Everyone Was Obsessed With Me After I Became the Youngest Princess Favourite - Chapter 116

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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‘Surely Lia couldn’t be…. No, that’s impossible.’
Duke Elrad let out a hollow laugh and shook his head.
He cast aside the absurd thought that had surfaced in his mind.
After all, Lia didn’t even have the pink hair that was a basic requirement for a Grand Duchess.
Moreover, she had been kidnapped in such chaos immediately after birth that he had never confirmed the eye color of the Grand Duchess, but if she resembled her parents, it would likely be pink or green.
‘There’s no way it could be brown, whether from the paternal or maternal side.’
Yet even as he dismissed the thought, Duke Elrad felt an inexplicable unease settling over him.
“Will we truly… truly find our Adriana….”
At that moment, the Marquis, who had been silent for some time, couldn’t finish his words and squeezed his eyes shut.
He had been completely unaware that his daughter and son-in-law were planning such a thing, so honestly, he had nearly given up hope of finding his granddaughter.
Of course, once he transferred his title and returned to the Capital City, he had thought to make requests at the Information Guild, grasping at straws, but still.
“Father, I apologize. I couldn’t tell you beforehand because I had no certainty about how long it would take or whether the plan would truly succeed.”
The Grand Duke apologized in a remorseful voice.
The Marquis, for once, offered no objection and simply nodded, saying it was fine and thanking him for his efforts.
Then Duke Elrad, having somewhat organized his thoughts, asked in a low, measured voice.
“Your Highness, the Grand Duke. You accepted the dinner invitation tonight from the start to tell us this, didn’t you? That’s why you asked for the children to dine separately.”
When the Grand Duke nodded, Duke Elrad immediately continued.
“However, I don’t understand. What does this matter have to do with making Diana your adopted daughter?”
Then the Grand Duchess spoke with a cold smile.
“When you said earlier that you’d release all of Bellus’s magical artifacts to the Empire at a discount, you had that bewildered expression. I’m sure others will think the same. Especially the Emperor—as you know, he takes great interest in the Belus Duchy.”
“Well, that’s….”
Duke Elrad was about to carelessly mention that it wasn’t really the Duchy but rather another person who held the Emperor’s interest, but seeing the Grand Duchess furrow her brow as if she didn’t want to hear it, he closed his mouth.
“But what do you think would happen if the Emperor learned that I’m using magical artifacts to find my daughter?”
Although the level of the Imperial mages was said to be lower than that of the Duchy, one couldn’t rule out the possibility that they might decipher the magical formations.
If that happened, the magical artifacts might be misused or unforeseen complications could arise.
“We simply want to find our daughter quietly. So we need a pretext to carry out this task without suspicion.”
“And that pretext is becoming Diana’s godmother?”
“Yes. Then the Emperor and everyone else will think: Ah, the Bellus Grand Ducal House has finally given up on the Grand Duchess. Instead, they’ve decided to treat the Duke’s daughter like their own. So much so that they’re selling all their magical artifacts to the Empire at a loss.”
“The Duchy’s titles, territories, mines, jewels… we can give the young lady whatever she desires. We could make her the most precious child in the Empire, even more so than the Imperial Princess.”
When even the Grand Duke affirmed this, Duke Elrad let out a small scoff.
“That won’t be necessary.”
He spoke coldly.
“I dislike it. It feels like we’re using my daughter.”
“Dominic!”
“My dear.”
At Duke Elrad’s words, both the Grand Duchess and the Duchess called out to him in startled voices.
Seeing their shocked faces—clearly they hadn’t anticipated such a response—Duke Elrad soon let out a long sigh.
“…That’s what I’d like to say, but I find I simply cannot refuse.”
“Sigh….”
The moment his words ended, sighs of relief escaped from all around.
Duke Elrad spoke with a displeased expression, as if he had no choice in the matter.
“If Diana suffers any difficulties because of this, I will hold you accountable.”
“Of course. But I’m certain that won’t happen. Thank you. I’m truly grateful.”
The Grand Duke’s eyes, glistening with moisture, sparkled as he smiled brilliantly.
His dazzlingly beautiful appearance looked as sacred as a noble sculpture in some temple, so much so that even Duke Elrad, who was ordinarily unmoved by appearances, found himself momentarily transfixed.
And so he found himself thinking reluctantly.
Perhaps the reason mages across the Continent were so infatuated with Grand Duke Bellus and longed merely to glimpse his feet was not solely because of his magical prowess.
* * *
“Sigh.”
“…Hey!”
“Sigh.”
“Yaaaagh!”
Oh, you startled me!
I jerked my head up, startled by Allen’s sudden outburst.
“Young Master, you frightened me. What’s wrong?”
“What’s wrong? What’s wrong? Do you know how many times I’ve called you? Why have you been sighing heavily without eating since earlier?”
Allen spoke with his brow deeply furrowed.
Now that I thought about it, Diana, seated beside me, was also watching me with a worried expression.
“I apologize.”
As I offered an awkward apology, Allen’s frown deepened further.
“It’s not about apologizing—I’m curious about why you’re acting this way.”
But I couldn’t readily answer Allen’s question.
For now, I regretted missing the meal, and going forward, I felt overwhelmed by the uncertainty of how I would prove that I was Adriana.
‘No one will believe me with just Diana’s words and my claims alone….’
In fact, yesterday I had asked Diana to keep it a secret that I resembled the Grand Duchess.
I couldn’t understand why my appearance seemed that way only to Diana’s eyes, and revealing this story without any concrete evidence might only put the child in an awkward position.
‘Last night I examined my face and body thoroughly with mana, but there didn’t seem to be any particular traces of magic.’
Even the Grand Duke, who was called an Archmage, said nothing upon seeing me, so I wasn’t entirely sure, but I was beginning to wonder if it truly wasn’t a curse. The fact that holy power hadn’t worked before was another matter.
I considered visiting the Temple, but the thought of the Priestess who had been startled seeing me repel holy power at the Duke’s Castle made me reluctant.
‘I wish I had at least learned what was being discussed in the Dining Room.’
Perhaps because I had encountered them so briefly just now, I hadn’t noticed anything unusual.
I found myself regretting that I hadn’t at least released some mana in front of the Grand Duke.
“You wouldn’t happen to….”
Just then, Allen narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
Though there was no way he could have known my troubles, I felt oddly caught.
“Is it because of the Grand Duke? Because you couldn’t eat together?”
“Pardon?”
How did he know that?
Startled, I widened my eyes for a moment, then recalled something he often said as a habit.
“The Grand Duke is certainly handsome, but it’s not because of his face.”
“Hmph, who said otherwise? Either way, it’s because of the Grand Duke, isn’t it? You’re just admiring him like the other mages, aren’t you?”
Surprisingly reasonable, and I found myself nodding along, caught off guard.
It made sense—I was someone with a genuine interest in magic, after all.
The mages who had descended to the Duchy with Lucio not long ago, particularly Tellin, the chief mage, was someone who constantly shouted “Grand Mage Grand Duke Bellus, a true genius!” and had been absolutely devastated when suddenly ordered down to the Duchy.
The memory made my shoulders lift with an inexplicable pride.
The only Grand Mage on the entire Continent, admired by all mages, might very well be my father.
“Say, Young Master.”
“Hmm? What is it?”
“Do you happen to know anything about the Grand Duchess?”
Since we were already on the subject of the Grand Duke, I couldn’t help but ask directly.
“The Grand Duchess? Oh, Askart’s younger sister?”
Allen tilted his head, unfamiliar with the title.
“Yes. How she disappeared, who took her, or anything distinctive about her. A birthmark, perhaps, or some kind of token she carried…”
“I don’t know much.”
Allen cut me off mid-sentence.
His expression was somewhat troubled.
“The adults never told me about it. I only figured out from context that the Grand Duchess was kidnapped right after birth.”
“I see…”
“No one ever explained it. I didn’t see Ascart often like I used to, and even when I did, he never made a big deal about it. So I often forget he even had a younger sister.”
Seeing my disappointed expression, Allen hurried to defend himself.
I slowly nodded in understanding.
Right—adults would never discuss such matters in detail with children.
“But why are you curious about that?”
“Just…just curious, that’s all.”
I answered with a bitter smile, brushing it aside.
‘I should ask Askart or Bianca directly—that would be faster.’
It would mean touching on their wounds, but now wasn’t the time to worry about such things.
“Right. Lia, come by the Training Grounds soon!”
“The Training Grounds? Why?”
“Father asked Marquis Mareta today if she’d observe Jack and me practicing swordplay.”
“Bianca Mareta?”
“Yes!”
Allen’s eyes sparkled like those mages who had heard the Grand Duke was coming to the Empire.
So he too admired Bianca Mareta, the Sword Mage.
‘Well, Bianca is skilled in both magic and swordplay, so she’d handle mana more sensitively than other aura users.’
The Duke clearly wanted to ask her help in developing Allen’s aura manifestation.
“Lia, you absolutely have to come. Understood?”
“Diana wants to go too!”
“Of course, our Diana must come.”
I wasn’t sure why he was insisting I attend his training, but I was grateful for the invitation.
I was about to give Allen a firm yes as he stood there with that goofy expression, playfully pinching Diana’s cheek.
Then my eyes caught the mirror positioned across from my table in my room, and I froze.
‘…That’s right, the proof.’
An object that might prove I was the Grand Duchess came into view.

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