The Circumstances of Being Chosen as the Villainess’s Favorite - Chapter 178

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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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Side Story Episode 1

Lord Claudius and I were now heading down to the Ansi Viscountcy, just the two of us.

After the marriage talks between House of Claudius and the House of Ansi had begun in earnest.

Lady Claudius had suddenly spoken up.

“Still, Larit and Her Brother are getting married, so shouldn’t our families meet at least once?”

Then Lord Claudius looked at Lady Claudius with a very surprised expression.

“Evangeline Claudius, how unusual for you to say something so sensible.”

“What?!”

Lady Claudius jumped around like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

Regardless, Lord Claudius smiled smoothly and turned to look at me.

“Since the topic has come up, there’s something I’d like to show Larit.”

“To me?”

“Yes.”

Lord Claudius nodded and pulled out a palm-sized notebook from inside his coat.

It seemed to be the kind he usually used for taking various notes.

Then, with a somewhat embarrassed expression, he handed me the notebook.

“I was already thinking of visiting the Ansi Viscountcy at some point. Since it would be awkward to go empty-handed, I’ve compiled a list of gifts to bring…”

Taking the notebook in bewilderment, I once again experienced the scale of the Ducal House after a very long time.

That’s right.

More than half of the thick notebook was filled with a list of gifts for my Parents!

From traditional gifts like flower bouquets, fruit sets, luxury snacks, and health foods.

To luxury suits, shoes, and even jewelry!

Well, I could understand clothing to some extent.

But why on earth was there jewelry?!

My pupils shook wildly as if an earthquake had struck.

“Lord Claudius.”

I raised my head with a snap and declared solemnly.

“We’re choosing exactly one gift from this list.”

“Pardon? But…”

“And suits, shoes, jewelry – things like that are not allowed.”

“Why not?!”

…After much back and forth.

Lord Claudius and I agreed on flower bouquets, fruit baskets, health foods, and some luxury snacks.

For reference, Lord Claudius somehow tried to squeeze a jewelry set into that gift list.

“I think my Parents would find it burdensome.”

I put up an iron wall defense like that.

In the end, Lord Claudius had to reluctantly step back, though with a dissatisfied expression.

And so, presently.

“Ah, we’ve finally arrived.”

I sparkled with excitement as I looked at the Ansi Marquisate’s Main Estate spread out beyond the Window.

At the thought of seeing my Parents’ faces after so long, I felt as if I were walking on clouds, my mood naturally lifting.

* * *

Perhaps because they had met the Claudius siblings once before.

My Parents weren’t as frozen stiff as they used to be.

“Welcome, Lord Claudius.”

“It’s been a while.”

Of course, that was only relative to “how they used to be,” and objectively speaking, they were still quite stiff…

Lord Claudius smiled warmly and greeted my Parents in return.

“Have you been well? I’m truly delighted to visit you like this.”

“Ah, yes.”

“Of course, we too…”

My Parents’ eyes, which had been trying to respond to Lord Claudius’s greeting, suddenly shook violently.

“Wh-what is all that?”

The Butler had begun unloading the gifts that had been packed into the Carriage one by one.

That’s right.

As a result of my iron wall defense against Lord Claudius saying “no jewelry” and “no luxury suits, shoes, or expensive items like that.”

Lord Claudius had now decided to compete with quantity instead…

“This much should be fine, shouldn’t it?”

Lord Claudius said this with a refreshingly bright smile.

And I just looked away with clouded eyes.

Well, at least it wasn’t a 3-piece jewelry set, right?

Thus, the Butler had to continuously carry enormous flower baskets, fruit baskets, health foods, and luxury dessert boxes without rest.

And my Parents ended up with utterly stunned expressions.

Honestly, with this amount, they could have just started a business…

“I’m embarrassed that it’s so meager.”

Meanwhile, Lord Claudius, who had been looking at those gifts, scratched his cheek awkwardly.

“I would have liked to prepare a bit more if I could, but I’m ashamed.”

“…”

“…”

My Parents, who had been staring blankly at Lord Claudius, forced smiles and turned around stiffly.

“W-well, please come inside for now!”

I looked at my Parents with a gentle smile.

It seemed my Parents also needed time to adapt to the scale of the Ducal House…

* * *

Lord Claudius and I were guided to our respective rooms.

Since we had accumulated some fatigue from traveling down from Jedo to the Ansi Viscountcy, we decided to change clothes and rest until dinner time.

‘Wow, it’s been so long since I’ve been in this room too.’

I looked around the room with eyes filled with nostalgia.

The room I had used continuously since childhood.

The room remained exactly as it had been when I left for Jedo at eighteen.

When I came to the Barony with Lady Claudius last time, I had stayed in a room next to the guest room where Lady Claudius was staying.

So I hadn’t had any occasion to enter this room at all.

I walked briskly into the room and opened the Window first.

A refreshing breeze rushed in, and the pure white linen curtains fluttered softly into the room.

Glancing back, I could see the desk and chair, walnut bed, and the small table attached to the bed.

Perhaps because my Parents had been carefully maintaining it, there wasn’t a speck of dust in the room.

I stared quietly at the desk.

‘In this room… I really cried so much.’

When I was young, during the times I was bullied by Seraphina and Gregory.

The memory of lying face down on the desk, sniffling and crying.

‘But it’s okay now.’

I smiled with relief.

I’m no longer that young girl who used to crouch alone in this small room.

I’ve finally met people who love me and become happy.

But just then.

Knock knock knock.

I heard a short knocking sound.

I turned around with a puzzled expression.

‘Who could it be?’

There should still be quite a bit of time left until dinner?

I walked toward the door with quick steps, and upon confirming who it was, I wore a gentle smile.

“Oh, Dietrich.”

“Larit.”

Lord Claudius spoke playfully as if for me to hear.

“Really, I thought I might collapse from missing Larit so much.”

“Please come in.”

I burst into giggles and stepped back a few paces, letting Lord Claudius into the room.

Lord Claudius, who followed me into the room, lit up his eyes with curiosity.

“Is this Larit’s room?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

I nodded and added a light explanation.

“To be precise, it’s the room I used until I was eighteen.”

“Ah…”

Just then.

Lord Claudius widened his eyes as he looked at the bookshelf attached to the desk.

“Larit, what is that?”

“Oh.”

I blinked my eyes.

‘That was there?’

I approached Lord Claudius and pulled out a thick album from the bookshelf.

At the same time, Lord Claudius quietly asked me.

“May I look at it?”

“Yes, though there’s nothing special.”

I shrugged my shoulders lightly.

Lord Claudius, who was carefully turning the album pages, widened his eyes and looked back at me.

“This… could this possibly be Larit?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

When I was still young, Mother, who used to paint as a hobby, would occasionally draw my portrait.

It was an album collecting those portraits.

To be precise, rather than portraits with perfect coloring, they were just sketches closer to practice works.

But Lord Claudius couldn’t take his eyes off the album at all.

‘He’s not going to examine it that thoroughly, is he?’

How should I put it, I don’t think he’d look at famous paintings displayed in an art museum this intently…

Along with that thought, Lord Claudius suddenly turned to look at me.

His usually calm face was entirely flushed red with excitement.

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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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