The Circumstances of Being Chosen as the Villainess’s Favorite - Chapter 100

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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 100

“….”

I gulped and swallowed my dry saliva.

Those words, they almost sound like….

‘As if spending time with me… is very important to him.’

I tightly gripped the hem of my skirt.

‘No, don’t get ahead of yourself.’

Because of the special feelings I harbor for Lord Claudius, I might be overinterpreting things.

Our current relationship is already good enough.

‘So there’s no need to get ahead of myself and ruin our relationship.’

Lady Claudius’s close friend.

An older brother who cherishes and loves Lady Claudius.

…That much is enough.

A minor supporting character from the original story has formed good relationships with the Claudius siblings, who are the main characters of this world.

This alone was truly great progress.

So then.

‘Come to think of it, I haven’t properly thanked Lord Claudius for Gregory’s matter either.’

Moreover, when I went down to the Lower Village this time, he helped me when I was in trouble too.

Really, there are too many things to be grateful for.

I opened my mouth, trying hard to hide my bitterness.

“Um, I haven’t had a proper chance to say this until now, but… I’m truly grateful to you, Lord Claudius.”

“To me?”

“Yes. Earlier, when I was about to be humiliated by getting involved with the Vigilante Group, you helped me….”

After hesitating for a moment, I continued.

“The same goes for Gregory’s matter.”

“….”

Huh?

I tilted my head.

The moment I mentioned Gregory’s name, Lord Claudius’s gaze seemed to turn a bit cold.

Am I imagining things?

“If it weren’t for you, Lord Claudius, I would have inevitably gotten entangled with Gregory.”

I continued with sincerity.

“Both today’s incident and Gregory’s matter. I keep owing you favors, Lord Claudius.”

Lord Claudius simply listened quietly to my words without any particular reaction.

I smiled bitterly.

“Of course, you probably helped me because Lady Claudius was on your mind, but still, it was truly a great help to me….”

“No.”

Suddenly Lord Claudius shook his head firmly.

“It has nothing to do with Evangeline at all.”

…Lady Claudius has nothing to do with it?

I looked at Lord Claudius in bewilderment.

What does he mean by that?

“I helped because I wanted to help.”

Huh?

I blinked my eyes.

Lord Claudius seemed to choose his words for a moment, then added clearly as if drawing a line.

“Also, I am not a philanthropist.”

“I don’t understand what you mean….”

“Simply because she’s my younger sister’s friend, because my younger sister asked me to.”

Lord Claudius took off the glasses he was wearing and set them down.

His azure eyes, like a winter sea, looked directly at me.

…As if enchanted by that color.

I couldn’t tear my gaze away from those eyes at all.

“For such reasons alone, I don’t feel the necessity to go out of my way to help someone.”

Lord Claudius emphasized again.

My mind became completely confused.

‘What exactly do those words mean?’

Lord Claudius glanced at me with a complex look as I stood there dazed, then smiled smoothly and changed the subject.

“It’s getting late. Let me escort you to your bedroom.”

I snapped back to my senses and replied.

“It’s fine. I can go back by myself.”

“Of course, since we’re in the same villa, there wouldn’t be much difficulty for Lady Ansi to return.”

Lord Claudius shrugged and stood up lightly.

“I just want to escort you.”

“….”

What’s so special about those simple words.

…My heart trembled on its own.

A little later.

Lord Claudius and I walked side by side through the darkened corridor.

In the corridor so quiet you could hear a pin drop, only the sound of our footsteps echoed.

Bright moonlight pouring through the wide window frames.

And Lord Claudius walking beside me.

…It felt unreal, like walking through a dream.

Eventually we arrived in front of my bedroom.

“Have a good night, Lord Claudius.”

When I greeted him, trying to act nonchalant, Lord Claudius also responded with a gentle smile.

“You have a good night as well, Lady Ansi.”

I entered my bedroom.

Click.

The door closed.

“Haah….”

I let out a long sigh and slumped down against the door.

My heart was pounding.

‘Am I allowed to have hope?’

Just like how I twisted part of the original story by becoming friends with Lady Claudius.

…Could my relationship with Lord Claudius become like that too?

I squeezed my eyes shut.

Like facing a hopelessly tangled ball of yarn, I couldn’t properly unravel my emotions.

It seems like it would be difficult to fall asleep tonight.

* * *

Click.

The door closed.

Larite’s figure disappeared beyond the door like a phantom.

At the same time, Dietrich squeezed his eyes shut.

‘Did I act too… familiar?’

But.

“Brother, maybe you need to be a bit more honest?”

Suddenly his younger sister’s words came to mind.

Dietrich turned around sharply and began walking down the moonlit corridor.

‘What exactly does it mean to be honest?’

He had never once wanted to grow close to anyone before.

He had neither the leisure nor the need for it.

He thought he would never have reason to think of someone as special in his lifetime.

He already had the House of Claudius and his younger sister, and just being responsible for them filled up all the space in his heart.

But.

‘…This is a first.’

Someone who slipped into the gaps of his heart in an instant.

He thought her smile was beautiful.

A single tear from her made his heart ache with sympathy.

It was the same earlier when he saw the Vigilante Group and Larite facing off.

The moment he saw them intimidating her, his mind went completely blank.

He couldn’t make any rational judgments at all.

And so, every time he faced Larite.

…Dietrich no longer knew how he should behave.

‘I feel like an idiot.’

He thought he would never be this confused in his lifetime…

Yet the most surprising thing was.

‘It doesn’t… feel bad.’

Even though he couldn’t even grasp how he should act.

The fact that it didn’t feel bad.

Unlike his usual preference for clarity, he was actually excited.

‘Lady Ansi.’

Dietrich unconsciously touched his lips.

He could still smell the fragrance of the lip balm lingering at the tip of his nose.

“…”

The gentle moonlight illuminated his flushed ears.

* * *

At that moment.

Evangeline lay in bed with her eyes blazing.

‘I can’t just back down like this!’

Although she hadn’t succeeded in her ‘heart-pounding Swinging Bridge effect’ plan today.

Evangeline was determined to somehow make Larite her new sister-in-law.

‘Since it’s come to this, I’ll move on to the next plan.’

Evangeline made a resolute vow.

* * *

The next morning.

Lady Claudius, who had been layering clotted cream and strawberry jam on soft white bread, rolled only her eyes to look at Lord Claudius.

“Brother.”

What is it?

As if asking that, Lord Claudius, who had been sipping black coffee, only glanced up to look at Lady Claudius.

Speaking of which, coffee first thing in the morning.

What would he do if he got a hole in his stomach from that?

At the same time, Lady Claudius suddenly continued speaking.

“I think Larit must be bored.”

“…”

Wait, me?!

At my name suddenly popping up, I almost spat out the fried egg I was chewing.

Paying no attention to me, Lady Claudius smiled innocently.

“Come to think of it, Larit said she wanted to go for a morning walk today.”

Excuse me, but I never said anything like that…?

Those words rose to the tip of my throat, but swallowing the egg in my mouth was the priority.

By the time I hurriedly chewed and swallowed the egg.

The milk had already been spilled.

“So I was thinking, how about you go for a walk with Larit, brother?”

Lady Claudius just went ahead and suggested that…

“You’ve pretty much finished all your work by now anyway. Right?”

“Um, Eva?”

I called out to Lady Claudius restlessly.

“Lord Claudius worked late into the night yesterday too. I think it would be better for him to rest today.”

“Not at all.”

Huh?

I turned to look at Lord Claudius with an audible whoosh.

Lord Claudius met my gaze with a calm expression.

“I wanted to wake up properly and get some fresh air too.”

“But…”

I unconsciously trailed off.

Even so, wouldn’t it be better for him to rest today?

Just yesterday he was up late into the night.

Besides.

‘I’m confused.’

I still don’t really know what expression I should wear when facing Lord Claudius.

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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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