The Villainess Hid Her Identity, and Now Everyone is Misunderstanding - Chapter 69

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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 69

I was so exasperated that I couldn’t even laugh.
“So I….”
As Duke Cashen tried to continue speaking, I hastily cut him off.
“Your Grace?”
“Yes.”
At least he answered that correctly.
I was at a loss for words, my lips moving soundlessly before I finally managed to speak.
“What… are you saying right now?”
Do you even realize what you’re talking about?
But the answer that came from him was utterly absurd.
“I’m simply devising ways for Evelyn to operate in the most optimal environment.”
“….”
In that moment, Genie’s words flashed through my mind.

—It seems His Grace the Duke has taken quite a fancy to you.

“Ah.”
I had dismissed it as nonsense, but… well, it is nonsense to say Cashen has fallen for me.
But I understand now.
I smacked my forehead and comprehended it all.
Has this man become completely obsessed with the saint character I created? So this is, in a way… fan devotion?
Thinking of the original Cashen, it wasn’t entirely implausible. Considering what he originally desired….
Wait, setting that aside, there was one important thing I was forgetting?
‘Cashen is still supporting Ludwig.’
Following me around like this probably doesn’t look good to Ludwig. I glanced at Cashen and asked carefully.
“But if Your Grace helps me like this… won’t I fall out of favor with the Crown Prince?”
I asked out of genuine concern, but Cashen replied with an indifferent expression.
“It doesn’t matter. I never truly intended to support the Crown Prince in the first place.”
“…What?”
Unbelievable words flowed from his lips.
Ding!

[Suspicion Level – 5%]

‘No, why….’
My suspicion level had dropped even further. The question I’d asked hardly warranted such a reaction.
“My thoughts have changed.”
“Your thoughts… have changed?!”
Just like that?
I couldn’t begin to fathom what had happened during the week we hadn’t seen each other.
‘After all the effort I spent trying to separate Duke Cashen from Ludwig in the previous cycle… and now, in just these few days, it’s become so easy…!’
I felt like I might die from the injustice of it all.
I studied him carefully to see if he was lying to me, but I couldn’t discern his thoughts from his expression alone. Yet the system said my suspicion level was 5—five!
At this point, he’d believe me even if I told him the Crown Prince was actually constipated.
The remaining trace of suspicion was likely the last wall he maintained against others—the kind everyone has.
Aside from that, it meant he had completely opened his heart to me.
I swallowed hard, and ultimately decided to test him by speaking. It was half a gamble, but it was worth the risk.
“Actually, you see….”
“Yes, please speak.”
“I don’t love the Crown Prince. I’m only pretending to love him so I can take revenge on him.”
“…?”
He simply gazed at me for a moment, then nodded.
“I see. I had suspected as much.”
“…Pardon?”
“I thought someone as intelligent and virtuous as you could never be captivated by someone like the Crown Prince. That would be like casting pearls before swine.”
“….”
What kind of image does Duke Cashen have of Ludwig in his mind?!
I lost my words for a moment, then hurriedly spoke again.
“A-and the rumors about Prince Rakiel… the Second Prince! I spread those too! To help him gain a favorable position in the struggle for imperial authority!”
“You attribute all your accomplishments to others. Truly admirable.”
“I gave the Crown Prince false information! Because I need to take revenge on him. Don’t you think that’s petty and despicable?!”
“Anyone would have done the same. You’ve endured quite a lot, after all.”
“….”
Nothing I said was getting through to him.
No matter what I said, he simply brushed it aside and answered indifferently.
‘Damn it… am I supposed to be happy about this?’
I should be happy, and I certainly am, but…!
The thought that I’d somehow ruined a person wouldn’t leave my mind. This isn’t some cult, and if someone trusts me this much, what am I supposed to do?
Besides, Duke Cashen shows no mercy once things go wrong. That’s why I tried to avoid getting too deeply involved with him….
‘…Gasp.’
As I recalled something, I flinched and trembled visibly. Duke Cashen looked at me with confusion.
But I had just remembered a terrible fact I hadn’t realized until now.
‘If this continues… the moment he discovers my true identity…!’
The terror of those days when I died by his hand came rushing back, and cold sweat streamed down my spine. Goosebumps prickled across both my arms, which I’d unconsciously wrapped around myself.
‘…If I’m caught, I’m dead.’
Gulp.
In the silence that followed, the sound of me swallowing echoed loudly.
Duke Cashen, unaware of my thoughts, simply regarded me with an enigmatic gaze. And so began a game of tag with death—one only he didn’t know about.
A game that would never end in my lifetime.

* * *

“Evelyn, I hear you haven’t been mingling with the other young ladies lately.”
“Cough!”
At the Duke’s sudden remark, I hastily patted my chest and searched for water.
Genie, standing behind me, quickly poured water into a cup.
After drinking and composing myself, the Duke quietly set down his fork and knife. The soft clink of silver against the plate seemed unusually loud.
“Is something troubling you? I’m told you rarely leave your room.”
“Oh, no… I simply thought there was no need to associate with them.”
With the pain of the Crown Prince’s broken engagement, I’d kept quiet for a while, but it seemed my prolonged absence from society was beginning to look suspicious.
‘Well, it is Evelyn we’re talking about, after all.’
The Duke looked at me, then sighed.
“Could it be because of the engagement announcement with Prince Rakiel?”
“Pardon?”
Ah, right. There was supposed to be an engagement announcement.
It seemed it had already been made while I was busy with other matters. I hadn’t known at all.
‘Hmm, I thought Rakiel would visit me at least once.’
We had unfinished conversation from the banquet, and I’d also passed along information about the Chamberlain through Eve, so I thought we could share information as well.
Was he too busy?
‘…Well.’
Following me around must have left him with a mountain of accumulated work. Recalling Hagen’s angry expression from back then, he was surely being held captive and couldn’t step foot outside the Imperial Palace by now.
As I hesitated to answer while lost in thought, the Duke’s expression hardened.
“Don’t concern yourself with what people say. It will die down soon enough anyway. You are the lady of House Rosenthal, no matter what anyone says.”
“Why bring this up now…?”
“Evelyn.”
His voice lowered.
“I mean it sincerely.”
At his firm tone, I pressed my lips shut. It reminded me of the conversation I’d had with Duke Cashen yesterday.
It was an answer I’d gained as his suspicion of me decreased.

—Then why did you visit so suddenly before?
—I received orders from the Crown Prince.
—…!
—He instructed me to use my connection with the Duke to drive a wedge between him and the Duke. Evelyn was included as well. I thought it was quite an effective method at the time… but that won’t be necessary anymore.

My heart sank.
The fact that Ludwig had ordered Duke Cashen to do such a thing meant it could have happened in other timelines as well.
‘Could it be….’
Several timelines flashed through my mind like a panorama.
I had certainly believed it was Evelyn’s fault. I was convinced that the villainess Evelyn Rosenthal could not love anyone, and that she had completely fallen out with her family.
A relationship grown so distant it couldn’t even be called family, and eyes that had turned cold.
‘…What if it wasn’t Evelyn’s fault.’
What if it wasn’t my fault….
When I lifted my gaze, I saw the Duke’s eyes still fixed on me. Those irises, holding the same blue light as mine, were filled with concern.
‘Concern….’
After looking at him, I lowered my gaze again. In my hand was a glass cup decorated with blue flowers.
Ever since the acquisition window appeared, it had become entirely my personal cup.
My fingers slowly traced the rim of the cup. The cold glass felt strangely vivid today.
I fidgeted with the cup for a moment, then slowly opened my mouth.
“Father.”
“….”
“I want to see Mother.”
The Duke’s eyes widened greatly.

* * *

The Duchess’s tomb was located on the Estate. It would take at least three days by carriage to reach it.
The Duke and I made hasty preparations and boarded the carriage the following morning. However, just as we were about to depart.
A servant rushed over and whispered urgently into the Duke’s ear.
Upon hearing whatever was said, the Duke’s brow furrowed slightly, and he spoke to me with an apologetic tone.
“I’m sorry, Evelyn. I wanted to go with you, but something urgent has come up.”
I shrugged in response.
“It seems you have pressing matters to attend to. There’s no need to apologize to me. You should simply go.”
“That’s not what I meant….”
The Duke, who had been about to say something, closed his mouth instead.
“No, then let’s see each other again later.”
He looked at me for a moment before quickly turning away. He must have had urgent business, for he quickened his pace.
‘Well, it was unreasonable of me to expect him to come along in the first place.’
It seemed he had taken an abrupt leave of absence.
Besides, I had never truly expected the Duke to accompany me all the way. Why would he visit the tomb of someone already dead, someone he had scarcely cared about?
In any case, despite his busy schedule, I resolved to undertake a journey that would consume nearly a week in total travel time.

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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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