The Circumstances of Being Chosen as the Villainess’s Favorite - Chapter 1

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 1

Prologue. The Villainess’s Honey is Sweet

The ballroom filled with elegant melodies.

The ladies dressed in splendid gowns were each as beautiful as blooming flowers.

However, among them, there was one lady who shone particularly bright.

“Lady Lopez looks exceptionally beautiful today as well.”

“You must save the next dance for me as well, won’t you?”

A lady surrounded by gentlemen blushed on both cheeks and smiled shyly.

“Really… saying such things makes me embarrassed.”

Seraphina Lopez.

Along with Lady Claudius, she was praised as the most beautiful lady in current high society.

Pure light green hair and deep green eyes resembling fresh verdure.

And even the mermaid-line dress that smoothly embraced and flowed down her entire body.

She truly had the grace of a mermaid.

“Embarrassed? I always speak only the truth.”

“Where else could we find someone as beautiful as Lady Lopez?”

Just as the surrounding gentlemen were busy showering Seraphina with all sorts of flattery.

Another lady entered the ballroom.

Simultaneously, people stirred greatly.

“Who on earth is that lady?”

The lady with her back straight showed no sign of shrinking despite receiving everyone’s attention.

Instead, she only responded with a leisurely smile.

A moment later.

People who recognized who she was widened their eyes in shock.

“Wait. Su-surely… is that Lady Ansi?!”

Larite Ansi.

Seraphina’s close friend, called the lily of high society.

However, the rumors that circulated secretly behind the scenes were…

‘Seraphina’s doormat.’

Gloomy and drab appearance.

Tacky dresses that didn’t suit balls at all.

Even her posture of hunching her shoulders, making her look even more insignificant.

Because such a Larite was by her side, Seraphina could shine even brighter.

But the current Larite was completely different from usual.

“This can’t be.”

“That lady is the gloomy and drab Lady Ansi?”

The gentlemen who had been preoccupied with gaining Seraphina’s favor unconsciously turned their gazes.

Above her thickly braided jet-black hair, delicately crafted diamond ornaments sparkled like stars.

Moreover, even her misty, ethereal silver dress.

Gone were the ghostly hair that hung down messily, which had been Lady Ansi’s trademark, and the dress that didn’t even fit properly, coming up awkwardly above her ankles.

Today’s Larite was dressed absolutely perfectly.

Meanwhile, the ladies demonstrated their keen eye, instantly seeing through the identity of the dress and accessories Larite was wearing.

“That dress… isn’t that a Madame Soberno dress?”

“And those diamond hair ornaments! They’re the new collection from the Chelsiani brand!”

From head to toe, Larite was wearing only products from the finest luxury brands in the Empire.

The shock of facing such a Larite was brief.

Seraphina’s eyes became as cold as ice.

“…”

She put on a bright smile and approached Larite.

“Lari, you must have been really looking forward to today’s ball. You put in so much effort?”

But contrary to her friendly tone, her gaze scanning Larite up and down was full of pity.

“But what should we do? The dress and jewelry seem a bit… unsuited for you.”

“…”

Larite faced Seraphina with an expressionless look.

Seraphina conspicuously drooped her eyebrows.

“Honestly, your face is a bit plain, isn’t it? Such flashy attire might feel a little out of place, don’t you think?”

“…”

“If you were going to spend such a large sum anyway, it would have been nice if you had told me. Then I could have chosen a dress and jewelry that would suit you perfectly…”

But then.

“Are you saying that for me to hear right now?”

Click, click.

The sound of heels striking the marble floor rang out clearly.

Lake-blue eyes arrogantly gazed at Seraphina.

“L-Lady Claudius?”

Evangeline Claudius.

If Seraphina was the lily of high society, then the most splendid rose was none other than Evangeline.

The one and only daughter of the Empire’s sole ducal house.

Gorgeous honey blonde hair and eyes that sparkled like embedded sapphires.

Beauty, status, and wealth.

She lacked nothing – one of the most noble ladies in the Empire.

Such a woman shot at Seraphina with a sarcastic voice.

“Today’s Lari was dressed up by me personally, from head to toe.”

“Pardon?”

Seraphina’s face turned pale.

Regardless, Evangeline continued with a sharp voice.

“But in front of everyone watching, saying that the dress doesn’t suit Lari and such nonsense…”

“L-Lady!”

“Isn’t that indirectly insulting my taste as lacking refinement?”

“Th-that can’t be! I was just…!”

Seraphina tried to make excuses frantically.

But Evangeline had already withdrawn her interest from Seraphina.

“Hmm, to my eyes, Lari looks quite beautiful.”

Toward the ladies and gentlemen watching this way with anxious expressions.

Evangeline smiled leisurely.

“What do the rest of you think?”

“Of course, you’re absolutely right!”

“I had no idea Lady Ansi was this beautiful!”

“Your aesthetic sense is truly remarkable, Lady!”

People unanimously came forward to affirm Evangeline’s words.

The dressed-up Larite was indeed quite beautiful.

…But more than anything, they were terrified of Evangeline’s piercing cold glare.

“Honestly, to my eyes…”

Evangeline’s smile deepened slightly.

“Lari looks far more beautiful than Lady Lopez.”

“…”

“…”

At that moment.

People quickly gauged each other’s reactions.

It wasn’t ‘Lady Ansi’ but the affectionate nickname ‘Lari.’

That meant, in other words.

It meant that Evangeline thought of Larite as being that close to her.

After all, Evangeline had never once called anyone by a nickname before.

Seraphina, who had been silent for a moment, seemed to grit her teeth, then her lips began to tremble.

“Lari, this is really too much.”

Her moist, deep green eyes looked at Larite pitifully.

“How can friends treat each other like this? I only wanted to help you, but to ignore me just because you’ve become close with the Princess…”

Since she couldn’t openly say anything to Evangeline, she was trying to redirect her attack toward the easier target, Larite.

However.

“Lady Lopez, isn’t that a rather childish way of thinking?”

“Princess!”

“It’s been ages since you became an adult after your debutante ball, so how long do you plan to keep playing ‘my friend, your friend’?”

Tsk.

Evangeline clicked her tongue audibly and glared at Seraphina.

“How immature.”

“…!”

Seraphina’s face flushed red with shame.

Evangeline, who had been looking at Seraphina with disdainful eyes, glanced briefly at Larite.

“I don’t see any value in continuing to speak with Lady Lopez. Let’s go, Lari.”

“Yes, Princess.”

Larite smiled brightly and followed alongside Evangeline.

“…”

“…”

People stared blankly at the retreating figures of the two ladies.

A moment later.

Evangeline, who had stopped in the deserted Garden, opened her mouth primly.

“About that dress, Lari—I didn’t get it for you because I like you. I had it made because it would be embarrassing if the person standing next to me looked too shabby.”

While glaring pointlessly at the Garden shrouded in darkness, Evangeline tightly grasped Larite’s hand.

“…So don’t go anywhere else, and make sure to stay close by my side. Understood?”

“Of course.”

Larite, who had been quietly looking down at her hand held by Evangeline, soon smiled brightly.

“I only have Eva, after all.”

Really, our villainess is the best!

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