The Villainess Hid Her Identity, and Now Everyone is Misunderstanding - Chapter 40

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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 40

“Mm-hmm, hmm….”
Genie hummed contentedly, her chest burning with warmth. The surrounding maids cast sidelong glances at her, but she paid them no mind.
‘Of course… it had to be Miss Evelyn!’
Her eyes sparkled with realization.
Starting with Roni, then Lena, Zella, Nay, and the string of maids dragged away after them.
Who were they? Those who tormented her day after day.
Before all this happened, they were the ones who saddled her with mountains of bedding to wash that she couldn’t manage alone, or forced her to clean the entire corridor of the manor.
And that wasn’t all—they would even seek her out to mock and harass her.
Yet those very people had disappeared one by one.
‘It couldn’t possibly be a coincidence.’
Genie was certain of it.
It was her young mistress who had orchestrated and executed all of this!
There was no doubt about it. How else could she explain this situation?
‘She saw everything. She didn’t say anything, but she noticed it all.’
Genie sniffled, dabbing away the tears at the corners of her eyes with her sleeve. Her nose tingled with emotion.
Miss Evelyn appeared cold on the surface, but her heart was warmer than anyone’s. She simply struggled to express it, yet her feelings ran deeper than most.
“Miss Evelyn….”
Genie clasped her hands tightly together and closed her eyes as if in prayer.
What would surely be a source of terror for the other maids was salvation for Genie.
She paid for her mother’s medicine without saying a word, watched over her from behind so she wouldn’t be tormented—there was no backing more reassuring than this.
She felt a deep admiration for Miss Evelyn welling up from within her heart.
If there truly existed a saint
(聖人)
in this world, it would surely be Miss Evelyn! Even the saintess said to exist in the Valter Empire could never measure up to Miss Evelyn’s feet.
Not even that saintess who stood somewhere between the divine and the mortal, her very existence a miracle!
‘Hmph, no matter what, our Miss Evelyn is prettier.’
She had never even heard rumors of the saintess being beautiful. Only stories about the aura and presence she possessed.
Comparing her to Miss Evelyn, who was praised as the continent’s greatest beauty, was absurd from the start. Of course, she had never seen the saintess in person, but she knew it without needing to see.
“Wonderful! From this day forward, I, Genie, shall live for Miss Evelyn!”
She clenched her fist and declared it aloud, thinking that once she went to the Capital City, she would tell everyone about Miss Evelyn’s righteous deeds.
With a light heart and renewed determination, she hurried away with quick steps. She wanted to rush to Miss Evelyn right now and convey this feeling to her.

* * *

Ding!

[Maid Genie’s Loyalty +100]

“…?”
…What was that?
I had accidentally closed a window that suddenly appeared while organizing my Quest log, tilting my head in confusion. I hadn’t managed to read its contents.
‘It was probably nothing important…’
After finishing the Quest log organization, I picked up my quill pen again.
Scratch, scratch!
I drew a line through another name, removing it.
The paper was densely filled with names.
Like a death note, the names were arranged in neat rows, and lines were being drawn through them one by one from the top, as if marking completed tasks.
As if processing had been finished.
And below that, only a few names remained untouched.
“Hehehehe….”
I smiled wickedly and gazed at the paper with satisfaction.
“Just three more people left!”
It meant only three more people until I cleared the Quest.
This was the event Quest called ‘Purge for Genie.’
‘I never expected something like this would appear as a Quest….’
This Quest window had appeared right after I witnessed Genie being bullied alongside Rakiel not long ago.
It seemed the condition was witnessing the bullying directly, since it hadn’t appeared when I’d seen her bruises before.
Well, because of that, all sorts of rumors were circulating among the maids—’the serial firing incident,’ ‘the curse of the Ducal Palace,’ and such.
And deliberately utilizing Evelyn’s image had been quite successful.
I intentionally lengthened my skirt hems, sharpened my knives, oiled the staircase, and was rather busy catching insects.
“Though Killian’s immediate response was somewhat unexpected.”
He appeared as if he’d been waiting, and whenever I was in danger, he would arrive in a fury and punish the maids.
‘…Why on earth?’
It was an abnormally excessive reaction.
Or more precisely, ever since the laxative incident that occurred when I first arrived here, he had been overprotecting me. Whenever I seemed even slightly injured or in danger, he would rush over without hesitation—it was unnatural.
‘Of course, thanks to that, things have been progressing smoothly….’
Knock, knock.
“Miss Evelyn, it’s me!”
Startled from my thoughts, I quickly hid the paper.
If anyone discovered the paper with my Quest notes, it would be a disaster.
The moment I put the paper in the drawer, Genie entered.
“Miss Evelyn!”
“…Why.”
Genie appeared quite excited.
‘Hmm, now that those troublemakers are gone, it seems she’s finding life more bearable.’
She approached me directly and began chattering away.
“Miss Evelyn, have you been outside today? The flowers in the garden are blooming so beautifully! And Lord Maren discovered an incredibly delicious bakery when he went into town before! Since you enjoy desserts, Miss Evelyn, shall I bring some back for you later? Oh, and before that, there was another place where….”
…Did she always talk this much?
I let Genie’s words go in one ear and out the other as I opened a thick book.
Ah, now that I think about it, Rakiel said he was leaving for the Capital City today.
A week was still a reasonably appropriate time to depart.
It was common for nobles to stay as houseguests at others’ estates for over a month. It was their culture.
Asking them to leave was considered rude, yet staying too briefly made one appear to lack leisure and refinement….
‘But it’s all just pretense anyway.’
I continued turning the pages of the book I was reading, thinking to myself.

【Bernhardt Empire Nobility Genealogy – Imperial Year 300 Commemorative Revised Edition】

It was the genealogy I was reviewing once more for the upcoming Emperor’s birthday celebration. There was no harm in preparing in advance.
Even so, Genie continued chattering.
“…So I decided to buy a gift for Anne. You know the local specialty here is handicrafts, right? Ah, but of course you’d know that. You’re Miss Evelyn of Rosenthal. Anyway, so I went to the workshop yesterday, and there was a wooden carving that looked exactly like Anne! So I was going to….”
“Genie, when did Prince Rakiel say he was leaving?”
“I was going to buy it… Yes? What did you just say?”
Genie blinked and asked.
Feeling the surroundings finally grow quiet thanks to my question, I spoke again.
“When did His Highness Prince Rakiel say he was returning to the Capital City?”
“Ah, in one hour… Oh my! Time has already passed like this!”
This girl’s nerve has really grown.
She chatters away in front of me without restraint, and makes me ask twice… This would have been unthinkable before.
‘Of course, I’m the one allowing it to some extent!’
I’d become so practiced at mimicking Evelyn while watching the system’s reaction that this was child’s play.
“You need to start preparing now to see off His Highness Prince Rakiel, Miss Evelyn!”
“I know.”
I sighed and rose from my seat.
After seeing Rakiel off, I should separate from her and go outside for a bit. My ears are killing me.

* * *

“Ah, Evelyn.”
Rakiel, who had been greeting Killian, turned to look at me.
Upon seeing my sharp expression, his eyebrows twitched slightly.
“I wonder if you’ve been resting comfortably. There’s hardly ever a quiet day around here.”
As I elegantly brushed my hair back and spoke, Rakiel answered with an uncomfortable expression.
“I see. This is certainly the most chaotic place I’ve encountered. And….”
“…?”
“…Do you dismiss the maids this frequently in your normal routine as well?”
He asked carefully.
In that moment, I immediately realized that his image of Evelyn had returned to its original state.
Indeed, Rakiel wore an expression of utter exhaustion.
‘Hmm… It might be better to offer some explanation here.’
After a brief moment of consideration, I opened my fan wide, covered my mouth with it, and laughed.
“Surely not. I simply thought that upon returning to my estate after such a long time, it was necessary to replace those incompetent ones.”
“I see…is that so?”
“Yes, they cannot even properly handle the tasks assigned to them. I cannot abide inefficiency.”
After all, they’ve entrusted all their own duties to Genie—how utterly incompetent they must be.
Such people have no place in our household.
Rakiel chuckled, apparently understanding my meaning.
“I see.”
It was a simple reply.
Just then, Hagen, who had been conveying something to the servants in the back, approached.
“Your Highness, all preparations for departure are complete. Shall we depart now?”
Rakiel nodded and turned his gaze toward Killian.
“Then, Duke, I shall see you next time in the Capital City.”
“Ah, Your Highness’s birthday celebration is drawing near indeed. I wish you a safe journey home.”
“And you as well, Duke.”
Hmm, I should be expecting contact from the Duke soon as well.
At that moment, Rakiel, who had been turning to leave naturally, suddenly stopped.
“Ah, that’s right. By the way….”
As if something had just occurred to him, he glanced at Genie, who stood quietly behind me, and asked me a question.
“Doesn’t Evelyn have another personal maid? The one who wears a hood….”
“…!”

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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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