The Circumstances of Being Chosen as the Villainess’s Favorite - Chapter 211

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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 24
The moment Aileen darted outside, her silver hair tied in two neat braids fluttered lightly behind her.
At the same instant, a boy who had just stepped into the Princess Palace looked up with a sparkle in his eyes.
“Oh, Aileen?!”
He called out to her at once, his voice catching with alarm.
“You’re going to trip running like that.”
Aileen came bounding over and suddenly threw her arms around Lucas’s waist.
Lucas caught his young cousin with practiced ease and let out a playful groan.
“Aileen, you’re going to snap my back…….”
Lucas von Claudius was twelve years old this year.
He was exactly seven years older than Aileen.
Paying no mind to his protest, Aileen gazed up at him with sparkling eyes.
“What are we going to play today?”
That was it.
There was only one reason Aileen adored Lucas so much.
Of everyone she had ever met, he was the most entertaining playmate!
But today, instead of rattling off suggestions as he usually would, Lucas simply shook his head with a troubled expression.
“We didn’t meet up to play today.”
“Huh? But still. I wanted to do sword play today.”
For reference, sword play was a game of mock swordplay.
How on earth had Aileen developed a taste for it?
Surely this wasn’t all his fault……?
Lucas broke into a cold sweat internally and tried to soothe his whining cousin.
“Once we finish the portrait, we’ll play then. All right?”
And indeed, today was the day the imperial family was gathering to have a family portrait painted together.
That was why Lucas had come to fetch Aileen.
Aileen puffed out her cheeks in displeasure.
At that very moment—
“My, why did only Lucas come?”
A bright voice rang out.
Evangeline appeared in the distance, her eyes wide and round as she looked their way.
Lucas answered with impeccable courtesy.
“Father and Mother went ahead, and I came to fetch Aileen.”
At his dignified bearing, Evangeline suppressed a smile.
The old Lucas used to trail behind Evangeline saying “Aunt Eva,” following her around everywhere.
Now he had grown quite mature.
It was surely thanks to the strict education from Larite and Dietrich.
At the same time, Lucas muttered with a weariness unbecoming of his twelve years.
“I was worried she’d throw a tantrum if I didn’t…….”
Evangeline glanced over.
She could see Aileen clinging to Lucas like a cicada, stuck fast to his side.
Judging by her wide-eyed expression, the slightest thing would set her off into a sulk.
Evangeline nodded with an exasperated look.
“Well, yes…… Our Lucas, you’re truly a lifesaver…….”
Aileen had a fundamentally gentle nature, but she was still only five years old.
Which meant—
she could take offense at the strangest things that no adult could possibly understand.
For instance, what if Lucas had gone straight with his parents to the Secluded Palace to sit for the portrait?
Aileen’s cheeks would have puffed out in an instant.
‘He’s hardly ever at the Imperial Palace, and he can’t even come see me first?!’
‘Doesn’t he want to see Aileen?’
And so on.
Lucas rubbed his ear absently.
He thought he could almost hear Aileen’s aggrieved voice in his head.
“Well, in any case.”
Evangeline stepped forward with a light gait.
“I’ve just finished getting ready myself. Shall we head to the Secluded Palace together?”
“Yes, Aunt.”
Lucas answered respectfully.
Then Evangeline’s expression took on a peculiarly sulky turn.
“Good heavens, what’s gotten into Aunt Evangeline? How heartless.”
He answered in a deliberately petulant voice.
Then he added, with a mischievous expression:
“Go on, do your Aunt Evangeline impression.”
…….
In that same moment, Lucas found himself thinking:
Aileen really did look remarkably like Aunt Evangeline.
* * *
Moments later.
Evangeline, Lucas, and Aileen had arrived at the Secluded Palace.
Those who’d come earlier welcomed the three of them.
“You’re here, Evangeline? Aileen, it’s been such a long time.”
Larite, as ever, wore a gentle expression on her face.
“Our little Aileen—you’ve come?”
True to form as siblings, Evangeline kept her expression neutral while Dietrich let his eyes shine with unmistakable adoration toward his niece.
“I’ve been waiting for you. It’s been quite some time since I last saw the young duchess.”
The Crown Prince, who saw to it that his wife and daughter—and indeed Lucas as well—were all looked after with meticulous care.
“I pay my respects to Your Highness.”
“We pay our respects to Your Highness. Lucas, how many years has it been?”
After Evangeline and Aileen had made their formal courtesies.
Even Lord and Lady Ansi, who welcomed their grandchild with warmth.
Originally, today’s portrait work was meant to be a painting of the Imperial Family.
But the Emperor and Empress had been considerate enough of the Duchess’s parents, allowing Lord and Lady Ansi to serve as models as well.
“Oh, have we arrived a touch late?”
“Not at all, Your Majesty.”
With the arrival of the Emperor and Empress last of all.
A family portrait session featuring no fewer than ten people was set to begin.
A large sofa finished in crimson silk had been placed at the center, with a table and vases arranged nearby.
The court painter then began to carefully adjust the posture of each model.
“Now then, it would be best if His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress were seated at the center. The Princess and the young duchess should stand in front, and the rest of you…….”
Just finding the right positions took considerable time.
At last, the painter began his sketch.
Though holding a single pose was no easy feat, both Lucas and Aileen bore it remarkably well for children.
But when the sketch had progressed about two-thirds of the way through, Aileen could endure it no longer.
“Mmmm…….”
Overcome with boredom, Aileen let out a small whimper.
At once, the Crown Prince signaled to an attendant waiting nearby.
“That bag over there, if you would.”
Everyone’s gaze unconsciously followed the direction of the Crown Prince’s eyes.
A large bag sat in the corner of the room.
The Crown Prince gestured toward it with his eyes and continued calmly:
“Bring that here, would you?”
Inside were chocolates.
And plenty of them—more than enough for everyone to have some.
“Ooh, chocolate!”
Aileen leaped up from her seat with unbridled delight.
“Aileen. You were told to sit still, weren’t you?”
But the moment Evangeline’s stern gaze fell upon her, she settled back down obediently.
And so everyone put a chocolate in their mouth.
It seemed they’d all been struggling; the children and adults alike lit up with brighter expressions.
“What’s the occasion for the chocolates?”
Dietrich asked, a puzzled look crossing his face.
The Crown Prince lifted his shoulders with a shrug and replied:
“I always carry them with me. Aileen and Evangeline both tend to need various things on hand.”
“Ah, might I ask what sorts of things you keep prepared?”
“Well, sweets to keep Aileen content, hair ribbons that Evangeline uses, handkerchiefs—several are quite handy. And…….”
The Crown Prince began listing off his inventory, item by item.
He was so thorough, so meticulous, that there was scarcely anything he hadn’t thought to bring.
“Mmm, that’s truly admirable.”
Dietrich nodded with evident satisfaction, then gazed at the bag with unmistakable interest in his eyes.
‘Should I get myself a bag like that one?’
It would be handy to have when I go out with Larite.

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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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