The Villainess is a Millionaire Solver - Chapter 80

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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 80

 

Countess Peres, who had removed her mask and wig to reveal her face… was not a noble lady.

 

She wasn’t even a woman.

 

She was a middle-aged man with a mustache.

 

It felt like I’d been hit over the head.

 

“…Chief of Imperial Security?”

 

“Yes, Young Lady.”

 

The Chief kicked away the frilly dress hem that was wrapped around his feet and greeted everyone.

 

“Greetings, everyone. It’s me.”

 

Everyone was so dumbfounded they were speechless before finally asking.

 

“Chief! What are you doing right now?”

 

“Undercover investigation.”

 

The Chief of Imperial Security replied.

 

“His Highness the Second Prince raised suspicions about the reason for entry that Prince Istan disclosed to our side, so we immediately began an investigation. To deceive the prince’s eyes, I disguised myself as a countess, met with Your Highness, received instructions, and made reports. And finally, the final investigation results have come out…”

 

He pulled out a bundle of documents from his handbag.

 

“Your Highness the Crown Prince, and Your Highness the Second Prince. As a result of contacting the Naplisia Royal Family with the cooperation of the Magic Tower, everything Prince Istan said was a complete lie.”

 

“You mean he didn’t visit the Empire for business?”

 

At Aldensis’s question, the Chief nodded vigorously.

 

“Yes. Since it’s a small kingdom across the sea, news inevitably reaches our Empire late. He was known as someone who was ‘popular, wealthy, had no desire for the throne, and lived magnificently doing business and enjoying travel’…”

 

He shook his head from side to side as he continued.

 

“But it turns out that the fact he used the prince’s special ability to commit large-scale fraud was recently discovered. It was marriage fraud targeting no less than 10 women.”

 

Everyone was shocked.

 

“As many as 10?”

 

“That’s right. It included aristocratic ladies, temple priestesses, famous actresses, and even wives of high-ranking officials, so even the royal family couldn’t protect him. When talk of dethronement arose, the prince immediately fled in the night.”

 

“Good heavens…”

 

People looked over Aldensis’s shoulder at the communication records and were horrified.

 

“His Highness the Second Prince was the first to raise suspicions! How did you know?”

 

“It’s amazing that you all didn’t notice!”

 

Zikren snorted as he replied.

 

“He was so irritating from the moment I saw him I could go crazy! But just because he had a decent face and said nice things, you all lost your minds and fell for him…”

 

He glanced at me with sharp eyes as he continued.

 

“Even if I told you to be careful of that bastard, you would have said I was slandering him out of jealousy. Telling me not to badmouth him without evidence. That’s why I told the Chief to drop everything and start an investigation. But I didn’t know it would be this bad! To toy with more than 10 women! He’s trash not worth associating with!”

 

His golden eyes blazed with fire. Red energy from the Red Dragon flickered around his fists.

 

“Well said, Zikren.”

 

Aldensis also chimed in with a voice full of contempt.

 

“I thought so. Even when we went to meet the descendants of our country residing in the Santilican region, the prince’s attitude was so disappointing. He didn’t prepare properly and wouldn’t even make proper eye contact with the people who welcomed him. Turns out that’s all he amounted to as a person.”

 

As if recalling that time, cold anger flashed in his blue eyes. He looked around at everyone and declared.

 

“To commit such shameless crimes in his home country and then come to our Empire trying to whitewash his record! As Crown Prince of the Empire, I absolutely cannot forgive this! I will definitely catch him and ensure he faces proper judgment!”

 

“You speak truly, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

 

Duke Carnel raised both hands in agreement.

 

“That bastard never even had the right to set foot on Empire soil! Since I bear some responsibility for how things turned out, I must ensure that bastard pays for his crimes!”

 

Perhaps due to anger, a reddish vitality even returned to his face. More precisely, it was closer to murderous intent. The Duke asked Aldensis.

 

“Your Highness! Where did he flee to?”

 

“He escaped my pursuit and just ran toward that lake.”

 

“He’s trapped!”

 

The Duke snorted.

 

“Right now there’s a sacred boat moored at that lake, so the protective power of our family’s spirits is most powerfully concentrated there. Anyone who tries to leave without the family head’s permission will be enchanted by mysterious power, wander around mindlessly, lose their judgment, and drift about.”

 

While once again emphasizing that even if you’re dying, you must finish my test before leaving, he looked around the lake’s surface.

 

“There are currently no drifters. Then there’s only one place to flee to.”

 

There was a small glass greenhouse in the garden directly adjacent to the lake. It was the perfect place for someone to hide.

 

“I’m going to beat him to a pulp!”

 

Zikren ran forward.

 

“Calm down. You can’t finish him off alone.”

 

Aldensis lightly leaped and overtook his younger brother.

 

“You must leave some for me too, Your Highness!”

 

Duke Carnel also quickly chased after the two, somehow finding the energy.

 

The murderous intent emanating from the three men seemed to freeze even the flowers and trees in the garden. Whatever appeared before them would likely be ground to dust.

 

‘But there’s probably no one in there, right? The person who just fled was Ruellian. Being a phantom thief, he would have escaped using some method.’

 

Thinking this, I followed along with the spectators. I wasn’t nervous, thinking it would be an empty place anyway.

 

But…

 

As if mocking my thoughts, Zikren’s loud voice rang out.

 

“Someone really is hiding here!”

 

What?

 

I was shocked.

 

Ruellian still hasn’t escaped? But why? He’s a phantom thief who appears and disappears like a ghost.

 

‘Wait, could it be…’

 

Is the protective ability of the Rosen Family guarding this space that powerful? Right now he can’t use divine power because his identity would be exposed if discovered.

 

‘That’s it. That’s why he couldn’t get out.’

 

My heart started pounding.

 

It’s already problematic that the head of the Holy Order, who went into seclusion claiming to be in prayer, is hiding at someone else’s party.

 

‘If he can’t make excuses and flees, only to get into a real fight?’

 

The vision the baby dragon had shown me flashed before my eyes again.

 

Ruellian lying before Aldensis and Zikren with blood on their hands, horribly covered in blood.

 

‘No!’

 

He came here deliberately risking danger to help me. He must not be harmed because of me.

 

At that thought, my vision went dark.

 

“Wait a moment!”

 

I ran frantically while shouting.

 

“…?”

 

The Crown Prince brothers and Duke Carnel, who were about to storm the scene, stopped their movements and looked at me.

 

“Why? What’s wrong?”

 

The Duke asked. My head was spinning and my heart kept pounding, so I couldn’t think of what excuse to make.

 

“Young Lady! Why is your face so pale?”

 

“Are you okay?”

 

Aldensis and Zikren asked competitively as they walked toward me.

 

“What’s wrong, Young Lady? Is there perhaps some reason we shouldn’t attack this place…?”

 

Answer quickly! Why can’t I think of anything?

 

While I was panicking and breaking out in cold sweat.

 

Bang!

 

The greenhouse door burst open as if breaking apart, and someone came out.

 

Due to the shadows of the densely standing topiary, it was hard to see clearly, but it was a tall man.

 

“You bastard!”

 

Aldensis and Zikren reflexively turned around.

 

But…

 

‘Hmm?’

 

Looking closely, that man had a more upright build than Prince Istan. He was dragging something that looked like a long rag bundle with one hand…

 

No, it wasn’t a rag but a person.

 

Everyone fixed their gaze on the figure that emerged from the shadows.

 

Hair that appeared reddish-brown, soaked with water. A uniform jacket covered in mud.

 

“Isn’t that Prince Istan?”

 

Everyone was shocked.

 

The man who had lightly dragged Prince Istan out with one hand like a cotton doll threw the prince onto the ground and stepped out of the shadows.

 

Who is that?

 

People’s gazes turned toward the man’s face. Then their eyes widened in shock as if they might pop out.

 

“…No way?”

 

Astonishment spread like a wave.

 

The man’s identity was someone they never imagined would be here. It was the black-haired, purple-eyed leader of the Holy Order.

 

Aldensis shouted in disbelief.

 

“Ruellian?”

 

“Your Holiness!”

 

Everyone reflexively bowed. But their faces looked dumbfounded as if they had seen a ghost.

 

Aldensis asked as if he couldn’t understand.

 

“What’s going on? When did you get here? Shouldn’t you be in the middle of prayer right now?”

 

“That’s right.”

 

Ruellian answered calmly.

 

“Originally, that’s what should be happening. But during prayer, I received urgent contact through a white dove wearing a laurel crown on its head. From the High Priest of Aqueus, the main god worshipped in the Kingdom of Neyplisia.”

 

He pulled out a document glowing with sacred light from his chest and showed it to everyone.

 

“As you can see, it’s a request to capture a criminal who insulted a priestess of their temple and fled to the Empire. Since God permitted this, I temporarily suspended my prayers and hurriedly searched until I came here. But just then, some suspicious person soaking wet fled inside there…”

 

He glanced down at Prince Istan collapsed on the ground.

 

“That’s how this happened.”

 

…Phew.

 

Only then did I let out a sigh.

 

I wondered what he was thinking coming out so boldly. He did have an emergency plan after all.

 

‘He’s getting out of this situation again.’

 

An upright person who cannot tolerate injustice, someone who will punish criminals by any means necessary when he sees them.

 

Since Ruellian had firmly built such an image through various incidents, everyone seemed to naturally accept it.

 

But still, it would be better to move on quickly without giving them time to think deeply.

 

With that thought, I quickly shouted loudly.

 

“That’s strange? How can he keep being unconscious despite all this commotion? Isn’t he pretending to be unconscious?”

 

People’s gazes turned toward Prince Istan. I thought it would pass smoothly like that, but…

 

Duke Carnel asked as if he had just remembered something.

 

“That aside, why were you so flustered earlier that your face turned pale? I thought something had happened.”

 

“That’s…”

 

“As expected, I can’t fool the Princess’s eyes, can I?”

 

Ruellian interrupted my words and faintly manifested divine power in one hand.

 

“I was preparing to interrogate the prince, and the Princess must have unconsciously sensed that energy of mine. Since she’s been diligently avoiding me for not writing the report about the Amaranthia flower, she probably had a bad feeling…”

 

“That’s right! That’s it! Somehow it felt ominous and unsettling. I felt like I shouldn’t get close.”

 

When I quickly made an excuse, Ruellian winked at me.

 

Then he moved his lips so quickly that no one could notice. Saying ‘Thank you.’

 

Hmph.

 

I turned my head away sharply.

 

What’s there to be thankful for. I just bought some time so he wouldn’t be in danger after coming to give me information.

 

‘What a ridiculous person, really.’

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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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