The Circumstances of Being Chosen as the Villainess’s Favorite - Chapter 201

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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 Prologue 14
“Of course.”
Larite nodded readily.
At that, Evangeline’s eyes began to glisten.
“Larit.”
She suddenly threw her arms around Larite’s neck.
“I must have done so many good deeds in my past life. That’s why I got to be friends with you.”
Evangeline nuzzled her cheek against Larite’s, whimpering softly.
“Being friends with you feels like the greatest fortune of my entire life…….”
Well, no matter what anyone said, Evangeline remained her cherished friend, and that would never change.
Larite let out a quiet laugh and gently rubbed Evangeline’s back.
Her affectionate voice settled lightly against Evangeline’s ear.
“I feel the same way.”
* * *
At that very moment.
Dietrich was listening to the Crown Prince’s lament with a thoroughly exhausted expression.
“If only I had understood Evangeline’s heart a little better…….”
Behind thin silver-rimmed glasses, his blue eyes gleamed with irritation.
Dietrich clicked his tongue inwardly.
‘Tiresome. Absolutely tiresome.’
The only reason he was tolerating this was because the Crown Prince still doted on Evangeline even now.
If he had blamed his sister even slightly.
Dietrich would have gladly hurled the documents in his hand onto the desk and walked straight out of the study.
“Please stop.”
“But Your Grace…….”
The Crown Prince regarded Dietrich with a pleading gaze.
Those dewy eyes resembled a large retriever seeking its master’s approval.
Dietrich finally released a heavy sigh.
“Two days.”
“Pardon?”
“Precisely two days. During that time, I shall attend to Your Highness’s duties. Use those days to win back Evangeline’s favor.”
The Crown Prince’s eyes widened.
Though his tone was somewhat curt, this was an extraordinary act of consideration.
Dietrich shook his head slightly.
“I speak for the sake of myself and the other administrators. Your Highness’s work efficiency has already hit bottom, and if you don’t reconcile with Evangeline soon, how much suffering will the administrators below endure?”
Despite that gruff reply, the Crown Prince grinned repeatedly.
“Thank you so much! Truly, there’s no one but you, yes?”
Once he had barely managed to mollify the Crown Prince.
Dietrich suddenly felt a curious question arise.
“By the way, when exactly did you come to cherish Evangeline in your heart?”
“Hmm?”
“From what I recall, you were certainly close to her, but it certainly wasn’t like this before.”
At that, Endymion faced Dietrich with a solemn expression.
“To speak of that, I must take us back to the day we first met.”
“……Yes?”
“I remember precisely what Evangeline looked like then. She wore a Silk Ribbon in her hair, a Check Pattern Dress, and stood before a rose bush…….”
Endymion’s cheeks flushed a soft pink.
“I thought she was a fairy who had lost her way and descended to the mortal realm.”
“Your Highness, if I may.”
Dietrich, utterly bewildered, interjected.
“Wasn’t Evangeline ten years old at that time? You’ve loved her since then?”
“Naturally. Is there anyone in the world as lovely as Evangeline? What man would not fall in love upon seeing an angel?”
“That’s quite enough.”
Dietrich had grown thoroughly sick of this endless refrain about how beautiful Evangeline was.
He pointed wearily at the mountain of documents stacked upon the desk.
“At least finish processing all of that by this evening.”
“……Yes.”
At those cutting words, Endymion meekly picked up his pen.
* * *
That night.
Evangeline’s grand plan—a long-awaited Pajama Party with Larite—fell apart before it had properly begun.
Endymion had arrived home with Dietrich, and he wasn’t about to leave his side.
“Endi?!”
Evangeline’s eyes went wide as a startled rabbit’s as she stared at him.
Endymion entered with a dejected expression, carefully gauging his wife’s mood.
“Eva, I was wrong. Won’t you come back to the Imperial Palace with me?”
“…….”
“From now on, if you share your snacks with me, I promise I’ll be good…….”
Meanwhile, Dietrich made no effort to hide his bewilderment, shifting his gaze between the ridiculous couple.
‘All this chaos over a Lemon Madeleine.’
He’d been told beforehand why they’d quarreled, but he couldn’t help finding it absurd.
Still, the apology itself seemed remarkably effective.
With each word from the Crown Prince, Evangeline’s stern expression gradually softened, or so it appeared.
“Hmph.”
She crossed her arms and turned her head away sharply.
Her blue eyes stole a sidelong glance at Endymion.
“Are you truly sorry?”
“Yes!”
“And from now on, you’ll make sure I get a share of anything delicious?”
“Of course!”
The Crown Prince nodded eagerly.
Then Evangeline answered with aristocratic dignity.
“Well, I suppose I have no choice. I’ll accept your apology.”
“Goodness, you really are an angel!”
Tears welled in the Crown Prince’s eyes as he suddenly pulled Evangeline into an embrace.
Evangeline, startled, protested with visible displeasure.
“Goodness, Endi! Everyone’s watching!”
Yet her words belied her true feelings.
Though she complained aloud, she made no move to pull away, settling obediently into his arms instead.
The only ones watching this scene—Larite and Dietrich—could only watch their expressions cloud over in real time.
And then.
“Auntie!!”
Lucas came scampering toward them from down the hall.
“Auntie, what are you—uh?”
Lucas stopped abruptly in his tracks.
With the expression of someone betrayed, he looked back and forth between Evangeline and Endymion, who were holding each other tenderly.
The boy’s eyes began to tremble.
“……Auntie, you’re not leaving, are you?”
“Eh? Oh?”
Flustered, Evangeline hurried to face Lucas.
There was no getting around it.
Every time she visited Lord Claudius’ Town House, Endymion would come to collect her, without fail.
And so Lucas had come to understand one immutable truth.
‘When Uncle arrives, Auntie leaves.’
Lucas’s face crumpled with frustration as he clenched his small fists.
“You said I was your favorite.”
“……Luca?”
“You said you’d sleep here with me tonight!”
Lucas, thoroughly sulking, raised his voice.
“Now that Uncle’s here to pick you up, you’re just going to leave?!”
“Lucas, that’s not…….”
“I hate you, Auntie!”
Lucas spun around and bolted away.
Alarmed, Evangeline scrambled after him.
“Luca? Luca! Wait just a moment!!”
“Eva!”
As his wife dashed after Lucas, the Crown Prince found himself swept along in their wake.
Larite and Dietrich, watching this absurd spectacle unfold, fell silent side by side.
“…….”
“…….”
Dietrich muttered something under his breath in a tone of utter exasperation.
“What a mess.”
Larite found herself in vehement agreement with him.
* * *
And so, inside the carriage returning to the Imperial Palace.
Evangeline sat slumped against the side of the carriage, half-conscious, her eyes glazed.
She had managed to soothe Lucas somehow, but the effort had drained her entirely.
To mollify a petulant child, it turned out, required not just every conceivable sweet and toy, but also—
A solemn promise: “I’ll come visit you again soon!” ……
“Um, Evangeline.”
The Crown Prince ventured to speak to her, his voice hesitant.
Evangeline lifted her head slowly, as though stirring from a dream.
The Crown Prince’s expression was oddly tense.
“Are you free tomorrow, perhaps?”

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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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