The Villainess Hid Her Identity, and Now Everyone is Misunderstanding - Chapter 74

—————
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 74

I examined Rakiel with a puzzled expression.
‘Hmm, I’m curious though.’
But it seemed I wouldn’t get an answer unless I appeared before him as ‘Evelyn Rosenthal.’
“A letter would have been fine, Your Highness.”
“I felt like I needed to see your face to say this. Besides….”
The smile that had been playing at his lips faded away, and his lazy gaze softened. When he spoke of serious matters, that firm set to his jaw always appeared.
“I’ve decided to take this matter on myself.”
“…Is that so?”
When I answered casually, he tilted his head in surprise.
“I thought you’d dislike it.”
“I do dislike it.”
What else could it mean that he was taking full responsibility for the plague crisis? It meant every consequence that arose from this would become his burden.
It wasn’t exactly a hopeful situation.
“It’s unavoidable, but…still, it’s a hundred times better than having the Crown Prince handle it.”
“Is it?”
“Of course it is. Do you know what would happen?”
What would occur if someone as extreme as Ludwig took charge of all this management….
I shuddered at the memories that suddenly surfaced.
Several timelines’ endings had flashed through my mind. Those horrific scenes.
‘Ugh, why did I have to remember that.’
I quickly shook my head to clear it.
“A-anyway, Your Highness taking charge is the best option.”
“…?”
As he looked at me in confusion, I slowly stroked my chin. I was trying to piece together my memories.
“But the cure is the priority….”
“I’m already looking into that. The Royal Court’s research team is investigating various approaches, but it seems progress has been slow.”
He clicked his tongue softly and continued.
“…I can’t say I have much confidence in them.”
So Ludwig’s influence had been quite significant.
Rakiel’s influence had risen considerably, but his actual power within the Royal Court itself was less than one might expect. The Royal Court had long been under Ludwig’s control.
Perhaps if I could bring down that ‘Janitor’ I’d mentioned before, the situation would turn around.
‘It won’t be easy though.’
The fact that I still hadn’t received any news from him was proof of that.
“That’s why I came to tell you it’ll be hard to see each other for a while.”
Rakiel muttered with a discontented expression, but I had already drifted into another world.
“A cure….”
The cure I spoke of was, to be precise, a certain ‘medicinal herb.’
In previous cycles, whenever a plague broke out, someone would always discover this herb—and that ‘someone’ was always the same person.
And that person was….
“Ho, quite cozy indeed. Is this the rumored ‘that tent’?”
“…!”
Golden hair shimmered before my eyes.
In that instant, our gazes crossed and veered away. Snake-like, curved emerald eyes gleamed with amusement.
Good heavens, Ludwig?
I flinched in surprise and grabbed my hood.
It was an instinctive movement—I didn’t want to become Evelyn Rosenthal before him.
Ludwig walked through the tent opening that a servant had revealed, then swept his gaze around. Silence descended, and his curious eyes fixed on various corners of the tent.
“Hmm, quite the atmosphere.”
His lips slowly curved upward.
With that small movement alone, the air shifted as if a tyrant had discovered a new plaything.
‘…Why is Ludwig here.’
The Ludwig I knew would never come to a place like this.
Rakiel rose from his seat with a hardened expression. The playful banter between us moments ago had vanished, replaced by a cold, settled demeanor.
“How did you come to this place, Older Brother?”
“Why, am I not permitted to come here?”
Ludwig’s lips twisted into a cruel smile.
“That couldn’t be. But surely you understand what kind of place this is. I never expected Your Highness the Crown Prince to personally set foot in such a location.”
Rakiel’s mouth was full of scorn.
As if to say: you’re not the sort of person who should be here.
“Oh.”
Ludwig tilted his head slowly.
“My younger brother worries about me quite a bit, it seems.”
Not particularly interested in quarreling with Rakiel, Ludwig turned his gaze away and swept across the tent’s interior. Old boxes, bundles of medicinal herbs, and standing among them—me.
Yes, me as well.
From the moment Ludwig appeared until now, I had shrunk myself to avoid catching his eye.
With my face covered, there was no particular reason to lower my gaze.
Because….
‘Damn it, should I hit him, or not.’
I was seriously planning to strike the back of his head.
‘What kind of opportunity is this, huh? He doesn’t know my identity, so I can act freely, and there’s even a shield in the form of the Crown Prince right in front of me!’
Based on his actions so far, Rakiel would definitely take my side unless I committed some grave crime.
He likes me.
Ah, of course—not romantically, but as one human to another.
This was a golden opportunity!
Ludwig’s gaze, which had been scanning the surroundings, began to fix upon me with unmistakable intensity. I was watching him with equally fervent eyes, though he couldn’t possibly know it.
“I hear there’s someone being mentioned quite frequently among the Empire’s people these days. Someone who wanders about with their face hidden, saving lives.”
He laughed slowly.
“The rumors are so loud that even those within the Imperial Palace know of them.”
I hesitated, uncertain whether I should respond or remain silent.
Rakiel stepped forward. It was a natural movement, but it positioned him precisely between me and Ludwig.
He frowned and deliberately shielded me from view.
Hey, move aside for a second. Just let me hit him once.
“They are merely someone who helps others. Hardly a person worthy of your interest, Older Brother.”
“Is that so?”
Ludwig’s eyebrows rose.
“From what I’ve heard, it’s far more than simply helping. People who were dying from plague suddenly began recovering. And even this tent, no less. Quite professional, wouldn’t you say?”
He tapped the tent lightly before turning his gaze back to my hood.
“People call it a miracle. Some even use the word ‘saint.'”
“….”
“A saint appearing in our Empire. I thought such things only happened in the Valter Empire.”
He laughed as if amused, stroking his chin.
“Surely it’s not strange for me to take interest in such a person?”
No, it’s not strange at all.
But it would be quite strange if my true identity as Evelyn Rosenthal were revealed!
I desperately wanted to rush at him and tear out his hair, but I quietly suppressed my anger.
Rakiel remained standing with a stern expression, as if dealing with a troublesome person.
“The rumors are merely exaggerated.”
“Exaggerated, you say….”
As Ludwig began to walk slowly, dust from the worn tent floor rose faintly into the air.
He stepped closer toward me.
Though Rakiel stood between us, he was close enough that I could reach him if I extended my hand. In that moment, my eyes sparkled.
“Then I’m all the more curious. What kind of person are they to have spread such rumors?”
“You wish to confirm what kind of person they are?”
As I interjected, Rakiel sent me a panicked glance. It seemed to say I should stay quiet, but….
‘I can’t possibly miss this golden opportunity!’
I smiled brightly (though of course he couldn’t see it), yet spoke in a flustered tone.
“Oh my, what a stone in the way!”
My struggling palm finally couldn’t hold back and reached toward him.

* * *

Snap!
Ludwig caught the incoming wrist and regarded the woman before him with an incredulous gaze.
Such a clumsy attack?
Perhaps he couldn’t say the same about Rakiel, but he could defeat most knights without difficulty.
Much less could he be troubled by the hand strike of such a frail woman who likely had never even held a sword—he could block it with his eyes closed.
“Hmm?”
He raised his eyebrows and shifted his gaze to her wrist.
The moment he grasped her delicate wrist, an inexplicable sense of déjà vu washed over him.
But before his thoughts could fully form, the woman shook off his hand. Since he had no intention of holding on, he withdrew without resistance.
“I simply mistepped for a moment.”
She rubbed her wrist with a distinctly irritated motion, offering no apology for nearly striking his face when she stumbled over a nonexistent stone.
Yet what captured his attention was rather Rakiel’s demeanor.
“Let me see. Does it hurt much?”
“…No, it’s fine. I was barely touched. I can just wash my hands.”
“…?”
Wasn’t the question and answer somehow misaligned?
Ludwig’s eyes gleamed as he observed his younger brother.
He gazed at the woman with a worried expression, then examined her wrist carefully. He was being overly cautious for how lightly he had grasped it.
Before long, the two had begun conversing while completely excluding Ludwig.
“Oh dear, perhaps your skin is delicate? You might bruise.”
“I said washing it will be fine.”
“We should show the Physician at once. Come here, let’s go to the Imperial Palace—”
“The Imperial Palace? What are you saying? Who goes to the Imperial Palace over something like this?”
The conversation showed no signs of ending.
In the end, Ludwig could only clear his throat awkwardly.
“So you’re the rumored saint?”
“I’m not.”
“What?”

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