to quickly move to the next stage… Your Highness the Crown Prince, you said you’ve already prepared a building?”

“Yes, Princess. There’s an Imperial-owned art museum in the Art District that’s been vacant because no one has used it. It’s a spacious and good location.”

“Good. Then I’ll visit several famous stores to prepare for the department store opening. I’ll investigate what they’re like, and if they’re suitable, I’ll recruit them to our department store.”

“Please do so.”

Aldensis nodded and then suddenly asked.

“But when you say famous stores?”

“First, I’m thinking of going to Liliebes Luxury Fashion Store for a field investigation.”

That very luxury store where my maid owes 100 million.

“Ah.”

Aldensis immediately understood.

“Isn’t that Liliebes Oeclaire, Viscountess’s business? Since they have a lot of experience, if we get good cooperation, we should see results soon. Good choice, Princess.”

“You flatter me, Your Highness.”

Was this some kind of pop quiz?

Against the Crown Prince who was asking various questions, I succeeded in perfect defense. I really do have talent for acting like I’m working hard on Imperial business.

“Then I’ll leave that to the Princess. I’ll handle several Imperial duties while focusing on renovating the department store building.”

“I’ll also handle Imperial duties while taking charge of building renovation with my brother.”

Aldensis and Zikren spoke in turn.

“Understood. Then I’ll report to both of you after completing the field investigation.”

The discussion was over.

After paying my respects to them, I hurried back to the ducal mansion before sunset.

‘Now that the operation is on track, there’s really no time to be lazy.’

While quickly climbing the stairs, I suddenly stopped on the landing between the 3rd floor.

‘Hm?’

Several maids were cleaning the glass windows between the 3rd and 4th floors. But one of them was moving strangely.

‘Isn’t that Sophie?’

Sophie appeared to be standing still and wiping, but her hands weren’t moving at all. Then her head slowly tilted forward until it touched the glass window.

Sophie remained in that position for quite a while.

“Oh my, Young Lady!”

A maid who had been diligently wiping spotted me and called out.

Only then did Sophie startle as if splashed with cold water and spin around. Everyone bowed their heads.

“Have you returned?”

Instead of answering, I glanced at Sophie.

‘You were just sleeping, weren’t you?’

I saw a familiar sight of myself in this unfamiliar maid.

When people are too sleepy, they can take quick naps even while standing. Pretending to clean windows while resting your head against them to sleep, pretending to sweep while leaning on the broom to sleep, pretending to work while supporting yourself on the work table to sleep… These are all from experience.

‘Is she working side jobs so intensively? If she keeps this up, she’ll collapse.’

That’s also from experience. The feeling of smelling blood from your nose, your head spinning, and then losing consciousness came back very vividly.

‘Did the luxury store tell her to pay back the money quickly?’

In a situation where I don’t even know who the murderer is, this isn’t the time to be meddling.

Even if the debt was entirely Sophie’s fault… knowing the pain of having to cut even sleeping time to earn every penny possible, I couldn’t just stand by.

After looking at the maids for a moment, I suddenly commanded in a stern tone.

“From now on, everyone drop your rags immediately!”

“Pardon?”

“Quickly!”

The maids looked bewildered and dropped their rags.

“This is driving me crazy.”

I irritably swept my hair back.

“The sound of cleaning windows is too annoying. No, the sound of anyone moving is irritating. Today, I’d appreciate it if you all quietly stayed locked in your respective rooms.”

At my low and menacing voice, the maids hurriedly picked up their rags and disappeared.

Yes, that’s right.

People need to sleep properly. Whatever the circumstances, whether it’s my meddling or whatever, the minimum human sleep time must be guaranteed.

That was my thinking.

Crossing the corridor that didn’t make even a rustling sound, I sat down at my desk.

‘I hope Benjamin finds out quickly.’

My fingers tapped the desk rhythmically.

Benjamin the hamster.

This time too, he didn’t disappoint me and came back with the story. Recalling Sophie’s appearance I witnessed the previous evening, I listened with a bitter heart… but I was shocked after hearing the story.

“What did you say?”

“It’s all true. Here, look at this promissory note that my informant secretly copied.”

The debtor’s name written on the promissory note issued by Liliebes Luxury Fashion Store. It wasn’t Sophie Linden.

It was ‘Iris Linden’.

“Miss Sophie was paying off her sister’s debt instead.”

Benjamin explained.

“Her sister was an employee at Liliebes Luxury Fashion Store. But one day, while frantically serving a particularly difficult customer, that customer fell down by herself and broke an expensive bracelet. Due to the customer’s complaint, Miss Iris had to pay 100 million for repair costs, but the store manager paid the customer instead.”

Of course, it’s not a heartwarming story.

“The store manager is the uncle of Liliebes Oeclaire, Viscountess, who owns the business – a 39-year-old divorced man. He may be the Viscountess’s younger brother and look polished on the surface, but he couldn’t break his habit of luxury and squandered all the inheritance his father left him. He also secretly took out massive loans on the luxury store building without his niece knowing. The 100 million for bracelet repairs was also money he barely managed to borrow from an old acquaintance.”

The reason he did this is obvious, right?

“As soon as his niece appointed him as store manager, he immediately set his sights on 19-year-old Iris. The 100 million debt became a good excuse. He lied that he had compensated for the loss with his own money, then pressured Iris. He told her to become his mistress and he’d forgive the 100 million debt.”

This bastard!

In my trembling hands, the documents were mercilessly crumpled.

‘Calm down. Stay calm.’

Having seen such cases several times while working before, I got overly immersed.

‘Getting excited won’t help.’

Am I being righteous?

I’m only doing this for my own survival after all. Just to use the people around me to my advantage.

So let’s not get swept up in emotions.

I just need to solve the Sophie sisters’ loan problem. Anything beyond that might be meddling that doesn’t suit my position.

It’s not like I’m some materialist. Just because I made some money with my own hands this time doesn’t mean I’ve become invincible.

If I start thinking about crushing people with money and power from the get-go, I’d be at the same level as that bastard.

I’m a civilized person.

After calming down with deep breaths, I spoke to Benjamin in an aloof tone.

“Let’s go see it directly.”

“Yes, Guild Leader.”

We headed to Liliebes Luxury Fashion Store.

“I’m an expert at this kind of thing again.”

Upon arriving at the scene, Benjamin stealthily went to the side of the building. There he found a tightly closed side door and pressed his ear to the crack.

“Come over here, Guild Leader.”

I followed him and pressed my ear against the wall. I could hear sounds from inside.

“Won’t you look up? When someone’s talking to you, you should at least pretend to look at them.”

Some man was speaking.

“I’m sorry, Store Manager. Before the rush of customers arrives, I wanted to check the inventory list by size.”

I heard a calm young lady’s voice. Somehow I had a strong feeling it was Iris.

“So customers are important but the store manager isn’t even human? Ha, really. You said you’d give me an answer by this month.”

“I’m paying the interest punctually, aren’t I? I keep raising it as you demand.”

“Ha! That’s not what I’m talking about!”

I heard footsteps. It seemed the store manager was walking toward Iris.

“How long are you going to keep playing coy? I told you I hate fox-like behavior. When a man speaks frankly, you should show some appreciation. The fact that you chose a job dealing with nobles means you had this in mind anyway, right?”

“I simply chose a job that suited my aptitude.”

“You really don’t understand what I’m saying. It’s only a concubine in name, but you’d be no different from a legal wife. If you bear a son, I could even ask my nephew to raise your status. How about it?”

“This is really troubling me.”

“Good grief! You stubborn young lady, what’s so difficult about it? I told you. If we go on a trip together first, you’ll realize it’s not that hard. If you reject me again this weekend, I’ll really get angry, you know?”

Snap.

I heard something breaking in my head.

Do people really need to live as civilized beings?

I’m just a nouveau riche holding a pathetic wad of money, flaunting a hierarchy that isn’t even mine, wielding power.

What words are needed for a bastard like that? You have to use a dog’s language for a dog to understand.

Let me show you the taste of vulgar capitalism.

I removed the bracelet from my wrist, picked up a stone from the ground, and struck it hard.

Then I put it back on and turned to Benjamin.

“Would a guy like that even pay interest properly? The acquaintance who lent him money must be having a headache right now. Make contact somehow, pay back the 100 million, and bring me that debt certificate.”

With that, I transferred 100 million to the guild’s shared account.

“Yes! Just trust me!”

Benjamin ran off, and I headed toward the main entrance of the luxury store.

“You shouldn’t do this, thinking of your younger sibling too. She’s being abused to death under that terrible villainess, saying she’ll help pay off her sister’s debt.”

The store manager said this while roughly grabbing Iris’s chin.

At that moment.

Bang!

The door burst open as if it would break, and that very villainess appeared, her blonde hair flowing.

Gasp.

The store manager couldn’t believe his eyes. Soon his face turned pale.

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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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