Everyone Was Obsessed With Me After I Became the Youngest Princess Favourite - Chapter 156

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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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‘Is it because the distance has grown closer?’
I unconsciously released the necklace I’d been fidgeting with and recalled the report Jane had given me not long ago.
“Your Highness, I’ve confirmed there’s a cafe at the location you mentioned.”
“…Is that so?”
“Yes. It’s been there for about four years, they said.”
The timing when Terenthium’s headquarters moved from the Back Alley Bar to the cafe in the Shopping District matched my memory perfectly.
At fourteen, after completing all my informant training, I had begun working at the headquarters disguised as the Back Alley Bar.
But not long after, Master’s whim caused the headquarters to relocate to the cafe.
‘I thought it was because of Darel, but…’
Deep down, I was afraid. What if he’d changed it because I was scared of large men?
I realized it was a ridiculous thought and felt a bit embarrassed, but I still thought it was good that I’d checked first upon returning to the Empire.
The fact that they were hiding in the same place as before would be a tremendous asset in preparing for any unforeseen circumstances.
“Oh, Your Highness. About the Amber Count Family.”
At that moment, Jane spoke to me discreetly as I stood blankly holding a glass of water.
She seemed to have noticed that I didn’t want to say more about the dream and had changed the subject.
“The stream of gifts never ends, and visitors come by every day, they say.”
“Is that so?”
Jane nodded and began reporting what she had investigated.
As the days went on, I seemed to be using Jane as an informant more frequently, which felt strange, but she was sparkling with enthusiasm.
It almost seemed like this suited her better than working as a maidservant or a knight.
“Since Countess Amber is the only sister of Your Highness, those who don’t know the circumstances are trying to forge connections however they can. And since Your Highness has been returning all the gifts and invitations, they’ve grown desperate.”
During this time, servants from noble families throughout the Empire had knocked on the doors of the Marquis’s Residence countless times with invitations and gifts, but Mother and I, having no intention of engaging in social activities, had rejected them all.
So it seemed all those many invitations and gifts had been redirected to the Amber Count Family instead.
Jane twisted her lips in displeasure as she spoke.
“But apparently, at a gathering of people, Countess Amber boasted proudly that the Grand Duchess was preparing a gift to give to her.”
“Is that so?”
Jane nodded and added excitedly that there was more.
Apparently, my aunt had declined the gift out of embarrassment at receiving one from her niece, but she had claimed that I adored her very much and followed her closely.
‘Packaging that day’s events like that…’
I shook my head and recalled Countess Amber’s sudden visit to the Marquis’s Residence a few days prior.
* * *
It was the day after the welcome banquet.
Awakened early in the morning by commotion, I hurried to the Reception Room upon hearing news of Countess Amber’s visit.
And from outside the door, I overheard Mother and Countess Amber arguing.
“I’m not even a man, and all this time you haven’t shown me my niece’s face even once! How can you treat me so coldly? You never considered me family from the start, did you? Otherwise, there’s no way you wouldn’t have acknowledged me and my husband at the banquet!”
“The more I hear, the more I can’t hold back. You yourself never sent me a single letter either. If you had come to greet me first yesterday, I would have gladly acknowledged you. Why do you only make demands of me?”
“What, what did you say?”
“And frankly, I’m bewildered. I thought you were staying quiet because you felt at least some remorse toward me.”
“What exactly did I do wrong?”
“Are you really asking because you don’t know?”
At the Countess Amber’s bewildered voice, my Mother let out a hollow laugh.
I wondered if there was some hidden context I didn’t know about, and I listened quietly, my curiosity piqued.
“Did you really think I wouldn’t know about all those things you’ve been saying about my daughter, whom you’ve only just met?”
And at her next words, I went rigid.
“You said she must have some flaw, didn’t you? That she was too embarrassed to show herself, so you told her not to come to the Grand Duchy?”
“That was just said in the heat of the moment…! B-but! You’re saying you wanted to sever family ties over just a few words? Fine. I don’t care either! From now on, let’s pretend there’s no such thing as an older sister or niece, shall we! And what did I say that was wrong? It’s obvious you were hiding the child because there’s something bothering you…”
I couldn’t hold back any longer and burst through the door.
As I entered the Reception Room, I saw my Mother and the Countess Amber with startled expressions.
Remarkably, the Countess Amber had inherited my Grandfather’s sky-blue hair and teal eyes exactly.
‘I heard she was twins with my Uncle in the Marquis Territory…’
For a moment I felt curious, but I quickly came to my senses at the sight of eyes that were nothing like my Grandfather’s gentle gaze.
Before the two of them could even compose themselves, I spoke with trembling lips.
“I apologize. I heard you had arrived, Aunt, so I hurried down to greet you… Ah! But calling you ‘Aunt’ must be unpleasant for you, isn’t it? I’m sorry, Countess Amber.”
At my correction, spoken with tears brimming in my eyes, the Countess Amber opened her mouth wide in shock.
For a moment I nearly burst into laughter, but I quickly bit my lip and maintained a sorrowful expression.
Fortunately, it wasn’t difficult.
Separate from Clara, I had never intended to forgive the Countess Amber from the start.
Not because he was my older brother, but because I had made Askart—the kindest person I know—feel like I was a “bad child.”
“But I… I never thought you would see me this way… *sob*”
I hid my true feelings and heaved my shoulders dramatically.
Like a child deeply wounded by the thoughtless, cruel words of an adult I had considered family.
Seeing this, my Mother rushed to my side in an instant.
I could feel her shock and fury vividly in the way her hands trembled as they wrapped around my shoulders.
As I peeked open my eyes from my Mother’s embrace, the Countess Amber’s face had gone pale.
‘How does it feel to be the bad person now?’
I had encountered such people countless times throughout my life.
People who cunningly shifted all blame onto others and made it impossible to respond properly.
I had always thought the best course was to avoid entangling myself with such people, so I had kept my distance.
‘I avoided them because they were filthy, not because I was afraid.’
If I set my mind to it, I could repay them in kind whenever I wished.
Or even go one step further.
“Your Highness the Grand Duke’s Daughter, about the earrings you mentioned… No, Your Highness!”
Jane, who had entered the Reception Room at just the right moment, gasped in surprise when she saw me.
I wiped away tears that hadn’t even fallen and smiled wistfully with a deliberate sniffle.
“I’m fine, Jane. I’m sorry for making you come for nothing.”
I took the jewelry case from Jane’s hands, opened the lid, and tilted my wrist slightly.
The Countess Amber let out an involuntary exclamation of admiration.
After savoring her reaction for a moment, I snapped the case shut with a sharp *click* and handed it back to Jane, speaking firmly.
“Put it back. A niece who has been treated as nonexistent all this time cannot be recognized as family with something so trivial.”
Before I had even finished speaking, the Countess Amber’s eyes widened and she tried to say, “No, that’s…” but I cut her off first.
〈Mother, I was shortsighted. I was worried that my weak constitution might cause me to be discourteous to our guests. It’s all because I’m lacking….〉
Then, feigning a sudden dizzy spell, I pressed my hand to my forehead and swayed.
Mother and Jane gasped in unison and rushed to support me.
〈Are you going to keep watching? From now on, I’ll live as though I have no younger sister, so leave at once!〉
With Mother’s sharp cry, Countess Amber was driven from the Reception Room like an unwelcome guest.
I regretted that I couldn’t see Countess Amber’s face because my eyes were closed.
〈Now that she’s gone, open your eyes, Adriana.〉
Startled by Mother’s voice, I opened my eyes, and Mother burst into laughter.
〈You knew?〉
〈Yes. At first, I thought you were truly hurt and was shocked, but I realized it when you swayed. If you were Askart, who takes after your Father, perhaps—but you would never lose consciousness over something like that.〉
At her words, laughter escaped me unbidden, but I asked cautiously.
〈Are you perhaps angry?〉
No matter what, Countess Amber was Mother’s sister, and I had been rather discourteous….〉
〈Angry? My heart is trembling with joy at this new side of my daughter.〉
〈…Really?〉
〈I’ve always worried that you were too gentle and kind, and that you’d suffer because of it in the future.〉
With those words, Mother sighed softly and apologized to me on behalf of Countess Amber.
Seeing the concern in her expression that I might be hurt, I shook my head and instead worried about Mother.
Then Mother shrugged and spoke.
〈Me? As long as you’re fine, I’m fine too. And truthfully… Adriana, thanks to you, it feels like everything I’ve been holding in all this time has finally been released.〉
Tilting my head in confusion, Mother smiled softly.
〈I’ve never dealt with Regina directly before, but this is the first time I’ve landed such a blow on her.〉
And then she told me a story about my paternal grandmother that she had never shared before.
〈It seems the strain of bearing twins took a great toll on her body. Grandmother passed away less than a month after Regina and Ivan were born. I was concerned about my younger siblings. I was strict with Ivan because he was my younger brother, but Regina… Looking back now, it was a mistake. By being too lenient and letting things slide, her spoiled behavior only grew worse, and eventually even Father couldn’t control her. She wouldn’t listen to a word I said.〉
Then she sighed deeply, as though there were many things she couldn’t say before me.
〈But what if Regina spreads rumors about what happened today? What if she talks about your health….〉
〈That won’t happen.〉
To Mother, who was showing an uncharacteristic weakness regarding something involving me, I spoke with certainty.
And I glanced at the jewelry case Jane was holding.
‘She saw those expensive diamond earrings. There’s no way she’d dare touch me.’

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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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