The Circumstances of Being Chosen as the Villainess’s Favorite - Chapter 200

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Special Episode 13
A few moments later.
Lucas, who had been glued to Evangeline’s side like a piece of chewing gum, let out a small yawn.
“Yawn.”
It was understandable.
He usually took a nap at this time of day.
At that, Evangeline scooped him up with practiced efficiency.
“Is our Lucas tired? Would his aunt sing him a lullaby?”
For reference, that was her way of saying she’d put him to sleep.
Lucas nodded, rubbing his sleepy eyes as he snuggled against Evangeline.
“Mm…”
“Wait—”
“All right. Let’s go to the bedroom.”
With that, Evangeline fled to the child’s bedroom under the pretense of putting Lucas down for a nap.
She was clearly avoiding Larite.
Asking Evangeline to talk outright in such a situation would be crude.
Instead, Larite began arranging the table with Evangeline’s favorite things.
Sweet treats.
Fragrant tea.
And a vase of roses in full bloom.
With all her preparations in place, she rose quietly and made her way toward Lucas’s bedroom.
“Eva?”
At her call, Evangeline, who had been sitting beside the sleeping child, stiffened slightly.
Then she turned back with a guarded look in her eyes.
Larite coaxed her gently.
“Would you like to have tea with me? It’s been so long.”
“…”
Speaking in hushed tones so as not to wake the child, Evangeline suddenly turned her head away.
As if insisting she would absolutely not fall for Larite’s temptation.
“The chef went to great lengths today—he was so pleased you’d come home.”
Evangeline remained stubbornly turned away.
But Larite didn’t back down.
Like dangling a feather toy before a cat, she continued in a coaxing tone.
“We just received some premium chocolate at the kitchen, so I had the chef make a Chocolate Tart. I thought you’d like it.”
“…”
“Oh, and I changed the flowers in the vase. The Gardener brought us some beautiful roses this time—a lovely deep red. I’m sure you’d enjoy them…”
At that moment, Evangeline turned to shoot Larite a pouty glare.
She walked briskly toward her, then spoke with a sharp edge.
“Do you think I’m a child? Trying to win me over with roses and sweets.”
“So you don’t like them?”
Larite asked with an impish smile.
Evangeline stared at her with a coy expression.
“Well, I didn’t say I dislike them.”
She turned her head away with a huff.
Then she briskly walked toward the Tea Room.
Larite followed, stifling her laughter.
‘She really is adorable.’
Evangeline insisted passionately that Lucas was the cutest thing in the world, but Larite only half agreed with that assessment.
After all, there was no rule saying the cutest thing had to be just one.
First was Lucas.
Second was Evangeline herself.
* * *
Once seated in the Tea Room, Evangeline deftly consumed a slice of Chocolate Tart, paired with Black Tea.
Then she spotted the rose decorating the table and her eyes lit up.
She went on to pester Larite with questions about the rose variety and the Gardener who had brought them.
“I’m not going back to the Imperial Palace today.”
She declared this suddenly and firmly.
“Pardon?”
For a moment, Larite doubted her own ears.
But Evangeline seemed quite serious.
Evangeline, with her arms crossed in stubborn determination, continued boldly.
“I want to sleep over at Larite’s place tonight.”
…….
Larite fell silent for a moment.
She’d stripped away all the preamble, jumping straight to the conclusion—that was her way.
It was so familiar.
This was the Evangeline she’d always known.
Not the Evangeline who, as the Crown Princess of the Empire, knew how to conduct herself with grace.
But the tomboy who’d once been called the Rose of High Society.
‘Brings back memories.’
Larite let out a soft laugh and nodded readily.
“Of course.”
“Really?”
Evangeline’s face brightened, and she cast a quick glance at Larite, searching her expression.
Truth be told, she’d been quietly worried that Larite might draw a firm line and refuse.
Her one and only friend placed great importance on propriety, and she had an uncanny talent for managing Evangeline’s behavior.
“Of course. What’s so difficult about staying one night?”
Larite shrugged her shoulders and added warmly.
“I’d enjoy spending some quiet time with you too.”
“Larite……!”
Evangeline’s face lit up with overwhelming emotion, and she seized Larite’s hand eagerly.
Larite, her eyes crinkling at the corners, posed a question.
“So, what happened?”
At that, Evangeline’s eyes flashed with sudden intensity.
She was so worked up that Larite felt the grip on their clasped hands tighten.
“Well, you see.”
Her tone was so grave that Larite found herself swallowing involuntarily.
“The Crown Prince…….”
For reference, the Crown Prince went by the affectionate nickname of Andy.
Since becoming husband and wife, the Crown Prince and Evangeline had been calling each other by these terms of endearment, maintaining a marriage that dripped with sweetness.
Witnessing their domestic bliss, Dietrich couldn’t help but suffer from a sense of loss at having his sister taken away.
And the Crown Prince had to continually endure Dietrich’s menacing glare.
But what was this atmosphere now?
‘What is it?’
Larite’s mind filled with all manner of ominous imaginings.
Had the Crown Prince perhaps been unkind to her dear friend?
‘No, he wouldn’t do that.’
The Crown Prince was just as devoted to his wife as Dietrich was protective.
In fact, he was so thoroughly under Evangeline’s spell that Larite had witnessed him stumble over his words in her presence more than once.
“The Crown Prince……!”
Just then, Evangeline cried out with raw anguish.
“He gave me the last Lemon Madeleine!”
…….
…….
Silence fell.
Larite couldn’t hide her bewildered expression.
What was the problem with that?
But Evangeline continued her complaint, her face a mixture of grievance and sorrow.
“But I wanted to watch my Andy eat the Lemon Madeleine!”
Even now, “my Andy”—
Larite felt an indescribable emotion wash over her at the affectionate rapport between the Crown Prince and his wife.
The circumstances Evangeline laid out so haphazardly were roughly this:
The Crown Prince had been extraordinarily busy of late.
The Emperor was planning to transfer the imperial throne to the Crown Prince in the not-too-distant future.
As a result, most of the imperial duties had fallen to the Crown Prince to manage.
Consequently, the time he spent with Evangeline had shrunk considerably.
Yet even in the midst of it all, the Crown Prince had managed to carve out time somehow.
And at last, he’d been able to share a sweet tea time alone with his beloved wife.
“Here, Evangeline.”
The incident stemmed from the last remaining Lemon Madeleine.
“Eva, you like Lemon Madeleines, don’t you? Have another.”
The Crown Prince tried to push the Lemon Madeleine toward Evangeline.
Evangeline waved a hand in protest.
“You like them too, you know. Andy should eat this one.”
“No, I’m already full just watching you eat.”
“I feel the same way. I want to watch Andy eat.”
And so the two of them launched into a quarrel born of affection—a debate over who should yield the Lemon Madeleine—
what had begun as a gentle exchange gradually heated into something more earnest,
and Evangeline, thoroughly sullen by now, had finally staged what could only be called a runaway—not quite a departure from the Claudius Estate, but close enough…….
Wait…….
‘What did I just hear?’
Larite’s eyes had gone completely blank.
But Evangeline, her face set in utmost seriousness, clenched both fists and declared:
“Andy actually does like sweet confections, you understand.”
“Ah, is that so?”
“This is just awful. Why won’t Andy understand my heart?!”
Truly, no couple had ever been so theatrical…….
And so Larite found herself in a moment of stinging self-reflection.
Back when she and Dietrich had only just begun their courtship.
Evangeline, watching the two of them stumble through their own foolishness, must have felt exactly this way.
Meanwhile, Evangeline, who had been pouting, turned to Larite with a question.
“So, I can sleep here tonight, can’t I?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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