The Villainess Hid Her Identity, and Now Everyone is Misunderstanding - Chapter 5

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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 5

“Are you alright?”
I instinctively stepped backward.
Prince Rakiel Bernhardt, the Empire’s Second Prince.
In every previous loop, he always ended up defeated in the struggle for imperial succession and disappeared. He succeeded in quietly orchestrating events behind the scenes to push the Crown Prince forward, but ultimately never became Emperor.
I flinched and lowered my head.
There was no way he wouldn’t recognize Evelyn Rosenthal, the daughter of the Rosenthal Duchy.
It was an instinctive movement to hide my face.
“I asked if you were alright.”
“…!”
He didn’t recognize me…?
Perhaps because I’d pulled the hood down so deeply, Rakiel couldn’t see my face.
And if he didn’t recognize me….
“Yes, I’m fine. I just wasn’t watching where I was going. I apologize.”
As expected…!
The words spilled out as I wished.
I exhaled a silent sigh of relief.
If Rakiel recognized me here, I’d have to mimic Evelyn again, and drawing people’s attention like that would mean this Quest was as good as lost.
Evelyn would never perform such a good deed!
“If you’re injured anywhere….”
“Oh, no! I’m really fine!”
I spoke hurriedly and pulled the hood down even deeper. Rakiel tilted his head slightly, studying me with a thoughtful expression.
I need to leave this place quickly… Wait? My hand feels empty?
As I opened and closed my hand lightly, I finally noticed the medicine bottle clutched in Rakiel’s right hand.
Oh, I almost forgot.
“Ah, that….”
When I stared intently at his hand, Rakiel suddenly startled and handed me the glass bottle.
“Oh, my apologies. I was lost in thought.”
“No, thank you for holding it. I almost dropped it.”
The precious medicine that would raise my stats!
My fingertips trembled as I received the bottle.
Remembering the moment I nearly dropped and shattered it sent chills down my spine.
If it really was the last one as the Physician said, I would have had to search through every Apothecary in this area—a disaster I’d narrowly avoided.
Seeing my trembling hands, Rakiel clicked his tongue softly.
“Are you really sure about this?”
“Yes, I’m fine!”
“No, if you feel any discomfort later, I’ll cover the medical expenses, so—”
“I said I’m fine!”
Why was he making such a fuss over a slight shoulder bump?
I quickly tucked the medicine bottle into my pocket, grabbed my hood with one hand, and pushed Rakiel away with the other.
‘What is he, made of stone?’
He didn’t budge an inch—instead, my hand throbbed in pain.
Startled, I quickly composed myself and spun around him, hurrying away with urgent steps.
I couldn’t afford to let my identity slip through further conversation.
‘Phew… that was close.’
But why was the prince wandering around a place like this?
Despite countless loops, I’d rarely encountered Rakiel.
Years ago, Rakiel had served as supreme commander in the continental war, and even after returning to the Imperial Palace, he rarely appeared at official functions.
Besides, Evelyn paid no attention to any man except the crown prince, so we’d likely only crossed paths at banquets.
Rakiel was a character whose thoughts were difficult to discern anyway.
In any case, I carefully tucked the recovered medicine bottle into my pocket and made my way back to the Shantytown.
Genie’s mother eyed me with deep suspicion when I returned, pushing me away.
Her continued suspicion of me (though I had no idea what she suspected) caused quite a commotion. Still, she ultimately accepted the medicine.
It seemed she believed the claim that I worked with Genie.
“Then I’ll be going.”
“W-wait, miss…! At least your name…!”
The moment I turned and left the Shantytown, the system window’s characteristic translucent panel materialized in my field of vision.
Ding!

[Quest “Maid Genie’s Worries” completed. Rewards are being distributed.]
[Stats +4 (However, if discovered, reward reduced by 50%)]

* * *

A moment earlier.
Prince Rakiel, the second prince of the empire, possessed quite an optimistic temperament.
To be precise, he was someone who never overlooked what caught his interest.
‘…The Rosenthal Duchy?’
His crimson eyes discovered the faint family crest embroidered on the back of the woman’s robe.
‘A maid, then.’
Considering the robe was made of worn, cheap fabric, it seemed reasonable to assume she worked for the duchy.
Though the way she grasped and pulled down her hood, as if desperate to hide her face, was somewhat suspicious.
The continental war that had ravaged the land over the past years had left scars on many, and as a result, there were no shortage of people bearing direct wounds not just to their bodies but to their faces. She might be one of them.
Rakiel’s attention lay in a different direction.
He quietly observed the woman before him. Watching her trembling hands as she accepted the small medicine bottle from me, it seemed the impact from their shoulder collision moments ago still lingered.
‘Controlling my strength is difficult.’
On the battlefield, there was no need for such restraint. Everything before him was an enemy, and everyone he encountered was an assassin to be cut down.
Rakiel clicked his tongue softly.
‘…I should cover her medical expenses.’
Even knowing it was his fault, he couldn’t simply let it pass without easing his conscience.
“Are you truly all right?”
“Y-yes, I’m fine!”
“No, if anything feels uncomfortable later, I’ll pay for your treatment, so come this way—”
It was the moment he reached into his pocket to retrieve a calling card.
“I’m fine!”
She let out a sharp cry and shoved him hard. Of course, she was startled to see that he hadn’t budged even a step, but she quickly fled away from him as if escaping.
“….”
In that instant, Rakiel’s crimson eyes gleamed.
It was the face of a child who had just discovered an interesting toy after a long time.
Refusing money? Especially someone entering a place like that?
The woman was heading toward an area known as the Shantytown or slums. A place festering with poverty and despair.
It was a place an ordinary person could never set foot in, even by accident.
The woman climbed the rickety wooden stairs that looked ready to collapse at any moment with confident strides. Rakiel followed like a shadow, maintaining his distance so as not to lose sight of her.
Around the time he began to frown at the greater distance than expected, the woman stopped before a dilapidated shanty house.
‘…Interesting.’
Rakiel’s lips curved upward.
Remarkably, the woman was handing over the medicine bottle he had given her to a woman who appeared to be the owner of the house.
‘…They don’t seem to know each other.’
Judging by how the shanty woman repeatedly refused while accepting it with anxious hands, the two didn’t appear to be close.
‘Is it simply an act of charity?’
There were people like that occasionally. Those who helped others without any reward and sacrificed themselves. Even during the impoverished times of war.
At that moment, the woman turned her head.
Rakiel reflexively crouched down.
She extracted herself from the woman clinging to her, asking for her name, and left the house, while Rakiel quietly followed once more.
His eyes sparkled with intrigue.
‘What a fascinating woman. I should at least ask for her name.’
And later, I’ll mention her to the Duke and have him bestow a reward.
Following the woman, Rakiel formulated his satisfying plan.
When she left the Shantytown and entered the path toward the Rosenthal Estate, Rakiel quickened his pace.
The woman was soon caught up to.
Just as he, wearing a pleased smile, was about to call out to her—
“Hey, wait. I want to talk—”
Crack!
“…!”
The unexpected, forceful impact made Rakiel stumble backward. The hooded woman’s crown had struck his jaw with perfect precision.
“Ugh…!”
Rakiel realized he had been completely careless. He hadn’t even reacted to the attack from a woman he’d thought as fragile as a rabbit, allowing the blow to land.
But her next action was even more shocking.
“Ahhhhh! Stalker!”
“S-Stalker…?”
Perhaps because they’d entered the main thoroughfare, passersby began turning their heads one by one.
While a bewildered Rakiel’s eyes widened, she changed direction and began fleeing furiously.
“What is this…! H-Hey! Wait, that’s not—!”
Rakiel, clutching his jaw, hurriedly tried to grab her, but he felt the stares of those around him.
Several people were looking his way and whispering, and he even noticed someone rushing off, apparently to call the guards.
In the end, unable to pursue her, the last thing Rakiel saw was her small, cute back of the head hidden beneath the hood.

* * *

“Huff, huff…”
Only after running at full speed and entering the Estate did I catch my breath urgently.
Geez, I almost died back there.
Still, getting exposed is far worse than throwing a punch and running away!
…That’s definitely better, right?
If Rakiel ever discovered my identity, he would undoubtedly describe today’s actions in the most malicious way possible. Whether they were good deeds or misdeeds.
And on top of that, this Quest condition has a 50% penalty if I’m exposed!
My lips twitched involuntarily.
I quickly opened my status window and invested all the stats I’d just received into Freedom.
Ding!

[Congratulations! 【Freedom】 has reached Lv.1.]
[You now have access to a broader range of actions.]

“Kufufufu….”
It worked!
I threw back my hood and laughed with unbridled delight.
This time, I would survive!
“What are you all staring at?!”
I barked at the Maids who were eyeing me with confusion, then climbed the stairs to my chamber.
My mind was flooded with blissful visions of a future where I had finally found complete freedom.

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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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