The Villainess Hid Her Identity, and Now Everyone is Misunderstanding - Chapter 12

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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 12

‘Why do I keep running into this man?!’
I startled at first, then forced my racing heart to calm down.
‘Wait, I have that recognition reduction effect, don’t I?’
It was absurd to encounter Prince Rakiel so frequently in this sprawling Capital City, but regardless, it was certain that the chances of him recognizing me had diminished considerably.
“If you’ve been drinking, go home quietly.”
Rakiel’s forearm tensed as he gripped the man’s wrist, veins bulging prominently.
“Gasp, ugh, I-I understand, I understand! I-I’m sorry…!”
I snapped to attention at the man’s cries and interjected.
“Wait! That won’t work!”
My stats!
I can’t let him go home like this!
Rakiel turned his head with an indifferent gaze. It was a look that asked why I was interfering.
“H-he should be turned over to the Guards. He seems quite intoxicated, and if you let him go like this, he won’t be able to get home.”
“Ha.”
Rakiel let out a scoff of disbelief.
But now that a Quest had appeared, I couldn’t simply let him go.
I continued speaking, struggling to be as logical as possible.
“If he collapses on the street and falls asleep, it’s dangerous. Frankly, if this man passes out on the roadside and gets robbed, you’ll be responsible, won’t you?”
“Responsible? Me?”
“Turning him over to the Guards right now but abandoning him anyway is negligence—negligence! People should live with kindness. You can’t be so callous!”
Forget it.
I just spouted whatever came to mind, and Rakiel’s expression became enigmatic.
He glanced back and forth between me and the drunk man for a moment, then finally nodded.
“…I’m not convinced, but at least I understand what you’re saying.”
Rakiel sighed as if displeased, though he seemed to have accepted it. Or was it the opposite?
In any case, he looked down at the man who was staring at him in fear, then gave the back of his head a light tap.
The man’s eyes rolled back and he lost consciousness.
“So I just hand him over to the Guards like this, right?”
“Exactly!”
I eagerly agreed and followed Rakiel.
The moment I handed the unconscious man over to the Guards, a system window appeared announcing Quest completion.
Total profit!
I was grinning and checking the information window when Rakiel, who had been watching me, asked with a displeased expression.
“…Are you truly that delighted?”
“Yes, of course.”
I could practically whistle with joy.
“Oh, right. Thank you for helping me earlier. I was able to resolve it easily thanks to you.”
The quest.
I was grateful the system counted it as a success even though someone else had helped. Bringing a drunk man all the way here alone would have been exhausting just to think about.
Phew, that’s done. I really should head back now.
Just as I turned my body casually to head back toward the Rosenthal Estate, Rakiel spoke to me urgently.
“Is your shoulder alright?”
“Pardon? My shoulder?”
“When we collided last time, it seemed there was quite an impact.”
“…!”
What? He knows I’m that woman?
My heart sank in an instant.
Of course, the recognition reduction effect wasn’t omnipotent—it only pushed me slightly out of memory, suspicion, and focus. Seeing that it was labeled ‘growth-type,’ it seemed the effect would become more powerful as the level increased.
In any case, I didn’t expect him to recognize me even with that…
I was cautiously glancing around when Rakiel said something unexpected.
“I followed because I was worried, but she mistook me for a sta… *ahem*, a stalker. I apologize for acting in a way that could cause such a misunderstanding.”
“…Yes?”
Instead… I received an apology?
Rakiel was truly speaking with his face slightly flushed, as if confessing a sin.
As I stared blankly at him, Rakiel’s eyes darted away.
I quickly came to my senses and answered rapidly.
“Oh, no… I’m sorry. I was the one who misunderstood… and hit your chin…”
…quite hard.
“Ah, that.”
Rakiel slowly rubbed his own chin and chuckled softly.
…He’s laughing?
Does the Second Prince perhaps have some unusual preferences?
Like enjoying being hit or something…
“Well, it did hurt.”
“I’m so sorry…! I can pay for your medical treatment…!”
I fumbled through my pockets.
I thought he, being a prince, would never accept it anyway, so I was just pretending to search.
But instead of stopping me, Rakiel simply chuckled and watched what I was doing quietly.
What? Why isn’t he stopping me?
Hesitating, I reluctantly pulled out a few coins.
“It’s not much, but please take this…”
Rakiel smiled and accepted the money from me. From his expression alone, he seemed delighted as if he’d just received a windfall.
…A prince.
What’s this? Does he not have money?
I completely revised my mental image of Prince Rakiel.
So the Second Prince, overshadowed by Crown Prince Ludwig, has no funds. It seems his budget allocation was cut.
Hmm, should I give him more money?
As I stood pondering with my hand in my coin purse, Rakiel, who had already tucked the silver coins away in his breast pocket, asked me a question.
“By the way, what’s your name?”
“Eve….”
Oh, I almost carelessly said Evelyn’s name.
“I-I’m Eve! Eve!”
“Eve. That’s a lovely name.”
“…?”
I’d heard that the Second Prince had an unpredictable temperament.
Indeed, there was no doubt he was somewhat mentally peculiar.
Hmm, would it really be acceptable to push such a man toward the throne?
Still, I thought I should wait to see what Twilight uncovers before making a decision.
I furrowed my brow and looked around. No matter how much time had passed, everything was pitch black.
Everyone must be searching for me by now.
“Anyway, thank you. I need to head back quickly—”
“You’re going to the Rosenthal Estate?”
“…!”
Gasp, could I have been found out…?
“Ah, I thought you were a maid working at the estate since you were wearing the Rosenthal robes last time.”
Phew, thank goodness.
I nodded my head.
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Then I’ll take you there.”
“…What?”
Without even waiting for my response, Rakiel began walking ahead.
I followed alongside him with a bewildered expression.
“You really don’t have to go that far. I can make it on my own.”
“There’s plenty of time, so don’t be shy. Or would you prefer to run into another one of those fellows on the way?”
“No, that’s not it, but—”
This is excessive kindness, you know!
What on earth is he thinking? Can a prince really just escort a maid around like this?
I scrunched up my face and quietly followed Rakiel, thinking it better to send him off quickly than to cause unnecessary commotion.
Fortunately, the Rosenthal Estate wasn’t far away.
“We’ve arrived.”
When I came to my senses, we were already at the back entrance of the Rosenthal Estate.
“Ah… Thank you for escorting me.”
“If you’re grateful, why don’t you buy me a meal sometime?”
“…Pardon?”
What on earth was this man saying?
As my expression shifted, Rakiel let out a soft chuckle.
“I was joking. Do be careful going in.”
“…Yes, thank you.”
I never imagined hearing such a cheap line from someone claiming to be a prince.
Next time, I’ll slip away the moment I see his face. Absolutely.
…Wait.
Prince Rakiel thinks I’m a maid of the Rosenthal Estate.
This could be quite a useful card to play.
I could exploit this… couldn’t I?

* * *

Before the Rosenthal Estate Outer Wall.
Rakiel watched the small back disappearing into the manor and let out a soft chuckle.
‘How intriguing.’
He had begun following her since the tavern in Twilight.
At first, he thought she was a stranger. Her movements were certainly familiar, yet that familiarity didn’t connect to any specific person.
Like a memory whose outline remained blurred and hazy.
For someone who could recognize people by the length of their stride, the timing of their breathing, or their momentary posture, this was an unfamiliar sensation.
‘…Who on earth is she?’
If someone he recognized had avoided people for years to the point of seclusion, they must be someone whose appearance he had deliberately committed to memory. Yet the memory eluded him.
With a stern expression, he observed her from a distance, trailing behind. If she displayed any suspicious behavior, he intended to expose her identity immediately.
“…!”
In that moment, the woman stopped in her tracks.
‘Have I been discovered…?’
But her gaze was directed elsewhere.
An old woman carrying a heavy burden.
Without hesitation, the woman approached and took the burden from the old woman’s hands.
‘Hmm…’
That wasn’t all.
She found the parents of a lost child, helped a merchant whose fruit cart had overturned, and even picked up a scattered letter to deliver it to the nearby postal office.
‘Quite busy.’
Literally so. The woman moved about busily, attending to every trivial matter around her.
Just as she seemed about to move on, a drunkard grabbed hold of her.
He approached her with narrowed eyes, close enough for his voice to be heard.
“Hey there, sir. You’re drunk. Why don’t we go to the Guards together?”
“…!”
Only then did he recall the memory.
The very maid who had struck his jaw with the crown of her head and fled just days ago.
‘…Ah, I had completely forgotten about that.’
I should have recognized her immediately.
He fell into thought, sensing something amiss, but oddly enough, that concern didn’t linger long.
“Let me help you! I am a good and righteous citizen, after all!”
Rakiel furrowed his brow.
‘How meddlesome.’
And quite dangerous at that.
True to form, the Drunk Man paid no heed to her virtuous intentions and reached out toward her.
‘Dangerous…!’
Rakiel lunged forward and seized the man’s hand.
“That’s enough.”
He continued without bothering to conceal his displeasure.
“Stop there, unless you wish to be hurt.”
Subduing the man was a trivial matter.
To him, an ordinary person was no different from swatting an insect.
Rakiel intended to dispose of this eyesore first, then resume his conversation with her.
But the Woman began to act unexpectedly once more.
“You could turn him over to the Guards right now, but instead you’re just leaving him? That’s negligence, negligence! People should live with virtue, not be so callous!”
For a prince to be lectured about responsibility, about living righteously—these were words he had never heard before.
Perhaps because of that, before he knew it, he found himself handing the man over to the Guards just as she had said.
Glancing at her, Rakiel couldn’t help but wear a subtle expression.
‘She truly… enjoys it.’
Pure joy untainted by ulterior motives. The satisfaction of helping another.
The world held many people, but this was the first time he had encountered someone who genuinely cared for others and felt such joy from it.
And in that moment, he completely forgot his suspicions of her.

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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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