The Circumstances of Being Chosen as the Villainess’s Favorite - Chapter 125
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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 125
“That aside… the fact that Larit has this shawl means.”
Lady Claudius immediately wrapped her arms around mine.
“We’re getting another matching item—?!”
“….”
Lord Claudius’s face naturally crumpled up.
Regardless, Lady Claudius just clung to me tightly.
“Now that we have warm shawls on, shall we go see the snow?”
“Snow?”
“Yes, I saw earlier that the first snow fell!”
At the same time, Lord Claudius interrupted Lady Claudius with a serious expression.
“Are you a child?”
“No, is there some law that says only little kids can go see snow?”
“Larit gets cold easily. What if she catches a cold going out in this weather…”
“Wait, Larit?”
Lady Claudius immediately became serious.
“What! I thought only I could use Larit’s nickname!”
“What’s the problem? I’m Larit’s lover. You call her by her nickname too, and you’re just a friend.”
“Hey, I’m not just any friend, okay? I’m Larit’s best friend! You know, best friend?!”
Lady Claudius’s flustered voice and Lord Claudius’s reproach mixed together chaotically.
I watched the two siblings bickering and soon smiled brightly.
It was such a warm scene it brought tears to my eyes.
* * *
The next day.
Dietrich, attending the Nobility Council meeting, looked unusually cheerful.
A faint smile hung on his usually expressionless face.
“I hope you all had a pleasant Saint Laila’s feast day.”
He even went so far as to warmly greet the nobles first.
“Did the sun rise from the west this morning?”
“I think this is almost the first time I’ve seen His Grace smile like that…”
The nobles looked at each other with bewildered glances.
‘Damn, what’s he so happy about that he’s grinning like that?!’
Lord Evans, who was among them, tried hard to suppress his churning insides.
The marquis had already heard that Isaac was humiliated at the Imperial Curia because of Dietrich the day before yesterday.
He was so furious when he heard that story.
Lord Evans glared at Dietrich while grinding his teeth.
After exchanging various greetings with the nobles, Dietrich headed to the head seat of the meeting hall.
It was the chairman’s seat that presided over the Nobility Council meetings.
Standing leisurely, surveying his surroundings like a well-fed predator.
He looked perfectly suited for it, like wearing well-fitted clothes.
At the same time, Dietrich spoke.
“Please take your seats, everyone.”
The nobles each took their seats.
Dietrich continued calmly.
“You all know that the Rosvern delegation’s visit is not far off.”
Rosvern.
It was an island nation at the northernmost tip of the southern continent where the Empire was located.
Though not very large in size, it was a country that had built considerable wealth through various fish species and pearl cultivation.
However, due to the cold weather, the environment wasn’t very suitable for farming.
So they imported all their grain.
And most of that grain was provided by Claudius, which had the continent’s greatest granary.
“The agenda for today’s meeting is how to respond to the upcoming talks with the delegation.”
“Well, is there really a need to hold a meeting to discuss our response?”
Lord Evans sneered loudly.
“It’s just a barbaric island nation anyway. We could just get through it casually.”
Honestly, Lord Evans knew well that he was being unreasonable.
Rosvern wasn’t a country that could be treated so lightly.
But his twisted feelings toward Dietrich, and furthermore the House of Claudius, made his tongue wag recklessly.
“….”
Instantly, Dietrich stared at Lord Evans with a cold gaze.
And.
“Is that the official position of the Evans family?”
A piercing question struck right to the core.
The marquis stiffened his shoulders with a start.
“That’s…”
“How unfortunate.”
Dietrich cut off the marquis’s words midway and narrowed his eyes.
“His Majesty is struggling to somehow secure more ice-free ports from Rosvern.”
Ice-free port.
A harbor that doesn’t freeze even in winter.
And the harbor that Rosvern possessed between the northern and southern continents was the northernmost ice-free port the Empire could reach.
Ultimately, for the Empire to advance into the northern continent, Rosvern’s cooperation was essential.
Therefore, the Empire had been negotiating with Rosvern for nearly 20 years to obtain ice-free ports leading north.
But during all that long time, Rosvern island had kept only one trading port open for communication with the Empire.
This was because they were concerned that the Empire’s influence would become too great.
“When we should be doing everything we can to help His Majesty in the negotiations.”
The gentle smile that had been on his handsome face disappeared completely.
In its place was his characteristic ice-cold expressionless face.
“Insulting language calling them a barbaric island nation, and that complacent attitude of just getting through it casually…”
Dietrich trailed off like that and stared intently at Lord Evans.
“….”
“….”
A strange sense of pressure choked their throats and crept up their spines.
Dietrich was younger than anyone else attending the Nobility Council meeting.
Even compared to the youngest family head among those present.
He probably hadn’t lived even half as long.
Yet even so.
‘What the…’
‘This can’t be.’
The aura emanating from Dietrich was truly tremendous.
The nobles felt their mouths go completely dry.
A strange situation where all the nobles were intimidated by just one person.
Yet no one dared to open their mouth.
The air in the meeting room grew tense.
And.
“Lord Evans.”
With that leisurely call.
The tightly drawn tension snapped.
Dietrich continued speaking quietly.
“If you respond that way, Lord Evans, what happens to His Majesty’s position of trying to persuade Rosvern by any means?”
In the voice that sounded as soft as cotton at first glance, a sharp blade was hidden.
“His Majesty respects Rosvern as a negotiating partner, yet for Lord Evans, His Majesty’s subject, to show such an attitude…”
That blade stabbed deep into the marquis’s spine without a moment’s hesitation.
“Could be interpreted as meaning you refuse to follow His Majesty’s will.”
“Th-that’s complete nonsense…!”
Lord Evans’s face turned red and blue alternately.
However, the marquis didn’t get a proper chance to voice any excuse or protest.
“His Imperial Majesty enters!”
Just then, the Emperor entered the meeting room.
‘How can this be, His Majesty is personally attending the Noble Council Meeting?’
‘This isn’t even an Imperial Council!’
All the nobles rose to pay their respects to the Emperor while rolling their eyes to gauge each other’s expressions.
The usual process was as follows.
Agenda decided in the Noble Council Meeting would be brought to the Imperial Council, with the Noble Council chairman attending the Imperial Council as the nobles’ representative.
Then in that Imperial Council, after hearing opinions from various officials and the chairman, the Emperor would make the final decision.
But this time, the Emperor personally attended the Noble Council Meeting.
This meant he considered the agenda regarding Rosvern that important.
And also.
‘…His Majesty is directly backing Lord Claudius.’
The Duke’s will was the Emperor’s will.
“As you all well know, an envoy from Rosvern will be coming.”
The Emperor smiled leisurely.
“Rosvern’s ice-free port has been the Empire’s long-cherished wish. I hope you all do your best in negotiations with Rosvern.”
This was identical to what Dietrich had said.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“We will keep that in mind.”
Bowing their heads like that, the nobles each swallowed dry saliva.
Even though the Duke was young, they already knew he was not someone to be underestimated.
Despite being as cautious as they could manage.
‘To think the Imperial House and the Ducal House had already joined hands from the beginning.’
The Imperial House and the Ducal House had probably already finished discussing how to proceed with these negotiations behind the scenes.
The nobles hadn’t even noticed their underwater contact.
That meant,
‘…In the end, we were the ones underestimating the Duke.’
It was a painful realization.
Just then, Dietrich standing beside the Emperor smiled elegantly toward the nobles.
Facing that smile.
As if a blade had been thrust under their chins, the nobles felt their spines turn cold.
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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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