Everyone Was Obsessed With Me After I Became the Youngest Princess Favourite - Chapter 175

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

* * *
Upon arriving at the Imperial Palace, we followed the Attendant who had come to greet us toward the Emperor’s Palace.
Unfortunately, there was no opportunity for me to offer Clara any explanation or correction regarding Nicholas.
Clara had gone with the palace attendants to undergo a security inspection of her belongings.
Whether due to my status or the Emperor’s favoritism, I passed through the barrier erected by the Imperial Family’s court mage with only a cursory examination.
“Your Highness the Grand Duchess, shall I guide you to the Reception Room….”
“No. I’ll wait here for my cousin.”
Not content with subtly separating Clara and me, the Attendant suggested we go see the Emperor first, and I let out a small, derisive laugh.
So I waited until Clara’s inspection was complete, and shortly after—
“Clara…?”
Something had clearly happened in the brief time she was gone; Clara appeared looking utterly exhausted.
When I wore a startled expression, the Attendant beside me whispered softly.
“It seems the inspections are conducted more thoroughly during the Founding Festival period.”
It was a subtle reminder that I had received special treatment from the Emperor.
I pretended not to hear that remark and welcomed Clara.
“Clara, you must be worn out.”
“Worn out? This is an audience with His Majesty the Emperor—there can be no negligence whatsoever.”
Fortunately, despite the obvious signs of fatigue, Clara’s expression wasn’t particularly grim.
In fact, her eyes sparkled as though she had found every experience within the Emperor’s Palace delightful.
‘It’s true—it’s rare for an ordinary noble young lady to receive an invitation to the Emperor’s Palace.’
At that moment, a puzzled light flickered across Clara’s eyes.
“But Adriana, you’re already finished?”
Despite having separated partway through, she seemed absolutely convinced that I had undergone the same inspection process.
Not wanting to engage in unnecessary tension, I hurried to speak.
“Yes. More importantly, let’s go. His Majesty must be waiting.”
Fortunately, Clara nodded at my words.
As we walked following the Attendant, an enormous and ornate door came into view.
The moment we announced our arrival, the heavy door swung open at once.
“You’ve finally arrived! Hahahaha! Thank you for coming.”
The Emperor, who had been leaning back on the sofa, sprang to his feet and welcomed us.
‘There was no need to stand.’
It was rather burdensome, but I concealed this and greeted the Emperor.
And then—
“Clara of the Amber Count Family greets Your Majesty the Emperor, the sun of the Empire.”
At Clara’s greeting, the Emperor stroked his chin.
I had worried he might look down on Clara and embarrass her, but fortunately, nothing of the sort occurred.
“Ah, so you’re the daughter of Countess Amber.”
At the Emperor’s words, Clara’s eyes widened as she asked, “You know my mother?”
The Emperor raised one corner of his mouth and replied.
“Of course I do. In the past, she visited the Imperial Palace frequently and jested with me on several occasions—how could I not know her?”
“U-uh…!”
Clara clamped her hand over her mouth, unable to bring herself to utter the word “joke.”
Ignoring Clara’s distress, the Emperor spoke to me.
“It was nothing significant. The Grand Duchess simply made me harbor foolish dreams by claiming she had feelings for me.”
With those words, the Emperor smiled and invited Clara and me to sit on the sofa.
As we settled awkwardly onto the cushions, Attendants began arranging tea and an assortment of pastries before us.
“I had them prepare the desserts the Grand Duchess favored, though I’m uncertain if they suit your palate.”
As I accepted the madeleine the Emperor personally offered, I glanced nervously at Clara.
Clara glared at me with sharp eyes, as though I had orchestrated the humiliation she was now enduring.
I felt a pang of injustice at her accusation.
‘How could I possibly have known the Countess had fallen out of favor with the Emperor?’
Fortunately, Clara quickly composed herself, but her efforts proved futile—from that moment onward, the Emperor treated her as though she were invisible.
With flushed cheeks, Clara could neither rise from her seat nor speak carelessly; she had no choice but to sit motionless like a folding screen.
Only then did I realize the Emperor had deliberately unsettled Clara.
Since Clara’s arrival with me had disrupted his plans, I suspected he was exacting a measure of petty revenge.
‘Though it seems he also harbored lingering resentment toward Countess Amber.’
I found myself newly impressed by the Countess’s audacity.
Surely, having become sisters, she must have known her older sister despised the Emperor—yet she brazenly lied and frequented the palace without hesitation.
Now I understood why Mother shook her head whenever the Countess was mentioned, and why Grandfather sighed.
“This is a ruby brooch that once belonged to the Empress Dowager of the Ferdin Empire, a realm that fell to ruin long ago.”
As I exhaled softly to myself, the Emperor, showing no signs of fatigue, began explaining his twelfth treasure.
We had since moved to the Emperor’s Treasure Vault, where we now stood admiring his collection.
At the sight of the Emperor’s flushed, animated expression, I could not help but offer a weary smile.
‘How did I end up here…?’
Moments earlier, in the Reception Room, I had felt profoundly uncomfortable standing between the Emperor—grinning widely as he watched me eat the madeleine—and Clara, whose gaze remained coldly fixed upon him. I had immediately sought to broach the true purpose of my visit.
That purpose was to return the gift the Emperor had sent.
But the instant I gestured to the Attendant holding the tiara, the Emperor waved his hand dismissively.
“You’ve only just arrived, yet you’re already in such haste. Did my gift displease you so greatly?”
“No, that’s not it at all…”
“Indeed, the most important aspect of a gift is the recipient’s feelings. So then, what if you were to select something yourself? We have time before the midday meal—shall we visit my Treasure Vault?”
At first, I naturally assumed he was jesting.
What person in the world would so readily reveal their treasure vault?
Yet the Emperor perpetually exceeded my expectations.
“Hmm, it seems jewels don’t particularly interest you. Your mother was similarly indifferent to them, now that I recall.”
The Emperor studied my expression before speaking in a tone tinged with regret.
I could only offer an awkward smile in response.
In truth, even I—having witnessed countless rare treasures within the Grand Duke’s Castle—found the Emperor’s Treasure Vault remarkable enough to inspire genuine awe.
Even Clara, who had been wearing an expression of humiliation at being treated as invisible by the Emperor, stood speechless before the spectacle.
The only reason my own reaction remained lukewarm was that my attention lay entirely elsewhere.
‘There are no relics from ancient times.’
Raezl had definitely mentioned that the Imperial Palace Treasure Vault was stacked with ancient artifacts.
Yet among all the magnificent treasures the Emperor was showcasing, there wasn’t a single one that appeared to be an ancient relic.
‘Perhaps there’s a separate space where they keep only the artifacts?’
At least the sacred relic I was searching for wasn’t in the Emperor’s treasure vault—a small mercy.
I had confidently told Raezl I could handle this, but I realized in that moment how close I’d come to wandering aimlessly if I’d rushed in blindly.
“Very well. Allow me to show you my most treasured possession.”
The Emperor led the way with a triumphant expression, as though this time he would finally draw the reaction he sought from me.
As we ventured deeper into the vault, I spotted a door layered with multiple powerful magical barriers.
When the Emperor placed his hand on the magical security device installed on the door, it seemed to recognize its master—a series of metallic clicks echoed before the door slowly swung open.
“….”
For some reason, my spirits suddenly plummeted.
I had half-expected to witness another vision like the one in the Splesia Greenhouse, but nothing happened.
‘Right, Raezl did say the sacred magic he granted me was single-use.’
Besides, when I thought about it, even ancient artifacts were mostly just very old objects.
Items with special meaning to me, like Splesia, were rare—so perhaps it would be stranger if something actually occurred.
“Hmm….”
Just then, Clara standing beside me let out a small sigh.
Her expression clearly betrayed disappointment.
Having just seen an abundance of rare gemstones, sculptures, and paintings, she had expected something even more magnificent, so it was understandable that she felt let down by the collection of strange-looking, ancient objects scattered about.
That was when the Emperor’s unhesitating steps forward came to a halt.
I widened my eyes as I beheld the object he proudly displayed.
Seeing my startled reaction, the Emperor asked with a satisfied smile.
“Do you recognize what it is?”
“…Is it a mana stone?”
“Just as I thought—you do recognize it!”
At the Emperor’s delighted voice, I swallowed hard.
Displayed within a glass case protected by preservation magic was a supreme-grade mana stone the size of a baby’s fist, radiating an exquisite pink luminescence.
It was the mana stone I had created long ago.
‘…They kept it here?’
I had known that the person who purchased my mana stone at the highest auction price was the Emperor, but I never imagined he would preserve it so preciously in his treasure vault, in the innermost chamber no less.
“You must have seen many mana stones from Bellus, but surely you’ve never seen one like this?”
I had no words to answer the Emperor’s question.
As I simply stared at the mana stone instead of responding, the Emperor spoke with subtle intent.
“They say mages lose their minds when they see mana stones. I wonder how the Grand Duchess feels about it.”
This cunning Emperor?
I truly couldn’t let my guard down for even a moment. He was subtly probing whether I was a mage.
Until now, information about me had been strictly controlled by the Grand Duchy, so few people outside knew that I was a mage.
But with Father being the Continent’s only Archmage and my Older Brother earning renown as a genius, it was natural for people to wonder if I too had magical talent.
‘Moreover, the House of Bellus is said to have exceptional mana affinity across generations.’
Regardless, I had no intention of being honest with the Emperor about this.
He still wishes to take me as his daughter-in-law, so there’s no reason to make him want more.
“Mana stones are truly mysterious objects, aren’t they?”
I offered the Emperor a gentle smile as I observed his reaction.
“If one understands their value, how could anyone fail to treasure mana stones?”
“Yes. You speak truly.”
The Emperor chuckled and nodded his head.
Yet it seemed he wasn’t genuinely moved by my words, merely amused by them.
“How embarrassing this is. I was certain that since it’s my most cherished possession, the Grand Duchess would surely take a liking to it.”
Sensing he wouldn’t obtain the information he sought from me, the Emperor turned away.
I followed after him with an apologetic expression, my footsteps falling in sync with his.
“…!”
A chilling sensation suddenly seized my entire body, as though invisible hands were wringing my heart.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————