Everyone Was Obsessed With Me After I Became the Youngest Princess Favourite - Chapter 119

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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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The moment I realized who owned the necklace, I instinctively understood that my appearance was also the work of that ominous curse.
“W-what do I do now?”
My hands trembled uncontrollably as overwhelming dread seized me.
Even though I had uncovered everything, I couldn’t remove the necklace from my body, and I had no idea how to resolve this situation.
“Do I really have to go to the Temple?”
Previously, when I couldn’t detect any traces of mana in my body, I had suspected this might be a curse or witchcraft rather than magic.
Honestly, I knew nothing about such matters, so I vaguely thought that if I went to the Temple and received purification or a blessing, it might work.
But now that reality had set in, my confidence wavered.
I didn’t even know if this was truly a curse or some higher-dimensional magic beyond my comprehension.
Regardless, what mattered most was this:
“Money. I need money.”
Even if I went to the Temple, I would need money—a considerable sum—to meet with the Priestess, someone with divine power, rather than an ordinary priest.
But it was late now, and without Duke Elrad’s permission, I couldn’t easily access the bank vault to withdraw funds.
‘Then it has to be….’
I hurriedly climbed out of bed and opened the Wardrobe.
Right now, the only place I could get money immediately was Darel.
Although time remained before the promised date, I would have to ask them to bring my funds—whether the full amount or whatever was available.
“Quickly…!”
I had definitely stored the communication stone in the Wardrobe, intending to return it when I received the final payment.
My hands trembled so badly in my urgency that I couldn’t find it easily.
Since I hadn’t created any more mana stones after that, I moved my hands frantically, thinking that once I found the communication stone, I could immediately infuse it with mana.
* * *
At that very moment, a massive and intricate magic circle hung suspended in the air of the Separate Quarters at the Marquis’s Residence.
The Grand Duke, who had been observing the slowly rotating circle and conducting a final inspection, suddenly spoke.
“Askart.”
“…Yes?”
Askart, who had been standing with a dazed expression, lifted his head a beat too late.
“What’s wrong? Is there a mistake somewhere…?”
“No, it’s not that. The circle is flawless.”
“Then why…?”
“You simply seem unable to concentrate at all.”
“Ah….”
Askart’s face flushed at his father’s words.
He had tried not to show it, but his true feelings were laid bare.
“If that child troubles you so much, don’t make her wait—go and see her. I can finish from here alone.”
“No. We’re at the final stage now, so I should see it through to the end.”
Askart answered immediately.
Of course, it was true that ever since the Butler had left, he had been distracted, desperately curious about what important thing Lia wanted to tell him.
He worried whether something unfortunate had happened, and he harbored hope that perhaps it was her response to his invitation to the Grand Duchy from before.
But right now, he was fastening the first button of a plan he had long been preparing.
The massive magical device installed here will collect signals sent from magical devices that will spread throughout the Empire, identify Adriana’s mana, and immediately transmit her location to Bellus Duchy.
“It’s fine. I’m occupied with more pressing matters at the moment.”
The Grand Duke nodded upon seeing Askart’s resolute expression and pressed the matter no further.
And moments later.
As the Grand Duke inserted the highest-grade mana stone of the Grand Duchy after completing all inspections, the magical device inscribed with the formation hummed to life and began to move.
“Let’s verify it’s functioning properly.”
The Grand Duke spoke, holding the communication device connected to the Grand Duchy.
If he, as Adriana’s blood relative, channeled his mana, the magical device would identify all mana detected in the vicinity, emit light, and relay the location to the Grand Duchy.
Just as the Grand Duke raised his hand to unleash his mana.
“…!”
Light flashed brilliantly from the magical device that had been turning quietly, and it began to spin fiercely.
A startled Askart and the Grand Duke locked eyes.
“Askart, could it be that you’re….”
“No, it’s not.”
The moment Askart denied it, the communication device in the Grand Duke’s hand flashed with light twice.
It meant that mana identified as Adriana or her blood relative had been properly transmitted to the Grand Duchy.
In that instant, chills rushed up from his feet.
The room fell silent, and both the Grand Duke and Askart froze.
The door burst open, and the Grand Duchess entered.
The Grand Duke swallowed hard and quickly examined his wife’s hands. No aura was manifesting.
‘If she didn’t even use her aura, then it truly….’
The Grand Duke barely suppressed his pounding heart and opened his mouth.
“My lady, just now….”
“Askart, don’t associate with that maidservant girl. She’s a terribly wicked child.”
The Grand Duke’s words scattered into thin air, cut off by the Grand Duchess.
Askart, startled by the sudden remark, asked.
“Mother, what are you suddenly talking about?”
“I summoned the Butler earlier, and he spoke such nonsense. He said you told that maidservant girl to wait for a moment? There’s no need to meet her.”
“What on earth are you talking about? Surely you don’t mean Lia?”
Askart’s eyes sharpened as he spoke Lia’s name.
The Grand Duchess’s momentum grew equally fierce upon noticing this.
“Yes. That child you and my father have been fawning over.”
“Regardless of what mistake Lia made, she’s still just a child. Couldn’t you simply overlook it as a minor slip and show her some mercy?”
Watching Askart take her side without even listening, the Grand Duchess’s eyebrows rose sharply.
“A minor slip? How dare she lie to me, claiming to be my daughter, and play such wicked pranks—and you want me to show mercy?”
In that moment, Askart’s pupils trembled.
After a pause, he slowly opened his mouth.
“Could it be that you had a nightmare? Why would that child ever say such things to you?”
“Ha! Are you now defending that girl and treating me like a madwoman?”
“That’s not what I meant….”
“Wait, just a moment, madam.”
The Grand Duke, who had been frozen without even blinking, spoke with a pallid face.
“Did she really say that? That she is… Adriana?”
“Your Highness, what’s wrong with your complexion…?”
“Tell me. Did she truly say such a thing!”
The Grand Duchess nodded, sensing that the Grand Duke was equally furious at his uncharacteristic outburst.
“Yes. She told me so herself. That she is Adriana. I was absolutely astounded…”
“What was her reason!”
“Pardon?”
“The child wouldn’t have said such a thing without cause. There must have been a reason for her to think so. What did she say when she claimed this?”
“That was…”
The Grand Duchess, whose lips had been moving uncertainly, slowly searched her memory.
“…A necklace. Yes, that’s it. She pointed at my neck and asked if I didn’t know what necklace it was, something like that… but there was nothing around that child’s neck.”
“And?”
“And… I didn’t listen. I was angry, thinking she was playing a cruel prank…”
“Ah…”
The Grand Duke’s eyelids trembled violently.
“Is she outside? I must see her at once.”
“Father!”
It was Askart who caught the Grand Duke as he rushed toward the door.
“This isn’t the time for that, is it? I’ll speak with Lia later. First, let’s check the magical artifact…”
Askart turned back and fell silent.
The magical artifact that had been shining brilliantly was already dark.
“Contact the Grand Duchy at once. The location should surely…”
While Askart stood helplessly, the Grand Duke grasped the door handle without listening.
Then the Grand Duchess seized the Grand Duke and spoke.
“Your Highness, that child is not outside. I’ve already sent her away.”
The Grand Duke, who had been about to burst outside, froze.
His eyes, which had grown misty, fixed upon his wife.
“Madam. Tell me it isn’t so.”
“…Your Highness?”
“Tell me you didn’t treat that child so cruelly… that even in your anger, you didn’t speak words that would wound her, please…”
“What on earth are you saying, Your Highness? What do you mean!”
The Grand Duke bit his trembling lips as he gazed into his wife’s eyes, which now held a creeping anxiety.
Though he heard no answer, the meaning seemed all too clear.
* * *
The sun had already set. The snow that had briefly ceased during the day began to fall once more.
Though snowflakes accumulated at a frightening pace, Jack remained at the Training Grounds.
For some reason, he felt dazed and hollow.
Earlier today, a woman who led the Magic Swordsmen Corps of the Bellus Duchy had come to the Duke’s Mansion Training Grounds.
Neither a knight nor a mage, she introduced herself as a Magic Swordswoman.
From what I gathered, she was one of those who had come to the Orphanage to rescue the Young Lady before, and it seemed she knew Lia well.
“Lia is ill? Where? Does she have a cold?”
When the Young Lady arrived late at the Training Grounds to watch, accompanied by a different maidservant rather than Lia, Allen practically jumped out of his skin.
And it was Bianca who reacted to the news that she was resting because she was unwell.
The woman with worry etched across her face examined the sword first, then muttered that she should go check on Lia.
Jack too thought to himself that he should slip away and follow. At least until training began.
Jack squeezed his eyes shut again. That shocking scene remained vivid in his mind.
How long had training been going on?
As Allen listened to Bianca’s explanation, his sword blade began to tremble.
And a brilliant azure aura flared into existence before vanishing.
It was an aura.
Though it disappeared in an instant, Jack could not forget that moment when the ground around them had trembled.
“Jack!”
Then, with a booming voice, the very person who had thrown Jack into turmoil appeared at the Training Grounds.
Allen rushed up to Jack, gasping for breath as he spoke.
“Jack, have you seen Lia anywhere?”
Jack’s mind suddenly cleared, and he furrowed his brow.
“I have not seen her. Is she not in her room?”
“She’s not! I went to check on how ill she was, but she’s not in her room or anywhere else!”

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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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