The Circumstances of Being Chosen as the Villainess’s Favorite - Chapter 171

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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 171

A moment later.

The Claudius carriage appeared in front of the Ansi Town House.

The carriage wheels scraped against the ground as it came to a rough stop.

From inside, Dietrich emerged.

“Larit!”

Dietrich, who had practically tumbled out of the carriage, looked around frantically with urgent eyes.

The first thing that caught his eye was the townhouse engulfed in flames.

Bright red flames had devoured more than half of the townhouse.

Sparks scattered brilliantly against the pitch-black sky above.

‘Damn it.’

Dietrich swallowed his curse.

Only part of the law enforcement had arrived first; the fire brigade hadn’t come yet.

“People are coming out here!”

“Be careful!”

In the distance, the Ansi family’s servants were staggering out of the manor with the support of law enforcement officers.

Having just escaped from the flames, their complexions looked quite poor.

Dietrich hurriedly approached them.

‘Where is Larit…?!’

She wasn’t there.

Dietrich felt his heart sink.

At the same time, he made eye contact with one of the maids.

“Lord Claudius!”

The maid rushed over to Dietrich in a panic.

Her face looked familiar.

She was Larite’s personal maid.

Her name was, probably…

“Amy!”

At that call, Amy’s face crumpled completely.

She cried out tearfully.

“The young lady is still inside the townhouse!”

“What?!”

Dietrich’s eyes widened.

Amy continued stammering.

“When we came out, I realized the young lady wasn’t there…”

Larite was in danger.

Once he was certain of that, his head actually became coldly clear.

Dietrich asked calmly.

“So where do you think Larite might be right now?”

“I, I don’t know. She said she was going to sleep early today, so maybe near the bedroom…”

“I understand.”

Dietrich nodded and headed toward the townhouse without hesitation.

Crack, crack-crack—

As he drew closer, the sound of sparks flying was loud.

His face grew hot from the heat.

“W-wait a moment.”

“Lord Claudius?”

The law enforcement officers who had been busy organizing the area tried to stop Dietrich with bewildered expressions.

“There’s someone left inside. I’m going to bring her out.”

“Pardon?”

Dietrich looked up at the manor with sharp eyes.

Having visited the Ansi family’s townhouse many times, he knew the layout well.

The place where he thought Larite would be was the bedroom on the second floor.

Could he bring Larite down to the first floor and escape through the front entrance?

Of course, that would be ideal.

But he had to consider the possibility that it might not work out that way.

‘…In that case.’

His bright blue gaze fell on the large windows around the bedroom.

At the same time, his eyes sank with determination.

“Over there.”

Dietrich pointed to the largest window with a gesture.

It was located with one room between it and Larite’s bedroom.

It was the finest guest room, always given to distinguished visitors.

Usually, when Evangeline came to visit, she would stay in that room.

“We might be able to escape through that window.”

“Pardon?”

“Please prepare for a potential fall.”

“What?!”

The more he spoke, the more the law enforcement officers’ faces turned pale.

Regardless, Dietrich strode toward the townhouse.

The law enforcement officers immediately tried to grab Dietrich.

“Lord Claudius, it’s too dangerous!”

“If you could just wait until the fire brigade arrives…”

But it was already too late.

Smack!

Dietrich brushed off the officers’ hands and rushed straight into the flames.

* * *

Evangeline suddenly woke up from her sleep.

It was because of urgent hands shaking her body.

“Lady Claudius, Lady Claudius!”

“What is it, what’s happening…”

“There’s a fire at the Ansi family’s townhouse!”

Evangeline, who had been burrowing into her blankets drowsily, opened her eyes wide.

“What?!”

Fully awake now, Evangeline bolted upright.

“What about Larit?!”

“Well, they’re currently fighting the fire. It hasn’t been confirmed yet…”

Evangeline felt dizzy.

Clutching her blanket tightly, she looked up at the maid urgently.

“What about Her Brother?”

Her Brother would surely have some solution.

Evangeline believed this without a doubt.

However.

“Well… he went to the Ansi Town House earlier.”

The maid fidgeted with her lips, not knowing what to do.

“He left before news of the fire reached us, and there’s been no word yet.”

At the same time, Evangeline’s pupils shook violently.

‘Wh-what should I do?’

Her mind went completely blank.

The thought that both Her Brother and Larit might be trapped in the flames.

Fear crashes over me like a tidal wave, making my vision dizzy.

But.

‘Pull yourself together, Evangeline!’

Evangeline bit her lip hard enough to draw blood.

Though anxiety gripped her throat, she tried desperately to remain calm.

The head of the house, Dietrich, was absent.

Which meant.

Currently, Evangeline was the only one who could command the people of Claudius.

So she must not lose her reason.

“Gather all the servants of Claudius.”

She judged that having extra hands would be helpful.

Evangeline sharpened her gaze once more.

“Prepare the carriage. I’ll go myself.”

* * *

‘What should I do.’

My vision is blurry.

Perhaps from the smoke I inhaled, my head felt hazy.

At least the heat hadn’t spread to the upper floor yet, so it was still bearable, but…

‘Somehow… I need to get outside.’

I felt like a squirrel running on a wheel.

Everything around was dark, and no matter how much I wandered, it was difficult to get away from the bedroom area.

It seemed I had lost my sense of direction…

‘Am I going to be trapped like this?’

For now, I was managing with the wet towel I had brought from the bedroom.

But I kept getting short of breath.

‘What should I do.’

I tried to stay calm, but I was at my limit.

Fear strangled me, and my reason was paralyzed.

Just when my head was becoming dizzy.

Thud!

Someone suddenly grabbed my wrist.

It was a warm hand.

And.

“Larit!”

…That voice calling my name.

For a moment, I forgot even my fear and blinked my eyes in a daze.

“Dietrich.”

Gone was his usual neat appearance.

Lord Claudius, with his clothes completely disheveled, was looking down at me while panting.

‘No way.’

Even in the pitch-black smoke, only Lord Claudius came clearly into my vision.

The black stains scattered across his face and his blue eyes looking at me desperately.

‘Why are you… here?’

At the same time, Lord Claudius gripped my wrist tightly and pulled me toward him.

“Are you all right?”

Even though flames could strike at any moment, his voice remained calm and unwavering.

It was truly strange.

Just having Lord Claudius before my eyes…

My heart, which had been beating frantically with anxiety, settled into peace.

“Yes…”

“Everything will be fine.”

Lord Claudius smiled faintly at me.

Just as I was trying to smile back.

Creak—.

A strange sound like wood grinding against wood echoed from the building’s columns.

Lord Claudius seemed to grit his teeth, then looked down at me with urgent eyes.

“We need to reach the guest room. Can you run?”

The guest room?

Not going downstairs?

Though I was momentarily puzzled, I soon nodded.

“Yes.”

Lord Claudius must have some plan.

Then Lord Claudius smiled slightly and grabbed my arm as he ran.

“Let’s go.”

Bang!

Lord Claudius forcefully pushed open the drawing room door with his shoulder.

I gritted my teeth.

The flames hadn’t reached the guest room yet, but the air was getting hotter.

At the same time, Lord Claudius grabbed the leg of a side table and lifted it up.

“Excuse me.”

Crash!

The violently swung side table collided with the window.

Broken glass fragments sparkled as they fell down.

Lord Claudius and I stuck our heads out the window to assess the situation.

‘Ah.’

Below, security guards were each gripping the edges of a large blanket, stretching it taut.

At the same time, Lord Claudius turned to look at me.

“Larit, I know you’ll be scared. But I’ll take responsibility and make sure you don’t get hurt…”

“I trust you.”

I answered firmly.

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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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