The Circumstances of Being Chosen as the Villainess’s Favorite - Chapter 88
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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 88
‘Good grief, she won’t leave a person in peace.’
Dietrich, feeling frustrated, turned around irritably.
“Eva, what kind of rudeness is this…?”
But Dietrich couldn’t finish scolding his sister.
Behind Evangeline, there was a lady whose wrist had been grabbed by his sister.
“W-wait a moment…!”
It was Larite, who had been dragged into the room in confusion, unable to hide her flustered expression.
Dietrich called out to her in a daze.
“Lady Ansi?”
At that call, her flower-pink eyes quietly looked at Dietrich.
Then she showed an awkward smile.
“I… Hello, Lord Claudius.”
“…”
Dietrich only moved his lips slightly.
The person who had been flickering in his mind all day had suddenly become reality and appeared before his eyes.
There were so many things he wanted to ask.
Whether she had really decided to marry Gregory.
Whether it was only his delusion to think they held human affection for each other, even if it wasn’t rational love.
…Could it be that she still liked Gregory?
However, none of those questions came out of his mouth as proper words.
More precisely, he didn’t have the courage to do so.
‘If Lady Ansi is truly positive about her relationship with Gusto Youngshik.’
…Somehow, he felt like he would truly feel empty.
“Brother, listen to me!”
At the same time, Evangeline suddenly interjected into the conversation.
“Larit didn’t even know that Gusto Youngshik had filed a marriage registration!”
“What do you mean by that?”
Dietrich asked Evangeline back in bewilderment.
“To file a marriage registration, you definitely need the family’s verification phrase, right?”
“…”
Suddenly Larite quietly averted her eyes.
At the same time, Dietrich’s expression became serious.
“Don’t tell me, did Gusto Youngshik know Lady Ansi’s verification phrase?”
“W-well.”
“The verification phrase is strictly managed even within families. It’s not something that would be carelessly leaked to outsiders…”
Dietrich’s expression gradually became more serious, and soon he flashed his eyes fiercely and threw out a question.
“Don’t tell me, did Gusto Youngshik threaten Lady Ansi?”
“…”
She couldn’t possibly say that during her naive days, she had told him herself while following Gregory around.
‘Let’s just keep quiet.’
Larite became dim-eyed and just let Dietrich misunderstand…
Evangeline got angry again.
“So today Larit went to the Marriage Registry Office and the Imperial Curia, but the Imperial Curia was incredibly uncooperative!”
“Uncooperative, in what way?”
“High Priest Evans came out personally and said they couldn’t show the marriage registration!”
Evangeline fumed.
“Larit is a party to the marriage, does this even make sense?!”
“Why? Usually showing it to the party involved would be the rule?”
“The rules changed recently. Because there are many disputes between families, they said both families need to agree before they can see it.”
His blue eyes narrowed with suspicion.
“Isn’t this a bit strange? Why did it change suddenly when Larit’s marriage registration was filed?”
“Certainly…”
At those words, Dietrich also fell into deep thought.
In fact, it was strange in many ways.
The Imperial Curia changing their rules was one thing, but the timing was too coincidental.
This looked as if, to prevent Larite from directly confirming the marriage registration that Gregory had filed.
The Imperial Curia had actively blocked it.
‘Could there be some kind of collusion with the Gusto Estate?’
But since there was no evidence for this part.
Dietrich set it aside for now.
That was because there was a fact he needed to confirm first.
“Then, Lady Ansi…”
Dietrich carefully opened his mouth.
“Are you saying you don’t want to marry Gusto Youngshik?”
What was this question anyway.
The brief moment when Larite’s lips parted felt as long as eternity.
And, Larite.
“Of course!”
Gone was her quiet demeanor, as she nodded her head firmly.
“I have no feelings whatsoever for Gusto Youngshik. Now and forever, I absolutely don’t want to be involved with him.”
“…I see.”
For a moment, Dietrich felt his heart completely at ease.
“I understand.”
Dietrich nodded with relief.
“Since Lady Ansi has said she doesn’t consent to the marriage, we should first examine whether this matter has legal problems.”
At that moment.
A faint light flickered over Larite’s eyes.
The name of that light was hope.
‘Lady Ansi really…’
Dietrich somehow felt moved.
‘Has no affection for Gusto Youngshik at all.’
Even though this was such an urgent situation, he couldn’t help but feel happy about that fact.
…Even though he knew it wasn’t the time for that.
“Please don’t worry too much. The House of Claudius will spare no effort in support.”
Dietrich deliberately composed his voice calmly to avoid showing his excited mood.
“Lady Ansi is my sister’s only friend, after all.”
“…”
Larite stared at Dietrich blankly.
Everyone just gossiped about Gregory and Larite’s affair for entertainment.
No one had ever understood how troublesome a situation she was in.
Also, coldly speaking, there was no reason for Dietrich to help Larite.
They were only thinly connected through the contact point called ‘Evangeline.’
And yet.
‘He’s going to… help me.’
This sense of relief, as if someone had extended a hand when she was drifting alone in a vast ocean.
Along with that, Evangeline hugged Larite tightly.
“See, I told you my brother would help!”
“…Thank you.”
For the first time, Larite’s voice, which had been calm throughout, wavered.
Her face flushed red, and her eyes grew moist with tears.
It was probably emotions welling up inside her.
“Oh my, Larit. Are you crying?”
Evangeline fidgeted anxiously and patted Larite’s back.
“Don’t cry, okay?”
“No, I’m not crying…”
Larite shook her head and tried hard to maintain her smile.
Dietrich watched Larite with indescribable feelings.
Relief that Larite didn’t have feelings for another man.
Sympathy for Larite’s suffering.
And even disgust and anger toward Gregory, who was trying to cling to Larite somehow.
All sorts of emotions mixed chaotically, confusing his mind.
At that moment.
‘I see.’
Dietrich realized.
‘It’s not because Eva’s friend is in trouble… that’s not why I feel bad.’
If she had simply been his sister’s friend, he wouldn’t have felt this dejected in the first place.
He wouldn’t have cared at all whether she got involved with someone else or not.
‘I have romantic feelings for Lady Ansi.’
Rather, realizing this fact made his frustrated heart feel refreshingly clear.
‘In that case.’
His blue eyes sharpened intensely.
Even if it was excessive meddling, it couldn’t be helped.
Dietrich was determined not to stand by and watch Larite become Gregory’s wife.
* * *
Once he had made up his mind, he acted quickly.
“Look into whether there’s anything suspicious about Gusto Youngshik’s marriage registration.”
Dietrich’s eyes gleamed sharply as he added.
“Even the most trivial details are fine.”
Thus, mobilizing all the influence of House of Claudius, they began investigating, but the results were quite disappointing.
The marriage registration filed with the Marriage Registry Office was perfectly fine without any errors.
The Imperial Curia wouldn’t even disclose the marriage registration.
“Can’t we just demand they hand over the marriage registration?”
“Well… it’s rather difficult to demand it without any evidence.”
The attendant answered with a troubled expression.
“As you well know, my lord, there could be friction between the Imperial Curia and the ducal house.”
Then Dietrich immediately stood up.
“Then should I go and ask them directly?”
“M-my lord!”
The startled attendant grabbed onto Dietrich’s sleeve desperately.
“Please give us just a little more time! We’ll try our best to negotiate…!”
“One week.”
Dietrich spoke coldly.
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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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