The Circumstances of Being Chosen as the Villainess’s Favorite - Chapter 45

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

Chapter 45

With clouded eyes, I alternated my gaze between Lady Claudius and Lord Claudius, then respectfully offered my greetings.

“Larit Ansi pays her respects to Lord Claudius.”

Ice-blue eyes looked directly at me.

Soon, a smile spread across his handsome face.

Unlike when he dealt with Lady Claudius, this was a gentle smile.

“I’m a bit late.”

Coming to my senses quickly, I hurriedly shook my head.

“Not at all. I’m very pleased that Lord Claudius has graced us with his presence.”

“I’m grateful that you say so. And these people are…”

Lord Claudius glanced behind me and offered a light greeting.

“It’s my first time meeting you. I am Dietrich von Claudius.”

At the end of Lord Claudius’s gaze stood my parents, completely frozen.

‘Ah.’

My heart suddenly felt warm.

‘Lord Claudius… you’re being considerate of my parents.’

With that one action, Lord Claudius had shown everyone present.

The fact that Lord Claudius respected and valued the Ansi Marquess couple.

…So much so that the great Lord Claudius would greet them first.

“We pay our respects to Lord Claudius. I am Marquess Ansi.”

“It’s truly an honor to meet Lord Claudius like this.”

My parents returned the greeting to Lord Claudius.

Though their voices trembled somewhat with nervousness, my parents’ expressions were very bright.

Lord Claudius smiled at my parents once more, then turned his gaze to me.

“Lady Ansi.”

“Yes.”

I answered with great tension.

At the same time, Lord Claudius politely extended his hand to me.

“If you would permit me, I would like to ask Lady Ansi for a dance.”

“…”

At that moment.

I felt something hot surge up within me.

In truth, the Ansi Mansion’s banquet hall was clearly a space that belonged to our house.

Yet until now, I had never had a single good memory in this place.

All I had ever done in this banquet hall was constantly watch Seraphina and Gregory’s moods while serving them.

Or simply watching Seraphina sparkle under everyone’s attention…

Not once had I ever been the owner of this space.

But now, it’s different.

“Gladly.”

The moment I carefully placed my hand over Lord Claudius’s hand.

For the first time, I became the owner of this space.

“Shall we go.”

Lord Claudius smiled gently and led me softly.

I accepted Lord Claudius’s escort and headed to the dance hall.

* * *

Turning back time, about 30 minutes before the House of Ansi’s party began.

The Gusto Mansion’s banquet hall was completely empty.

“…”

“…”

The Count’s house had almost the atmosphere of a funeral home.

The annual summer party was a very special occasion for Count Gusto’s House.

Usually, the parties of the social season were mainly hosted by influential figures from each region.

That meant.

The Count’s house had been able to show off through the summer party that they had this much influence in the Southern Region.

So the Count’s house always put effort into the summer party.

Naturally, they had prepared this time too, spending quite a fortune…

‘I expected to lose guests to the House of Ansi’s party.’

Seraphina bit her lips tightly.

‘But I never knew the House of Claudius’s reputation would be this high.’

Not even a single ant was wandering around the banquet hall.

The musicians gathered in the corner were each clutching their instruments while only watching each other nervously.

The precious food they had carefully prepared was growing cold.

The sight was even desolate.

‘This won’t do.’

Seraphina glanced down at her hand.

In her hand was an elegant card.

It was an invitation sent from the House of Ansi.

On the surface, they were nobles from neighboring territories, and there had once been marriage talks between the families.

It was under the pretext of sending an invitation out of courtesy, but…

“…”

Seraphina’s hand gripping the card slowly tightened.

Her bones stood out white on the back of her hand.

‘How infuriating.’

Seraphina knew too.

Deliberately sending an invitation to upset the other party was something she herself enjoyed doing regularly.

But.

‘Still, I can’t just stay here like this.’

She couldn’t just sit blankly and let time pass in Count Gusto’s House party hall where there wasn’t a single guest.

Right now, all the notable figures of the Southern Region were gathered at the House of Ansi.

Somehow, she had to attend that party and make an impression on the other nobles.

With that judgment, Seraphina called Gregory in a gentle voice.

“Um, Gregory?”

Gregory, who had been sitting and nervously shaking his leg, glanced up.

Seraphina smiled as innocently as possible.

“I’m going to visit the House of Ansi’s party.”

Until now, Gregory had never once opposed or refused anything Seraphina said.

So she naturally thought it would be the same this time.

But.

“What?!”

Seraphina’s expectation was completely wrong.

Gregory stood up abruptly with a serious expression.

“Sera, what are you saying? Are you out of your mind?”

Seraphina looked at Gregory with surprised eyes.

The Gregory who had always been kind to her was nowhere to be found.

At Gregory’s fierce expression that she was seeing for the first time, Seraphina unconsciously stammered a bit.

“Gr-Gregory, calm down…”

“Are you going to leave me and go sightseeing at the House of Ansi’s party?”

Gregory glared at Seraphina with bloodshot eyes.

“Who’s to blame for things turning out like this!”

That was right.

Lady Claudius’s sudden declaration to attend the Ansi Family Party was entirely because of Seraphina.

If only Seraphina hadn’t unnecessarily stirred up Larite, things wouldn’t have gotten so twisted!

It felt like a thousand fires were burning inside him.

Gregory burst into anger.

“Don’t you know what kind of pressure I’m under from the family?”

“Gregory, I…”

“Do you know how furious Father was when he heard about this?!”

Gregory, unable to contain his anger, clenched his fists tightly.

“He told me to improve relations with the House of Claudius by any means necessary!”

That was right. Gregory had been under considerable pressure lately.

Larite, who had always been obedient, suddenly changed and declared their engagement broken to Gregory.

Not a single person from Count Gusto’s House had been invited to the Claudius Family Salon.

Of course, the Ducal House had never officially stated why they were keeping their distance from Count Gusto’s House, but.

“Isn’t it because you had a falling out with that Larite wench!”

The Count roared thunderously.

“I heard that wench is quite close with Lady Claudius. If the Lady is acting this way out of concern for that Larite wench…”

Bang!

Unable to contain his anger, the Count struck the armrest of his chair with his fist.

“How do you plan to resolve this problem!”

…Due to such circumstances, Gregory was suffering from considerable stress.

And now Seraphina, the very person responsible for all this, was going to skip out on Count Gusto’s party!

‘This… Gregory seems really upset?’

Seraphina, who keenly read the atmosphere, trembled her shoulders as pitifully as possible.

“S-sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“If that wasn’t your intention, then what was?!”

“I just… heard that the Ansi Family Party was thriving. I wanted to see why…”

Seraphina, trailing off her words, carefully watched Gregory’s expression.

“We need to know their strengths so we can incorporate them into our next party, don’t we?”

“…Sera.”

“I, I was doing it all with you in mind…”

Gregory squeezed his eyes shut and opened them again.

Heat rushed to his head.

Honestly, the reason people flocked to the Ansi Mansion’s party was impossible not to know.

Wasn’t it because the big shot Lady Claudius attended that party?

But he couldn’t press Seraphina further when she was trembling so fragilely…

“Then I’ll go with you.”

“What?”

For a moment, Seraphina’s brow furrowed slightly.

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