The Villainess is a Millionaire Solver - Chapter 71

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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 71

 

The thud drew even more attention.

 

“….”

 

Serene’s face turned bright red. She pressed her hands against the floor to get up, taking a posture ready to quietly escape.

 

I snapped out of my daze.

 

‘Why is Serene here?’

 

I recalled how she had tears welling up in her eyes saying “Thank goodness!” when my false accusations were cleared at the Sacred Tribunal in the past.

 

Now that I think about it, the nuance seemed a bit strange.

 

‘Could it be that she didn’t mean it was fortunate for herself, but fortunate for me?’

 

Come to think of it, she insisted on drinking the reconciliation wine despite everyone’s dissuasion.

 

And now she’s secretly defending me from behind, even getting angry and arguing despite her personality.

 

‘I rushed here worried about death flags… but could it be that Serene actually had more favorable feelings toward me than I thought?’

 

What was going on? I felt like I needed to find out more details.

 

I quickly walked over and blocked Serene’s escape route while saying:

 

“To disguise yourself as a customer and sneak into your own tea salon to thoroughly manage every detail. You’re an excellent manager, Miss Serene. But from the perspective of a potential victim who almost suffered losses from those false rumors, simply permanent expulsion isn’t enough.”

 

My eyes, which must have been glowing a menacing red at this moment, turned toward Baroness Basset who had just tried to conduct false business.

 

“To make sure she never spreads such rumors again, I should cut it off completely.”

 

As I said this, I picked up an object from the knitting table right next to me.

 

It was scissors.

 

“…!”

 

Everyone was startled.

 

When I open these red eyes wide, white spaces appear above and below the pupils, creating a terrifyingly chilling effect that sends shivers down one’s spine.

 

It becomes the very face of a psychopathic killer gleaming with madness.

 

“Aaah!”

 

The lying baroness screamed and ran away. But that wasn’t the end of it.

 

“Maître d’, could you report this to the Security Bureau? There’s someone who committed defamation against an innocent citizen of the Empire, and the victim has absolutely no intention of settling.”

 

“Ah, yes.”

 

Let me say this again – if someone’s going to make money using my name, it should be me. Where do they get off trying to horn in?

 

After cutting off the roots so no one would ever dare try again, I looked at Serene.

 

“Thank you for the salon owner personally stepping in to handle this. I’d like to express my gratitude to Miss Serene…”

 

After giving her time to let her hair down and vent while I caused a scene, Serene seemed to have regained some composure.

 

“I understand. Please come this way.”

 

Saying this, she led me to the manager’s office inside the salon.

 

The door closed. As I sat down in a chair, I asked:

 

“To openly defend a villainess in front of all those people. That’s just like you, Miss Serene. Your angelic image that you’ve built up will become even more solid.”

 

Serene flinched.

 

“No. I didn’t say that out of such calculation. I was just so angry at Baroness Basset’s nonsense that I couldn’t control myself… Ah, no, anyway.”

 

Serene changed the subject.

 

“You did use the voucher I gave you. I waited and waited but you never came, so I thought you’d thrown it away.”

 

Why would I throw away a free voucher? Especially one with no expiration date.

 

But wait a minute.

 

“Don’t tell me you’ve been coming here all this time waiting for me?”

 

“Yes. After the accusation that Miss Aristina tried to poison me was revealed to be false, I became determined that I absolutely had to tell you something.”

 

“Tell me what?”

 

“First, please look at this.”

 

Serene opened a drawer with a serious attitude and pulled out a thick notebook, pushing it toward me. I opened the notebook.

 

‘Hmm?’

 

Old, discolored newspaper articles were pasted closely together.

 

【Young Princess of House Rosen Refuses to Show Respect at First Imperial Greeting】

 

【”Get lost before I throw you all in jail!” Young Princess Scolds Reporters】…

 

All sorts of extraordinary deeds that ‘villainess Aristina’ had shown since childhood were collected here. Some were underlined, others had stars marked on them.

 

I asked in confusion:

 

“Why did you look at articles about me so diligently?”

 

Serene answered:

 

“It wasn’t me, it was my parents who looked at them.”

 

“Your parents?”

 

I was surprised.

 

Serene’s parents would be Duke and Duchess Hyperion.

 

Wonderful people who live heroic and exemplary lives that the people of the Empire respect like saints.

 

“Why would such distinguished people care about someone like me…?”

 

“There’s a reason.”

 

Serene answered.

 

“My parents lived their whole lives working hard while being respected as heroes of the Empire. They were also proud of that fact. Since they wanted their child – me – to walk a similar path, they diligently trained me from childhood. When I struggled, they would point to you saying ‘Do you want to become like that?’ These were study materials to motivate me at that time.”

 

“….”

 

“I worked hard to meet my parents’ expectations. But when did it start? My parents’ attitude began to change strangely. Me, studying etiquette diligently and getting nosebleeds from practicing the family’s spirit arts, rarely smiling. Miss Aristina, running around energetically with a lively face, laughing cheerfully. They began to wonder which of us was actually happier.”

 

Serene spoke calmly.

 

“Looking back, my parents had lived glorious lives, but in exchange for working themselves to the bone, they had gained chronic stomach problems, insomnia, and nervous anxiety. When they saw their only daughter overlapping with their own image, they gradually thought ‘This isn’t right…'”

 

Serene said that she too began to feel confused by her parents’ worries. Then, when she got involved with the Crown Prince, she came to observe Aristina’s behavior more closely…

 

“Your honesty. Your refreshing attitude of having to get what you want by any means and doing what you want to do no matter what. Your stubbornness of thinking only of yourself in any situation. I was amazed by such aspects. Because I could never be like that. I’ll confess now – that’s why I sometimes deliberately lingered around, waiting for you to act wickedly toward me. Just occasionally.”

 

Serene hesitantly revealed.

 

“Then when you collapsed after drinking the reconciliation wine, I was really shocked. I thought you would never do such a thing. My parents were also greatly shocked…”

 

Her face darkened as if recalling that time, but only briefly.

 

“But as expected, it was all false accusations! Miss Aristina magnificently proved her innocence. How exhilarating it was! My parents were also excited and gave you thumbs up. ‘Look at that. Everyone was fooled all this time! That child is definitely not stupid!’ At that moment I decided. I absolutely had to meet Miss Aristina alone. And I had to tell you.”

 

Serene suddenly stood up and knelt before me.

 

“Please take me as your disciple!”

 

“….”

 

My mouth, which had been half-open, dropped completely.

 

What is she saying?

 

Why is the protagonist saying such things?

 

Could this be a story about Serene growing into a villainess? Was that the plot I didn’t know about?

 

Then I…

 

Had inadvertently become the protagonist’s perfect life model?

 

“….”

 

I had no idea how to react.

 

Perhaps misunderstanding my silence, Serene said carefully:

 

“Of course, I’m not asking for an answer right now. But please know that I’m truly sincere. After hearing His Highness the Crown Prince’s words this time, I felt even more empty. I was going to rule this country and achieve great things in the future. I truly loved the kind and gentle Crown Prince…”

 

Serene clenched her fists.

 

“Now that it’s come to this, I don’t need men or love. I have too many distracting thoughts and they say I don’t have much talent for the family’s spirit arts anyway. It’s definitely best to make money and live a wonderful life alone through business like Miss Aristina!”

 

Her eyes were sparkling brightly.

 

“….”

 

I stared at her blankly.

 

I could hear something that had been crumbling in my head completely turning to ash and scattering.

 

‘Hasn’t the kid awakened in a strange direction?’

 

Is this okay?

 

I pondered for a long time, but my conclusion was ‘I don’t know either.’

 

Anyway, the world would be on the protagonist’s side. Whatever happens, let’s stick with the protagonist.

 

I quickly switched tactics.

 

“Well, if that’s how Miss Serene feels.”

 

I arrogantly stroked my fan and spoke in a haughty tone.

 

“It might not be bad to have a mutually beneficial relationship with Miss Serene like that?”

 

“Really?”

 

Serene’s face lit up.

 

“Then you’ve accepted! Thank you! Thank you so much!”

 

I should be the one thanking you.

 

I looked at Serene’s joyful expression with satisfaction.

 

Serene quickly pulled out a piece of paper and wrote in large letters “Lady Aristina’s Worldly Wisdom Lecture.” Then she looked at me with sparkling eyes.

 

“You seem to have been busy lately. What are you planning this time? Of course, I know about the news that you’ll be taking the successor qualification exam.”

 

“That’s exactly it.”

 

I nodded.

 

“That’s why I’m holding a ball and came to invite you too, Serene.”

 

“Please speak comfortably to me. I’m Lady Aristina’s student now.”

 

“Should I?”

 

I accepted immediately without even pretending to resist.

 

“Alright. Then I’ll speak casually from now on, Serene.”

 

“Yes, Lady Aristina!”

 

Serene smiled brightly, seemingly pleased.

 

“Won’t there be anything for me to do that day? Just give me any task and I’ll work hard at it.”

 

“It’s fine. You just need to grace the occasion with your presence.”

 

“That’s too simple. Isn’t there really anything I can do?”

 

Seeing Serene speak so earnestly, a thought suddenly occurred to me.

 

“Actually…”

 

I brought up the topic.

 

“At that ball, I’m preparing to punish a villain who’s trying to ruin me.”

 

“Oh my! Really? What perfect timing I have!”

 

“Right. The timing is absolutely perfect. To put it simply…”

 

I lowered my voice even more.

 

“There’s a group plotting against me.”

 

“Like the Remiel Family that tried to frame you for poisoning? You’ll have to teach them a lesson again.”

 

“Of course. According to their plan, some womanizer will try to seduce me at this ball. That’s when I’ll expose their conspiracy instead.”

 

“Will I help with that exposure?”

 

“Yes. That’s exactly it.”

 

Seeing Serene’s eyes light up, a good idea came to mind.

 

“How about you’re there at the scene too, then hide in a wardrobe or behind curtains to surprise people? They’ll think the womanizer is hiding and throw it open… Ta-da! It was Serene all along.”

 

“Oh my! That sounds really fun!”

 

Serene was excited.

 

“Just leave it to me! I’ll keep watching Lady Aristina that day, and when you meet the womanizer, I’ll quickly follow.”

 

“Right. After we put on that show, help build up the atmosphere. Say things like ‘How could he do such a thing…!’ Everyone unconditionally agrees with what you say. We’ll be able to create an atmosphere several times more disadvantageous for my enemies.”

 

“Ah! I understand! I’ll do well! I’ll really do well!”

 

As if she had become a villain’s closest confidant, Serene was already glowing with enthusiasm.

 

I looked at Serene with satisfaction.

 

‘Good. Very good.’

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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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