Everyone Was Obsessed With Me After I Became the Youngest Princess Favourite - Chapter 170

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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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“Mother, it’s not because of the Second Prince.”
At my words, Mother’s eyes widened sharply. “Then who is it?”
Fearing she might think of Lucio, I answered quickly.
“I think it’s because I’ve been so preoccupied since arriving in the Empire. I haven’t been getting enough sleep either.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Being away from home, I suppose it’s been a bit uncomfortable.”
As I spoke thus, Mother’s stern demeanor softened considerably.
While Mother cautioned me not to mention that the Marquis’s Residence was uncomfortable in front of Grandfather, Father rose from the bed and spoke.
“By the way, the mages and physicians from House Elrad have visited several times, seemingly worried. I should inform them that you’ve awakened.”
Now that he mentioned it, I recalled those who must have been most alarmed by my collapse, and I nodded quickly.
As Father left the room, Mother stared at me intently.
“…Mother?”
“Adriana.”
“Yes?”
Mother’s expression had grown oddly rigid, and I found myself tensing as I swallowed nervously.
“Your collapse… it wasn’t caused by that antidote herb, was it?”
I froze, meeting Mother’s gaze.
“…The antidote herb?”
Unlike Father, who lacked perceptiveness, Mother’s intuition was remarkably sharp.
And until now, I had been grateful that I took after her in that regard…
But now it was terribly inconvenient.
“Surely you don’t mean Splecia? That I collapsed because of her? That’s impossible.”
I laughed as though I had heard a strange joke, and Mother, her rigid expression slowly softening, nodded gently.
“Yes. That would be impossible.”
“…”
Though I strove to maintain an expressionless face, my heart raced wildly.
I could not fathom how Mother had arrived at such a thought.
I forced myself to calm my turbulent emotions.
Setting aside my past life, only Raezl, the highest priests of the Temple, and I—along with the demon—knew Splecia’s true identity.
Father, a Grand Mage, and Jack and Allen, Sword Masters, knew that their power and aura stemmed from ‘mana,’ yet they did not know the true source of that power.
‘That’s right, which is why Tellin called Splecia a monster that devours mana stones.’
It was amusing. Tellin, so brimming with pride in being a mage, treated Splecia—who had granted humanity mana in the first place—as nothing more than a beast.
Of course, the mana stones that Tellin so treasured were indeed remarkable objects.
They were essentially pure crystals of condensed mana, which mages revered.
Now that I thought of it, not long after arriving in Bellus, Father had taken me to the Bellus Duchy Mines, saying he would show me the largest mana stone mine on the continent.
There, I had come to understand precisely what distinguished ordinary mana stones from those I had created.
The mana stones from the mine were formed from a special stone that could hold mana as its base—not a jewel—upon which ambient mana had accumulated over countless ages.
Upon realizing this, I immediately understood why Bellus produced the most mana stones.
The Bellus Grand Duchy, whose house heads had been exceptional mages across generations, along with the Magic Tower and Magic Swordsmen Corps under its dominion.
With so many people wielding mana and aura concentrated there than anywhere else on the continent, the mana they expended dispersed naturally, producing mana stones of its own accord.
Yet no matter how exceptional mana stones were or how essential they proved to magical artifacts, I could not fathom comparing their value to Spleshia.
‘Of course, the truth about Spleshia would never be revealed to the world.’
It was only natural.
In a book titled “The Origin of Mana” that I had read long ago in the Library of House Elrad, mana was described as a gift from the divine.
Indeed, people in this world considered being born with mana a stroke of fortune, and those who manifested auras or magical power were regarded as blessed.
‘But what if they discovered it was actually the power of demons?’
The chaos that would ensue would be inevitable.
Just as punishing Demon Worshippers had been deemed justice, a new form of discrimination might arise against those who possessed mana.
This was precisely why I could understand why the Temple had erased my name from mythology and concealed Spleshia’s true identity.
‘Of course, Raezl had said that mana itself was never inherently evil….’
According to Raezl, the mana of demons and those who contracted with them possessed a distinctly different quality—a darkness that human mana did not carry.
Considering this, the contents of that book titled “God’s Gift” might not be entirely false.
One could interpret it as the Divine withdrawing power from demons consumed by arrogance and bestowing it upon humanity instead.
Though I still could not fathom why it had to be Spleshia, my previous life, of all people.
‘Indeed, confronting them through magic alone would be difficult.’
I had heard that Demon Worshippers contracted with demons and directly received their power in exchange.
This meant they likely possessed the ability to wield magic without restrictions, just as I did.
That was why I had been training in new swordplay to prepare for scenarios where my greatest strength—magic—might be rendered useless, yet I harbored no confidence in my progress.
‘If those people I suspect are truly the Demon Worshippers who abducted me, then I….’
“Adriana?”
It was then that Mother called out to me in a startled voice.
Following her gaze, I noticed my fingertips trembling slightly.
It seemed my anxiety had manifested in my body without my awareness.
“Is your health still poor? Why are your hands….”
“It’s nothing at all.”
I hastily clasped my hands together, concealing the trembling at my fingertips.
Fortunately, Mother said nothing more.
Jane had informed me that a visitor had arrived.
“Since you’ve only just awakened, should I send them away?”
“No, I’ll see them.”
At my words, both Jane and Mother wore expressions of concern.
Yet I rose from the bed with firm resolve and ordered them to prepare my appearance.
The visitor who had come seeking me was entirely unexpected.
And they were someone I could not simply turn away given my current condition.
‘It would be worthwhile to meet them directly and discern their true intentions.’
* * *
At that moment, in the Reception Room of the Marquis’s Residence.
Clara exhaled wearily as she recalled the previous night.
〈What are you saying, Clara? Cancel your attendance at the ball?!〉
Countess Amber had erupted in fury, utterly unable to comprehend such a suggestion.
Clara found herself unable to understand her mother’s reasoning.
After suffering such public humiliation in the plaza this morning, what audacity drove her to venture to the Imperial Palace where every noble in the realm had gathered?
Yet rather than voice this, Clara spoke in a melancholic tone designed to prick her mother’s long-standing insecurities.
“Mother, you must at least appear remorseful if you wish to soften the Grand Duchess’s heart.”
“What?! Remorseful? What have I done wrong!”
The Countess cried out indignantly once more, but Clara’s warning—that failure to appease the Grand Duchess would invite further humiliation, regardless of her guilt—proved persuasive enough.
Unable to attend the ball, the Countess spent the entire night lamenting the waste of the dress and jewels she’d commissioned for it, and grumbling about how the Grand Duchess had possessed a selfish nature since childhood, known only to herself.
And this morning.
“Clara, go to the Marquis’s Residence in my stead.”
The Countess yawned widely, claiming exhaustion, as she lay in bed.
Her mother’s capriciousness and habit of changing her mind were nothing new, but to postpone even a visit to the Marquis’s Residence?
Clara sighed, yet consoled herself with the thought that bringing the Countess along might only complicate matters, and set off toward the Marquis’s Residence.
Yet her own disposition remained equally unsettled.
During her preparations, she had heard from the maidservants every detail of what had transpired at yesterday’s ball, gossip that had spread throughout the night.
Adriana had received an escort not from Allen, but from Lucio Elrad himself.
As if that weren’t enough, she had even danced with Prince Nicholas, who had recently risen to prominence as a candidate for imperial succession.
Clara ground her teeth, struggling to swallow the bitter resentment that rose to her throat.
She couldn’t fathom why that girl alone seemed to possess everything the world had to offer.
Yet Clara, who prided herself on her cunning, quickly reconsidered.
Rather than oppose Adriana directly, it would be far more advantageous to leverage their cousinship and cultivate a closer bond.
Though loath to admit it, Adriana appeared to be Askart’s true sister, and according to her mother, who had met Adriana in person, the girl was quite simple-minded and dull.
Though Clara had been too young to properly manage Askart when they’d last met…
Clara concluded that winning Adriana’s affection—who resembled Askart—would be far easier than manipulating the Grand Duchess.
And if she could properly mold Adriana, she might even bring Askart, who cherished his sister as dearly as his own life, under her control.
Entering the Marquis’s Residence with such confidence, Clara tilted her head in confusion.
The atmosphere of the estate seemed unsettled, as though it did not welcome her warmly.
She assumed it was because they were slighting her mother, the Countess.
‘Mother said even Grandfather favored the Grand Duchess, who resembled Grandmother, over others.’
In truth, the Marquis’s Residence’s subdued atmosphere stemmed from Adriana’s collapse, but Clara, misinterpreting the situation entirely, stiffened her expression.
And finally, the reception room door opened, and the awaited Adriana appeared.
“…!”
Clara froze momentarily.
Though Adriana’s expression was indeed as gentle as she’d anticipated upon closer inspection, her appearance was quite the opposite.
The lavender dress adorned with elaborate golden embroidery bore thousands of crystals affixed to every fold of fabric, and the priceless necklace, bracelets, and rings she wore in abundance evoked memories of Clara’s extravagant mother—yet Adriana emanated an air of nobility that her mother could never achieve.
Clara, who typically insisted on modest and refined dresses for the sake of her reputation, suddenly felt her own appearance painfully inadequate.
But she quickly concealed her true feelings and rose from her seat with a welcoming expression.
“Adriana!”
Then she paused abruptly, her expression growing subdued.
“Ah… forgive my enthusiasm. I offer my respects to you, Grand Duchess. I am Clara of the Amber Count Family.”
With knees bent and head bowed, Clara reflected.
I expected Adriana to return and insist on lifting me to my feet, dismissing such formalities between cousins as unnecessary.
Yet something felt amiss. No matter how long I waited, no response came.
It was then that I realized something had gone terribly wrong.

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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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