The Villainess Hid Her Identity, and Now Everyone is Misunderstanding - Chapter 53

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

The Villainess Hides Her Identity, and Everyone Misunderstands
Chapter 53

“Your Majesty!”
I pushed through the overgrown grass with a radiant smile, making my way deeper into the garden.
Ludwig stood among the meticulously arranged flowers, as though waiting for a lover for a secret rendezvous.
Though his expression suggested nothing of the sort.
“You suggested we meet near the scent of white roses—did you know there’s only one place in the Imperial Palace where white roses bloom?”
His fingertips brushed against the delicate white petals.
Ludwig might not have known, but whenever the Imperial Court held its galas, this garden was quite renowned as a meeting place for secret encounters. The dense foliage surrounding it ensured that anyone hiding here would escape notice, provided one was willing to overlook that detail.
As I approached him, I gazed at the roses with a distant expression.
“Whenever I see white roses, I think of you, Your Majesty. They say only something pure, untainted by any color, can hold true sincerity.”
At my bashfully spoken words, Ludwig let out a soft laugh—one that bordered on mockery.
‘Does she not even bother to hide her disdain for me?’
I had expected at least some effort on her part.
He responded with a dismissive nod.
“For now, perhaps. But once Evelyn is betrothed to Prince Rakiel, things will change.”
“That’s not true, Your Majesty!”
I reflexively stepped closer.
“That was never my intention. I swear it.”
“Then why did you refuse to dance with me earlier? I naturally assumed you would join me. But you declined, and I must say, I was quite hurt.”
“…Your Majesty.”
I placed my hand over my heart, my expression turning plaintive, as though this unforeseen circumstance had caused me profound sorrow.
“Had it not been for my father’s orders, I would never have wasted that precious moment elsewhere. Wouldn’t you agree? From the moment I entered the hall, I had eyes only for you.”
…I did look at him. In passing.
“Instead, I was saving the second dance exclusively for you… surely that wasn’t in vain?”
“The second dance means nothing. Only the first ever matters—anything else is utterly worthless.”
…What?
Only now did I notice it—Ludwig’s expression seemed oddly fragile.
Despite his dismissive tone, his eyes had yet to leave me.
I hastily grasped his sleeve.
“Surely you don’t doubt my sincerity, do you?”
Ludwig’s inscrutable gaze fixed upon me.
“Then tell me, Evelyn. How did this arrangement come about? Did the Duke decide it unilaterally?”
He spoke as though he were certain I would be betrothed to Rakiel. Yet his expression as he said it…
‘What is this? It seems my words did strike a nerve after all.’
It was different from the confident demeanor I’d always witnessed. He appeared somewhat anxious, his eyes darting nervously as he stole glances at my expression.
Moreover, he was actually asking me directly what was wrong? To ‘Evelyn Rosenthal,’ whom he’d always dismissed?
‘…Ha.’
This is real, isn’t it?
Certainly, the winds of the Empire are now blowing toward Rakiel. It means the people’s sentiment and the nobility’s attention are all directed at him.
Of course I had to be cautious.
My brother was so exceptional that I’d even driven him to the battlefield, yet instead of dying, he returned as a hero and now even claims the Rosenthal Duchy! From Ludwig’s perspective, he must feel like a weed that keeps sprouting no matter how many times you trample it.
I swallowed the laughter threatening to escape and arranged my expression into something melancholic.
“You know how Father always treats me as a mere calculation. I’m nothing but baggage attached to the ‘Rosenthal’ name, so what does it matter?”
“Hmm.”
Ludwig twirled the rose as he looked at me.
“What about Rakiel?”
For someone asking as though disinterested, his expression was far more transparent than expected.
I exulted inwardly.
Right now, Ludwig would believe whatever I said. He would absolutely need me to break through this situation.
I parted my lips slowly.
“He won’t even meet my eyes. He needs the House of Rosenthal, not me. No matter how I think about it, my rightful place is surely beside the Crown Prince…!”
“Keep talking about Rakiel.”
He cut me off and pressed forward.
Fine, I’ll continue.
“But Father and Prince Rakiel are both the same in that regard. Father said so. If….”
“If?”
Meeting his gaze, I continued hesitantly.
“If I don’t side with Prince Rakiel, something terrible will happen. The movements of the Northern Region’s foreign peoples are unusual, so the House of Rosenthal is necessary… He said I mustn’t go against his wishes.”
In that instant, Ludwig’s eyes gleamed.
It seemed he’d grasped some clue from my casually dropped words. Of course, I’d intended that.
Ludwig, looking down at me, soon let out a soft laugh.
“The Northern Region… This is troublesome. I don’t particularly need anything this time.”
“Pardon?”
“Before, there was reason to drag it out quite long, but now there’s not really… Well, those Northern folks are difficult too… Hmm, no. Perhaps there might be some use for….”
At his casually uttered words, I felt my thoughts suddenly halt.
‘What is he saying right now?’
In the moment his words and the fragments of information I’d accumulated thus far rapidly aligned in my mind, a cheerful chime echoed.
Ding!

[Quest Clue Obtained: “Secret of the Continental War”!]

“…!”
A Continental War….
‘Could it be… that Ludwig deliberately started the war?’
I struck gold!
I had intended to leak only false information, but thanks to Ludwig’s loose tongue when he dismissed me, I obtained an unexpected windfall.
Moreover, it seemed he had not merely started the war, but had taken measures to prolong it.
‘If the war had ended quickly, the situation might have unfolded favorably for Rakiel.’
The credit for ending the war swiftly would have fallen to him.
Of course, he wouldn’t have resorted to such dangerous measures for that alone, so there had to be another reason.
‘I still don’t even know how to accept that Quest in the first place.’
Even if I obtained only these clues, I had no idea what to do with them. I needed the Quest details….
In the meantime, I quickly changed the subject to prevent Ludwig from growing suspicious.
“Please believe me, Your Highness. Though circumstances have become like this, my heart has never harbored hostility toward him. Not even once!”
“Is that so?”
With a smile playing at the corners of his lips, he reached toward the roses and plucked the most luscious bloom, holding it in his hand. Watching him, I bit my lip slightly.
“…I feel wronged.”
I slowly lowered my head, a self-deprecating smile settling on my lips.
“I didn’t even want to speak such words before Your Highness….”
As emotions began to rise within me, my breathing grew ragged. My lips trembled faintly as words poured out in a strained voice.
“Why must I stand beside someone I don’t desire? My rightful place is at Your Highness’s side. Only there can I shine with true brilliance! Father understands nothing. The Second Prince, he doesn’t even know who will become Emperor of this Empire….”
Between my heightened emotions, my clenched fists trembled visibly. Tears fell steadily from my wide-open eyes.
“Alright, alright.”
Ludwig finally waved his hand as though annoyed.
“Don’t cry.”
“But….”
“Evelyn.”
He lifted my chin with his finger. The perfect smile on his lips was striking.
The traces of anxiety that had lingered on his face moments before had vanished without a trace.
He fell for it completely.
“The current situation is truly unfortunate. However, I hope you won’t misunderstand my heart. I am always watching you.”
“Really, Your Highness?”
He spoke with an utterly indifferent gaze, as though merely brushing the matter aside. Needless to say, I adopted an expression of deep emotion at his words.
“But there is a condition.”
“A condition…?”
“Bring me useful information from now on. What Rakiel is doing, or what the Duke is thinking.”
He tapped my head repeatedly, as though petting a dog.
‘This madman.’
How overconfident must one be to treat Evelyn in such a manner.
I barely restrained myself from cursing him out and tearing out every strand of his hair, and answered instead.
“I understand, Your Highness. It won’t be a difficult task.”
“Good.”
Ludwig smiled with satisfaction and placed the rose he’d broken into my hand, as though rewarding a well-behaved dog.
I grasped the flower carefully, as if it were a precious treasure, and my eyes grew misty.
“Your Highness…!”
“Well then, I should head back inside. It would be suspicious if I’m away too long.”
He showed no hesitation in turning away, apparently having no intention of pressing me further about the information regarding the Northern Region that I’d let slip earlier.
‘Is he being cautious?’
I’d prepared more carefully, certain he would ask more questions, but instead felt a hollow disappointment. He hurried out of the garden as though he had urgent business elsewhere.
The moment he disappeared from sight, I hurled the rose to the ground.
“…Damn it, does he avoid filth because it’s dirty, or because he’s afraid of it?”
Crunch, crunch!
Only after trampling the rose beneath my shoe did I feel satisfied, brushing the dust from my hands. Well, I was grateful he’d carelessly provided me with a Quest clue, but what did I care otherwise.
I wanted to shave off every strand of hair he’d touched.
“Phew, that’s much better now.”
The moment I lifted my head after confirming the rose, now trampled beyond recognition, I froze.
Rustle!
I sensed movement from the nearby grass. Simultaneously, a chill ran down my spine from head to toe.
‘Someone was here…?!’
If someone had been watching, the system couldn’t have failed to detect them…!
Ding!

[A gaze has been detected.]
[Autonomous Action is forcibly consumed.]

Two minutes vanished in an instant.
‘This damn system, taking my time when it couldn’t even see properly!’
I turned my head irritably.
“Who are you?!”
I needed to make excuses for my behavior, but in situations like this, it was far better to go on the offensive instead.
Showing panic was like throwing prey directly to the predator.
From the darkness, someone emerged between the overgrown grass.
Blonde hair tinged with a murky ash-gray, as though impurities had been mixed in—a dull straw-like hue. And beneath it lay a pair of familiar green eyes.
I murmured in a voice thick with apparent shock.
“…Your Grace.”
The man who had killed me forty-eight times in my previous cycle, who had never once shown me any kindness.
Duke Cashen Lupenbain.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————