The Villainess Hid Her Identity, and Now Everyone is Misunderstanding - Chapter 61

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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 61

Genie, who had been wearing a dumbfounded expression, quickly shook her head to clear her thoughts.
“You… you meant to bring pastries…? Are these delicious…? Should I brew more tea…? Huh?”
She stammered as if buffering.
Crunch, crunch.
In the quiet room, only the sound of me munching on pastries echoed.
While it had caused some confusion for Genie, it wasn’t as bad as I’d feared.
‘It’s a bit embarrassing, though…’
At least my body had completely shed the persona of ‘Evelyn Rosenthal’!
In other words, I still had to speak like Evelyn as before, but my actions were now entirely free.
‘And freedom of action means I can go anywhere now.’
Whether it was the slums or an alley tavern, there were no more time restrictions. I could even visit as ‘Evelyn Rosenthal’!
And while I couldn’t speak sweetly to the common maids, I could now treat them kindly through my actions. It meant I could even abandon the hysterical behavior I’d habitually displayed.
After completely finishing the tea and pastries, I cleared my throat softly to hide my slight embarrassment and opened my mouth.
“So, did I accomplish what I set out to do? Good grief, why is everyone so slow? I need to tighten discipline among these servants.”
“Ah, well, about that…”
She looked bewildered for a moment, then glanced around the room like she was filming a spy movie in response to my words. Even though there was no one else in the room.
Then she leaned in close and whispered to me.
“I found her! A maid who works at the Duke’s mansion!”
“Hmph, so you do have your uses sometimes.”
“The maids have their own gathering, you see. And I’m quite an enthusiastic member… ah, that’s not the point. Anyway, through careful inquiries at that gathering, I heard that they’re recently recruiting maids at a mansion in the outskirts of the capital!”
Genie began explaining with a somewhat excited expression, even spitting a little.
“And it turns out that was the Duke’s mansion, wasn’t it?”
“So what does that matter?”
“My friend got a job there!”
Excellent.
“I made sure to bribe my friend quite generously. So while it wasn’t some huge secret, information just flowed right out.”
That was more than enough.
Just trivial habits, perhaps his favorite shops he frequented, or activities he enjoyed—things like that.
Since I wasn’t trying to assassinate Duke Cashen or put him in danger, I only needed to know enough to gain his favor.
So the gossip the maids let slip was sufficient. Besides, at that level, it wouldn’t cause the maid any serious harm.
‘…Is this stalking?’
I immediately shook my head.
Stalking? What a frightening word. I simply wanted to understand him a little better. To make it easier to gain his favor.
‘Of course, if I’d borrowed Twilight’s power, it would have been far easier.’
But then things would get complicated. And there’s the fact that he seems to be on friendly terms with Rakiel, which bothers me.
Something tells me I shouldn’t get any closer to Rakiel than this.
“Well, I’d say you’ve put in quite the effort for this. So what did you find out?”
It was the highest praise Evelyn could offer.
Genie, catching on to this, became excited and began explaining everything.
Whatever the reason, there was no doubt that she harbored unwavering faith in me. To go to such lengths fulfilling this suspicious order to gather information about Duke Cashen.
As I listened quietly to Genie’s explanation, my eyes suddenly sparkled.
This might actually work out easier than I thought.

* * *

For several days now, Duke Cashen had sensed something amiss.
‘…Again.’
It was because of a certain woman lingering in his field of vision.
But if one were to ask whether she was deliberately hovering around him, the answer was no. It truly seemed like he was meeting her by pure ‘coincidence.’
Moreover, she appeared completely unaware of his existence.
Duke Cashen first noticed that woman at a flower shop. He hadn’t actually entered the shop—he was merely passing by.
“Mister, hello!”
At the sound of a bright voice, Duke Cashen unconsciously turned to look.
A woman wearing a deeply pulled hood stood in front of the flower shop.
As he passed by without particular thought, their conversation naturally reached his ears.
“I’ve come to buy flowers again today.”
“Oh, Miss Eve! You’re back again. Are you taking them to the hospital again?”
“Yes! The patients really seem to enjoy them.”
“That’s wonderful. I knew you’d come, so I prepared several bouquets ahead of time. Just wait a moment.”
Duke Cashen, about to cross the street, paused briefly as a carriage passed. In that moment, the flower shop owner emerged from inside carrying several bouquets.
“How much do I owe you?”
“Ah, Miss. Forget the money. With all the sales you’ve brought me so far, it’s more than enough.”
“That won’t do! You need to make a living too.”
The hooded woman forcefully pressed several coins into the owner’s hand.
“You’re such a kind young lady….”
The owner smiled warmly, watching the woman hurry away with the bouquets cradled carefully in her arms. Duke Cashen, catching only a glimpse of her retreating figure, quickened his pace without much thought. After that, he completely forgot about the incident.
However, two days later.
Having briefly stopped by the Imperial Palace, Duke Cashen hurried his steps toward his manor. The sun was already setting, shops were closing one by one, and the surroundings grew dim.
‘Tsk, the Crown Prince kept me occupied, and already so much time has passed….’
As he quickened his pace past a bakery, someone brushed past him.
‘…?’
Struck by a peculiar sense of familiarity, Duke Cashen paused, searching his memory.
‘That hood….’
I was on the verge of remembering something when his brow furrowed.
“Excuse me, I’d like to buy some bread!”
At the sound of that voice, a memory from days ago surfaced. It was that hooded figure from right after she’d bought flowers at the Flower Shop.
“Oh, Eve! You’re here again today?”
“Yes! I’m hoping to buy quite a lot today… would that be alright?”
“Hmm? What for?”
“For the children at the orphanage. I want to buy as much as I can with the money I have, so the cheapest bread—.”
“Ah, forget about it.”
The Bakery Owner began stuffing bread into a bag.
“Take all of this.”
“What? But the money—.”
“It’s fine. These are leftover from today anyway. They won’t sell tomorrow.”
“Really?! Thank you so much!”
The hooded woman’s voice brightened.
“The children will be so happy!”
She scurried away with bags of bread cradled in both arms. Duke Cashen raised an eyebrow watching her go.
That wasn’t the only place I’d encountered her.
She approached filthy homeless people everyone avoided, offering them water and food, and appeared like a ghost wherever help was needed, extending her hand.
Moreover, as if she’d made her face known throughout the entire Capital City, everyone knew her name.
Even after returning to the Manor, Duke Cashen couldn’t stop thinking about her.
‘I can’t figure out her identity.’
That had been my initial conclusion. The circumstances were quite suspicious.
A woman who’d revealed her face throughout the entire Capital City, who didn’t discriminate by social status, and who appeared like a ghost wherever help was needed. Could anyone truly do such things without purpose?
And yet…
Duke Cashen realized he’d been sitting at his desk, unable to read the book spread before him for quite some time. Instead, the image of her scurrying away with bags of bread cradled in both arms kept forcing its way into his mind.
“…Tsk.”
The next day was the same. And the day after that.
At some point, Duke Cashen’s gaze began unconsciously following her.
He found himself hoping to encounter her again by chance on the streets, and even followed where she went to observe what she was doing.
‘…Everything from start to finish is for others.’
My suspicions hadn’t disappeared. But…
“Oh my, may I help you?”
As expected, that woman was supporting an Old Woman who staggered under the weight of a heavy bundle.
Duke Cashen stood at a distance, watching the scene. Soon after parting with the Old Woman, she resumed walking.
‘Where is she going now.’
This time, instead of the crowded main street, she turned into a narrow Alley.
Duke Cashen hesitated briefly before following her into the Alley. Twilight light filtered thinly between the buildings, and the Alley was already growing dim.
‘Is she heading home?’
It seemed like this would be where I stopped for today.
Duke Cashen watched her for a moment longer, then quickened his pace. He intended to pass her.
He moved swiftly, his long legs stretching out in quick strides, and in that very moment he passed right beside her.
Suddenly, she spun around.
“Oh, that’s right! I forgot to bring….”
Thud!
“Yelp!”
Her nose collided with Duke Cashen’s shoulder as he passed, and startled, she stumbled after stepping on a stone.
“…!”
Duke Cashen instinctively caught her arm, and her hood fluttered and slipped off, unable to withstand the force of inertia.
At the same moment, luxuriant silver hair that gleamed even in the shadows was revealed, and he found himself face to face with a pair of beautiful blue eyes.
Remarkably, she was someone he knew well.
It was none other than the “villainess” Evelyn Rosenthal.

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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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