The Villainess is a Millionaire Solver - Chapter 98

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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 98

People gaped in shock.

Not only cutting in line, but such rudeness too?

Even before Aristina was framed for poisoning, when she was rampaging without fear of the world, Ruellian was the only one she feared and avoided.

‘You’re dead now.’

Everyone looked at me with such eyes.

But it had absolutely no impact on me whatsoever.

He’s grateful, you know?

The strange phenomenon that had occurred in his stigmata disappeared cleanly. Ruellian’s complexion also improved completely. No one would have noticed that change though.

He said calmly.

“They say those who know nothing have the loudest voices. To live a life of poverty and humility, there’s a rule that the head of the Order must deliberately attach fake gems made of glass beads to their cloak. You didn’t bring the rare plant report I mentioned, yet your arrogance pierces the heavens – it seems we need to have a little chat?”

“I don’t mind, but are you really okay with this? It’ll be just like reading scripture to a puppy, won’t it?”

The two of us disappeared from in front of people while arguing.

I helped him with a troublesome matter, so surely he wouldn’t drag me to a corner to beat me up. I wondered where exactly he was taking me…

Ruellian headed toward the greenhouse attached to the main palace. It was a place where people wouldn’t come unless there were events like tea parties.

In an inconspicuous corner, three giant foliage plant pots stood side by side. Ruellian went around behind them…

The next moment, he suddenly vanished.

“…?”

As I was looking around in confusion, he appeared again. He looked at my face and chuckled.

“Surprised?”

Mischief appeared on his usually arrogant face. There must be some kind of trick to this?

“What is it?”

Only after looking closely did I realize.

Behind these pots that no one paid attention to was a secret door. When you leaned against it, the wall rotated like a revolving door, allowing entry into the space inside.

“To think there was such a secret.”

This was a completely unknown place.

Even Aristina, who knew every secret passage in the palace from chasing Aldensis around so much, seemed completely unaware of this place.

I followed Ruellian inside.

The inside was another greenhouse. It had been unmanaged for so long that it was mostly overgrown with weeds. Still, there were no yellowed, dead plants, so someone must have been watering them.

‘There really are so many secret spaces in the world.’

The moment I stepped inside while looking around, a small pebble was kicked by my foot and flew away. Ruellian picked it up and placed it back in its original position, saying.

“This is a tool to find out if anyone besides me has entered this place, so I’d appreciate it if you’d be careful next time.”

No wonder there was a pebble placed in just the right spot to be kicked.

But does this mean he’ll bring me here again next time?

I shrugged my shoulders once and asked.

“What is this place for?”

“Just my secret hideout of sorts. I discovered it by chance, and I’ve been watching ever since, but no one knows about it.”

Ruellian folded a blanket on top of an old chair, then pointed with his hand as if telling me to sit there.

When I sat down, he also sat across from me. Then he asked.

“By the way, how did you do that just now?”

“I just saw some dark energy in your eyes. So I hit it.”

“Really?”

He shifted his gaze slightly to the side and muttered.

“You hate bumping into people, yet you saw that and came running to me at full speed. Even though you talk like that, maybe you’re secretly kind-hearted. It couldn’t be that you were worried about me…”

He was speaking indifferently as if making some cold analysis…

Perhaps embarrassed about receiving help, his complexion briefly changed to a light pink tint before returning to normal.

When he was under vicious attack, his expression didn’t change at all. Look at that. Just look at that.

I was inwardly amused but quickly hardened my expression.

‘If he realizes I’ve noticed this expression of his, he might resort to any means necessary.’

With that thought, I hastily changed the subject.

“What was that black energy?”

“I don’t know. The most suspicious thing would probably be a curse.”

Ruellian shook his head and said.

“While the princess was busy with her brother’s matter, I looked into dragon language magic. I did manage to identify the curse, so I roughly solved it myself using ancient precious materials. And I thought I had succeeded…”

Worry clouded his brow.

“But was something lacking? Dragon language – perhaps there are limits for humans after all. Or maybe I briefly lost my composure just now when our conversation brought back old memories…”

Because the time when the dead Empress lost Windfearer happened to coincide with when his parents were murdered, that terrible incident surfaced again.

Until now he had shown no sign of it and kept it all suppressed, but being constantly provoked would naturally cause him to waver. I can understand him acting like this.

“All the more reason to keep your wits about you.”

I said in a lowered voice.

“Speaking of which, I have new information related to that very incident. As expected, Sion prepared a lovely gift using the exact same methods as before, so I smacked him in the back of the head with the ring you lent me.”

“Well done.”

“But while I was looking at that obsidian rose, someone in my head kept repeating ‘Serpentus, Serpentus.'”

“…!”

Ruellian’s expression changed.

In that moment, I could feel him experiencing some intense emotion.

Was it because I could see his stigmata? For a very brief instant, a clear scene flashed before my eyes.

“Father! Mother!”

I saw the figures of a middle-aged couple collapsed on the floor. A black-haired young boy screamed and ran to them.

When he turned over his parents’ bodies, traces of evil magic could be seen on their faces.

Where the black mist had dissipated, writhing red letters remained.

And from his father’s chest, a small piece of paper fell.

Written on it were these words.

‘The Two-Faced Serpentus.’

I started in surprise and returned to reality.

“That was a trace left by the murderer?”

“Yes.”

Perhaps he had given up on me constantly peering into his memories. Ruellian just spoke matter-of-factly.

“I couldn’t find that bastard no matter what, so this was one of the methods I devised. I used the mark he left to operate the Master Guild and spread information everywhere. Come find me if you dare.”

He slightly furrowed his brow and said.

“The more I investigate, the more clues keep appearing that seem to show your cousin is connected to that murderer.”

“If that’s true, he absolutely won’t escape this time!”

I shot up from my seat.

At that moment.

“Isn’t that too dangerous?”

Ruellian grabbed my arm.

At this unconscious action, we were both startled a beat too late. I looked down at my arm.

‘Now he’s just grabbing me left and right.’

He let go of my hand with a clearly flustered expression.

Well, broadly speaking, this is also an action to save someone’s life.

Remembering how his hand felt through my clothes – very large, firm, and strangely warm – I was about to feel flustered too.

‘Is this really the time for such thoughts?’

After scolding myself, I said to him.

“For now, I’m fine. Since I’m participating in the succession competition, the family’s power is protecting me.”

Indeed, when I concentrated, I could feel some powerful and warm force.

It was similar to when the ancestors’ souls spoke to me, and similar to when I saw the Duchess’s portrait.

“The problem is what comes after. If Sion becomes the next head of the family, I’ll be snuffed out like a candle in the wind.”

“I won’t let that happen.”

Ruellian’s eyes flashed bright blue. His attitude was confident as if it were perfectly natural.

When I looked at him, he added.

“I swore while guarding my parents’ funeral. That I would definitely find the culprit and get revenge. You can trust me on that one thing at least. Even though you have the family’s protection, you never know when the situation might change. If anything happens, make sure to ask me for help.”

And then he spoke as if remembering something.

“Oh right, I kept trying to talk about this but you wouldn’t give me time. According to my investigation, you got Prince Istan good with a magic bullet hidden in your fan?”

“…I got caught.”

“I wondered why you kept reaching for your fan every time I made a joke. Do you know how creeped out I was when I figured that out?”

Ruellian grumbled and held out his hand.

“Give me the fan.”

“No way!”

“I’m going to reload it for you.”

He’s going to reload it? Well, that’s a different story then.

I immediately changed my stance and handed the fan to Ruellian. He summoned powerful divine power and embedded it inside.

“Since it’s not a properly consecrated holy relic, it’s only good for one shot. But this should be able to defend against attacks from most high-level mages. The moment you fire it, I’ll get a signal, so I’ll come running right away no matter when or where.”

Oh, is that even possible?

He’ll come running right away no matter when or where.

Those words somehow struck me as very impressive.

Maybe it’s because I’ve been living so tensely, constantly on guard day and night. Even words spoken with such a businesslike expression are oddly reassuring.

Anyway, he’s someone who definitely keeps his word.

“Thank you so much.”

I spoke with genuine feeling.

“I feel a bit guilty too. I still haven’t sent that large donation. I’ll make sure to transfer it as soon as I get home.”

When I checked the time, it was already almost evening. How did time pass so quickly?

I needed to head back to the Ducal Mansion soon.

“Now I need to go home and assess the situation again. You’ll probably be busy investigating various things for a while too, but I’ll contact you right away if I discover any new facts.”

While I was able to sneak in secretly avoiding people on the way here, there’s no telling who I might run into on the way out.

“I should leave first.”

I said that, turned around, and left that place.

Ruellian kept watching me until I left.

While receiving his gaze, I couldn’t show it because I was pretending to be indifferent, but as soon as I came out of the secret room, I quickly examined the fan first.

‘I got something really good, didn’t I?’

I was already planning to reload the magic bullet anyway. But to get a much more powerful attack method, plus a very reliable promise that he’d come anytime.

‘This is perfect.’

I carefully put away the fan, which seemed to radiate warm energy from receiving divine power. Then I hurriedly left the Imperial Palace and returned to the Ducal Mansion.

“Where’s Sion?”

Just as I arrived and grabbed the Head Butler to ask, enemies meet on a narrow bridge as they say. Another carriage happened to enter the Ducal Mansion’s courtyard.

The door opened and Sion was getting out when he saw me and his face hardened.

But that was only for a very brief moment.

“Have you returned, sister?”

He approached properly and paid his respects to me. I accepted his greeting and asked.

“Did you serve the Princess well?”

“Of course. Supporting the Royal Family is also one of our family’s duties. I’ve completed my mission successfully.”

Sion said that while extending one hand to me. He was trying to escort me to the manor.

Indeed. Even his smallest gestures showed the appearance of a well-educated young master.

I reached out and accepted his escort.

“Well done.”

“What did I do? You also served His Highness the Crown Prince and His Highness the Second Prince very well. And of course, other figures as well.”

Sion spoke while walking gracefully.

“To succeed in making them put aside their deep-rooted ill feelings and believe that you’ve reformed. That’s truly amazing. Though I suppose it wouldn’t have been particularly difficult with that beauty.”

What kind of nonsense is this? Is he saying I achieved that accomplishment through seduction?

This face actually stimulated people’s wariness like the flashy warning of a poisonous mushroom, and only kept working against me.

Suppressing my rising anger, I smiled.

“What could this level of beauty accomplish? You’d need to be as pretty as you are for it to actually help in life.”

Deceiving people with your face isn’t my specialty, it’s yours. Isn’t that right?

“How could I dare compare myself to you, sister?”

Sion replied nonchalantly.

“Honestly, I was very surprised at the Imperial Palace today. I wondered if you had become a completely different person. Otherwise, it would be absolutely impossible, wouldn’t it? I even had the absurd thought that maybe someone had entered your body and was acting in your place. Of course, that’s nonsense.”

Squeeze.

His hand gripped mine tightly. As if to prevent me from escaping. Then he suddenly asked.

“But… I see you’ve completely gotten rid of your habit of biting your nails?”

At that moment, my feet came to an abrupt halt.

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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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