The Circumstances of Being Chosen as the Villainess’s Favorite - Chapter 214

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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 27
The day passed in a blur of activity.
Lord and Lady Ansi, along with the Emperor and Empress, found themselves outmatched in stamina by the children and took their leave early.
The Lord and Lady retired to their room to rest, while the Emperor and Empress returned to the Imperial Palace first.
Meanwhile, Aileen had made her wish come true.
It was her wish to play with Lucas all day long.
She played with such unbridled enthusiasm that anyone watching would have mistaken it for Aileen’s birthday.
And so, at last.
“Today was truly delightful.”
The Crown Prince cradled the sleeping Aileen in his arms and smiled with a touch of embarrassment.
At the same time, Aileen murmured contentedly in her sleep.
“Mm-hmm…… swing…… again…….”
“…….”
Lucas, whose face wore a rather worn expression as he gazed at the sleeping girl, offered a polite bow to both of them.
“Safe travels, Your Highness. And to you as well, Aunt Evangeline.”
“We shall see each other again, Evangeline. Your Highness, we look forward to meeting with you again tomorrow.”
“Please take care on your return, both of you.”
Dietrich and Larite likewise exchanged farewells.
And so the Crown Prince and his wife departed from Lord Claudius’ Town House.
Lucas, worn out from keeping Aileen entertained all day, wobbled over to the sofa and collapsed into it.
Larite casually struck up a conversation with her son.
“You look exhausted.”
“A little, yes.”
Lucas nodded and soon offered a faint smile.
“But it’s all right. Our little Aileen is so adorable.”
“Is that so?”
“Did you see the sword ornament Aileen gave me? She’s still so young, yet she picked something so beautiful—and it seems she gave thought to practicality as well. I think Aileen must take after Aunt Evangeline. She has such refined taste.”
The way he showered Aileen with praise made it obvious he was utterly smitten with his little sister.
So Larite decided to keep a small secret for the sake of adorable Aileen.
The truth was, Evangeline had actually chosen that sword ornament.
* * *
At last, the family portrait was complete.
Everyone in Jedo gathered together to admire the finished work.
“Wow, how magnificent.”
Larite let out a small exclamation of wonder.
How to describe it—the figures throughout possessed a remarkable gentleness.
They appeared dignified yet refined.
The distinctive atmosphere that emanated from royal family portraits of ages past clung unmistakably to the canvas.
Even the two children bore subtle smiles.
During the sketching, their faces had certainly looked quite tired.
‘Everyone looks so happy together.’
Yet.
‘I wonder when our parents will see this painting.’
For Lord and Lady Ansi had long since departed Jedo and returned to their Estate.
It would have been lovely to view it together.
Just as Larite wore a bittersweet smile.
“Let us all come and see it together another time.”
Dietrich spoke tenderly and gently took hold of Larite’s hand.
He must have sensed her wistful feelings.
Larite’s eyes crinkled with a warm smile.
“Yes, I’d like that.”
Come to think of it, her mother had told her once.
That she looked happy.
Perhaps that was because…… this man stood beside her.
Larite believed this with all her heart.
* * *
The Empress received a welcome visitor that morning.
Her precious granddaughter, Aileen—a child she cherished beyond measure.
The only problem was that her cheeks were puffed out as if she were terribly sulky.
“Grandmother!!”
Aileen came scampering over and clung to the Empress’s knees.
Then she looked up at the Empress and began to pour out her complaints.
“Luca did something to me……!”
“To you?”
Aileen buried her face in the Empress’s lap and burst into tears.
“He said he can’t play with me because he just can’t help it!!”
……What on earth was she talking about?
The Empress made no attempt to hide her bewilderment.
After gently soothing and coaxing her young granddaughter, the Empress learned the full story.
Recently, Lucas had passed the entrance examination for Imperial Lester Academy in second place.
Imperial Lester Academy was a four-year school for students aged fifteen through nineteen, and it was one of the finest institutions in the Empire.
With his admission secured, Lucas had thrown himself into entrance preparations and become frantically busy.
Naturally, the time he spent with Aileen had dwindled.
And so, in the end, a thoroughly sulky Aileen had begun to grumble her grievances.
“Luca, can’t you play with Aileen anymore?”
“Well, I suppose I won’t be able to spend as much time as before, will I?”
For Lucas, it was a perfectly reasonable answer.
After all, there was so much to prepare before starting school.
But Aileen’s eyes had grown wider and wider.
“So you and I can’t be together anymore. Don’t you feel sad about that?”
“I do feel a bit sad, but there’s nothing I can do about it. Besides, it’s not as if we won’t see each other at all, is it?”
Lucas gave a light shrug.
“We’ll just have less time together. That’s all there is to it, isn’t it?”
And so Lucas had given an answer far too rational for the occasion.
Deeply hurt, Aileen had jumped to her feet.
“You’re mean and stupid!!”
With that cry, Aileen bolted from the room.
A stunned Lucas was left alone.
“Ah, Aileen……?”
And so we arrive at the present moment.
Aileen, nestled in the Empress’s embrace, looked up at her grandmother with tear-filled eyes.
“Luca is terrible. Isn’t he, Grandmother?”
“Ah, ha ha…….”
The Empress gave an awkward laugh and gently stroked Aileen’s hair.
“Luca was a bit insensitive there. He takes that from his aunt, I suppose.”
“Huh?”
At the unexpected mention of an “aunt,” Aileen tilted her head in confusion.
If Luca’s aunt—that would be my mother, wouldn’t it?
In the same moment, the Empress drifted into memory and murmured softly to herself.
“Now that I think of it, Endymion and Evangeline used to quarrel quite often when they were young.”
Wait, what?!
Aileen’s blue eyes widened in shock.
My mother and father quarreled often?
What on earth was she saying?!
* * *
The Imperial Palace was in complete chaos at present.
The Crown Prince, who was supposed to be attending his lessons, had cried out “I don’t want to go to class!” and run away.
“Your Highness! Your Highness!”
Butlers and maids—a great many of them—had rushed out and were searching everywhere for the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince, now thirteen years old, had hidden himself away in the Imperial Palace’s pride and jewel: the magnificent Rose Garden.
“Ugh, really.”
The Crown Prince, crouched small behind a shrub, muttered quietly to himself.
“Milton’s lessons are so boring.”
Milton.
He was a renowned historian and currently served as the Crown Prince’s tutor.
The problem, however, was that the depth of one’s learning did not necessarily correspond to one’s ability to teach.
Every time the Crown Prince attended Milton’s lessons, he had to pinch his own thigh to keep from falling asleep.
“Hm?”
As the Crown Prince recalled Milton’s droning voice and narrowed his brow.
A sight that suddenly caught his eye made the Crown Prince’s eyes widen in astonishment.
Far ahead, before rose bushes blooming in clusters.
A girl stood there, lovely as a fine porcelain figurine.
Her honey-blonde hair, tied in two plaits, looked as though it would taste sweet at first bite.
She wore a checkered dress adorned with ruffles and pearl buttons at the bodice.
The girl, who had been gazing at the roses for a moment, bent at the waist and buried her nose in a bloom.
She swept her falling gold hair behind her ear, breathing in the rose’s fragrance deeply into her chest.
Whoosh—
A breeze stirred at that very moment.
From the rose bushes where the girl stood, a warm spring wind drifted toward the Crown Prince……
It was a wind carrying the faint scent of roses.

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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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