The Circumstances of Being Chosen as the Villainess’s Favorite - Chapter 132

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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 132

* * *

‘Right about now, that bastard Dietrich must be conducting talks with Rosvern’s delegation…’

Isaac ground his molars tightly.

‘At least it’s fortunate that Father is attending the talks.’

Being one of only three marquesses in the Empire was truly remarkable.

The only problem was that even the title of Lord Evans originally belonged to Claudius.

If the previous Lord Claudius hadn’t transferred the marquess title to his younger brother, that father and son wouldn’t have obtained any noble title at all.

Which meant, in other words.

Ultimately, the reason Lord Evans could participate in the meeting was because he was a branch of Claudius.

‘Damn it.’

Isaac cursed inwardly.

‘Lady Lopez… wasn’t invited to the banquet after all.’

It wasn’t about considering Seraphina’s pride or her wounded feelings.

Rather.

‘In contrast, Lady Ansi was invited to the banquet.’

Regardless of what Seraphina and Isaac’s actual relationship was, at least publicly, people perceived that the two had romantic feelings for each other.

Yet Larite was invited to the banquet, while Seraphina was not.

Just because a mere heir of a marquess family was Lord Claudius’s lover!

That itself proved how importantly the Imperial Court regarded Dietrich compared to Isaac.

Isaac felt his stomach twist with inferiority.

But then.

“…Sir.”

“…”

“High Priest Evans!”

Isaac snapped to attention and raised his head.

“Ah, yes.”

The High Priest’s wrinkled face was filled with anger.

Isaac hastily smiled.

“I apologize, please continue.”

“There are rumors going around that Claudius is really establishing a foundation.”

The High Priest clicked his tongue and snapped.

“If that’s true, do you have any idea how much damage it would cause our temple?”

“…”

Claudius again.

Isaac’s eyes grew coldly distant.

The High Priest continued speaking.

“You know why we’re sending you as the Imperial Curia’s representative to this banquet, don’t you?”

How could he not know.

It meant to go wag his tail like a dog to that bastard Dietrich.

Isaac forcibly held back his lips that wanted to twist sarcastically.

“Handle this matter somehow.”

“High Priest, that’s…”

“I trust you’ll handle it well.”

The High Priest drove the point home stubbornly.

Beneath his drooping, wrinkled eyes, displeasure-filled pupils glinted sharply.

“…Yes.”

In the end, Isaac had no choice but to nod.

The High Priest abruptly rose from his seat and left without even a farewell.

‘Again, again!’

Isaac, who had been blankly watching his retreating figure, clenched his fists unable to contain his anger.

‘I have to bow my head to that bastard Dietrich again!’

Left alone, Isaac was seized by an impulse to scream like a madman.

* * *

At that moment.

Seraphina sat in her room at the shared residence, staring blankly out the window.

Unmelted snow, trampled by people’s feet, had turned a dirty gray and was frozen in patches here and there.

The sight looked disgustingly squalid enough to make her nauseous.

…Because that snow resembled her own circumstances.

‘This is really irritating.’

Inferiority that shot up like an awl pierced deep into her chest.

‘Larite doesn’t have to look at such scenery.’

The banquet to entertain Rosvern’s delegation.

Larite was said to be helping the Empress alongside Lady Claudius.

‘Why does… only Larite keep getting happier?’

Lord Claudius’s lover.

A glamorous life lacking nothing.

An excellent reputation in high society.

Connections with the upper class.

All those things Seraphina had desperately wanted.

…Hadn’t Larite seized them all?

She had thought that girl would always be inferior to her for life.

Taking her place at Seraphina’s feet, naturally serving her and catering to her moods.

She had never doubted that Larite would stay by her side so she could shine as high society’s most innocent lily.

But now…

The days when she treated Larite like a maid felt impossibly distant.

‘Why do I have to be the only one living such a hard life?’

Seraphina was on the verge of tears from the injustice.

Swish!

Unable to contain her resentment, Seraphina roughly drew the curtains shut.

The dirty snow disappeared from view.

But the inferiority that boiled like a furnace deep in her chest still showed no signs of disappearing.

* * *

Evening, as the sun was setting.

The talks finally came to an end.

“Was it Lord Claudius, you said?”

“He’s still so young, yet I felt like I was dealing with a battle-hardened veteran.”

Rosvern’s delegation members each clicked their tongues in amazement.

Dietrich von Claudius.

The Empire’s only duke and the youngest person on the negotiation team.

Honestly, they had underestimated him a bit.

And for good reason—time doesn’t just pass by.

It grants people experience and composure.

Compared to seasoned nobles, young people were inevitably somewhat less mature.

But once the delegation actually sat at the negotiation table, they painfully realized they had made a wrong judgment.

Dietrich was extremely capable.

Capable enough to lead the negotiations, surpassing all the cunning diplomats and nobles.

* * *

“We completely understand Rosvern’s reasons for not wanting to open the port.”

Dietrich smiled slightly.

“It’s natural to prioritize one’s national security.”

At those blunt words, the delegation members slyly glanced at each other.

What kind of proposal were they trying to make by bringing this up?

Everyone knew that the Empire wanted the ice-free port leading to the North…

And then.

Dietrich casually spoke up.

“Then why don’t we limit it to just a trade port?”

“A trade port, you say…?”

“We open the port, but make it so only Claudius trading companies can use it.”

Dietrich smoothly continued his explanation.

“Rosvern would handle the port’s security, and no Imperial military would be stationed there whatsoever. That should resolve the security concerns Rosvern has.”

It was true.

The reason Rosvern had refused to open the ice-free port until now was their concern that the Empire’s influence, and furthermore its military power, might extend further into the North.

If they followed Dietrich’s proposal, that problem would be solved.

However.

“Then what benefits would we gain from this negotiation?”

One of the delegation members asked pointedly.

“Even if the military issue is resolved, I don’t see why we should open a trade port for you. We…”

“We’ll increase wheat exports.”

Instantly, all of Rosvern’s delegation fell silent.

“…”

“…”

Dietrich continued speaking without batting an eye.

“We’ll double the wheat we’ve been exporting for the next five years.”

“Th-that’s…”

The delegation was silently shocked.

This was a proposal only Claudius could make.

The ducal house possessed granary lands capable of feeding more than half the Empire’s population.

It was also a proposal Rosvern couldn’t possibly refuse.

After all, Rosvern was an island nation.

Food was essential, but Rosvern didn’t have the environment for wheat farming.

Thus, Rosvern had been importing all its wheat until now.

They had no choice but to be on edge, constantly anxious about wheat prices.

If they accepted Claudius’s proposal, they could reduce their food burden for the next five years.

In that situation, Dietrich offered yet another carrot.

“Also, we don’t want the trade port to be permanently open.”

“Then…?”

“We’ll proceed with five-year contracts, and if both parties are satisfied, we’ll continue extending the contract period.”

A five-year limitation.

For Rosvern, who couldn’t shake off their lingering anxiety, this was very welcome news.

A brief silence fell.

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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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