The Circumstances of Being Chosen as the Villainess’s Favorite - Chapter 153
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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 153
“…Are you truly Lord Claudius?”
At that foolish question, Lord Claudius looked at the Crown Prince with eyes full of disdain.
Then, as if it wasn’t worth listening to, he introduced me.
“My lover, Lady Ansi.”
“I greet Your Highness the Crown Prince. I am Larit Ansi.”
I bent my knee in proper courtesy and added a formal greeting.
“I am glad you have returned safely.”
“….”
For a moment, Lord Claudius’s eyebrows faintly twisted.
At the same time, mischief filled the Crown Prince’s face.
“Don’t tell me you’re jealous just because your lover said a polite word to me?”
“Of course not.”
“But you are? It certainly seems that way?”
The Crown Prince, who had been grinning and teasing Lord Claudius, turned to greet me warmly.
“In any case, I’m truly delighted to see your face, Lady Ansi. And… oh, Lady Claudius.”
“I greet Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
Lady Claudius curtsied gracefully.
She looked every inch the perfect lady.
But looking at Lady Claudius, the Crown Prince seemed to have different thoughts….
“Lady Claudius has grown up quite a bit now.”
The Crown Prince spoke to Lady Claudius mischievously.
“You were so tiny, I wondered when you’d ever grow up.”
A crack appeared in Lady Claudius’s picture-perfect smile.
“Just how long are you going to treat me like a child, Your Highness?”
“When was the last time Lady Claudius and I spent time together face to face? What do you mean treating you like a child now… Wait, I am the Crown Prince though. Isn’t it a bit much to glare at me so fiercely?”
The relationship between the ducal house and the royal family had never been bad, and the same was true for the Crown Prince’s relationship with the Claudius siblings.
I watched the three of them bicker with smiling faces.
“By the way, hasn’t Her Majesty the Empress arrived yet?”
Just then, Lady Claudius tilted her head and asked a question.
I was curious about that too.
She had the personality to come out early and inspect everything thoroughly whenever there was an event.
Then, for the first time, a shadow crossed the Crown Prince’s previously bright face.
“Well… Mother seems to be feeling a bit unwell.”
“The Empress?”
Not only Lady Claudius, but Lord Claudius and I also became wide-eyed with surprise.
The Crown Prince nodded heavily.
“Actually, I told her there was no need for a banquet and she should rest… but she insisted on proceeding with this banquet.”
Well, I could understand Her Majesty the Empress’s feelings.
She probably wanted to use this opportunity to somewhat mend the conflict between the Imperial Curia and the ducal house.
‘Besides… it’s her son she’s meeting after a long time.’
As a mother, it was natural to want to take care of her son.
While I was listening to the conversation.
It was purely by chance that my gaze fell on High Priest Evans in the corner of the banquet hall.
‘Huh?’
The High Priest was completely focused on our conversation.
So much so that he didn’t even notice I was looking at him.
I felt somewhat uneasy.
Meanwhile, the conversation continued.
“Has she been examined?”
“Well, they said she has a mild cold.”
The Crown Prince shrugged his shoulders.
“They said it seems to be from accumulated fatigue, and that she needs to rest well.”
“….”
At that moment.
A faint smile appeared on High Priest Evans’s lips.
I immediately widened my eyes.
‘He smiled?’
That strange smile was odd, and his maintaining silence was also strange.
If it had been the usual High Priest Evans, he would have tried somehow to exchange even a word with the Crown Prince.
Basically, the High Priest seemed to have a desire to show off and receive everyone’s attention.
And he showed efforts to build connections with people of high status.
But then.
“His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress enter!”
The butler raised his voice to announce the arrival of the imperial couple.
Her Majesty the Empress entered the banquet hall escorted by His Majesty the Emperor.
She had no color in her face at all, looking completely pale.
Her lips were also parched and dry.
My heart sank with a thud.
‘Certainly… she looks unwell.’
Nevertheless, Her Majesty the Empress calmly greeted the invited guests.
“Thank you all for coming like this.”
Her Majesty the Empress’s gentle gaze swept over each person.
“Everyone gathered here holds important positions in the Empire.”
Then she concluded warmly.
“I hope you will assist not only His Majesty the Emperor but also the Crown Prince well in the future.”
“We will heed your words.”
People each showed their respect.
“Now then, let’s finish with the heavy greetings.”
Her Majesty the Empress smiled with difficulty.
“Will everyone please enjoy the banquet?”
A short while later.
Contrary to Her Majesty the Empress’s wishes, the guests couldn’t properly enjoy the banquet.
Because Her Majesty the Empress’s condition worsened by the moment.
Not only could she barely eat any food.
She was even closing her eyes tightly, as if enduring nausea.
‘Her Majesty the Empress… is she really alright?’
‘It seems like she should go in and rest.’
People were reading the situation to that extent, unable to bear watching.
Finally, the Emperor stepped forward to handle the situation.
“Empress, how about going in to rest now?”
“That’s right. You look very unwell.”
The Crown Prince also added worriedly.
“No. I’m fine….”
The Empress, who had been answering with a pale face, suddenly widened her eyes.
Then she raised her trembling index finger.
“A monster! It’s a monster!”
The Empress screamed in a shrill voice, pointing at empty air.
People couldn’t hide their bewildered expressions.
And for good reason, since the place the Empress was looking at was completely empty.
“A demon has definitely descended.”
“Empress, what’s wrong with you!”
“Your Majesty!”
The flustered Emperor and Crown Prince shot up from their seats.
At the same time, terror filled the Empress’s eyes.
“Are you here to kill me? No, I don’t want to die!”
Crash!
The trembling Empress finally collapsed to the floor, writhing.
But she seemed to barely feel any pain.
“Save me! Someone save me!!”
The Empress screamed frantically.
It seemed like she was seeing some kind of hallucination.
Her usually intelligent eyes couldn’t even focus properly.
Not a trace of reason could be found in her terror-stricken face.
“No, no…!”
The Empress’s eyes rolled back as she thrashed about.
She collapsed to the floor like rotten straw.
“Good heavens, Her Majesty the Empress!”
“Her whole body is burning like fire!”
While everyone was shocked and rushing toward the unconscious Empress.
Only one person remained seated with a calm expression.
‘Evans… High Priest.’
High Priest Evans looked at the fallen Her Majesty the Empress with meaningful eyes.
He was not only composed but showed no sign of disturbance whatsoever.
Facing that serene appearance.
I somehow had an ominous premonition.
…I felt chills run down my spine.
* * *
The next day.
“Mmm…”
Deep wrinkles formed above Seraphina’s brow as she slept soundly.
“…is.”
“That’s why… Her Majesty the Empress…”
“What is this…”
From beyond the wall, the muffled voices of people murmuring could be heard faintly.
The entire Public Town House felt strangely noisy.
“Oh, really!”
Seraphina, who had been trying to force herself back to sleep for a while, finally sat up irritably.
“Why is everyone making such a fuss from the morning?!”
Even though it was public, since it was a townhouse where nobles lived, it was usually quiet.
For it to be this noisy…
‘Are all the people in the townhouse awake?’
True to their noble nature, mornings at the Public Town House usually started late.
“Really, I should tell them to be quiet.”
Seraphina slipped on her slippers and got up.
No, to be precise, she tried to get up.
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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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