The Villainess Hid Her Identity, and Now Everyone is Misunderstanding - Chapter 23

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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 23

Glint!
Silvery light reflected brilliantly off the sunlight.
The moment I pulled out a square silver plaque from my bosom, Rakiel’s eyes narrowed.
“That is….”
The object I had retrieved was none other than the nameplate of the Noble Family.
It was something nobility carried personally and must never be lent to others. Should anyone else possess it, they were entitled to receive the same treatment as the nameplate’s rightful owner.
It was that important an item, and even the most trusted person could not easily hand it over.
‘Of course, it’s mine, so I’m the one carrying it.’
Originally, I had brought it to use in case I couldn’t meet Rakiel and had to enter Prince’s Palace directly. Presenting the nameplate of a noble daughter would guarantee passage without question.
However, if shown to an unspecified number of people, it could reach the Duke’s ears, so I had been restraining myself as much as possible. But showing it briefly to Rakiel was acceptable.
“It is proof that the young lady sent me.”
“….”
“She gave it to me to use if necessary. This proves both that I am trusted by her and that this is a serious matter.”
He accepted the nameplate from me and examined it carefully. Then he nodded and handed it back to me.
“It’s genuine.”
“And one more thing. Did the young lady say she still loves the Crown Prince?”
He responded as if I were stating the obvious.
“Then she doesn’t?”
“You’re wrong.”
I shook my head.
“The young lady is acting.”
“Acting… you say?”
He murmured with a bewildered expression.
“I’m telling you not to misunderstand. Everything the young lady does is false. She merely pretends to still love the Crown Prince, pretends to be obsessed with him. All for… revenge.”
And that was the truth!
‘Ah, this feels so refreshing.’
It was like shouting secrets into a bamboo grove.
“So the young lady is proposing a sort of secret conspiracy to the Prince.”
“A secret conspiracy… are you telling me to enter into a contractual marriage with you right now?”
“Precisely. If anything, it would be a contractual betrothal.”
I corrected his words and nodded with confidence.
“The young lady will continue acting until her revenge is complete. So please overlook it if she says things you dislike. We are allies now.”
Rakiel let out a hollow laugh as if astounded.
Watching him laugh while holding his forehead, it seemed he’d been deceived as well.
‘Sigh.’
I exhaled quietly where no one could see.
“…Alright.”
He swept his hair back with a rough gesture.
Having shed his thoughts in the meantime, his smooth forehead bore not a single wrinkle.
‘But why is his forehead so beautiful.’
It had a sharp, sculpted beauty to it, and between the strands, a keen nose ridge stood prominently.
His flowing black hair cascaded down and quickly covered his forehead, but between the strands, his subtly tanned skin was visible.
Still, for someone who’d been rolling around in war, his complexion was quite fair.
Whether his skin was naturally pale or not, it certainly wasn’t dark enough to be called swarthy.
While my gaze was stolen by his gesture for a moment, he lifted his eyes from looking downward. They held a glimmer of amusement.
Then he grinned widely and extended his hand.
“…?”
I tilted my head in confusion, then extended my own hand in kind, and Rakiel quickly grasped it. Then he shook it up and down like a handshake.
‘Ugh, what strength….’
My body nearly staggered from the force, but I barely managed to steady myself when he chuckled.
“So the negotiation is sealed.”
“Is that so?”
“In that sense… shall I buy you a meal?”
“…What?”

* * *

Sharing a meal once—I could do that a hundred times over.
‘If eating once with him opens up my breathing room.’
I couldn’t fathom why a prince would want to mooch a meal off a mere maid.
He’d said it was because dining with the lady would ruin his plans, so this was the alternative… but really??
‘Could he think there’s some information he can extract from me?’
Carrying these curious thoughts alone, I hurried toward the meeting place. The appointment was set for that very evening. After all, shouldn’t urgent matters be handled quickly?
Of course, Rakiel was taken aback.

—…Today?
—Why? Do you have a prior engagement?
—No, it’s not that….

I still remembered the discomfited expression on his face as he muttered to himself alone.
But I was busy. Since I could barely spare the time, it was best to handle this quickly.
‘I’ll just eat fast and leave.’
Growing closer to him as a maid did have its advantages, but it came with equal drawbacks. The risk of exposure would only increase.
I needed to maintain proper distance.
Yet when I arrived at the address he’d given me, I found myself unable to take another step forward.
“W-what is this….”
Remarkably, it was an ultra-luxury restaurant that only high-ranking nobles frequented.
And here I was, dressed in a worn dress and a tattered robe!
“This is insane.”
No wonder the address seemed familiar… did this make any sense?
He arranges a meeting at a place like this while mooching off a maid?! This is somewhere you need to make reservations days in advance, and the real problem is that there are plenty of people here who know who I am!
“…Should I run?”
“Run where?”
A voice from behind sent chills down my spine.
“Y-Your Highness?”
“Good thing you arrived on time. I thought you’d try to escape.”
And yet you call me to a place like this!
He gestured toward the restaurant with an amused smile.
“I’ll treat you to a full course meal you could never afford in your lifetime. That’s how honored I am to have made your acquaintance, as a prince.”
…I’m sorry, but I’ve actually been here several times before. And you’re not even paying for this!
Perhaps thinking I was nervous about hesitating at the restaurant entrance, he casually gestured me forward.
“What, are you reluctant to go in? Don’t worry. I’ve reserved the entire place.”
“…You seem to have quite a lot of money.”
I thought you didn’t.
Then why did you take those silver coins from me back then?
“More importantly, that’s an interesting hat you’re wearing.”
“Oh, this is….”
At his words, I touched the hat I was wearing.
It was an outdated bonnet I’d found by rummaging through the maids’ storage.
A hat that covered the back of the head with a ribbon tied under the chin—something common women used to favor. The one I wore now had frayed ribbons and a veil at the brim’s edge that looked ready to tear off at any moment.
It was such a shabby thing that it seemed like it would blow away with the slightest breeze.
‘But this is better than having my identity exposed while eating.’
I’d originally planned to pull the robe’s hood down as usual, but wearing my outer garment so tightly wrapped in a restaurant would look far too suspicious. So I’d come up with this alternative.
Beneath the bonnet pulled low, a thin veil draped down, obscuring my view of the world.
This bonnet, plain and unadorned, made me look like a country maid to anyone who saw me. I’d even coordinated my clothes to look modest, but that only made me appear more provincial.
Still feeling awkward, I glanced at the restaurant’s main entrance and lowered my head. It was a hat that clashed terribly with this upscale establishment.
“Does it perhaps… not suit me? I could change it right now—”
“It’s a charming hat.”
“…Pardon?”
He chuckled softly and tapped the brim of my hat.
“Classic. It suits you well.”
…Was he being considerate?
He hadn’t asked why, but it was clear he knew I was reluctant to show my face.
He casually passed by me and opened the restaurant door.

* * *

‘Wow, this is insane…. Food really is best here.’
I let out a continuous stream of exclamations while eating.
I used to come to this restaurant often when I was Evelyn, since it was famous, but honestly, I hadn’t been here much recently.
I was restraining myself from going out as much as possible in Evelyn’s form, and besides, with so much on my mind, it was hard to eat properly.
In contrast, now there was something obstructing my view, but I could eat quite comfortably.
I had worried whether the employees might recognize me, but thanks to the worn yet reliable veil, it seemed no one had identified me.
“…Is it really that delicious?”
Rakiel stared at me incredulously, even as he ate his own portion.
I continued without stopping my jaw.
“Of course it’s delicious. Would it be tasteless?”
“….”
What kind of question was that? Given how much they charged here, of course it had to be delicious.
As I was eating enthusiastically, I suddenly looked ahead and saw that Rakiel had put down his fork entirely and was watching me.
‘…Why is he like that?’
I swallowed what I was chewing and glanced at him before speaking.
“What? Do you have something to say?”
“…No, just curious. You seemed awkward when you came in, but you look quite accustomed to this kind of place.”
Ah, a mistake.
I immediately stiffened and studied Rakiel’s expression.
I must have acted like Evelyn because the food was so delicious that I got carried away.
‘This idiot acts without thinking, again!’
I deliberately responded with composure while cutting my food.
“Really? I’ve seen a lot from being next to Evelyn… I mean, since we’re practically attached at the hip every day.”
“I see…. What about your home? Don’t you have parents at home you should return to?”
I shrugged at his question.
“I don’t have parents.”

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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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