The Circumstances of Being Chosen as the Villainess’s Favorite - Chapter 9

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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 9

Lady Claudius, whose expression had become considerably softer, quietly nodded her head.

“A friendship contract… When becoming friends, you establish each other’s duties and rights through a contract? Not bad.”

“I thought of a way that would allow both Lady Claudius and I to be mutually satisfied.”

At my answer, Lady Claudius chuckled softly.

“You’re quite confident, aren’t you? It’s still uncertain whether I’ll take Lady Ansi as a friend or not, isn’t it?”

“Well, I’m confident I can be faithful to Lady Claudius.”

I smiled brightly across my entire face.

“If you lose me, Lady Claudius, it would be like losing the person who would become your most faithful friend in the future.”

“…”

Her deep blue eyes stared directly at me.

Those eyes were like an unfathomably deep lake.

I couldn’t guess what she was thinking at all.

So all I could do was try my best to persuade Lady Claudius.

“Therefore, if Lady Claudius ultimately rejects me… wouldn’t that be a loss for you as well?”

My mouth was dry with tension.

But I tried my best to maintain a relaxed attitude.

“Of course, I wouldn’t be able to become friends with someone as wonderful as Lady Claudius either. So it would be a great loss for me too.”

I quickly added some flattering words at the end.

Lady Claudius remained silent for a long while.

And then.

“How unusual that you’re not acting frustratingly this time?”

“Pardon?”

“Just a moment ago, you were suddenly putting yourself down. Making people annoyed to watch.”

Lady Claudius, it hurts too much when you just state facts like that…

But Lady Claudius’s violence through stating facts showed no signs of stopping.

“You had no personal opinions, just followed Lady Lopez around like a puppy, and Lady Lopez naturally accepted your service as if it were obvious.”

Lady Claudius clicked her tongue loudly for me to hear.

“What kind of friendship is that? Even servants wouldn’t be used like that.”

“…”

Even at those sharp words, I couldn’t bring myself to say “no.”

‘If I hadn’t suddenly become aware of the original story… I would still be living like that, wouldn’t I?’

I felt a bit bitter.

At the same time, Lady Claudius nodded her head.

“Anyway, fine.”

“Pardon?”

“You want to become my temporary friend?”

Lady Claudius crossed her arms and added bluntly.

“I said fine.”

Wow, really?!

My eyes sparkled.

“Thank you so much! I’ll do my best! I’ll try my hardest not to disappoint you…!”

“Enough with the empty words.”

Lady Claudius huffed and turned her head away.

But only for a moment.

She glanced at me sideways and opened her mouth.

“So, so.”

Lady Claudius’s cheeks had somehow turned slightly red.

“We did become friends. Of course, not real friends, just temporary ones.”

After emphasizing several times that we were temporary friends.

She asked me a question in a prim voice.

“…What should we do from now on?”

I froze completely for a moment.

‘What’s with this person?’

It might be a bit irreverent to think this about Lady Claudius, who’s considered one of the most noble ladies in the Empire, but…

‘She’s so cute!’

How should I put it, like an incredibly pretty cat of a high-class breed?

Though she’s quite prim and haughty, so she doesn’t warm up to people easily.

But it doesn’t seem like she dislikes receiving attention itself…

“What is it, why aren’t you saying anything?”

While I was lost in thought for a moment, Lady Claudius glared at me sulkily.

“You said you’d be friends with me, even if temporarily. Don’t tell me you actually dislike spending time with me?”

“Of course not!”

I quickly came to my senses and answered promptly.

“Then shall we start by getting to know each other?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“We said we’d become temporary friends, but we don’t know anything about each other, do we?”

Of course, we know the basic personal information.

But the information needed between friends isn’t that kind of thing.

“Whether it’s hobbies or favorite foods… anything is fine.”

I smiled warmly with my eyes.

“Could you perhaps tell me a bit more about yourself, Lady Claudius?”

* * *

A carriage bearing the crest of sword and rose glided to a stop in front of Lord Claudius’ Town House.

Click.

The carriage door opened, and a man of handsome appearance stepped down from the carriage.

The butler, who had been waiting after receiving advance notice, quickly bowed his head.

“Have you arrived, my lord?”

Light platinum hair, the ducal house’s characteristic ice-blue eyes like a frozen sea.

And beautiful features as if crafted by God with utmost care.

He was none other than the current head of House of Claudius and the Empire’s sharpest sword.

Dietrich von Claudius.

“I was surprised that you returned early today.”

“There should be days like this sometimes. The state council meeting ended early too…”

While crossing the garden and having various conversations with the butler.

Dietrich suddenly stopped in his tracks.

“Ahaha, is that really true?”

Because clear laughter could be heard from beyond the garden.

Dietrich looked a bit surprised.

“Eva?”

Under the shade of roses in full bloom.

His younger sister, Evangeline, was bursting into giggles.

Across from her sat a lady with long black hair.

She had her back to him, so it was difficult to confirm her face.

However, her sitting posture was very straight and elegant, showing the bearing of someone well-educated by a good family.

“Eva getting along with another lady, how unusual.”

Though it was true that Dietrich adored Evangeline.

Separately from that, Dietrich viewed his younger sister from an objective perspective.

Evangeline was basically sensitive by nature, and thus found it somewhat difficult to get along with others.

To fix that rough personality, she needed a process of becoming more rounded through mingling with various people, but the problem was Evangeline’s background.

There was no one who could speak harshly to the sole precious daughter of the mighty House of Claudius.

And so recently, rumors had even spread in high society that Lady Claudius was arrogant.

“Just who is that lady?”

“She is the lady of House of Ansi. Her name is Larit Ansi.”

“…Lady Ansi. How remarkable indeed.”

To think she could make his prickly younger sister smile like that.

‘Larit Ansi.’

Dietrich rolled that name around in his mind a few times.

It was a rare moment of pleasant mood.

* * *

As the sun was slowly setting.

Lady Claudius and I were exchanging farewells at the entrance of the townhouse.

“It’s gotten late, why don’t you stay for dinner? My brother just returned home early too.”

Lady Claudius made the suggestion with a regretful expression,

“It’s alright, your kind words are enough.”

I quickly shook my head while adjusting the roses I held bundled in my arms.

Lady Claudius alone was overwhelming enough, let alone a dinner with Lord Claudius himself.

I would surely get terrible indigestion…

“Thank you so much for these roses too. I’ll treasure them.”

I quickly offered my thanks to Lady Claudius, who had somehow become a bit bashful.

Something I learned today was that Lady Claudius’s hobbies were flower arranging and gardening.

“Ah, so that’s why the roses bloomed so beautifully.”

When I casually said that,

“Do you like these roses? Then let me pack some for you to take home.”

And so I ended up with an armful of the finest variety of roses that only a select few nobles and royalty could enjoy…

“Speaking of which, Lady Ansi.”

Meanwhile, Lady Claudius, who had been looking me up and down with a sullen gaze, suddenly made a shocking statement.

“At this rate, you’ll fail as a temporary friend.”

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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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