Everyone Was Obsessed With Me After I Became the Youngest Princess Favourite - Chapter 162

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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’d always teased Diana about being a flirt, but did she really write such trivial details in her letters?
Allen regarded me with an expression of disbelief.
I could only laugh awkwardly in response.
As Diana had said, through our correspondence, I’d come to know all the women Allen had met, dated, and been involved with.
And I’d found it rather puzzling.
In the past, Allen had enjoyed casual dates with a few young ladies of noble birth, but nothing frequent enough to warrant Diana calling him a flirt.
Yet in this life, for some reason, Allen seemed to meet with noble young ladies and commoner women alike with equal frequency.
He remained the same in being called the “Guardian of Justice” for rescuing those in distress, but….
‘Somehow, he seems more susceptible to women than before.’
“I’m not a flirt! I’ve never dated multiple people at the same time!”
Allen cried out indignantly at that moment.
“I, I’ve certainly been on many dates, but… having popularity isn’t a crime, is it!”
At his words, Diana, who had her arms crossed, let out a scoff.
“What, does the Grand Duke and Jack have no popularity? They don’t accept every invitation like you do, brother.”
“I don’t accept every invitation either….”
Allen protested in a small voice, but his words were drowned out by Diana’s mockery.
Just then, the announcer’s voice calling Jack’s name reached my ears as I stood awkwardly, unsure how to respond to the siblings’ banter.
Seeing Jack enter the tournament grounds, I quickly waved my hand in greeting.
Witnessing this, Allen’s lips pouted for some reason, and he glanced at me before speaking somewhat petulantly.
“Still, wouldn’t I be better than Jack on a date? He’s so taciturn and dull.”
At his words, I turned my head and asked.
“Then Sir Allen must entertain women quite wonderfully, I suppose?”
“Of course! I’m so gentlemanly and witty. Everyone calls me the epitome of a gentleman.”
“Oh, is that truly so? Yet why haven’t I felt that myself?”
As I asked playfully with a shrug, Allen tilted his chin up and responded mischievously.
“As I said before, I’m not a flirt! You’re not even a dating prospect, so there’s no need for me to be so gentlemanly with just anyone.”
“My goodness! Then will I never see the gentlemanly side of Sir Allen for the rest of my life? How cruel.”
I covered my mouth and shook my head exaggeratedly. Then I suddenly stopped and looked at Allen.
His expression, which had been smiling just moments before, had turned rigid.
“What’s wrong?”
“Wait a moment. I suddenly feel terribly suffocated.”
“Didn’t you overeat? Are you indigested?”
I asked with concern, recalling how much Allen had eaten at lunch.
“What? No, that wasn’t even more than usual… But why do I feel like this? My chest feels so tight and congested, and for some reason, I’m in a terrible mood.”
Allen, who had been thumping his chest, decided he needed to drink something refreshing and stood up from his seat.
I watched him with concern, then turned my attention back to focus on the match.
And I tilted my head in confusion.
‘Huh?’
I could have sworn Jack had just entered moments ago.
But the match was already over.
* * *
As expected.
The preliminary rounds of the Sword Tournament proceeded tediously.
Aside from the first match I missed while conversing, the remaining matches I watched intently ended in an instant—the skill gap between Jack and his opponents was simply too vast.
‘I wish I could see more of his true abilities.’
I found myself curious whether the finals would bring an opponent formidable enough for Jack to truly demonstrate his prowess.
At that moment, I felt the carriage gradually slowing its pace.
“We’ve arrived at the Imperial Palace!”
Diana, seated across from me, cried out with an animated expression.
I chuckled softly and nodded, smoothing down the folds of my dress.
For tonight’s ball celebrating the first day of the Founding Festival, I had coordinated with Diana, choosing a blue gown adorned with silver jewelry.
Diana herself wore a similar navy dress with a pink hairpin nestled in her hair.
Eager to show off this appearance to everyone, Diana had been fidgeting throughout the journey, and the moment the carriage came to a complete stop, she opened the door and extended her hand to me.
“Sister, take my hand! I’m going to be your escort tonight!”
Diana’s eyes sparkled as she spoke.
I realized now why she’d been so eager to leave early when our parents mentioned departing late.
Jack was unable to attend the ball due to preparations for the Sword Tournament, and Allen had gone to inspect the Imperial Palace security at the Imperial Family’s request, so Diana had seized this opportunity.
Unable to suppress my smile, I took Diana’s hand and descended from the carriage.
Just as Diana turned with a grin, she stepped on the hem of her own dress.
“Oh!”
I quickly caught her by the waist as she stumbled and nearly fell.
Meeting Diana’s wide, startled eyes, I spoke gently.
“Diana, you need to be more careful.”
Once I’d steadied her properly, Diana clutched her chest and breathed heavily, clearly quite shaken.
“Gasp… Sister… that’s cheating.”
“Hmm?”
“It’s bad for my heart. So I really must… protect you…”
Diana’s eyes blazed with even greater determination than before, and she linked her arm through mine with renewed resolve.
I tilted my head in bemusement as Diana and I entered the Imperial Palace Banquet Hall where the ball was being held.
‘Wow…’
The welcome banquet had been splendid, but it paled in comparison to the Founding Festival, the Empire’s grandest event.
The red carpet lining the floor, the enormous crystal chandeliers, decorations crafted from gold, ivory, and precious gems, and flowers in full bloom adorning the interior drew gasps of admiration from me.
Within this magnificent space, elegantly dressed guests had already gathered in small groups, engaged in pleasant conversation.
However, the moment Diana and I appeared, everyone’s expressions shifted to surprise.
Realizing we had indeed arrived early, I walked deeper into the hall while naturally observing the crowd.
I had worried whether Countess Amber would attend the ball despite her humiliation this morning, but fortunately, she was nowhere to be seen.
‘Though she could still arrive later…’
I was just withdrawing my gaze, thinking I could relax for now, when—
“Your Highness the Grand Duke’s Daughter, it is an honor to meet you. I am from the Ordin Count family…”
“Greetings! I am from the territory right beside that of Marquis Diapel, your maternal grandfather…”
“What are you doing right now?”
“Shouldn’t you be the one stepping aside?”
“Wait! I arrived first!”
With my parents absent, nobles who saw this as their golden opportunity to approach me began blocking my path one after another, offering their greetings.
Though I knew that neither force nor magic could harm me, I felt a chill run down my spine as if I’d become prey hunted by predators.
That was when it happened.
“Is this the behavior to display before the Grand Duke’s Daughter?”
Diana clicked her tongue disapprovingly and shook her head, smoothly guiding me through the crowd and away from the throng.
Diana’s confident demeanor was so commanding that the nobles who’d been approaching me hesitated and instinctively stepped back, creating a path.
I was startled by the charisma Diana exuded—someone I’d always perceived as merely young.
However, those who’d been waiting for their prey were not so easily deterred.
“Young Lady! You look beautiful today as well.”
“That dress suits you perfectly!”
This time, young ladies who appeared to be acquainted with Diana rushed over in a group.
Diana, dressed in a navy gown with silver embroidery as an accent, was indeed as beautiful as their praise suggested, but their true target seemed to be me.
While complimenting Diana with their words, their eyes kept glancing at me with the unspoken plea: “Please introduce us to the Grand Duke’s Daughter!”
I watched with curious eyes to see how Diana would handle this.
Diana lifted her chin and smiled.
“Thank you for the compliment. You all look lovely today as well. By the way, I haven’t introduced her yet, have I? This person here has built such a long friendship with me that it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call us family….”
“Diana!”
Diana flinched as she was in the middle of emphasizing to the young ladies how close we were.
“Is it true you went to watch the Sword Tournament preliminaries? And the Night Market yesterday—why didn’t you tell me!”
Aiden, whose face had flushed red from the entrance, cried out with a tone of hurt.
Diana, who had maintained composure throughout, now glared at Aiden with a cracked expression.
“What are you doing? Can’t you see I’m in the middle of a conversation with these young ladies?”
“I, well…!”
Aiden’s words seemed to catch in his throat, his mouth opening and closing uselessly before he suddenly turned to address the young ladies.
“I apologize for interrupting your conversation. However, I find myself in quite an urgent situation—would you mind stepping aside?”
“Pardon? Oh….”
“Well… I suppose we have no choice.”
Not only did Aiden interrupt the ladies’ conversation, but he actually drove them away entirely.
His behavior bordered on rudeness, yet there was no one present who would dare point it out. No one who could refuse his request.
Having effortlessly dismissed all the young ladies, Aiden turned back with an expression that seemed to ask, “Is this better now?”
His face was contorted with hurt and grievance as he spoke pitifully.
“What did I do wrong? Now that I think about it, something’s been off with you since your birthday. Did you not like my gift?”
His apologetic expression, deflated and sorrowful, reminded me of Aiden as he was when we were younger.
However….
“Pfft!”
I couldn’t help but burst into laughter at the distinctly strong scent of Allen that seemed to emanate from him.
Allen had been telling Aiden just recently that a master is a second father and that he should follow him diligently—and now he’d created a disciple exactly like himself!
I was laughing away when I felt a gaze settle on my cheek.
Aiden was staring at me with an expression full of displeasure, as if questioning why I was standing here laughing instead of leaving.
Diana then widened her eyes and shouted at Aiden.
“What are you staring at! Aren’t you going to greet her?”
“…Who is she?”
“Ha!”
Diana’s face showed utter bewilderment at Aiden’s words. I felt the same.
It was embarrassing to admit, but ever since becoming the Grand Duke’s daughter, I had always been the center of attention—this was the first time I’d encountered someone so utterly indifferent to my existence.
‘Aiden really is the type to charge forward once he’s fixated on something.’
It had been the same in the past. Regardless of family relations or surrounding circumstances, he had pursued Diana with relentless enthusiasm.
‘Even when his cousin Serphin was after Lucio….’
…Wait, now that I think about it, isn’t this dangerous?
I rested my chin on my finger and tilted my head.

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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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