Everyone Was Obsessed With Me After I Became the Youngest Princess Favourite - Chapter 180

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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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That night.
Instead of a grand ball and fireworks, the Imperial Palace hosted an emergency state council attended by the Prime Minister and the heads of various imperial departments.
It was an unprecedented event—a Demon Beast had appeared, a legendary creature thought to have vanished after ancient mythology.
“Your Majesty, we must inform the entire Continent of the Demon Beast’s appearance and devise countermeasures immediately.”
With the Founding Festival season drawing crowds to the Capital City, and foreign delegations gathered in the very location where the Demon Beast had emerged, there was no way to suppress the rumors anyway.
The Emperor frowned at his ministers’ insistence that an official announcement would be preferable to silence.
“You all act as though war has broken out.”
“But it is a Demon Beast, Your Majesty!”
“Though I find it difficult to believe, this may be a harbinger of a second Demon Beast War. We cannot simply ignore it….”
“Enough! The Temple has already begun its own investigation, has it not? We shall hear from them soon. There is no harm in making an official announcement then.”
The Emperor’s indifferent attitude left his ministers bewildered.
They could not fathom why he would remain so composed after witnessing the Demon Beast himself.
‘…Surely it is not that he resents Grand Duchess Bellus for resolving the matter.’
The ministers dismissed such a notion as absurd.
Yet, remarkably, they had divined the Emperor’s true feelings with precision.
〈A Saint?〉
〈It is the Saint!〉
〈The Saint has appeared!〉
At the Sword Tournament, which should have been a stage to display the Empire’s might, the crowd hailed the Grand Duchess as a “Saint.”
Strictly speaking, she had wielded magic rather than divine power, so the title was hardly appropriate—yet to them, the fact that she had saved them from the Demon Beast’s threat was what mattered most.
‘Indeed, not only did she defeat the Demon Beast, but she immediately followed with healing magic. One could hardly call it an exaggeration to say the Saint herself had returned.’
The Emperor brooded, unable to conceal his displeasure.
‘I had suspected she might be a mage, but….’
Even with the renowned Sword Masters Jack Seidian and Allen Elrad both present, neither could match the Grand Duchess’s singular prowess.
The current Grand Duke Bellus was the only Grand Mage recognized by mages themselves—possessing mana affinity regardless of attribute, vast reserves of mana, perfect understanding of incantations, and swift spell casting.
Yet what the Grand Duchess had displayed today transcended mere superior mana affinity or formidable magical power.
‘Had I known, I would have forced a betrothal upon her this very day.’
The Emperor’s eyes darkened as he recalled the Imperial Palace mages’ awestruck explanations that no one on this land could cast such high-tier magic.
And Nicholas, observing the Emperor, swallowed hard.
He had sought to take the Grand Duchess as his daughter-in-law merely because she was the daughter of his first love, but now, having witnessed her abilities, he feared the Emperor’s eyes had turned covetous.
“Father, if I may be so bold, I wish to return to my own palace.”
Serphin, who had remained silent since witnessing the Grand Duchess’s exploits, spoke with a pallid face.
“Ah! Yes, of course. You must be exhausted. Go, return home. You have all had quite a shock, so let us adjourn this council for now.”
“Your Majesty? But….”
“Fortunately, there were no casualties. We shall discuss today’s events again at a later time.”
The Emperor, eager to dismiss his ministers, added a final word.
“Duke Elrad, you shall remain a moment.”
“…Yes, Your Majesty.”
At the Emperor’s command, Duke Elrad bowed his head alone as the other ministers withdrew.
And so, like the tide receding, Serphin and Nicholas along with the heads of various factions departed one by one, and the grand hall doors shut firmly closed.
“Duke Elrad. Did you perhaps know that Grand Duchess Bellus was a mage?”
“No, I did not.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
The Emperor’s eyes narrowed as he received the answer that came back as swiftly as the question was asked, and then he burst into hearty laughter.
“Right, you would never lie to me. I understand.”
The Emperor nodded and gestured for him to leave.
Duke Elrad bowed with his characteristic impassive expression and turned to depart.
The Emperor had said he would never lie, but in truth, Duke Elrad knew well that the Emperor simply could not fathom that he would dare to do such a thing.
‘A Saint, of all things….’
Knowing the truth, I found the current situation merely bewildering.
The sudden appearance of the Demon Beast was troubling enough, but if the Emperor were to discover that Diana was truly a Saint, his reaction would be unpredictable.
As ominous premonitions pressed upon me, my footsteps quickened as I left the Imperial Palace.
* * *
“Saint! Please, just let us see your face once…!”
Saint! Saint…!
The voices of the crowds gathered before the Diapel Marquis Estate rang out noisily.
Hearing this commotion, I recalled my past life.
Naturally, in the past, Demon Beasts never appeared in this land.
This could only mean one thing.
A Demon had moved.
‘And even revealed itself directly before me at that.’
Though I could not discern the exact reason, I had a strong intuition that all of this had occurred because of me.
Moreover, I could not turn away from people in danger, so I was forced to reveal my abilities.
But those who did not know the circumstances seemed to believe I was the reincarnation of a Saint.
However, I had immediately clarified that the power I wielded was magic, not divine power.
‘The Temple had already made an official announcement that I was not a Saint….’
Seeing them gather before a high noble’s residence and cause such a commotion, they appeared to be fanatics who believed only what they wished to believe.
‘The true Saint they so desperately seek is living right across the way.’
While the situation was somewhat amusing, it occurred to me that Raezl and the Temple’s efforts to conceal Diana’s identity had not been solely to avoid the Demon Worshippers.
“Do not worry yourself too much. It will quiet down soon.”
As my head throbbed and I frowned, I heard Mother’s reassuring voice from beside me.
I would soon understand what Mother meant by ‘it will quiet down soon.’
“You senseless fools! Unless you wish to taste the flames of a Grand Mage rather than a Saint, get out of here!”
The resounding voice of my grandfather, the Late Marquis Diapel who had commanded the Border Territory his entire life, rang out, and silence descended in an instant.
Among it all, he seemed quite pleased with the fireball I had used to attack the Demon Beast, and while it was somewhat embarrassing that he mentioned it explicitly…I was at least able to catch my breath. Then it happened.
“Adriana.”
Father called me in a subdued voice.
“We celebrated Lady Elrad’s birthday, and the Founding Festival has ended. So….”
Father trailed off, but I could easily anticipate what came next.
He wanted me to return to Belus Duchy.
The face that always bore a radiant smile now looked profoundly dejected.
“I was far too complacent. I let my guard down like a fool.”
“Father.”
“I thought perhaps it was over, that nine years had passed and I needn’t worry anymore.”
Father spoke in a hollow voice, his dry hands betraying the turmoil in his heart.
“I should never have come to the Empire. Or better yet, I should never have provoked them at all. If I hadn’t done that, you wouldn’t have….”
“That’s not true.”
I hurried to stop Father before he could spiral further into self-recrimination and regret.
But Father was quicker.
“Demon Beasts. Everyone knows who controls them in this world. They’re certainly targeting you again. Otherwise, why would they remain silent all this time only to strike now that you’ve come to the Empire? There’s nothing more to discuss. We leave for the Duchy immediately.”
“I refuse. I cannot leave like this. If you wish to go, please return first, both of you.”
I flatly rejected Father’s proposal.
“Adriana!”
At my response, both Father and Mother called out my name in shock, but I did not yield.
“You may have forgotten your oath of vengeance, but I have not.”
“What? Vengeance….”
“Adriana, surely you haven’t been harboring such thoughts all this time?”
“Of course I have. Do you know how much I suffered, separated from you the moment I was born? How much pain and anguish I endured? Even in death, I cannot forget that resentment.”
At my words, Father’s eyes widened, and Mother covered her mouth.
Both their expressions grew unspeakably sorrowful.
In truth, when my parents first found me, they had sworn to take absolute revenge on the Demon Worshippers.
But I could sense that their resolve had wavered at some point.
Unlike their anxious vigilance for an imminent attack, peace had continued unbroken. My family, having barely reclaimed their happiness, became content merely with keeping me safe.
Of course, I understood their feelings well enough.
‘…In truth, I feel the same way.’
Had it not been for the matter of my soul, or had I possessed even the slightest certainty that they had released me, I could have forgotten such resentment countless times over.
‘But without that certainty….’
I always feared this peace would shatter, walking perpetually on thin ice.
I came to the Empire believing I could no longer live this way, and the result was the appearance of a Demon Beast.
Now that things had come to this, I could not simply remain idle.
Besides, there was still unfinished business for me in the Empire.
“Perhaps…we should rest for today.”
It was Mother who first broke the frozen silence.
Watching Mother lead the now-pallid Father toward the door, my heart felt as though it would tear, and I impulsively rushed to embrace him.
“Adriana…?”
“It’s not your fault, Father. Even without you, this would have happened eventually. So please, don’t blame yourself.”
At my words, Father stammered in confusion before thanking me for saying so and gently stroking my hair.
The inability to explain my relationship with the Demon, that long and bitter curse binding us, felt today more suffocating and sorrowful than ever.
After my parents left, I remained alone and let my head drop helplessly.
‘Am I happy in this life?’
I couldn’t fathom what intention lay behind such a question.
Was it meant to mock me, or was it a warning that he would now destroy this happiness?
But regardless of what it meant, it didn’t matter to me.
“Yes, I’m happy.”
I murmured as if in answer, steeling my resolve.
In this life, I would protect this happiness no matter what.
I would never again allow him to ravage my life as he pleased.

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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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