The Circumstances of Being Chosen as the Villainess’s Favorite - Chapter 179

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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 2

“This picture, how old was Larit when this was drawn?”

“Pardon?”

I looked at the picture Lord Claudius was showing me with a bewildered expression.

There I was with my hair tied in two braids, sitting sprawled on the floor wearing a floral dress.

Not only were my cheeks chubby,

but that bear doll I was hugging tightly in my arms was, well…

“Um, I think it was around when I was five years old.”

That bear doll, I had received it as a fifth birthday present.

Of course, I couldn’t even play with it for a full month before I had to give it up to Seraphina, who had been eyeing the bear doll covetously.

“My goodness.”

At my uncertain answer, Lord Claudius looked as if he had witnessed a miracle.

Then, gazing at the album with enchanted eyes, he said,

“How, how can you be this adorable…?”

“…”

I was at a loss for words.

But whether I was flustered or not, Lord Claudius was completely absorbed in examining every detail of the picture.

“Look at these soft, chubby cheeks.”

Um, it’s just a picture.

How do you know the cheeks are soft when you haven’t even touched them?

“And what about these pretty pink eyes!”

…It’s just a pencil sketch, so how did you confirm that the eye color is pink?

Though of course, since my eye color is pink, it would naturally be pink.

“This floral dress is so cute too! Larit was a child who looked good in anything from a young age?!”

Fine, let’s just stop talking.

Just as I was shaking my head internally,

Lord Claudius suddenly lifted his head up.

Then he looked at me with earnest eyes.

“Larit, I have a wish.”

“A, a wish?”

“Yes. This picture.”

Lord Claudius carefully cupped the picture with both hands.

“…Could you give this to me?”

“Pardon?”

I became wide-eyed like a startled rabbit.

I mean, Lord Claudius usually doesn’t say things like that!

But Lord Claudius had a truly serious expression.

I don’t think he even looked that serious when having an audience with Emperor…

“P, please do.”

Overwhelmed by that seriousness, I found myself nodding without realizing it.

Then Lord Claudius smiled brightly as if he had gained the whole world.

“Thank you. I’m truly happy.”

…Would he really be that pleased?

I felt a bit bewildered.

Meanwhile, Lord Claudius began looking at me in the picture again with loving eyes.

“This hair tied in two braids… it must be incredibly soft, right?”

Then he even muttered to himself in a wistful voice.

“If only I had known Larit from childhood instead of Gusto Youngshik and Lady Lopez.”

“…”

“Then I could have treated you so much better.”

His voice was filled with regret.

“Most importantly, I could have taken care of you in various ways so that Larit wouldn’t have to endure such unreasonable things.”

…You were thinking about it.

My childhood spent with Seraphina and Gregory, those two.

I felt my heart grow a little warm somehow.

“And.”

Lord Claudius, who had been glancing down at me in the picture, concluded with a voice full of longing.

“…I would have braided your hair myself too.”

Though that last comment seemed to have some… personal interest behind it.

I, who had been quietly watching Lord Claudius, carefully called out to him.

“Um, Dietrich?”

Lord Claudius glanced up.

“Would you dislike it if it wasn’t five-year-old Larite?”

“Pardon?”

“I’m saying that here and now, there’s Larite who is Dietrich’s fiancée.”

I concluded with slightly flushed cheeks.

“My hair… you can braid it directly anytime.”

At those words, a gleam appeared in Lord Claudius’s eyes.

As laughter seemed to ripple through his blue eyes,

“Larit, come here.”

Lord Claudius gently took my hand and seated me in a chair.

His large hands softly caressed my long, loose hair.

Feeling his touch, I slowly closed my eyes.

It was warm.

And a little while later.

After examining my reflection from various angles with a hand mirror, I spoke in a peculiar voice.

“Lord Claudius?”

“…”

Lord Claudius desperately avoided my eyes.

Well, how should I put it.

The hairstyle Lord Claudius had done for me was very, very… combative…

“Well, it’s fine.”

I nodded helplessly.

“Lord Claudius should have at least one thing he can’t do to seem human.”

“…Are you serious?”

Lord Claudius looked up at me with a dejected face.

That expression was just like a large puppy looking up at its owner after causing trouble…

“Pfft.”

I stared at Lord Claudius like that, and finally couldn’t hold back and burst into laughter.

So in the end, I had to call a maid to redo my hair.

And we ended up being a little late for dinner time.

* * *

And so, the dining room.

Perhaps because it was the first day welcoming Lord Claudius, my parents had prepared a formal dinner.

It was an elegant course meal with appetizers, main dishes, and desserts served in sequence.

“When I came to visit you two this time, Larit…”

Lord Claudius conducted the conversation politely throughout.

Perhaps because of that, at some point my parents seemed to have clearly relaxed.

“Lady Claudius is doing well, isn’t she? Please bring Lady Claudius along next time too.”

“Yes, I’ll make sure to do that.”

Mm, this atmosphere is quite nice, isn’t it?

As I nodded my head in satisfaction, I suddenly felt a deep sense of unease.

More precisely, it started from when I caught a glimpse of the amount of food remaining on Lord Claudius’s plate.

‘Hm?’

I widened my eyes.

Somehow, Lord Claudius.

Hasn’t your appetite decreased a bit?

It seemed like he was trying his best to eat, but to me, who often dined with Lord Claudius, it was obvious.

Lord Claudius was eating less than usual.

‘That’s strange.’

I quietly furrowed my brow.

Although Lord Claudius wasn’t the type to pay much attention to meals, he never skipped them either.

…Of course, the reason being ‘because harming one’s health would interfere with work’ was rather lacking in humanity.

Anyway, it meant he ate as much as ordinary men.

But seeing food continuously left over bit by bit.

‘Perhaps the food doesn’t suit his taste?’

But to say that, the food was objectively quite excellent.

Moreover, Lord Claudius was someone who possessed sufficient social skills.

Even if the food didn’t quite suit his palate, he wouldn’t deliberately leave food in front of people who would become his future father-in-law and mother-in-law.

‘My goodness, father-in-law and mother-in-law.’

At the words that came to mind, I felt my face flush hot for some reason.

‘Am I really going to marry Lord Claudius?’

Just then, the main course arrived.

A glossy steak garnished with butter-sautéed potatoes and various vegetables.

‘Our Parents really put some effort into this, didn’t they?’

I smiled contentedly as I picked up my utensils.

Meanwhile, Parents and Lord Claudius continued their harmonious conversation.

‘Wait, aren’t you eating?’

I glanced at Lord Claudius.

And.

‘Huh?’

My eyes widened in an instant.

Lord Claudius was absorbed in conversation, elegantly cutting his steak.

However, he had been only cutting the steak since earlier, showing no intention of actually eating it.

Thus, the steak was being reduced to powder under his merciless knife work…

“Dietrich.”

Unable to watch any longer, I called Lord Claudius in a low voice.

At my call, Lord Claudius turned to me with a picture-perfect smile.

“Yes, Larit.”

“Does the food perhaps not suit your taste?”

“Pardon?”

Lord Claudius looked bewildered.

I gestured with my eyes toward the mangled pieces of steak.

“Ah.”

Lord Claudius froze like a statue on the spot.

“No, that’s not it!”

Lord Claudius hastily opened his mouth.

Then, with trembling pupils, he alternately looked at the steak plate, me, and Our Parents across from us.

“Well.”

Wasn’t his face turning as red as a ripe tomato?!

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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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