Everyone Was Obsessed With Me After I Became the Youngest Princess Favourite - Chapter 144

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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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“Ah!”
A disappointed sigh escaped my lips at that moment.
I had thrown six throwing stars simultaneously—three in each hand—but one of them had unfortunately missed the target.
“Six at once was too ambitious, it seems….”
No, I can do this.
The Grand Duchess watched in disbelief as I muttered to myself and began fitting the throwing stars between my fingers again.
Bianca, the knights around us, and the maidservants who had accompanied us all wore expressions of shock.
“Wait, hold on!”
“Yes?”
“You can’t use magic. We agreed to save the practical magic training for after sword practice.”
At the Grand Duchess’s urgent words, as if she had suddenly realized something, everyone finally relaxed their stiffened expressions.
Now that she mentioned it, it made perfect sense.
Most of the knights here were battlemages who routinely infused offensive or defensive magic into their swords and shields to enhance their striking power.
Moreover, it was well-known throughout the Grand Duke’s Castle that the Young Lady was such an exceptional mage that even the Grand Duke himself was left speechless.
It would have been entirely unremarkable if she had compensated for her lacking stamina and strength with magic.
Right now, she was probably using magic to adjust the trajectory of the throwing stars and channel immense force….
“I didn’t use any magic, though.”
“…Pardon?”
The flustered Grand Duchess quickly turned her head to look at Bianca.
While the Grand Duchess could sense mana herself, there was no one more reliable than Bianca, a battlemage, to determine with certainty whether magic had been used.
And Bianca shook her head. It meant she had not felt the flow of mana.
However, my magical prowess had long since surpassed hers, so it was possible I had erased all traces of mana.
That was when it happened.
“You don’t trust me, Mother?”
I asked in a dejected voice.
Seeing my daughter’s clouded expression, the Grand Duchess’s heart sank.
She immediately cast aside the composed demeanor she had been maintaining with such effort.
“No, sweetheart. It’s not that I don’t trust you—it’s just that this is so unbelievable…. Mother was wrong.”
Those watching were quick to comfort the downcast Young Lady.
Yet simultaneously, they murmured in confusion, “So you really didn’t use magic?”
I nodded, understanding their bewilderment to some degree, and spoke.
“But I’m telling the truth. If I had used magic, it wouldn’t have ended like this.”
And seeing their faces filled with question marks, as if to prove my point, I began gathering mana into one of the throwing stars I was holding.
In that instant, a tremendous force enveloped the Training Grounds like a tidal wave.
Simultaneously, the throwing star shot from my hand with blinding speed.
Boom! Boom! Crash!
A massive explosion erupted, and clouds of dust rose from the earth.
Moments later, when the dust had barely settled.
What met their eyes was nothing but the devastated remains of trees.
* * *
Inside the carriage heading toward Lueje.
“As expected of the Grand Duchess! Your academic achievements are excellent, your magical prowess is revered by mages, and your swordsmanship is outstanding too! Truly, our Grand Duchess is so perfect that it’s almost a flaw.”
My excitement from this rare outing quickly faded.
Listening to Jane’s praise, cold sweat beaded down my spine.
Everything I had shown so far was the product of blood, sweat, and tears—not because I was perfect or exceptional.
‘I worked so hard not to forget what I learned in my past life….’
Of course, since I already knew it intellectually, it wasn’t terribly difficult, but I still struggled considerably juggling unfamiliar academic subjects alongside magic.
‘Still, I was fortunate that throwing knives came naturally on the first day of training.’
The countless things Master had taught me.
Among them, erasing my presence and throwing knives—a ranged attack skill—were among my specialties.
Even if it surprised everyone, it aligned perfectly with my plan to clearly demonstrate my abilities early on.
‘That way, I could receive training suited to my level, or even beyond it.’
As expected, Mother and Bianca, who were flustered by my abilities, ended training that day and summoned me to the Training Grounds again a few days later.
Proper sword lessons had begun.
I had experience handling blades before, but since I primarily used daggers, I fumbled a bit when I first picked up a standard longsword.
However, with basic knowledge under my belt, I quickly got the hang of it once I became somewhat familiar.
Especially since my strength was lacking, rather than relying purely on force, I demonstrated techniques I had learned in my past life—using an opponent’s momentum against them—and Terenthium’s unique vital point and joint strike techniques, causing Mother to regret not teaching me swordplay sooner.
‘She said she’d teach me crossbows next.’
It was the one weapon Master had taught me that I hadn’t yet learned, making me all the more eager. Of course, it made sense that an information broker wouldn’t use bows.
“That’s quite rare. Your Highness visiting a dessert shop outside the castle.”
“…The Head Chef isn’t too disappointed, is he?”
I heard that when the Head Chef learned I was visiting the dessert shop I’d newly opened today, he was quite disheartened.
Jane shook her head as I asked with an apologetic expression.
“Don’t worry. He quickly became enthusiastic and asked me to buy all the desserts sold at Lueje for him.”
“What? I can’t afford that.”
I was inadvertently about to significantly boost Lueje’s sales.
I shook my head and glanced at the invitation I was holding.
“….”
A man who is a Sword Master yet hides it, secretly running an Information Guild unknown to anyone.
And someone who harbors as many secrets as I do.
I suddenly grew curious—what unspeakable circumstances did he have?
* * *
As I opened the door, a clear bell chimed.
For some reason, old memories stirred, and I felt an odd sensation.
“Welcome. Thank you for visiting Lueje.”
“I received an invitation and came.”
I immediately presented the invitation to the cheerful-looking clerk who greeted me with a bright smile.
At the same time, her eyes widened like lanterns.
‘So it was sent only to me after all.’
When I entered, I quickly surveyed the shop and noticed that none of the other customers were holding invitations.
At that moment, I caught the clerk glancing at my hair.
My brow furrowed involuntarily.
‘Did they really tell her the Grand Duchess was coming?’
When I traded the mana stones, I had revealed my status as a Maidservant, but that was only to the Guild Master of Darel.
Confidentiality is essential within the Information Guild.
It’s commonplace for even the operatives carrying out missions to remain ignorant of the client’s identity.
I didn’t think they’d know the details of the transaction, but the fact that they’d disclosed the Guild’s VIP was the Grand Duchess left me thoroughly displeased.
‘I went through the trouble of changing my hair color to brown.’
Though I’d revealed myself to the nobility of the Grand Duchy alongside my debutante presentation, my face wasn’t yet widely known.
Even if I’d sent the invitation to the Grand Duke’s Castle, I’d naturally ensured they couldn’t identify my status, and I’d dressed as an ordinary noble’s daughter.
“D-did I make some mistake, my lady?”
The clerk’s face had gone pale, and he looked ready to drop to his knees at any moment.
“If I’ve offended you in any way, please forgive me!”
I was utterly bewildered by the clerk’s reaction.
‘I only furrowed my brow a little—why is he overreacting like this?’
My family and the servants of the Grand Duke’s Castle treated me with affection, but never to this excessive degree.
Yet the clerk remained visibly flustered, watching my every expression.
“Is something the matter, Young Lady?”
Jane, who had been attending me from behind, sensed the strange atmosphere and called out with a puzzled expression.
I quickly shook my head and replied.
“It’s nothing. I was just checking the invitation.”
“…Y-yes! That’s right!”
When I gave a subtle nod as if to say ‘just go along with it,’ the clerk who’d looked on the verge of tears brightened and nodded eagerly.
“Since you have a special invitation, I’ll guide you to the second floor.”
The clerk’s manner remained extraordinarily attentive as he led the way forward.
Anyone unaware of the situation would think the shop owner or their family had arrived.
‘Is he planning to spread rumors throughout the neighborhood that the Grand Duchess has come? At this rate, others will start to notice…’
“Your Highness, this newly opened shop is incredibly kind, isn’t it?”
Jane whispered softly into my ear at that moment.
‘…Well, I suppose it’s fine if you didn’t catch on.’
I smiled with vacant eyes, instructed Jane to finish placing the takeout order, and said I’d wait at a table first.
Since I’d already verified Lueje’s security before arriving and knew there were guards hidden out of sight, I felt there was nothing to worry about—and Jane readily nodded in agreement.
As I followed the clerk toward the second floor, leaving behind Jane cheerfully calling out, “I’ll take everything you have here!”, I felt uncomfortable again.
The clerk continued to glance at me nervously, and the discomfort persisted.
It seemed to stem from the thought that he’d identified my status.
‘A reclusive Grand Duchess being a VIP of the Information Guild, no less.’
No matter how I thought about it, that wasn’t right.
‘I’ll have to give Lucio a piece of my mind when I see him next…’
“Have I truly done something wrong, my lady?”
“…Pardon?”
“You seemed displeased.”
The clerk who had guided me to the most scenic spot on the second floor bit her lip and asked anxiously.
“Please, could you tell me what mistake I made? I’ll correct it at once.”
Her rigid posture and tense demeanor reminded me painfully of my former self, long ago.
My resolve softened, and I tuned out the ambient noise before glancing at the nameplate pinned to her chest.
“Your name is Betty, isn’t it?”
The moment I called out what was likely a false name, the clerk trembled visibly and whispered softly.
“It’s Rose. I must have done something wrong after all——”
“That’s not it. If anything, I’m angry with your employer, not you. There’s no need for this.”
“Ah——!”
“Now then, shall we order? For drinks, I’ll have——”
I naturally selected from the menu, then slipped the small envelope I’d brought along into the menu folder before handing it to her.
Rose’s cheeks flushed a delicate pink, and she accepted the menu with the shy reverence of someone receiving a love letter.
Watching her reaction, I genuinely worried and thought to myself.
‘It seems Darel needs to retrain his informants.’

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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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