The Villainess is a Millionaire Solver - Chapter 78

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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 78

 

For Prince Istan to safely get through this situation, it would have been advantageous for him to insist that I had lured him in. But completely unexpected words came tumbling out instead.

 

“…?”

 

In front of Eunice, who was stunned and couldn’t believe what was happening before her eyes, Prince Istan exposed everything in detail.

 

“Eunice Gillian, the chief aide of the Rosen Duchy. That woman used her connections to approach me first. Surprisingly, she knew quite a lot about my complicated circumstances? That woman suggested I use our royal family’s secret treasure to seduce Princess Aristina. She said if I could make the Princess offer her heirloom necklace to me in front of the Duke, she would give me enough money to live without worry for the rest of my life.”

 

At the words flowing from his mouth, Eunice’s soul seemed to leave her body.

 

“…!”

 

Duke Carnel was equally shocked. However, thanks to taking heart medicine in advance, at least he didn’t collapse clutching the back of his neck. He hardened his face coldly and asked.

 

“Is this true?”

 

“It’s an absurd lie!”

 

At Eunice’s denial, the prince immediately countered.

 

“No. I can prove it. I received advance payment when starting the job, and received money in stages after that as well.”

 

“What kind of nonsense is this? Why are you making up lies!”

 

“There’s no need to listen to that shameless woman’s words. When I came to the Empire, that woman arranged for me to meet with the Princess while avoiding you, Duke. And she told me about this secret garden, instructing me to bring the Princess here and steal her necklace. I’m only guilty of doing what that woman told me to do. All the evidence is on my ship.”

 

Duke Carnel said as if it were absurd.

 

“Then can you show me that evidence?”

 

“Yes. I was planning to do so anyway.”

 

The prince wrote a list of all the evidence on his ship and submitted it after signing a document stating he would present all such items to Duke Carnel.

 

Only then, as if the binding power of my command was exhausted, did he collapse into his seat with a thud.

 

The Duke shouted as if he couldn’t understand.

 

“What on earth is going on? If his words are true, why did he suddenly confess? Did he have a change of heart or something?”

 

“No.”

 

I replied.

 

As if to support my words, a heart-shaped fragment fell from his body with a thud. Pointing to it, I said.

 

“It’s because of this. This is the treasure the prince mentioned. It has the power to control people’s minds and make them follow your will.”

 

That’s right.

 

I briefly recalled what had happened earlier.

 

‘That was quite close.’

 

When we heard Duke Carnel and Eunice approaching earlier, the prince urgently tried to seduce me and drag me into the secret garden.

 

I immediately changed my attitude as easily as flipping my palm.

 

“This place looks good too, doesn’t it? If you have something to say, just say it here.”

 

The flustered prince recklessly said he would propose to me and secretly attached an arrowhead to my hand.

 

A fake arrowhead.

 

“Through the arrow of enchantment, I command you. Immediately remove that necklace and offer it to me, and tell your father you will run away with me!”

 

But nothing happened.

 

The puzzled prince only then discovered.

 

Another heart-shaped arrowhead attached to the back of his own hand.

 

“…!”

 

You foolish prince.

 

I let out a thrilling laugh and commanded him.

 

“Is this how you do it? Through the arrow of enchantment, I command you. Hide quietly behind that bookshelf in the corner, and when Duke Carnel discovers you, come forward and confess all the plots against me!”

 

That’s how it happened.

 

“Hmm.”

 

Duke Carnel picked up the heart-shaped arrowhead that had fallen from the prince’s body.

 

As if recognizing at first glance that it was an object imbued with divine power, his brow furrowed.

 

“You saw it, didn’t you?”

 

I said, pointing to the dazed Eunice.

 

“Father’s chief aide approached Prince Istan precisely because of this ability. To frame me as if I had received a proposal ring and, moved by emotion, handed over my necklace in return!”

 

“That’s not true!”

 

Eunice shouted again.

 

“This is all something the Young Lady plotted with Prince Istan! To frame me and drive me out of this household!”

 

“Wasn’t it you, Eunice, who tried to drive me out of this household?”

 

I replied without raising my voice.

 

“The incident with bugs found in my restaurant’s food, and the incident with the duo of impostors disguising themselves as customers and employees to cause a disturbance at my department store – all of that was plotted by you, Eunice. By commissioning a very dangerous company that ordinary people wouldn’t even know the location of.”

 

“What on earth are you talking about? Isn’t it you, Young Lady, not me, who frequents such low-quality places? Would anyone not know this fact?”

 

“If I had such abilities, would I have just let you tail me and steal my letters? I stayed still precisely because I lacked such abilities! When you followed me when I went to secure the imperial business, I thought you were following father’s orders, but that wasn’t it, was it? There’s someone willing to testify about how you selectively opened only my letters from the chamberlain’s office mailbox!”

 

“How far will you go with this? Duke! No one would be unaware that I have devoted nothing but loyalty to the Duke’s family for seven years! Yet the Young Lady continues to insult me with such words! This cannot be!”

 

Eunice shouted while trembling.

 

“….”

 

Duke Carnel looked back and forth between the two of us.

 

Then he finally opened his mouth.

 

“That’s right. Eunice has been a chief aide who has assisted me perfectly without any shortcomings for seven years. On the other hand, that child is a troublemaker daughter who can’t do anything properly.”

 

A flash of light crossed Eunice’s eyes. As if I was finished now, she lifted her head and glared at me, when.

 

“However….”

 

The Duke’s words rang out again.

 

“Aristina is presenting her own evidence for all her claims, while Eunice only repeats the word ‘frame-up’ without any evidence? What’s going on, Eunice?”

 

His gaze turned toward Eunice. It was a sharp look he had never once shown to his subordinates before.

 

Thud.

 

Eunice’s legs gave out and she collapsed.

 

She seemed to have believed without doubt that the Duke would naturally take her side.

 

Since he was someone who cherished and trusted his chief aide far more than his daughter.

 

With a deeply shocked expression, she muttered.

 

“This is too much. Really too much.”

 

“Is that all you have to say?”

 

Duke Carnel replied.

 

“Are you still unable to present any evidence and only trying to appeal to emotions? False accusations are easy while proving innocence is difficult, but I expected you to show your usual astute attitude. It seems you have nothing to say? To my eyes, this very attitude of yours appears as the clearest evidence of all.”

 

This was before we had obtained concrete evidence from the prince’s ship.

 

This situation. The divine treasure arrowhead. And above all, Eunice’s attitude that was so different from usual. All of these things seemed to give the Duke certainty.

 

Deep disappointment began to cast shadows in his red eyes.

 

“I’ve trusted you consistently since I judged that you had entered my standards. Recently you showed some signs of being flustered regarding my daughter, but I considered it human error. But all of that was intentional scheming?”

 

“….”

 

“How could you do this! Is this your repayment for my trust?”

 

The Duke let out an incredulous breath.

 

“I understand completely that the Princess has many behavioral problems, so subordinates cannot serve her wholeheartedly. I’ve never demanded such a thing either. But as an employee of the Duke’s family, you should not have tried to slander and destroy someone who is at least a member of the family! Do you know how great this sin is?”

 

As his voice rose and murderous intent flashed, I prepared to catch his body if necessary and asked.

 

“Father, are you alright?”

 

“Of course I’m not alright! The chief aide I trusted until just an hour ago tried to destroy my one and only daughter, of all people? How could I be alright? It feels like a bomb exploded in my head!”

 

“Ah, yes.”

 

“But….”

 

The Duke snorted and shook his head haughtily.

 

“Still, whether it’s thanks to the heart medicine you gave me in advance, or because I read that strange letter beforehand. It’s not enough to make me collapse backward immediately. Yes. Now I understand. If it hadn’t been this way, that child could never have exposed the chief aide’s black heart with her own power. I was just being completely deceived. Everything makes sense now, except for one thing.”

 

His cold gaze turned toward Eunice again.

 

“I absolutely cannot understand this. What was your reason for doing such a thing?”

 

“….”

 

Eunice couldn’t bring herself to answer.

 

So I spoke instead.

 

“She says it was because she loved you, Father. It seems she wanted to drive me out and then become the Duchess to monopolize you.”

 

Duke Carnel’s face hardened.

 

And then….

 

Suddenly he burst into laughter.

 

Even though it was only for a brief moment, it was the first time I had seen him laugh out loud like that.

 

“What’s with that third-rate theatrical excuse? There isn’t a person who doesn’t know that I’ve never shown even the slightest interest in anyone other than your mother. Close associates like Eunice would naturally know this even better. Only a naive young lady like you would believe such absurd nonsense. Tell me the real reason.”

 

Eunice’s face stiffened.

 

Then it slowly began to crumble.

 

It might have been better if the Duke had trembled with rage, if he had shown contempt or mockery.

 

It sounded so utterly ridiculous to him that he didn’t even seem to consider believing it.

 

That was right.

 

Even if I disappeared, the Duke would never accept Eunice as a new family member.

 

How futile her dreams had been. The Duke’s reaction was proving this crystal clear.

 

‘For Eunice, who committed a crime because of that very futile dream, the most miserable punishment has been delivered.’

 

I thought as I watched her.

 

Secretly having unrequited love for someone is naturally not a crime.

 

But if you try to frame and destroy another person because of it, you should pay the price, shouldn’t you?

 

“…”

 

The Duke’s eyes looking at Eunice were endlessly cold.

 

Though he too must feel like a bomb had exploded in his head as he said, he seemed to have already begun organizing the existence of this chief aide in his mind.

 

“Eunice’s matter must never leak outside. Especially not at occasions like today. Let’s handle this cleanly within our own circle.”

 

“Of course, Father.”

 

I quickly answered.

 

Another long sigh escaped from the Duke’s lips.

 

“She served so well for seven years. Just thinking about the chaos that will start from this very evening gives me a headache. But I can’t keep a dog that bites its owner.”

 

At his muttered words, Eunice’s head shot up.

 

“Duke, you were my only master!”

 

“Take her away.”

 

The Duke spoke toward the outside. Two knights from the Duke’s mansion who had been waiting entered.

 

“This is unfair!”

 

They gagged Eunice, who was struggling and shouting, and dragged her out.

 

When the study became quiet, the Duke suddenly asked me.

 

“When did you start knowing?”

 

“I began to suspect specifically after the Guild Leaders’ Assembly. As I mentioned earlier, after I noticed I was being followed…”

 

After saying that, I added.

 

“But naturally you wouldn’t believe my words, so from then on I gathered evidence. To reveal Eunice’s true intentions, I had to wait for the decisive moment.”

 

“That would be the case.”

 

Duke Carnel replied.

 

“Yes. It was the right thing to do.”

 

I thought it was sarcasm, but it didn’t seem to be.

 

The Duke’s gaze was now looking at the landscape painting hanging on the wall. The nighttime landscape painting with the signature ‘Annelize’.

 

“No matter if the purpose was to provoke my anger, that place should never have been touched.”

 

He muttered.

 

That was right.

 

The late Duchess was his painful wound. Even a trusted aide of seven years would be cut away cleanly like a knife if they touched that part.

 

‘I’m really glad I didn’t let my guard down until the end.’

 

What would have happened if I had thoughtlessly gone along with the prince and just entered the garden?

 

I too might have been cut out like a tumor from this house.

 

I was shuddering at such imagination when…

 

“Wait.”

 

Suddenly the Duke went toward the landscape painting. He seemed to have detected that something was subtly different.

 

“It did activate?”

 

“Ah.”

 

I said in shock.

 

“Yes. At first I didn’t know what the prince was doing. But I didn’t even look inside and immediately closed it again.”

 

“You did?”

 

The Duke raised his eyebrows.

 

“It wouldn’t have been easy to do with your strength?”

 

“It worked when I turned it several times.”

 

His gaze went to my hands, then suddenly he grabbed my hand and turned it over.

 

Seeing the marks on my palm that remained red and swollen, he frowned.

 

“Why did you go to such lengths?”

 

Since it was a reproachful tone, I found myself making excuses humbly.

 

“I thought you would never forgive me. If you found out that precious secret garden had opened because of me…”

 

“…”

 

The Duke was silent.

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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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