The Circumstances of Being Chosen as the Villainess’s Favorite - Chapter 80
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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 80
As I was left speechless, Lady Claudius shot back at me.
“Really, Lari is partly to blame for this too.”
“Me?”
“Of course. Lari always says like a habit, ‘You shouldn’t be a burden to others.'”
I do?
At words I had never even thought of, I quietly blinked my eyes.
Lady Claudius continued bluntly.
“Sometimes, can’t you just accept other people’s kindness?”
“…Evangeline.”
“People usually act by considering their own position first.”
Lady Claudius shrugged her shoulders and drove the point home again.
“Lari can do that too.”
“…”
At that moment.
I found myself thinking of Lord Claudius without realizing it.
‘Is it really okay to do that?’
The male protagonist of this world, Seraphina’s destined man.
Setting aside all those facts.
‘…Would I dare harbor feelings for Lord Claudius?’
Just then, Lady Claudius continued speaking.
“Anyway, tomorrow you’re coming to dinner with my brother and me.”
“Dinner?”
“Yes. It’s nice that my brother and Lari get along well… but I’ve been a bit bored lately too.”
Lady Claudius’s eyes sparkled as she urged me again.
“I heard our family recently invested in Restaurant Bailey. Do you know it?”
“Of course, I know it.”
I nodded my head.
Restaurant Bailey.
It’s one of the most famous restaurants in Jedo, and also a must-visit spot for tourists visiting Jedo.
“They say the bluefin tuna steak they’re selling for summer only is incredibly delicious. Let’s go together, okay?”
“…”
Facing Lady Claudius like this, my heart somehow felt touched.
Actually, I had already noticed.
Whenever there’s a famous or nice place, Lady Claudius always tries to visit it with me.
And the reason for that is probably…
‘She’s being considerate of me.’
It had been like this since we first wrote the friendship contract.
Through Lady Claudius, I had visited countless places I had never been to before.
And experienced all sorts of special things.
She probably considered how I was treated poorly in various ways when I was working as Seraphina’s maid.
“Evangeline.”
I suddenly opened my mouth without realizing it.
“Do you know that I’m always grateful to you, Evangeline?”
“…”
At that question, Lady Claudius stared at me for a moment, then.
“I feel the same way.”
She answered with a bright smile.
Somehow my heart felt warm.
* * *
Before entering the restaurant.
The ladies sitting together in the waiting room chatted quietly.
“I’m really looking forward to this.”
“I know, it was so difficult to get a reservation.”
Meanwhile, Seraphina showed off for the first time in a while.
“Restaurant Bailey has excellent food.”
At that moment.
The ladies subtly exchanged glances with each other.
‘Lately she’s been living like she’s dead in high society…’
‘And now she’s acting all confident just because she’s visiting a place she knows.’
But Seraphina didn’t seem to have any intention of stopping her bragging.
“I came here with Gregory before, and each course felt very carefully prepared.”
Seraphina continued with a wistful look.
“It brings back memories of that time. The head chef came out personally and greeted me, thanking me for visiting the restaurant…”
“Oh, is that so?”
“So Lady Lopez has been here before.”
The ladies responded with somewhat annoyed expressions.
Just then.
Another lady spoke up.
“Did you hear? The House of Claudius invested in this restaurant recently.”
What?
Suddenly Seraphina felt her insides turn cold as if she had swallowed a huge chunk of ice.
Why Claudius all of a sudden?
‘Surely I won’t be banned from entering again?’
Meanwhile, the ladies continued their conversation.
“They say quite a bit of money went into developing this summer’s limited menu.”
“Bluefin tuna with special sauce, right? I heard it’s incredibly delicious, I’m looking forward to it.”
But then.
A waiter approached.
“Excuse me, are you Lady Lopez?”
“…”
Seraphina looked at the waiter with eyes full of wariness.
The waiter continued carefully.
“I’m terribly sorry, but it would be difficult for you to dine at our establishment.”
“What did you say?!”
Seraphina’s face instantly flushed red.
“I’ve dined here several times before, so why can’t I this time?!”
“Our restaurant’s business policy has recently changed. We ask for your understanding.”
After arguing back and forth for a while.
The ladies, who had been watching Seraphina with mocking gazes, each stood up.
“Well, Lady Lopez. We’ll go in first.”
“We’ll be waiting inside.”
“Come when you’re done talking. Understood?”
After the ladies entered the restaurant.
Seraphina was left alone there with a devastated expression.
At the same time, the waiter pressed Seraphina with an uncomfortable voice.
“Could you please leave now?”
“…”
Seraphina bit her lip until it bled and stood up from her seat.
There was no point in staying here any longer, as entry seemed unlikely.
“My goodness, what’s happening?”
“Isn’t that Lady Lopez?”
It was because the other waiting customers kept glancing and staring in this direction.
Seraphina fled outside as if escaping.
But Seraphina’s ordeal was not yet over.
‘That is…’
Right in front of the restaurant, a carriage bearing the Claudius crest was parked.
Seraphina reflexively hurried to hide herself.
At the same time, the carriage door opened, and Lord Claudius appeared.
“Come, Evangeline.”
The Duke, who had first escorted his younger sister, smiled gently and extended his hand to Larite.
Larite took his hand and stepped out of the carriage.
“Thank you, Lord Claudius.”
“Not at all.”
Seraphina watched the scene as if mesmerized.
Elegantly dressed, Larite was beautiful enough to stand out anywhere.
The Duke’s affectionate gaze was fixed solely on Larite.
“Oh my, hurry up.”
Lady Claudius, who had been walking ahead, scolded them.
The three people, looking harmonious, seemed to live in a completely different world from Seraphina.
It felt like Seraphina would never be able to reach that world…
“…”
As the three people disappeared into the restaurant.
Unable to overcome the surging humiliation, Seraphina clenched the hem of her dress tightly.
What brought Seraphina, who had been standing dazedly, back to her senses were the admiring whispers of people around her.
“My goodness, Lord Claudius and Lady Claudius, and Lady Ansi together. I never imagined.”
“They must be close enough to have dinner together.”
From admiration for the three people’s harmonious relationship,
“These days in high society, they say if you want to invite Lady Claudius, you should first win over Lady Ansi, right?”
“Of course. Lady Claudius won’t attend any gathering unless she brings Lady Ansi along.”
The special affection Lady Claudius showed toward Larite,
“That’s not all? Recently there are rumors that the relationship between Lady Ansi and Lord Claudius is quite serious.”
…Even to the romantic interest flowing between the Duke and Larite.
To the extent that people gossiped like this.
The Claudius siblings were treating Larite with special care.
For a moment, Seraphina’s eyes trembled.
‘I should have been standing in that place…’
A life of being escorted by the Duke, the Empire’s most eligible bachelor, meeting those beautiful blue eyes, and smiling gracefully.
A life that sparkled brilliantly while receiving everyone’s admiration.
But hadn’t Larite already taken that life away?
A strange anger surged up as if something that belonged to her had been stolen.
“Larite.”
Seraphina muttered quietly.
“…I won’t forgive you.”
Gone was her usual nightingale-like voice, replaced by an ominously sunken tone.
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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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