The Villainess Hid Her Identity, and Now Everyone is Misunderstanding - Chapter 55

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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 55

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Duke Cashen watched the silver-haired figure disappear in haste before finally turning his gaze away.
Whatever that woman was doing, whatever thoughts occupied her mind—none of it truly concerned him.
Instead, he resumed the steps he had paused moments earlier.
‘This should be the place.’
As he ventured deeper, a slightly open clearing appeared—much like where he had just encountered Evelyn.
It seemed his contact had not yet arrived.
He slowly withdrew a silver pocket watch from his pocket and checked the time.
‘Early.’
He had arrived somewhat ahead of schedule. Though he had witnessed an amusing spectacle because of it.
He had no intention of meddling in Ludwig’s romantic affairs. Whatever the Crown Prince did in his private life was of no consequence to him.
Whether he extracted information about Prince Rakiel using that woman called the Rosenthal Duchess, or what he did with her otherwise—none of it concerned him.
Especially not if that woman was the one the world called a villainess.
What truly held his interest was singular: whether he could achieve his objective or not.
And from all he had observed thus far, the Crown Prince Ludwig was the person most capable of accomplishing it swiftly and efficiently.
Though Ludwig himself seemed to believe he was helping for different reasons.
Tick. Tick.
Time flowed relentlessly.
And precisely when the second hand pointed to twelve, a rustling sound emerged from the grass.
“Arriving at the exact appointed hour.”
He murmured to himself.
The figure that emerged from the grass was none other than the Royal Chamberlain.
His plump form made an impressive entrance as he withdrew a handkerchief and dabbed the perspiration from his brow before speaking.
“Your Grace, you’ve arrived early! Phew, it was farther from the Banquet Hall than I expected, so it took a while. Have you been waiting long?”
“I arrived early, so it matters not. More importantly—did you bring what I asked for?”
“Ah, well, I did bring it, but….”
The Chamberlain wiped the sweat from his brow once more, his eyes darting nervously. Noticing this, Duke Cashen’s expression darkened.
“What is the matter?”
“The Crown Prince said the plan has changed.”
“What?”
“Well, you see… because things have unfolded quite differently than anticipated, all the plans we had laid out beforehand have become utterly useless….”
Duke Cashen’s brow furrowed deeply.
The Ludwig Bernhardt I knew was not someone who changed his plans so easily. After all, he was meticulous enough to consider every possible scenario.
After a moment of thought, he raised his eyebrows.
“…Is this because of House Rosenthal?”
“Precisely! Whether the Crown Prince harbored resentment over his broken engagement with the Lady, that cunning…ahem, Duke Rosenthal has begun to interfere. With funding cut in half….”
Ah, I could see it coming.
Moreover, I recently heard that Prince Rakiel has been cultivating connections with the merchant guilds in the Northern Region. Thanks to that, the Chamberlain’s range of movement has shrunk considerably, and he’s being even more cautious.
During my brief absence from the Capital City, so much had transpired.
The Chamberlain, who had been watching my expression, cleared his throat.
“So the Crown Prince’s message to Your Grace is that he hopes you might undertake a different task….”
“Speak.”
“H-he asks that you approach the Duke of House Rosenthal. The two of you share an acquaintance from the Academy, do you not?”
“You mean Killian Rosenthal?”
“Yes, precisely.”
Killian Rosenthal.
A remarkably skilled swordsman I had met at the Academy when we were both in our teens. Our temperaments aligned reasonably well, so we sparred a few times and conversed.
After that, our paths diverged completely, and I had forgotten about him.
“…I haven’t seen him even once since graduation. Does he still believe we’re on good terms?”
They say politics can divide even decade-long friendships. How much more so with someone I’d merely exchanged a few words with and never truly considered a friend?
“The Crown Prince says he trusts Your Grace. He notes that you surely understand Killian Rosenthal is a simple man….”
“…Doesn’t the Crown Prince already have a valuable ally in the Lady of House Rosenthal? Does he truly need more information about the Rosenthal family?”
“…!”
The Chamberlain visibly flustered at the unexpected remark. For someone called the “Royal Court’s cleaner,” it was quite an honest reaction.
But the Chamberlain soon composed himself and continued carefully.
“What the Crown Prince asks of Your Grace is not information about the noble family.”
“…Then what?”
“To drive a wedge between the Duke and the young Duke. He hopes you will sow discord and suspicion between them. If possible, even involving the Lady.”
“….”
Duke Cashen’s green eyes grew distant and cold.
No matter how prettily it was packaged, it was ultimately asking me to sow discord. He felt a hollow laugh escape him.
‘He’s anxious, it seems.’
To entrust such a task to me. The Crown Prince must be quite uneasy, relying on the slim connection between myself and the young Duke.
‘It seems he’s wary of Prince Rakiel far more than I thought…or is it just my imagination?’
An odd feeling stirred within him, but he didn’t dwell on it further. It wasn’t a particularly appealing proposal, but there was no reason to refuse it either.
Since he had already committed to supporting the Crown Prince, it was better to see things through properly.
Duke Cashen nodded shortly after.
“Tell the Crown Prince I understand perfectly.”
“Yes, understood, Your Grace.”
As the Chamberlain bowed and replied, he turned away immediately. With business concluded, he had no desire to exchange further words with the Chamberlain.
But the Chamberlain hastily stopped him.
“Ah, Your Grace!”
“What’s the matter?”
He turned his head slightly as he asked.
The Chamberlain searched his memory and relayed what the Crown Prince had said.
“His Highness the Crown Prince said that he trusts in Your Highness’s loyalty, and that he will surely repay that trust.”
“…I understand.”
He replied dismissively and turned away again.
If this stemmed from loyalty, then there was no shallower relationship than loyalty itself. It was merely a connection where their purposes happened to align.

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‘I need information, information!’
I needed everything from trivial matters to political ones. What rumors were spreading among the nobility, or what was happening in the Capital City.
I was planning to eavesdrop on people’s conversations as I moved about, but there was a hidden obstacle.
“Ugh, stop following me!”
The moment I entered the Banquet Hall, the Duke and Killian strangely attached themselves to me. They kept asking if I was tired and urging me to return home.
“Evelyn, are you dizzy? Walk carefully! There’s a low step ahead.”
“Aren’t you thirsty? Here, have some water! Oh, are you perhaps hungry? My, let me go get some refreshments right away….”
This had never happened before—what on earth was going on?
Listening to them, one would think I was suffering from some grave illness. Or that I had collapsed before!
Yet no matter how hard I searched my memories, Evelyn Rosenthal had never suffered from any serious illness or collapsed. I had simply lived being treated like a princess by my family.
‘…Could there be something I don’t know about?’
I had maxed-out memory. There was no way I could be missing something.
I wondered if I was placing too much faith in the system, but right now I had nothing else to rely on. After all, this wasn’t ‘my life’ to begin with.
In the end, the Duke and Killian weren’t my real family either.
Moreover, remembering how strangely they had pushed me away in the previous cycle, I couldn’t possibly believe in the way they were pretending to care for me now.
As I moved about trying to shake off the Duke and Killian, someone’s words reached my ears.
“…Prince Rakiel….”
Catching sight of that conversation, I subtly followed behind them. The Duke and Killian, unaware of what I was doing, naturally positioned themselves beside me.
I pretended to pick up refreshments from the table while listening to their conversation. They spoke in hushed tones as if worried someone might hear, seemingly unaware that I was right behind them.
“…so it seems. The situation might very well be reversed.”
“And I heard that blue diamonds were discovered in the mines owned by House Rosenthal…. Not long ago, there were rumors that Marquis Tranche also made contact with the Duke.”
“In contrast, the Crown Prince hasn’t said anything particular.”
“Shh! Be careful. If someone hears….”
“What does it matter? Isn’t it the truth? Prince Rakiel is busy with refugee relief and such, but what is the Crown Prince doing?”
“Well, that may be true….”
I continued listening while putting refreshments in my mouth.
“And have you heard? The Northern Region merchants are flocking to Prince Rakiel one after another.”
“Oh, is that so?”
“It seems the relations with the Northern ethnic minorities are having an influence. After all, it’s an important matter for them. And it seems the influence of the Yan merchant guild couldn’t be ignored either….”
“My, then the Northern Region logistics are practically….”
“Prince Rakiel’s influence continues to grow….”
I couldn’t help but let a smile play at the corners of my mouth.
‘This is exactly what I wanted!’

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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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