The Circumstances of Being Chosen as the Villainess’s Favorite - Chapter 131
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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 131
“…Ah.”
My ears turned bright red.
At the same time, Lady Claudius snorted and opened her mouth.
“You’ve been making such a fuss since this morning.”
“….”
Lord Claudius narrowed his eyes and glared at Lady Claudius.
Regardless, Lady Claudius triumphantly raised both hands to show them.
“Isn’t that right? Getting up at the crack of dawn and changing clothes five times.”
“Evangeline, you really…!”
“Her Brother knows it well too, but in this world, that’s what we call making a fuss.”
Lady Claudius shot back sharply and tapped the seat beside her with her hand.
“Larit, come here.”
“No, Larit.”
Then Lord Claudius looked at me with a serious expression.
“Surely you’re not planning to leave me sitting alone?”
“There should be limits, how much more should I have to give up Larit to you?”
“You’re the one who should know limits. Don’t you know Larit and I are lovers?”
“Well, if we’re talking about that, I’m her closest friend!”
Ugh, now I don’t know what to do either….
I looked at the bickering siblings with tired eyes.
* * *
A moment later.
As soon as we arrived at the Imperial Palace, Lady Claudius jumped down from the carriage without even accepting Lord Claudius’s escort.
“This is betrayal.”
Lady Claudius muttered with a sulky face.
“How could you leave me and sit next to Her Brother?”
“I-I’m sorry.”
I apologized first.
“It’s just that Lord Claudius’s words also made sense….”
“Even so, that’s too much!”
Lady Claudius turned her head away sharply.
Perhaps to emphasize how thoroughly upset she was, she had even crossed her arms tightly….
That’s right.
Earlier, I had decided to sit next to Lord Claudius.
The reason I made that decision was,
“You’ll be with Evangeline continuously, but you and I will part ways once we arrive at the Imperial Palace, won’t we?”
…because of Lord Claudius’s strong protest.
It was a valid point.
Lady Claudius and I would be stuck together all day preparing for the banquet, but Lord Claudius had to attend the meeting with the diplomatic mission.
So I thought I had made a rational choice in my own way….
“Evangeline, instead, let’s go to the park together, just the two of us next time.”
I gently coaxed Lady Claudius.
“You know about it too, right? The newly opened Rogers Park.”
“…But it’s winter right now.”
Lady Claudius, who had been indifferent the whole time, answered me for the first time.
“It’s cold, so there probably aren’t any flowers blooming at all, right?”
“Even so, I heard the promenade is very well maintained. Oh right, I heard swans live in the lake too.”
“Swans?”
Lady Claudius perked up her ears.
I nodded enthusiastically.
“Yes. We can go feed the swans and have tea at the coffee house around the lake. How about it?”
“…Well, if Larit insists that much.”
Lady Claudius finally softened her expression a little.
“That time, we’re going just the two of us, leaving Her Brother out. Got it?”
Even while saying that, her earnest reminder showed just how much she disliked that I sat next to Lord Claudius this time….
“Wait, you’re going to Rogers Park alone with Evangeline?”
But then.
Lord Claudius, who had been wearing a victor’s face the whole time, hurriedly interrupted the conversation.
“Then when are you going with me?”
“No way.”
Lady Claudius triumphantly hugged my arm tightly.
“This time I can’t give in either.”
“Evangeline, how about being a bit more generous?”
At that stubborn attitude, Lord Claudius frowned and scolded her.
“I have to go into a boring meeting from now on, but you’ll be stuck with Larit until the banquet starts.”
But the more absurd part was.
‘Wait, why is Lord Claudius making a hurt face?’
After saying it himself, he somehow seemed hurt by his own words….
“Whatever, isn’t Her Brother going?”
Lady Claudius shot back as if she was sick of it.
“You’ll be late for the meeting at this rate.”
“….”
Lord Claudius looked quite dissatisfied, but there wasn’t a single thing wrong with Lady Claudius’s words.
Time really was running short.
“I’ll see you later, Larit.”
“Have a good time.”
I smiled and saw Lord Claudius off.
Lord Claudius left, looking back several times.
I was also concerned about Lord Claudius for no reason.
His dejected expression bothered me, and honestly….
‘It would be nice to stay together just a little longer.’
Since the meeting with Rosvern was decided, the times I’d seen Lord Claudius’s face for more than an hour could be counted on one hand.
And now we had to part ways like this again.
Well, I would see his face again at the banquet later.
‘Still… I can’t help feeling regretful.’
But then.
“Really, is parting with Her Brother that regrettable?”
Lady Claudius looked at me sourly.
I was flustered.
“Pardon?”
“I’m only forgiving this because it’s Her Brother. If it were anyone else, no mercy.”
Lady Claudius turned her head away with a huff.
“If Larit and Her Brother get married, Larit will become my family too.”
“Pardon?”
I doubted my ears.
Marriage?
Lord Claudius and I have only been lovers for barely two months, you know?
At the same time, Lady Claudius muttered ominously.
“If it had been any other man, I would have torn out all his hair by now….”
“….”
I simply chose silence.
A moment later.
The banquet hall, elegantly and neatly decorated, revealed itself.
From the decorations adorning the banquet hall to the silver candlesticks, silver tableware, and the placement of vases filled with fresh flowers.
There wasn’t a single place that hadn’t been touched by Lady Claudius and my hands.
‘Ah, how satisfying….’
Even though I had seen this scene countless times while preparing for the banquet.
It was enough to make even my heart swell with pride.
Just then, Her Majesty the Empress, who had been touring the banquet hall in advance, graciously greeted us.
“Welcome, Lady Claudius. And Lady Ansi as well.”
“I greet Her Majesty the Empress.”
“I greet Her Majesty the Empress.”
Lady Claudius and I bowed politely.
“Both of you have truly worked so hard until now.”
Her Majesty the Empress spoke warmly.
“Please endure just one more day of hardship, will you?”
“Not at all, Your Majesty.”
Lady Claudius replied courteously.
“Rather, it is an honor that Your Majesty chose us.”
It was true.
We were now standing here in the role of assisting Her Majesty the Empress, who was hosting the banquet.
To think we would be helping with an imperial event.
It was both glorious and quite nerve-wracking.
Meanwhile, a strange light flickered in Her Majesty the Empress’s eyes upon hearing that response.
“I don’t know when our Lady Claudius grew up to be so wonderful.”
Her Majesty the Empress murmured to herself in a voice tinged with emotion.
“If Rosaline could see Lady Claudius now, she would be so proud….”
Rosaline.
That was the name of the late former duchess.
“It’s alright.”
Lady Claudius smiled brightly at Her Majesty the Empress.
Gone was her usual haughty demeanor, replaced by a smile as soft as down.
“Your Majesty, Larit, Her Brother….”
Lady Claudius reached her hand toward me and gently clasped mine.
“I have so many people who care about me.”
Lady Claudius’s smile deepened a little more.
“My late mother won’t worry about me anymore.”
“…Lady Claudius.”
“Because I have precious people I can trust and rely on.”
“….”
Her Majesty the Empress, who had been momentarily dazed, soon smiled back warmly.
“I see.”
* * *
Meanwhile, at that time.
While the other nobles had already taken their seats and were waiting.
Dietrich entered the meeting hall together with the Emperor and the Rosvern delegation.
Among all the mature, middle-aged men, only Dietrich was conspicuously young.
But no one could ignore Dietrich.
Not even Lord Evans, who was mixed in among the nobles.
“Let us begin the meeting.”
The Emperor, who had swept his gaze over the nobles and delegation, soon spoke in a weighty voice.
Thud!
The massive doors of the meeting hall closed.
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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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