Everyone Was Obsessed With Me After I Became the Youngest Princess Favourite - Chapter 163

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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 matter of imperial succession remained nothing more than an undercurrent struggle, never surfacing into the light of day.
Years before Nicholas came into prominence, there had been whispers among the nobility about elevating Serphin as the Imperial Princess, but the Emperor’s displeasure had silenced those murmurs just as quickly.
Yet now that Nicholas had made his presence known, the nobility too would be weighing their options with renewed intensity.
Though no formal stance had been declared, House Fayerunt—the Empress’s maternal family—would almost certainly support Serphin, the Imperial Princess, as a matter of course.
‘But Lucio intends to make Nicholas the Emperor…’
Was it not inevitable that House Elrad and House Fayerunt would become adversaries?
“It is an honor to make your acquaintance, Grand Duchess. I am Aiden of House Fayerunt.”
In the meantime, Aiden, having learned of my introduction from Diana, bowed with a lowered head.
His posture was respectful, yet his expression brimmed with displeasure and resentment at being interrupted during his time with Diana.
When I had been a maidservant, Aiden had called me sister and treated me with such warmth, yet now that I had truly become a Grand Duchess of higher station, he showed me this cold demeanor.
For some reason, I found myself delighted.
“Prince Fairunt. I’m so pleased to meet you like this.”
“…It is an honor.”
When I greeted him kindly without taking offense at his curt attitude, Aiden’s expression became peculiar.
Seeing that, I felt laughter bubble up again.
As I covered my lips lightly with my hand and chuckled softly, Aiden stared at me intently before asking abruptly.
“Grand Duchess, have we perhaps met before?”
At this unexpected question, Diana and I both flinched.
As we stood speechless in confusion, Aiden scratched the back of his head and spoke.
“That couldn’t be possible. I would know if we had.”
Aiden added with an embarrassed smile that you simply resemble someone I know.
How strange that he reminded me of Allen in such unexpected ways.
I let out a hollow laugh in admiration, and as Diana suddenly regained her composure, I watched her bicker with Aiden.
‘Childhood friends certainly have a fresh charm to them.’
And perhaps it was because of the tragic romance that might unfold between them?
My heart began to race without my knowing.
‘Oh, what should I do?’
Just this afternoon, I had been firmly rooting for Jack!
But now, watching Diana and Aiden together, I found myself wanting to support Aiden instead.
The choice belonged to Diana, yet here I was, agonizing over it alone.
Suddenly, the Banquet Hall fell silent.
I turned my head toward the entrance of the hall in bewilderment.
“…!”
And my heart plummeted to the floor.
* * *
Time seemed to stop for a moment.
The instant I spotted the man standing beneath the enormous chandelier—a man who looked as though he had been carved from ice.
My mind went blank, and I could not move a single finger.
How long had I been staring at him in a daze?
Our eyes met as he turned his head, as if searching for someone.
His quiet blue eyes widened slightly before softening into a gentle curve.
At the same time, I turned my head away so abruptly that anyone watching would have thought I was deliberately avoiding him.
‘What do I do….’
My palms felt inexplicably damp.
Only then did I realize I had been staring at him far too intently before our eyes could meet.
‘I must have looked like an absolute fool.’
Regret churned violently in my chest.
Just this afternoon, I had clearly heard Diana muttering, “What on earth is big brother doing?” yet I never imagined I would encounter Lucio so soon.
‘Yes, I was simply startled by the sudden appearance.’
I had not anticipated him showing up like this at all.
I tried to compose myself with that excuse, but my heart, which had sunk with a heavy thud, was already racing wildly again of its own accord.
The moment our eyes met, I felt Lucio’s unhesitating footsteps drawing steadily closer, as though he had confirmed his destination and begun moving toward it.
Then the sound of his footsteps crossing the Banquet Hall came to an abrupt stop.
“Lia.”
A shadow fell over my head, and a soft, low voice that only I could hear pierced through my ears.
When I looked up, Lucio had already drawn near, gazing down at me.
From him came the scent of cold wind mingled with a familiar mint fragrance.
In that instant, a surge of something akin to sorrow welled up within me.
“…Why.”
I was about to ask why he had come so late, but I quickly pressed my lips shut.
Lucio tilted his head as if questioning why I had stopped speaking, but nothing else came to mind.
There seemed to be so much I wanted to say, and so many questions I wanted to ask.
For some inexplicable reason, I felt frustrated, and I felt foolish for it.
Instead of speaking, I simply gazed up at him. And then I froze.
It was only natural, given that I had returned to the past, but I already knew what Diana, Jack, and the others would look like.
Yet no one did I remember as vividly as Lucio.
He remained a handsome man with sharp eyes and a defined nose, just as I remembered him.
But….
The person before me now seemed to be someone other than whom I remembered.
‘I always thought Lucio was expressionless….’
Who was this man gazing at me with such tender eyes, wearing such a radiant smile?
As I stood there, half-dazed, Lucio—who had scrutinized me so persistently at Diana’s birthday party in the past—opened his mouth.
“At last we meet, Grand Duchess.”
With movements as natural as a dance, Lucio bowed deeply and extended his hand toward me.
His manner was so formal that I wondered if his affectionate use of my name just moments before had been a mistake, and in my bewilderment, I offered my hand as though enchanted.
Satisfied by my compliant response, Lucio gently smiled as he took my hand.
Then, without releasing it, he lowered his head and pressed his lips to the back of my hand.
Only after I felt the cool sensation against the back of my hand did I comprehend what was happening.
As I flinched and trembled, Lucio slowly withdrew his lips from the back of my hand and asked.
“Have you been well all this time?”
“….”
If I answered now, my voice would sound foolish, so I simply gave a small nod.
Lucio, somehow noticing my subtle movement, let out a soft chuckle.
“I see. I haven’t been doing well, though….”
Then, trailing off his words, he added in a voice thick with resentment.
“Because the person who promised so firmly never to leave abandoned me.”
〈So promise me you won’t go anywhere.〉
〈Then it’s a promise.〉
At the same time, our final conversation in the Maze Garden came flooding back to me.
“That’s not——!”
For a moment, I surged forward to protest, but I quickly closed my mouth, aware of the surrounding gazes.
The nobles around us were exchanging discreet glances as they watched Lucio and me.
The peculiar atmosphere was unsettling enough, but Lucio’s words felt even more unfair.
‘He knows full well that I went to meet my parents and return home.’
Moreover, at that moment, I had only nodded absentmindedly—I had never actually promised Lucio I wouldn’t leave.
I wanted to set the record straight, but the surrounding eyes made it impossible, which frustrated me immensely.
“Prince Fairunt!”
Just then, a man burst into the Banquet Hall and hurried toward us.
It was a face I recognized.
‘Wasn’t he Lucio’s aide? His name was Nick….’
“Don’t make a scene, Nix.”
Nix! Yes, that was the name.
“B-but! If you leave right now, what will happen? No matter how much——!”
Nix, breathing heavily as he spoke, suddenly glanced at me.
“In any case, you must go to the Foreign Ministry first. You need to submit your return report….”
“Tsk.”
Lucio clicked his tongue in displeasure and turned his gaze back to me.
With so many eyes watching, I couldn’t understand why he kept staring at me like this.
Moreover, I only just realized—Lucio was still holding my hand.
“Um….”
I was about to tell him to let go and was applying pressure when——
“Prince Fairunt!” Nix, stamping his feet anxiously, suddenly turned an imploring gaze toward me.
From his eyes and expression, I felt a desperate plea for help radiating strongly.
‘You just met me for the first time today!’
I wanted to cry out in bewilderment, but unable to resist that earnest gaze, I finally called out to Lucio.
“Prince Fairunt.”
“Yes, please speak.”
He continued to ignore his aide’s calls, responding immediately the moment my words ended.
Naturally, the gazes of the nobles watching us intensified even further.
It seemed only I could end this situation, so I quickly opened my mouth.
“Go on. It seems you have matters to attend to.”
“….”
What had I expected him to say?
Lucio’s expression visibly darkened with disappointment.
“…I’ll return quickly.”
As if reluctant to let go, he squeezed the hand he’d been holding before finally releasing it.
‘This—anyone watching would think we’re a couple reunited after ages, pining for each other!’
I regarded him with bewilderment, his demeanor carrying such an ambiguous undertone.
Then it struck me.
Just before Lucio departed, I caught him giving a subtle signal to Diana beside me.
Only then did I remember Diana’s presence—I’d forgotten her in the silence—and I turned my head, only to doubt my own eyes.
Diana was giving Lucio a thumbs up while winking at him with one eye.
“Diana…?”
At my call, Diana startled visibly and quickly changed her expression.
Then, with practiced innocence, she rubbed her eyes and spoke.
“Sister, I think something got in my eye.”
“…Is that so?”
Yet for all that, Diana’s eyes sparkled as brightly and clearly as always….
Suspending my doubts for the moment, I quickly blew gently on Diana’s eye.
Following her delighted laughter at the ticklish sensation, I found myself glancing back toward the entrance of the Banquet Hall where Lucio had departed.
I felt as though I’d been bewitched by a ghost.
“Sigh….”
My chest continued to flutter uneasily, refusing to settle, so I exhaled a quiet sigh.
Unaware that to others, I appeared to be a woman reluctant to part from her lover so soon after their reunion.

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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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