The Villainess Hid Her Identity, and Now Everyone is Misunderstanding - Chapter 19

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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 19

“Well now— dear customer, might you have another task for me to handle?”
The man speaking was none other than the master of the Information Organization Twilight.
“So you are…!”
When I kept repeating the same words because I didn’t know his name, he chuckled and answered.
“Yan. You may call me Yan.”
“Yes, Yan… I see. Yan.”
I updated the information in my mind…!
I never expected to learn the name of someone from an information organization, but it seemed he wasn’t particularly wary of me. More than I’d anticipated, actually.
He scratched the back of his neck and looked down at my appearance.
“Our client certainly seems to be quite popular. Are all of these gifts?”
“Ah, well… I suppose so.”
I clicked my tongue.
Would I even be able to carry all of this back to the manor?
He chuckled and naturally took the gifts from my hands.
“Allow me to carry them for you, VIP customer!”
“What? No, there’s no need for that.”
I took back the gifts with a serious expression.
I had no intention of growing any closer to him than this. It was best to keep things simple—I place my requests, and he gathers the information. That was sufficient.
‘If I get any closer, my identity might be exposed, which would be troublesome.’
He raised one eyebrow and snatched the bundle of gifts from me once more.
“Come on, I said I’d carry them! How do you expect to manage all of this alone!”
“No, it’s fine! I can! Carry it! Myself!”
I snatched it back from him. But he took the items from my arms again.
“Just let me help, will you? You don’t need to pay me or anything! Here! Consider it a service, a service!”
“Your tone keeps changing since earlier! Give it back, that’s mine!”
“Honestly, making such a fuss when I’m trying to help!”
After exchanging the bundle several times, my poor stamina gave out first, and the struggle ended. The fear that my hood might slip off also played a part.
“Huff, huff….”
He was the victor.
‘Damn it… I’ll have to build up my stamina soon.’
I couldn’t have felt more frustrated.
After handing over the items to him, I pulled down the hood I was wearing, making sure that he, who was taller than me, could never see my face.
‘Next time, I should wear a veil instead.’
I couldn’t settle my mind like this. Now I truly had no idea where I might run into whom.
On such a day, he smirked at me.
“Well then, shall we go, customer?”
I followed him with a grimace on my face.
Yan naturally headed toward the Rosenthal Estate. Upon discovering this, my expression grew even more troubled.
How did he know I was going to the Duke’s Mansion?
I’d known from our first meeting, but this man had an unnaturally sharp eye for detail. If I ever encountered him as Evelyn, he would instantly realize that I and Evelyn were the same person.
The only thing I could rely on was the system’s recognition reduction effect.
“I wonder how you’ve been using the materials I gave you before.”
He had long since abandoned the awkward formal speech he used to cling to.
Not that I particularly minded, but I was something of a VIP.
“…Thanks to you. It was quite helpful.”
“Hmm, I’m not sure why you need information about Prince Rakiel, but you’re not planning to misuse it, are you?”
“What does it matter if I do? Does an information organization worry about such things?”
At my sharp words, he laughed and shook his head.
“No, it’s not that. I’m just curious. Do you happen to know Prince Rakiel?”
“…No.”
I glanced at him and continued.
“If I knew him, I wouldn’t have requested such materials.”
“Well, that’s true. You’ve got a point.”
The contents within weren’t particularly things worth hiding. Anyone could obtain them anywhere if they looked carefully enough.
But at his probing tone, I frowned.
‘Isn’t this crossing a line?’
To say it again, he had an unnecessarily excessive amount of curiosity.
But before I could press him on it, he noticed my mood and spoke first.
“Aha, sorry, sorry. I’m just curious about a lot of things. And I do know Prince Rakiel somewhat.”
“…What did you just say?”
The words fell like a thunderbolt from a clear sky.
I urgently grabbed him.
“Prince Rakiel… No, you know His Highness Prince Rakiel?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah. Well, we’re not close or anything… just acquainted from seeing each other a few times?”
At his casual response, I felt my heart settle internally.
Mr. Yan, I thought my heart was going to stop. Of all things, the head of the information organization I sought out happens to know Rakiel?
Now that I thought about it, the materials did contain oddly subjective opinions.
‘Did Rakiel come to him as a customer too?’
That was likely the most probable scenario. Since Rakiel intended to enter the political fray, he would surely have at least one information organization he frequented.
Still, it would be better not to ask about Prince Rakiel in the future.
While the first rule of an information organization is not to disclose client information, one can never be too careful.
As we talked, we had somehow arrived at the Rear Gate of the Duke’s Mansion. Yan piled everything he was carrying onto me.
“Ugh, it’s heavy.”
“See? You would’ve had a hard time getting this far on your own.”
“Well… I suppose I should thank you for your help this time.”
He chuckled as he watched me standing there with my arms full of items. Then he rummaged through his pocket and pulled out a business card.
“And this is a VVIP business card.”
With those words, he placed a small slip of paper on top of the stack of items.
‘Ugh, wait a moment—if you put it up there like that…’
That’s something I need to hide…!
“Well then, I’ll be on my way, so do head inside safely, dear customer!”
“Wait, just a moment! This is…!”
“Pleasantries are done. Do visit us again next time!”
With that, he turned and vanished in an instant. Left behind with a mountain of gifts and a single business card, I blinked with a bewildered expression.

* * *

“Damn this cursed business card.”
The card crumpled pathetically in my hand.

「VVIP Welcome! An Information Organization Just For You! —Twilight—」

VVIP this and that—because of this damned thing, I had to perform a frantic dance at the Rear Gate of the Duke’s Mansion.
I had to set down all the items, hide the business card, and then pick everything up one by one again!
Thanks to that, I barely managed to rush into my room just before nine o’clock.
I immediately stripped off my robe and hid it, changed into my nightgown, and the moment I dove onto the bed, Genie knocked on the door.
“Miss, are you awake?”
“Yes! And you woke me up!”
I barely managed to answer, squeezing out words from lungs that could hardly breathe.
‘Wow, that was close…’
Every action executed flawlessly as if scripted, like I was running a timed quest. Even my irritation toward Genie played out perfectly!
“This! Damn! Business card!”
There’s no way I can appreciate it.
Setting aside this wretched design, what’s with this VVIP nonsense when I haven’t even done anything?
I seriously need to consider changing my information broker. I’d been planning to keep using them, but this won’t do.
Knock, knock.
“Who is it?”
A sharp tone escaped my lips before I could help it.
The one who opened the door and peeked her face in was Genie, who had just left.
“Miss, the Duke is calling for you.”
Ah, could it be…?
“Prince Rakiel has come to visit, he says.”
So he’s finally arrived.
I rose from my seat not with a tense expression, but with one brimming with anticipation.
‘Hmm, I wonder what Prince Rakiel will be like when I meet him as Evelyn.’
The image of Prince Rakiel that Evelyn held in her mind was far too hazy for me to recall anything specific. I’m certain we exchanged words in passing at a banquet, but I genuinely have no recollection of it.
Since this was before my possession, I had no choice but to rely on Evelyn’s memories, and this much made it clear that Prince Rakiel had virtually no interest in her whatsoever.
The maid led me to the First Reception Room—the place reserved for receiving the most distinguished of guests.
As I opened the door, the first thing I saw was a distinctive red head of hair. The Duke and Killian. And seated above them was another figure.
Prince Rakiel Bernhardt turned his head. Those crimson eyes held a subtle smile, as if he were in the middle of an amusing conversation.
Behind him stood what appeared to be his aide-de-camp.
If he’s the Second Prince’s aide… could it be Hagen Kirchner? I’d seen his name in documents before, but this was my first time seeing him in person.
“You called for me, Father?”
Before greeting Prince Rakiel, I addressed the Duke first.
Normally, protocol would dictate greeting the higher-ranking Second Prince first, but the proud Evelyn would never do such a thing. This was a calculated response that took into account Evelyn’s nature—viewing any man other than the Crown Prince as beneath her notice.
The Duke, slightly taken aback, glanced at Prince Rakiel’s expression before nodding.
“Yes, you’ve arrived. Go ahead and greet him. This is the Second Prince.”
Prince Rakiel regarded me with an intrigued gaze.
‘The recognition reduction effect from being ‘Eve’ was certainly effective—he showed no sign of recognizing me at all.’
Just as I was about to approach him and offer my greeting, it happened.
Ding!

[Please select one of the following options.
1. It’s been a while, Your Highness. That black hair of yours remains unchanged. (I look him up and down with a scornful smile.)
2. What brings you all the way here, Your Highness? (I narrow my eyes as if displeased, speaking with mockery.)
3. Is the Crown Prince doing well? (I urgently grab his collar and appeal to him.)
4. Hmph, have you been well? (I speak with complete indifference.)]

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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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