The Circumstances of Being Chosen as the Villainess’s Favorite - Chapter 205

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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 Sidetrack — Episode 18
“Exactly? Morning sickness is such an ordeal. Even with Larite, the things she went through…….”
Larite’s eyes grew distant for a moment as she recalled her own pregnancy.
Then, abruptly, Dietrich’s expression hardened, and he fixed the Crown Prince with a glare.
“How could you possibly get our Evangeline pregnant? You swore you’d never let a drop of water touch her fingertips.”
The Crown Prince’s tired face couldn’t hide his exasperation.
He couldn’t fathom what keeping water off one’s hands had to do with having a child.
More than that.
“We are husband and wife, are we not?”
“That’s beside the point! Do you have any idea how arduous childbirth is?”
Dietrich’s eyes widened as he shot the Crown Prince a withering look.
“So from now on, treat our Evangeline even better. Pamper her like a princess, do you understand?!”
……A princess, of all things.
Wasn’t Evangeline already the Crown Princess? Soon to be Empress, no less.
The Crown Prince made no effort to hide his reluctance, but he offered no further argument.
He knew well enough how foolish Lord Claudius’s sister could be.
If he’d kept talking, he’d be buried under an avalanche of nagging.
So he sat there quietly, listening.
“Goodness, really. Hand that over.”
With a deep sigh, Dietrich snatched the Documents from the Crown Prince’s hands.
Caught off guard, the Crown Prince stared at Dietrich in bewilderment.
“What are you doing?”
“Your Highness should rest for a moment.”
Dietrich gestured toward a chair with his eyes.
Then he clicked his tongue disapprovingly.
“Looking at Documents with that face like you’re about to expire won’t get anything done. You’d be better off resting first.”
“But——”
“Thirty minutes. That’s all I’m giving you. Use that time to collect yourself. Understood?”
Though his tone was sharp, his concern for the Crown Prince showed through clearly.
After hesitating a moment, the Crown Prince gently pushed a box of Candy toward Dietrich.
“Would you care for a sweet?”
Dietrich let out a dry laugh and kept his eyes fixed on the Documents.
“No, thank you.”
* * *
Meanwhile.
Evangeline sat in the Crown Prince’s Palace Drawing Room, her expression bright and showing no sign whatsoever of pregnancy.
Beside her sat Lady Claudius, Larite.
But there was one problem.
Scratch-scratch-scratch.
Larite’s hand flew across the page, filling her notebook with dense, hurried notes.
Unable to bear it any longer, Evangeline spoke up in a puzzled voice.
“What are you writing down so furiously?”
Larite’s head snapped up.
At the same moment, Evangeline’s shoulders tensed reflexively.
There was an odd, fierce determination in those usually gentle rose-pink eyes.
“I’m making a list of everything you’ll need. We have to start thinking about it now.”
“……Larite?”
“It’s your first pregnancy. There’s so much you’re going to need.”
Larite’s eyes gleamed as she continued.
“Just leave it to me. I’ll take care of everything.”
“No, no…… you really don’t have to go to such lengths……”
Faced with such resolute determination, Evangeline found herself breaking out in a cold sweat without realizing it.
So why had Larite suddenly shifted into overdrive, you ask?
Well, here’s what happened.
Just moments ago.
Evangeline had told Larite the news of her pregnancy.
Larite’s eyes had gone wide, and she’d stared at Evangeline intently.
“Congratulations, Evangeline!”
Then she’d pulled Evangeline into a tight embrace.
Up until this point, the mood had been perfectly warm and joyful.
But the trouble came after.
Larite suddenly called over a maid who had been waiting nearby.
“Could you fetch me some writing materials?”
That was her request.
The maid dutifully brought the supplies.
With a firm grip, Larite seized the pen and began scrawling across the paper in rapid strokes.
And so, in the present moment—
“No, really, you don’t have to go to all that trouble for me.”
Evangeline shot her dearest friend an exasperated look.
“Don’t worry. I’m perfectly capable of managing on my own.”
“That’s true enough, but you know how feelings don’t always work that way.”
Larite smiled softly.
“You’re the most precious friend I have. I simply want to help you however I can.”
……
“Of course, I know you can do wonderfully by yourself.”
Ah, really.
When Larite says something like that, how can you refuse?
Evangeline pressed her lips together with a rueful expression.
At the same time, Larite’s face took on a mischievous cast.
“Besides, you’re hardly in a position to argue, are you?”
Hmm?
Evangeline tilted her head in confusion.
Larite smiled with a soft laugh.
“You did exactly the same thing to me back then. If anything, you were even more relentless.”
……Ah, yes.
Evangeline felt a touch of embarrassment.
Indeed, when Larite had first become pregnant with Lucas.
Evangeline had taken up a new hobby of purchasing baby items.
And all those gifts had been sent to Claudius’ Townhouse.
“Well, I suppose that’s fair enough.”
Larite snapped her notebook shut with a playful tone.
“About the baby to come—would you prefer a boy or a girl?”
“I haven’t given it much thought. I just……”
Evangeline ran her hand across her belly almost absently.
Still so perfectly flat.
To think that a child was alive and breathing in there—it was truly wondrous.
A soft blush colored Evangeline’s cheeks like ripened apples.
“I just hope the baby arrives healthy.”
“Of course—I feel the same way.”
Larite met Evangeline’s gaze and smiled warmly.
“Though a baby with your face would be absolutely adorable.”
“Well, I suppose resembling me wouldn’t be so bad.”
A soft smile bloomed across Evangeline’s face.
Her voice settled like warm sunlight.
“But I’d be happiest if the baby resembled Andi.”
As she spoke, Evangeline wore the unmistakable presence of a mother.
* * *
As the pregnancy advanced, the Crown Prince’s morning sickness gradually faded.
And in its place, he grew increasingly devoted to attending to Evangeline.
“How are you feeling, Eva? Are you all right?”
The Royal Physician had assured him that the mother’s condition was excellent.
Yet the Crown Prince continued to care for his wife with such tenderness that he seemed afraid she might slip through his fingers or blow away on the wind.
Today was no exception.
Evangeline sat on the bed with her legs stretched out before her.
The Crown Prince sat close beside her, gently massaging her legs with careful attention.
The pregnancy had made her legs swell frequently, after all.
“No, really, I’m perfectly fine.”
Evangeline smiled shyly.
“I simply wanted to do this for you.”
The Crown Prince smiled and positioned several cushions beneath her legs.
“They say keeping your legs elevated reduces swelling.”
With that, she began gently wiping Evangeline’s calves with a warm towel.
Her manner was as tender as a mother bird tending to her young.
Evangeline closed her eyes slowly, savoring the warmth with unhurried pleasure.
But only for a moment.
“Speaking of which, didn’t you say Dietrich was visiting today?”
“That’s right.”
Evangeline nodded and pushed herself up from her seat with a grunt.
Six months along now.
Her belly had swollen considerably.
She lowered herself from the bed with an awkward waddle, her voice bright with excitement.
“You know that gift Luca promised to give me?”

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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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