Everyone Was Obsessed With Me After I Became the Youngest Princess Favourite - Chapter 158

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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 Grand Duke, trembling involuntarily under his wife’s sharp gaze, spoke.
“P-please, calm down first. And didn’t I say that would be the Duke and Duchess’s thoughts? Lady Elrad has nothing to do with it….”
“I thought so at first too. But wasn’t it strange? Just now, it was clear….”
The moment Lady Elrad sensed the familiar rapport flowing between Jack and Lia, her eyes widened as she wedged herself between them.
Judging by the wariness in her eyes—identical to her husband’s—Diana didn’t seem to harbor romantic feelings toward Jack.
“The second prince, the one we were actually worried about, just sits there quietly.”
It was certain that House Elrad was targeting Lia.
But Allen, the expected match, merely glanced at Lia and couldn’t even properly meet her eyes, let alone engage in conversation.
“In any case, I’m convinced Lady Elrad is in on this too!”
“Then what do we do? We can’t just let them go out together like this….”
“Let’s leave them be for now.”
The Grand Duchess shook her head at her bewildered husband, then recalled the bright expression on her daughter’s face as she’d left the house moments ago.
“It looked good. We’ve been by her side all this time, but she hasn’t been able to spend time normally with friends her own age.”
“…That’s true. She looked happy.”
No matter how well family and servants cared for her, they couldn’t fill that other kind of happiness that comes from sharing one’s heart with peers.
Above all, though Lia and Diana had been exchanging letters steadily, Lia must have eagerly anticipated spending time together in person.
“And….”
“…?”
“Human hearts are truly fickle. There were times I thought I’d go mad from frustration because of you…. But now I’m grateful that Lia takes after you. Though she doesn’t seem quite as obtuse as you or Askart.”
“What? My lady? What do you mean?”
“I’m saying it seems we can simply watch and see how things unfold.”
The Grand Duchess laughed with delight as she watched her oblivious husband tilt his head in confusion, then turned to leave first.
* * *
“From here on, carriages can’t pass through easily, so let’s walk and explore.”
“Yes! There are so many snacks too!”
As we headed toward the shopping district where the Night Market was held, we decided to park the carriage near the entrance where the crowds were thickest.
Watching Diana already salivating at the thought of snacks, I burst into laughter.
“Diana, you didn’t forget about our restaurant reservation, did you? You can’t stuff yourself full while we’re walking there.”
“Ahhh….”
As Diana despaired at the realization, the carriage came to a stop.
The moment Allen opened the door and stepped down, extending his hand as if to escort us.
“Oof!”
Diana suddenly leaped from the carriage and extended her hand to me instead.
Allen, his eyes glistening from the unexpected body check, called out to Diana desperately, but she paid him no attention.
I chuckled and took Diana’s hand as I descended.
Then Diana looked at Jack as he stepped down last from the carriage, her expression triumphant.
My bewilderment at her expression was short-lived.
“Wow, the weather is really beautiful.”
I smiled pleasantly in the cool breeze.
The deeply colored autumn leaves, the rustling sound of fallen leaves scattering beneath my feet with each step, and the slightly crisp temperature—it was all perfect.
Savoring the Empire’s autumn—my favorite season—with my entire being, I found myself overwhelmed by a peculiar sense of longing.
That was when it happened.
“Diana!”
A youthful voice called out from somewhere nearby.
Turning my head, I spotted a boy with deep navy hair descending from a carriage in the distance.
“…Aiden?”
“Why is he here? I cancelled my plans just to spend time with you!”
The moment I recognized Aiden, Diana began stamping her feet in frustration.
“Plans? Did you have an appointment with Aiden?”
“I made it before I knew you were coming! But Aiden only knows you as the Grand Duchess. It’ll be awkward for him, won’t it?”
I was about to reassure the dejected Diana when—
“Then let’s part ways here and meet again at the reserved restaurant.”
A quiet voice came from behind, and suddenly Jack seized my hand.
“Huh?”
Before I could fully process what was happening, Jack had already pulled me into the Night Market.
Diana and Allen’s bewildered faces vanished behind the crowd in an instant.
Swept into the Night Market, I turned to Jack with a confused expression.
“Jack, I don’t mind running into Aiden…”
In truth, I’d been hearing news of Aiden through Diana’s letters and was genuinely delighted to see him.
‘He said he still remembers me.’
Aiden had been so young back then—I found it endearing that he remembered me at all.
So even though I couldn’t reveal my true identity, I’d intended to treat him kindly if we met again.
“…Is that so? I suppose I overstepped.”
At my words, Jack’s expression drooped like a puppy caught in the rain.
Despite his considerably larger frame, I felt an urge to pat his head.
‘Though with how tall he is, I probably couldn’t reach…’
Instead, I withdrew my hand from his grasp and gave his arm a gentle tap.
“No, you were thinking of me.”
Now that I thought about it, while I might be fine with it, Diana, Allen, and Jack—who were accompanying me—might find the deception uncomfortable.
Just then, a group of people brushed past us, and my body swayed.
Fearing my hair might be exposed, I quickly pressed my bonnet firmly onto my head.
Seeing this, Jack shifted his body protectively to shield me from the crowd and lowered his head.
Then he whispered softly into my ear.
“By the way, Lia, why didn’t you use transformation magic today?”
“…What?”
“You disguised yourself as a maidservant on the Young Lady’s birthday.”
I froze completely.
* * *
“H-how… how did you know that?”
Seeing Lia’s eyes widen in shock and her words stumble, Jack let out a soft chuckle.
Elegant and beautiful, so noble that merely gazing upon her felt like committing a sin—seeing Lia as the Grand Duchess, I thought perhaps the innocent girl from our childhood could no longer be found.
Yet when I unexpectedly discovered that naive side of her still remained, a bittersweet emotion washed over me—whether it was relief or longing, I couldn’t quite tell.
Jack deliberately suppressed his emotions and spoke calmly.
“The Duke’s Estate didn’t hire any temporary maidservants that day.”
“What…? Is that really true?”
“I already confirmed it. And when Lady Elrad mentioned that you had come, I was certain it was you.”
Jack gazed blankly at Lia, whose mouth hung open in surprise, her eyes blinking rapidly.
‘…How adorable.’
I hadn’t understood it when we were younger.
Why my words always came out sharp whenever I saw Lia.
Even when I vaguely became aware of my affection for her, it was the same.
But now I understand.
Because my girl was so small and innocent, always making me restless with longing.
‘I never thought we’d be apart for so long.’
Jack unconsciously clenched his fist, feeling the emptiness in the hand that had been holding Lia’s just moments before.
As I watched her with half anticipation and half tension, wondering if she might notice something amiss in me—
“Today I just didn’t want to stand out, not that I was hiding my identity.”
“…Huh?”
Jack’s expression turned bewildered at Lia’s words.
“Why didn’t you cast an appearance-altering spell today?”
Lia, who had seemed momentarily flustered, soon explained in a composed voice.
The faces of Diana, the Empire’s only princess, and Jack and Allen, both Sword Masters, were far too well-known, and with three such recognizable people out sightseeing in the Capital City, many would suspect that the woman accompanying them was the Grand Duchess Bellus—so there was no need to use magic.
Though I was grateful for her sincere answer to my question, Jack felt embarrassed at having worried alone and somewhat deflated.
But he quickly shook his head.
There was still time before the restaurant reservation, and it wouldn’t be easy to separate the Young Lady from Prince Fairunt.
I couldn’t let this precious time with Lia slip away so meaninglessly.
So Jack led Lia to places selling sweet treats he thought she’d enjoy, delicate ornaments, and handmade candles.
But Lia’s attention wasn’t really on any of those things.
In truth, ever since hearing Jack say that no temporary maidservants were hired for Diana’s birthday, her mind had been half elsewhere.
The person with authority to hire temporary servants for the Duke’s Mansion.
The person who knew of Terenchium’s existence and could summon her to the Duke’s Estate.
And the person who had been there in the past but was absent this time.
One person who fit all of these criteria filled her mind completely.
‘Why on earth?’
No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t understand the reason.
Actually, there was one suspicion, but she could hardly believe it.
Since she couldn’t go back to the past and ask, frustration was about to draw a sigh from her when—
Jack, who had been skillfully guiding the way all along, suddenly stopped.
“…Jack?”
As Lia tilted her head in confusion, Jack spoke with a solemn expression.
“Lia, would you be able to give me a handkerchief tomorrow?”
“Hmm?”
Lia blinked at his sudden question, only then realizing they were standing in front of a vendor’s stall.
The counter was laden with handkerchiefs and ornamental decorations for swords.
These were gifts imbued with affection and well-wishes for victory and safety, traditionally given by lovers or close family members to those competing in the Sword Tournament beginning tomorrow.
“So you’re asking me for a handkerchief?”
“Yes.”
Jack swallowed hard as he watched Lia gaze seriously at the handkerchiefs displayed on the counter.
‘Was that too abrupt?’
Yet he couldn’t afford to miss this opportunity.
He truly desired Lia’s handkerchief with all his heart.
In truth, Jack was competing in this tournament only because the Imperial Palace had pressured him to uphold the Empire’s honor, despite already being recognized as a Sword Master.
Last year, Allen had gone through the same process and won the championship.
And this time, victory would be his.
Though there was a rule forbidding the use of aura and requiring pure swordsmanship alone, the outcome would not change.
Once he became champion, tradition dictated he present the Emperor’s gifted flower to the lady he served—either Duchess Elrad or Lady Elrad Diana—and his duty would be fulfilled.
But an unexpected variable had emerged in what he’d considered merely a knightly obligation.
‘I never dreamed Lia would come to the Empire.’
Then Lia, who had been silent, finally spoke.

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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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