The Villainess Hid Her Identity, and Now Everyone is Misunderstanding - Chapter 6

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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 6

“…Your Highness the Crown Prince?”
“What.”
Rakiel answered flatly.
A cold, damp handkerchief pressed against his jaw.
“…Hmm.”
“What.”
“Are you injured?”
“Yeah.”
He flipped the handkerchief over and pressed it against his jaw again. Between the folds, I caught a glimpse of reddened, swollen skin.
Hagen, his aide, looked down at him with a subtle expression as he attended to his duties.
“Did you… fight?”
Suspicion dripped from every word. His face was like that of someone watching a younger sibling come home beaten after getting into trouble outside.
Noticing that expression, Rakiel clamped his mouth shut.
“So what happened—, or rather, who….”
“….”
“….”
“…Why.”
“…did you win?”
“Are you joking?”
Am I a child?
An irritated retort rose to the tip of my tongue before retreating back down.
Since I had actually gone out alone without an escort and come back beaten, there was nothing much to say.
“I don’t know what happened, but you can’t come back like this. You’re supposed to be the Crown Prince.”
“So, you’re the Crown Prince, but what’s with that attitude?”
“It’s my concern for Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
“….”
That’s enough—I should stop talking.
Rakiel waved his hand.
It was a gesture telling him to explain why he had come all this way.
“It’s—exactly as Your Highness predicted.”
“What is. Count Rosenthal?”
“Yes.”
Hagen nodded.
Hagen Kirchner was Rakiel’s aide-de-camp, always at his side even when he served as commander-in-chief during the war.
After the war ended, he continued to assist him as his adjutant and was one of those actively working behind the scenes to make Rakiel emperor.
Though many forces had not yet gathered, they all shared the conviction that Crown Prince Ludwig lacked the qualifications to be emperor.
Ludwig certainly possessed the boldness and charisma to lead people, but his nature was excessively cruel and prone to depravity. Such tendencies had ultimately caused some factions to turn their backs on him.
However, because Ludwig held the official position of crown prince, those opposed to him could only act beneath the surface for now.
“The Crown Prince recently notified Evelyn Rosenthal of the engagement dissolution. It appears his discussion with Duke Rosenthal has concluded as well.”
“As expected. Their relationship has been quite strained lately.”
“Once this news spreads through society, there will be quite a commotion.”
“…There will be much speculation about Duke Rosenthal’s next move.”
“Indeed.”
Rakiel, who had been sprawled across his chair, tapped his desk lightly.
“So?”
“Duke Rosenthal’s side reached out first, saying he wishes to meet.”
“What’s the pretext?”
“He says he wishes to discuss matters regarding western border trade.”
The pretext was merely a pretext.
There could be only one reason why a house that had just been broken off by the crown prince would want to speak with the second prince.
“Is there any possibility Duke Rosenthal might come over to our side?”
Hagen, who had been contemplating for a moment, answered.
“It’s not entirely impossible. Of course, supporting Your Highness would be an enormous gamble, but no one knows the future.”
“…Are you saying that my becoming emperor right now is a gamble?”
“It’s the truth, so what can be done about it?”
At Hagen’s response, delivered with a shrug, Rakiel let out a hollow laugh.
In reality, Ludwig’s power base was solid. In contrast, Rakiel had only recently returned from war and, due to the trauma, had barely shown his face in society for years.
In other words, for the nobility, standing with Rakiel was tantamount to preparing for complete annihilation.
“Compared to Duke Cashen, we do seem quite lacking…but we have no other choice, do we?”
Rakiel murmured.
“At least the gains
(gain)
will outweigh the losses
(loss)
.”
“That’s true. Even if our forces are somewhat lacking, a duke is still a duke.”
“Betrothing yourself to the Rosenthal heiress would also be an excellent approach.”
“…What?”
Rakiel stared at Hagen as if he found it absurd.
But Hagen responded with composure instead.
“Did you intend to do nothing? You surely understand well enough that the most reliable alliance is a political marriage. And since she’s just been broken off, the timing is perfect.”
“Do you even know what kind of person the Rosenthal heiress is?”
“Of course I do. I’m merely saying that to become emperor, you cannot do only as you wish.”
“Ha, so the Rosenthal princess dares to become engaged to me. A woman who chases after my brother like that.”
Rakiel had faced Evelyn only once. It was not a pleasant memory.

—Your Highness bears no resemblance to the Crown Prince, not even an eyebrow.
—…What?
—Hmph, simply put, you’re not my style.

Of course, Ludwig and Rakiel were entirely different types. So much so that one could hardly guess they were brothers just by looking at their faces.
Ludwig, with his golden hair and green eyes, gleamed brilliantly even in bright light and always drew people to him. But Rakiel struggled with people as much as his dark hair suggested.
Still, it was not something one should say to a stranger’s face.
So my first impression of Evelyn could only be terrible.
Rakiel, who had been briefly reflecting on his first meeting with her, frowned. The handkerchief he held against his chin had grown lukewarm, and he could barely feel any coolness from it.
‘Ah, so that woman was from the Duchy as well.’
The woman who rammed her crown of her head into my chin and fled. The crest of the Rosenthal Estate was certainly embroidered on her robe.
After a moment of deliberation, Rakiel opened his mouth.
“This time, I’ll go find her myself.”
“…You mean the Estate? Count Rosenthal sent word that he would visit in a few days.”
“Didn’t you say that bringing Count Rosenthal would make him a reliable ally? If that’s the case, it would be better to show some sincerity.”
“There’s no need to go that far.”
Hagen continued as if to dissuade him.
“Since the engagement with the Crown Prince has already been broken, Count Rosenthal has nowhere else to turn anyway.”
“No, it’s better to settle this from the very beginning. And….”
“…?”
I want to see that woman’s face once more.
Rakiel swallowed the rest of his words.
Surely if I enter the Estate, there would be at least a brief opportunity to see the faces of the maids. Especially if I encounter the Rosenthal princess.
It wasn’t that I was angry over a mere blow to the chin.
If anything, I was intrigued.
He thought so while touching his chin, where the swelling had subsided somewhat.
Hagen, who had been quietly observing him, opened his mouth.
“So who is it? The one who dared strike the Second Prince of the Empire on the chin.”
“…You’ll get hurt if you find out.”

* * *

Genie was a maid of the Rosenthal Estate.
Becoming a maid in a noble household was considered a step up in the world for commoners.
The wages were decent, and the working conditions were nothing to complain about.
Aside from having to cater to the whims of the nobility and the occasional threat to one’s life, it was truly an excellent position.
That was why I couldn’t bring myself to quit this job.
“How filthy! Are your eyes blind?! Can’t you see that disgusting mess?! Clean it up at once!”
“Y-Yes, ma’am…”
I hurriedly bent down and swept up the broken pieces of the teacup. Blood beaded on my finger from a careless touch, but I had no time to examine the wound.
My mistress, Evelyn Rosenthal, was a woman notorious for being fastidious and cruel. Though I hadn’t been at the estate long, my senior colleagues occasionally shared terrifying rumors about her.
Stories of being dragged to the dungeons for the crime of accidentally stepping on her dress hem and tortured, or having fingers cut off for failing to procure a dress in the desired color.
Of course, these were unverified rumors.
But judging by Evelyn’s temperament so far, even the slightest sluggish movement seemed like it would result in my actual arrest on fabricated charges.
Fortunately, as I cleaned the floor with trembling hands, Evelyn remained silent and still. It was rare.
She even stared into empty space as if concentrating on something.
I found it strange, but I didn’t dare mention it. I was simply meant to do my assigned tasks.
After the day’s work was finished, I gathered my belongings and stood up.
“Genie, are you heading home again today?”
A colleague asked.
“Yes, today’s the day I promised to stop by.”
“Is that so? You work hard.”
I hurried out of the mansion.
There was only one reason I couldn’t quit this job.
“Big sister!”
“Sis!”
My ill mother and five younger siblings.
They were all dependents I had to support.
“Mm, has everyone been well?”
‘…Hm?’
As I stepped into the shack that reeked of decay and rot as always, I furrowed my brow at the sense of incongruity.
It was the same house as usual, yet something felt different.
“Jen, did something happen?”
My oldest sibling hesitated before answering.
“S-Sister, it’s… Mom…”
“…!”
Startled, I rushed into the inner room with thundering footsteps.
There, my mother sat with a far healthier complexion than usual, drinking water that my sibling had given her.

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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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