The Villainess is a Millionaire Solver - Chapter 45

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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 45

The Art District, roughly an hour’s carriage ride from the Imperial Capital Center.

It’s a place where ateliers displaying paintings and sculptures, and workshops where artists work are gathered. Shops are also lined up in between.

Right in that Art District, the 【Imperial Department Store】 revealed its magnificent presence.

It wasn’t officially open yet. Signs saying ‘Under Preparation’ stood everywhere, and workers were busy moving around doing their tasks.

Nevertheless, onlookers gathered like clouds.

I nodded my head satisfactorily watching this scene.

‘As expected, causing a commotion at the Luxury Goods Store turned out to be good publicity.’

The Imperial Department Store was going to live up to those people’s expectations.

The elegant exterior that preserved the original appearance of the art museum building. The majestically lined marble columns. Once you enter that building…

Employees wearing elegant and formal uniforms, with 【Imperial Department Store】 name tags on their chests, were moving around busily. Beyond them, countless products were displayed to be easily seen at a glance.

This was the result of Liliebes Oeclaire, Viscountess doing her best to beautifully decorate everything.

That wasn’t all.

Special crafted glass was fitted into the ceiling and windows, so sparkling light poured down like a waterfall. That light brilliantly illuminated the dresses, men’s and women’s formal wear, jewelry, and shoes.

This place where everything sparkled fantastically as if fairy dust had been sprinkled.

Among all of it, the highlight was the Special Exhibition Hall.

The Central Circular Space of the Department Store.

That place too had now entered the final preparation stage before opening.

While I, Aldensis, and Zicren were watching, and prospective customers crowded around to look, workers were busily positioning things.

“Here?”

“No! More toward the center!”

They lifted and moved around a pedestal covered with dark-colored velvet cloth.

A moment later.

In the very center where light from high-grade luminous stones donated by the Imperial Court poured down like a spotlight, the pedestal was placed exactly right.

‘Perfect.’

I spoke loudly toward the outside.

“Now, please bring the relic.”

Two Holy Knights in white armor had been waiting at the entrance, and they came inside at my words. Carrying our family’s Relic Chest together.

“We will enshrine the relic.”

The two Holy Knights lifted that golden box and placed it on top of the pedestal.

The light pouring from the luminous stones reflected off the Relic Chest, emitting brilliant radiance. The onlookers began chattering with swelling anticipation.

“Young Lady Aristina!”

The reporters called for the press conference threw questions.

“Is ‘Saint Agneta’s Ice Crown’ really inside there?”

Aldensis and Zicren looked at me. I held up the key to the Relic Chest high and answered.

“That’s correct.”

I recalled what had happened earlier.

“Everyone stand back!”

A carriage from the Holy Order, decorated in black with gold ornaments, arrived in front of the department store. Ruellian and Holy Knights got out from there.

“Is everything done?”

I asked.

“Yes, Young Lady.”

Ruellian returned the key to the Relic Chest that he had received from Carnel Rosen to me as he spoke.

Then, Zicren’s loud voice was heard from over there.

“Ruellian! You must be busy, but you really brought it yourself?”

“I promised, so of course I should.”

Ruellian walked steadily toward where the Crown Prince brothers were.

I looked at the Holy Knights.

“May I check it once?”

“Of course. It’s the Rosen Family’s property.”

They stepped aside.

I entered the carriage.

I could see the Rosen Family’s golden Relic Chest placed on the table. As I inserted the key and opened the lid, I put my other hand inside my clothes. And I took out the secret item I had prepared diligently with the maids…

Recalling that moment, I slightly raised the corners of my mouth in a smile.

“I personally confirmed earlier that the crown is safely inside. As the representative of the Rosen Family who requested the purification of the relic from the Holy Order.”

After answering the reporters like that, I looked at Ruellian.

“The relic has been cleanly purified and restored to its original form. Thanks to Your Highness adjusting even your silent prayer schedule to cooperate. I sincerely thank you using this opportunity.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Ruellian, standing behind the Holy Knights, replied as if bored. The reporters poured out questions again.

“Then this means the Ice Crown will finally be revealed after 33 years, so have you prepared anything special?”

“Preparations?”

“The fact that this famous treasure will show itself to the world has already become a noisy rumor, and crowds are gathering even before the public reveal, aren’t they? To put it bluntly, what do you think about the possibility of theft…”

“You mean the possibility of a thief stealing it?”

At my direct answer, the onlookers murmured once again.

People liked to talk about that, but on the other hand, they were reluctant to mention it in official settings. Because they feared him.

But not me.

I lifted my chin and answered.

“Why should I prepare for that? That thief isn’t even showing himself right now anyway. I don’t know what he’s so scared of that he’s hiding so cowardly, but I’m not afraid of such a coward.”

The murmuring grew louder.

Aldensis and Zicren looked at me with excited faces, as if they found this situation interesting.

On the other hand, Ruellian seemed uninterested in this situation itself, but he was also looking at me nonetheless.

It seemed like he was saying ‘Once the prayer period ends, a very long interview will be waiting, so look forward to it.’

Amid the busily exchanged glances, another reporter asked.

“But Young Lady, haven’t you considered this thought?”

“What thought?”

“Perhaps the thief has been waiting for exactly this kind of super-premium treasure. This period of hiding has been unusually long, but he’s such an elusive figure, isn’t he? So I think he might suddenly appear and declare he’ll steal this treasure.”

“That’s possible.”

I nodded arrogantly.

“Since it’s such a talked-about treasure, I think there’s a probability the thief might be interested. But he won’t dare steal this crown.”

“Why do you think that?”

“You can tell just by looking at his actions so far. That person fears our Rosen Family. The proof is that he has never once touched our family’s treasures until now.”

I spoke confidently.

“Let him try to come steal it. I’m not afraid at all. The brave knights of Carnel Rosen, my father, will guard it without any gaps, and we’ll mobilize plenty of security equipment with our tremendous wealth.”

Then I stamped my foot on the ground.

“What are you doing? Not writing this down! Everyone make sure to publish what I’m saying now prominently in the newspapers! The thief ‘Black Phantom’ won’t be able to lay a finger on our family’s treasure! If he covets our Rosen Family’s treasure, that day will be when his legend of never losing a single battle gets broken!”

An arrogant declaration full of youthful recklessness.

It sounded like the typical line of an extra character destined to be beautifully crushed by the protagonist soon.

“…”

Throwing a glance that said ‘good luck with your work,’ Ruellian prepared to leave that place.

“Anyway, I kept my promise, Young Lady. I’d like to stay and look around more, but I really need to enter the two-week silent prayer now.”

At his words, the press conference was interrupted. Everyone briefly bowed their heads to show respect.

“Let’s go.”

Ruellian turned around with the Holy Knights.

“Farewell, Your Highness.”

I greeted his retreating figure, then held up the key to the Relic Chest again.

“Then I will reveal the treasure that shows itself after 33 years, ‘Saint Agneta’s Ice Crown.'”

After saying that.

I walked click-clack and inserted the key into the Relic Chest placed on the display stand.

The golden lid opened wide.

The appearance of the object inside was revealed before the people.

“What?”

“Wh-what!”

Aldensis and Zikren shouted simultaneously.

“This can’t be…!”

The reporters and onlookers all gasped in shock together. Their surprised screams spread like waves.

Ruellian, who was just about to leave, turned around. The moment he looked at the wide-open relic chest, he too became stunned.

“…?”

A pale and beautiful ice crown that shone brilliantly, receiving the radiance pouring down from the ceiling.

A piece of paper was attached to it.

It was the crime notice of the undefeated thief, which was like a death sentence to treasure collectors.

“This is ridiculous!”

“It’s the thief! The thief’s notice has appeared!”

The one most surprised by this notice that appeared like a ghost was none other than me.

My arrogant demeanor from just moments ago had completely disappeared, and I was just gaping with my eyes wide open.

“H-how…!”

My face reflected on the transparent surface of the crown was expressing the very textbook definition of shock itself.

It was such excellent acting that even I was momentarily fooled.

So who could possibly figure it out?

The fact that the person who placed that notice was none other than me!

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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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