Everyone Was Obsessed With Me After I Became the Youngest Princess Favourite - Chapter 134

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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 young Duke returned safely from his first inspection of his territory without any issues, and everyone came out to the front of the Main Building to welcome him.
“I was worried when I heard the teleportation had closed, but I’m so relieved you made it back safely before the graduation ceremony.”
Lucio nodded slightly as he observed the Duchess Elrad smiling warmly at him.
He then lifted his gaze and swept across the family members who had come to greet him.
It wasn’t particularly surprising that his mother and siblings were present, but his father being here when he should have been at the Imperial Palace was somewhat puzzling.
Sensing an odd discomfort, Lucio examined those who had come outside once more.
The source of his unease revealed itself quickly—a child who should naturally have been here was nowhere to be seen.
‘Could she have caught a cold?’
The image of that child waiting for me for hours, huddled up and standing directly in the falling snow, came to mind.
Though only days had passed, I worried that her small, frail frame couldn’t withstand such bitter cold and that she had fallen ill.
It was when I thought how fortunate it was that I had returned directly to the Estate upon arriving in the Capital City without stopping for a separate report.
“Sniff, big brother!”
Diana suddenly burst into sorrowful tears and rushed into my arms.
“Diana?”
Lucio examined her in confusion, but her crying only intensified. My chest suddenly felt uncomfortably unsettled.
I looked toward my family to ask the reason, but they all awkwardly averted their gazes.
That was when.
“Sister’s gone, sob….”
“…What?”
“Dana was left behind. I miss her.”
Lucio’s face turned cold and rigid, his eyes blinking slowly once. His blue eyes, which normally concealed emotion so easily, wavered aimlessly today.
“…Gone?”
At my repeated question, Diana nodded with even more sorrowful tears.
“Lucio, let’s go inside for now.”
“Yes. We’ll explain the details once we’ve moved to another room.”
His mother and father spoke in turn, but their words didn’t properly reach Lucio’s ears.
‘She really left? Why?’
She had certainly made a promise to me that day. That she wouldn’t leave the Duke’s Mansion.
‘Should I not have trusted her? I should have assigned someone to the Estate separately after all….’
“Lucio.”
So lost in thought was he that Lucio didn’t notice someone approaching until the Duke called his name again and placed a hand on his shoulder.
“…Where did she go?”
“Let’s go to the Study first.”
The Duke led his dazed son to the Study, glancing at him repeatedly as if bewildered.
He had waited for his son, intending to speak on his wife’s behalf since she was worried about explaining Lia’s situation to Lucio, and also to commend him on completing his territorial inspection.
‘But I never expected to see him like this.’
He began a lengthy explanation to his son, who seemed strangely unfamiliar today.
And shortly after.
“…Lucio! Are you even listening to what I’m saying?”
“….”
“I understand your skepticism. I felt the same way. Even now, I can’t fathom how that angelic child could be….”
“Darling.”
The Duchess Elrad swiftly cut off her husband, who was growing excited and veering into an inappropriate tangent. Then she spoke.
“I intended to inform you immediately, but as you know, the teleportation was blocked, so I couldn’t.”
“So you’re saying that child really was….”
“The Grand Duke’s lost daughter.”
“…Ah.”
A dry laugh escaped Lucio’s lips.
The Duchess Elrad, reading the atmosphere carefully, added softly.
“Oh, and Lia asked me to pass along a message to you before she left.”
“…What was it?”
“She said she was grateful for all you’ve done for her.”
“I see.”
Lucio nodded at the Duchess Elrad’s words, his face now completely free of the agitation from moments before.
“That is fortunate.”
House Elrad was one of only two ducal houses in the Empire, enjoying immense power and wealth under the Imperial favor, yet it lacked particularly deep bonds with other noble families.
Even House Diapel, with whom relations were reasonably cordial, possessed a strong military character and thus offered little assistance in political activities within the Capital City.
In such circumstances, a connection with the Bellus Grand Duchy—which owned both mana stone mines and a Magic Tower—would undoubtedly prove a valuable asset in any situation.
Of course, my father’s generation had maintained good relations with Askart, but finding the Grand Duke’s daughter would certainly deepen those bonds even further.
It was then that Lucio, who had just reached such a perfectly rational and logical conclusion, suddenly rose from his seat.
“…Lucio?”
“I shall visit the Marquis’s Residence for a moment.”
“To meet the Grand Duke’s son?”
Lucio and Askart were old friends, so it was only fitting that they share this joyous news together.
Moreover, few people yet knew that the Grand Duke’s daughter had been found, and even fewer understood the full circumstances, so the Grand Duke’s son must be eager to hear the details.
The Duchess Elrad, recalling Askart introducing his younger sister with such a radiant expression, smiled and spoke.
“Still, you’ve only just arrived. Rest a bit before you go.”
“It’s no trouble. I’ve rested sufficiently while confined to the Territory.”
“I see. Then do go.”
The Duchess Elrad tilted her head as she watched Lucio rise and depart immediately.
When she first learned that Lia was gone, he had seemed quite flustered, but Lucio had quickly regained his usual composure.
Yet there was something in his final words—something that felt like a clenched jaw.
‘It must be my imagination.’
“Pfft!”
That was when it happened.
At the sound of laughter erupting beside her, she turned to see her husband laughing uproariously, slapping the sofa.
* * *
“….”
Lucio, who had just been guided into the Marquis’s Residence by the butler, paused.
Though he had not visited often, the atmosphere was far different from usual.
Despite the austere and unadorned atmosphere befitting a warrior’s household, a sweet, fluffy fragrance drifted through as if we had stepped into a dessert café.
“Lucio!”
The reception room door burst open, and Askart came to greet Lucio personally.
Askart’s eyes sparkled brightly as he watched the Butler who had guided us here bow and depart.
“You’re back today? The fact that you came straight to find me means you’ve heard the news too?”
“Yes, and the Marquis…?”
“Grandfather isn’t here right now!”
With that, Askart guided Lucio to the sofa, telling him to make himself comfortable.
Lucio narrowed his eyes as he observed Askart.
Though he was ordinarily gentle and affectionate by nature, I had never seen him wear such a radiant expression.
‘…Though now that I think about it, perhaps he was like this when we were young.’
A distant memory surfaced—before the loss of the Grand Duke’s daughter, Askart had been utterly carefree and unburdened by shadow.
‘Does she resemble that girl?’
Lucio observed Askart for a long while as he radiated happiness and chattered away with unbridled enthusiasm.
Time passed so quickly that he had already finished more than three cups of tea.
“Now that I think about it, I think my blood was drawn to her from the moment I first saw Lia at the Academy.”
“I see.”
“I wish Mother could have felt the same way. That kind girl must have suffered so much in silence.”
As Askart continued speaking endlessly, still having much to say, Lucio displayed remarkable patience instead of cutting him off coldly as he usually would.
Askart was newly moved by this response and became even more animated.
“But she’s truly brilliant, isn’t she? How did she even think of going to the Temple? I would have just given up.”
Lucio did not answer.
The image of Lia with her eyes so swollen they seemed to be closing came to mind.
Along with the memory of her stamping her feet, demanding money.
At that moment, Askart heaved a deep sigh.
“My Lia must be almost at the Grand Duchy by now. I wish I could have gone with her.”
Why does the graduation ceremony have to be so late?
As Lucio gazed quietly at the grumbling Askart, he suddenly withdrew a fountain pen from his pocket.
“Here, this.”
“Hm?”
“Didn’t you say you liked it when I lent it to you last time?”
“Ah, well, I did say that, but…”
Lucio rummaged through his pocket once more before the bewildered Askart.
“…?”
“This is a pocket watch crafted by an artisan from the Rudin Kingdom. It runs on mana stones and will tell the exact time eternally, unless it’s broken.”
Since you conduct experiments frequently, I thought you’d need it more than I would, Lucio said, handing over the watch, and Askart was left speechless.
Watching Askart blink silently, Lucio spoke as if it were nothing.
“Try using it, and if you like it, let me know. I’ll commission a few more and have them sent to the Grand Duchy.”
“What? I… Thank you. But why are you…?”
“Oh, this too.”
Lucio cut off the flustered Askart’s words and handed over something wrapped in brown paper.
Askart, possessed by a ghostlike fervor, began tearing away the paper from the thick, weighty object Lucio had given him.
“What is this now… Gasp!”
And the moment Askart finished unwrapping the package, his eyes widened dramatically.
“Aburio’s Advanced Magical Theory Treatise!”
“You mentioned wanting to see it before, didn’t you? I happened to find it in the Duke’s Mansion library, so I brought it.”
“Lucio, you!”
Askart, overwhelmed with emotion, gazed at Lucio with glistening eyes.
“This is such a rare edition that I couldn’t even find a copy… I’m truly grateful. I’ll read it carefully and return it to you before graduation!”
“Don’t worry about it. It’s a gift, so keep it.”
“Lucio…!”
Askart sprang to his feet and rushed toward Lucio with open arms.
Lucio nimbly sidestepped and spoke slowly.
“So, Askart.”
“Yes!”
Askart looked at him with an expression brimming with enthusiasm, as if asking what he wanted.
Lucio, sensing that Askart would agree to any request in this moment, lifted the corners of his mouth slightly and asked.
“Would it be alright if I visited the Grand Duke’s Castle?”
Askart answered with a bright smile.
“No, it wouldn’t.”

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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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