Everyone Was Obsessed With Me After I Became the Youngest Princess Favourite - Chapter 115

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

‘Oh dear.’
I hadn’t intended to tease Askart as well.
The Grand Duchess laughed awkwardly as she observed her son lost in thought.
Whether it was due to their long separation, or perhaps because she had only witnessed him in a despondent and melancholic state.
Her son seemed completely oblivious to her jest.
Of course, it appeared he had inherited not only his father’s striking appearance but also his innocent nature.
The Grand Duchess recalled the memories from before her marriage, when she had delighted in teasing the obtuse and guileless Grand Duke, and shook her head slightly.
Now that she thought about it, it had been an eternity since they had engaged in such playful banter.
“….”
In that moment, the corners of the Grand Duchess’s lips, which had risen slightly, fell back to their original position.
She was thinking of her daughter, who might still be weeping even now.
“At least the Crown Prince has a conscience, thank goodness!”
When the Duke, who clearly understood that the Grand Duchess was jesting, exhaled in relief, the Grand Duke spoke as though he had been waiting for this moment.
“Duke Elrad, I won’t ask for your daughter as my daughter-in-law, so ease your tension. However, given how close our two houses have become, there is something I wish to ask of you earnestly.”
Though his expression remained gentle, the Grand Duke’s smile had faded as if he were tense, and Duke Elrad straightened his own countenance accordingly.
Of course, there was also relief that Diana’s safety had been secured.
“Please, speak freely.”
“Well, I shall be direct. My wife and I wish to become godparents to your daughter.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“It’s not such an unusual proposal, is it? The nobility of the Empire—or at least the Emperor himself—would surely deem it fitting.”
“That may be true, but….”
The Duke affirmed it while wearing a peculiar expression.
There was nothing wrong with what the Grand Duke had said.
Most nobles of considerable age were aware that the Grand Duchess, who had been the Young Lady of House Diapel, was Duke Elrad’s only friend.
At one point, rumors had even circulated that the two were not merely friends but lovers.
Of course, when Dominic appeared with Edel, such gossip vanished in an instant, and it had even left the Emperor—who had been attempting to arrange a woman for the Duke in the interim—dumbfounded.
In any case, considering the friendship between the Duke and the Grand Duchess that had continued thereafter, it was not an unreasonable proposal.
The only question was: ‘Why now, when the child has only just been born?’
From the outset, such formalities were unnecessary; the relationship between the two houses had remained steadfast all this while.
When Diana had been lost not long ago, he had immediately sought assistance, and the Grand Ducal House had unhesitatingly sent Bianca and the Magic Swordsmen Corps.
“What is your reason?”
“That is….”
When the Duke asked with bewilderment, the Grand Duke hesitated, as if his mouth would not open.
However, a moment later, the Grand Duke, having made his resolve, spoke.
“Soon, I shall lower the prices of all magical artifacts produced in the Grand Duchy. And I shall release them all throughout the Empire. I intend to spread them across the entire Continent in due course.”
“What? No, why on earth would you….”
The Duke could not fathom why the Grand Duke would lower the value of magical artifacts and accept such losses.
“To find our Adriana.”
The Grand Duchess resolved the Duke’s confusion.
“What do you mean? Explain in detail, if you would.”
The Marquis Diapel, who had been quietly focused on his meal until then, spoke with his eyes wide open.
The Grand Duke began his explanation with a slight bow, as if apologizing for not mentioning it beforehand.
“Until now, we searched for children with pink hair first, then went to the Temple for paternity verification. However, that method was terribly inefficient. So from now on, we will find Adriana using ‘mana.'”
At the Grand Duke’s words, not only the Marquis but also Duke Elrad, the Duchess, and Bianca all wore expressions of incomprehension.
Just as he said, searching for girls with pink hair and then conducting paternity verification using the Temple’s sacred relics was extremely time-consuming and inefficient.
Moreover, sending personnel across the entire Continent every year to search for the Grand Duchess required enormous amounts of money and manpower, and since it was human work, it could never be perfect.
But….
“Finding a child using mana?”
When the Marquis asked with a trembling voice, the Grand Duke answered.
“The Temple’s sacred relics distinguish blood relations through blood. I devised a magic circle that distinguishes blood relations using mana based on that principle.”
“What?”
Undeterred by the astonished voice, the Grand Duke continued with his bombshell revelation.
“And I will add a magic circle that tracks mana to it, then engrave it on all magical tools made in the Grand Duchy. That way, if Adriana’s mana is detected nearby, we’ll know immediately.”
The story was so extraordinary that I couldn’t even imagine it, and my mouth fell open.
“Is such a thing truly possible…?”
“Theoretically, it was difficult. Implementing it took even longer.”
The Grand Duke explained with a short breath.
“Most people don’t know this, but each person possesses unique mana characteristics and color. While I haven’t collected all samples yet, I’ve collected enough samples and completed experiments to distinguish consistency between blood relatives to a certain degree. So first, I plan to track the mana presumed to be Adriana’s, find the child, and then have her undergo verification at the Temple to be certain.”
After finishing his words, the Grand Duke quietly turned his head to look at Askart.
“Askart, you’ve worked hard all this time. Coming to the Empire in my stead, collecting mana samples, and even researching magic circles. You’ve truly done well.”
“…I merely did what was naturally my duty.”
Askart spoke firmly, though his ears flushed with embarrassment.
In truth, the Empire’s magical level didn’t match Askart’s abilities, but when he heard his father’s plan, he readily offered to go to the Empire first.
Of course, they could have sent someone sponsored by the Grand Duchy like elsewhere, but the Empire’s Academy was the largest academic institution on the Continent.
It didn’t discriminate between nobles and commoners, and as a place where talented individuals gathered, it was most suitable for collecting many people’s mana samples.
In the end, the Grand Duke had no choice but to send his most trustworthy son.
“By the way, during the process of developing the magic circle, Askart received help from that Maidservant, I hear.”
At the Grand Duke’s words, both the Grand Duchess and the Marquis flinched simultaneously.
Bianca also recalled meeting Askart at the Academy Festival, and her eyes widened as she remembered Lia’s adorable letter where she boasted about receiving praise for being clever from him.
She never expected that help to be related to finding the Grand Duchess.
“…Is that so.”
Duke Elrad, who similarly recalled that Lia had given Askart a small helping hand in exchange for receiving a magic circle that infused mana into Splecia, laughed helplessly.
‘A small helping hand, she said.’
At that time, he had said he would give Askart a separate word of thanks once Splecia was commercialized.
But now it seemed the thanks should go to Lia instead.
“As expected!”
Just then, a loud voice burst out from beside him.
“Our Lia is quite a blessing indeed. She surprises people with unexpected deeds, and she’s absolutely adorable.”
The Duchess Elrad spoke with clasped hands and an emotional voice.
She seemed even more proud than when she heard that Lucio had never missed first place at the Academy each year and had finally graduated early.
However, it was somewhat inappropriate to bring up such serious and momentous matters at this juncture.
“Ahem, ahem.”
The Duke, clearing his throat in embarrassment, momentarily faltered at the subtly affirmative atmosphere surrounding the Duchess’s words.
Now that he thought about it, the Grand Duke and Askart, who had received Lia’s assistance, were smiling softly, and even Marquis Diapel, who loved to interject, along with Bianca, were quietly nodding in agreement.
At that, the Duke’s shoulders lifted slightly as he quietly joined in the silent pride of “our child.”
“Lia is indeed something special. She’s an indispensable presence in House Elrad.”
He added, driving a firm stake through any notion of taking her away to Bellus Duchy.
The Duke, deliberately averting his gaze from Askart’s darkening expression, recalled what the Grand Duke had said moments before and suddenly understood anew.
‘He truly believes the Grand Duchess is alive.’
Otherwise, how could he have devised such an enormous plan over so many years?
Yet for nearly a decade, no evidence had emerged to justify such conviction.
Rather, the Grand Duchess, who had been but a tiny infant, had likely perished long ago.
However, the Duke did not voice such doubts and assumptions.
It was a gesture of respect and consideration for those who, while suffocating under suspicion and fear that tightened with each passing moment, poured all their efforts into an endeavor that might come to nothing.
“Can the magical artifact be identified simply by having it nearby?”
Instead, he asked carefully, and the Grand Duke answered.
“No, that’s not it. Identification requires the manipulation of mana inherent within the body—whether through magical power or aura. And if too little mana is used, confirmation becomes difficult.”
The Grand Duke answered with the unavoidable limitations, his expression growing somber.
Then the Grand Duchess gently patted the Grand Duke’s hand.
“Do not worry. Adriana’s mana collided with mine even when she was in my womb, so she will surely have both higher purity and far greater quantity than others. If she takes after His Majesty and me, she will certainly be able to manipulate mana.”
At the Grand Duchess’s resolute words, the Grand Duke nodded.
Askart, too, though his expression was dark, clearly agreed.
After all, the reason Father and I had left the castle was because we feared my younger sister might experience a mana rampage upon birth, and we sought snowflowers that would aid in mana stabilization.
“….”
It was then.
The Duke suddenly recalled a child—one with exceptionally high purity and an enormous quantity of mana.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————