The Circumstances of Being Chosen as the Villainess’s Favorite - Chapter 20

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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 20

‘Right, I’m with Lord Claudius right now!’

What I thought I was only thinking in my head had slipped out of my mouth!

I smiled awkwardly.

“I’m sorry. I spoke out of turn.”

“No, Lady, you were neither out of turn nor did you misspeak. Why would expressing your thoughts be out of turn?”

His blue eyes looked directly at me.

“I’m simply… curious about your thoughts, Lady.”

“…”

My mouth went completely dry.

After hesitating for a moment, I carefully opened my mouth.

“Perhaps the nymph fairy wanted to live independently?”

Lord Claudius raised his eyebrows as if surprised.

“You think she wanted to live independently?”

“Yes. Even if the nymph fairy loved that god at first, we can’t know whether those feelings lasted until the end unless we were in her position.”

Seraphina, the female protagonist of this world.

Larite, who admired such a Seraphina and devoted her body and soul to serving her.

But there’s no law saying that admiration would last forever.

“How do we know the nymph fairy was only sad when she transformed into a birch tree? She might have finally felt relieved to shake off her tiresome unrequited love.”

I concluded my words carefully.

“Couldn’t we interpret it as… the nymph fairy finally gaining her freedom?”

Just as I, after a long devotion, completely shook off my admiration for Seraphina.

Just as I chose to go against Seraphina, the female protagonist, and decided to stop being her doormat.

‘Oh no.’

Suddenly I snapped back to my senses.

‘Did I get too carried away?’

I seemed to have given too long a speech in front of Lord Claudius…

Fortunately, however, Lord Claudius didn’t seem to be in a bad mood.

“That’s a unique interpretation. Very interesting.”

Lord Claudius, who had been looking at me with curious eyes, nodded lightly.

“I’ve never thought about it from that angle before. It makes sense.”

…He actually seemed to be enjoying our current conversation quite a bit?

Lord Claudius added gently.

“Come to think of it, Eva has been approaching everything actively lately since spending time with you, Lady.”

“Lady Claudius has?”

“Yes. Honestly, I never expected Eva to say she’d take on the role of hostess and even study for it…”

Lord Claudius smiled with his eyes.

“I think she was probably influenced by Lady Ansi’s intelligence.”

…Receiving compliments is still a bit unfamiliar.

This ticklish sensation.

‘Calm down, Lari.’

I quickly smiled to hide my flustered appearance.

‘It would be terrible if I got excited and made a mistake.’

Very fortunately, Lord Claudius turned his head to look at Lady Claudius standing far away.

“Personally, Eva seems much brighter lately, which is nice to see.”

A warm light flickered over his blue eyes.

With his gaze fixed on Lady Claudius, Lord Claudius concluded calmly.

“I’m very happy that… she seems to have made a good friend.”

That appearance was truly that of a caring brother who treasured his younger sister.

I felt a bit strange.

To think that such a kind brother would send his own sister to a convent after falling in love with Seraphina.

I couldn’t imagine it at all.

“It’s all thanks to you, Lady.”

“Not at all.”

I hurriedly shook my head.

Is it because it’s been so long since I was acknowledged like this?

…My heart was beating for no reason.

* * *

‘Huh?’

Meanwhile, Evangeline, who had been busy greeting guests, suddenly turned her gaze.

At the same time, her blue eyes sparkled, filled with curiosity.

‘Lady Ansi and my brother look really close!’

At the end of Evangeline’s gaze were Larite and Dietrich, viewing artworks side by side.

The two didn’t look like people meeting for the first time, appearing quite friendly.

They exchanged conversations and sometimes made eye contact while smiling.

‘What’s this about?’

Actually, Dietrich was surprisingly the type to put up walls.

While outwardly impeccably polite, he didn’t let others get close to him.

It had been a really long time since she’d seen Dietrich smile so brightly in front of others.

Moreover.

“Oh my, Lord Claudius and Lady Ansi are standing side by side?”

“Lord Claudius can be so relaxed like that.”

“I always thought he was strict…”

It didn’t seem like only Evangeline thought the two looked close.

Evangeline perked up her ears.

Just then, following Dietrich, the conversation had moved on to topics about herself.

“Come to think of it, didn’t Lady Claudius and Lady Ansi look very close too?”

“That’s right, I saw it too!”

Another noblewoman chimed in.

“Well, Lady Claudius was linking arms with Lady Ansi earlier!”

“They looked very friendly, didn’t they?”

Hmph.

Evangeline felt pleased for no reason.

‘See, I have friends too!’

The noblewomen covered their mouths with fans and continued their quiet conversation.

“Actually, it was a bit surprising. Lady Claudius seemed like she didn’t interact with anyone…”

“She has unexpectedly down-to-earth aspects.”

To summarize that conversation, it was ‘I see Lady Claudius in a new light.’

‘Oh?’

Evangeline blinked her eyes.

‘Lady Ansi’s advice really is working!’

Excited, Evangeline slowly approached the noblewomen.

Unable to contain her elated mood, she was about to blurt out to the noblewomen,

Really? Do Lady Ansi and I look close?

Just as Evangeline was about to ask that question, she suddenly came to her senses.

‘Oh no, I shouldn’t show such an excited appearance.’

After all, wasn’t she the salon’s host, the Empire’s only Lady Claudius, and taking on the role of hostess for the Claudius Estate?

She had to maintain at least minimal dignity.

Evangeline composed her expression and spoke haughtily.

“What are you talking about? I happened to hear Lady Ansi’s name…”

The noblewomen who had been chatting quietly turned around in shock to look at Evangeline.

“L-Lady Claudius. That’s…!”

The noblewomen, glancing nervously at each other, all turned pale and bowed their heads.

“We’re truly sorry!”

“How dare we presumptuously talk about Lady Claudius…!”

Then Evangeline narrowed her eyes.

‘Really, is someone going to devour them or something?’

Well, I know my reputation in high society isn’t exactly stellar.

But there’s no need to make such a big fuss, is there?

“I’m not angry, you know?”

“We’ll be careful to ensure this doesn’t happen again in the future… Huh?”

At the unexpected response, the noblewomen lifted their heads with bewildered faces.

Evangeline shrugged her shoulders lightly.

“You saw correctly. Lady Ansi and I are indeed very close friends.”

“L-Lady Claudius?”

“So there’s really no need to apologize to that extent.”

Evangeline smiled with her eyes.

“You know what? When I was organizing this salon, Lady Ansi gave me tremendous help.”

“D-did she?”

The noblewomen looked at Evangeline with bewildered expressions.

Evangeline lifted her chin proudly.

“The flow of this event venue – isn’t it very convenient to move around in?”

“Ah, yes.”

“It’s nice that it’s not complicated.”

The noblewomen nodded their heads cautiously.

Evangeline couldn’t hide her pride.

“Right? You all think so too, don’t you?”

Evangeline, thoroughly excited, completely forgot about dignity and everything else.

“That’s all thanks to Lady Ansi’s detailed advice. And also those flower decorations…”

After going on for quite a while with what could have been praise, boasting, or showing off her friendship with Larite.

“Well, I should go see Lady Ansi now. Everyone have a wonderful time.”

Evangeline left only a cheerful farewell and strode away triumphantly.

“…What on earth just happened?”

“R-right? I thought Lady Claudius would scold us.”

The noblewomen looked at each other as if they had been possessed by ghosts.

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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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