The Circumstances of Being Chosen as the Villainess’s Favorite - Chapter 103

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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 103

* * *

The next morning.

“My brother sleeping in? How unusual.”

At the dining table set with a lavish breakfast, Lady Claudius tilted her head curiously.

I found it a bit surprising too.

Lord Claudius was usually quite punctual.

‘Just yesterday, he was the first one down to the dining room.’

Just then, Lady Claudius grabbed a maid.

“Mina, could you go check on my brother’s bedroom?”

“Wait, Evangeline.”

I shook my head to stop Lady Claudius.

“Don’t do that.”

“Why not?”

“He might still be sleeping because he’s tired from yesterday’s events.”

“Hmm, my brother?”

Lady Claudius made a peculiar expression for a moment, then shrugged her shoulders.

“That man is so tough. He’s absolutely not the type to do that.”

“Still, he’s been pushing himself lately.”

Just yesterday, I know he went to bed early right after finishing dinner.

Lady Claudius pouted her lips.

“Fine, I get it. Should we eat first then?”

“Is it okay not to wait for Lord Claudius?”

At that question, Lady Claudius waved her hand dismissively.

“Come on, surely my brother wouldn’t tell us to starve while waiting for him to come down?”

That’s… true enough.

I nodded sheepishly.

We were concentrating on our meal for quite a while.

Then urgent footsteps could be heard from in front of the dining room.

“Sorry, I’m a bit late.”

It was Lord Claudius.

Neatly arranged hair, a tidy shirt and black cotton pants.

He looked as impeccable as always.

“Ah, brother.”

Lady Claudius, who had been cutting large pieces of soufflé pancake and chewing, casually waved her hand.

“We ate first. That’s okay, right?”

“Of course. I never expected you to have that kind of loyalty anyway, Evangeline.”

“What?!”

Lady Claudius glared at him.

Regardless, Lord Claudius kindly greeted me.

“Good morning, Lady Ansi.”

“Good morning. Did you sleep well last night, Lord Claudius?”

“Yes, well.”

Lord Claudius smiled slightly and sat down in his chair.

Then he lightly gestured to a servant waiting behind him.

“I’d like some hot peppermint tea, please.”

I blinked my eyes for a moment.

‘Huh?’

Lord Claudius usually preferred coffee over tea.

From my observations over the past few days, he seemed to prefer pure black coffee with little to no sugar or cream…

‘No, that’s not the important part!’

I grimaced inwardly.

The point was that it was unusual for Lord Claudius to choose peppermint tea instead of coffee.

Of course, he might just want tea today, but usually peppermint tea is…

‘Don’t you drink it when you have a cold or your throat feels scratchy?’

I narrowed my eyes.

There were more strange signs after that.

I noticed that he only requested hot tea several times to drink, but didn’t touch his food at all.

“Lord Claudius, aren’t you going to eat?”

When I asked carefully,

“I don’t have much of an appetite.”

Lord Claudius answered with his characteristic smooth smile.

I slightly furrowed my brow.

Of course, he might not have an appetite since it’s morning.

But…

After the meal ended in such a suspicious situation.

Lord Claudius immediately stood up.

“Well, I’ll head upstairs first.”

“Huh? Already?”

Lady Claudius, who had been skillfully cutting and eating the cherry tart served for dessert, looked at Lord Claudius with wide eyes.

“Won’t you stay a little longer?”

“No, I think I’ll get some rest.”

Get some rest?

A person who divides his time down to the minute and second is talking about taking a nap?

I couldn’t hide my bewilderment.

The more I thought about it, the stranger it seemed.

Normally, rather than leaving this early, he would at least exchange a few words of conversation before going.

‘Besides, he went to bed early yesterday too, so he shouldn’t be lacking sleep.’

I called out to Lord Claudius with a suspicious feeling.

“Lord Claudius.”

“…”

Lord Claudius stopped abruptly while still turned away.

He looked like a broken wind-up doll.

Then.

“Did you call me?”

Lord Claudius glanced back and habitually curved his eyes into a smile.

I asked with concern.

“Are you really okay?”

“I’m not sure what you mean. Of course I’m fine…”

Suddenly Lord Claudius trailed off and pressed his forehead.

I widened my eyes.

“Lord Claudius?!”

“Brother!”

Lady Claudius also threw down her tart and jumped up from her seat.

Lord Claudius waved his hand as if to say not to worry.

“I’m fine… I am…”

But contrary to his words, Lord Claudius couldn’t bring himself to remove the hand pressed to his forehead.

As if he couldn’t steady himself due to dizziness.

At the same time, Lord Claudius lost his balance and swayed briefly.

“Good heavens, Lord Claudius?”

I hastily grabbed Lord Claudius’s wrist and was startled.

The wrist in my hand was burning hot like a fireball.

“A fever…!”

“What? A fever?!”

Lady Claudius came running over in a hurry.

Lord Claudius, still holding his forehead, spoke soothingly.

“There’s no need to make a fuss. If I just rest a little…”

With those final words.

Lord Claudius collapsed to the floor like a wooden puppet with severed strings.

* * *

“It’s exhaustion from overwork.”

The doctor who had rushed over from Lord’s Castle declared.

“Really? It’s really just exhaustion?! It’s not some serious illness or anything, right?!”

Lady Claudius grabbed the doctor’s shoulders with her tear-stained face and shook him frantically.

Even while being shaken by Lady Claudius, the doctor was busy trying to reassure her.

“L-Lady Claudius. It really is just exhaustion.”

“What if he doesn’t wake up?!”

“That won’t happen.”

“Can you guarantee it?”

“Of course.”

Only after pestering the doctor several times.

“Haaa…”

Lady Claudius let out a long sigh and slumped into a chair.

Then she glared at Lord Claudius with resentful eyes.

“Why did you have to get sick? You scared me to death, really!”

Right after Lord Claudius was carried to the bedroom.

Lady Claudius had nearly fallen into a panic.

“Larit, what should I do? Brother won’t open his eyes!”

“Lady Claudius, please calm down a little. The doctor will be here soon, okay?”

“M-my brother is the only family I have. I…”

Lady Claudius had been crying her eyes out like that.

But now that it’s just exhaustion, it’s obvious she feels embarrassed…

“Since he’s naturally healthy. If he takes nutritious liquid food, takes his medicine regularly, and gets plenty of rest, he’ll recover quickly.”

With those words, the doctor left the room.

“…”

Lady Claudius looked at the sleeping Lord Claudius with her lips pressed tight.

Seeing her reddened eyes, I carefully suggested to Lady Claudius.

“How about Evangeline gets some rest too?”

“What? No, I want to stay by his side until brother wakes up.”

“Still, you were so shocked this time.”

It’s not an exaggeration, I really thought Lady Claudius would collapse too earlier…

“I’ll definitely call for Evangeline when Lord Claudius wakes up. Okay?”

When I persuaded her again like that, Lady Claudius finally nodded glumly.

“Alright. But you have to contact me for sure, okay?”

“Of course.”

After Lady Claudius left the bedroom too.

I pulled a chair over and sat right next to the bed.

‘Really, what is all this…’

Contrary to his words about getting up and back to work soon, Lord Claudius’s face was completely pale.

Cold sweat was beading on his forehead.

His slightly parted lips were cracked white.

Feverish breaths escaped raggedly.

I took a cold wet towel and gently wiped away Lord Claudius’s cold sweat.

Then, after wetting it again and placing it on his forehead.

“…”

Lord Claudius’s expression became a little more comfortable.

‘Thank goodness.’

After feeling relieved for a moment, I looked at Lord Claudius with complicated eyes.

“Really, what are you going to do getting this sick.”

“…”

Since Lord Claudius was sleeping soundly anyway, he wouldn’t hear my words at all.

I freely let out my inner thoughts.

“Evangeline was so shocked she cried.”

“…”

“You said you wanted to be good to Evangeline.”

I took a deep breath.

I wanted to speak as calmly as possible.

“…Making people worry like this.”

…My voice was trembling completely out of control.

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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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