I Won't Clear Up the Misunderstanding. I Don't Mind Being the Villainess. - Chapter 31

Rain is a “female doctor.” You know the type—the stunning woman who dresses like a man.
She looks every bit the delicate, handsome young man, but getting this close, I can definitely see feminine features around her hands and waist.
Apparently, in my past life, there was a huge outcry from readers once Rain’s true gender was revealed. The author confessed this in one of the collected volumes, and frankly, I can see why.
Rain—as handsome as Kevin, immediately kind to Erica, and overly tactile—was one of the most popular characters early on. The early Kevin was so cold and cruel to Erica that many readers probably found comfort and something to root for in the warm dynamic between Rain and Erica. Unfortunately for those Rain supporters, the manga would hit them with multiple disappointments before the final chapter.
First, the reveal that Rain was actually female.
Second, that the person Rain loved wasn’t Erica at all, but Kevin.
And third, that as Kevin and Erica grew closer, Rain would become consumed by jealousy and fall into darkness.
Rain’s behavior soon spiraled so wildly off track that I genuinely wondered if it was spite aimed at the complaining readers. She ended up completely rejected by Kevin, who told her never to show her face again. She quit her medical practice, fell into despair, and vanished.
She reappeared for the first time years later in the final chapter, married to a minor supporting character. Her hair was long, she wore a dress, the beautiful man persona was gone, and her stomach was swollen. Seeing Rain, whose tone had changed as much as her appearance, I was truly, deeply glad I hadn’t been a fan of hers.
(What sort of look would she have on her face if she knew the life she was going to lead?)
I thought, watching Rain’s bewildered expression right in front of me.
“I’ve only unlaced my top. Could you examine my back now?”
“Oh, right… Understood. Would you mind sitting on that chair for me?”
“Yes.”
I sat down, giving her access to my back. Rain, wearing her white coat, stood behind me. Silence settled over us for a moment.
“There’s a clear blue bruise, and this laceration… it’s an old one, isn’t it?”
“That’s a remnant from when my half-sister, Rose, used a whip on me.”
“A whip?! Why on earth would she do that?”
“She said she wanted to play with it.”
“…What a terrifying woman. And this bruise… Did Kevin actually do this?”
“Yes. Feel free to check with the Duke.”
“But… I always thought he was a man who was kind to women.”
Rain’s voice held a note of genuine pain. She really had terrible taste in men. Still, despite her obvious dejection, she quickly and neatly dressed my wounds.
“Perhaps he was only ever kind to Lady Lily,” I suggested.
Rain fell silent again. Without a word, she fastened the hooks on the back of my dress.
“…Did Kevin tell you about Miss Lily?”
“Yes, that he doesn’t consider anyone but Lady Lily his wife.”
“…I thought so. But if that’s true, why would he…”
“Why would he remarry someone like me, you mean?”
I turned to face Rain. It made sense that she was confused; she couldn’t possibly know about the back-and-forth between the Royal Family and Kevin. I knew the reason because of my past-life memories, but obviously, I couldn’t explain that here.
“Well, I don’t know the precise reason for the remarriage, but I can certainly guess why he chose my half-sister Rose or me as his match.”
“The reason he chose you two?”
“Most likely, because it would be easy to get a divorce. After all, both my sister and I… we’re both rumored to be wicked women, aren’t we?”
I gave a half-smile, and Rain’s expression showed she got it, before she quickly cleared her throat to cover her reaction. That’s right—the reputation for being a ‘man-chasing wicked woman’ isn’t unique to Erica anymore.
(And Rose was the one who was originally called that.)
My half-sister Rose was notorious for playing the field. So much so that, despite being the Count’s eldest daughter, she’d never even secured an engagement. But my father scolded her for taking it too far.
Unrepentant, Rose decided to spread rumors that I—her half-sister Erica—was the one who enjoyed playing around and was the real wicked woman. Then she started going out and having fun while pretending to be me.
(But that doesn’t exactly erase Rose’s history.)
The result was that both half-sisters of the Olsson family now had a reputation as man-chasing wicked women.
(She should have used an alias. Though it’s too late now.)
Even to pin the blame on her half-sister was a stretch, given Rose was eighteen when Erica was only eleven. Now that I’m married into the Duke of Avenius’s family, I wonder if Rose will finally be able to restrain herself.
“It’s true my parents were confused when he chose a wife from the Olsson Count family… they wondered what he was thinking.”
“He was probably thinking about the divorce. That’s why the Duke and I have had absolutely no interaction as husband and wife.”
“…I see.”
Rain visibly relaxed. Even without knowing the original story, anyone with a bit of intuition could tell she had deep feelings for Kevin. I sighed, covering my mouth.
“However, he did say he’d embrace me roughly and force a kiss on me…”
“What?”
“And in front of his child, no less. I was furious and told him it was absolutely outrageous.”
“…Kevin? Really?”
“If you doubt me, you are welcome to confirm it with the Duke.”
I looked straight into Rain’s eyes. Her green eyes widened, wavered, and then seemed to steady again.
“…I understand. I’ll take your word for it. Did you get the bruise on your back then?”
“Yes. That’s when he declared, ‘I don’t consider you my wife,’ and when I suggested we have separate bedrooms, he became enraged.”
“It makes no sense… What exactly is Kevin trying to achieve?”
Rain looked completely baffled.
What that man was trying to achieve, I thought, was exactly what I wanted to know, too.