The Circumstances of Being Chosen as the Villainess’s Favorite - Chapter 12
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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 12
‘Is this really the scale of a ducal house?! This is completely overwhelming!’
Even so, I never expected they would rent out an entire clothing store!
Moreover.
‘This clothing store, it’s Christensen Atelier!’
Christensen Atelier.
It was the highest-end clothing store operated under the name of Madam Christensen, one of the Empire’s most renowned fashion designers.
It was a clothing store that received commissions from the Empire’s leading nobles, and even occasionally from the imperial family.
Recently, it had gained even more fame by creating a wedding dress for a foreign crown princess.
Even Seraphina had never had a dress made here before…!
‘The price… will I be able to afford it?’
My pupils shook violently as if struck by an earthquake.
Especially since my dignity maintenance fund was nearly depleted.
Recently, Seraphina had blinked her pretty eyes and said,
“Lari. I want a new dress.”
…and had been pestering me about it.
Like the official sucker I was for Seraphina, I naturally bought her all sorts of things.
“What are you doing? Aren’t you going in?”
Lady Claudius glanced at me sideways and strode ahead of me.
‘Ugh.’
I dragged my feet behind Lady Claudius like a cow being led to slaughter.
Really, I hoped installment payments would be possible…
About two hours later.
“Ha, now you finally look worth being seen with.”
Lady Claudius, who had been carefully observing me in the mirror, murmured with a satisfied voice.
“Indeed, she was a lady worth the effort of styling.”
Madam Christensen quickly chimed in agreement.
It was exactly as they said.
From head to toe, I had been polished to perfection…
‘I look better than I expected?’
My disheveled hair had been neatly arranged in a half-up style.
The dress, which lightly cinched my waist to emphasize my slender figure, was pink and complemented my eye color well.
Plus there was even a ribbon-decorated handbag as an accent piece.
Even to my eyes, which had been raised to impossibly high beauty standards from being around Seraphina and Lady Claudius,
I looked quite pretty!
However, there was still one major problem remaining.
‘The bill… what should I do…?’
I squeezed my eyes shut and creakily turned toward Madam Christensen.
“Um, Madam Christensen. Is installment payment possible by any chance?”
“Wait a moment. What are you talking about?”
At the same time, Lady Claudius glared and interjected into the conversation.
“Did you really think I would make Lady Ansi pay for the dress?”
Then she proudly lifted her chin.
“I am Lady Claudius. I’m not so desperate as to pass off such pocket change.”
“…!?”
Wow, what should I do?
Looking at Lady Claudius with enchanted eyes, I reflexively muttered in a daze.
“I think I might fall for you, Lady Claudius…”
“Hmph, over just this much?”
Lady Claudius snorted audibly and glanced at Madam Christensen.
“Bill all of today’s expenses to the ducal house.”
“Yes, Lady Claudius.”
Madam bowed her head respectfully.
Lady Claudius suggested to me primly.
“Shall we go have lunch now?”
We moved to have an early lunch.
It was a brunch cafe that was rumored to be famous throughout the capital.
Lady Claudius’s preparedness shone here as well, as we were immediately guided to a second-floor balcony seat with a clear view of the street.
“Did you make a reservation in advance?”
“Of course. Famous restaurants are usually difficult to get into without reservations.”
I’d noticed since yesterday, but Lady Claudius was surprisingly sensible.
Actually, a high-ranking noble family like House of Claudius could probably create seats out of thin air.
Should I say she doesn’t abuse her privileges?
‘To think such a person was the villainess in the original story.’
Once again, I lamented the irrationality of this world.
“Order whatever you want to eat. I’ll go to the restroom for a moment.”
“Ah, yes.”
With that, Lady Claudius left her seat.
I looked at the menu for a moment, then glanced up to look beyond the balcony.
All the people walking the streets looked happy.
And now I too…
‘I probably look similar to those people?’
How should I put it, it really felt like a dream.
I had thought that receiving people’s goodwill and enjoying life was only permitted to Seraphina.
But now.
I felt like the protagonist of my own life…
“Lari?”
Huh, this voice?
I turned around and reflexively frowned.
Seraphina and Gregory were staring at me with wide eyes.
What is this, it’s not even like enemies meeting on a narrow bridge.
Why is it them again?
I’d like to stop seeing their faces now.
Meanwhile, Seraphina, who had been staring at me in shock as if she’d seen a ghost,
“What a coincidence seeing you in a place like this, Lari.”
hastily collected herself and acknowledged me.
“What brings you to such an upscale brunch cafe?”
Judging by how she subtly emphasized the word “upscale,”
she seemed to want to sneer about what someone like me was doing visiting such an upscale establishment.
“There’s only one reason to come to a cafe that serves brunch, isn’t there?”
I shrugged lightly.
“I came to eat.”
“…”
At my nonchalant answer, Seraphina bit her lips with a frustrated expression.
Well, of course.
Usually when Seraphina showed her displeasure like that, I would grovel on my own.
She must be wondering why I’m being so stiff.
“Did you two come out shopping?”
As soon as my question fell, Seraphina proudly showed off the shopping bags she was carrying in both hands.
“Yes, Gregory said he’d buy me a new hat.”
I’m receiving gifts even from your fiancé, but you didn’t get anything?
That was roughly the meaning.
I deliberately put on a pitiful expression.
“My goodness, you carried all that around? It must be heavy. I did some shopping today too, but they said they’d deliver all my purchases to the townhouse?”
“…What?”
Seraphina furrowed her brow and looked at me with suspicious eyes.
Most luxury brands also offer delivery services.
However, that delivery service is limited only to VIPs who have generated overwhelming sales at the brand.
Since Seraphina was well-versed in luxury brands, she would more than understand what my words meant.
“Wait.”
At the same time, Seraphina focused on the handbag placed on my lap.
Her emerald green eyes filled with shock.
“That handbag… don’t tell me it’s from Madam Christensen?!”
As expected, she recognized it immediately.
The ‘ribbon decoration’ that was Madam Christensen’s design signature.
I was inwardly satisfied.
Seraphina, her eyes wild with jealousy, sharply questioned me again.
“How are you carrying a Madam Christensen bag? They’re extremely selective about their customers…!”
“Oh? Seraphina.”
I tilted my head and looked directly at Seraphina.
“Are you saying that I’m not worthy of carrying a Madam Christensen bag?”
“….”
Seraphina ground her teeth audibly.
Well, she must be so frustrated she could go crazy.
Madam Christensen’s dresses and bags were items that even Seraphina had never been able to obtain even once until now.
But suddenly I was adorned from head to toe with that brand, and that wasn’t enough.
I kept turning her insides upside down.
However, Seraphina’s usual image was kind and innocent, so it would be difficult for her to lash out according to her true nature.
‘Right?’
As I gave Seraphina a sly smile, I glanced at Gregory from the corner of my eye.
‘Speaking of which, Gregory is strangely quiet?’
Something about being extravagant, or how such luxury items don’t suit me, or telling me to yield them to Seraphina.
I definitely thought he would spout such nonsense.
But the current Gregory was just looking at me with an enigmatic gaze.
It wasn’t a gaze filled with hostility.
Rather than that, it was more like….
‘…It seems similar to the way he usually looked at Seraphina.’
In other words, as if he was looking at me as a woman…!
A chill ran down my spine.
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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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