The Circumstances of Being Chosen as the Villainess’s Favorite - Chapter 104

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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 104

* * *

Under the heavily overcast sky, snow fell white as dead butterflies.

A world crafted entirely in achromatic tones, devoid of any color whatsoever.

Ten-year-old Dietrich looked down at the black coffin being lowered into the pit with an expressionless face.

“My word, to think that Lord Claudius would pass away like this too.”

“What on earth is happening in the Ducal House…”

The mourners dressed in black whispered in hushed voices.

“Are those two the only direct descendants of House of Claudius now?”

“That’s right, it seems so.”

“Both the young lord and Lady Claudius are so young…”

Pretending not to hear the mourners’ whispers, Dietrich deliberately straightened his back even more.

‘I must not be looked down upon by anyone.’

While firmly steeling his resolve inwardly.

Today was his father’s funeral.

His parents had passed away one after the other, two weeks apart.

He couldn’t even know the cause of their deaths.

They could only speculate that it might have been some epidemic whose cause had yet to be properly identified.

However.

“…”

Dietrich bit his lips until they bled.

‘If it’s an epidemic, why did only Mother and Father pass away like this?’

‘Why are Evangeline and I, and all the other servants, completely fine?’

All sorts of questions tore through his mind chaotically.

And at the end of those questions…

‘Mother, Father.’

He could no longer meet them.

He would never again hear Father’s stern yet warm voice, or Mother’s nightingale-like laughter.

…Now, he had to endure alone somehow.

The heavy weight of responsibility pressed down on his shoulders.

Just then, a small hand wriggled and grabbed at Dietrich’s collar.

Dietrich looked down at the owner of that hand with a lost gaze.

‘Evangeline.’

It was Dietrich’s little sister, only six years old.

“Brother…”

His sister’s blue eyes were filled with fear.

“Come here, Eva.”

Dietrich firmly grasped Evangeline’s hand.

Her frail frame.

Her tearful eyes.

…The only family he had left in this world.

Dietrich bent down to meet Evangeline’s gaze.

He reached out and clumsily wiped away his sister’s tears.

“Don’t cry, okay?”

“Mm-hmm…”

Evangeline nodded while sniffling.

But then.

A man called out to Dietrich.

“Dietrich.”

“…”

Dietrich tightly held Evangeline’s hand while looking up at the man with wary eyes.

It was Lord Evans.

His father’s brother, making him Dietrich’s uncle.

Originally, he should have become independent without even a title.

But the previous Lord Claudius had shown favor to his younger brother, transferring the title of Lord Evans from among the family’s holdings.

“Are you alright? I don’t know how to comfort you in this…”

Lord Evans looked at the two siblings with pity, then smiled good-naturedly.

“So, would it be alright if I looked after you siblings for a while?”

“…You would look after us?”

“Yes. Just temporarily, until you come of age, Dietrich.”

His tone sounded as if he truly cared for the two siblings.

“There are probably some matters that would be easier for an adult to handle. Until then, I was thinking of taking care of all the troublesome affairs for you…”

However, Lord Evans’s eyes gleamed with barely concealed desire.

Meeting those sinister eyes, Dietrich made his decision.

‘Eva.’

His grip on his sister’s hand tightened.

‘I must protect her.’

Dietrich spoke coldly.

“Your form of address is incorrect, Lord Evans.”

“What?”

“It’s not ‘Dietrich,’ but Young Lord Claudius.”

To the bewildered Lord Evans, Dietrich continued clearly.

“Also, until now I have tolerated your informal speech toward me, considering our blood relationship as uncle and nephew.”

Dietrich lifted his chin slightly.

“But now that it’s certain I will inherit the title of Lord Claudius, I believe you should properly show me respect.”

“Dietrich!”

The lord raised his voice angrily, but Dietrich didn’t even bat an eyelash.

“I will forgive the disrespect you have shown me only this once.”

“How can you treat me like this!”

Lord Evans’s face turned red and blue with rage.

“I’m your uncle, and I said that thinking of you!”

However, Dietrich only asked calmly in return.

“Would someone who thinks of me raise their voice at my father’s funeral?”

“…”

Lord Evans looked around in alarm, finally noticing his surroundings.

The mourners were staring at the lord and Dietrich with wide eyes.

The lord tried to hide his flustered state, but his efforts were rendered futile by Dietrich’s next words.

“Also, while you said you would look after us siblings…”

Because Dietrich firmly shook his head.

“It’s unnecessary.”

The lord’s neck turned bright red.

“Damn it!”

The lord spat out a curse and left with irritated steps.

At the same time, other retainers rushed toward the two siblings.

“Young Lord!”

“What is this about…”

Along with them, Evangeline asked cautiously.

“Brother, are you okay?”

And for good reason, as her brother’s hand clasping hers was trembling uncontrollably.

Dietrich smiled and nodded.

“Of course.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Answering thus, Dietrich tightly gripped the hem of his clothes.

It was to somehow suppress the trembling of his hands.

His one and only blood-related younger sister.

The countless subjects belonging to the Claudius Domain.

The servants working under the name of Claudius.

And even the various business enterprises.

‘I must take responsibility.’

Dietrich clenched his teeth tightly.

He had to become an excellent duke.

So that no one could even dare approach the Claudius Domain.

This land that his parents had left him, and where his sister would live in the future.

So that no one could harbor any ambitions toward it…

Therefore.

‘I must not trust anyone.’

His blue eyes sharpened like blades.

‘The only one I can trust is myself.’

The pure white snow falling silently devoured everything.

Dietrich’s smile, his tears, and his childhood innocence too.

That day, along with the snow that scattered like dead butterflies…

Everything melted away completely.

* * *

His ears felt muffled as if he had sunk deep underwater.

His eyelids were heavy as if weights were attached, and his whole body drooped like waterlogged cotton.

He thought it would be nice to sleep forever like this.

‘What is this?’

Something cold and moist touched his burning forehead.

‘…Cool.’

The cool something swept across his forehead several times, carefully wiping his cheeks and chin.

It felt good.

How should he put it, it seemed like it had been so long since someone had taken care of him like this.

More precisely, since his parents had passed away.

He had always endured alone, taking medicine by himself to avoid showing any weakness.

It seemed like he had never received nursing care like this…

‘Who is it?’

At the same time, Dietrich struggled to lift his eyelids.

Through his blurry vision, someone’s face appeared hazily.

Elegant features and long eyelashes.

And pink eyes looking down at him with worry.

“…Lord!”

A voice that seemed to come from beyond sleep, echoing and muffled.

“Lord Claudius, are you conscious?!”

With that cry, his consciousness returned sharply as if being pulled out of water.

“Lady… Ansi?”

“Yes, it’s me.”

Larite looked down at Dietrich with an expression close to tears, gripping the wet cloth tightly with both hands.

“Do you know how shocked Lady Claudius was when you collapsed like this?”

Then she bit her lips tightly and murmured.

“And… me too.”

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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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