The Villainess Hid Her Identity, and Now Everyone is Misunderstanding - Chapter 81

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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 81

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“This can’t be right…”
It was after the Physician had left.
I had carried the collapsed Genie deeper into the tent and urgently summoned the Physician. What he said after examining her was rather shocking.
“Is it…possible for this illness to manifest symptoms so suddenly?”
“I cannot say it’s entirely impossible. As the disease spreads, mutations can occur…”
The middle-aged man scratched his head.
He was rumored to be the most skilled Physician among those who practiced at this Management Office.
“Still, this would be considered a rare case. Typically, the disease progresses slowly over stages one through three, but from what the Saint told me, she was perfectly fine yesterday?”
“Not even a rash, and no fever. She was conversing normally. Just a few hours ago!”
“What? A few hours, you say?”
The Physician slowly stroked his chin in contemplation.
His lips grew parched, and only after a long while did he finally speak.
“I have no idea.”
“Pardon?”
“This is my first time encountering such a case. There is an order to how diseases manifest. No matter how irregular, for symptoms to appear within half a day—no, mere hours—and progress to such severity is something you’d only read about in novels. In reality, the probability approaches zero.”
“Then what is this?”
He laughed awkwardly and raised both hands in surrender.
“I don’t know either.”
“…”
This Physician was clearly a quack. But someone must know the answer.
I promptly sent him away and brought in another Physician.
“I cannot determine this. I’m even doubtful whether this is the same type of epidemic currently spreading.”
“In just a few hours? I’ve examined thousands of patients. I’ve never seen anyone like this.”
“I truly don’t know. At this point, could it be a different disease with merely similar symptoms?”
…Damn it.
All the Physicians’ opinions were identical.
I steadied my growing anxiety. I would find a way somehow.
If the Physicians here couldn’t help, I’d seek out more expensive ones, and if that failed, I’d pressure the Duke until he brought in the Royal Court’s Physicians.
Above all, I just needed to find a cure.
‘That’s right. Yan. I should go to Yan.’
He might know a way. After all, he was the head of the Information Organization.
Perhaps I might even know information that I myself am unaware of.
I hastily threw on my outer robe. Night had already deepened and the world outside was dark, but I couldn’t simply wait here.
Wheeze, wheeze.
I could hear Genie’s labored breathing as she slept.
Leaving her behind, I carefully sealed the tent shut.
“How is it?”
“…!”
At the unfamiliar voice, I nearly let out a scream before catching myself.
Someone was standing on the darkened roadside without a single light. At first, I thought it was Rakiel, but his hair was oddly bright.
No matter how the moonlight shone, black hair could never turn golden, so the owner of that hair gleaming in dark gold must be….
“Ludwig… Crown Prince.”
He laughed softly.
His green eyes had grown dark, shimmering with an ominous light.
Unconsciously gripping my hood, I subtly surveyed my surroundings. I was searching for a possible escape route.
‘Did he come alone?’
I strained my senses to detect any presence of people, but I caught nothing. Besides, skilled knights’ auras would never be detected by someone like me.
For some reason, Ludwig chuckled at my behavior.
“When I look at you, I feel oddly familiar. As if we’ve met countless times before… like we’ve encountered each other somewhere.”
“That’s a pretty worn-out line.”
Even as I said this, I felt a pang of guilt inside.
Intuition truly cannot be ignored. It was the same with Rakiel—without the ‘recognition reduction effect,’ I could never have stood before these two like this.
I stood calmly and observed his appearance beneath the moonlight. It was a face I’d seen more than a hundred times, yet strangely, today felt different.
Perhaps the reason was….
‘Because I’m facing him as my true self.’
The disgust that always lingered on his face had vanished, replaced instead by intrigue.
“So, have you given thought to my proposal?”
As if responding to his voice, a system window materialized.

[Will you accept the Crown Prince, ‘Ludwig Bernhardt’s’ proposal?]
[Y/N]

I casually brushed aside his words.
“I believe I’ve already given you my refusal quite clearly. Shall I repeat it?”
“Are you truly refusing? ‘Truly’?”
An odd nuance colored his tone.
I paused before answering, studying his face carefully, when suddenly I understood.
That subtle sense of discord I’d been feeling all this time—I finally grasped its nature.
“It was the Crown Prince’s doing, wasn’t it?”
“What was?”
The corners of his mouth curled upward—a expression of pure interest and amusement.
“Genie falling ill, and….”
I continued, organizing my thoughts.
“Spreading the disease throughout the Empire as well.”
How had I not realized this sooner? The logic was so perfectly clear.
That was why Genie’s illness had differed subtly from everyone else’s.
‘Since Ludwig created the disease in the first place, twisting it slightly would have been simple.’
And his discovery of the medicinal herbs that would become the cure in the previous cycle—it was all part of a carefully orchestrated plan.
Ludwig wore a refreshed expression even as he observed my serious face.
“Ah, you’re never boring.”
“…?”
“Usually they’re paralyzed by fear, or they deny it, or they fall apart. But you—you jump straight to certainty. Now I understand why Rakiel keeps you around.”
Technically, I’m the one keeping him around.
But Ludwig didn’t give me a chance to correct him.
“You said you were Evelyn’s maid, didn’t you? Unlike your mistress, you’re remarkably clever and sharp. That foolish lady-in-waiting follows me around even after I slapped her.”
That foolish lady-in-waiting is me….
“Which makes this all the more entertaining.”
I’m not entertained.
“The way you react to my every word, how you stand your ground and argue despite being a commoner, the sound of your mind working—I find it all delightful.”
I hate this….
“Then what about this? If you dislike being a Saint, I’ll offer you a different position.”
He grinned wickedly as he continued.
“How about becoming my Empress?”
“That’s complete nonsense.”
‘What are you saying?’
Ah, the speech bubble switched.
I realized it only after speaking and smacked my own head. Though honestly, it didn’t matter much.
He was instead grinning widely, thoroughly enjoying my reaction.
“Why not? I’m offering you the chance to stand at the pinnacle of the Empire. Stand beside me and you can have everything. Money, honor, power—anything you desire, I’ll give it to you.”
“I’m a commoner, Your Highness.”
“A title is easily created. If anyone complains, I’ll behead them all and display their heads before your eyes.”
Hearing that far, I couldn’t shake away the strange feeling.
It was ironic that ‘Evelyn Rosenthal’ would have longed to hear such words, yet the moment I shed that shell, I heard them—and with such passion at that.
‘Does he know he’s speaking to Evelyn…?’
Of course he doesn’t. That’s why he’s saying all this.
And he probably never will. Unless my identity is accidentally exposed.
Ludwig, who had been spouting all manner of things trying to win my favor, seemed rather anxious as my responses were slow in coming.
“Hmm, is there something else you want? At least tell me what it is.”
“Well….”
I pondered for a moment before blurting it out.
“Malatang.”
“Ma… what?”
“Never mind. It’s impossible to obtain anyway.”
Since it’s impossible to get anyway, I just said it on a whim.
I waved my hand to change the subject. Well, I’d heard more than enough seductive words, so shouldn’t I finally have a proper conversation?
Even pretending to listen while ignoring half of it was quite exhausting.
“In any case, I’m not a Saint, I won’t listen to your proposals, and I especially despise the position of Empress. I simply dislike you.”
“I simply cannot understand. Or have you already concluded matters with Rakiel? Did he perhaps promise to make you Empress if he becomes Emperor?”
Oh, that’s actually true. We’re engaged, after all. Of course, once the situation is resolved, that engagement would end.
“Unfortunately, Prince Rakiel has made me no such proposal.”
“Then why?”
“Because I realized there’s nothing to gain from joining hands with you.”
You want me to join hands with someone who threatens me first?
“Who would shake hands with someone who spreads disease among his own people, pressures them, and threatens them?”
This was a fundamental problem from the start.
To seduce someone, you must offer them sweets first—you can’t rule them with a whip. I was simply too wicked; anyone who didn’t treat me sweetly was disqualified from the beginning.
So that’s how it is.
“You’re out.”
I laughed coldly, determined never to let things proceed as he imagined.

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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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