The Villainess Hid Her Identity, and Now Everyone is Misunderstanding - Chapter 104

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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The Villainess Hides Her Identity, and Everyone Misunderstands
Chapter 104

What was this sudden talk of a “Token of Trust”?
I dug through my buried memories to retrieve it.
Certainly, when I descended to the Rosenthal Estate and succeeded in the Relief Operations, it was an item I’d obtained. One I’d acquired by sacrificing a +5% stat gain….
A faint sound escaped my lips.
…an item I’d obtained, that is.
Since it seemed utterly useless, I’d simply buried it in my memory, but now it surfaced in a place with no connection whatsoever to the situation or context.
Moreover, the “Token of Trust” could only be used on those who participated in the Relief Operations.
‘So what… did that person make a donation? Or is he trying to claim he was originally a good person?’
It wasn’t entirely impossible, but it felt forced, as if someone had artificially connected the dots.
It made more sense to assume he was a spy from the beginning. Someone Ludwig had planted in Rakiel’s Relief Operations….
“…Ah.”
A small gasp escaped me.
That’s it.
‘Chilling….’
How could it connect like this?
The Relief Operations were underway across the entire Empire. Naturally, the Northern Region was included. It was hardly surprising if one of Ludwig’s planted agents had been reassigned to another mission.
“Eve, I think it would be better if you stepped back a little.”
That was when Rakiel whispered softly.
Only then did I observe the surroundings, and the man with his eyes now fully open was cackling with laughter.
“Kekeke, you stupid fools…. Kuhuk, there’s nothing you could possibly find out… don’t you realize yet that this is futile?”
“Your mouth is still working, I see.”
“Why? Hick, does that bother you so much…? Perhaps, cough, you’re afraid there might be something to discover?”
Crash!
As the man shook his body with a mocking laugh, the chair creaked as if it would collapse at any moment.
“Kek, just end it! End it now!”
Thud!
Finally, unable to bear the weight, the chair toppled, and he crashed face-first into the floor, his head tilted toward me.
In that instant, the man slightly lifted his head and his eyes locked directly onto mine. I could see mockery spreading across his lips.
Rakiel, sensing something, pushed me further back at the same time….
“Ptui-!”
“…!”
The man’s saliva splattered onto my shoes. Watching him grin wickedly at me, it was clear he’d aimed for me deliberately.
Silence fell over the Prison as if time itself had stopped. But it was only momentary.
“Release him at once—!”
“You, you’re insane—!”
The Duke’s roar erupted at the same moment Killian rushed forward to tear the man away from me.
“Wait, please!”
I hastily stepped between them. Killian’s body tensed and froze in place.
He immediately bellowed, as if bewildered by why I was stopping him.
“Evelyn, let me kill this bastard right now—!”
“No, Brother! Please, just wait a moment! Give me just a moment!”
I can’t let him die! I was finally about to get some use out of this useless item!
At my pleading cry, Killian finally halted. Having succeeded in restraining him, I calmly turned my gaze toward Rakiel.
“Your Highness, release the sword as well.”
His crimson eyes fixed upon me. In that instant, the pupils that had burned with fierce fury blazed with turbulent light.
As my gaze shifted to the hand gripping the sword’s hilt, he reluctantly eased his grip—though his hand remained clasped around it.
From the momentum of the moment, had I intervened even slightly later, blood would surely have already stained his blade.
‘If I’d been any slower, someone could have died right before my eyes!’
Rakiel was not a man who wielded his sword without reason. Whatever had provoked him, one thing was certain—we were on a knife’s edge.
Was it because of the Crown Prince…?
In any case, only after I was certain he would not charge forward again did I turn my head back. I stood with both hands outstretched, blocking the three men radiating killing intent.
“Everyone, please wait just a moment! I want to speak with this man.”
“Evelyn! Did you not promise me you would not do anything dangerous?”
The Duke cried out urgently. He too bore a sharp, menacing aura as if he might drag the man out at any second.
“Please, Father! Just give me a moment.”
I have a plan! The system window told me so.
But the Duke, unaware of this fact, showed no sign of allowing me to approach the man.
“Step away at once. This won’t do. It’s far too dangerous! You should go upstairs!”
“I’m not saying I’ll do anything dangerous…”
“I must have been mad before. Bringing you here of all places—I’ve lost my mind.”
“But…!”
As if refusing to hear another word from me, the Duke pointed toward the exit and opened his mouth to address the Knights.
“You there, take my daughter upstairs at once—”
Finally, I cut off his words and screamed.
“Father, please listen to me first!”
At the sound of my cry with all my strength, the Duke fell silent and looked at me. I gasped for breath urgently.
At last, the surroundings grew quiet.
‘Damn it, none of them are being helpful.’
The man who had spat on me still lay with his face pressed against the filthy floor, chuckling as he listened to our conversation.
I disliked using a ‘mark of trust’ on this wretch who had contributed to selling out the nation… but what choice did I have?
Instead of continuing to speak to the Duke, I slowly began to move. I felt all three men tense and watch my actions intently, but I deliberately ignored them.
After all, this was a man who had been locked in Prison for nearly two weeks. Whatever strength he’d mustered to spit on me, he wouldn’t have enough left to break free from his restraints and charge at me.
I moved slowly toward the man still lying face-down, then gradually bent my knees. The hem of my long skirt seemed to brush against the filthy floor, but I paid it no mind.
“…Listen to me.”
I furrowed my brow and opened my mouth.
“Damn it… a woman, cough, why in this godforsaken place….”
“Do you have family?”
“What?”
He strained to turn his head toward me, as if puzzled by such an odd question. But it seemed difficult for him; he soon went limp and breathed heavily with effort.
I continued speaking.
“Of course you do. Family.”
“….”
“They’re probably already in the Janitor’s grasp, of course.”
“…!”
It was a method the Chamberlain favored.
How many years did I think I’d spent by the Crown Prince’s side?
Sifting through my memories, countless scenes surfaced—from trivial matters to secrets that should never be revealed to others. Most were vague clues, but inferring their meaning was simple.
Just as I’d discovered that the Chamberlain hailed from the Valter Empire.
I never imagined those ninety-nine repetitions would prove so useful.
‘I’d only thought of them as terrible times….’
I gazed down at the man trembling and writhing in desperation with a cold stare, then spoke slowly.
“About those family members of yours….”
“Damn it, family, gasp, family above all else…!”
“I’ll bring them back for you.”
The man, who had been groaning on the floor, suddenly went rigid.
Ding!

[Item 【Token of Trust】 has been used. Effect applied. (Remaining uses: 0)]
[Target: Bren]

Hmm, so his name was Bren.
The moment the item activated, Rakiel flinched, and his gaze snapped toward me.
‘Did he figure it out?’
Yet contrary to his reaction, he neither blocked me nor tried to stop me. It seemed he was going to let it slide for now.
‘…I’ll need to make excuses to Rakiel later. But more than that….’
Using this item—one that granted unconditional trust—on someone like him. I didn’t need to see it to know he’d committed all manner of dirty deeds while working under the Chamberlain.
No matter how much his family was held captive, he couldn’t possibly be ignorant of what he was doing.
‘…Of course, I’ve never lied.’
My promise to recover his family was genuine. It’s just that the man clearly wouldn’t believe me without proof, so I borrowed a little help from the system.
Regardless of what he’d done, his family bore no fault. I was willing to search for the whereabouts of those the Chamberlain held as collateral. Though I couldn’t guarantee they’d still be alive.
The man gasped for breath on the floor for a moment before biting his lip and opening his mouth.
“Is it… really true…?”
“Yes, it is.”
“You’ll save my family… my family?”
“That’s what I’m saying.”
After answering mechanically several times, he squeezed his eyes shut. Then, slowly lifting his eyelids, he spoke.
“…All right. I’ll tell you everything I know.”
Thanks to the ‘Mark of Trust,’ the tedious process was resolved in one go.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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