The Villainess Hid Her Identity, and Now Everyone is Misunderstanding - Chapter 32

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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 32

At the mention of taking a walk, Killian came rushing into my room in a panic.
“Evelyn, where do you think you’re going!”
“What’s wrong, all of a sudden?”
I asked with a frown, and he shouted with a stern expression.
“Absolutely not!”
“…?”
What was he talking about?
“Brother, aren’t you busy?”
“That’s not the issue… You cannot go out, Evelyn!”
“Why?”
I asked in confusion while putting on the outer garment Genie handed me.
I’d been wandering outside the Manor for quite some time now, so why was he suddenly forbidding me from going out?
Killian stood at the doorway, restless and unable to either stop me or let me go.
“It’s dangerous outside. You do understand we’re near the border, don’t you?”
“But the war is over, brother. And our Empire won a glorious victory.”
“That’s a different matter! Public safety is still precarious!”
Hmm.
I tilted my head, recalling the Town I’d secretly explored yesterday.
It didn’t seem particularly dangerous to me.
“…You said you were managing it diligently….”
As I muttered while glancing away, Killian’s face flushed red. He seemed to remember what he’d said.
Well, it wasn’t exactly pleasant, though.
There were vagrants scattered about, and it certainly couldn’t be called clean. It resembled the inevitable sights that appeared after the war ended.
Moreover, in this era, relief efforts for the poor weren’t considered particularly important.
I shrugged my shoulders and answered Killian.
“I’m going with Maren. That should be fine, right?”
“Maren… alone?”
I didn’t want anything more than that. If I went around dragging a string of Knights behind me, wouldn’t I attract every eye?
I made up an excuse and spoke.
“I don’t want anyone but Maren. Besides, if I go around wearing this Estate’s insignia, it’s only hard on me! Isn’t that right?”
Killian flinched.
He seemed to remember yesterday’s events.
Perhaps he’d noticed to some extent. That Evelyn had been suffering harassment throughout her time at the Estate.
And he must have deliberately turned a blind eye to it all. He probably thought it wasn’t his concern. Or perhaps he believed everything was Evelyn’s fault.
“…Then.”
He lifted his head with a resolute expression.
“I’ll come with you.”
“…What?”
Did I mishear him?

* * *

Things shouldn’t spiral this badly out of control.
‘Damn it, now I can’t even escape!’
I had planned to slip away from Maren when the opportunity presented itself.
“Older brother, aren’t you busy?”
“Finding a little time isn’t difficult.”
I turned my head away with a disgruntled expression.
How was I supposed to shake off this stubborn man?
He was dressed in flamboyant clothes as if to announce his noble status, with a sword hanging at his waist. He constantly glanced around, maintaining vigilant awareness of his surroundings.
Needless to say, he monopolized everyone’s attention.
‘Ugh.’
I exhaled a long sigh.
There was no helping this walk.
…Or so I thought.
“Evelyn! Danger!”
Woof woof!
A stray dog approached and nuzzled against me affectionately.
“Evelyn! Dan—!”
Whoosh.
A carriage passed by more than a hundred meters away, and a gust of wind swept through the gap.
“Stop! Don’t come any closer!”
“…?”
Farmers carrying farm tools glanced at us and walked past.
“Dan—”
“Stop it, older brother!”
I finally couldn’t hold back and shrieked.
What was wrong with this man? He usually treated me like luggage!
Killian, startled, closed his mouth with a hurt expression.
“This is ridiculous! I can’t even walk properly! If you’re going to be like this, just go back inside!”
“I, Evelyn, I….”
“Hmph, I’m already irritated enough being stuck in this rural backwater, and now you’re making a fuss? Really?”
“….”
“Please! Just—shut up and follow me quietly!”
The moment I spilled out my words in rapid succession, Killian finally closed his mouth.
‘…Finally, some peace and quiet.’
People really do understand when you’re angry with them. They can’t comprehend you when you speak calmly, apparently.
I could feel Maren following behind me, watching my expression carefully. No matter how favorably he regarded me, it seemed my anger still frightened him.
Good, that’s actually more convenient!
I spun around sharply and strode forward with long steps. Killian and Maren hurried to follow.
“Come on, let’s go together!”
“Just follow me!”
Leading the now-silent Killian, my destination was none other than the Tent Village.
A place where people still hadn’t returned to their daily lives, bearing the scars of war.
“Evelyn! That place…!”
Killian hurried to my side and whispered urgently.
He looked as though he were sharing some great secret.
“It would be better not to go there.”
“Why?”
“That is… well….”
Unable to explain himself, he stammered over his words.
Why can’t he just say it! Why can’t he simply say it’s the Tent Village!
So I snorted dismissively, acting as though I could go wherever I pleased, and continued in that direction.
“It’s my choice! Brother, just follow along quietly!”
“W-wait, Evelyn!”

* * *

[※Warning: You have entered an unauthorized zone—”Rosenthal Estate War Refugee Camp.”]
[If you remain for more than 30 minutes, all Quests will immediately fail and Reputation –1,000]

Indeed, as my Freedom level increased, so did my actual freedom of movement. I could now spend thirty minutes in an unauthorized zone—a place Evelyn would never have ventured to.
I closed the cascade of warning messages flooding my vision and surveyed my surroundings.
‘Hmm…’
When I’d ventured out before, I’d been too absorbed in the Quest to examine things properly, but now that I looked carefully, the reality was far more horrifying than I’d realized.
“Ugh, the stench.”
I hastily pulled out a handkerchief and pressed it against my nose.
Beside me, Killian and Maren kept their hands on their sword hilts, vigilantly scanning the area.
Killian, who had drawn close to my side, whispered urgently.
“I told you not to come this way!”
“W-what is this place?”
My words came out nasally through the handkerchief pressed against my nose.
When I feigned ignorance and pressed him, Killian flustered and struggled to explain.
“Two years ago… wasn’t there a war? This tent village was created then. It’s where people who lost their homes in the war gathered.”
“They lost their homes in the war? Then why not just give them new ones?”
Killian grew even more flustered, his words stumbling.
“Th-that is… it’s not a simple matter. We can’t simply hand out houses like that. Besides, there are far too many people…”
“Couldn’t this be resolved if we spoke to the Crown Prince? That such a place exists in our Estate! Heavens, I’m so ashamed!”
“Of course, the Royal Court has made considerable efforts. They’ve maintained the old field hospital from the war, for instance…”
The tent marked with a sign reading “Field Hospital” was crumbling to pieces.
“…and there’s also a food distribution center…”
Even if I’d searched with my eyes wide open, I wouldn’t have found it.
“…and soldiers dispatched by the Royal Court m-manage security…”
Soldiers in hastily thrown-together uniforms were playing poker and drinking on one side.
With each word Killian spoke, his face grew redder.
“…doesn’t our family provide separate support?”
“Of course… we do. When the Royal Court sends funds, managing all of it is precisely what we do… so quite a substantial amount comes through… but the amount…”
He trailed off, staring blankly at the surroundings.
It seemed this was Killian’s first time venturing this deep into the area.
‘…Tsk, ideals and reality truly are different.’
Most nobles don’t personally take time to inspect every corner of their Estate. They rely on reports from their subordinates instead.
And it appeared that among those managing this place, there were people connected to the Crown Prince.
From the recent incident, I knew several people from the Estate had been arrested. It seemed they’d been embezzling the Royal Court’s support funds all this time—there wasn’t a single thing here that was functioning properly.
“…Brother?”
I called out to Killian with a frown, and he startled, snapping back to attention.
“Ah…”
“Are you alright?”
“…It’s nothing. I was simply… a bit shocked.”
“Why?”
“The situation is more serious than I thought.”
He murmured to himself.
“I thought two years had passed and things would have improved. The recent reports I received said things were going well. So I assumed recovery was underway… but…”
“But clearly that’s not the case, is it?”
“Well, I… suppose not…”
That was when it happened.
One of the Soldiers playing poker in the corner stumbled over toward us, and Maren, noticing the movement first, stepped forward to guard against him.
However, the Soldier approached without any concern.
“What brings Noble Lords to such a remote corner as this?”
He didn’t seem to recognize Killian.
It would be difficult for a low-ranking Soldier to recognize him anyway.
“…Step back. If you come any closer, I won’t hold back.”
Maren spoke bluntly.
It was an unexpected side of him.
‘More knightly than I thought?’
Come to think of it, he was a Knight of the Noble Family. That at least meant his skills were guaranteed.
But despite Maren’s vigilance, Killian stepped forward urgently and asked.
“Tell me, which unit do you belong to? May I ask how long this Tent Village has been neglected?”
“What?”
The Soldier spat on the ground with a harsh sound.
Disgusting!
Crooked teeth jutted out between his dirty mustache as he grinned wickedly.
“Neglected? What kind of question is that?”
“Surely the Royal Court allocated a budget for this place. I understand supplies arrive here periodically. How do you explain that?”
“Listen here, Noble Lord. Would those high-and-mighty folk ever concern themselves with such a filthy place?”
At his words, Killian’s face turned pale.

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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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