The Circumstances of Being Chosen as the Villainess’s Favorite - Chapter 99

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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 99

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We left the knights who had followed Lord Claudius to handle the situation.

And we returned to the villa.

In the carriage, Lady Claudius and I had to endure a tremendous scolding from Lord Claudius.

“Even if this is within the Lord’s domain, this is the frontier!”

Unlike his usual calm demeanor, Lord Claudius looked truly angry.

“What on earth were you thinking, wandering around with just two women?”

…Really, I shouldn’t have been swayed by Lady Claudius.

I chewed over my bitter regret.

“Larit, don’t you trust me?”

Lady Claudius’s voice echoed in my ears as she pounded her chest and cried out.

“I’m Lady Claudius. Who would dare harm me in the Lord’s domain?”

“…But.”

“Honestly, having escort knights would be a bit inconvenient. I wanted us to have fun together just by ourselves. Right?”

Lady Claudius clasped her hands over her chest with sparkling eyes.

And at that lovely sight, my mind became completely muddled…

Honestly, I thought Lady Claudius’s words made sense, and the security in the Lord’s domain that I had experienced so far was truly perfect.

It was true that I hadn’t been too worried.

I had never experienced anything like this even in my hometown barony.

The only problem was that no one in this village knew Lady Claudius’s identity.

As it turned out, the people in this village didn’t even know that the villa on the mountainside belonged to House of Claudius.

‘Really, it’s only natural that Lord Claudius is angry.’

I hung my head dejectedly.

After we arrived at the villa.

“Please stop causing trouble. Understood?”

Lord Claudius earnestly entreated Lady Claudius, then disappeared, saying he had to handle his backlogged work.

I was… just too embarrassed and guilty.

What kind of rudeness was this to someone who was already so busy?

The afternoon passed quietly like that.

“Shouldn’t you be going to bed now?”

“Aw, already?”

Late at night, after escorting Lady Claudius, who was clinging to me, to her bedroom.

I returned to my own bedroom.

But no matter how much I tried to sleep, my eyes just kept staying wide awake.

The events of today kept circling in my mind.

Lord Claudius, who had pushed forward without hesitation against the men who were threatening me.

And those blue eyes that looked back at me…

‘Ah, really.’

Eventually, after tossing and turning for a while, I sat up.

‘Maybe I’ll be able to sleep if I have a cup of warm tea.’

As I shuffled toward the kitchen, I suddenly stopped in my tracks.

‘Huh?’

That was because light was faintly streaming out from between the doors of the study that Lord Claudius used.

It was late at night when even the servants were all asleep…

‘Could it be that he’s still working even now?’

After hesitating for a moment, I knocked on the door.

Knock knock.

“…”

After a moment of silence.

Click.

The door opened.

A serene face appeared, completely unrelated to the afternoon’s commotion.

But only for a moment.

“Lady Ansi?”

The moment he spotted me, Lord Claudius’s expression changed instantly.

Behind his silver-rimmed glasses, his bright blue eyes rippled with joy and surprise.

“What brings you here…”

“Well, maybe because I’m in an unfamiliar bed, I can’t sleep well. I thought maybe having a cup of tea would help, so I came out, but I saw the light on in your study…”

Feeling awkward for no reason, I rambled on incoherently.

Lord Claudius smiled faintly and stepped back a few paces.

“I can’t leave you standing outside. Would you like to come in for now?”

“Ah, thank you.”

I carefully stepped into the study.

The room was filled with warm crimson light.

It seemed he had been sitting on the sofa reading documents, as papers were piled high on the table next to the sofa.

And there was a glass pot that must have once been full of drip coffee, and a mug half-filled with coffee…

“…Don’t tell me you drank all of this coffee?”

I couldn’t help but look disgusted.

Lord Claudius slyly averted his gaze like a child being scolded by his parents.

“Even without you saying so, Lady Ansi, I’m already getting plenty of scolding from Evangeline.”

“You deserve to be scolded. Do you know how worried Lady Claudius is?”

As I was rattling off my nagging, I suddenly flinched.

Because Lord Claudius was staring intently at me.

“It seems I’m still not part of ‘us,’ am I?”

Though it was a playful voice, if Lord Claudius’s expression looked a little hurt as he said that…

…Was I being oversensitive?

But, still.

Wouldn’t it be better to be a bit more respectful in front of Lord Claudius…?

Feeling confused, I eventually quietly corrected my words.

“Well… Evangeline is.”

Only then did Lord Claudius smile brightly.

That smile was so beautiful that I momentarily lost myself and stared blankly at Lord Claudius.

‘Wait.’

Suddenly I furrowed my brow.

“Lord Claudius, your lips are bleeding.”

His lips were cracked with scabs forming.

‘Could it be that he was injured because of those men earlier?’

I unconsciously bit my own lip.

But that couldn’t be right, since those opponents hadn’t even been able to touch Lord Claudius’s collar…

“Ah, it’s nothing serious.”

Lord Claudius, who happened to touch his lips, answered nonchalantly.

“This often happens when I’m tired. It’ll heal quickly if I rest a bit.”

Good heavens, his lips were swollen to that extent.

Just how tired was he?

When I came to my senses, I had already jumped up from my seat.

“Could you wait just a moment? I’ll go get some lip balm.”

“Wait, Lady Ansi?”

Lord Claudius tried to stop me, but my actions were a bit faster.

With a somehow overwhelming feeling, I crossed the dark corridor.

‘No, just how much are you overworking yourself!’

I’m already upset to death just seeing how haggard you’ve looked lately.

What are you doing until your lips crack like this?

How can a person live doing nothing but work?

You need to think about your health too!

Returning to my bedroom, I rummaged through the handbag I had carelessly thrown on the table.

“Touch-up makeup is essential. Got it?”

“I really can’t stand my friend walking around with smudged eye makeup making her look like a panda, or with her lipstick completely worn off!”

…Following Lady Claudius’s such advice, I had recently been carrying makeup items for touch-ups.

Among them was lip moisturizer.

Taking it out, I headed back to the study where Lord Claudius was.

“This is lip moisturizer.”

I held out the small jar containing the moisturizer and spoke triumphantly.

“It’s what I use, and it’s quite effective…”

Wait.

‘Still, it’s a cosmetic product for lips, so would it be a bit awkward to recommend it to a man?’

At the thought that suddenly crossed my mind, I froze up completely.

It felt like an indirect kiss or something…

‘Oh, as if that would happen!’

I quickly brushed away the indecent thoughts filling my head.

I’m just being oversensitive.

Lord Claudius wouldn’t think such thoughts at all!

Meanwhile, Lord Claudius gazed down at the jar containing the moisturizer.

“Thank you.”

He accepted the jar.

Then he opened the lid and scooped out a little moisturizer with his index finger.

“…”

I held my breath for a moment.

His long, elegant finger touched his red lips.

The sight of him slowly rubbing his lips felt strangely sensual…

‘Am I going crazy?!’

It’s just applying moisturizer, so why am I so conscious of Lord Claudius?!

“Wouldn’t it be better if you got some sleep?”

Feeling my face heat up somehow, I made the suggestion to Lord Claudius while awkwardly looking away.

“Applying moisturizer is just a temporary measure. You should relieve your fatigue first.”

“Thank you. But if I look at this just a little more, I think I can finish all the urgent matters.”

Lord Claudius answered politely.

“I need to finish even a little early so I can spend time with Lady Ansi, don’t I?”

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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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