The Villainess is a Millionaire Solver - Chapter 81

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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 81

 

“By the way, is he really pretending to be unconscious?”

 

Ruellian kicked Prince Istan without hesitation.

 

From the shock, the prince regained consciousness and immediately sat up, spitting out water.

 

Ruellian sent him a cold sneer.

 

“Finally awake. I don’t know the details, but even while this guy was unconscious, he was begging ‘Young Lady, please don’t hit me.’…”

 

“Hmph!”

 

I walked toward Prince Istan, who looked like a drowned rat.

 

He wrung out the water from his clothes while looking at me with resentful eyes.

 

“How could you do this, Young Lady? Are all Empire women like this? You acted as if you had feelings for me…”

 

“What are you talking about? I was just being kind because you’re a foreigner, and you fell into delusions.”

 

I snapped back.

 

“You should know your place. I’m not someone who would fall for such tricks. Your act of pretending to be charming from the start was laughable, but I had a hard time managing my expression while holding back.”

 

“What?”

 

As if remembering my ‘lovestruck blonde fool’ act from before, the prince was dumbfounded and didn’t know what to do.

 

But who would believe this foolish prince’s words now?

 

I have no idea how it came to this. Why his treasure had been switched with a fake. Why I knew all his trade secrets.

 

“You’ll never know.”

 

I gestured to maid Mia standing behind me. Mia came forward and handed me a small box. It was the box containing the music box that Prince Istan had given me as a gift.

 

I placed it in front of him and said.

 

“Sell this in prison to buy some decent food.”

 

“…”

 

The prince looked up at me with a blank face. Then he suddenly muttered.

 

“…It’s the first time.”

 

“What?”

 

“A woman like you is the first. Yes. I admit it. At first I approached you with a purpose, but… I think I just fell in love.”

 

Then he prostrated himself in front of me and shouted.

 

“Young Lady! I love you!”

 

“What?”

 

I stepped back in horror.

 

“Isn’t this guy completely insane?”

 

While I was venting my anger at the prince, the Crown Prince brothers, who had stepped back, approached with incredulous faces.

 

“You’re really doing all sorts of things, aren’t you?”

 

Zikren lifted the prince up. By grabbing his collar, not his arm or shoulder.

 

“Young Lady, don’t deal with this madman. His filthy aura might rub off on you.”

 

Aldensis twisted his arm behind his back. Hard enough to make a cracking sound.

 

“Right. You stay back.”

 

Duke Carnel said coldly.

 

“I’ll handle this. Normal people come to their senses after being properly hit once with a club.”

 

Then he drew his ceremonial sword from his waist with a swoosh.

 

I was startled.

 

No matter how I look at it, that doesn’t seem like a club?

 

“Duke, please stop. You absolutely must not use such violence against this criminal.”

 

Ruellian restrained Duke Carnel. Being a religious person, perhaps he has the most mercy among them.

 

“Every religious trial and civil trial this bastard receives will be hell. I’ll personally intervene as an advisor. If you stab that guy now, Duke, it’ll delay the trial date. It would be like giving charity by delaying the opening of hell’s gates for a few days.”

 

…Never mind. He seems to have the least mercy.

 

“Stop it, everyone! Prince Istan isn’t a madman!”

 

Serene shouted. Perhaps she has the kindest heart among them.

 

“Why is falling for Miss Aristina an act of madness? Anyone would fall for her if they’re human. Don’t give him an excuse for a reduced sentence by calling him mentally ill. That bastard shouldn’t get even a day’s reduction and should rot away in prison for life, burning with anguish!”

 

…Never mind. Her eyes seem to glitter with the most madness.

 

Separately, listening to it, Serene’s words didn’t seem wrong.

 

‘Right? He says he likes me, so why is everyone treating him like a madman?’

 

I was about to feel a bit bad about that thought. However…

 

“I’ll pay for my crimes! But please know just this one thing! I love you, Young Lady Aristina! Even locked in prison for life, I’ll love you forever!”

 

Seeing Prince Istan being dragged away while shouting like that, I thought as expected.

 

‘Madman.’

 

I gave him a cold look and then asked Ruellian.

 

“How long would that criminal’s sentence be after all the trials?”

 

“At least 460 years?”

 

“That’s appropriate.”

 

Just as I was about to turn around, dusting off my hands in a refreshed mood.

 

Murmuring sounds came from behind the spectators, and the crowd split apart on both sides.

 

Two elderly people were hurriedly walking over. It was Queen Aunt and the Great Spirit of the World Tree.

 

I was surprised.

 

“What brings you here?”

 

“What brings us? You sent invitation cards asking us to attend the successor qualification test commemorative ball. Though we both read them too late.”

 

Queen Aunt asked urgently.

 

“Is it already over? Are we too late?”

 

“No!”

 

The Great Spirit pointed to the ship tied at the lakeside.

 

“Fortunately, it seems we arrived just in time!”

 

“Yes, that’s right.”

 

Duke Carnel answered.

 

“You’ve come at a perfect time. There was a small disturbance, but it was just cleanly resolved. Now we’ll begin today’s most important event.”

 

Oh no.

 

I quietly stepped back one step.

 

All preparations were already complete right here at the lakeside.

 

The Duke’s knights were already starting to line up in formation, and trumpets, drums, and fireworks equipment were arriving one after another.

 

‘Sorry, but I’m not doing it.’

 

More precisely, I can’t do it. Because I have absolutely no qualification to be this family’s successor.

 

In the eyes of the Duke’s ancestral spirits, I’m just a despicable fraud.

 

It would be fortunate if they don’t make a fuss about immediately exorcising this evil spirit. The moment I step forward, that ship will sink to the bottom.

 

‘In other words, it’s time to use that method.’

 

When everything was over and it was time to go up on the platform to take the test, I had prepared to act like I suddenly collapsed.

 

Anemia is a common symptom among aristocratic ladies. Moreover, I had worked hard preparing for this ball over the past few days, and even experienced many things this evening, so no one would think it strange if I suddenly collapsed.

 

The test would naturally be postponed, and I could think about what to do next when the time comes.

 

I placed my hand on my forehead.

 

“Wait, my head…”

 

Just as I was about to start the act while saying that.

 

“Huh?”

 

People began murmuring. Some pointed at my chest with surprised faces.

 

“…?”

 

I looked down at my chest.

 

The ‘Heart of the Rose’ hanging around my neck. Light was suddenly emanating from the brilliantly shining red jewel. And I heard an unfamiliar voice in my head.

 

「Don’t worry, descendant.」

 

‘Excuse me?’

 

「In the past, we didn’t acknowledge you. But now we do. So don’t worry and step forward. You’ve worked hard, descendant.」

 

Then the voice added.

 

「We wanted to say this from the moment your father first gave you the necklace, but you gagged us. You stubborn descendant.」

 

What?

 

While I stood there bewildered, a mysterious light emanating from the founding lord’s necklace enveloped me. It was like the gentle radiance of an aurora.

 

“That’s it! That’s what I saw!”

 

Duke Carnel’s loud and clear voice rang out.

 

“I saw it that night, I tell you. When that child was sleeping on the sofa, the spirits gathered around her, nodding their heads and trying to stroke her hair!”

 

What?

 

I was simply dumbfounded.

 

It seemed the ancestors of House Rosen had some kind of misunderstanding.

 

But if that misunderstanding could help me and bring annoyance and anger to my enemies…

 

For now, I could just pretend not to know, couldn’t I?

 

“But what about your hair? Does it hurt or something?”

 

At Duke Carnel’s question, I quickly changed my approach and touched my hair.

 

“No! I was going to ask the maids. Girls, does tucking hair behind the ears look more like a legitimate heir? Or does letting it hang down without tucking it behind the ears look more like a legitimate heir?”

 

“Both look dignified, my lady.”

 

The maids answered in unison.

 

“Really? Then…”

 

I glanced at the necklace once more.

 

So I’m trusting only you?

 

“I’ll show you properly this time!”

 

As soon as I finished speaking, the ceremony began.

 

“Young Lady, over here.”

 

First, the maids brought a cloak embroidered with the family crest and draped it over my shoulders. It was such an enormous cloak that four people had to support it from behind.

 

With the spectators watching, the maids and I marched down the center of the red carpet where the Duke’s knights stood in formation.

 

“We now commence the family heir qualification test of Aristina Bianca Rosen!”

 

The Head Butler shouted loudly.

 

Duke Carnel stood before the platform where the family flags fluttered in the wind. I followed his guidance and climbed onto the platform.

 

A large ship with antique sails floated on the dark blue lake.

 

The founding lord’s merchant ship, Habarion. It was a very auspicious vessel that had earned a lot of money, creating the seed money that built up the family.

 

‘I’m really trusting only you.’

 

After placing both hands on the magnificently glowing necklace and then removing them, I took a deep breath and recited the words that remained in my memory.

 

“I, Aristina Bianca Rosen, seek recognition of my qualification as heir to the Rosen Family before the ancestral spirits!”

 

The family knights simultaneously raised their swords and struck down on the ropes.

 

Thwack!

 

The ropes binding the ship snapped simultaneously.

 

Now, what would be the result?

 

I watched the ship with a pounding heart.

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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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