The Circumstances of Being Chosen as the Villainess’s Favorite - Chapter 56

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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 56

* * *

That evening.

Evangeline locked herself in her bedroom without even having dinner.

‘Honestly, there’s nothing bad about it.’

Lying sprawled on her bed, Evangeline reflected on what had happened today.

‘First of all, Lady Ansi’s reputation seems to have recovered quite a bit, right?’

It was actually natural.

Until now, the direct descendants of House of Claudius had never maintained close relationships with anyone.

But recently, the Dietrich and Evangeline siblings had been getting along intimately with Larite.

That friendship alone was enough for Larite to attract attention in high society.

‘And I too…’

Evangeline’s eyes dimmed slightly.

At the reading group this time, the ladies had approached Evangeline quite warmly.

“I never thought Lady Claudius would attend our gathering!”

“What should I do? This is my first time seeing Lady Claudius so close up!”

The ladies who had blushed red came to mind.

In itself, Evangeline had already achieved her intended purpose.

From the beginning, Evangeline had started associating with Larite to mitigate the rumors about her arrogance.

For that purpose, she had moved so thoroughly as to even draft a friendship contract.

Finally, she had achieved results.

And yet.

“…”

Suddenly, her chest ached.

Evangeline bit her lip tightly.

‘Lady Ansi looked so happy mingling with other people this time.’

Larite had been happy, and Evangeline herself had achieved the restoration of her reputation.

That meant both of them had accomplished their respective goals.

‘So… I should be happy too.’

Her blue eyes, which had always been clear, clouded over like a sky covered with dark clouds.

‘Why do I feel so bad?’

Larite laughing brightly with the other ladies.

Larite engaging in pleasant conversation.

At that time, Larite was clearly right next to Evangeline.

…Yet strangely, she had felt so distant.

‘Could it be that Lady Ansi…’

Evangeline unconsciously gripped the edge of her blanket tightly.

‘Would prefer making other friends over me?’

A doubt that had been hidden deep in her heart suddenly surfaced.

But Evangeline soon shook her head.

‘What does that matter?’

Lady Ansi and I only became friends through a contract anyway.

We just need to follow the contract terms properly.

Even though she was clearly thinking that way.

“…This is really annoying.”

Because she couldn’t understand her own heart that had become prickly like a hedgehog.

Evangeline irritably buried her face deep into her pillow.

* * *

Jedo’s high society had countless social gatherings, like stars in the sky.

Horseback riding, refreshments, tea, music, and so on.

The types of social gatherings were diverse.

But among them, there was one gathering that stood out.

That gathering’s name was ‘Peony’.

It was a gathering of the so-called ‘most successful’ ladies in high society, and just belonging to that group meant you could be considered an influential lady in high society.

And among the members of ‘Peony’, the most famous person was none other than Seraphina Lopez.

A woman who, despite being a lady from the lower noble Lopez Family that didn’t even have territory, had risen to one of the top positions in high society through her beauty and gentle nature alone.

But contrary to that brilliant reputation, Seraphina’s insides were currently burning with anxiety.

And for good reason, as Seraphina’s influence had been diminishing by the moment recently.

The reason was the small but fatal rebellion of other ladies who used to defer to Seraphina’s every word.

“Lady Claudius attended Ansi’s party this time, didn’t she?”

Yes, things like this.

Although Seraphina was very careful when expressing her hostility toward Evangeline outwardly.

Still, those who knew, knew.

The fact that Seraphina greatly disliked Evangeline.

Yet despite Seraphina being right there, the ladies didn’t watch their words at all.

“That’s right. And apparently Lord Claudius even danced the first dance with Lady Ansi!”

A slight tremor occurred at the corner of Seraphina’s lips as she maintained her picture-perfect smile.

‘This is really strange.’

It wasn’t like this before.

How should I put it, ever since Larite broke away from me.

It feels like things keep going wrong continuously.

If until now she had been the protagonist of this world, now it seemed she was no longer the protagonist…

This strange sense of powerlessness.

Meanwhile, the talk about Larite and the Claudius siblings continued endlessly.

“Well, my aunt is from the Southern Region, so she attended Ansi’s party.”

One of the ladies lowered her voice as if sharing a tremendous secret.

“And you know what, Lady Ansi was incredibly beautiful!”

“Really? That gloomy Lady Ansi?”

“Well, there were rumors that she looked quite good at Claudius’ salon too.”

Larite, Larite, Larite!

How many times did she have to hear that name!

‘Without Lady Claudius’ protection, she’s nothing but a worthless girl!’

Seraphina desperately suppressed her desire to run out of this place immediately.

“Separately, Gusto’s summer party was completely empty, wasn’t it?”

“It had to be. Ansi’s party was so popular.”

The lady who brought this up glanced at Seraphina with a look mixed with mockery.

“Well, many distinguished people attended too.”

If you translated those words into high society terminology, it roughly meant.

‘Lady Lopez isn’t distinguished enough to draw guests to Count Gusto’s party, is she?’

…Something like that.

‘How dare they!’

Crack!

Veins bulged on the back of Seraphina’s hand as she gripped her fan.

Still, Seraphina maintained her smile with all her might.

Here, the person who got angry first was the loser.

“Come to think of it, didn’t Lady Lopez attend Count Gusto’s summer party faithfully?”

“I think I heard that too. That Lady Lopez was so famous in the Southern Region.”

“Well, there’s no lady as beautiful and gentle as Lady Lopez. Right?”

Suddenly, Seraphina’s eyes turned coldly sharp.

That way of speaking was the method Seraphina often used when putting down other ladies.

A speaking technique that pretends to praise the other person while cunningly asking back, ‘But you, who are so great, couldn’t do anything, could you?’

‘This is… not good.’

Seraphina felt her mouth go completely dry.

Unlike the past when they only revered Seraphina, the current gathering had an atmosphere subtly trying to ignore her.

In fact, it was inevitable.

There could only be one lady who could become queen in the gathering.

Until now, Seraphina had firmly maintained her position as queen, but with Lady Claudius and Larite pushing her aside, Seraphina’s standing was narrowing in real time.

“By the way, Lady Lopez not being invited to the Claudius Salon… I found that quite unexpected.”

“Oh, me too. I actually thought Lady Ansi would somehow use her influence to get Lady Lopez invited.”

The ladies’ blade-like words once again stabbed deeply into Seraphina’s heart.

“Really, considering how much Lady Lopez had looked after Lady Ansi.”

“She’s truly ungrateful, isn’t she?”

After making such gestures toward Seraphina,

‘You won’t get angry, right? We’re strictly speaking out of concern for you.’

…with that kind of gesture.

“Well, Lady Ansi probably didn’t want to displease Lady Claudius either.”

“Still, Lady Ansi used to be so devoted to Lady Lopez in the past.”

“Their friendship was so genuine. Honestly, I was quite envious.”

They chattered away as they pleased, pretending to worry about Seraphina.

Meanwhile, Seraphina keenly grasped the hidden meaning embedded in those words.

‘I guess their friendship was shallower than we thought?’

‘Lady Lopez was really nothing without Lady Ansi’s sacrifice, wasn’t she?’

…That was roughly what they meant.

‘Ha, really.’

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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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