The Circumstances of Being Chosen as the Villainess’s Favorite - Chapter 222

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Special Side Story 35
Chloe clenched her fists tightly.
It was a strange feeling.
Even though she’d received an apology from Lucas.
Even though he’d promised it would never happen again.
Even though she shouldn’t get tangled up in such bothersome situations anymore.
……Yet her heart refused to settle.
* * *
Time passed quickly.
The First Semester had already come to an end.
Lucas and Chloe placed first and second on the Final Exam, respectively.
Staring at the grades posted on the wall, Chloe felt a peculiar restlessness.
It wasn’t anger, nor resentment toward Lucas.
After all, even placing second was enough to secure a solid Scholarship.
Rather, what complicated Chloe’s heart was…….
“I’m sorry. I had no idea you felt that way.”
“But listen, I’m not pitying you at all.”
“From now on, I’ll be more careful.”
Those final words Lucas had left kept hovering at the edge of her thoughts.
Because Lucas had truly never once looked down on her.
So it seemed he’d done his very best on this exam too.
And beyond that.
“From now on…… I’ll never make you uncomfortable.”
Even that bittersweet smile that had spread across Lucas’s face when he made that promise.
Lucas had kept his word faithfully.
After that day.
He had never once approached Chloe first again.
But now that Lucas was faithfully honoring her wishes, Chloe’s heart had grown uneasy instead.
Honestly……those moments of banter and laughter with Lucas had been so much fun.
‘Stop it. There’s no point thinking about this.’
Chloe deliberately shook her head.
This was the right thing.
After all, they’d lived in different worlds from the beginning.
Better to draw a line now than to keep feeling unsettled because of Lucas.
So…….
“Wow, the End-of-Semester Party is coming up soon, isn’t it?”
Just then, a cluster of girls sitting in the Rest Area chattered excitedly.
That was right.
Summer Vacation was just around the corner.
And with the end of the semester approaching, there was one event that the students looked forward to most.
That was the End-of-Semester Party.
“Hey, who do you think Lucas will have as his Partner for the End-of-Semester Party?”
“I don’t know—there don’t seem to be any clear candidates yet.”
The girls continued their conversation in delighted voices.
“Did you hear? That Melissa girl from Class 3 is going to ask Lucas to be her Partner!”
“Really? That takes courage.”
Chloe had heard of Melissa before.
The youngest daughter of some Count Family, she was rumored to be the prettiest among the new students.
Unlike Chloe, she came from a distinguished family, carried a good name, and had wealth.
……The sort of girl who would suit Lucas perfectly.
‘He really is popular, isn’t he.’
Chloe smiled bitterly.
It made sense, of course.
He had his father Lord Claudius’s refined and delicate beauty.
His own cheerful disposition.
And such considerate behavior.
Lucas was the sort of person who could earn anyone’s favor.
‘He certainly doesn’t suit someone like me.’
And at that thought, Chloe suddenly flinched.
Her chest was aching, for some reason.
‘Huh?’
Chloe pressed a hand to her chest, startled.
‘Am I actually missing him?’
After drawing the line myself, no less. How shameless could I be?
Just as Chloe was clicking her tongue inwardly.
“Chloe!”
A boy from her class strode toward her.
He was in the same year.
They’d rarely spoken, but they exchanged nods when passing each other in the halls.
“Are you planning to go to the End-of-Semester Party?”
Why was he asking her this?
Chloe eyed him suspiciously for a moment.
Then she shook her head firmly.
“No, thank you.”
The boy’s eyes widened.
“Why not?”
“I planned to study during that time.”
More honestly, she didn’t have a Dress to wear to the party.
On a Scholarship, it wasn’t practical to buy or even borrow one.
True, the Scholarship from House of Claudius covered living expenses generously.
With careful budgeting, renting a Dress for a day wouldn’t be difficult, but…….
‘Wasn’t I supposed to send Chocolate to Eli and Daniel this time?’
Growing children could never have enough snacks.
Chloe stretched her Scholarship as far as it would go, using what remained to buy treats for her younger siblings at the Orphanage.
Still, there was one thing Chloe was curious about…….
“Do you happen to know who Lucas is partnering with for the party?”
“I’m not sure, actually.”
The boy shrugged and turned to leave.
Chloe watched his retreating figure, then buried her face in her hands.
She felt utterly embarrassed by her own behavior.
‘I really am childish.’
If she wanted to cut ties, she should cut them cleanly.
Why was she suddenly curious about Lucas’s End-of-Semester Party partner now?!
Moments later.
As the boy turned the corner, a hand suddenly grabbed his arm.
It was Lucas.
“So Chloe’s going to the End-of-Semester Party? Who’s her partner? Is it decided?”
Lucas fired off questions without even catching his breath.
The boy answered hesitantly.
“No.”
“What do you mean no? She’s not going to the party, or she doesn’t have a partner?”
“Both.”
Lucas’s face drained of color, then lit up again.
The chance to run into Chloe by pretended coincidence had disappeared—that was serious.
But the fact that Chloe still had no partner was undeniably good news.
Lucas swung between heaven and hell.
The boy turned to him with a puzzled look.
“Couldn’t you just ask her directly?”
“…….”
Lucas fell silent.
Of course, if he had his way, he would.
But…….
‘Chloe might hate it.’
Her final words still echoed in his ears.
“My goal is to graduate quietly from the Academy. And you keep interfering with that.”
That was why he lingered at a distance.
He wanted to approach her desperately, but he couldn’t be sure it was right.
If Chloe rejected him completely,
wouldn’t even the slimmest possibility of growing closer to her be crushed…….
“Oh, right—Chloe actually asked me something.”
The boy opened his mouth as though he’d just remembered something.
“Well, he was curious about who you’d be partnering with, Young Master Lucas.”
What?
Lucas’s eyes widened in surprise.
* * *
That evening.
Lucas approached Larite with an unusually serious expression.
“Mother, I have something on my mind.”
“Hmm? What is it?”
Larite started and quickly sat down beside Lucas.
She couldn’t help it.
There had been that incident before when he’d gotten into a fight with other students, rough enough that the school had called her in.
She was quick to worry that something like that might happen again.
“Well… it’s just…”
Lucas glanced at Larite hesitantly, then squeezed his eyes shut before posing his question.
“How do you ask a girl to be your partner?”
……
Larite pressed down firmly on the corners of her mouth, which were threatening to rise of their own accord.
My goodness, when had our Lucas grown like this?
She’d never expected him to seek advice about matters of the heart!
“Who do you want to ask to be your partner?”
Though she suspected she already knew, Larite teased him with an innocent expression, as if she hadn’t a clue.
Lucas pouted slightly.
“You already know who I’m thinking of.”
“Chloe, isn’t it?”
……
Lucas’s lips trembled for a moment before his face flushed crimson, and he nodded.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————