The Circumstances of Being Chosen as the Villainess’s Favorite - Chapter 43

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 43

* * *

“I’m done!”

Lady Claudius lifted up a document with a bright voice and cheerful exclamation.

It was the flower order form for decorating this party.

“Lady Ansi, look at this! I completed the entire order form!”

Lady Claudius waved the document back and forth, urging me on.

“Well done. Now, shall we take a look?”

I took the document and quickly skimmed through it.

Then I smiled with satisfaction.

“You pass.”

“Yay!”

Lady Claudius was absolutely delighted.

Certainly, Lady Claudius had greatly improved her paperwork skills by now.

I felt proud too.

How should I put it, is this what it feels like to see a younger sister you’ve lovingly cared for suddenly grow up?

“Just you wait, Lady Ansi.”

Meanwhile, Lady Claudius clenched both fists tightly with a face full of determination.

“I’ll make sure your first dance is with my brother!”

“Haha…”

I could only laugh awkwardly.

Of course, all the ladies in high society do long for a first dance with Lord Claudius.

In fact, they couldn’t help it.

Status, looks, wealth, power.

Even looking across the entire Empire, there was no one as perfect as Lord Claudius.

It was truly like seeing a prince from a fairy tale.

However.

‘Come on, surely Lord Claudius wouldn’t attend?’

I was skeptical.

He’s someone who’s incredibly busy normally, and this time too, he only came down to the Ansi Viscountcy because of work.

To expect such good fortune, Lord Claudius’s time was far too precious…

Just as I was giving a bitter smile.

Lady Claudius suddenly sprang up from her seat.

“I’ll step out for a moment.”

I looked up at Lady Claudius in bewilderment.

“Step out, where to…?”

“Um…”

Lady Claudius rolled her eyes around, then smiled vaguely.

“It’s a secret.”

“Pardon?”

“I’ll be right back. Got it?”

Then she dashed outside in a hurry.

Wait, such sudden initiative?

I stared blankly at Lady Claudius’s retreating figure.

But then.

“Larite.”

I heard a voice calling me.

When I turned around, Mother was peeking her head out from outside the drawing room door, looking at me.

“Mother?”

Mother approached me discreetly and looked around.

“Where is Lady Claudius?”

“She stepped out for a moment. She’ll be back soon.”

“I see.”

Mother nodded, then narrowed her eyes and asked me a question.

“But Larite, didn’t you skip one important explanation to your mother?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“How did you manage to become friends with Lady Claudius?”

Ah.

Cold sweat ran down my spine for a moment.

“Well, it just happened that way.”

I couldn’t very well say I made a friendship contract with Lady Claudius in a fit of anger, could I?

Fortunately, that didn’t seem to be what Mother was really curious about.

“Still, it’s really fortunate.”

“Hm? What is?”

“Lady Claudius seems like such a good person.”

Mother smiled gently at me as I blinked.

“Despite her high status, she’s quite down-to-earth. You know what I mean, don’t you?”

Though Mother trailed off, I immediately understood what she was trying to say.

‘I see.’

Usually when Seraphina was involved, our parents would comfort me saying,

“Still, friends should get along well.”

…so I hadn’t noticed.

While I was putting myself down, being ignored as a matter of course, and hanging around with Gregory and Seraphina.

Countless nails must have been driven into our parents’ hearts too.

Every time they saw their only daughter being ignored, how heartbroken must our parents have been?

“I’m truly happy that our Larite seems to have made a good friend.”

Mother gently stroked the back of my hand.

Facing Mother’s bright smile, somehow my heart ached deep inside.

“Don’t worry, Mother.”

I deliberately answered in a bright voice.

“Lady Claudius isn’t like Gregory or Seraphina. She treats me so well.”

“That’s right, that’s how it looks to Mother too.”

Mother’s voice had a faint moisture to it as she answered.

I squeezed Mother’s hand tightly for no particular reason.

It occurred to me that it had been a really long time since Mother and I had such intimate physical contact.

* * *

Evangeline stomped across the corridor.

‘I mean, would it kill him to attend one party? Would he die?!’

There was a reason Evangeline was this angry.

And for good reason, since her dear brother still hadn’t replied!

That’s why Evangeline was planning to pester him again, even if it meant sending a letter bomb.

She had already forgotten that she herself had sent a letter yesterday evening, sent another letter this morning to pester him.

And that normally, one should give the recipient of a letter some time to consider their reply.

‘Just wait and see, do you think I’ll give up like this?!’

Her blue eyes blazed fiercely.

This was now a matter of Evangeline’s pride.

She had already declared to Larite, even beating her chest,

“Lady Ansi’s first dance will definitely be with my brother!”

Of course, if Larite found out about Evangeline’s ‘letter bomb sending plan’, she would surely try to stop her.

Of course, if Larit found out about Evangeline’s ‘letter bomb sending plan’, he would definitely try to stop her.

I deliberately didn’t say anything, but….

‘What does she think she is, acting so high and mighty? If I told her to come, she’d come running right away!’

Just as Evangeline was fuming inwardly.

“Lady Claudius!”

At the voice calling for me, Evangeline whipped around.

A maid bowed her head respectfully.

“A letter has arrived for Lady Claudius.”

Could it be?!

Evangeline snatched the letter away.

On the envelope’s exterior, the signature ‘Dietrich von Claudius’ was written in elegant handwriting.

‘It’s from brother!’

Evangeline’s eyes sparkled as she opened the letter.

Soon her expression brightened.

‘Great!’

I should tell Lady Ansi this good news first!

Evangeline hurried back to the drawing room.

“Lady An…! Hm?”

She hesitated just as she was about to throw open the door.

“…Lady Claudius seems like such a good person.”

It was because she could hear gentle conversation flowing through the crack in the door.

Evangeline’s eyes widened.

‘That person is…’

It was Larite’s mother, Viscountess Ansi.

“Despite her high status, she’s so down-to-earth. You know that too, right?”

The Viscountess smiled warmly at Larite.

“I’m so happy that our Lari has made such a good friend.”

“Don’t worry, Mother.”

Larite shook her head lightly toward the Viscountess.

“Lady Claudius isn’t like Gregory or Seraphina. She’s so good to me.”

Hehe.

Evangeline, who had been listening to the mother-daughter conversation, felt secretly proud.

However, among their conversation, there was one particular term of address that caught her ear.

“Lari.”

Evangeline quietly mulled over that nickname.

Come to think of it, Viscount and Viscountess Ansi, and even Seraphina all called Larite by the nickname ‘Lari’.

‘I’m a friend who even signed a friendship contract with her.’

Evangeline pouted for no reason.

‘When will I be able to call Lady Ansi by a nickname?’

* * *

Finally, the day of the party.

The banquet hall, opened after a long time, was as splendid as if a summer garden had been transplanted there.

Throughout the banquet hall were flower arrangements that Lady Claudius had painstakingly decorated, and the polished silver candlesticks and silverware were so shiny you could see your reflection in them.

Light cascaded down brilliantly from the chandeliers.

And in the center of it all.

I stood with my back straight, welcoming the guests entering the banquet hall.

“Thank you so much for attending our family’s party.”

I offered greetings with a smooth smile.

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