The Circumstances of Being Chosen as the Villainess’s Favorite - Chapter 32

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

Chapter 32

“The garden, and my bedroom, and the drawing room, and the greenhouse…”

Evangeline, who had been counting on her fingers as she spoke, shuddered and hunched her shoulders in dismay.

“I think I’ve drafted mock budget plans at least ten times.”

I shouldn’t have blocked Evangeline’s potential from the start.

Before arbitrarily deciding that the child might suffer, I should have asked for her own opinion first.

Dietrich smiled bitterly.

As the two were having their conversation.

“I greet Your Grace the Duke.”

“Oh, Lord Warren is here as well.”

Other retainers began entering the meeting room one by one.

Everyone couldn’t hide their surprised faces at the neatly organized meeting room.

However, the part that impressed the retainers the most was.

“Oh, I heard Lady Claudius redecorated the meeting room this time. Did you replace the chairs?”

Unexpectedly, it was the newly replaced chairs.

“The previous chairs were comfortable too, but these chairs have straight backs, so my back hurts less.”

“My goodness, I could sit here all day long.”

“I never knew Lady Claudius would be so considerate of us old folks. I’m simply grateful.”

The retainers each wore satisfied expressions as they made their remarks.

But such small considerations weren’t over yet.

“Oh my?”

The retainers’ eyes widened as they looked through the documents prepared on the table.

“Did you deliberately print the text larger?”

The letters on the documents were bigger than usual.

“My eyes have been getting dim lately, but I won’t need glasses now.”

“To think Lady Claudius would consider even such details.”

Being of a certain age, the retainers couldn’t hide their pleased faces.

“How should I put it, Lady Claudius seems to have suddenly become an adult.”

…Had his sister ever received such praise before?

Dietrich couldn’t hide his sense of novelty.

‘How curious.’

The retainers had watched Evangeline since she was young and cherished her like a granddaughter.

Nevertheless, they couldn’t shake off their deep-rooted preconceptions about Evangeline.

‘The immature Lady.’

That’s what it was.

But at this moment, for the first time, there was an assessment that Evangeline had ‘become mature.’

And the reason she earned such praise was, of course…

‘It must be thanks to Lady Ansi.’

Wasn’t it like watching magic?

Dietrich firmly suppressed the corners of his mouth that were trying to rise sky-high.

* * *

While the retainer meeting was in progress, the thoughtful consideration continued to the end.

“Let’s take a short break and resume the meeting.”

For example, when Dietrich and the retainers took a brief rest.

“We have prepared refreshments and tea.”

A maid who had been waiting outside bowed her head as if she had been expecting this.

The refreshments prepared in the rest area were small treats that could be eaten in one bite.

It was clear that consideration had been given so they could eat comfortably while reviewing documents.

Meanwhile, the newly purchased tea pot set became a small topic of conversation.

“Don’t tell me Lady Claudius purchased these teacups as well?”

This was because one of the retainers was interested in tea sets.

The retainer asked Dietrich with curious eyes.

“Is this tea pot set perhaps from the Wells Guild?”

“That’s what I heard, but why do you ask?”

“All of Wells Guild’s products are of good quality, but their designs aren’t really to young people’s tastes.”

The retainer who had been examining the teacup from all angles soon smiled warmly.

“Should I say it has the feel of luxury goods that older nobles prefer?”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Of course, I know well that Lady Claudius has very refined taste, but this teacup is like…”

The retainer shrugged his shoulders lightly.

“Rather than being Lady Claudius’s taste, it seems like she considered our preferences instead.”

Dietrich understood what the retainer was saying.

Of course, Evangeline had excellent aesthetic sense, enough to lead high society trends.

However, there was bound to be a difference between a young person’s aesthetic sense and that of the older retainers.

Therefore, the designs Evangeline usually preferred were, to the retainers…

“Hmm, it’s quite incomprehensible…”

“Lady Claudius has somewhat… unconventional taste.”

“Isn’t this too flashy?”

“I simply cannot understand young people’s preferences.”

She would receive roughly these kinds of comments.

But this time, she was receiving praise from all the retainers.

“Well, you may call me foolish, but… I feel like my granddaughter has suddenly grown up.”

One of the retainers said this somewhat bashfully.

Dietrich, who had been listening contentedly to the praise showered on his sister, casually spoke up.

“How should I put it, I learned something new this time.”

“Pardon?”

“Nothing seems as important as making good friends.”

Having said that, Dietrich closed his mouth firmly.

However, on Dietrich’s lips, which had always been indifferent, a faint smile now lingered.

The retainers looked puzzled and glanced at each other.

‘Did something good happen to him?’

‘Do you know anything about this?’

‘How would I?’

But no matter how much the retainers whispered among themselves, no answer came.

Only Dietrich’s enigmatic smile grew deeper and deeper.

* * *

The retainer meeting that had started at midday finally ended when the sun was setting.

“Please tell Lady Claudius we’re grateful for today as well.”

“Hehe, seeing Lady Claudius show such mature behavior is truly heartwarming.”

Somehow, the retainers seemed more deeply impressed by Evangeline’s change than by today’s meeting itself.

And Dietrich agreed with their words.

‘Eva put a lot of thought into various things today.’

Although she had Larite’s help, just showing this much effort was admirable in itself.

Dietrich asked a question to the butler who had come to attend to him.

“Where is Eva?”

Since Evangeline had worked quite hard today, he intended to give her some praise.

“She went out.”

An unexpected answer came back.

“She went out?”

This girl is never around whenever I look for her.

But she managed to find time to go out while assisting with the retainer meeting?

Dietrich subtly furrowed his brow.

However, the butler’s words weren’t finished yet.

“Oh, and Lady Ansi is here.”

“…Lady Ansi?”

Dietrich paused and turned to look at the butler.

“Yes, Lady Claudius called for her directly. She said something came up during today’s retainer meeting that would require Lady Claudius to step away, so she asked Lady Ansi to oversee the situation instead.”

“Good grief.”

Dietrich’s furrowed brow showed no signs of smoothing out.

And for good reason—he had thought Evangeline was finally taking interest in the retainer meetings…

‘Don’t tell me she dumped everything on Lady Ansi and left.’

A sigh escaped him at his sister’s irresponsible behavior.

Dietrich asked with a sigh mixed in his voice.

“So, where is Lady Ansi now?”

“She’s in the library. She said she wanted to look up some materials.”

“I see.”

Dietrich nodded and impulsively began walking.

His destination was the library.

‘Why am I going out of my way to see Lady Ansi?’

Even as he thought this, Dietrich didn’t stop his steps.

‘Because she’s my sister’s close friend.’

‘Because she’s someone I’m grateful to for guiding Eva, who used to be such a tomboy, in a good direction.’

‘Because Evangeline earnestly asked me to take good care of Lady Ansi…’

Countless reasons for meeting Larite flashed through his mind.

And Dietrich willingly let himself be convinced by those reasons.

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