The Villainess is a Millionaire Solver - Chapter 62

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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 62

Why are you all staring at me like that?

If you didn’t want me to hear, you shouldn’t have shouted right in front of me. I heard everything, so what am I supposed to do about it? I don’t have that kind of court etiquette where I pretend not to hear even when people are chattering right before my eyes.

“Hey, I have ears too.”

I said with fire blazing in both my eyes.

“You just mentioned that some person is coming to the Imperial Palace. Someone important enough to rush and inform His Highness about. Whether that person is a man or not is very important to me. So can you answer me right now?”

Faced with the terrifying villainess pressing him as if she would devour him, the official began sweating profusely.

“Th-that is… He is a young man, but…”

“Really a man? I thought so! So who is it?”

“I’m sorry, Young Lady! I cannot say any more! Since it’s related to national security matters, if I leak any more information, I’ll have to write a disciplinary report…”

“Ah.”

I immediately backed down. No matter how lacking in manners I am, a disciplinary report is absolutely not acceptable.

“Then you should have said that from the start. Fine. I’ll pretend I didn’t hear anything.”

“Thank you!”

Finally freed from my pressure, the official fled with a face that had aged ten years. Leaving only Zikren standing there dumbfounded.

He looked at me with a very displeased expression.

“Aristina, you…”

“Sorry, something urgent suddenly came up.”

I smiled brightly and stepped back.

“See you next time, Zikren.”

Anyway, my business here was finished. Since Ruellian said he found out information, I should hurry over there.

Leaving Zikren blinking in confusion in that spot, I left the Imperial Palace. And immediately hailed a carriage.

“To Belmare Port.”

“Yes, understood.”

The carriage turned direction and began racing quickly.

The back alley of the port.

Even though I wore a robe with the collar tightly fastened, people immediately recognized me and averted their gazes.

-That’s the person with that key.

-What? Really?

You’d expect to hear such whispers, but surprisingly not a single piece of gossip leaked out. Even if the Emperor appeared, it wouldn’t be this quiet.

‘He really has a tight grip on the people here.’

With that thought, I entered the chapel.

Taking the elevator down, the same space as before greeted me.

Ruellian was standing in front of the stained glass, pulling out various documents. When I approached closer, he finally glanced at me.

“You’re fast. I only sent the note a little while ago.”

“I flew here. I already thoroughly searched the desk too.”

There probably isn’t anyone who works as diligently for survival as I do.

With that sense of pride, I told him everything I had discovered from Eunice’s desk.

The white ash on the plate. The portrait with the Duchess’s face cut out so she could take that position instead. The paper where she practiced signatures.

And the family rule book.

After listening carefully to all of this, Ruellian asked.

“What was on pages 12 and 13 of the rule book that made it so important?”

“I knew you’d ask that…”

I pulled out the rule book I had rolled up and brought in my bag.

“I got a whole copy and brought it.”

“Your preparedness is excellent.”

He took it and opened to page 12. After reading through it, he nodded with an “aha.”

“I can roughly see what kind of scheme they’re planning.”

“What is it?”

I asked.

“What did you find out? Beware of men? What does that mean? Aren’t you a man too?”

“It means to beware of men who approach with ulterior motives.”

Ruellian pulled out one document from among those on the desk and placed it in front of me.

“There will probably be a major article tomorrow about someone entering the country.”

“Entering the country?”

I tilted my head.

“From a foreign country to our Empire?”

“That’s right. Since he’s a foreigner. And even a prince at that.”

“Ah…”

The conversation between Zikren and the official from earlier came to mind.

So that was it. A foreign prince applied for entry, so the official rushed to inform them.

“But which country?”

“The Maritime Kingdom of Naplisia.”

It’s a name I don’t remember.

“If you were interested in trade, you would have heard of it at least once. It’s composed of several islands, a small but wealthy kingdom. This time, Prince Istan, the king’s third son, decided to stay in the Empire briefly…”

Ruellian continued.

“It seems Eunice’s faction approached him and secretly recruited him.”

“Huh? Even though it’s a small country, they recruited a prince?”

“Yes. Even though she’s the chief aide of a ducal family, she’s still a commoner. It would be extremely difficult. That’s why I said there must be someone giving orders from behind.”

Ruellian said with a sneer at the corner of his mouth.

“Their plan is to use Prince Istan to trap the Young Lady. Reading the rule book gives me a rough idea. Look here.”

I read the passage he pointed to.

“‘The three great family treasures (necklace, sword, mirror) left by the founding lord are treasures that must be protected through generations no matter what, and if any family member loses even one of them or hands it over to others, they will be permanently expelled from the family.'”

Aha.

I finally realized.

“The core of the operation was the necklace. While everyone was focused on the ship, they were scheming with the founding lord’s necklace that’s essential for successor verification.”

“That’s right.”

Ruellian nodded.

“You’re the spoiled only daughter of a wealthy ducal family with no romantic experience. Only unrequited love experience, and even that ended in miserable rejection.”

“I was the one who dumped the Crown Prince!”

“While you’re unable to accept reality and wallowing in frustration like this, you meet a prince from a foreign country.”

He continued without even pretending to listen.

“Love at first sight, let’s get married. You’d fall completely for such sweet words and do anything the prince asks. ‘Since we’re going to be family anyway, let me see that heirloom necklace.’ Then the prince loses the necklace.”

As if such methods were obvious, he spoke without hesitation.

How much of a stir this incident would cause. Then, how the fact that Prince Istan was embroiled in all sorts of bad scandals in his own country would be extensively reported.

The plight of a Young Lady who fell completely for such a low-quality man’s false seduction, giving both body and heart and even losing the family heirloom.

“The Duke’s daughter’s reputation would hit rock bottom, and the family would permanently expel the Young Lady according to the rules.”

“Hmph!”

After hearing everything, I snorted.

“It’s certainly a vicious plan, but do you think I would have fallen for it? Dream on.”

This was a hopeless operation from the start.

There was one fact that Eunice and others didn’t know. I’m not at all in a situation to be swayed by men’s seduction right now. I’m someone too busy just trying to survive.

“Hmm?”

Seeing my reaction, Ruellian raised an eyebrow slightly.

“It’s not something you can guarantee so confidently.”

“Why?”

“Speaking of this prince, his portraits circulated even in the Empire and he was quite famous. A handsome man who appears once in 100 years, with excellent speaking skills, and charisma that enchants people when you sit face to face with him. They say no woman has ever resisted him?”

“Oh, really?”

Does he have some magical face that makes you lose your mind just by making eye contact?

An owner of transcendent beauty beyond human that you fall into irresistibly. Then I should be a bit more cautious. I am human after all.

“Let me see, the portrait… Ah. Here it is.”

Ruellian pulled out the prince’s portrait from among the documents. Then he held it out in front of me.

“Look.”

I looked down at it nervously.

“….”

Silence flowed.

Hmm….

Uh….

My eyes blinked slowly.

In the portrait was the face of a young man with reddish-gold hair and deep green eyes. He certainly had an attractive appearance. But….

“Is this exactly like the real thing?”

“Have you already fallen for him?”

Ruellian frowned.

“Get a grip, will you? If something happens to the princess before our contract ends cleanly, even my life will be in danger. What did I tell you? A young lady like the princess with no romantic experience would fall for such a handsome man the moment he says sweet words.”

I looked at Ruellian who was saying this.

This man who slightly furrowed his flawlessly perfect eyebrows.

This man who raised his violet eyes that sometimes shone charismatically, sometimes playfully.

This man who, despite wearing simple black clothes, displayed the natural dignity and confidence that flowed as if he were wearing imperial robes.

“….”

Don’t you ever look in a mirror?

Anyone can see that your face is more dangerous, you know?

Just looking around here, Aldensis and Zicren are much more dangerous than this prince?

It was ironic.

‘Good grief. Facing the faces of past suspect candidates morning, noon, and night turned out to be unexpected training.’

Compared to those three, even Prince Istan, who was supposedly so dangerous, was just ‘a man with warm charm’ at most. He had absolutely no impact on me.

‘Should I be grateful for this?’

I looked toward the distant mountains with mixed feelings.

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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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