The Circumstances of Being Chosen as the Villainess’s Favorite - Chapter 208

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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 21
In the distance, a small estate surrounded by low stone walls came into view.
It was Schurk, an Imperial Direct-ruled Domain governed straight from the Royal Court.
Evangeline gazed out beyond the carriage, her eyes wide and round.
“Ah, is that it?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
As her parents conversed softly together, Aileen, the princess who had just turned three, thrust her head out the window.
She stretched her small hands out through the window, beaming with delight.
“Look, look, the village, the village!”
“Oh, Aileen. It’s dangerous to lean out like that.”
Evangeline quickly pulled the child back inside the carriage.
As she gathered the little one into her arms, the girl’s plump cheeks jiggled softly.
Endymion gazed at his wife and daughter with eyes full of affection.
The sight of Evangeline with Aileen on her lap now unmistakably bore the marks of motherhood.
Moments later.
The carriage came to a halt before the great gate at the base of the walls.
The soldiers stationed ahead offered a light bow of courtesy to the carriage bearing the Royal Court’s insignia.
“We greet the Crown Prince.”
A small gasp escaped her.
At the same moment, Evangeline’s eyes widened slightly.
And no wonder—the soldiers’ gaze sparkled with unmistakable warmth and goodwill.
For ordinary soldiers to show such familiarity toward the Crown Prince was hardly a common thing.
The soldiers were eager to address Endymion, scarcely able to contain themselves.
“Do come inside, won’t you.”
“The Mayor is waiting for you.”
With that, the soldiers respectfully ushered their carriage through the gate.
In that same instant, Evangeline witnessed something truly remarkable.
The villagers had already gathered outside to greet them.
So densely packed were they that, to exaggerate only slightly, nothing but people could be seen beyond the carriage windows.
‘Surely the Mayor didn’t orchestrate this welcoming display on purpose?’
Yet it hardly seemed that way.
The people cheering with abandon.
The people laughing brightly, scattering flower petals.
All of them were genuinely delighted to welcome Endymion.
Such genuine brightness could not be contrived at anyone’s command.
‘My goodness, is it really this much?’
Evangeline was truly astonished.
Of course, she knew that Endymion ruled the Imperial Direct-ruled Domain with great skill.
But she had never imagined that every person in the estate would pour out into the streets to welcome the three of them like this.
Indeed, the crowd was so thick that the carriage could barely move forward.
“Papa, there are so many people!”
Aileen, startled by the throng, opened her eyes wide as a frightened rabbit and looked between her parents in turn.
The girl tilted her head with curiosity.
“Do all these people like Papa?”
“Well…”
Endymion, scratching his chin somewhat sheepishly, answered gently.
“At the very least, that’s what Papa hopes for.”
Just then, the carriage came to a smooth stop.
Endymion deftly cradled Aileen in his arms first.
Then he turned back to Evangeline with a warm smile.
“Shall we step down, Evangeline?”
“Yes, let’s.”
Endymion opened the carriage door and escorted Evangeline out.
In that instant, a thunderous roar of celebration engulfed everything around them.
“Hooraaaaay!”
“Crown Prince!”
“Welcome, Your Highness!”
The sound was so deafening that, to exaggerate only slightly, one’s eardrums might burst.
Aileen, startled by the noise, blinked her eyes slowly.
At that very moment, the Mayor pushed through the crowd and approached, bowing deeply.
“Your Highnesses, and…….”
The Mayor’s gaze swept past the child cradled in the Crown Prince’s arms.
“I bow before the Imperial Princess.”
Imperial Princess.
The effect of that single word was staggering.
The villagers who caught sight of Aileen stirred with visible excitement.
“Is that Her Highness the Princess?”
“Heavens, she’s absolutely adorable…….”
From somewhere came voices thick with enchantment.
Aileen, who possessed an uncanny talent for recognizing praise directed her way, seized the moment and flashed a brilliant smile at the gathered crowd.
In that instant, the villagers understood a fundamental truth.
Cuteness and loveliness were simply universal constants.
“Kyaaah!”
“An angel, isn’t she an angel?!”
Aileen made no effort to hide her satisfaction at the crowd’s reaction.
There in the Crown Prince’s arms, she began striking one pose after another—brushing her hair back, tilting her chin prettily, each gesture perfectly calibrated.
With each movement, the villagers’ cheers swelled louder.
Unable to bear it any longer, Evangeline gently chided the child.
“Aileen, that’s quite enough.”
Why must all the embarrassment fall to me…….
Though Aileen is certainly the most precious child in the world…….
But Aileen had already exhausted her quota of attention for the day.
With a satisfied grin, she nestled obediently into her father’s embrace.
At the same moment, the Mayor—who had been gazing at the young Princess with unmistakable rapture—finally, with visible effort, tore his eyes away.
“Shall we return to the carriage? I’ll escort you to the Domain Hall.”
“Yes, let’s do that.”
Endymion nodded and swept his gaze across the surrounding area with obvious satisfaction.
“I’ll be sure to visit again soon.”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
“We place our faith entirely in you, Your Highness!”
The fervor of their devotion was extraordinary.
It bordered on something approaching religious fervor…….
Evangeline’s eyes widened in surprise like those of a startled rabbit as she turned to look at Endymion.
But Endymion showed no sign of being taken aback.
Instead, he wore a faint smile as he accepted the crowd’s adulation.
As though such scenes were entirely familiar to him.
* * *
And so, after the villagers’ enthusiastic welcome, the party entered the Domain Hall.
As they did, Endymion’s expression grew grave, and he posed a question.
“So then, there’s been a problem with the Retna Herb Field?”
Retna Herb.
It was the signature product of Schurk, the Imperial Direct-ruled Domain.
Prized for its ability to reduce fever and strengthen the body, it was a highly valued medicinal herb.
During his tenure governing the Direct-ruled Domain, Endymion had made the cultivation of Retna Herb his primary enterprise.
As a result, the domain’s revenues had surged dramatically while he served as its lord.
“Yes, recently we’ve received complaints from our trading partners regarding the quality of our products.”
The Mayor answered with formal courtesy, his eyes fixed on Endymion with a look of subtle respect.
When the Crown Prince had departed from the Direct-ruled Domain.
He had left certain instructions with the Mayor.
‘Continue sending reports on the domain’s affairs going forward.’
‘To Your Highness?’
‘That’s right.’
At the time, he’d thought it was merely a polite formality.
The man was terribly busy, after all.
He’d assumed that once the Crown Prince left the domain, there would be no further personal contact with him.
Yet Endymion had continued to receive the reports, and provided steady feedback on the Retna Herb enterprise.
Which meant that all of Schurk’s growing prosperity was owed entirely to the Crown Prince’s guidance.
‘If ever you have need of me again, send word. I promise I’ll help however I can.’
……He’d made such a promise, but the Mayor had never truly believed he would return in person.
Yet here he was, personally visiting, showing such devoted care.
“We’ve received complaints about the quality?”
“Yes. Apparently the medicinal potency has declined considerably.”
“Have we determined the cause?”
“Not yet…… we haven’t been able to identify it.”
The Mayor answered with a dejected expression.
Endymion nodded gravely.
“Then we’ll have to visit the herb fields ourselves and investigate.”

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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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