The Circumstances of Being Chosen as the Villainess’s Favorite - Chapter 113

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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 113

* * *

It seemed Seraphina had put quite a lot of thought into this charity party.

Well, it was a matter of her own reputation, so it was only natural in a way.

Apart from the ‘November’s Brightest Star’ event inspired by the rose game, there were various other small entertainments.

“You’re randomly assigning dance partners?”

Her Majesty the Empress’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.

Seraphina nodded with a bright smile.

“Yes, I thought it would be nice if people could mingle with those they haven’t been acquainted with before.”

The rules were simple.

Inside a large box were slips of paper with the ladies’ names written on them.

The gentlemen would randomly draw a slip.

Then they would dance with the lady whose name was written on the slip.

“Lord Claudius!”

Seraphina waved at Lord Claudius with a radiant face.

At the same time, deep wrinkles formed between Lord Claudius’s brows.

His expression clearly showed he wasn’t particularly pleased.

“…I’ll be back, Lady Ansi.”

Lord Claudius asked for my understanding and approached the box placed in the center of the stage.

The ladies watched with burning eyes to see who would be the lucky lady chosen by Lord Claudius.

Watching that scene.

Somehow I felt my mood sink.

‘Well, he is such a popular person after all.’

Still, we had come as partners for this occasion.

It felt like the time I could spend with Lord Claudius was being taken away…

‘Am I being too childish?’

As I was inwardly smiling bitterly to myself.

Lord Claudius drew out a slip of paper.

Lord Claudius, who unfolded the slip with somewhat halfhearted gestures, stiffened his eyebrows.

“…Seraphina Lopez.”

In that moment, my heart sank with a thud.

‘Seraphina?’

The ‘original story’ I had completely forgotten came flooding back.

Seraphina, the female protagonist of this world.

And Lord Claudius, Seraphina’s destined partner.

“Oh, me?”

Seraphina, who had widened her eyes in surprise, soon blushed on both cheeks and pretended to be modest.

“I’m clumsy at dancing, so I’m worried I might cause trouble for Lord Claudius…”

It was complete nonsense.

The title of ‘high society’s most pure lily’ wasn’t drawn by lottery, after all.

“Lady Lopez was chosen?”

“I’m so envious.”

Meanwhile, as the ladies each let out disappointed sighs or looked rather dejected.

“No, why Lady Lopez of all people?”

Lady Claudius, who was stuck close to my side, lowered her voice and grumbled irritably.

“Did someone tamper with that box?!”

“…”

I kept my mouth firmly shut.

Normally I would have quickly tried to soothe Lady Claudius, but strangely I didn’t feel motivated to do so now.

I knew in my head too.

That if Lord Claudius refused Seraphina here, it would ruin the heated atmosphere.

Even so.

‘I wish Lord Claudius… wouldn’t dance with Seraphina.’

Pathetically, I kept having such thoughts…

I forced a smile and hid my deflated mood.

“Now, next is High Priest Evans!”

Seraphina called out in a lively voice.

High Priest Evans stepped onto the stage.

The ladies once again had eyes full of anticipation.

And.

“Larit Ansi.”

What?

I doubted my own ears.

At the same time, High Priest Evans smiled brightly at me.

“Please take care of me, Lady Ansi.”

At that moment.

Lord Claudius looked at High Priest Evans with a cold gaze… or so it seemed.

‘Huh?’

I became a little confused.

Lord Claudius just had his usual neat expression.

There wasn’t even a trace of the icy look from just moments before.

‘Was it my imagination?’

Well, I must have seen it wrong.

I shook my head inwardly.

* * *

Standing in the dance hall, Seraphina looked at Dietrich with an excited face.

‘My goodness, to think I’d get to dance with Lord Claudius…’

Her heart was pounding.

Though she was weathered and hardened by the harsh social world.

Even such a Seraphina felt her heart flutter like a young girl when facing Lord Claudius.

‘This is an opportunity.’

Though she had grabbed onto Isaac as a lifeline, it wouldn’t hurt to build a good relationship with Lord Claudius as well.

‘Come to think of it, this seems to be the first time I’m seeing Lord Claudius this close up.’

His marble-smooth forehead, tightly pressed lips, and elegant jawline.

He was truly a beautiful man as if sculpted by God with utmost care.

Seraphina, who had been staring at Dietrich with enchanted eyes, suddenly furrowed her brow.

‘Hm?’

Something was strange.

Though she was clearly the one standing in front of Dietrich.

Those beautiful blue eyes never once looked at Seraphina.

And that gaze was…

‘Larit?!’

Seraphina, who reflexively followed Dietrich’s gaze, felt her insides twist.

His eyes were fixed solely on Larit.

‘This won’t do.’

She had to somehow turn Lord Claudius’s attention this way.

Seraphina spoke as warmly as possible.

“Um, I’m truly happy to be dancing with Lord Claudius like this.”

“…”

At those words, Dietrich looked back at Seraphina quietly for the first time.

Blue eyes as mineral and cold as finely crafted sapphires, devoid of any warmth.

As if he wasn’t even looking at her as a fellow human being.

…Seraphina felt a chill run down her spine for a moment.

“I see.”

Dietrich replied thus and glanced away again.

His gaze was still fixed on Larite.

‘This can’t be.’

Seraphina’s face turned pale.

Her thoroughly crumpled pride fell to the ground at her feet.

And Dietrich,

Crack!

With elegant steps befitting the dance music, carelessly trampled on Seraphina’s pride lying on the floor.

* * *

A lively dance tune began to play.

Listening to it absentmindedly, I thought with indifference.

‘This song, Seraphina chose it.’

That made sense, since this was Frederick’s Waltz that Seraphina danced best.

It was a very good piece, but how should I put it.

The tone was too cheerful to echo through the solemn Imperial Curia.

Also, this piece certainly had…

‘At the very end, there was a movement where you almost embrace each other.’

That’s why its nickname was probably ‘the dance that creates the most lovers.’

…Then would Seraphina and Lord Claudius also engage in intimate physical contact?

Of course, I knew it was simply dancing.

But still…

“This is our first time dancing together, isn’t it?”

Just then, High Priest Evans smiled at me.

I nodded reluctantly.

“Yes, it is.”

“Actually, I didn’t expect Lord Claudius to choose Lady Ansi as his partner.”

Moving through the steps with skilled motions, High Priest Evans spoke to me again.

‘What exactly is he trying to say?’

I looked at the High Priest with suspicious eyes.

High Priest Evans shrugged his shoulders conspicuously.

“There’s a story like this in the scriptures.”

Suddenly, why the scriptures?

Whether he knew of my lukewarm mood or not, High Priest Evans continued in a cheerful tone.

“A skilled technician once made giant wings to reach the goddess.”

I stiffened my shoulders with a start.

Because that technician was surely…

“One day, that technician took flight from the bell tower with wings strapped to both arms, believing without doubt that he could reach the goddess by his own power.”

At the same time, his pale blue eyes narrowed like a snake’s.

“So, what do you think happened to that technician?”

“…”

I bit my lips tightly.

That technician eventually had the glue holding his feathers melt away and crashed to the ground.

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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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