EMHFTVBSH C3

The Villainess Who Hid Her True Identity and Made Everyone Misunderstand
Episode 3

Knock, knock, knock.

I stopped pulling at my hair and lifted my head. A maid who had just knocked cautiously entered the reception room.

“What is it?!”

I snapped at her.

“M-Miss, the Duke has summoned you.”

“…My father?”

Only then did I realize something.

I had been so focused on the system window that I had forgotten—there was something far more troublesome than Ludwig’s broken engagement waiting for me.

Ding!

[An event quest has occurred.]

[Quest: Meeting with Your Father]
Objective: Meet in private with Matthias Rosenthal, the Duke, and have your first conversation with him. You must identify the external forces infiltrating the ducal estate.
Reward: Clue to the main quest ‘The Secret of the House of Rosenthal’

I raised one eyebrow.

So even meeting my own father and talking counts as a quest?

I slowly skimmed the text and tapped the table lightly.

External forces…?

Who on earth has infiltrated the ducal estate? Was this what they meant by “reorganize the inner chambers”?

Until now, I had been preoccupied with monitoring Crown Prince Ludwig and his closest ally, Grand Duke Kashien, and had barely paid attention to the Rosenthal Ducal House itself.

Evelyn herself had never been interested in politics.

Besides, the Duke of Rosenthal was a character with almost no relevance to the main storyline. He didn’t even care much about his own children, so he never interfered no matter what Evelyn did inside or outside the household.

Moreover, after the broken engagement, he always sided with the Second Prince faction. He had originally judged that the Second Prince was more suitable than the Crown Prince, so he probably wasn’t too displeased.

And Ludwig, after falling out with the Duke of Rosenthal, had—as always—joined hands with Grand Duke Kashien, his fallback option.

Was there something about this family I didn’t know?

“…Whatever. As long as I survive, that’s enough.”

I didn’t know if it was because of the so-called 100th regression or whatever, but one thing was clear—this time, I had a new direction to try.

Freedom, first of all.

If I could escape this suffocating control, I could try anything.

Biting my lip, I stood up. The Duke was waiting.

* * *

Standing before the door of the Rosenthal Duke’s office, I let out a sigh.

Like a graduating college student waiting for a professor’s private evaluation, I stalled in front of the door while steadying my breathing.

Just as I was about to knock—

“Come in.”

A deep voice came from inside first.

Sharp hearing.

I exhaled slowly and opened the door.

The office maintained its usual heavy, orderly atmosphere. Among the dark furniture, a man stood by the window with his back to the light.

The Duke had dark red hair and blue eyes strikingly similar to mine. Evelyn’s silver hair came from her mother’s side of the family. Of course, I had never met her, as she passed away early.

Still, the slightly upturned eyes confirmed that he and Evelyn were indeed father and daughter.

When our eyes met, I instinctively straightened my back and bowed.

“…You called for me, Father?”

“Sit down.”

The Duke slowly shifted his gaze downward, as if reading documents in his hand.

I carefully took a seat opposite him. To hide my slightly trembling fingers, I lightly gripped the hem of my dress.

“The Crown Prince has requested a broken engagement.”

“….”

“That was reckless.”

“Father, I’m innocent! I don’t remember acting like that at all—”

“Most likely, you did.”

The Duke replied without taking his eyes off the documents.

“Just because you don’t remember it doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.”

What an infuriatingly indifferent man.

His only daughter had just been dumped by the Crown Prince and even slapped, yet all he could say was “reckless”? It was easy to see why Evelyn grew up emotionally starved.

Damn it… hey system. Any choices?

[Options are only available from Freedom Level 3 and above. The player’s current Freedom Level is 0.]

What? Then what was that earlier?

[For tutorial purposes, Freedom Level 3 was temporarily unlocked.]

What kind of nonsense is that?

If the system wasn’t going to help me, I had no choice but to rely on my past experience to make the best move.

The most peaceful response here would be—

…Hm?

My gaze, casually drifting over the desk, stopped at one point.

[The player’s Observation (C+) has detected a clue.]
[The player’s Memory Lv.7 allows comparison with previous cycles for analysis.]

I dismissed the chaotic system windows and narrowed my eyes.

Normally, I would have passed over those documents without a second glance, but perhaps because I had already seen the phrase “external forces” in the quest information…

｢Conrad Mine Performance Report｣

Conrad Mine?

If I remembered correctly, the Conrad Mine was one of Crown Prince Ludwig’s main sources of funding. It was even said that without it, he might never have had the resources to become emperor.

Why was a report about it in the Rosenthal Ducal House?

I wanted to confirm it properly, but if I reached out clumsily, the system wouldn’t leave me alone—and the Duke would also find it suspicious.

So I decided to act like Evelyn.

“F-Father…! I did nothing wrong! It was all those other noble ladies who were jealous of me! How dare they, knowing their place…!”

Bang!

I slammed my hands on the desk and leaned forward. The movement shook the stack of documents, scattering several sheets.

Among them was the Conrad Mine performance report.

“…What are you doing, Evelyn.”

“Your Highness the Crown Prince surely loves me. He just doesn’t express it properly, but it’s true! I can’t live without him… sob…”

“Tch.”

As if not even worth responding to, the Duke turned his head away.

I buried my face on the desk, pretending to cry, while my eyes darted over the scattered papers. The report was right in front of me now.

“He only broke off the engagement because of those other noble ladies… sob…”

…What is this?

My eyes widened.

The mine’s grade had dropped from A+ to D, and its quality had failed inspections for three consecutive quarters.

On top of that, there had been seven reported delivery failures over the past six months.

What nonsense was this? The Conrad Mine was supposed to be a gold mine—one of the Crown Prince’s financial pillars!

Did it turn into a failure the moment it came under his control?

“Sniff… Father, please persuade His Highness! And punish those noble ladies who insulted me!”

I continued my exaggerated sobbing, while my mind raced.

The person in charge was…

｢Document Handler: Y. Kramer / Reviewer: L. Gerber｣

I recognized the name.

Jonas Kramer. A financial aide within the Rosenthal Ducal House. One of the Duke’s trusted core staff, known for cold precision and flawless execution.

She had risen from the lowest ranks to become a key administrator—too long-serving to be easily suspected.

Something was suspicious.

At that moment, the Duke spoke in a low, blunt voice.

“…Enough. You may leave.”

I slowly lifted my head.

He was no longer looking at me, his eyes fixed on the documents, pen rolling slowly between his fingers.

“Father, but—”

“I said enough.”

Cold and firm. A tone that allowed no further argument.

“If you continue spouting meaningless emotions, I may as well send you away from the capital.”

“…!”

“I hear there are people constantly coming to see you? Don’t make my life more troublesome.”

Clack.

He set his pen down on the desk. The sound was soft—but unmistakably a dismissal.

“Leave.”

I continued my fake sobbing as best I could and nodded.

“…Yes, Father… sob… but I, I’m just… really hurt…”

Bang!

What an unfeeling father.

The moment I stepped outside and sighed in relief—

Ding!

[‘Conrad Mine Performance Report’ successfully accessed.]
[Main Quest ‘The Secret of the House of Rosenthal’ has been updated.]

[Quest: The Hand That Swallowed Assets]
Objective: Uncover the truth behind the manipulated mine performance reports forged by Jonas.
Restriction: Public reporting is only available at Freedom Level 3 or higher.
Reward: +20 Freedom / +5 Reputation
Failure: Forced relocation to a designated remote convalescent facility under “medical care” procedures / Permanent loss of Conrad Mine

“…Wh-What?! Convalescent care?!”

I screamed out loud.

What kind of ridiculous punishment was that?!

* * *

After Evelyn left, the Duke of Rosenthal set down the documents he had been reading and rubbed his brow.

A long sigh escaped him.

Dealing with his only daughter was one of the most difficult things for him—especially since she resembled his late wife so closely.

After a moment with his eyes closed, leaning back in his chair, he rang the bell.

“You called for me, Your Grace?”

“Bring Joshua to me.”

“Yes, understood.”

The servant bowed and stepped back.

Joshua Becker—the house’s retainer and chief steward. The man he trusted more than anyone.

Ludwig has already abandoned us. It’s time for us to move as well.

He knew his daughter was deeply infatuated with the Crown Prince. Because of that, he had tried to support her direction even if it differed from his own…

But if things were going to proceed this way, the situation changed.

Fortunately, they still had a second option.