Everyone Was Obsessed With Me After I Became the Youngest Princess Favourite - Chapter 122

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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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“Where on earth have you been all this time! And what in the world is that luggage bag?”
Taize, who had rushed over upon spotting me, gasped for breath as he interrogated me, his expression shifting to bewilderment when he caught sight of the oversized bag nearly as large as my own frame.
My toes curled involuntarily, and embarrassment washed over me.
‘…I look like a thoughtless child who gave up running away after just a few hours and came crawling back.’
And I hadn’t even made it beyond the estate grounds, merely wandering nearby before my attempt fell through.
“Taize, step aside.”
At that moment, a chilling voice cut through the air, sending ice down my spine.
Though Taize’s expression suggested he had much to say, he dutifully moved aside like the loyal knight he was, obedient to his lord’s command.
“Raise your head.”
I had been staring at the ground, fidgeting with my fingers, when the Duke’s cold voice made my entire body stiffen.
It was the first time I had felt such fear since encountering him at the Orphanage.
But this terror wasn’t born from the fear that he might harm me as before.
‘…What if he’s disappointed in me?’
I was afraid he would no longer regard me with such tenderness.
I forced down my panic and lifted my head, only to feel the world tilt beneath me at the sight before my eyes.
To be honest, I had somewhat anticipated that the Duchess Elrad, Allen, Diana, and even Jack would be present.
But I never expected the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess, along with Askart and Bianca, to be here as well.
Especially the Grand Duke’s expression was absolutely terrifying.
‘Just how angry could he possibly be….’
The man who usually radiated warmth like sunlight was now emanating such fierce, blazing intensity.
The Grand Duke, his face appearing ready to burst at any moment, never once took his eyes off me.
Under that relentless gaze, my body trembled uncontrollably.
That was when it happened.
“Ah….”
“Let’s go inside for now.”
The moment the Grand Duke’s mouth opened, the Duke stepped forward to block him, shielding me from view.
Not long ago, I had yearned for even a glance from the Grand Ducal House, for the mere brush of a sleeve—now that they were out of sight, breathing came easier.
The Duchess Elrad also seized the luggage from my hands as she spoke.
“Yes, let’s go inside and discuss what’s happened.”
Thus I was led into the Estate by the Duchess Elrad’s hand.
But the Grand Duke’s gaze following behind me made the back of my head sting so intensely that I couldn’t bring myself to look up.
Diana, who had been held back by Allen and unable to reach me until now, suddenly grasped my hand and asked urgently.
“Sister, you didn’t leave Dana behind, did you?”
“….”
“Brother was lying, wasn’t he?”
Faced with Diana’s question, her eyes glistening with tears, I couldn’t bring myself to answer.
“Where were you, and what were you doing?”
“Your face is frozen solid.”
Allen beside her and Jack as well wore expressions of concern as they grumbled.
It seemed the children didn’t know the full details of what had transpired, and my tension eased somewhat.
Yet that reprieve was short-lived. The moment we stepped into the Reception Room, the atmosphere grew taut once more.
Duke Elrad had the Butler dismiss all the servants before speaking.
“Taize, you should rest as well.”
“…Your Grace. Lia is like a benefactor to me. If you permit it, I wish to remain here.”
As Taize spoke, Jack too refused to leave, standing beside him with his posture straightened.
Seeing the Duke furrow his brow, I grew anxious.
Taize had once sworn to repay his debt to me, and true to his word, he stepped forward even in a situation where trouble was plainly inevitable. But I didn’t want to drag him into this.
“Leave them be.”
Then, unexpectedly, the Grand Duchess stopped the Duke.
“Everyone seems to care for this child quite dearly. Surely they ought to know what’s happened.”
At her sardonic tone, the Duke’s expression darkened.
“Stella, what’s gotten into you, barging in like this?”
“Am I the problem now? You’ve only just returned—do you even know what’s transpired?”
I had forgotten my nervousness entirely, staring in surprise at how much closer their quarrel seemed than I’d anticipated.
The Grand Duke had drawn near to me without my noticing.
His pallid face lowered as he bent one knee, meeting my gaze.
“Ah, child. You said to Bia that… you….”
“….”
“That you are my daughter, Adriana… Is that true?”
Grand Duke Bellus spoke as though each word cost him dearly, his lips trembling several times before he managed to finish.
And when he fell silent, a suffocating hush descended upon the Reception Room.
I couldn’t breathe. I wanted to flee that very instant.
But the Grand Duchess had been right.
Everyone had searched for me through the bitter cold as snow fell relentlessly.
Even if they all thought me mad, those who had worried for me deserved to know the truth.
“Yes. I did say that.”
As I nodded in affirmation, I heard sharp intakes of breath from various corners.
“Lia, did you really do that?”
Askart asked, his face bewildered.
Seeing his eyes widen in disbelief, I laughed bitterly.
The Grand Duke sent Askart a silent look commanding him to be quiet, then turned his gaze back to me.
“I see.”
“Yes. No matter how I thought about it, I seemed to match your lost daughter. That was my reasoning.”
“May I… ask why? Something about a necklace, I heard?”
Fortunately, the Grand Duke didn’t seem prone to anger.
I had expected him to rage like the Grand Duchess, but instead he calmly asked for my explanation.
I swallowed hard and spoke.
“That was… something I thought was proof, but it was a mistaken judgment. Can you see the necklace I’m wearing?”
“No, I don’t see anything like that.”
“Then what color do my hair and eyes appear to you?”
“It… appears to be brown.”
“As I suspected…”
Even though I had anticipated this answer, a wave of melancholy washed over me.
“Young Lady, could you explain this in more detail?”
The Grand Duke, whose expression had grown as clouded as my own, pressed for clarification.
I barely suppressed the sensation of my heart threatening to burst from my chest as I revealed a secret I had never shared with anyone in my entire life.
“A mirror, Your Grace.”
“A mirror?”
“Yes. In truth, everyone else says I have brown hair and brown eyes. But what I see in the mirror is different. The reflection staring back at me has pale pink hair and eyes of a deeper pink. Exactly like the Grand Duchess.”
The Grand Duke’s breath caught, and I watched his body stiffen.
That was when it happened.
“How much longer must I endure this nonsense? Isn’t it obvious from the way you tried to flee that you’re lying?”
The Grand Duchess stepped forward irritably.
“I don’t know where you picked up such fabrications, but the fact that you’re trying to impersonate my daughter with such transparent lies—”
“Madam!”
“I’m not lying!”
The Grand Duke and Diana cried out simultaneously, cutting off the Grand Duchess mid-sentence.
The Duchess Elrad, who had been frozen in shock until now, was startled by Diana’s sudden interjection and reached out her hand.
But Diana evaded the Duchess Elrad’s grasp and rushed toward me, throwing her arms around me as she began to weep.
“Big sister isn’t lying. Your hair is pink. Your eyes are pink too…”
As the child spoke through her sobs, I swallowed down my aching heart and forced a bright smile.
Then, looking slowly at the frozen Grand Duke and Grand Duchess, I spoke softly.
“I’ve lived my whole life thinking something was wrong with me. That my eyes were the problem. But the Young Lady says I resemble the Grand Duchess. So… so…”
Tears began to fall across my forced smile.
“Waaah! Big sister, don’t cry. I’ll scold that lady. I hate her! I don’t want her to be your mother!”
As I began to cry, Diana’s sobs grew even more intense.
The Duke, observing the situation, apparently decided he could bear it no longer and commanded Taize.
“Take the children out at once.”
Taize bit his lip as he looked at me, worried about leaving me alone.
Though my face was streaked with tears, I nodded with what I hoped was a reassuring smile.
In the end, Taize left the Reception Room with Diana, who refused to leave my side, along with Allen and Jack, who stood in stunned silence.
The door closed, and I slowly surveyed the shocked faces around me.
‘Not a single person here will believe me.’
After all, I had only the testimony of children, and without any evidence, how could anyone possibly believe such a claim?
I felt tears welling up again, sorry and frustrated that Diana had been put in such an awkward position because of me.
But since the milk was already spilled, I pressed on with my explanation.
“I wasn’t trying to flee… I was going to the Temple. I was afraid House Elrad would be troubled because of me, so I wanted to go without anyone knowing. So that when I found out something… I could come back…”
I wanted to speak clearly and deliberately, but the choking sorrow made it difficult to form the words properly.
The pain of not understanding why this was happening to me was unbearable.
“Child, don’t cry. Seeing you weep like this tears at my heart.”
I was startled by the warm touch against my eyes and opened them wide.
When I lifted my head, the Grand Duke’s face was as tear-streaked as mine.
I forgot I had been crying and gazed at the transparent tears streaming down his cheeks, asking him a question.
“Grand Duke, why are you crying?”
He choked back his sobs and smiled as he spoke.
“Because I’m happy.”
“…You’re happy?”
“Yes, my dear. All this time, I’ve told everyone that I would surely find my daughter. But truthfully… I’ve also prayed that I might meet her just once before I die, and sometimes I thought that even if we never met, I would be content as long as she was somewhere, alive and well.”
His eyes brimmed with regret and his voice trembled with tears, causing my own tears to flow without ceasing.
The Grand Duke wiped away my tears with his fingers and spoke.
“But… but my dear, you came to find me first like this….”
“…!”

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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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