The Villainess Hid Her Identity, and Now Everyone is Misunderstanding - Chapter 54

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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 54

Duke Cashen stood before me in a black formal coat, his expression utterly impassive.
His face bore a resemblance to Ludwig’s, yet distinctly different—where Ludwig possessed an elegant, aristocratic beauty, Cashen’s features were sharper and more defined, his frame noticeably larger.
Yet the Royal bloodline could not be denied; his striking features commanded a subtle presence that was impossible to ignore.
“It appears I’ve witnessed an awkward moment.”
He regarded me with cold, indifferent eyes.
This was my first encounter with Cashen in this timeline. Before my possession, Evelyn and he moved in such different circles that we’d never exchanged words—our behavioral spheres were practically opposites.
In other words, this was his first time meeting me as well.
Though I desperately wanted to demand when he’d arrived, I instead placed my hand gracefully over my heart and offered a slight bow.
It was necessary to show proper respect to someone so close to the Royal Court.
“It is an honor to meet you, Duke Cashen. I am Evelyn Rosenthal.”
“Ah, so you are the Rosenthal heiress?”
“…?”
His reaction was starkly different from what I’d come to expect from Cashen.
He seemed to regard me with a measure of genuine interest.
“I’ve heard the rumors. A demon wearing an angel’s mask, they say… Foolishly devoted to the Crown Prince, no less.”
“….”
For a moment, I found myself speechless, simply staring at him.
It was rare for anyone to speak so directly about the rumors and infamy surrounding me to my face. At least the nobility possessed enough sense of propriety to maintain appearances.
‘Is this truly his nature?’
I recalled him being taciturn and rather blunt.
In the original story, Ludwig and Cashen had been portrayed as contrasting personalities, a detail that remained vivid in my memory.
“But it seems rumors cannot be trusted after all, wouldn’t you agree?”
He gestured with his eyes toward the white rose completely crushed beneath my feet.
“This is….”
I swallowed discreetly and responded with composure.
“Your Grace, are you familiar with the language of white roses?”
“The language of flowers? No. I have no interest in such matters.”
“White roses typically symbolize purity. However, they also carry the meaning of dead love—a pure emotion that has ended in eternal separation.”
“…So you’re saying you trampled the rose for that reason?”
I nodded and tapped the crushed rose with the toe of my shoe, now indistinguishable from the trampled grass around it.
“Yes. Though it maintains an appearance of purity and nobility… had His Highness the Crown Prince understood this hidden meaning, he would never have given me such a flower.”
“….”
“Of course, overlooking such trivial mistakes is precisely the virtue an Empress of the Empire must possess.”
I tossed my hair back over my shoulder with deliberate arrogance, and Duke Cashen’s lips curved upward in the faintest smile—so subtle that one had to concentrate to notice it.
“Is that so? I thought I had discovered a secret about Evelyn that others don’t know, which is quite disappointing.”
His face showed no disappointment whatsoever.
“And what brings Your Grace to this place? Surely you’re not here to meet someone in secret?”
I was implying whether he had a hidden lover.
I knew perfectly well he had no woman in his life, but there was no better way to change the subject.
“That’s correct. I have someone I need to meet briefly.”
“…Pardon?”
“…?”
As I asked in confusion, he tilted his head quizzically.
“Did you not ask if I had someone to meet? I simply answered that I did.”
“So… you’re saying you have someone to meet in secret? Your Grace?”
“Yes, I have an appointment and stepped out of the Banquet Hall briefly.”
Ah, memories came flooding back.
Duke Cashen was an inflexible man. He had a clear distinction between good and evil, and once he decided something was right, he pursued it relentlessly.
In other words, he showed no mercy toward things he judged as ‘evil.’
In my previous life, I was often eliminated because he thought I deserved to disappear for being a villain. Of course, there were times I suffered for other reasons too.
The reason such a man joined hands with Ludwig, who could hardly be called virtuous, was…
‘Obvious. He simply thought Ludwig would be most useful in achieving his goals.’
He believed that if he became Emperor, it would be easier to create a better, more righteous world. You could say he was using Ludwig as a means to an end.
Of course, he wasn’t completely insane—he didn’t kill just anyone. He simply disliked ‘evil’ a bit more than others did.
‘…Which means I could never truly befriend Evelyn.’
But perhaps this time would be different.
For now, we had met in circumstances unfavorable to me, so I couldn’t afford to prolong this conversation.
I deliberately feigned indifference, waving my hand dismissively as I spoke with fresh composure.
“I never knew the great Duke Cashen had a hidden lover. So many noble ladies will be heartbroken. Such a perfect match for a husband is slipping away.”
“A lover?”
He spoke with a slight frown.
“Yes, isn’t the person you’re meeting a lady from a noble house? Given that you’re enjoying a secret rendezvous in a place like this at this hour…”
“It’s a man.”
“Pardon?”
“It’s a man.”
“…”
Ah, well, I knew that already… but did he really have to state it so bluntly like that?
Duke Cashen repeated himself with a stern expression, as if desperate to avoid any misunderstanding.
Didn’t he realize that saying ‘It’s a man’ with such a serious face would only make the listener more confused?
“I… I see. My apologies. I misunderstood.”
I barely managed to squeeze out the words, lowering my head slightly.
There was plenty of room to press further—asking if he liked men, whether he was lying—but…
‘…There’s no need to provoke him unnecessarily.’
Regardless, I needed to make a good impression on him.
Fortunately, Duke Cashen’s expression softened and he nodded.
“It’s quite alright. It was an understandable misunderstanding.”
I should leave this place. Everything went wrong from our first meeting! I’ll need to prepare thoroughly and visit him again later.
I glanced around as if I were a busy person before speaking to him hurriedly.
“I should head back now. His Highness will be waiting for me.”
“I see.”
Duke Cashen nodded readily.
However, just as I bowed slightly and turned to leave, it happened.
“Ah, but….”
“Yes?”
I nearly missed his quiet voice and stopped abruptly. He was still looking at me.
“Have we met somewhere before?”
“…What? No, I don’t think so. This seems to be our first meeting.”
As I tilted my head in confusion, he continued as if something was odd.
“Then why are you afraid of me?”
“…!”
His deep green eyes held a chilling light as they fixed upon me.
Ah, those eyes.
Those very eyes that killed me without a moment’s hesitation.
My body trembled involuntarily, and Duke Cashen’s gaze grew even more piercing.
He had killed me forty-eight times. Directly.
At that point, no matter how high my mental fortitude stat was, my body could only react instinctively. Like a herbivore standing before a predator, my body responded first.
I forced myself to remain composed and replied.
“I’m not sure what you mean. The Duke and I are meeting for the first time today, so why would I fear you?”
“Your hands are trembling.”
Startled, I clasped my hands together.
Even as I tried to hide my uncontrollably shaking hands, I realized that looked more suspicious, so I hastily moved them behind my back.
“It’s because I have a tremor condition…!”
Ugh, you idiot! Did you really just say that as an excuse?
My tongue moved of its own accord in my panic, and I quickly searched his expression. But Duke Cashen didn’t seem particularly curious, and his eyes became indifferent in an instant.
“I see.”
“Yes, yes…. I’m not particularly afraid of the Duke. After all, there’s no reason to be.”
“That’s true. I also saw you here for the first time.”
…He’s just letting this go?
I shook my head vigorously in my mind.
‘Get it together. Cashen has always been like this!’
It had been so long since I’d seen him that I’d almost been swept up in his pace, but I finally regained my composure.
He fundamentally lacks interest in others. He was merely intrigued by my unusual behavior for a moment—it didn’t mean he’d become interested in me personally.
I naturally bowed to him once more.
“Then I really must take my leave.”
I bowed my head slightly as I passed, and he let me go without further comment.
Moving at a pace that seemed natural yet slightly hurried, I finally exhaled once I’d left the garden.
“Phew, I nearly got sick from the tension.”
Duke Cashen was not someone I could sway to my side in a single moment. He was a man who required time and careful cultivation.
It would be ideal if I could separate him from Ludwig, his right hand, but if that proved impossible….
‘I need to devise alternative strategies.’
Facing him directly had filled me with dread. His cool green eyes still lingered before my vision.
A chill ran down my spine, and I shook myself before hurrying back toward the Banquet Hall.

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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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