The Circumstances of Being Chosen as the Villainess's Favorite

Seraphina’s face became grim.

 

“Lari, don’t play around.”

 

“But I really don’t know?”

 

Honestly, it’s not like I can see through the envelope, so how would I know? And from the beginning, I didn’t think my letter would even reach the Princess.

 

‘Well, maybe she’s replying to me to never send a rude letter like this again…’

 

At that moment, I felt a cold sweat running down my spine.

 

However, looking at the two people’s faces becoming distorted, I can tell they are already letting their imaginations run wild.

 

For example, is it true that the Princess and I have a friendly relationship?

 

“Lari, you really……!”

 

“What on earth did you say to the Princess?!”

 

It felt very, very good to see faces filled with nervousness.

 

‘For this situation to become like this, I should at least put on a show, no matter what the content is, right?’

 

I deliberately opened the letter with a relaxed and leisurely hand.

 

Watching in delight that their eyes fell on the letter.

 

‘Oh my?’

 

I didn’t expect something like this.

 

To Lady Annecy.      This is Evangeline.  You say something interesting.  I’m interested in what you’ve said. If possible, could you please stop by the Duke’s townhouse today?  We sent a carriage along with the letter.  I hope to be able to meet Lady Annecy as soon as possible.                                                                                                                                       ーPrincess Claudius, Evangeline

 

“……Amy.”

 

I stiffly croaked my head and turned to Amy.

 

Then I lowered my voice and whispered in Amy’s ear.

 

“Did the Duke’s family send a carriage?”

 

“Yes!”

 

Amy nodded her head loudly.

 

‘Aha, is that so?’

 

My eyes sparkled.

 

I leisurely folded the letter and pushed it into the stationery, looking alternately at Seraphina and Gregory.

 

My smile got wider.

 

“The Princess invited me to the duke’s townhouse. It seems she hopes to meet alone?”

 

“What?!”

 

Gregory opened his eyes in shock,

 

“That can’t be possible! I’ve never been invited by the Princess before myself!”

 

Seraphina raised her voice and cried out.

 

“Honestly Lari, there’s no reason for you to receive a letter from the Princess, right?”

 

Aha, is it something like why I’m getting the attention of the Princess over yourself?

 

I looked at Seraphina crookedly, then nodded generously at her.

 

“I don’t know either. But what to do? It just happened like that.”

 

I responded harshly and got up from my seat.

 

“Hence, can you guys go back now?”

 

“Wh-what?”

 

“Right now, I have to go and meet the Princess.”

 

It was a clear order to evict guests.

 

‘Ha, it’s thrilling.’

 

That being said, the two of them have repeatedly ‘asked’ me to evict them before.

 

But I never dared to do so!

 

“I’m visiting the Duke’s townhouse, right? I think there’s a lot to prepare for in many ways.”

 

“But Lari, you said you were sick?!”

 

Seraphina glared at me with sharp eyes.

 

I shrugged my shoulders boldly.

 

“That’s true, but…… it’s an invitation from Princess Claudius herself.”

 

“Well, still!”

 

“You’re not telling me to ignore the Princess’s invitation, are you?”

 

I asked Seraphina back without raising an eyebrow.

 

“Seraphina, I am grateful that you are concerned about my body, but…… I still don’t think it is right to encourage me to commit such rudeness against the Princess.”

 

“Oh, no. I didn’t mean that…”

 

To Seraphina, who was rarely speechless, I returned a victorious smile.

 

“I’m glad you didn’t mean that.”

 

“Lari!”

 

“Then will you please leave now? I’m busy because I have to wash up and change clothes.”

 

But Gregory and Serafina did not move.

 

I clicked my tongue briefly and looked back at Amy.

 

“Amy, Count Gusto and Lady Lopez are leaving. Please take them outside respectfully.”

 

“Yes, Miss. I understand.”

 

Amy rolled up her sleeves, revealing the toned muscles in her arms that had been trained by her chores.

 

“Hey, let go. I said, let go of me!?”

 

“Aaaah!”

 

So the two people were dragged out of the bedroom.

 

“Then go back carefully!”

 

After greeting them cheerfully, I closed the door in front of their distorted faces.

 

Bang!

 

After taking a moment to catch my breath, I clenched my fists.

 

‘I feel amazing!’

 

***

 

……I’m sure just a moment ago, I felt refreshed as if I had drunk a whole bottle of carbonated water.

 

‘Uh, what should I do?’

 

Now, I am riding in a luxurious carriage with the crest of the Claudius Dukedom.

 

It was trembling like a baby rabbit facing a wild beast.

 

‘Am I… am I really visiting the Claudius Dukedom?’

 

Really, I was literally crushed to death by the belated sense of reality.

 

It’s the Duke family after all.

 

A family with the power to make flying birds fall.

 

Moreover, the Princess is the evil woman of this world.

 

Her personality can’t be as bad as in the original, right?

 

‘Wow, aren’t you crazy?’

 

I couldn’t overcome my nervousness and just chewed my lip.

 

‘I’m having a private meeting with Princess Claudius?!’

 

It-it’ll be okay.

 

And she didn’t seem angry in the letter, and so……!

 

I managed to calm my heart which was beating like crazy, and suddenly came to my senses.

 

Before I knew it, the carriage was passing the main gate of the Duke’s townhouse.

 

“Welcome, Lady Annecy.”

 

The duchy’s head maid politely bowed her head towards me.

 

“The Princess is waiting for the Lady.”

 

Therefore……

 

In the blink of an eye, I was in exclusive contact with the Empire’s only Princess, Princess Claudius!

 

“Ah, are you Lady Annecy?”

 

In a garden where roses are in full bloom.

 

The Princess, who was more beautiful than the rose, looked at me intently.

 

“Larit Annecy, meets Princess Claudius.”

 

I hastily showed my courtesy to the Princess.

 

The Princess pointed to the seat across from me with a dour expression on her face.

 

“Sit down please.”

 

“Ah yes.”

 

I sat down reflexively.

 

I felt the intimidating feeling unique to a supreme noble.

 

“Well, I’m sorry for inviting you so suddenly. Were you surprised?”

 

“No…” I trailed off without realizing it.

 

To be honest, since our statuses were so different, I thought it was inevitable that the Princess would ignore me.

 

Strangely…… She seems kind, doesn’t she?

 

“Then I’m glad. Would you like to drink tea, Darjeeling or Earl Gray?”

 

“Da-darjeeling.”

 

When I answered without thinking, I felt like I had been hit on the head.

 

It was because I realized that Seraphina and Gregory had never once asked me about my tastes or preferences.

 

But I never thought that the Princess, the evil woman from the original, and not anyone else, would care about it.

 

‘What should I do? I think I’ll be touched.’

 

That was when the tip of my nose started to twitch.

 

The Princess herself poured black tea in front of me.

 

The fragrant scent of black tea spread gently into the air.

 

At that moment, as if she was waking up from a dream, I was startled and tried to stop the Princess.

 

“Th-the Princess personally pouring tea for a low-ranking noble like me…”

 

At that moment, the Princess looked at me crookedly.

 

“Do you always have such an irritable personality?”

 

“……yes?”

 

“What’s so special about pouring a cup of tea? Why are you suddenly belittling yourself?”

 

I flinched and stiffened my shoulders.

 

Yes, I wonder why?

 

If I were to look for a reason, it was because Seraphina and Gregory always told me.

 

“You should appreciate the fact that I am engaged to someone as gloomy as you.”

 

“Who will be your friend if not me?”

 

I know it in my head too.

 

The way they treated me was rude, and the Princess was just observing the courtesy with which people treat others.

 

But.

 

‘This is… my first time seeing something like this.’

 

I got emotional for no reason.