The Villainess is a Millionaire Solver - Chapter 65

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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 65

 

Anyway, my plan to make a strong first impression was successful. And there was an added bonus.

 

“Thank you. Thank you.”

 

Word had apparently spread that I gave the old man money because I didn’t want to see him humiliated, as every passerby bowed their heads in greeting. The looks they gave me seemed much warmer than before.

 

‘I’m also a commoner at heart, so I was taking your side.’

 

Thanks to Prince Istan, I had unexpectedly succeeded in strengthening my relationship with the townspeople as well.

 

‘But that aside…’

 

I stopped walking in front of the bell tower.

 

Someone was standing behind the stone pillar. In the shadow cast diagonally on the ground, the hem of a cloak fluttered lightly.

 

“Hmm…”

 

I crossed my arms and stared at the shadow.

 

“You gave me all sorts of information about the prince, but conveniently left out the fact that he’s staying in this port?”

 

Just before we parted, he had hesitated in a way that wasn’t like him, apparently about to say something but holding back.

 

“Why did you hide that?”

 

The shadow emerged from behind the stone pillar.

 

“It wasn’t because I had other thoughts…”

 

Ruellian said as he removed his mask.

 

“The Princess is curious by nature, so I thought as soon as you learned Prince Istan was here, you’d want to go see his face at least once.”

 

“Investigating the target in advance is a very desirable thing to do, isn’t it?”

 

“That’s true, but I couldn’t predict how the prince would react. I loosened the reins a bit to gather information, and he started thinking this place was lawless territory. I was already planning to correct that misconception around today anyway.”

 

He muttered with a furrowed brow.

 

“To think he’d pull such tricks in my territory. The moment I saw it directly, I almost let my hand slip from displeasure.”

 

True enough. Even an ordinary priest would frown at such behavior.

 

Come to think of it, Prince Istan had just displayed such frivolous behavior in front of the head of the Holy Order.

 

If he keeps acting up like that without knowing whose territory this is, he might really lose a body part somewhere.

 

I quickly clasped my hands together.

 

“Please show mercy for now, Your Eminence. At least until I achieve my purpose using the prince. Anyway, that fellow was caught red-handed before he could properly pull his tricks, and the people here were blocking him with fire in their eyes.”

 

“Ah, now that you mention it.”

 

As if remembering something from my words, his expression changed slightly.

 

“You also scored points with those people instantly. Strange. To suddenly step in and intervene after seeing an old man being humiliated. Princess, aren’t you actually quite soft-hearted despite pretending otherwise?”

 

He saw that too? I jumped up in denial.

 

“What do you take me for to say such things? That was just insurance sales.”

 

“Really? Well, I suppose that makes sense.”

 

Ruellian shrugged once.

 

“Anyway, as thanks for noticing and handling the old man’s predicament before I did, and as an apology for the disturbance in my territory, let me escort you home more comfortably.”

 

Then he immediately added.

 

“You might feel it’s somewhat exceptional treatment, but I don’t want to hear that I don’t look after the people here, so I should show sufficient gratitude to the Princess. It’s an old man we’re talking about, after all.”

 

Even without emphasizing it twice, I had no disagreement on that point. I nodded.

 

“Right. Respecting elders is important.”

 

“Exactly.”

 

He turned around.

 

“I’ll track Eunice’s surroundings and background from another direction, so let’s exchange information again afterward.”

 

As soon as he finished speaking, his figure vanished into the darkness. Even though I could see stigmata, no matter how wide I opened my eyes, I couldn’t see where he had gone.

 

‘What a strange person.’

 

I was walking for quite a while to return to the ducal mansion when…

 

“Excuse me, Young Lady.”

 

At some point, I heard a cautious voice calling from the darkness. I stopped in surprise.

 

“Don’t be startled. It’s us.”

 

The townspeople came forward. Three men and three women.

 

“We’ll escort you today.”

 

Behind them stood a carriage. It was pitch black and very magnificent.

 

“The carriage seems different?”

 

“Yes. The previous carriage was ordinary, so you must have been uncomfortable…”

 

I hadn’t particularly thought that, but when I got in, the cushions were indeed different. It was very comfortable, sinking softly while providing firm support.

 

‘This must be the exceptional treatment he mentioned?’

 

The leather, silk, everything decorated with pure gold buttons down to the smallest details, and even the elegant fragrance. Even to my eyes, accustomed to appraising luxury goods, this could be called an ultra-luxurious carriage.

 

This is on the level of a duke’s family?

 

While thinking this, something suddenly occurred to me.

 

‘Right, Ruellian was also a successor to a ducal family?’

 

I remembered hearing that it hadn’t been long since the ‘minor’ was dropped from his title of minor duke.

 

‘He must have brought it from the main house.’

 

While my mind was busy with various thoughts, my body was accustomed to such luxury and naturally stretched out my legs comfortably.

 

As if confirming she was undoubtedly a young lady of very high status, the people exchanged glances with each other.

 

“Then we’ll escort you safely.”

 

The carriage departed.

 

How long had I been receiving first-class service while endlessly watching the night scenery? Suddenly the carriage came to a rough, sudden stop.

 

I opened the door in surprise and asked.

 

“What is it?”

 

“Sorry! We’ll just check the wheels for a moment! A rabbit or cat suddenly jumped out and we had to avoid it!”

 

“Oh, well done. Very well done. Life is precious.”

 

At my words, the tavern owner’s face turned pale.

 

“I mean it literally.”

 

Though I said that, he didn’t seem to hear. With a haggard face, he said “Just a moment…” and requested a private meeting.

 

At a spot slightly away from the others, he prostrated himself on the ground.

 

“I haven’t even repaid the sin of insulting the Young Lady, yet I made such a mistake! This fool will disappear from the Young Lady’s sight right now and never appear again!”

 

“Hm? Then who’s going to drive the carriage?”

 

I looked at him in bewilderment.

 

“I already said I forgave your slip of the tongue when we first met. You’re strangely persistent in the wrong direction. Why are you suddenly acting like this?”

 

“Well…”

 

The tavern owner said restlessly with a face like a blank sheet of paper.

 

“We all just saw clearly with our own eyes. The moment that noble who came by ship was about to harass the Young Lady, that person immediately appeared and threatened to cut off his throat. It’s the first time we’ve seen that person intervene in someone else’s affairs like that. This surely means you’re promised in marriage. I insulted that person’s precious companion, so I truly deserve to die.”

 

…What?

 

My jaw nearly dropped to the floor. What kind of reasoning goes 1, 2, 3… then straight to 100?

 

“How does that work? Are you afflicted with some disease where you die if you don’t pair up men and women as couples? Do you know what kind of person he is! If he finds out you’re whispering such delusions behind his back, then you’d truly be…”

 

I was speaking rapidly but stopped. I couldn’t reveal the fact that he was God’s esteemed representative, someone so noble that pairing him with just anyone would be blasphemous.

 

“Anyway, the reason he stepped in is because we’ve formed an important contractual relationship.”

 

“So an engagement, you mean.”

 

“No! It’s about work. We’re cooperating with each other through a contract because of our respective jobs. The reason he just scared off that arrogant noble was because if that fellow did anything harmful to me, it would seriously interfere with achieving his objectives.”

 

After my gentle explanation, the tavern owner seemed to finally understand.

 

Then his expression changed. Until just now he had been cowering from fear of Ruellian, but now he began to fear me with a look of ‘Just who are you to have such a contract with that person?’

 

Why look up to me to such an extent again.

 

It’s true that the tavern owner had been slimy, but it was only for a very brief moment anyway. More importantly, people like this aren’t what really annoy me. It’s people like Eunice or Prince Istan.

 

‘He’s probably uneasy because there are so many people who change their words after saying they forgive, but I can sympathize with such common people’s hearts a hundred times over.’

 

I don’t really dislike these townspeople, so shall I show them a small kindness?

 

With that thought, I asked.

 

“What’s your name?”

 

“It’s Joseph. Joseph of Rehometh.”

 

Thinking he seemed to be from a distant region, I took out my portable writing materials.

 

Name: Joseph of Rehometh.

 

Crime: The sin of being slimy toward me.

 

This individual has committed the aforementioned crimes, but is considered to have already paid for their sins.

 

After briefly pondering how to sign it, I recalled that the Master Guild’s name was ‘The Two-Faced Serpentes’ and wrote this:

 

‘Visitor A of Serpentes.’

 

The guarantee letter was complete.

 

“Now, if you show this to that ‘person’ you mentioned, there should be no problem at all.”

 

At my words, the owner’s eyes grew as wide as dinner plates.

 

“Good heavens! How merciful! Since Young Lady has saved my life, I will follow whatever you command!”

 

I handed the guarantee letter to him as he extended both hands in gratitude. But just before he could take it, the paper stopped in mid-air.

 

“Wait.”

 

I put on the brakes.

 

If there’s kindness given, shouldn’t there be kindness received in return? Or not. Either way, there’s nothing wrong with trying once, right?

 

With such merchant-like thoughts, I stared intently at the shop owner’s face.

 

“Before I give you this, may I ask you something I’m curious about?”

 

“What would that be?”

 

I lowered my voice and asked.

 

“Why do you all fear that person so much? Does he have some kind of weakness over you?”

 

“No. It’s not that…”

 

The tavern owner spoke hesitantly.

 

“It’s because we respect and are grateful to him. I can’t tell you the details, but… when we were all about to die unjustly, that person appeared and saved us. He made it possible for everyone to live new lives here. Since that day, we’ve all been living thinking our lives belong to him.”

 

“Is that so?”

 

Who would have thought there was such a story behind it. They really must be people from distant regions after all. I asked again.

 

“What do you all know about that person?”

 

“Well…”

 

The tavern owner scratched the back of his head.

 

“We know almost nothing. He has a very high position and status, and tremendous wealth. Other than that, um… he has a base here and is searching for the culprit who murdered his parents?”

 

I asked back in surprise.

 

“He’s searching for the culprit who murdered his parents?”

 

Something suddenly came to mind.

 

“I’m an orphan. My parents were murdered and died.”

 

In the Forest of the Holy Order, when I encountered Ruellian disguised as a mercenary, he had definitely said those words.

 

I thought he had just made it up to beat me in our competition.

 

But that was the truth?

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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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