The Circumstances of Being Chosen as the Villainess’s Favorite - Chapter 126
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Chapter 126
After that.
The nobles, who had been engaged in heated discussion for quite some time, took a brief break.
‘This much… well, it’s not bad.’
Dietrich reviewed the meeting so far with a satisfied expression.
The nobles had passionately poured out their opinions.
Even setting aside whether those opinions were useful or not.
Just the disappearance of the complacent attitude of ‘let’s just get through this moderately’ was enough to make Dietrich quite satisfied.
He particularly liked how Lord Evans, who had been causing a ruckus without knowing the subject, had quietly shrunk back.
Every time Dietrich had presided over Noble Council meetings until now, Lord Evans had tried to find fault with him at every turn.
Opposition for the sake of opposition, perhaps?
Of course, each time he had managed to shut him up with just a few words.
Still, that attitude of somehow trying to suppress Dietrich’s spirit had been quite bothersome…
‘Finally shut his mouth.’
Even so, Lord Evans would occasionally glare at Dietrich with resentful eyes.
However.
‘Whatever he does.’
Dietrich cleanly turned off his attention to it.
But then.
“I say, Lord Claudius.”
The Emperor spoke to Dietrich in a friendly manner.
Dietrich bowed his head.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I heard a rumor recently. That you have a lady with whom you exchange good feelings…”
In an instant, a faint blush spread across his face that had been as cold as carved ice.
Like a single spring flower blooming in the middle of winter.
It was a small but definite change.
“Yes, I have a lover.”
Though his face was somewhat embarrassed, Dietrich did not hesitate to say that he ‘had a lover.’
‘Am I seeing this wrong right now?’
The Emperor was inwardly shocked.
‘The Duke is directly saying he has a lover?’
Usually Dietrich extremely disliked interference in his private life.
He thoroughly protected even his younger sister Evangeline, and did not tolerate any mention of marriage or family matters.
So people around him had been careful not to bring up such topics even by mistake.
But such a gentle reaction.
Moreover.
‘…He’s even being shy?!’
Usually Dietrich seemed like he wouldn’t bleed a drop even if pricked with a needle.
But for such a Dietrich to be so bashful.
‘That means the Duke is truly sincere about that lady…’
Unable to overcome his curiosity, the Emperor subtly asked another question.
“Lady Ansi, was it? There are rumors everywhere that the Duke gives that lady special treatment.”
“Because she’s someone who deserves it.”
Dietrich replied quite naturally.
The Emperor’s mouth fell open.
“Are you really Lord Claudius? You’re not someone else in disguise, are you?”
“…”
Instead of answering, Dietrich stared directly at the Emperor.
“Ahem, hmm.”
The embarrassed Emperor cleared his throat unnecessarily.
“You are the Duke.”
“…”
Dietrich’s eyes narrowed as if to say he was pathetic.
It was typical of Dietrich to say everything he wanted with his expressions and gaze even in front of the Emperor.
But that gaze was a bit hard to endure…
Unable to withstand that piercing stare, the Emperor hastily changed the subject.
“Then… do you have thoughts of marriage with that lady?”
In that moment, the Emperor witnessed a miracle.
Dietrich’s sharp gaze instantly softened.
Lord Claudius with a gentle expression.
It was completely impossible to get used to…
Dietrich answered in a considerably mellowed tone.
“That’s not something I can decide alone, so I would need to ask Lady Ansi’s opinion as well.”
“I, is that so?”
“Yes. However…”
Dietrich, who had trailed off for a moment, shyly added.
“I would like it if that were possible.”
“…”
At this point, the Emperor seriously began to suspect whether Dietrich was delirious from overwork.
“Duke. Are you very tired?”
“Pardon?”
“If you’re tired, you can reduce your work a bit. Hmm?”
“…”
Toward the Emperor who was genuinely worried about Dietrich, Dietrich answered again with his gaze.
It was roughly a subtle yet pathetic expression that said ‘His Majesty is talking nonsense again.’
‘Even when I worry about him, it’s a problem.’
The Emperor somehow felt truly wronged…
Meanwhile, the nobles were busy whispering among themselves.
“What could His Majesty the Emperor and Lord Claudius be talking about like that?”
“They certainly do look very friendly.”
“Come to think of it, Her Majesty the Empress was close friends with the previous Duchess. There must be such connections too…”
From the friendship shown between Dietrich and the Emperor,
“Lord Evans looked quite anxious earlier.”
“Well, there have been many misfortunes for the Evans family lately. Recently High Priest Evans has also been continuously losing ground within the Imperial Curia.”
“Ah, Claudius is establishing a foundation related to childcare, right?”
The position of the Evans family swaying from just one charitable project by Claudius,
“On top of that, they completely cut off the regular donations to the Imperial Curia, so I heard the High Priest was quite bewildered.”
“If Claudius directly enters charitable work, the Imperial Curia’s influence will be reduced accordingly.”
“I believe High Priest Evans was in charge of the orphanage support projects.”
“So High Priest Evans must be even more troubled.”
Isaac’s gradually narrowing position,
“We’ve also been steadily donating small amounts to the Imperial Curia until now, but I don’t know what to do going forward.”
“If Claudius’s foundation launches, it might not be bad to donate there instead.”
“Couldn’t we also make connections with Claudius this way?”
And even that attitude of openly weighing between Claudius and Evans.
‘Damn it!’
The Marquis, who had been eavesdropping on the nobles’ whispers, ground his teeth unable to contain his anger.
‘How long must I remain in Claudius’s shadow…!’
As if a rock had been placed on his chest.
My heart felt stuffy.
* * *
At that moment.
Lady Claudius and I were sitting in the drawing room of the Imperial Palace.
Thankfully, Her Majesty the Empress had invited us to tea time.
She said she had taken a liking to me at the charity party previously, and even sent a personally written invitation.
However.
‘It’s rather annoying that Seraphina is here at this gathering.’
I glanced sideways at Seraphina.
Seraphina, who had been elegantly sipping her tea, immediately addressed Her Majesty the Empress as if to show off the moment our eyes met.
“The tea is truly delicious, Your Majesty.”
“Is it? I’m pleased it suits Lady Lopez’s taste.”
Her Majesty the Empress smiled kindly.
Since the charity party ended, Seraphina had been riding even higher in high society.
It was due to rumors of her close friendship with Her Majesty the Empress.
In truth, those rumors were practically fanned by Seraphina herself behind the scenes.
Since the charity party ended, Seraphina had been consciously showing off her friendship with Her Majesty the Empress.
With her characteristically cunning way with words, she went around saying ‘Her Majesty the Empress attended our charity party and even praised us for decorating the Imperial Curia beautifully.’
‘Of course, Seraphina didn’t lie about anything.’
But really, it wasn’t such a grand affair that warranted that much significance.
And rather than correcting those rumors, Her Majesty the Empress chose to save face for the Imperial Curia.
By occasionally inviting Seraphina to tea time.
Honestly, correcting such trivial rumors one by one would seem rather petty.
‘Besides, the person close to Seraphina is ‘that’ High Priest Evans.’
Recently, Seraphina had grown so close to High Priest Evans that there were even rumors of a passionate romance between them.
Also, while he fell short compared to Lord Claudius, High Priest Evans was undeniably one of the Empire’s top power holders.
He was a high-ranking priest among the top three in the Imperial Curia, and the next head of the Viscount Evans family.
So considering the relationship with the Imperial Curia, and for Isaac’s sake as well.
‘It would be somewhat uncomfortable to completely ignore Seraphina.’
If courtesy could be maintained with just a cup or two of tea, it was a profitable deal.
But….
‘In reality, the person much closer to Her Majesty the Empress is our Lady Claudius.’
Feeling unnecessarily displeased, I picked up my fork and stabbed it into the soft sponge cake.
‘I really don’t like how Seraphina goes around flaunting her friendship with Her Majesty the Empress.’
The soft cake crumbled mercilessly beneath my molars.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
