Everyone Was Obsessed With Me After I Became the Youngest Princess Favourite - Chapter 168

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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 next day.
“Oh my….”
I awoke with a voice that sounded like I was dying.
The aftermath of last night’s ball had been far more exhausting than I’d anticipated.
“I told you that you should have received a massage before sleeping.”
“I couldn’t help it. I was so tired from bathing that I just wanted to collapse into bed immediately.”
As I spoke with a sigh, Jane, who had been watching me with concern, quickly prepared a bath and summoned a capable maidservant.
“Ahhhhh…!”
After soaking in a tub filled with warm water and stepping out, I began receiving a massage on my tightly knotted arms and legs, and involuntary moans of pain escaped my lips.
“Does it hurt terribly? Well, you danced seven songs yesterday, so it’s no wonder your muscles are cramped.”
“I thought it would be fine….”
I pouted my lips, my pride wounded.
I had always possessed the stamina to endure rigorous training without complaint, yet here I was suffering from muscle soreness caused by dancing of all things.
But this was entirely the fault of that madman Nicholas, who had requested five consecutive dances.
“Grand Duchess, would you not care to dance one more song with me?”
“Pardon? Again?”
“Surely you’re not already tired….”
“No, I’m not tired at all.”
“Then if you’d simply give me a small hint, I shall withdraw my dance request.”
“I said I’m not tired. The music is starting. Let’s dance!”
What grudge could he possibly hold against me?
I hadn’t even considered refusing—after all, it was an “honor dance”—yet I couldn’t fathom why he’d deliberately provoked my pride like that.
Thinking of Nicholas, who had worn that characteristic smug smile even as my grandfather and parents glared at him with murderous intensity, made my blood boil.
Moreover, Lucio had watched our dance with eyes just as sharp and dangerous as my family’s, and the tension in my body made each movement infinitely more difficult.
“Ow!”
Suddenly, a wave of intense pain shot through my calf muscles.
‘Remember when you used to swallow painkillers alone and work through muscle soreness with the next day’s training! Compared to that, this is a blessing….’
“Owwww!”
I attempted mental control, but the immediate pain made stars dance before my eyes.
Seeing tears well up in my eyes, Jane began hopping about anxiously.
“Oh dear. Perhaps you shouldn’t dance with the Marquis or the Grand Duke anymore….”
“Ugh, how could I do that.”
I shook my head dejectedly.
Though I had been completely exhausted from traversing the hall for over an hour yesterday, I couldn’t bring myself to turn away my grandfather, whose mood had been thoroughly soured, or my father with his dejected expression.
Still, thanks to dancing seven times in total, my family had apparently forgotten about Lucio entirely and hadn’t even asked or interrogated me about why he had entered with me—for which I was grateful.
“You’ve worked hard. You may go now.”
Once my body had loosened up somewhat, I told the maidservant I would give her a bonus and sent her out of the room.
Jane immediately brought me the shower robe I usually preferred.
Upon seeing this, I flinched momentarily, but I deliberately pretended not to notice and asked a question while fastening the robe.
“So, what’s the situation outside?”
“Yes, Your Highness, as you anticipated….”
Watching Jane lower her voice while glancing around, I felt oddly amused—it was like receiving a report from a subordinate.
Terenthium was a massive guild spanning the entire continent, so internally there were countless officials, divisions, and members beneath the upper echelon.
Among them, even first-class operatives who were essentially direct subordinates of the Master often took charge of teams and led their members, but I….
“…whether he didn’t trust me, or whether he was trying to isolate me.”
“Pardon?”
“It’s nothing.”
Brushing aside the fleeting thought, I listened to Jane’s report and let out a long sigh.
“So I’ve made quite the impression after all.”
At the welcome banquet, the commotion had at least been confined to the nobility….
But I’d been escorted by the Young Lord of House Elrad and danced the honor dance with Nicholas, who’d been named a candidate for the next Emperor.
Now there were probably fewer people in the Empire who didn’t know of me.
“Yet there hasn’t been a single negative word, Your Highness. Compared to the person detained in the Imperial Prison this morning, it’s nothing but praise, so do take heart.”
“What do you mean?”
As I tilted my head in confusion, Jane explained with barely suppressed amusement.
“Well, it’s about the young master of the Petier Family you asked me to look into, Your Highness. He was found dead drunk in the Imperial Garden where His Majesty takes his morning walks.”
“What?”
“It seems he drank too much at the ball the night before and lost his way. Apparently he fell somewhere—his wrist is broken and hanging uselessly, and most of all, his trousers….”
At that point, I burst out laughing. “Pfft!”
Bert had done an even better job than I’d expected.
‘How did he even think to leave Kenneth in the Imperial Garden where the Emperor enjoys his morning walks?’
I could imagine how furious the Emperor must have been upon discovering Kenneth Petite apparently relieving himself in his beloved garden.
Moreover, since I’d cast a silencing spell to prevent him from mentioning my name, Kenneth would be going mad with frustration, unable to properly defend himself.
“In any case, Count Petier is apparently running around everywhere trying to secure his son’s release.”
“I see.”
But how could he possibly appease the Emperor’s wrath? Especially when the family’s situation was already precarious.
It was at that moment.
“It seems the Count has been keeping….”
Jane lowered her voice again, speaking in hushed tones.
My expression, which had been casual, hardened.
And shortly after.
I came one step closer to the ‘sacred relic’—the very purpose of my visit to the Empire.
* * *
Meanwhile.
The communication channel connecting the Empire and Bellus, which Lia had blocked out of concern for eavesdropping, lit up for the first time in ages.
Askart, this is an unprecedented emergency!
All those fellows you called friends—they were all thieves targeting our Lia!
Contrary to Lia’s expectation that the matter had been quietly resolved.
The previous Marquis Diapel and Grand Duke Bellus, who had spent the night wide awake, sent a message to the Duchy.
And upon confirming this, Askart….
“Emergency assembly of the Magic Swordsmen Corps!”
He began preparing to board the ship bound for the Empire.
* * *
A slight shiver ran through me.
“What’s wrong, Lia?”
“Oh… it’s nothing.”
I shook my head at the Duchess Elrad’s question as I stepped into the Elrad Duke’s Mansion.
But seeing my body tremble, Mother and Jane behind me rushed to ask.
“Are you cold? Do you have a cold coming on?”
“Your Highness, shall I go fetch a coat from the Marquis’s Residence?”
I quickly assured them I was fine, but the sudden chill running down my spine made it clear that autumn in the Empire was indeed different from the Grand Duchy.
“It must be from overexerting myself yesterday….”
Then Mother, who had been watching me with concerned eyes, suddenly asked.
“Is it possible you didn’t go watch your friend’s match because you weren’t feeling well?”
“That’s not it. I had originally planned to visit the Duke’s Mansion today. The match will have its finals tomorrow anyway.”
“You certainly are confident.”
“Of course. Jack will definitely win the championship.”
I smiled, recalling the moment I had encountered Jack leaving the Duke’s Mansion for the preliminary match earlier.
When I offered my support but apologized that I wouldn’t be able to watch today, Jack reassured me instead.
But Jack’s expression as he said so seemed somewhat dejected. The reason was as I had expected.
〈Hey, Lia. About yesterday, you and the Second Prince….〉
〈Yes. We danced the honor dance. It should have been you dancing it since you’re definitely going to win tomorrow—I was so frustrated!〉
〈…was that so?〉
Seeing Jack ask with such a dispirited look, my heart ached for him.
I gently patted Jack’s arm and spoke.
〈Don’t worry, Jack. If you ask to dance, no one would refuse you.〉
So when I firmly said it didn’t matter even if it wasn’t the honor dance, Jack gave a faint smile.
Even though he wouldn’t be able to ask Diana to dance anyway….
Still, it seemed he was pleased that I was taking his side.
“By the way, Diana went out with Aiden?”
“Yes. The Crown Prince of Fayrent was quite upset that she missed the preliminary match yesterday, so he left early.”
The Duchess Elrad said with a laugh that while things had changed somewhat since I arrived in the Empire, Aiden and Diana originally bicker constantly yet stick together like glue.
At those words, I wondered if Diana’s choice was indeed Aiden, and suddenly became curious why Nicholas had asked me to dance yesterday instead of Diana.
But I quickly shook my head. Something told me that digging deeper would only exhaust me.
“Madam, I heard you were looking for me—is there somewhere you’re uncomfortable?”
“Duchess Elrad! Is it true that the Grand Duke has arrived?!”
Just then, the people I had been waiting for appeared.
“Both of you are welcome. There’s nothing uncomfortable, but it was the Grand Duchess and the Grand Duke’s daughter who have come, not the Grand Duke himself.”
At the Duchess Elrad’s words, the two looked at me with bewildered expressions.
They were Baron Bardo, the personal physician of House Elrad, and Tellin, the chief mage.
* * *
Mother, who had smiled meaningfully while saying she had matters to discuss with the Duchess Elrad, headed to the reception room first.
Jane and I were guided by Baron Bardo and Tellin to the greenhouse where Splecia was cultivated.
Since arriving in the Empire, I had been thinking I should verify it myself at least once, but I kept putting it off until now. My heart felt strangely heavy.
“I had no idea Your Highness the Grand Duchess possessed such expertise in herbalism.”
Perhaps noticing Tellin, who was sighing heavily in disappointment that Father hadn’t come, the Baron spoke as if to clear the atmosphere.
The Baron changed the subject to lighten the mood.
“Expertise is too much—it’s merely an interest. Since I spent most of my time at the castle, I simply read many books on various subjects.”
“Still, one cannot learn of Splecia’s existence from merely reading one or two basic herbalism texts.”
The Baron’s words were not wrong, so I smiled awkwardly.
Originally, Splecia was a rare herb that appeared only in legends.
‘It once garnered brief attention as the herb that saved the Duchess Elrad, but now it has faded from people’s memories again.’
“Hmph. How could Your Highness the Grand Duchess not know of Splecia? Belus Duchy imports so many mana stones for it, claiming they’re necessary for cultivation. They’ve come to the Magic Tower several times demanding the highest-grade mana stones for research…!”
Then Tellin, who had been quiet until now, suddenly flared up and shouted.
“Baron Bardo, how many times must I tell you? That was a miracle heaven granted us. Stop wasting those precious mana stones on a useless weed!”
“What, what? A useless weed? Wasteful!”
The Baron immediately flushed and retorted, but Tellin continued to disparage Splecia as a ‘mana stone-devouring monster of a plant.’
Knowing that Splecia was far more than a simple detoxification herb, I could only suppress a hollow laugh.
If Tellin, a mage, truly knew Splecia’s real nature, he would never say such things.

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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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