The Circumstances of Being Chosen as the Villainess’s Favorite - Chapter 152

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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 152

The Crown Prince, who was their age, was actually much closer to Dietrich than to Isaac.

While he was distant with Isaac.

With Dietrich, they were close enough to be called friends.

“Since His Highness the Crown Prince is returning, won’t there be a grand banquet or something?”

Whether she knew Isaac’s mood was uncomfortable or not, Seraphina continued with sparkling eyes.

“If by any chance a banquet is held, I would be honored if you would take me as your partner…”

Isaac inwardly sneered at her earnest tone.

That needlessly arrogant woman was actually making the first move to request being a partner.

Seraphina seemed quite eager lately.

“It’ll probably just be a quiet gathering of close acquaintances for a meal.”

Close acquaintances.

At those words, Seraphina’s heart sank.

That meant she was unlikely to be invited.

“…I see. Then, High Priest Evans must have received an invitation, of course…?”

“He’ll probably attend as a representative of the Imperial Curia.”

After all, this whole affair had flowed in favor of the House of Claudius with the Imperial Court’s support.

For the sake of maintaining good relations with the Imperial Curia, they had specifically invited Isaac.

Because Isaac was in charge of the Imperial Curia’s childcare foundation.

It was a political gesture meaning ‘Now that the Imperial Curia’s corruption has been rooted out, we no longer suspect the Imperial Curia.’

“Th-then what about a partner…?”

Seraphina mustered her courage to ask the question.

However.

“Well, a partner isn’t really necessary for just a dinner gathering.”

Isaac drew the line kindly.

He didn’t lash out openly like before with ‘Someone like you thinks you can go to such a place?’

“Then, what about Lady Claudius…?”

“She will attend. Oh, that’s right.”

Isaac scratched at Seraphina’s inferiority complex with a tone as if he had just remembered.

“Lady Ansi will also be attending, I heard.”

“…”

Seraphina’s face twisted miserably.

“If you become a bit closer to Her Majesty the Empress, Lady Lopez will surely receive a direct invitation from the Imperial Court as well.”

“…Yes.”

Seraphina answered through gritted teeth.

“Now, shall we have another cup of tea?”

Isaac poured more tea into the half-empty teacup.

Seraphina swallowed the jealousy and inferiority complex that rose to her throat along with the warm tea.

…The tea that had been so fragrant just moments ago now tasted strangely bitter.

* * *

In the study where bright sunlight streamed in.

The Empress took time from her busy schedule to check the accumulated letters.

“Hmm… Lady Lopez again.”

The Empress picked up one letter and looked somewhat troubled.

Seraphina Lopez.

Honestly, she had been maintaining their friendship for the sake of the Imperial Curia.

Of course, she didn’t dislike her friendly and warm attitude.

She was somewhat vain, but wasn’t that normal for ladies of that age?

She thought she was rather cute, but…

“I appreciate her asking after my well-being, but the letters are too frequent.”

The Empress was the mother of the vast Empire.

Naturally, she had many personal duties to attend to.

She couldn’t keep replying to every courtesy letter forever.

“Should I tell her to show some restraint?”

The Empress, who had been frowning for a moment, glanced sideways at her desk.

There was a vase filled with fully bloomed roses.

The pure white roses scattered with red spots had a strange charm that captivated the eye.

And above all, they looked familiar.

Because…

‘Rosaline.’

They were the roses that child had cherished and grown.

[These are the roses Mother used to love, and I happened to get some seedlings.

I’m sending seedlings to Your Majesty the Empress as well.

I hope these roses will bring joy to Your Majesty the Empress.]

Recalling the card sent by Rosaline’s only daughter along with the rose seedlings.

The Empress breathed in the distinctive gorgeous fragrance of the roses deeply.

“…Rosaline, your daughter has grown up so beautifully.”

The Empress, momentarily lost in sentiment, murmured in an affectionate voice.

“It would have been wonderful if you could have seen Evangeline all grown up.”

The Previous Lord Claudius’s wife and the Empress had been close friends since childhood.

When the Duke’s wife married, the Empress caught her bouquet.

When the Empress was overwhelmed by responsibility, the Duke’s wife comforted her in every way possible.

A friend she had relied on her entire life.

…Who would have thought that Rosaline would leave this world so suddenly.

“…”

The Empress opened her drawer.

Feeling around in the depths, her fingertips touched a bundle of letters.

The Empress pulled out the bundle.

The sender’s name written on the letter envelope was ‘Rosaline von Claudius.’

The letter paper, now closer to ivory than white with age, was smooth from being handled so much.

The Empress randomly pulled out one letter.

[To my beloved Agnes.

Hello, Agnes.

The weather is quite cold, are you doing well?

I received the candied lemon you sent me.

My morning sickness was really severe, but the candied lemon suited my taste well. Thank you so much.

You know, Dietrich is sulking terribly, saying he doesn’t want a sibling.

But when I asked him subtly, he said if he had to have a sibling, he’d prefer a little sister. Isn’t that cute?

I don’t really care whether it’s a daughter or son.

I just hope the child is born healthy.]

It seemed to be a letter from when she had just become pregnant with Evangeline.

Rosaline in the letter seemed very happy.

The Empress’s eyes grew moist with longing as she slowly read through the letter.

But then.

“Oh my?”

The Empress’s eyes widened.

The color of the ink in the Duke’s wife’s letter looked very familiar somehow.

Jet black ink with a greenish tinge.

“Hmm…”

The Empress, who had been thinking for a moment, searched through the letters she had received recently.

Among them, a letter sent by Seraphina caught her eye.

“The ink color is the same?”

It was ink with quite a unique color, yet here was another one of the exact same shade.

How curious.

But well, that ink couldn’t be the only one of its kind in the world.

The Empress, who had been shrugging her shoulders, suddenly paused.

A sharp, piercing headache had suddenly washed over her.

“Ugh.”

Come to think of it, her physical condition seemed rather poor lately.

Her throat was prickling, and she felt feverish too…

‘Hmm, it’s probably nothing serious.’

Normally she would have gotten examined right away, but the symptoms were mild, and she was too busy during this period to find the time.

There was a mountain of work to handle.

So she planned to call her personal physician after finishing up some work.

Besides.

‘My son is coming home after such a long time.’

A warm smile graced the Empress’s lips.

It was her son she would see after a whole three years.

So she planned to prepare the welcoming banquet for her son with the utmost care.

* * *

A few days later.

His Highness the Crown Prince had finally returned.

Instead of holding a grand celebration, the Imperial Court decided to host a simple banquet, inviting only the imperial family and those close to them.

“Lord Claudius!”

His Highness the Crown Prince, whom I was meeting for the first time, was a handsome man with an affable impression.

Overall, he greatly resembled His Majesty the Emperor, but his refreshingly smiling lips were identical to Her Majesty the Empress’s.

“I heard the news. You have a lover, I’m told?”

Standing beside Lord Claudius, I only rolled my eyes around.

At the same time, His Highness the Crown Prince laughed heartily and patted Lord Claudius’s shoulder.

“To think there’s a lady who would like a stone-like Duke, I should be grateful to that lady.”

“Yes, I am grateful.”

“What?”

For a moment, His Highness the Crown Prince looked dazed as if he’d been struck on the head.

Lord Claudius drove the point home without even batting an eyelash.

“I said I am grateful to my lover.”

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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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