Villainess Who Hid Her Identity and Caused Everyone to Misunderstand
Episode 8
My gaze drifted unconsciously toward the drawer.
I spotted the bottom-right drawer and made a subtle expression.
With my lips tightly pressed together, I ran my hand along the underside of the drawer—and found a strangely attached panel. In front of it protruded a thin handle.
A secret drawer.
I squatted down and carefully placed my hand on the handle.
Inside the slightly stiffly opened drawer were suspicious envelopes and old notes.
｢Conrad Mine Phase 3 Contract Details – For Review｣
Suspicious. Very suspicious.
I checked the memo attached above it.
｢Handler: L. Gerber.｣
Coordination of name rights with Fabian completed. Mine documents to be transferred within this month. After adjusting accounting lines, report.｣
……Fabian.
I pressed a hand to my forehead.
It was obvious.
Fabian was responsible for Ludwig’s financial channels. This was clear proof that Jonas had been in collusion with the Crown Prince’s faction all along.
At that moment, another system window appeared.
[Quest clue acquisition complete!]
How on earth am I supposed to report this to the Duke?
If Jonas was a spy for Ludwig, how many outsiders had infiltrated under him?
For a financial aide, influencing personnel management would be child’s play. Planting acquaintances through nepotism was something everyone did, and most people turned a blind eye to a certain extent.
Moreover, in a previous cycle, he had even succeeded in rising to the position of chief administrator of the ducal household.
Only then did I realize why the Rosenthal Duke had failed every single cycle to place the Second Prince on the throne.
Ludwig had already finished all his covert operations before the Duke and the Second Prince had even joined hands.
And that… might have been because of me.
Could it be that Ludwig’s engagement to me had been for this very reason?
My expression hardened.
This was a truth I had never once been able to approach, even after repeating ninety-nine regressions.
“Evelyn, you…”
This was the price of chasing only Ludwig while leaving the burning house behind. It was like pouring oil on a fire.
A truth I could only discover in the 100th regression, the one that granted me freedom.
Footsteps.
I instinctively shrank back. Faint footsteps echoed from the end of the hallway.
Damn it—who’s coming?
I stuffed the documents and memo into my clothes and quickly hid under the desk. I didn’t forget to carefully close the open secret drawer.
As the footsteps drew closer, faint voices followed.
“……You’re sure the documents were properly organized on that side?”
…Jonas?
“Yes, aide. There are no issues in the list. However, one of the newly added personnel came from a place that caused trouble last time…”
It was an unfamiliar voice. Likely someone from the financial department.
“I was told the issues were already resolved. If that side has approved it, do not raise further objections.”
“…Understood.”
Clank, creak.
The lock released, and the door opened.
Shit, they’re coming in.
I held my breath under the desk.
Jonas stayed silent for a while. Unusually so.
“…There’s been no reaction from the Grand Duke’s side?”
A low whisper came suddenly.
Who is he talking to? Was he not alone?
“…I see. Then proceed. However, I will personally review next week’s list.”
…A communication stone.
Seeing that he possessed something only members of the imperial family could easily obtain, my suspicion deepened further.
I held my breath tighter.
“The Conrad Mine will be processed on paper soon. The price is about one-third of its original value. The Duke’s side still doesn’t find it suspicious.”
Time is running out.
I had to act before the Duke sold off the Conrad Mine due to Jonas’s scheme.
“…Yes, the Duke is attempting to contact the Second Prince. It shouldn’t be a major issue, but as you know, the Second Prince is unpredictable…”
“….”
“…Understood. I will feed false information to the Duke’s side. That should delay the alliance with the Second Prince.”
With a light clunk, a drawer closed.
Quiet footsteps faded away. After listening carefully, I slowly exhaled.
“…They’re gone?”
Once the office fell silent, I carefully stood up. Jonas had apparently left again.
After confirming the documents in my arms were still there, I cautiously slipped out of his office.
“I really found it.”
Back in my room, I reviewed the documents I had brought, and my lips curled upward.
For something obtained in such haste, it was an incredible catch.
The documents I had taken were not forged—they were real. A genuine mine sale contract based on an A+ grade asset.
I flipped through them carefully.
As expected. My memory wasn’t wrong.
“Wait… was public reporting only possible once Freedom Level was 3 or higher?”
Then this means I just need to show this to the Duke!
How easy is that!
I fell asleep happily, holding the precious documents.
The next day—
“Lady…! Thank you so much. The recipe I’ve been searching for for years…!”
“You even paid my younger sibling’s tuition… sob, how did you even know…!”
I opened my mouth in disbelief.
[Quest ｢Sir Maren’s Wish｣ conditions not met. Reward reduced by 50%.]
[Quest ｢Chef Fern’s Requested Recipe｣ conditions not met. Reward reduced by 50%.]
……
[<Freedom> stat reduced to Level 2.]
Are you insane?
How the hell did they know?!
I snapped and yanked the ring off my finger.
“Ahhh! Are you out of your mind?!”
I threw the ring straight into the corner of the room.
I had been wearing it so naturally that I had forgotten—it was Evelyn’s favorite ring. And everyone in the estate knew it!
If you’re wondering how they all knew, it was because Evelyn had caused a massive scene when she once lost it.
In fact, the ring was eventually found under her bed, becoming something of a legend.
“Haa…!”
I quickly checked my entire body.
Damn it, anything that screamed “Evelyn” has to go! Anything at all!
After frantically stripping off every accessory from head to toe, I finally managed to calm down.
While I sat there catching my breath, a delayed system notification arrived.
Ding!
[10 acts of goodwill accumulated! Special title acquired: <Righteous Undercover Agent (Growth Type)>]
[As a title reward, equipped items will automatically gain a ‘recognition suppression effect’ while disguised.]
[However, effect is removed when the face is fully exposed.]
“…What good is this now?!”
I’ve already been exposed!
Though I was frustrated, what’s done was done. At least I got it now… I guess?
In any case, public reporting was no longer an option. That left anonymous reporting, but spreading rumors that Jonas was a spy would likely backfire.
“…Did they notice the documents were gone by now?”
My eyes gleamed as I picked up the documents again.
Direct action was impossible, but planting seeds of suspicion within the ducal household was easy enough.
Jonas Kramer, financial aide of the Rosenthal Ducal House, had one pride: he had clawed his way up from the bottom to reach his current position.
“Sir! Based on the income and expenditure report, we need this budget!”
“No, I said no!”
“But…!”
Jonas firmly pushed the documents aside, showing his refusal to approve them.
The subordinate, after opening and closing his mouth several times, eventually retreated in disappointment.
They knew Jonas was not someone who could be persuaded once he made up his mind.
Left alone in his office, Jonas hummed as he reviewed documents. After stamping a few more papers, he suddenly reached downward.
There was a hidden secret drawer there.
He groped for the handle and pulled it open.
If he reached inside, his fingertips would touch pap—
“…Huh?”
Paper… should have been there…
“…Huh?”
His heart dropped instantly. Jonas hurriedly bent down, his face turning pale as sweat beaded on his skin.
Tap. Tap.
He rummaged desperately—but there was nothing.
A completely empty drawer.
“It’s… gone?”
Jonas’s face turned ghostly white. His heart pounded like a rollercoaster before his vision briefly darkened.
It had only been a single lapse.
He had erased evidence flawlessly for ten years, but had grown careless because he was in a good mood at the thought of receiving a reward from the mine deal.
Just that.
One day. He had only intended to enjoy it a little longer before disposing of it.
Jonas bit his nails, thinking rapidly.
Who? Who took it? How did they know? Is there someone who knows I’m a spy?
“Damn it…”
Ten whole years. Ten years!
He had started from the lowest rank under the Crown Prince’s orders and climbed all the way up here. How much effort had it taken?
He had deceived himself into believing he was truly a retainer of the Rosenthal House… and now, just when it was time for everything to bear fruit…
“No… absolutely not. Not after everything I’ve done to get here.”
He had to find it. Whoever it was… the culprit.
