The Circumstances of Being Chosen as the Villainess’s Favorite - Chapter 52

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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 52

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When they returned to the hotel, the clock hands were already pointing to a time close to midnight.

Dietrich, who had lightly washed up, held a glass of whiskey and looked out the window.

Swoosh—.

The night breeze flowed in through the half-open window.

The sensation of wind brushing over his wet hair felt pleasant.

‘Tonight… there are many stars.’

Starlight twinkled densely across the pitch-black night sky.

Looking at that night sky, a certain image suddenly came to mind.

Lady Ansi.

Larite’s jet-black hair and the pearl ornaments that sparkled like stars upon it.

Her flower-pink eyes that had quietly looked up at him with a smile.

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

When asking her for that dance, Dietrich had…

‘I think I was a little nervous.’

Dietrich had never once in his life shrunk back or felt anxious when dealing with anyone.

And yet, nervousness.

Such a version of himself felt a little unfamiliar.

When Larite, who had been quietly looking up at him, gracefully placed her hand over his with an elegant motion.

“I would be delighted.”

When she accepted his invitation to dance, he had felt relief that didn’t suit him.

All of it was unlike the usual Dietrich.

Even after that, Dietrich had continued to be conscious of Larite.

When escorting Larite to the dance hall, or when reflexively catching her as she stumbled while stepping.

Because Larite was excessively light and soft.

Because all those sensations still seemed to feel vivid in his hands…

“…”

Strength quietly entered the hand holding the whiskey glass.

If it had been the usual Dietrich, he wouldn’t have deliberately interfered between Larite and Gregory.

Because that was close to personal affairs.

Yet he had purposely followed behind Gregory, who was following after Larite.

“Rather, it would be Gusto Youngshik who missed the opportunity. He already kicked away the chance to become Lady Ansi’s fiancé, didn’t he?”

“But why is he trying to cling to Lady Ansi only now?”

“…Pathetically.”

He hadn’t even hesitated to rebuke Gregory for Larite’s sake.

Why had he done that?

Dietrich pondered, retracing his own actions.

However, one thing that was certain.

The very fact that Gregory was hovering around Larite was extremely…

‘Unpleasant.’

But that unpleasant feeling completely disappeared the moment he faced Larite’s innocent expression.

“Then, would you like to go look for Lady Claudius with me?”

“I… I also came out looking for Lady Claudius. If we search together, we might find her faster, so…”

She seemed to have no idea at all that Dietrich had followed her out, with that flustered behavior.

He found such a Larite unexpectedly cute.

Perhaps that was why.

“Whenever I go on business trips, Evangeline always sings asking me to buy her gifts. So while buying something for Evangeline, I bought this together…”

“I hope you’ll like it.”

The reason he had suddenly presented to Larite the gift he had planned to give through Evangeline.

“Thank you so much, I’ll treasure it.”

Larite, who had accepted the gift not knowing what to do, smiled more brightly than the moonlight that moistens all things.

That smile was strangely etched clearly in his mind.

‘How truly curious.’

Dietrich smiled softly.

Since inheriting the family at a young age.

Every single day he had only worried about how to protect his young sister and how to manage and develop the family.

For the first time, it seemed he was thinking about another person.

And that feeling was…

Not bad at all.

* * *

The next day.

Dietrich came to pick up Evangeline early in the morning.

“Why are you here so early? Don’t you even sleep in the morning, brother?”

Evangeline came out grumbling, following her brother with her mouth pouting.

“See you in Jedo, Lady Ansi.”

“Have a safe trip. See you soon.”

Larite skillfully soothed the thoroughly sulky Evangeline.

Dietrich, who had been looking at his sister as if she were pathetic, soon politely greeted Larite.

“Thank you so much for taking good care of my sister all this time.”

“Not at all. Rather, I enjoyed myself thanks to Lady Claudius.”

However, nothing was hanging from the earlobes of the brightly smiling Larite.

Dietrich somehow felt rather downcast.

‘What exactly is this feeling?’

He found himself feeling such emotions unfamiliar once again.

Of course, he understood well in his head.

When to wear the earrings, or whether to wear them at all.

That much was the heart of the person who received the gift.

But…

“Ah, what are you doing! You said to hurry up?”

Evangeline, who had walked ahead with quick steps, was about to board the carriage but stopped and threw a tantrum.

Dietrich followed his sister with a subtle feeling.

After that.

The carriage finally departed.

“Lady Ansi, you can’t come too late! Make sure to send letters too!!”

Evangeline stuck her head out the carriage window and waved her hand grandly.

“Yes, I’ll write!”

Larite also waved back at her.

After riding in the carriage for a while, the Ansi Family Estate completely disappeared from view.

At the same time, Evangeline turned to look at her brother.

“Brother, this time was quite unexpected. Our prickly brother attending the House of Ansi’s party?”

Dietrich, feeling guilty, replied indifferently.

“You’re making a fuss even when I grant your request.”

“No, I am grateful though.”

Deep mischief crept into Evangeline’s voice.

“You always put up walls against women, saying you dislike unnecessary rumors spreading?”

“That’s… because she’s your friend.”

However, this answer sounded like a rather poor excuse even to Dietrich himself.

Evangeline smiled slyly.

“Really? I didn’t know our brother was such a generous person toward me?”

“….”

Whatever he said here, Evangeline would just find fault with it.

Dietrich chose to simply keep his mouth firmly shut.

But Evangeline had an amazing talent for breaking through her brother’s silence.

“Well, since it’s come to this. From now on, whenever there are high society events, be Lady Ansi’s partner.”

“Again?”

Dietrich found himself asking without thinking.

“Of course. I absolutely can’t stand to see my friend being ignored by others.”

Evangeline shrugged and leaned back against the carriage seat.

Then she narrowed her eyes and asked back.

“Why, do you dislike it?”

“….”

Dietrich had a rare expression of being at a loss for words.

At his reaction, Evangeline was inwardly a little surprised.

‘My brother is the type who absolutely won’t do things he dislikes.’

The world had prejudices about Evangeline being stubborn and selfish, but in truth, that personality was like a trait passed down through the House of Claudius.

It’s just that Dietrich was far more skilled at navigating social situations than Evangeline.

“That would be a bit difficult.”

He was simply the type to gently refuse so as not to hurt the other person’s feelings.

But the current Dietrich didn’t draw a line by saying ‘I dislike it.’

Rather.

“…I never said I disliked it.”

Wasn’t he retorting in a sullen tone?

Evangeline asked back in bewilderment.

“Oh, really?”

“Yeah.”

An awkward silence flowed.

“….”

“….”

Dietrich stared intently at Evangeline.

He had an expression like he had something to say, but he showed no intention of opening his mouth.

Finally, Evangeline narrowed her eyes and shot back sharply.

“Brother, is there something on my face? Why have you been glaring at me since earlier?”

Dietrich’s shoulders stiffened with a start.

After a moment.

“…By any chance.”

What was it about this one question that made it so difficult to part his lips?

Dietrich furrowed his brow and continued.

“Did Lady Ansi not like the earrings very much?”

At that, Evangeline’s eyes immediately gleamed like a beast eyeing its prey.

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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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