The Circumstances of Being Chosen as the Villainess’s Favorite - Chapter 173

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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 173

Huh?

For a moment, I doubted my ears.

Just now… what did Lord Claudius say?

But Lord Claudius poured out his words as if he had made up his mind.

“If by any chance, somewhere beyond my sight… you were to experience something like this again.”

“Dietrich.”

“I might truly go insane.”

His blue eyes, which had always been serene, were now trembling finely, having lost their composure for this moment.

I stared blankly at those bright blue eyes.

Crack.

The faint sound of ice cracking echoed softly.

The ice he had wrapped around himself so as not to show weakness to anyone, in order to become the perfect duke.

That ice was slowly breaking apart.

…Lord Claudius had thus revealed his most intimate and vulnerable parts to me without reservation.

“So please give me the right to take responsibility for you.”

“The right, you say…”

“I want to become family with you.”

After taking a deep breath.

Lord Claudius spoke to me earnestly.

“…Will you marry me?”

There was no sparkling ring, no splendid bouquet, no serenade that would melt one’s ears.

What was here now was just…

Lord Claudius’s warm body heat transmitted through our clasped hands.

And only his earnest heart directed toward me.

And for me, that heart alone was enough.

Therefore.

“Gladly.”

I smiled brightly.

At that answer, Lord Claudius’s face, which had been rigid with tension, slowly began to relax.

His deeply furrowed brow smoothed out.

His red lips parted slightly.

His blue eyes looking at me sparkled like stars.

“…Larit.”

At this moment, Lord Claudius wore the face of the happiest man in the world.

And I watched that transformation with wonder.

But then.

“Her Brother! Larit!”

A voice like a scream called out to us.

‘Wait, this voice is…?!’

Lord Claudius and I hurriedly looked around.

Along with that, a dazzlingly beautiful Lady came running toward us as if tumbling.

It was Lady Claudius.

“Evangeline?!”

“How did you get here!”

Lord Claudius and I opened our eyes wide.

Lady Claudius questioned us with a face that looked ready to cry.

“Are either of you hurt? Are you okay?”

“Yes, we’re fine.”

“Were you very worried?”

We pushed aside the proposal from just moments ago and hurriedly began to comfort Lady Claudius.

“Really, you have no idea how shocked I was…!”

Lady Claudius couldn’t calm her heart for quite a while even after that.

In the end, Lord Claudius and I had to be examined again by the Claudius doctor that Lady Claudius had brought.

Only after hearing confirmation that our bodies were reasonably fine did Lady Claudius calm down a little.

“Really, really thank goodness.”

Lady Claudius leaned against me like a cat acting cute toward its owner.

“I was so shocked I thought I might faint…”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“What’s there to be sorry about? It’s not like Larit started the fire.”

Lady Claudius grumbled as if for me to hear and asked another question.

“But how exactly did the fire start?”

“Well, the cause hasn’t been properly determined yet…”

Well, the possibilities are endless.

They handle fire in the kitchen too, the servants might have made a mistake, or sparks could have spread from somewhere.

However, that’s thinking about it rationally.

“Hmm.”

Just as I was tilting my head with a feeling of suspicion.

“Excuse me, Lady Ansi.”

The Security Officer who had left earlier approached me again.

“There’s something I need to tell you.”

The Security Officer’s face was very serious.

“It appears to be an intentional fire.”

“…Intentional, you say?”

“Yes. Oil stains and burnt matches were found at the rear of the manor.”

The Security Officer continued in a subdued voice.

“There’s a high possibility of arson.”

Silence fell.

We reflexively looked at each other.

If it was arson, someone who would set fire to the Ansi Viscount’s Townhouse would be…

‘Isaac Evans.’

They said that person hasn’t been caught yet.

I felt my stomach grow cold.

“Anyway, Larit.”

Just then, Lady Claudius patted my shoulder.

“Since there’s no proper place to stay, you should sleep at our house tonight.”

“Right, then go back to the townhouse with Larit first.”

Huh?

I looked back at Lord Claudius in bewilderment.

Go back first? Then does that mean Lord Claudius won’t be going to the townhouse?

At the same time, Lady Claudius’s expression turned serious.

“What? Her Brother, are you in your right mind?”

Placing her hands on both hips, Lady Claudius got angry again.

“How long has it been since you proposed, and you’re trying to leave Larit alone?!”

“…”

“…”

Silence fell.

Lord Claudius and I stiffened completely.

And.

And.

“Th-that’s… no, how do you even know about that?!”

Lord Claudius, rarely losing his composure, shouted with a reddened face.

“How do I know?”

Lady Claudius replied smugly.

“You were being so obvious about setting the mood, it would be stranger if I couldn’t hear it, wouldn’t it?”

“…”

“…”

Lord Claudius and I were once again left speechless.

‘Were we really talking that loudly?’

But no. The security officers, the fire brigade, and even Amy.

Surely no one else had heard us!

“Anyway, this fire was arson.”

After clearing his throat a couple of times, Lord Claudius spoke, trying to appear nonchalant.

“I want to eliminate any sources of anxiety as quickly as possible.”

“Sources of anxiety?”

“Yes. I think I can only feel at ease once we catch the arsonist quickly.”

Lord Claudius glanced at me from the corner of his eye.

His blue eyes were filled with affection.

“I’m sick and tired of family being put in danger. Especially…”

Lord Claudius continued in a playful voice.

“Since Larit is going to be my wife.”

“Wh-what?”

I felt my face turn bright red.

Of course, it’s true that I accepted his proposal!

But isn’t this coming at me way too suddenly?!

“Of course, of course. My future sister-in-law’s safety is the most important thing.”

Meanwhile, Lady Claudius, with no trace of her earlier scolding of Lord Claudius,

nodded her head enthusiastically in agreement with his words…

‘Really, why do you two only get along so well at times like this?!’

Unable to overcome my embarrassment, I glared at Lady Claudius without malice.

But Lady Claudius didn’t care at all.

Instead, with a proud expression, she clenched both fists and said,

“Ha, finally succeeded.”

“What? Succeeded at what?”

“What do you think?”

Lady Claudius exclaimed triumphantly.

“The grand operation ‘Make Larit Part of My Family’!”

Make Larit… what?

Momentarily stunned, I completely forgot my embarrassment and burst into laughter.

“Pfft.”

Oh my, our Lady Claudius. You’re just too cute…

“Oh my, why are you laughing? I’m being serious.”

Lady Claudius looked stern as she questioned me.

But my laughter quickly spread to Lord Claudius as well.

“Oh, really!”

Lady Claudius, who had been stamping her feet, eventually ended up laughing along with Lord Claudius and me.

Even though a fire of unknown cause had suddenly broken out at the townhouse, and we had nearly been seriously hurt,

we could still be this happy.

It was ironic, but still, it was a very joyful night.

* * *

The next morning.

Isaac, scanning the morning newspaper with bloodshot eyes, couldn’t contain his anger and spat out a curse.

“Damn it!”

[A fire of unknown cause broke out at the Ansi Family Townhouse.

There was property damage worth 300,000 derks, but fortunately there were no casualties…]

No casualties.

Isaac stared wide-eyed, mulling over those words again and again.

That meant,

Larit Ansi, that wench was still alive with all her limbs intact!

“How can this be?”

Isaac muttered frantically.

His plan had been perfect.

He had thoroughly mapped out the servants’ movement routes and timing, approaching only areas that were definitely deserted.

The place he had set on fire was also the main building where Larit usually stayed.

So how could she come out alive without even a hair singed!

But then.

Bang!

Someone kicked the door open.

Isaac’s face, as he turned around in shock, hardened like stone.

“Long time no see, Isaac.”

That man greeting him so leisurely.

Someone he never wanted to face again…

“…Dietrich.”

Isaac spat out the words.

Dietrich entered the room with his usual elegant gait.

“Well, well, to think you were hiding in a place like this like a sewer rat.”

Dietrich looked around and smiled smugly.

“So typical of you.”

“What did you say?!”

Sparks flew from Isaac’s eyes.

Even the last shred of pride he had been desperately clinging to was completely crushed and trampled.

His mind turned white with rage.

“You bastard!”

Isaac swung his fist at Dietrich with eyes rolled back in fury.

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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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