Everyone Was Obsessed With Me After I Became the Youngest Princess Favourite - Chapter 129

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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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I gazed at the young man before me with tense eyes.
I wasn’t sure why he was staying at the Duke’s Mansion rather than the Marquis’s Residence, but the person Father had mentioned was none other than the man who had proclaimed me “Grand Duchess” yesterday.
The former High Priestess who had made the Temple recognize me as their daughter without even conducting a paternity test….
‘The Great Sage, Raezl.’
I knew far too well about the Great Sage’s name and reputation.
Because he wandered the Continent without a fixed base, countless people had tracked his location seeking his counsel and wisdom, and Terenthium had been monitoring him as well.
‘But his true identity was actually the former High Priestess.’
I wasn’t sure if the Master knew, but it was certainly information most people didn’t.
Moreover, according to Father, he had suddenly resigned as High Priestess to undertake some mission, and though the Temple had hastily appointed a new High Priestess, they were still secretly searching for him.
“Why are you staring so intently?”
As I couldn’t tear my eyes away, fascinated by finally meeting the Great Sage I’d only heard about, he asked curtly.
“Yes? Ah, that is….”
Yesterday I had clearly seen him in the form of an elderly man, and Father had told me his actual age was considerable.
Yet the figure before me, though white-haired, was unmistakably that of a young man, which fascinated me.
But what I really wanted to ask was something else.
“I heard that yesterday, the Great Sage briefly showed me my true form.”
After shaking hands with Raezl, I wondered why everyone was so shocked, and they all said my appearance had temporarily seemed to have pink hair and pink eyes.
It was surprising that he could see my form—more precisely, my soul—but I hadn’t realized such a thing was possible.
“I was so amazed and impressed by how such a thing could be done that I couldn’t help but stare. If I offended you, I sincerely apologize.”
“Hmph, hmph!”
He might be my only hope.
As I clasped both hands together respectfully and looked up at him to avoid displeasing him, the corners of Raezl’s mouth twitched.
“Well, if that’s the case, there’s nothing to be done about it. I don’t find the surprise unreasonable.”
“Exactly. I thought sacred power only worked for healing. Oh, of course, boosting vitality is truly amazing too!”
“Hmph, sacred power is inherently remarkable. Most people simply fail to awaken its true strength. When sacred power reaches its peak, magic becomes trivial.”
“Wow! Really?”
“Indeed. Otherwise, how could the Saint of old have protected this world from demons?”
“Wow, I see.”
As I applauded earnestly and flattered him, Raezl’s demeanor became noticeably softer and more affectionate.
I recalled the executives who had seemed extraordinarily pleased whenever I praised them, and my own heart felt considerably lighter.
‘After all, he may look young on the outside, but inside he’s an elderly man of considerable age.’
That was when it happened.
“For the purification work ahead, I’ll need to see your face regularly, and I’m glad your personality is straightforward. Indeed, despite being under such a severe illusory curse, you’ve maintained such a clear spirit—you couldn’t be anything but virtuous…. Well, never mind. Come closer. I need to examine your necklace. The demonic energy feels strongest from there.”
At Raezl’s lengthy outpouring of words, I froze solid.
‘Purification? A severe illusory curse? Demonic energy…?’
There was nothing in his words that didn’t shock me, so I had no idea which point to ask about first.
“Why are you just standing there gawking? Come here.”
“…Yes, right away!”
I, who had been standing dumbfounded with my mouth agape in surprise, hurriedly stepped forward before him and unconsciously raised my hand to unfasten the necklace.
“I… I can’t undo it.”
As I spoke with a pained expression, Raezl nodded in acknowledgment.
“As I suspected—brainwashing, then. Though to maintain an illusion, one would need… hmm?”
Just then, Raezl, who had been examining my necklace up close, froze.
“This is strange. It’s far too potent to be merely a medium for illusion magic…”
“A medium for illusion magic?”
“Yes. The art of phantasm—deceiving another’s perception and awareness—is extraordinarily intricate. Moreover, to maintain such deception for as long as you have without leaving a trace, even borrowing demonic power would require a medium, absolutely…”
“Wait, just a moment!”
I interrupted Raezl in alarm.
“What did you just say? What… what power are you talking about?”
“Demonic power, as I said…”
Raezl blinked, bewildered, then asked, “Surely not…?”
“You. Do you truly know nothing of who kidnapped you or how you came to be in this situation? Your father never explained any of this to you?”
When I nodded blankly, Raezl began bouncing about, shouting.
“That damnable fool! He brought you before me without any explanation whatsoever? Trying to dump a burden he couldn’t bear onto my shoulders!”
Thoroughly agitated, he cursed my father at length, seemingly oblivious to my presence.
Then, with a troubled expression, he finally opened his mouth to speak.
What followed was a lengthy account.
After a moment, I asked hesitantly.
“So what you’re saying is, what Father did to completely liberate the Grand Duchy from the Empire was…”
“To eliminate the Demon Worshippers operating within the Empire. Though we couldn’t kill them all—they’re cunning as rats when it comes to hiding. Well, once their pacts with demons are exposed, they face the pyre regardless, so they’ve certainly learned to flee effectively.”
“…Demon Worshippers.”
It was a term I had never heard before.
According to Raezl, they were those who had made pacts with demons for personal advancement, selfish desires, and ambitions—souls beyond salvation.
I swallowed hard and asked.
“Do they really use people as sacrifices?”
“Yes. They offer human mana to demons.”
Since mana was bound to the heart, this was tantamount to stealing one’s life.
However.
“How is such a thing even possible?”
I couldn’t fathom how demons could extract human mana, nor the mechanism behind it.
As I tilted my head in confusion, Raezl let out a derisive snort.
“They’re capable of far worse. Brainwashing and manipulating minds are among their greatest specialties. Those under their spell will betray friends, lovers, and family without noticing anything amiss.”
“…”
From Raezl’s response, I sensed he was deliberately deflecting, reluctant to divulge the full details.
Deciding I would uncover the truth gradually, I spoke again.
“Then when I repelled the holy power before…”
“Even if traces are erased, demonic corruption cannot be undone. These days, young practitioners don’t know how to properly wield holy power, so they simply panicked without understanding why.”
I found myself at a loss for words. As I listened, my heart grew heavy.
I had suspected my situation resembled a curse, but to think it was connected to demons all along…
“But… why didn’t you kill me?”
After hearing their story, I could understand their desire for revenge against Father, and I could certainly comprehend their greed for me as a sacrifice, overflowing with mana as I was. Yet why had they spared my life?
Raezl seemed somewhat taken aback that a child would ask something so direct, and he answered with a slightly surprised expression.
“I’m not certain myself. I thought that seeing you again might provide some clue. But why I left this necklace and allowed you to live… I simply cannot fathom it.”
As Raezl examined my necklace once more, his brow furrowed.
“This appears to be broken?”
“Ah, yes. It’s cracked slightly.”
I answered without much concern, then hesitated.
It was only after returning to my childhood that I had discovered the necklace was broken.
I fell silent for a moment, studying Raezl’s face.
This man had answered so many questions I had failed to understand until now.
‘Perhaps… my return from death itself…’
“Fortunately, it hasn’t shattered completely.”
At Raezl’s words, I forgot my thoughts and tilted my head in confusion.
“Fortunately? If this is a medium for illusion magic, wouldn’t it be better if it were destroyed?”
“No. Even if it were merely a medium, there’s no telling what side effects might occur. It would have been more beneficial for you to undergo purification rather than immediate destruction. However…”
Raezl paused mid-sentence, and his expression suddenly hardened.
“Why does such tremendous power emanate from this…?”
He alternated his gaze between the bead of the necklace, crimson as blood, and my heart positioned nearby.
“…A seal.”
Raezl’s softly murmured voice sent an eerie chill down my spine.
As I flinched and drew inward, Raezl looked at me with wavering eyes.
“I apologize. I didn’t mean to startle you.”
Raezl hastily added this, gently grasping my hand and murmuring something indistinct.
Simultaneously, white light flowed forth, and a strange sensation welled up within my body before fading away.
My heart seemed to find a measure of peace.
“Why rush needlessly? I still don’t fully understand their schemes, but we shall uncover them in time. And just as you found your parents, now you must discover your true self.”
Though his tone was somewhat rigid, his words brought me immense comfort.
Above all, the thought that I might truly discover my true self made my eyes grow hot with tears.
“Great Sage, I honestly never thought this day would come. All this time, I believed my eyes were simply defective.”
“Indeed. Where else would one find a possessor of holy power of my caliber…?”
“When Diana said she could see my true form, I was truly overjoyed, but at the same time, there was no way to prove it…”
“What?”
“Pardon?”
“What did you just say?”
“Yes?”
As I was sniffling, I suddenly looked up at Raezl, who had cut himself off.
His eyes had grown as wide as lanterns.

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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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