Everyone Was Obsessed With Me After I Became the Youngest Princess Favourite - Chapter 211
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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 Imperial Princess had become a Demon Worshipper.
At this shocking revelation, even my resolve wavered, and my heart sank.
‘I never imagined this.’
I had already known that Serphin was obsessed with Lucio.
But to think she would offer her very soul to a demon—
I hadn’t realized that Raezl’s words about personal ambition, desire, and long-held wishes would encompass even this… one-sided affection I couldn’t bear to call love.
‘The Demon Worshippers specialize in brainwashing and manipulating hearts.’
Those ensnared by their sorcery betray friends, lovers, and family without ever noticing anything amiss.
I had thought the mere mention of it chilling, but facing Lucio himself—unable to remember me, wary of me—the shock was overwhelming.
How could someone who whispered tender words of love just yesterday change so completely in an instant?
At least Diana’s intervention had allowed me to identify the cause immediately.
“Stop being stubborn and go to the Imperial Palace at once.”
“Yes. We must inform the Emperor and hand the Imperial Princess over to the Temple!”
My Grandfather and Mother shouted at Duke Elrad.
But the Duke remained silent, his lips sealed.
“What is this? Are you truly hesitating? Your son has become like that, and you speak of the Emperor’s blade and loyalty? No matter her imperial blood, if she has corrupted the heir of a meritorious house, she must be held accountable at once!”
“…I have no intention of making this matter public.”
Even as my Grandfather pressed him with stern words, the Duke repeated the same phrase without wavering, and my Grandfather exhaled a long, frustrated sigh.
Having watched over the Duke like a true son since childhood, my Grandfather knew his nature well, yet his face showed complete bewilderment at why he would act this way.
My Father, Askart, and the Duchess Elrad wore similar expressions.
The Duke offered a bitter smile.
Perhaps I alone in this room understood the meaning behind that smile.
‘He likely finds it distasteful to speak of demons to the Emperor.’
The Duke was a father who loved his son—how could he not be enraged by this situation?
By his own inclination, he would storm the Princess Palace immediately.
‘But if the Emperor learns that Serphin has made a contract with a demon…’
The Emperor might not punish her at all; instead, he might ask how one contracts with a demon.
Duke Elrad knew the Emperor’s true nature better than anyone, so he could not hastily reveal this to the Imperial Family.
I could scarcely imagine how desolate his heart must feel.
For long years, he had been bound to the Emperor through a demonic artifact, and he had only just thought it was finally over.
‘Now his son is enslaved to the Imperial Princess, who borrows the power of demons.’
A curse spanning generations, a tragedy repeating itself—his despair must be beyond measure.
And he must endure it alone, unable to confide in anyone.
I could not stand idle.
“I agree with the Duke’s position.”
“What? Adriana, you saw Lucio just moments ago and still say such a thing?”
Askart asked in surprise, but I turned the question back on him.
“If someone asks how you discovered the Imperial Princess is a Demon Worshipper, what will you answer?”
“What? That is…”
“There’s no evidence of a deal with a demon, so surely you’re not trying to expose that Diana is the reincarnation of a Saint?”
At my words, Askart and everyone else wore expressions of realization.
They seemed to understand that this was the reason the Duke had refused to inform the Imperial Family until now.
Then Mother asked carefully.
“Couldn’t we simply avoid mentioning the Young Lady’s story as much as possible? After all, it’s true that the Young Grand Duke’s condition became strange after leaving the Princess Palace.”
“We can’t create any situation where Diana might be suspected of being a Saint, even slightly.”
I said that taking Lucio to the Temple was also out of the question for that reason.
‘Besides, even if we went to the Temple, there wouldn’t be a Priestess capable of purifying him.’
“Then what should we do? When I spoke with Lucio, it seemed there were no problems with his daily life. But… we can’t let him continue not remembering you, Lia.”
Duchess Elrad spoke with a heavy heart, then hesitated. And she asked Father.
“Now that I think about it, Your Highness the Grand Duke. Didn’t you personally exterminate the Demon Worshippers long ago? Surely you must have seen those who fell victim to their sorcery at that time?”
“…Yes. I did.”
For Father, it was something he always wanted to forget, yet couldn’t—like a thorn lodged beneath a fingernail.
Since I had never heard the story from that time, I looked at him, and Father slowly opened his mouth.
“They appeared fine on the surface, but in reality, they were not. No matter how much their families wept and clung to them, begging them to come to their senses, they paid no heed and sheltered the Demon Worshippers. They even lost all fear—when the Demon Worshippers were dragged to the Temple awaiting execution by fire, they single-handedly confronted Holy Knights to save them. They… behaved as though the Demon Worshippers were their masters. When the Demon Worshippers finally died, they either went mad or took their own lives in despair.”
Father, who seemed to hesitate for a moment, decided that once he had begun speaking, he should be thorough, and spoke without any embellishment.
And when the explanation ended.
“Ah…”
Duchess Elrad, struck by shock, leaned against Duke Elrad’s shoulder with a pallid face.
But Duke Elrad, wrapping his arm around his wife’s shoulders, remained rigid yet showed no surprise whatsoever.
This was likely because he already knew how wicked and malicious anything related to demons truly was.
Yet unable to suppress the rising anger, Duke Elrad spoke through gritted teeth.
“Since they must obey unconditionally without will or thought, the relationship between master and servant couldn’t possibly be any more absolute than that.”
At the Duke’s sharp response, so unlike his usual restraint, Mother’s eyes narrowed.
“Dominic, if I recall correctly, you never directly participated in the extermination of Demon Worshippers. Yet you seem to know quite a lot about them.”
“Why wouldn’t I know! I searched their bases several times looking for artifacts…”
“Artifacts?”
As Mother tilted her head in confusion, Duke Elrad closed his mouth with a look of regret.
It was clear that he had been swept up by emotion and made a slip of the tongue he had never made in his entire life.
I was equally shaken.
‘That mad Emperor!’
I had long wondered why the Emperor had made the extermination of Demon Worshippers a condition for Bellus Duchy’s independence, but now I understood.
The Emperor, whose mind was consumed only with thoughts of keeping Mother by his side, apparently believed the Demon Worshippers might possess artifacts of another demon.
‘So he had them annihilated and then ransacked their bases to seize the artifacts for himself.’
Anger surged through me at the thought of how he could entrust such a task to Father’s hands.
“Dominic.”
When Mother called his name in a probing tone, Duke Elrad swallowed hard and spoke irritably.
“Is that important right now? Even before His Highness the Grand Duke took action, the Demon Worshippers were like a cancer in the Empire. As Minister of Military Affairs, I would have no reason not to know of the times I dealt with them.”
But when Duke Elrad grew angry, Mother only became more suspicious.
Before Mother could open her mouth to say “That’s not it, the artifacts…” I quickly changed the subject.
“Please, don’t worry yourselves. Raezl is here, after all.”
Raezl dispelled the illusion magic that had been binding me, restoring my true hair and eye color.
Though he couldn’t free the soul trapped within the necklace, he would certainly be able to undo whatever magic Lucio had been subjected to.
At my words, the Duchess Elrad, whose expression had grown dark, asked in a trembling voice.
“Will it truly be alright?”
“Of course. Naturally.”
In truth, I couldn’t be certain how long it would take, or if it was even possible at all.
But I suppressed my anxiety and nodded firmly.
The Duchess Elrad then released a relieved sigh, as though a weight had lifted from her shoulders.
“Hearing you say that brings me some comfort. Listen, Lia… if Lucio causes you sorrow through all this, don’t let it wound you too deeply. When he comes to his senses, I’ll give him a proper scolding.”
The Duchess Elrad spoke with concern, seemingly troubled by Allen’s words, and glanced briefly toward my parents.
She appeared worried that this incident might cause my family to call off the engagement.
At that, I quickly took the Duchess Elrad’s hand.
“Please don’t worry. When he regains his senses, he’ll likely feel far more sorry himself. When that happens, even if I sulk, please pretend not to notice.”
“Then of course! You’re free to make him suffer as much as you wish—no, several times over for what he’s put you through.”
Just don’t give up on him.
I could sense the words the Duchess Elrad couldn’t bring herself to speak aloud.
As I nodded, the Duchess Elrad managed a faint smile and rose from her seat.
“I should go check on Diana. Allen is with her, but I still can’t help worrying…”
“Then I’ll also… oh, no, never mind.”
I had begun to follow the Duchess Elrad to Diana, but I sat back down instead.
〈Why! Why won’t it work, why!〉
Diana, sensing the sinister aura emanating from the Imperial Princess that was suffocating Lucio’s soul, immediately drew upon her holy power and attempted purification.
But her hands didn’t burst forth with the clear, pure light that Raezl’s did.
After struggling several times, Diana ultimately collapsed from exhaustion.
By now she would have regained consciousness, but seeing me would surely make Diana sad again.
‘Last time too, she wept because she couldn’t awaken…’
I worried that an incident like today would cause her to feel needless guilt once more.
I wished I could resolve this myself, the way I had absorbed all the magical power and demonic energy from the demon artifact not long ago.
Unfortunately, I had no knowledge of how to dispel the Demon Worshippers’ magic.
Moreover, I didn’t even know exactly what magic had been cast on Lucio, so recklessly interfering could produce unforeseen consequences.
‘Raezl must come.’
Fortunately, because I had contacted him early due to the Demon Beast’s appearance, I received word that Raezl would come to the Empire soon.
‘So he’ll arrive shortly. Then surely…’
Lucio will be fine.
I thought this while gripping my trembling hands tightly together.
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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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