The Villainess Hid Her Identity, and Now Everyone is Misunderstanding - Chapter 46

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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 46

Knock, knock.
As I lowered the carriage window at the sound, Maren leaned his face in close, keeping his horse pressed against the side of the carriage.
“…What is it?”
“We’ll be arriving soon, Miss Evelyn.”
We were on our way up to the Capital City.
“I can hear you fine from farther away, you know. Your face is a bit… much right now?”
“Ah, my apologies.”
He scratched his head and pulled the horse back from the carriage.
Maren’s face looked positively shiny from how well he’d rested during his time at the Estate. Wait… was that actually dog oil?
Upon spotting the gleaming oil shimmering at the tip of his nose, I subtly leaned back.
Maren let out a small cough and continued.
“I sent a Knight ahead first, so the Duke should be waiting when we arrive.”
“Understood.”
I shut the window with a snap and sighed. My mood had completely shifted overnight because of yesterday’s events.
‘He’s talking like it’s some mark of trust…’
What was I supposed to do with this, anyway? And it’s not just trust—apparently it can only be used on people who participated in relief work?
The shock had been so great that my legs gave out and I collapsed, and I’d spent quite some time explaining the reason to Rakiel, breaking into a cold sweat.
‘The fact that he believed me when I said my legs hurt from standing too long was surprising in itself.’
The problem was that it had made him think I was an incredibly frail person.
I shook my head vigorously and pushed the troublesome thoughts deep into the recesses of my mind. It was better not to think about it at all.
“Miss Evelyn, we’ve arrived!”
As Genie descended first and opened the door, the familiar silhouette of the Manor—which I’d been away from for over a month—came into view. Along with the figure of Ludwig Bernhardt standing before it.
I deliberately acted sullen and descended from the carriage without saying a word. At that, the Duke’s stern eyebrows twitched slightly.
“…You’ve worked hard, Evelyn. It must have been tiring traveling such a long distance.”
He spoke first.
However, I replied in a coy voice.
“I was in the carriage the whole way, so I was certainly tired. It seems you’ve been doing well alone in the Capital City, Father? Seeing your face, I’m relieved you look healthy.”
The Duke seemed to catch the subtle barb hidden in my words, as he paused for a moment before speaking.
“I wonder if you’ve cooled your head a bit while at the Estate. There’s something I’d like to discuss with you—would you spare me some time?”
“…A discussion?”
I narrowed my brow slightly.
When the Duke called me aside to talk, it was never anything ordinary. He was probably going to nag me about something strange again.
‘Could someone else have visited while I was away?’
It was a plausible story. Whenever Evelyn caused trouble, people came to lodge complaints with the Duke nearly every day, demanding compensation at the family level.
I frantically searched my memory to see if anyone had visited, but nothing came to mind.
I glanced at the Duke’s expression and carefully opened my mouth.
“I’m a bit tired right now….”
But the Duke, who hadn’t even properly listened, abruptly cut me off and interjected.
“Then wait in the Study. Tidy yourself up and come find me right away.”
“…Yes?”
He turned away, leaving me standing there with a bewildered expression. Left alone, I furrowed my brow and mulled over his words.
‘Still, I have a trump card….’
I smirked as I caught sight of a gleaming button at the edge of my vision.

* * *

A short while later.
I knocked on the door and entered the Duke’s Study.
It felt like an eternity since I had last visited this place.
The Duke seemed quite busy, only tearing his eyes from the documents when he noticed me entering. Beside him, Joshua was glancing at him cautiously.
Standing awkwardly in the doorway, I eventually spoke first.
“…Father?”
“Ah, yes….”
…Huh?
The Duke and Joshua exchanged a subtle glance.
“Then I shall take my leave, Your Grace.”
“Very well.”
Joshua bowed slightly to me, then left the room.
The Study fell silent with just the Duke and me remaining.
‘So why exactly did he call me here?’
Since he showed no sign of speaking, I sighed inwardly and opened my mouth again.
“Did you have something to tell me? If not, I should return and rest….”
“Come here and sit.”
He rose abruptly from his desk and guided me to a sofa.
Watching the Duke, I quietly narrowed my eyes.
His movements were laden with awkwardness—as if he had done something wrong to me.
I followed him to the sofa and sat, waiting for the Duke to speak.
“….”
“….”
Silence stretched on.
And when several minutes had passed, a vein bulged on my forehead.
‘What on earth is he doing, calling me here like this….’
Watching the Duke sit quietly, lost in thought, without even offering tea, my patience was rapidly reaching its limit.
I am not someone idle enough to sit around and waste time like this.
Yet the Duke remained seated at the head of the table, his expression utterly unchanged.
It was the moment I finally lost patience and began to rise from my seat.
“I—”
“Evelyn, actually… ahem, there’s something I have for you.”
“Yes?”
I asked back stupidly, having never anticipated such words.
The Duke then cleared his throat once more and turned his head to the left. Thanks to that, his right ear came into view….
‘It’s turned red…?’
My mouth fell open involuntarily.
The way he was clearing his throat uncertainly, the way his ears flushed crimson while he couldn’t meet my gaze—he was clearly… embarrassed, wasn’t he?
‘What on earth for?’
In all the dozens of loops I had experienced thus far, I had never once seen him like this. Not even once….
As I stared at the Duke with unconcealed astonishment, he pushed a box that had been sitting on the table toward me.
Only then did I notice the box’s existence, and I looked down at it with a vacant expression.
About the size of two palms.
Wrapped beautifully with a lovely blue ribbon, it was unmistakably a gift. A gift meant for someone.
“…?”
Was there someone he meant to give it to?
Tilting my head in confusion, I reached toward the box.
“What is this? Is it a gift someone gave you?”
The box was light. Or rather, it was surprisingly heavy for its size.
‘Hmm… what is it? Based on the box size, it doesn’t seem to be a brooch or cufflinks… is he bragging to me that he received a gift?’
“Oh, is this a gift from Joshua? It seems he went on a business trip. He always brings back gifts whenever he returns….”
“It’s for you.”
“Pardon?”
For a moment, I wondered if I had misheard.
“It’s… ahem, it’s your gift, Evelyn.”
“Joshua gave this to me? My goodness, I never expected….”
“No.”
The Duke squeezed his eyes shut, still unable to meet my gaze.
“I am giving it to you….”
“…Father?”
“….”
No answer came.
As if he had already poured all his strength into those words just now.
I slowly lowered my head again, gazing at the box I held carefully in my hands. I hadn’t noticed before, but the neatly tied ribbon now looked incredibly endearing.
‘So… Father, no, the Duke prepared this for me…?’
Unable to believe it, I slowly untied the ribbon with vacant eyes. Though I barely applied any force, the ribbon slipped off smoothly and fell onto the table.
With a leisurely motion, I grasped the lid of the pristine white box, unmarred by a speck of dust, and opened it.
“…!”
The first thing that caught my eye was a blue jewel that sparkled with an almost unbelievable beauty. Extraordinarily large, resplendent blue gemstone.
“A blue diamond….”
I murmured softly without thinking.
If I claimed this was the first time seeing one in person, that would be a lie. I had obtained this jewel countless times across dozens of previous playthroughs.
However, I had never seen one this large before.
And never one crafted with such exquisite precision.
“A tiara… I see.”
As I murmured slowly, the Duke finally glanced at my expression.
What lay inside the box was a tiara—the kind one could wear upon their head like a small crown.
The tiara, seemingly crafted from platinum, was extraordinarily intricate, as if a master artisan had poured meticulous care into every stitch.
Centered around the blue diamond, smaller diamonds rippled with light, as if moonbeams were flowing and shimmering across water’s surface.
The platinum craftsmanship depicted delicate vine patterns, and the small jewels nestled between them held a subtle radiance before sparkling brilliantly.
Despite the abundance of gems employed, rather than appearing ostentatious, the subdued luminescence emanated an air of refined elegance. It was designed not to overwhelm, but to illuminate only the one who wore it.
I lifted the tiara slowly with my hands, my expression filled with astonishment.
“Father….”
I opened my mouth with a voice brimming with emotion as I examined the tiara.
“…But I haven’t married yet?”
“Cough!”
The Duke suddenly erupted into violent coughing, as if he had choked.

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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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