The Villainess is a Millionaire Solver - Chapter 92

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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 92

“I’m fine now. It doesn’t bother me at all.”

I said to the people.

“The voice I just heard wasn’t an evil sound, but rather God warning me of danger.”

“Ah.”

Duke Carnel finally removed his hand from my ear.

“….”

Sion quickly concealed the flash in his eyes.

“I’m truly sorry, sister. But you’re really amazing. To think God would warn you of danger.”

“That’s right, Sion.”

I replied with a smile.

“I’ve been experiencing God’s grace quite often lately. Like when I was falsely accused of poisoning. It’s truly something to be grateful for. Maybe it’s because Father made a large donation to the Holy Order recently? I should visit with a donation soon too.”

“Yes. That’s a good idea.”

Duke Carnel nodded, seeming pleased with my words.

“Anyway, it’s fortunate.”

Helmut said as he picked up an obsidian fragment remaining on the floor.

“We’ve grown quite old. We completely failed to notice that this object was imbued with evil energy. I’m truly sorry.”

“No, Helmut.”

Sion bowed his head deeply.

“This is entirely my responsibility. At least it’s fortunate that sister wasn’t seriously harmed. I’ll take this as a lesson and thoroughly inspect the items brought from the Northern Region two or three times. Starting with the items to be taken to the Imperial Palace immediately.”

Duke Carnel tilted his head.

“You prepared something for the Imperial Palace too? That was wasted effort. No matter how precious it is, they won’t accept tribute gifts.”

“No. It’s not a tribute gift.”

Sion shook his head.

“The identity of the demon leader who fled to Central was ‘Margol,’ one of the three great demon kings who had been troubling the Imperial Guard.”

“Oh, really? You caught such a big shot?”

“Yes, Uncle. Since our Rosen Family’s knights solved one of the Empire’s headaches, shouldn’t we present that creature’s head to His Majesty the Emperor and report this fact?”

“Right. That’s correct.”

Duke Carnel nodded.

“Come to think of it, our family has achieved great merit this time? We haven’t had anything particularly noteworthy to boast about until now. Well done.”

“I’m ashamed.”

His skill at deliberately bringing up that topic to change the atmosphere and draw the Duke’s attention was very smooth.

Duke Carnel’s face brightened.

“His Majesty the Emperor and His Highness the Crown Prince will commend you. You’ve properly upheld our family’s honor.”

“….”

The elders who came with Sion briefly exchanged glances. The white-haired, curly-haired knight whom the Duke had called Wilford and welcomed cautiously spoke up.

“When we have an audience with His Majesty this time, won’t the topic of succession surely come up?”

The succession issue of a great noble family like the House of Rosen would affect the Empire’s political and business circles. The Emperor would have no choice but to be interested.

“….”

Duke Carnel said nothing for a moment.

“Duke.”

The elders exchanged glances once more. Then they all stepped forward together, knelt on one knee, and showed knightly courtesy.

The old tiger Helmut spoke solemnly.

“I believe we can no longer postpone that matter. The false poisoning accusation, the chief aide’s conspiracy… What do you think is the reason these incidents keep happening to our family?”

“It must be because I chose the wrong people.”

“No, Duke.”

The elders all shook their heads in unison.

“That’s not your fault, Duke. Managing a great noble family of this scale alone without a spouse or successor is nearly impossible.”

“It would be difficult even for a healthy person, but Duke, your health isn’t good either. This really can’t continue.”

Helmut drove the point home with their words.

“You must decide on a successor now.”

The Duke was silent for a moment before speaking.

“Yes. It’s time to decide.”

Tension filled the hall for a moment.

In the silence, the Duke looked around at everyone. His gaze came to rest on me.

“First, Aristina. This child is our family’s one and only legitimate heir, and recently retook and passed the successor qualification test. She naturally has the right to participate in the succession competition.”

Then he turned his gaze to look at his nephew.

“Also, Sion. This child is also clearly a descendant of our Rosen Family and likewise passed the successor qualification test.”

“Uncle, that was when I first entered society, and the criticism about being illegitimate was so severe that it was a method hastily adopted to quickly silence it. That’s all it was, how could I dare to do anything with sister, the legitimate heir, present…”

“What are you saying, Sion? What matters isn’t rank but ability. The reason I had you take that test was naturally because I intended to make you a successor. You earned your qualification through proper process.”

Duke Carnel said this and turned around.

“Since we’ve all gathered here today, I’ll make the declaration right here. Come here.”

The portrait of the founding lord hung high in the center of the hall’s front. The Duke placed us both in front of it and announced to the ancestors.

“Aristina Bianca Rosen, daughter of Carnel and Annelize. Sion Michael Rosen, son of Linus and Yvelle. I will decide the successor from between these two candidates.”

Boom, boom, boom. It seemed like I could hear the phantom sound of majestic drums in my ears.

What was bound to come had finally arrived.

To Sion, whose desire to seize the family was crawling with ambition, the legitimate heir Aristina was a tremendous obstacle.

He couldn’t tolerate even her incompetent existence, to the point where he tried to drive her out using Eunice’s hands.

Even if he managed to get his hands on the successor position, he would only be satisfied after eliminating Aristina.

At that point, he could easily destroy her with just a flick of his finger, so there would be even less reason to leave her alone.

‘In other words, if I want to survive, I can’t let that power be taken by Sion, and this body must claim it. That’s the only way to live.’

Moreover, that wasn’t all. The Duke said to me.

“If you become the family’s successor, you can get back all the assets that the family head has been managing on your behalf.”

In other words, Aristina could reclaim all the mines and real estate that had been confiscated by her father due to past incidents.

I wouldn’t need to go all the way to the Imperial Palace Mines to collect the World Tree’s lullaby. I could just designate the location as I pleased.

And…

“Also, the family’s sacred power will protect you both to ensure the competition proceeds fairly. Know that from now until the successor is decided, it will be impossible for members of the Rosen Family to attack each other. Once the final decision is made, the successor will claim all of this power.”

With the Duke’s solemn words, light descended from the portrait and enveloped both Sion and me.

‘My goodness. You could use the family’s mysterious power just by becoming the successor, not even the family head?’

Then I absolutely couldn’t let this slip away. Feeling my motivation burning fiercely, I quickly asked Duke Carnel.

“How will you decide the successor?”

“According to tradition.”

The Duke answered.

“We’ll comprehensively examine ability, character, conduct, and effort. Among all of these, the most decisive factor is the test results.”

“A test?”

“Yes. As you well know, our family’s foundation is commerce, isn’t it? Each season there’s one major event with various guilds participating. Spring has the grand ball, summer has the hunting competition, autumn has the founding festival, and winter has the New Year banquet.”

“So the major event of the upcoming founding festival will be the test? The 【Empire Guild Competition】, you mean.”

At Sion’s words, the Duke nodded.

“That’s right. Exactly that. According to tradition, one of the imperial women will assign the task. Whether it’s creating a tiara, obtaining the finest horse, or decorating a luxurious garden. You understand what I mean?”

“Yes, Father.”

“Yes, Uncle.”

Sion and I answered vigorously at the same time.

“Your determination is good.”

The Duke looked at both of us with an indifferent expression.

He looked like a father lion watching after dropping his cubs off a cliff, thinking ‘One of them will climb back up.’

That cub has to be me!

I cried out in my heart.

“When can we know the topic, Father?”

“Since word has already reached the Imperial Palace, we’ll arrange the audience schedule starting tomorrow. We’ll also find out the topic of this competition while we’re at it.”

“Yes.”

The Duke immediately left his seat.

Along with the excitement that the new news brought, the banquet concluded magnificently.

“Sister, then I’ll be counting on you.”

“Yes. I’m counting on you too.”

Our gazes clashed in midair.

Sion’s one eye that wasn’t covered by the eyepatch seemed to smile gently.

Given how much Aristina had suffered all this time, a vast collection of analytical data about Sion’s gazes and expressions had automatically accumulated in my mind…

According to this, that gaze was interpreted as follows:

‘I wonder if you’ll actually accomplish anything properly? Stop pretending to have reformed and hurry up and show your true colors.’

Look who’s talking. Why don’t you hurry up and reveal your true nature?

Just as we were engaged in a battle of gazes like two gamblers sitting across from each other at a card table, one oblivious ally approached.

“Um, Young Lady. But will you be alright? Going to the Imperial Palace like this?”

At the careful words of postal aide Perdel, one fact finally came to mind.

Right now on my desk, there were still piles of letters I hadn’t replied to.

All this time, I had been sticking close to Duke Carnel from morning to night, so I hadn’t had time to sit at my desk.

I thought there surely couldn’t be any important letters, but looking at Perdel’s expression, it seemed my thinking was wrong.

“I’m worried, Young Lady. His Highness the Crown Prince will surely be angry too. He made such a fuss last time as well…”

Hm? The Crown Prince?

At that moment, a wicked gleam flashed in Sion’s eyes.

It seems he’s misunderstood something?

Seeing us two whispering with troubled faces, he seemed to assume that I had caused some major incident again while chasing after the Crown Prince like in the old days.

‘That’s not it? I just opened the letters a bit late? I’m not someone who goes around causing trouble like before. Even if I say I’ve completely reformed, it seems he doesn’t want to believe it.’

In that case, it might be interesting to just let him continue misunderstanding?

Making an expression like I was troubled to death, I looked at Perdel.

“What should I do? It’s not just His Highness the Crown Prince, but other people will be in trouble too. Everyone must be angry because of me.”

“That’s right. I think so too. Young Lady, what should we do?”

With Sion watching, we whispered with troubled faces as we left that spot.

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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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