The Villainess Hid Her Identity, and Now Everyone is Misunderstanding - Chapter 56

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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 56

One of the reasons I chose the Jansen Guild was precisely this—he hailed from the Northern Region!
Prince Rakiel’s joy when shaking hands with Walter Jansen stemmed from the same reason. Because the Northern Region was….
‘The territory where the majority of neutral nobles resided.’
If the economic power of the North fell into Prince Rakiel’s hands, they too would have no choice but to seriously consider which faction to support!
And above all….
‘It’s the region I’ll need if I fail to win over Duke Cashen.’
To separate the Crown Prince’s left hand—the Chamberlain—I would need to search the North thoroughly.
Perhaps Ludwig’s anxiety just now was more intense than expected because he feared his misdeeds might be exposed.
Everything was proceeding exactly as planned.
Boom!
At that moment, a tremendous explosion erupted from the garden. It resembled fireworks prepared by the Royal Court.
Everyone’s attention instantly shifted toward the windows.
“Oh, what a magnificent spectacle.”
“Indeed, truly a beautiful sight. The power of magic is truly remarkable.”
Fireworks created by magic, no less.
How much wealth must they have to spare?
In a world where magic wasn’t even commonplace, witnessing such displays made me acutely aware that I belonged to the upper echelons of society.
While the Duke and Killian had their gazes stolen by the window, my wandering eyes caught something.
“…!”
…Prince Rakiel?
He looked exactly as he had when we parted moments ago, yet something was terribly wrong.
He was barely standing, gripping one wall, his face deathly pale as cold sweat dripped down in rivulets. His reaction was to….
‘The fireworks?’
I frowned and raised my hand to call for the Physician. But in that instant, a thought struck me and I froze.
‘Could it be….’
The thunderous booms vibrating through the air, the flashing lights… it resembled a war breaking out.
I didn’t know much, but given that magic existed, it surely must have been deployed in warfare. It would have been used instead of modern guns and bombs.
‘War trauma…!’
I glanced at the Duke and Killian, still entranced by the fireworks, then quickly made my way to Prince Rakiel, avoiding the mesmerized crowd.
“…Your Highness!”
“…Gasp….”
He was in a panic, covering his ears as he breathed heavily. I bent down to meet his gaze, then placed my hand over his.
As warmth transferred through the back of his hand, Prince Rakiel flinched and trembled.
“Your Majesty! Can you hear me?”
“…Evelyn?”
His eyes slowly regained focus as he confirmed my face.
“Can you stand?”
“Ugh….”
As I supported him, I quickly scanned our surroundings. Fortunately, no one was looking our way.
‘This is a fatal weakness.’
If this became known, it would be enough to cast doubt on his qualifications.
Since Rakiel would know this fact, he must have moved to the most secluded spot possible the moment the fireworks erupted.
Though it seemed he’d run out of strength and ended up stopping here.
There was a Rest Area not far away. I guided him there first.
Click.
As the door closed, the sound of fireworks echoing through the hall became somewhat muffled. Though the vibrations still reverberated.
‘Damn, he’s heavy.’
After barely managing to seat him on the plush sofa, I first loosened the stuffy collar that had been constricting his neck. Then I quickly fetched the water that had been prepared nearby.
“Evelyn, you should go…. I’m….”
“Be quiet and just take some deep breaths. Good heavens, look how pale you are.”
I crouched slightly before him, rolled up his sleeve, and began massaging his ashen hand. It was ice-cold.
“Come on, follow me. Breathe in, breathe out. Deeply! Again, breathe in… breathe out….”
Rakiel, looking flustered, hesitated for a moment before following my lead and taking deep breaths.
The sound of fireworks continued outside, but he gradually regained his composure.
When I thought his breathing had finally steadied, I offered him the water cup I’d set beside me.
“Here, drink some water now.”
“Evelyn….”
“Go on!”
I forced the cup into Rakiel’s hesitant hands. He then brought it to his lips and drank several mouthfuls.
His Adam’s apple bobbed several times through the wide-open collar.
Satisfied with the sight, I took the cup back from him and set it on the nearby table.
Then I pulled out a handkerchief and gently patted dry his sweat-dampened forehead and nape. The carefully styled hair was clinging to various spots, soaked with perspiration.
“Wait, Evelyn….”
Rakiel uttered a small protest.
“Shh, just a moment….”
I silenced him and refocused on what I was doing.
He must have been in such agony—his nape was drenched with sweat—yet his skin remained deathly pale.
Even with the shirt buttons undone, the ornate outer jacket still looked suffocatingly tight on him.
‘Hmm, it would be better to remove the outer jacket entirely.’
Having reached that conclusion, I grasped Rakiel’s formal coat. But in that moment, his large hand covered mine.
Thump!
“…Your Majesty?”
“Evelyn, wait….”
“You looked so uncomfortable. Wouldn’t it be better if you took this off?”
“No, that’s not it… I think it would be better if we put some distance between us.”
“…!”
Only then did I realize my position, and my body went rigid.
So focused on wiping the sweat from Rakiel’s brow, I hadn’t noticed that I was practically draped over him, pulling at his clothes as though I meant to undress him entirely.
His crimson eyes were mere inches from my face.
“….”
I could feel his breath.
In other words, we were that close.
Rakiel’s expression was flustered as he averted his gaze, and the flush that had spread from his eyes had tinted even the tips of his ears a deep red.
The pallor from moments before seemed like a distant memory, replaced entirely by color in his cheeks.
My grip on his jacket loosened gradually.
Rakiel glanced at me briefly before letting out a small, stifled cough, his flushed face still impossible to conceal.
“…I, I think I can remove my jacket myself.”
“…Yes, I suppose you can.”
I deliberately composed myself as I climbed down from over him, then smoothed out the wrinkles in his clothing with gentle pats.
Then I slowly retreated and sat down on the adjacent sofa.
Once I had withdrawn, Rakiel straightened himself up from the sofa where he’d been nearly reclined, adjusting his posture.
“….”
“….”
An awkward silence settled between us.
Perhaps the fireworks had ended by now, for a heavy quiet had descended.
After watching his expression nervously several times, biting my lip, I finally couldn’t bear the awkwardness any longer and opened my mouth.
“That…!”
“Evelyn, this is…!”
As if we’d made a pact, we both fell silent simultaneously.
Suppressing the urge to hit myself on the head, I tried again, but it was the same.
“You first…!”
“Let me…!”
Damn it.
With my eyes squeezed shut, I blurted out loudly.
“Your Highness, you should speak first!”
“No, Evelyn should….”
“Go ahead!”
At my almost frantic words, Rakiel flinched and let out a sigh.
His face remained flushed, but we were both avoiding each other’s gaze so intently that I couldn’t see it clearly.
After a moment’s hesitation, he finally spoke first.
“…I wanted to say thank you.”
“Oh, no… I’m the one who should apologize. I was only trying to help….”
But really, no matter how much I was trying to help, how could I not have noticed I was practically straddling him?
Even a hundred mouths wouldn’t suffice to apologize enough.
Yet Rakiel shook his head and replied.
“That’s not something you should apologize for. I’m the one who should be sorry for creating unnecessary concern.”
“Your Highness, why….”
“You were only trying to help me. And truthfully, you did help.”
I hesitated before bowing my head deeply.
An odd sensation welled up inside me.
“I mean it. Without you….”
He trailed off.
“I probably would have collapsed right there.”
“N-no, I’m sure anyone would have done the same. How could anyone just walk past you in such a state?”
Overwhelmed by sudden embarrassment, the words tumbled out rapidly.
Yet he gazed at me quietly, sincerely. Those ruby-like eyes were fixed upon me.
“No.”
He denied it softly.
“This is the first time I’ve calmed down so quickly.”
“….”
“There’s something oddly soothing about it. Is it your presence?”
“My presence?”
I barely managed to swallow and respond.
“Yes, something familiar yet… as if everything would come to pass if I simply followed your lead. It’s a strange feeling.”
“…What is that, some kind of con artist feeling? I don’t want to have that at all.”
“Really?”
He chuckled softly.
But several things nagged at me.
‘Is it Evelyn’s charisma?’
It was one of the several abilities I possessed. My charisma stat was particularly high, making this explanation entirely plausible.
Rakiel exhaled deeply, color returning to his face, but soon glanced at me and looked away.
“…Your dress has gotten dirty.”

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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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