The Villainess Hid Her Identity, and Now Everyone is Misunderstanding - Chapter 72

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

The Villainess Hides Her Identity, and Everyone Misunderstands
Chapter 72

“…Your Highness!”
At the unexpected declaration, Duke Trenze cried out in alarm. The others’ agitation went without saying.
In the midst of it all, Rakiel laughed lightly, “Ha ha.”
“I was already planning to take this matter into my own hands. It’s gratifying when things I desire come to fruition so easily. Don’t you agree, Older Brother?”
“…!”
Rakiel’s eyes narrowed with deliberate slowness.
The moment Ludwig met that inscrutable pair of eyes, he narrowed his own.
“Prince Rakiel… you intend to handle this personally?”
At the bewildered count’s question, Rakiel’s lips curved upward.
“Indeed. Is there a problem with that?”
“Ah, no, that’s not it, but….”
Ludwig’s fingers tapped rhythmically against the conference table. Suspicions bloomed recklessly within his mind.
‘Surely he should have no spare hands, occupied as he is with monitoring the Northern Region’s situation.’

—The movements of the Northern foreign tribes are most unsettling….

Ludwig was able to believe what Evelyn had said at the banquet because he had received information of his own.
Specifically, that Rakiel had not withdrawn his forces from the Northern Region even after the negotiations proceeded smoothly. It was a highly suspicious circumstance.
‘What is he plotting?’
He knew Rakiel was no fool.
Rather, he was clever, and sometimes he would employ moves even Ludwig hadn’t anticipated. His younger brother had always been that way since childhood. Quiet, but thorough in his execution.
‘Or perhaps….’
As Ludwig continued his thoughts, he clicked his tongue inwardly.
In any case, one thing was certain—something was about to unfold.
To maintain control of the Refugee Camp, Rakiel would have no choice but to withdraw his forces from the Northern Region, which meant the upper border would become vulnerable.
And for Ludwig, that was as good as being given wings.
‘Finally, I can make my move.’
He sensed the presence of the Chamberlain standing behind him.
“Good.”
Ludwig finally spoke. There was no point in pressing further, so proceeding according to plan was the best course.
“I’m pleased that you’ve offered to take this on personally. Everyone will be delighted.”
“Thank you, Older Brother.”
Rakiel bowed respectfully. It was such a perfectly executed gesture that it was almost irritating.
“I will not disappoint your expectations.”
“…Let us conclude today’s meeting here. I trust you will all proceed diligently with your assigned duties.”
With Ludwig’s words, the meeting concluded in an instant.
As Rakiel left the conference room with unhurried steps and headed toward the Prince’s Palace, someone followed him.
“It went exactly as predicted, Your Highness.”
“Ah, Duke Rosenthal. Was the meeting productive?”
“More intriguing than productive. Your Highness’s prediction was spot on.”
Rakiel let out a soft laugh at the subtle admiration in his gaze.
“I simply believed that the older brother I know would not miss this opportunity. With this, we can move far more smoothly.”
He could finally mobilize the forces he had stationed in the Northern Region to deceive Ludwig.
Of course, he would leave some troops behind, but unlike what Ludwig believed, they were merely a façade. The friction with the Northern Region had been resolved long ago, after all.
Instead, Rakiel’s elite forces would carry out a ‘special mission’ under his command.
If this matter was handled well, he could completely sever Ludwig’s left arm.
“Now all that remains is to expose whoever is hiding.”
Duke Rosenthal muttered with a serious expression.
“Do you have any suspects?”
“Well….”
There were few people who knew of his aftereffects.
Only the one servant who was always by his side, his personal physician, Duke Rosenthal, and Evelyn. Of course, the Duke and Evelyn had to be excluded, leaving only two.
“Well, I’ll look into that soon enough.”
Duke Rosenthal nodded, then suddenly frowned.
“Still, it won’t be easy. Taking charge of controlling the refugees means….”
He would have to bear all the resentment that would pour down upon him.
Unable to continue speaking, the Duke fell silent in discomfort, but Rakiel shook his head instead.
“It would be better if I took care of this, Your Grace.”
“Why is that…?”
“If I don’t step forward, how do you think my brother would handle this matter? Would he spend vast sums of money and time searching for a cure whose very existence remains unknown, or would he resort to something far simpler…?”
“…!”
The Duke’s eyes widened.
Ludwig was a man who valued cleanliness and order. He pursued methods that were simple and efficient over complicated ones.
Considering his nature, if this plague outbreak couldn’t be resolved quickly, the method he would choose would be…
“…complete extermination.”
“Precisely. I’m certain my brother was counting on that.”
A bait deliberately cast because Rakiel knew what he would choose. And Rakiel had no choice but to take it.
Now that the hook had caught, there was only one path left for him.
“I have no choice but to find a cure. Before resorting to extreme measures, and before all that resentment falls upon me.”
One could say they each had their own stakes in this.
What Rakiel had to pursue from now on was finding a way to treat this plague, no matter what.
Then, as if remembering something, the Duke stroked his chin and continued.
“Now that I think about it, I’ve heard a rather peculiar rumor.”
“A rumor…?”
“That a veiled saint has appeared. Strange tents have been set up near the slums, and everyone who comes out of there supposedly has something covering their mouth…or so the story goes.”
“…!”
“Truly, the most bizarre rumors are circulating these days. It seems the atmosphere has been quite unsettled recently.”
Rakiel’s expression changed subtly.
However, the Duke, lost in thought, continued nodding to himself.
“Still, there’s no harm in investigating. I’ve heard that whenever this so-called saint takes action, people recover. I was thinking of sending someone to—”
“Ah, that!”
Rakiel interjected urgently.
“I’ll look into that separately, Your Grace. I would be grateful if you could focus on finding a skilled physician.”
“Is that so? Very well, I understand.”
The Duke nodded, exchanged a few more words, and then took his leave.
Left alone, Rakiel exhaled a breath of relief. Because that woman was someone he knew.
None other than…

* * *

At the same moment, beside the slums within the Capital City.
Above a large white tent, several characters were scrawled hastily.

「Plague Management Center」

Passersby glanced at me with curiosity, but few paid much attention. After all, this peculiar tent had been standing here for a week already.
I gazed at the tent with satisfaction, and then….
“You there!”
I shouted.
“Cover your nose and mouth right now! Shush, my word is law here!”
“Eek!”
The moment I raised my arm as if to strike, someone yelped in terror and bolted away.
My words seemed to fall on deaf ears as the person’s face remained completely exposed.
‘They really don’t listen worth a damn.’
No amount of talking would make a difference.
I’d provided veils to serve as masks, soap for hygiene, everything distributed for free.

—Come now, free distribution! Take these and maintain a clean life!

Ding-a-ling.
I’d even shaken a bell while promoting and promoting, managing to hand out supplies to every passerby. Hygiene products I’d purchased with my own money!
Yet those who refused to listen would refuse to listen even unto death.
‘I suppose there’s no helping it… this isn’t Korea after all.’
They say ignorance is the most terrifying thing, and this was precisely that. The commoners, lacking even proper schools and any education, didn’t understand why they should wear masks in the first place.
Conversely, the nobility were so stubborn they rarely heeded anything I said.
‘Still….’

[Stat +1]
[Stat +1]
[Stat +1]
….

Every time I fitted someone with a mask, my stats increased. And if I included the stats gained from occasional medical volunteer work, I was saying that Freedom was nearly maxed out!
“Oh, aren’t you the person who came yesterday for treatment? I told you not to wander around if you have symptoms.”
Someone in a white coat on the other side caught a passerby.
“Yes? But….”
“Come now, go inside! We’ll bring you everything you need!”
After sending the person away, he winked at me with a grin.
Good, they’re doing well.
The moment the plague began spreading, I immediately assembled a team of physicians and administrators. Surprisingly, it wasn’t difficult at all.
The moment I sent out an SOS, people came rushing in, abandoning their livelihoods. That everyone was so willing to help me—it was truly moving.

—No matter how much Eve asks, that’s a bit….
—Five gold per week!
—I shall serve you with unwavering loyalty for life.

…I did have to borrow the power of money a little.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————