The Circumstances of Being Chosen as the Villainess’s Favorite - Chapter 206

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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 Side Story 19
That was how it had happened.
Lucas had leapt with joy at the news of a cousin on the way.
He’d pestered Evangeline constantly, demanding to know when the baby would arrive.
And now he’d announced he was coming to see her, gift in hand.
Of course, even if today weren’t the occasion, he’d been dropping by the Crown Prince’s Palace as regularly as sparrows visiting a mill, so there was that.
“Isn’t he just wonderful?”
Evangeline’s eyes had been sparkling as she said it.
“Aunt Evangeline!”
A child’s bright voice rang out through the room.
Evangeline turned without thinking, her eyes widening.
“Welcome, Lucas… Wait, Her Brother?”
Of course, Lucas couldn’t have come to the Imperial Palace alone; she’d naturally assumed Larite would accompany him.
But she hadn’t expected Dietrich to come as well.
Dietrich, with his characteristic deadpan expression, shot his younger sister a pointed look.
“You’re not happy to see me? It’s been months.”
“Oh, no—”
Evangeline, rarely at a loss for words, stammered.
Behind the ducal family, a middle-aged couple appeared.
“The Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress?!”
Evangeline jumped to her feet in alarm.
The Empress quickly gestured her back down.
“Don’t get up like that. Stay where you are.”
“How are you resting, Evangeline?”
The Emperor added his warm greeting as well.
Evangeline, flustered, glanced sidelong at her husband with a desperate look.
‘What on earth is happening?!’
But seeing the Crown Prince’s equally startled face, he seemed just as confused as she was.
Evangeline’s pupils trembled as though an earthquake had struck.
‘Why, why have they all suddenly come to the Crown Prince’s Palace together?!’
So how had things come to this….
It was breakfast time at the Claudius Estate, when the entire family had gathered.
Larite had casually mentioned that she would bring Lucas to the palace today to visit Evangeline.
“Visit Evangeline, you say? Then I shall accompany you.”
Dietrich had quietly inserted himself into the plan.
Larite had smiled knowingly.
She knew perfectly well that Dietrich was secretly anxious about his pregnant younger sister.
It was only shame that made him pretend, on the surface, that he didn’t particularly care about Evangeline.
“Don’t you think you could afford to be a bit more honest?”
“Pardon? I’m afraid I don’t follow.”
Dietrich, sharp as ever, had understood every word his wife meant, yet deliberately feigned ignorance.
Larite had laughed again.
Perhaps because she was an only child, the subtle and awkward affection between siblings struck her as simply endearing.
So by the time the ducal family arrived at the Crown Prince’s Palace,
they had happened to encounter the Emperor and Empress.
“Your Majesty, and Your Majesty the Empress. We are honored.”
The ducal family had hastily paid their respects.
The imperial couple had blinked in surprise and posed a question.
“What brings the three of you here?”
“We had an appointment with the Crown Princess. We’ve come to pay our respects.”
“Oh, is that so?”
The Empress tilted her head in puzzlement.
“How strange. We also had an appointment…?”
As it turned out, it was the imperial couple who had been mistaken.
They did indeed have an appointment with Evangeline, but it wasn’t until a week hence.
Yet miscalculation or not, one couldn’t very well send away people who had already arrived.
And so, presently,
the Imperial Court and the Claudius family found themselves unexpectedly gathered for a family gathering at the Crown Prince’s Palace.
But there was no awkwardness among them.
For a child as adorable as an angel, by its very presence alone, could soften the atmosphere itself.
“Aunt Evangeline!”
Lucas toddled forward and carefully placed something he’d folded from paper into his aunt’s hand.
“Oh, what’s this?”
Evangeline took it with a bright smile.
It was a four-leaf clover, clumsily folded from green construction paper.
“It’s a present for you, Aunt!”
“Really? For me?”
“Yes, it’s for you!”
Lucas beamed at her.
Evangeline turned the four-leaf clover over in her hands, then asked excitedly.
“Did you make this yourself, Lucas?”
“Yes!”
Lucas nodded vigorously and babbled on.
“Daddy helped me fold it.”
“Your father did?”
Evangeline turned to look at her brother, surprise flickering across her face.
Dietrich looked suddenly self-conscious and glanced away.
Meanwhile, Lucas was practically bursting with excitement.
“Daddy said that four-leaf clovers bring good luck. So I wanted this clover to bring luck to you, and also……”
Lucas’s eyes drifted past Evangeline’s swollen belly as he broke into a wide grin.
“I hope the baby gets good luck too.”
“Thank you, Lucas. I’ll treasure it.”
Evangeline’s eyes curved into crescents as she took Lucas’s wrist and carefully placed his small hand on her belly.
“The baby’s right here. Would you like to pat it?”
Lucas swallowed hard and gently caressed Evangeline’s round belly.
A moment later, a small flutter transmitted through the boy’s hand.
“Wow!”
Lucas jumped back in surprise.
“It moved!”
“The baby’s saying hello to you. Hi there, it’s saying.”
“Hi there!”
Lucas laughed and waved his hand playfully over Evangeline’s belly.
Charmed by his antics, Evangeline reached out and stroked the top of her nephew’s head.
But there was someone watching this scene with a less than pleased expression.
It was Dietrich.
His eyes narrowed.
“Evangeline, didn’t you say you weren’t accepting gifts from me?”
That was true.
When Evangeline had watched Larite preparing a gift list, she’d laid down the law in advance.
She’d told them if she needed anything, she’d ask—so they shouldn’t buy baby supplies beforehand.
It was a necessary precaution.
Otherwise, she was certain they’d shower her with endless presents.
She remembered when Larite had been pregnant before.
It was a decision made after reflecting on her own past behavior.
But Dietrich wanted to provide for his sister’s first pregnancy, to fuss over her.
And Evangeline’s firm boundaries had stung him a little.
“Of course not. Lucas is the cutest thing in the world, but you’re not cute at all, are you?”
Evangeline gave a pointed laugh.
Dietrich’s eyes flared.
“What did you say?”
But just then.
Larite quietly set a large gift box in front of Evangeline.
“What’s this, Larite?”
Evangeline’s eyes narrowed with suspicion as she stared at Larite.
“I specifically told you I wasn’t accepting gifts.”
“Hmm?”
Larite abruptly stopped and turned to look at her son.
“This is a present from Lucas. Isn’t it, Lucas?”
“Yes!”
Oh no.
Evangeline winced and pressed her fingers to her temples.
She’d walked right into that one.
It seemed her aunt and the maid had clearly coordinated their story beforehand.
“It’s all right, Aunt,” Lucas said with bright, earnest eyes fixed on Evangeline.
At that very moment, he looked up at her with unblinking attention.
“When my little brother or sister comes, I’ll really take good care of them.”
“Our baby will be so secure with a wonderful older sibling like you, Lucas.”
Evangeline answered him with a soft smile.
In the same breath, Lucas clenched both his small fists with determination.
“I want to be a good older brother.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, I like having a little sister.”
Lucas’s eyes sparkled with delight.
“If I get a little sister, I’ll share my snacks with her! And we can go for walks together, and then——”
“What about a younger brother?”
Evangeline, a mischievous glint in her eye, asked the question with deliberate playfulness.
“You won’t be kind to a little brother?”

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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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