The Circumstances of Being Chosen as the Villainess’s Favorite - Chapter 75
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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 75
Whether it wasn’t fun.
‘As if.’
Rather…
‘I was happy to be with Lord Claudius.’
My face suddenly flushed hot, so I awkwardly averted my gaze.
“No, it’s not that, but…”
“Then that’s settled.”
At my answer, Lady Claudius shamelessly shrugged her shoulders.
“No, what do you mean settled?”
Indignant, I raised my voice.
But Lady Claudius still looked nonchalant.
“Well, what’s wrong with it? Lari said she enjoyed it, and so did my brother.”
Huh?
At the same time, I perked up my ears.
‘If Lord Claudius felt the same as I did…’
I casually asked Lady Claudius a question.
“Um… did Lord Claudius also say he enjoyed this opera?”
“Of course.”
Lady Claudius nodded seriously.
“My brother doesn’t spend time with people he dislikes in the first place.”
“Ah, yes…”
Somehow, it was a strangely convincing statement.
I was nodding along, enchanted by Lady Claudius’s miraculous logic, when I suddenly came to my senses.
“B-but still. Lord Claudius is busy. This kind of thing would be a bother to him.”
“…”
Then Lady Claudius narrowed her eyes and looked at me as if I were pathetic.
I became a little bewildered.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“No, I’m just amazed at how your reaction doesn’t deviate even an inch from what I expected…”
“What?”
“Never mind. It’s nothing.”
Lady Claudius shook her head and pouted as she scolded me.
“However, I think that no matter how busy you are, you have to do what needs to be done. My brother can’t live alone forever, right?”
…What on earth does that mean?
What does Lord Claudius living as a bachelor have to do with me?
I tried to figure out the hidden meaning behind those words for a moment, then gave up.
How could I understand Lady Claudius’s profound thoughts?
“Anyway, if something like this happens again in the future, please make sure to contact me in advance. Understood?”
Instead, I earnestly pleaded with Lady Claudius.
“Yes, yes.”
Lady Claudius answered halfheartedly, then immediately brightened her eyes and asked me a question.
“So, what did you do while watching the opera with my brother this time? Hmm?”
* * *
After that.
Lady Claudius did grant my request.
However, for every single outing appointment…
“Lady Claudius is feeling unwell today and asked me to convey this message.”
“Lady Claudius said something urgent came up and asks for your understanding.”
“This time Lady Claudius…”
…The problem was that she always sent someone to notify me 5 minutes before departure.
She had such a diverse range of ailments that anyone would mistake her for a walking general hospital…
And Lord Claudius always escorted me in place of Lady Claudius.
Whether it was watching a solo concert by a musician discovered by Claudius, or viewing artworks at a museum invested in by Claudius…
Lord Claudius and I attended all sorts of events side by side.
And while participating in all those events.
‘As expected of Claudius.’
Seeing how their influence spread like a spider web throughout the Empire, I came to realize once again how remarkable the male protagonist and his family were.
Honestly, spending time with Lord Claudius was very enjoyable.
“This exhibition was very enjoyable.”
“I’m glad to hear that. I found it interesting as well. Among them, artist Connie’s sculpture was particularly impressive…”
“Oh, really? I liked that piece the most too. It looked as if it were alive.”
Lord Claudius and I had compatible tastes and communicated well.
Sometimes I even felt like I was on a date with Lord Claudius, which made my heart flutter.
That was probably why.
Even though I suspected Lady Claudius had some ulterior motive, I obediently went along with it.
But that could only last so long.
‘Now she’s not even trying to hide her intentions…’
I looked at the invitation with Lady Claudius’s name on it with troubled eyes.
This was already the fifth time I had deliberately pretended not to notice Lady Claudius’s schemes.
Lady Claudius had become increasingly bold, and recently she had been openly trying to place me next to Lord Claudius.
And so, I ended up holding an invitation to the end-of-semester banquet hosted by Wilson University.
The talented students who received scholarships from House of Claudius had invited the two siblings as a gesture of gratitude.
[Lari, something extremely urgent came up for me.
It wouldn’t look good to send my brother to the party alone either.
So, could you please be my brother’s partner?]
Looking at Lady Claudius’s letter that came with the invitation, I let out a deep sigh.
Honestly, I could attend other parties with the mindset of turning a blind eye.
But this time, the invitation specifically designated ‘the Claudius siblings’ as the invited guests.
Would it be appropriate for me to go in place of Lady Claudius?
[But this is a party where you and Lord Claudius were invited.
Wouldn’t Lord Claudius be uncomfortable if I attended as his partner?]
After pondering, I eventually sent such a reply to Lady Claudius,
[The person who gave the scholarships was my brother anyway, so it’s perfectly fine to send just my brother.
And I already got permission from my brother.
You’re not planning to stand up my brother, are you?]
…A reply that was half-persuasion, half-threat came back.
‘In that case.’
After pondering for a moment, I got up.
When I opened the drawer of my vanity, I saw the jewelry box I had been treasuring.
Click.
I carefully opened the box lid.
The rose quartz earrings that Lord Claudius had given me sparkled softly in the sunlight.
After looking down at the earrings for a moment, I reached out and picked them up.
Until now, I hadn’t had the courage to wear these earrings.
I was worried that my feelings would be too obviously revealed.
But.
‘I’m really… so childish.’
I smiled bitterly.
When I was already pretending not to know Lady Claudius’s intentions because I enjoyed spending time with Lord Claudius anyway.
How pathetic I had been, trying to hide my feelings in such a petty way.
But now I had made up my mind.
‘Alright.’
I clenched my fist tightly around the earrings.
At this meeting, I intended to show Lord Claudius how I looked wearing the earrings.
* * *
Finally, the day of attending the end-of-term party arrived.
In the mirror, I could see myself looking a bit nervous.
The pink earrings sparkling on my earlobes particularly caught my eye.
‘What will Lord Claudius say when he sees the earrings?’
I swallowed dryly.
I kept brushing my hair behind my ears or trying different jeweled pins.
As I arranged my hair to make the earrings as visible as possible, I felt somewhat pathetic.
‘What on earth am I doing?’
But just then.
Knock knock knock.
With a brief knocking sound, Amy poked her head into my room.
“Miss, Lord Claudius has arrived.”
Amy’s face was quite composed as she said this.
At first, she used to look like she might faint from the burden whenever Lord Claudius and Lady Claudius came and went…
Well, I suppose it’s because she’s seen them so often now.
“Thank you. Where is he now?”
“I’ve shown him to the Drawing Room.”
“I understand.”
Nodding, I quickly went down the stairs.
Honestly, I couldn’t help but feel my heart fluttering.
My steps were light as if I could fly.
A moment later.
“Good evening, Lord Claudius.”
I greeted Lord Claudius politely.
“I apologize for keeping you waiting.”
“Not at all.”
Lord Claudius, who had been sitting in the Drawing Room, stood up with a welcoming expression.
“Shall we go then?”
“Yes.”
I walked gracefully to Lord Claudius’s side.
The sensation of the earrings swaying on my earlobes felt strangely distracting.
However, Lord Claudius only escorted me politely and didn’t say a single word about the earrings.
‘…Could it be that he didn’t notice?’
I glanced sideways to gauge Lord Claudius’s reaction.
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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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