Everyone Was Obsessed With Me After I Became the Youngest Princess Favourite - Chapter 171

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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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“Do cousins really need to be so formal with each other? Come on, get up.”
A soft voice drifted down from above my head.
Of course. It seemed my unease from moments ago had been nothing but my imagination.
Clara pretended to yield and lifted her head, meeting Adriana’s gaze.
Seeing Adriana’s innocent expression, she thought she could easily manipulate her.
‘First, I need to find out where she lived and what she did before finding her parents.’
In the Bellus Duchy, Adriana had been so heavily protected that almost no information about her was known.
If she could just learn that much, she could gain an advantage over everyone else.
Of course, Clara had already made rough guesses about what Adriana’s life had been like.
Or rather, she was hoping that Adriana had lived miserably, like a rat in a gutter.
And if Adriana revealed such a past as Clara hoped, she would comfort her in front of others while spreading rumors behind her back to console the struggling Adriana.
By gradually making her dependent on herself and placing everything Adriana possessed into her hands one by one, wouldn’t that be absolutely perfect?
But now was not the time to show such intentions.
Clara spoke with a wistful expression.
“Cousin, though I don’t think the Grand Duchess would see it that way…”
She subtly implied that the Grand Duchess was too harsh to family, appealing to herself as the victim.
Then Adriana corrected Clara’s words with an innocent voice.
“Clara, that’s a misunderstanding! My mother was just upset because of the Countess, but that’s not what she truly feels, is it? If she knew you said such things, she’d be very hurt.”
“R-really? Actually, my mother too…”
“I’m glad the misunderstanding is cleared up. Actually, I was so sad knowing that the Countess didn’t view me favorably.”
“…Yes, I see.”
Clara, whose conversational momentum had been completely stolen in an instant, felt somewhat flustered.
Moreover, Adriana had naturally switched to informal speech and called her by name. Clara’s expression became strange—she had naturally expected to be called “older sister.”
“But why didn’t Aunt come out? Is it really because she finds me unpleasant…”
“That can’t be! Mother is resting for a moment, so I didn’t tell her. I’ll let her know you came by later! Even though… the Countess didn’t come, she’ll still be happy about it.”
She tried to shift the atmosphere again, but it wasn’t easy.
Clara’s expression nearly contorted for a moment, but with superhuman patience, she barely managed a smile when Adriana suddenly clapped her hands as if remembering something.
“Oh, instead of that, how about you stay for dinner? Grandfather should be back soon from his outing.”
“…Grandfather?”
“Yes!”
Seeing Adriana answer so brightly, Clara’s insides twisted.
Among the rumors that had spread last night was that the Late Marquis Diapel was so fond of his granddaughter that he didn’t know what to do with himself.
She had been skeptical, but looking at Adriana’s expression, it seemed to be true.
‘I still can’t even look Grandfather in the eye properly because I’m so afraid of him.’
Whether that girl lacked perception or had simply lost her fear from receiving only affection, Clara couldn’t tell.
Just as she was clicking her tongue in disapproval internally.
A knock sounded, and a maidservant of the Grand Ducal House entered the reception room.
“Jane? What is it?”
Adriana asked, and the maidservant answered with an awkward expression.
“Your Highness, someone has come from the Imperial Palace. The Emperor has sent you a gift.”
* * *
“This is a gift bestowed upon you by His Majesty, the great Emperor of the Empire. Show proper respect.”
I swallowed a sigh inwardly, bent my knees slightly, and lowered my head.
Clara, who stood beside me, then placed one knee fully on the ground to show her own respect.
It was a natural posture for her as an imperial citizen without a title, but…
‘I’ve unintentionally provoked her further.’
I never imagined the Emperor would send a gift, especially not while Clara was with me.
Though it was somewhat awkward, I didn’t regret allowing the meeting with Clara.
In truth, Askart’s warning and the hostile, childish gaze Clara had directed at me since arriving in the Empire gave me a strong premonition that keeping her close would prove exhausting.
But when I recalled Grandfather searching for Countess Amber and Clara at last night’s ball, I couldn’t pretend not to notice.
〈My dear, did you perhaps not meet your aunt or cousins while in the Empire? She’s not the sort of child who should miss an occasion like this…〉
When Grandfather asked me this while we danced together, I laughed awkwardly and changed the subject.
During my dance with Father afterward, Grandfather learned from Mother about my meeting with Countess Amber and what happened in the Plaza, and he couldn’t bring himself to speak to me until the ball ended, his face full of apology.
Moreover, judging by Grandfather’s poor complexion this morning—as if he’d spent the night awake—it was clear that Countess Amber weighed heavily on his mind.
After all, Countess Amber was just as much a daughter to Grandfather as Mother was, and Clara was just as much a granddaughter to him as I was.
‘If their relationship isn’t good, then of course he would be concerned.’
So I decided to meet Clara once more.
If she could soften her hostility and not overstep boundaries, I was willing to be generous.
Of course, that didn’t mean I intended to meet her defenseless.
‘I made sure to keep Mother away from meeting Clara together in the first place.’
The Plaza had been fine because Countess Amber was there, but in a situation like this, if Mother—an adult—raised her voice even slightly to Clara, it might make Mother appear petty and harsh.
Remembering how Clara always dressed neatly and simply, I deliberately chose a flamboyant gown that I rarely wore.
I intended to provoke her somewhat and gauge the extent of her hostility toward me.
The result was disappointing.
She might think she managed her expression well, but to my eyes, Clara’s expression of feeling slighted by merely a dress was plainly visible.
Moreover, when I intentionally interrupted her several times, I could see clear signs of displeasure as she realized the conversation wasn’t flowing in her desired direction.
She hadn’t hidden at all her intention to mold me to her liking.
Unfortunately, I became certain that I truly needed to distance myself from Clara.
However, today I had intended to share dinner with her to put Grandfather’s mind at ease…
“You may accept it now.”
While I had been lost in thought, the Attendant who had been explaining the Emperor’s reasons for sending me this gift spoke.
It was something about commending me for attending the Founding Festival and gracing the occasion, but it sounded like the Emperor simply wanted to give a gift and attached whatever reason came to mind.
As I straightened my knees and lifted my head, Jane, who had been showing respect beside me, quickly rose and accepted the Emperor’s gift.
“Why don’t you open it?”
At the Attendant’s words, I nodded reluctantly, and Jane carefully opened the box.
And when I saw the object resting on the red velvet cushion, my eyes widened.
‘I thought he’d just send some expensive jewelry!’
Looking at the tiara that sparkled like stars with hundreds of pink diamonds in a shade slightly deeper than my hair color, I let out a hollow laugh.
“Your Highness the Grand Duchess, tomorrow there is a grand banquet to mark the finale of the Founding Festival. Would it not be fitting to wear this at the banquet as a token of honoring His Majesty’s grace?”
At the Attendant’s words, my face stiffened.
“So… you’re saying the Emperor is asking about a tiara?”
I asked in a stiff voice, but the Attendant simply nodded as if he knew nothing.
I couldn’t even muster a hollow laugh anymore.
‘My status is certainly sufficient to wear a tiara.’
But this is the Empire.
No matter how royal one’s blood, wearing a tiara here was impossible.
In other words, only the Imperial Family could wear a tiara.
‘So what the Attendant is saying is…’
In that moment, my mind went cold as I grasped the full meaning.
Why the Emperor had bestowed the honor of the first dance upon Nicholas, and why Nicholas had asked me to dance.
‘I really didn’t want to know this…’
Could the Emperor possibly be considering me as a daughter-in-law?
I wished it were a misunderstanding, but the Attendant’s words carried the Emperor’s true intentions—it couldn’t be a mistake.
“I am grateful for His Majesty’s grace, but this gift seems far too generous for me. Please take it back.”
As I spoke to the Attendant in a subdued voice, I heard Clara behind me draw in a sharp breath.
She must have understood the situation well enough, and apparently expected me to accept the tiara without hesitation.
Suddenly displeased, I glanced at Clara, but her eyes were fixed on the tiara—she didn’t even notice my gaze.
At that moment, the Attendant spoke calmly, as if to dissuade me from refusing the gift.
“Your Highness the Grand Duchess. I understand your reluctance to accept His Majesty’s favor, but returning such a gift so abruptly would be problematic. His Majesty might misinterpret Your Highness’s intentions.”
The Attendant’s words were quite persuasive.
But what was somewhat amusing was how utterly composed his expression remained as he spoke of this difficulty.
He had clearly anticipated this refusal from the start.
And as expected.
“If Your Highness insists, might I suggest meeting His Majesty directly tomorrow to return it? Your schedule is free tomorrow morning, and His Majesty would welcome your visit at any time. If you enter the Imperial Palace, meet with him, and even share lunch together, there would be no room for misunderstanding regarding Your Highness’s sentiments.”
The Attendant recited this prepared proposal as if he had memorized it.
‘This cunning old fox of an Emperor…!’
Simultaneously, I realized I had fallen into the carefully woven trap he had set, and my fists clenched.
I couldn’t accept the tiara, nor could I refuse to go to the Imperial Palace to avoid accepting it.
‘The Emperor will certainly summon Nicholas to that lunch.’
The fact that I had danced with Nicholas yesterday had already spread far beyond the Imperial Palace, and if I were to share a meal with him as well, it would be like pouring oil on the flames of scandal.
I had been caught completely off guard and fallen straight into the Emperor’s meticulously laid trap.
I was desperately searching for a clever way to escape this when—
“Hey, Adriana…”
Clara, standing behind me, spoke with a flushed, excited face.
“Should I come with you?”

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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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