The Villainess Hid Her Identity, and Now Everyone is Misunderstanding - Chapter 3

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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 3

Knock, knock, knock.
I stopped tearing at my hair and lifted my head. Soon, a maid who had knocked on the door carefully entered the drawing room.
“What is it?!”
I shrieked loudly.
“M-Miss, the Duke is calling for you.”
“…Father?”
I suddenly realized something.
I had been so absorbed in the system window that I’d forgotten—there was something even more troublesome than Ludwig’s broken engagement.
Ding!

[An Event Quest has occurred.]
[Quest Name: Meeting with Father
Objective: Have your first conversation with Matheus Rosenthal in private. You must identify the outside forces that have infiltrated the Duke’s residence.
Reward: Clue for Main Quest “The Secret of the Rosenthal Duchy”]

Reward: Provides clues for the main quest “The Secret of the Rosenthal Duchy”
[UNTRANSLATED LINE 24]
They’re really counting just meeting and talking with Father as a Quest?
I skimmed through the text and tapped the table lightly.
Outside forces, huh….
Who exactly has infiltrated the Duke’s residence? Was this what they meant by reorganizing the inner chambers?
Until now, I had been solely vigilant against the movements of Crown Prince Ludwig and Duke Cashen, his closest aide, and hadn’t made many moves within the Rosenthal Duchy itself.
Evelyn had no interest in politics anyway.
That made sense, really. Count Rosenthal had almost nothing to do with the main story flow. He was the type who didn’t even care about his own children, so it didn’t matter what kind of misdeeds Evelyn committed inside or outside the duchy.
Moreover, after the broken engagement, the Count always sided with the Second Prince Faction. He had always evaluated the Second Prince as superior to the Crown Prince, so he wouldn’t have been too disappointed.
And when things fell apart between Ludwig and Count Rosenthal, Ludwig, as always, joined hands with Duke Cashen, his second choice.
Was there some family matter I didn’t know about?
“…Ah, whatever. As long as I survive, that’s all that matters.”
I didn’t know if this was some kind of commemoration of my hundredth regression, but what was certain was that I had found a new direction worth trying.
First, freedom!
If I could escape this suffocating control, I could try anything.

She bit her lip firmly and stood up from her seat. The peacock was waiting.

* * *
[UNTRANSLATED LINE 43]
I stood before the Count Rosenthal’s office and exhaled a long breath.
Like a senior university student waiting for a professor’s meeting, I was stalling for time, composing myself at the door.
Just as I was about to knock, a heavy voice came from inside first.
“Come in.”
Sharp hearing, indeed.
I took a deep breath and opened the door.
The office maintained its usual air of meticulous order. Among the dark furniture, I saw a man standing by the window, backlit by the light.
The Count had dark reddish hair and blue eyes identical to mine. Evelyn’s silver hair came from her mother’s side genetically. Of course, I’d never seen it directly since the Countess had died early.
Instead, the upturned corners of his eyes revealed that the Count and Evelyn were father and daughter.
When our eyes met, I instinctively straightened my back and lowered my head.
“…Did you call for me, Father?”
“Sit.”
The Count slowly turned his gaze away and looked down. He seemed to be reading the documents in his hands.
I carefully sat across from him. To hide my slightly tense fingertips, I gripped the hem of my skirt lightly.
“The Crown Prince has requested to break off the engagement.”
“…”
“You were reckless.”
“Father, I’m innocent! I have no memory of acting that way—”
“You must have.”
The Count replied without lifting his gaze from the documents.
“Just because you don’t remember doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.”
This cold-hearted man.

Damn it… Hey, System. No options? Options?

[Options are provided from 【Freedom】 Lv.3 onwards. Your current 【Freedom】 level is Lv.0.]

What? Then what was that earlier?

[【Freedom】 Lv.3 was temporarily unlocked for the tutorial.]
[UNTRANSLATED LINE 74]
What kind of nonsense is this?
If the System wouldn’t help, I had no choice but to act based on my accumulated experience and choose the best course of action.
The most peaceful way to respond here was—

My gaze, which had been casually sweeping across the desk, stopped at one particular spot.
[UNTRANSLATED LINE 80]

[Analysis comparing previous playthroughs is possible due to the Player’s 【Memory】 Lv.7.]
[UNTRANSLATED LINE 83]

Under normal circumstances, I would have passed by without even noticing such a document existed, but perhaps it was because I had already encountered the phrase “external forces” in the Quest information.

“Conrat Mine Performance Report”
[UNTRANSLATED LINE 88]
The Conrat Mine?
From what I remembered, the Conrat Mine was definitely Crown Prince Ludwig’s primary source of funds. There were even rumors that without that mine, he might not have become Emperor.
So why does the Rosenthal Duchy have it?
I wanted to examine the documents carefully, but if I reached out clumsily, the system would never leave me alone, and the Duke would find it suspicious.
So I decided to act like Evelyn.
“Ah, Father…! I haven’t done anything wrong! It’s all because those other young ladies are jealous of me! How dare they forget their place…!”
Thud!
I pressed down hard on the desk and leaned my upper body forward. The slight tremor caused several stacked documents to scatter.
Of course, the Conrat Mine Performance Report was among them.
“…What are you doing, Evelyn?”
“Your Highness the Crown Prince surely loves me. He just doesn’t express it well, but I’m certain! I cannot live without His Highness… *sob*…”
“…Tsk.”
Deeming my words not worth responding to, the Duke turned his head away entirely.
While pretending to bury my face in the desk, I moved my eyes frantically. The report had fluttered right in front of me.
“His Highness loves me, but he must have chosen to break the engagement because of those other young ladies… *sob*…”
…What is this?
My eyes widened in surprise.
The mine’s grade had dropped from A+ to D-rank, and the quality had received poor ratings for three consecutive quarters.
Furthermore, there were seven reported cases of delivery delays in the past six months alone.
What are you talking about? The Conrat Mine is such a goldmine! This mine is one of the Crown Prince’s major sources of income!
So you’re saying the moment this mine passed into the Crown Prince’s hands, it became a goldmine? What does that mean?
“*Sob*, Father, please convince His Highness! And punish those young ladies who dared insult me, Father!”

The person in charge’s name was…

“Document Handler: Y. Kramer / Reviewer: L. Gerber”
[UNTRANSLATED LINE 115]
A name I recognized.
Jonas Kramer. She was the financial advisor to the Rosenthal Duchy. Known for her cold demeanor and precise work, she was one of the core operatives who earned the Duke’s trust.
Having climbed from the lowest ranks to her current position, she was someone who had been within the Duchy for far too long to suspect.
Wait, something feels off about this…?
At that moment, the Duke spoke in a low, blunt voice.
“…Now that you understand, leave.”
I slowly lifted my head.
He no longer looked at me, his gaze fixed on the documents. The tip of his pen resting on the paper moved slowly in circles.
“Father, but—”
“I said I understand.”
Short and decisive. A cold tone that said there was nothing more to discuss.
“If you keep spouting meaningless emotions, perhaps leaving the Capital City would be an option.”
“…!”
“People keep coming to find you, I hear? Don’t make me tired as well.”
Tap.
The Duke set down the pen he’d been holding onto his desk. The sound was soft, but it was unmistakably a dismissal.
“Leave now.”
I barely managed to continue my act of sobbing quietly, nodding my head.
“…Yes, Father… *sob*, but I… I’m just so hurt….”
Bang!
Ugh, this heartless father of mine.

Ding!
[UNTRANSLATED LINE 139]
[Successfully viewed ‘Conrat Mine Performance Report’]
[Main Quest “The Secret of the Rosenthal Duchy” has been updated.]
[Quest Name: The Hand That Swallowed Assets
Objective: Uncover the truth behind the mine performance figures manipulated by Jonas.
Restriction: Public disclosure possible only when 【Freedom】 Lv.3 or higher

Failure: Forced transfer to designated remote sanatorium according to ‘Sanatorium Disposition’ procedures / Permanent loss of Conrat Mine]
[UNTRANSLATED LINE 147]
“What, sanatorium?!”

What kind of ridiculous situation is this!

* * *
[UNTRANSLATED LINE 153]
Shortly after Evelyn left, Ludwig Bernhardt set down the documents he’d been reviewing and pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose.
A long sigh escaped him unbidden.
Dealing with his one and only daughter was among the most difficult tasks he faced—all the more so when she bore such a striking resemblance to his late wife.
With his eyes closed, he leaned back in his chair and rang the bell.
“Your Grace, did you call for me?”
“Bring Joshua to me.”
“Yes, understood.”
The servant bowed and retreated with measured steps backward.
Joshua Becker—the Duchy’s retainer and chief administrator. The man I trusted above all others.
‘The Crown Prince has abandoned us first, so it seems the time has come for us to make our move.’
I was well aware that my daughter harbored deep feelings for the Crown Prince. That’s why I had tried to lend my support in that direction, even if our views differed….

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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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