The Villainess Hid Her Identity, and Now Everyone is Misunderstanding - Chapter 20

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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 20

This is insane.
A choice prompt appears now? Of all times?
My body went rigid as if struck by lightning. Actually, I felt like crying.
‘…There’s nothing useful here!’
Damn it!
I had no intention of antagonizing Rakiel!
If I just stayed quiet, I’d at least get half the points, but this was like kicking my own plan to the curb.
‘Wait, let me see if there’s anything decent….’
Mocking him? Absolutely not. Sarcasm either!
Asking about the Crown Prince seemed somewhat better, but I’d rather die than say it. Every time I appeal to my love for the Crown Prince, I get chills. Do I really have to do that again?
I’d sooner die than do that.
So that leaves only option four….
Pretending to be uninterested was an unusual choice. It was definitely something Evelyn would do, but it had a strangely ordinary feel to it.
It had a similar quality to the “threaten” option I’d shown when meeting the Crown Prince last time.
‘Pretending to be uninterested… but uninterested in what exactly?’
If I interpret it literally, it would obviously mean I’m not interested in Rakiel. Because I’m Evelyn.
But the prompt didn’t specify the target.
Which means I can interpret it however I want…!
My mind spun frantically in that brief moment while Rakiel waited for my greeting. Finally reaching a conclusion, I tilted my head and opened my mouth.
“Well, I hope you’ve been well?”
“…Lady of the Rosenthal Duchy, it’s been a while.”
He answered in a rather solemn voice. It was the opposite of when we’d met outside the manor as Eve before.
This felt more befitting of a “Prince.”
I looked at him sideways and carefully delivered the words I’d chosen so deliberately. Trying my best to sound casual.
“Well, your Highness can certainly discuss matters with my father, but it’s still nice to see you after so long.”
In other words, I’m not particularly interested in “the reason you came here,” but I’m not entirely disinterested in the “Prince” himself either!
It was my own strategy to prevent his already nonexistent affection for Evelyn from dropping into the negatives.
‘I’m not sure if he thinks of me unfavorably.’
From what I knew, he had absolutely no interest in women. So beauty tactics were out of the question.
If beauty tactics would have worked, they would have worked regardless of Evelyn’s personality by now.
And fortunately, it seemed to have worked!
The conversation continued without the system intervening.
“…Glad to see me?”
He asked with a bewildered expression.
“Haven’t we spoken before? It feels like the first time since then.”
“Yes, we have. Though I didn’t expect you to remember.”
Sorry, I don’t recall that conversation.
Rakiel’s face shifted subtly, as if that previous exchange hadn’t been particularly positive. He seemed to be recalling our past interaction.
That made me a bit anxious.
Surely Evelyn hadn’t said something utterly ridiculous back then?
Still satisfied that I’d planted at least a small turning point in Rakiel’s mind, I turned my attention to the Duke.
“May I take my leave now? Since I’ve greeted Your Highness, I’d prefer to go.”
I was simply praying he’d let me leave before I caused any trouble.
But the Duke had no intention of releasing me.
“No, Evelyn. Sit here. I’d like you to listen as well.”
Anxiety began creeping over me again—the most intense I’d felt yet.
Unable to defy the Duke’s words, I obediently took a seat beside Killian. He was watching me with an enigmatic gaze.
“Then shall we continue with what we were discussing, Your Highness?”
“Ah yes, we were discussing ‘them.'”
“How is it? Do you find the proposal agreeable? I thought our needs aligned quite well.”
Rakiel lifted the corners of his mouth slightly and brushed his fingertip across the bridge of his nose.
His eyelids lowered slightly as he exuded an unhurried atmosphere, like afternoon sunlight. As if this were no cause for concern whatsoever.
Of course, that didn’t necessarily carry a positive meaning for the Duke.
“However.”
Rakiel tapped his fingers against the table.
“There is a condition.”
“A condition… you say?”
The Duke’s eyes sharpened.
I opened my mouth slightly in a yawn as if disinterested, as I always did, and picked up the teacup before me.
“To win in a struggle for imperial authority, one needs justification, does one not? Unlike my brother… my foundation within the Imperial Palace is weak. As you well know.”
Rakiel continued slowly.
“I need concrete proof that the Rosenthal Duchy supports me. Only then will other nobles move.”
“…And what exactly do you wish for?”
“It’s simple.”
Rakiel chuckled softly.
“Lend me the military forces of your duchy. If you assign some of the Rosenthal Knights to join my forces deployed on the northern front, I can consider it favorably.”
“That is impossible.”
The Duke cut him off decisively.
I pretended to be disinterested while listening intently. How often did one get to hear such political discourse!
I felt like I wanted to pop some corn and settle in.
“The Knights are the symbol of the Rosenthal Duchy. They cannot be moved carelessly.”
“But…”
“Instead.”
The Duke cut off Rakiel’s words.
“If you would accept our conditions, there’s nothing that couldn’t be arranged.”
“…Please, go on.”
Hmm? Conditions….
What sort of conditions would the Duke propose?
The price for lending the Knight Order would certainly be steep. There was nothing more dangerous than sending military forces from one’s own household to another.
‘I still don’t understand why he told me to stay.’
What possible benefit could Evelyn gain from hearing such a conversation?
At that moment, the Duke, who had been building suspense with a sip of tea, set down his cup and parted his lips.
“Become engaged to my daughter, Evelyn.”
“…!”
Silence fell over the room.
My eyes widened and I drew in a sharp breath.
‘Just now, what did he…?’
“Duke….”
Rakiel’s eyebrows rose in surprise. Or rather, it was less surprise than the expression of someone who saw this coming.
The adjutant standing behind him wore the same expression, so it was certain the two of them had discussed this beforehand.
‘No, I didn’t completely fail to anticipate this… but is he serious?’
My concern was that Evelyn’s temperament would never accept such a thing. I wanted to ask if the Duke of Rosenthal had hit his head somewhere.
“The broken engagement between the Crown Prince and my daughter is already a done matter. Therefore, our Rosenthal Duchy must also make a new choice.”
The Duke continued speaking calmly.
“The Duke’s daughter of Rosenthal, broken-engaged from the Crown Prince, is accepted by Prince Rakiel…. And moved by this, the Rosenthal Duchy dispatches military forces to the Prince’s front lines.”
“….”
“This alone would turn the Imperial Palace upside down. And isn’t that precisely the justification Your Highness desires?”
Rakiel fell silent for a moment. His crimson eyes turned toward me.
And I….
“…Father!”
I cried out and shot to my feet.
“What do you mean…!”
It was the moment I tried to move first before the system’s restrictions could take hold.
Ding!

[Please choose one of the following options.
1. I’d rather die! (You grip the teacup as if to throw it, trembling violently.)
2. Are you serious?! (You sweep your gaze coldly across the room and leave.)
3. Surely you haven’t lost your mind already?! (You criticize the Duke without restraint.)
4. I won’t accept anyone but the Crown Prince! Not some Prince Rakiel! (You regard Prince Rakiel with eyes full of contempt.)]

Argh!
I bit my lip, barely suppressing the urge to tear my hair out.
‘Calm down. Just calm down.’
I already knew this. I already understood that a political marriage was the optimal solution! I’d anticipated this!
The problem was finding a way to pull off an engagement with Rakiel while maintaining my act as Evelyn. Given my current limited freedom, this was the best option available.
If only this had happened after my freedom increased—things would have been far easier.
I calmly reviewed the choices before me.
‘…No matter what, there’s only one option I can actually choose!’
My hands trembled with fury. Fortunately, to everyone else it appeared I was angry at the Duke’s words.
Rakiel, as if he’d anticipated my reaction, had stiffened slightly, his eyes cold and piercing.
‘Please, let this choice not shatter the alliance between the Rosenthal Duchy and Rakiel.’
As I flinched while gnawing at my lip, I caught sight of Killian hastily clearing away the teacup.
So this was what they’d discussed at dinner last night. Planning an engagement behind my back, no less.
I understand, but still!
With trembling breaths escaping me, I squeezed my eyes shut, clenched my teeth, and muttered.
“Are you serious?!”
“…Evelyn, sit back down.”
“No, Father. I don’t think there’s anything more to hear! You know my feelings better than anyone, don’t you?”
“Evelyn!”
I swept my gaze coldly across the room, turned my body, and spoke one final word.
“Do as you wish. Consider my opinion already given.”
I hoped this would sound sufficiently ambiguous.

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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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