The Circumstances of Being Chosen as the Villainess’s Favorite - Chapter 109

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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 109

A moment later.

Dietrich, who had thrown up both hands and feet in surrender, asked with the face of a defeated man.

“So, what do you want?”

At that question, Evangeline’s eyes sparkled brightly.

‘What on earth is that girl scheming?’

Dietrich felt strangely uneasy.

“You know there’s an event where people donate auction items at this charity party, right?”

“Really?”

Honestly, he didn’t know.

After all, the Ducal House always made enormous donations anyway.

In such circumstances, there was no need to specifically donate auction items.

“Larit says it’s influenced by a game called ‘Rose Game.'”

“What’s that game?”

“You can look that up yourself later, brother.”

Evangeline shrugged her shoulders and gave him a mischievous eye-smile.

“One piece of advice though – if you don’t look it up, you’ll really regret it.”

“…”

What on earth was going on.

Dietrich furrowed his brow.

“I gave you advice, didn’t I?”

Evangeline shrugged again and continued speaking.

“Anyway, I know our family has a study that Donovan painted when he was ten years old in our collection. Right?”

Donovan.

He was a Temple-affiliated painter who made a name for himself about 100 years ago.

He was famous for painting various types of religious paintings, and was particularly renowned for expressing the compassionate, maternal aspects of the goddess well.

Donovan had a deep bond with his mother, and that mother’s image was said to have been embodied as the goddess in his religious paintings.

The study Evangeline was referring to was a painting of that mother who became the motif for the goddess.

“Probably, yes?”

“I want to donate that.”

“Do as you please.”

Well, that much wasn’t difficult.

But at the words that followed, Dietrich’s face hardened slightly.

“But under Larit’s name.”

“What?”

What was that troublemaker thinking?

Dietrich couldn’t hide his suspicious look.

“After all, you’re going to make a huge donation under the family name anyway, right brother?”

Evangeline lifted her chin proudly.

“So wouldn’t it be better to donate the item under Larit’s name rather than mine?”

“…Under Lady Ansi’s name?”

“Yes. Besides, I don’t like Larit having to worry about donations and all that stuff.”

Evangeline’s voice turned coldly serious.

“And I’d hate it even more if Larit got looked down upon.”

Dietrich agreed with that sentiment.

“Hmm.”

After thinking for a moment, Dietrich asked back.

“If that’s the case, wouldn’t it be better to donate something else rather than that piece? We have many more famous collectibles.”

The study Donovan painted when he was ten years old.

Of course it was an extremely rare work, and people with artistic knowledge would recognize it.

But to put it another way, unless the artist’s name was revealed, most people wouldn’t even recognize the value of that work.

Moreover, if it was donated under someone else’s name rather than the original owner, House of Claudius…

‘No one would recognize that study, would they?’

Of course, since it was an auction to raise donations, they would reveal the artist’s name after the auction began.

Somehow, it seemed like Evangeline had some ulterior motive…

What could it be?

“That won’t do.”

Meanwhile, Evangeline shook her head firmly.

“It has to be that piece specifically.”

“…Evangeline, what exactly are you scheming?”

At that question, Evangeline gave him a sly eye-smile.

“Secret.”

Then she temptingly waved Larite’s reply and pressed Dietrich.

“So are you going to allow it or not?”

“…”

Following the gently swaying card envelope, his blue eyes shook violently.

Dietrich squeezed his eyes shut and opened them again.

And.

“This won’t bring shame to the name of House of Claudius, will it?”

“Of course not, naturally.”

“And it won’t cause trouble for Lady Ansi either?”

“What? Where would you find someone who treats their friend so badly?”

Evangeline bristled.

“Well, if that’s the case.”

And so, in the end, Dietrich was defeated by his younger sister.

Actually, it was more like he just let her win.

While Evangeline could be unreasonable at times, she wasn’t so difficult that she would cause trouble at such a major event.

…No, more precisely, she could cause trouble but wouldn’t this time.

Because.

‘Lady Ansi will be by her side.’

His sister did listen well to Larite, and Larite was a very sensible person.

Most importantly.

‘…If it’s something that helps Lady Ansi save face.’

Unlike Evangeline, whose donations would go under the Claudius name, Larite had to make donations directly herself.

If Claudius donated an item under Larite’s name this time, Larite could be freed from that burden.

“Here, take it.”

Just then, Evangeline held out the card envelope as if bestowing a great favor.

Dietrich snatched it and glared at his sister.

“Really, it’s a card that came to me, so why are you acting so generous?”

“Oh my, is it okay to say that?”

Evangeline teased annoyingly.

“I’m Larit’s best friend, you know? If I happen to get just a little upset and accidentally say something wrong to Larit~?”

“Fine, fine, I get it.”

Dietrich ultimately raised the white flag once again.

* * *

After that.

Dietrich, who had shut himself in his bedroom, immediately opened the card envelope first.

[To the esteemed Lord Claudius.

Hello, Lord Claudius.

This is Larite.

Time has already passed by so much.

Thank you for asking after me and showing such concern.

I would be delighted to accept the partnership proposal that Lord Claudius has offered me.

Thank you.

― Larit Ansi]

…It was merely that simple and plain of a card.

The content wasn’t even long, so it would have been over once he read it quickly.

Yet Dietrich couldn’t seem to take his eyes off the card.

Just then.

Dietrich happened to catch sight of his own face reflected in the bookshelf glass.

‘Thank goodness Eva didn’t catch me with this expression.’

It was an expression so soft and mushy that anyone who saw it would never think it was Dietrich, and might even think he looked foolish.

Dietrich clicked his tongue and lowered the corners of his lips that had risen so high.

But a moment later.

Dietrich’s lips, as he looked down at the card again, were curved in a gentle arc.

And so, after reading the contents over and over until he had nearly memorized it.

Dietrich finally managed to put the card down.

‘By the way, what on earth is this rose game?’

The brightest star of November.

An event introduced for the first time at this charity party, both for entertainment and to raise donations.

That event was supposedly based on a social gathering game called the rose game…

“You’ll have to find out about that yourself later, brother.”

“One piece of advice though—if you don’t find out, you’ll really regret it, won’t you?”

Those words Evangeline had said were subtly bothering him.

Dietrich resolved that as soon as he opened his eyes tomorrow morning, he would have his aide look into what this ‘rose game’ was.

* * *

I lay on my side on the bed, reading the card by the light of the lamp.

‘Is this a dream?’

I had read it over and over again, but the content remained the same.

“If it would not be presumptuous, I would like to ask Lady Ansi to join me as my partner…”

As I read the card’s sentences aloud, I couldn’t contain my joy and stamped my feet.

‘What should I do, it feels like a dream.’

The third Friday of November.

It was the day the charity party would be held.

…I was so looking forward to that day.

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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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