The Circumstances of Being Chosen as the Villainess’s Favorite - Chapter 133

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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 133

The Rosvern diplomat cautiously posed a question.

“But… is there any reason for the Empire to proceed with this negotiation?”

If only Claudius could use the trade port, the profits would belong more to Claudius than to the Empire.

Of course, they were paying the basic 10% tax.

But that alone wouldn’t be enough to satisfy the Empire’s position…

“For that matter, Claudius will pay approximately 30% of the profits earned from the trade port as taxes.”

The delegation’s eyes widened in shock.

It was truly a groundbreaking figure.

It meant paying three times the taxes they had been paying before.

Moreover, the Emperor of the Empire also said,

“I also think the Duke’s proposal is reasonable.”

He was subtly lending his support to the Duke.

“You two are perfectly in sync.”

“It seems His Majesty and the Duke have already coordinated with each other beforehand…”

The Rosvern delegation exchanged glances, but the tide had already turned in the Empire’s favor.

In fact, since it was a proposal that benefited both Claudius and the Empire, the Emperor had no reason to refuse.

And so the negotiations were concluded…

* * *

Inside the elegantly decorated banquet hall.

“Look over there.”

One of the delegation members whispered, gesturing toward Dietrich with his eyes.

Dietrich was standing next to an elegant lady with long black hair, smiling brightly.

His cold expression was nowhere to be seen—he looked truly like a young man.

‘That cold Duke… can actually smile like that.’

The delegation blinked in slight bewilderment.

Just then, Dietrich, who noticed the delegation’s gaze, escorted the lady and approached them.

“We greet His Grace Duke Claudius.”

The delegation offered a polite greeting,

“Good evening. We meet again.”

Dietrich also responded courteously.

Then he personally introduced the lady to the delegation.

“This is Lady Ansi. She is the daughter and heir of House of Ansi, and my lover.”

Lover.

Dietrich spoke that word without hesitation.

A glint appeared in the delegation’s eyes for a moment.

Noble society tended to approach the word “lover” conservatively.

This was because various interests were exchanged through marriage.

This was especially true for high-ranking nobles like Duke Claudius.

Yet to speak like that meant…

‘He must be thinking seriously about his relationship with that lady.’

Just then, Dietrich introduced the lady to the delegation.

“Lady Ansi, these are the delegation from Rosvern.”

“I greet the delegation from Rosvern. I am Larit Ansi.”

Larit lightly lifted the hem of her dress and curtsied properly.

Count Pera, who came as the delegation’s representative, stepped forward and returned the greeting.

“I am Count Pera, representative of the Rosvern delegation. These are the diplomats under my command.”

The Count deliberately smiled more warmly toward Larit.

“It’s truly a pleasure to meet you like this.”

If she was a lady that Duke Claudius cared for so much, it would be better to leave a good impression on their side as well.

Above all, with the opening of the trade port, trade with Claudius would only grow larger in the future.

The delegation also bowed respectfully.

And there was someone watching this scene from afar.

“Ha, really…”

It was Isaac.

Dressed in spotless white priest robes, he looked very virtuous and pure.

But his gaze toward Dietrich and Larit was quite menacing.

‘A mere heir of a marquess family, not only attending the banquet but receiving such special treatment.’

The moment Dietrich introduced her as ‘my lover.’

Count Pera and the delegation’s expressions completely changed.

Their attitude toward Larit became even more respectful, of course.

The moment the Claudius name is attached, all beings become special.

And Isaac found that specialness…

‘Really annoying.’

But then.

“Damn it, groveling to that bastard Dietrich like that.”

An irritated grumbling was heard.

Isaac glanced over.

“Father.”

It was Lord Evans.

“Shouldn’t a nation’s delegation have some pride? What is this…”

Lord Evans burst with frustration.

At least he had enough sense to distinguish the place, keeping his voice very low.

Isaac swallowed a sigh and asked a question.

“So, how were the talks this time?”

“Don’t even mention it. That shameless bastard scraped up all the profits for himself from these talks!”

The marquess glared at Dietrich with blazing eyes.

Actually, there was some inconsistency in those words.

The trade port matter was somewhat of an adventure for House of Claudius as well.

Because wheat harvests couldn’t always be the same.

Moreover, increasing taxes to 30% to guarantee the imperial family’s profits was also a major investment from Claudius’s perspective.

Of course, he had calculated all those aspects and proposed it because he was confident there would be no major problems.

Still, it meant he was prepared to accept some degree of loss.

The marquess didn’t consider any of those aspects at all.

The marquess only coveted Claudius’s wealth.

It was tantamount to proving he had no interest whatsoever in how that wealth was maintained and developed.

“Ha, Claudius should have been mine…”

Lord Evans muttered to himself again in a voice dripping with greed.

But then.

The Emperor and Empress couple entered the banquet hall.

“We greet His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress.”

The nobles and delegation in the banquet hall each paid their respects to the couple.

The Empress, who was the host of the banquet, gracefully offered her greeting.

“I am truly delighted to meet the Rosvern delegation and distinguished guests from all walks of the Empire today.”

The Empress smiled brightly.

“We have prepared a banquet as a gesture of welcome, so please enjoy yourselves.”

With that as the start, butlers guided the nobles and delegation to their seats.

The delegation, seated at their places, couldn’t hide their surprised expressions as they looked at the flower vases decorating the banquet hall tables.

“These flowers… are Philone flowers.”

“My, I never expected to see Philone in the Empire.”

Philone, a yellow flower resembling lily of the valley.

Philone is a precious plant that grows wild only in the highland regions of Rosbern, and is also the national flower symbolizing Rosbern.

The very act of transporting philone flowers all the way to this distant place, preserving them fresh to decorate the banquet hall.

Was proof of the Empire’s national power.

Also, the white flowers decorated alongside the philone were….

“Those are bellorin flowers.”

“But isn’t it winter right now?”

Bellorin is the Empire’s national flower, with large and splendid blossoms.

It was a commonly seen flower in the Empire, but the problem was that bellorin’s blooming season was summer.

However, the bellorin flowers before their eyes were brilliantly radiant, as if they didn’t mind the cold weather at all.

Probably an enormous amount of money was spent just to make a single bellorin flower bloom.

Moreover, both the philone and bellorin flowers were varieties that didn’t have strong fragrances.

“There’s no worry about their scents mixing with the banquet food either.”

“They must have deliberately arranged them with such considerations in mind, don’t you think?”

While the nobles and diplomatic mission were chatting amongst themselves.

The Empress gently opened her mouth.

“Like these two types of flowers that harmonize with each other to create even greater beauty, I hope that the Empire and Rosbern will also strengthen their friendship and develop together in the future.”

At those words, interest flickered in the eyes of the nobles and diplomatic mission.

“Also, don’t both types of flowers blend well with tonight’s banquet with their light and elegant fragrances?”

At the same time, the Emperor joined in the conversation.

“In the same way, I hope that both the diplomatic mission and the Empire’s nobles will enjoy pleasant exchanges.”

“By the way, the floral decorations for the banquet hall were arranged by Lady Claudius and Lady Ansi.”

The Empress glanced sideways at the two ladies sitting side by side and added pointedly.

At those words, the nobles each expressed their admiration.

“The Lady has been doing excellent work lately.”

“Indeed she has.”

“All those rumors about her being arrogant that circulated once seem to have been complete lies.”

At those words, Larite felt even more proud than Evangeline did.

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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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