Everyone Was Obsessed With Me After I Became the Youngest Princess Favourite - Chapter 213

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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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Lucio’s expression bore the same frigid coldness as yesterday.
Those ice-like eyes felt so unfamiliar that my chest seemed to hollow out.
Before I could even draw a breath to call out to him, Lucio turned his head.
“Your Highness, would you like to tour the garden right away? Or shall we have tea first?”
“Hmm… tea can wait.”
Serphin, who had been carefully observing Lucio’s demeanor toward me, answered with a slight curl of her lips.
She seemed satisfied that he appeared as indifferent to me as he had been to Diana.
What a shameless woman.
I had deliberately mentioned Lucio’s injuries from yesterday, yet she didn’t even bat an eyelash.
“Then I shall guide you to the garden at once.”
At that moment, seeing Lucio about to lead Serphin toward the Maze Garden, I instinctively stepped into their path.
“That won’t do!”
Though I tried my best to maintain composure, my voice came out sharp and heated.
Both Serphin and Diana looked startled and turned to stare at me, but my gaze was fixed on Lucio.
With eyes that asked, ‘Are you really going to take her there?’
Of course, the Maze Garden was a renowned attraction of the Duke’s Mansion—all visitors strolled through it at least once, and even servants frequently used it for private conversations in that open space.
So there was nothing wrong with the Imperial Princess who visited the mansion wandering through it.
But.
‘That place holds special memories for me!’
In the past, when I infiltrated Diana’s birthday party, the Maze Garden was where I unexpectedly encountered Lucio, and it was also where I had rendezvoused multiple times with Lucio disguised as the leader of Darel.
Though the current Lucio remembered neither the previous life nor events from this one, I could not bear to watch him spend intimate moments alone with Serphin in such a place.
“By what authority does the Crown Princess forbid entry to the Duke’s Mansion gardens?”
At that moment, Lucio asked me coldly.
I looked at him with an expression full of things to say, then turned away.
“Your Highness, it’s unfortunate, but I heard that wild beasts ravaged the Maze Garden at dawn, and they had to be subdued rather violently—there was even blood spilled. I worry that entering now might offend your refined sensibilities.”
It was a ridiculous excuse.
Wild beasts infiltrating the Imperial Capital itself, no less the Duke’s Mansion, which was famous for its ironclad security.
But the details hardly mattered.
What was important was making clear my intention not to let the Imperial Princess into the Maze Garden.
‘And incidentally, I could subtly reproach her for how she treated Lucio yesterday.’
Of course, I harbored no expectation that Serphin would feel even slightly guilty.
However, people of such arrogant temperament became quite generous when given even a small dose of base satisfaction, so there was a high probability she would not insist further upon seeing my reaction.
And indeed.
“My, was there such an incident?”
Serphin seemed quite pleased, noticing my jealous obstruction, her eyes brightening.
I deliberately made my expression stiff as I spoke.
“Yes. The Young Duke must have left the mansion early in the morning and didn’t know about it.”
I felt Lucio’s gaze fixed upon me, but I did not turn to look at him.
“What a shame. I came all this way to the Duke’s Mansion.”
“Then Your Highness, how about a stroll through the Back Garden instead? While not as unique as the Maze Garden, it possesses a delicate and charming appeal quite different from the splendid Imperial Palace.”
“I’m happy anywhere, as long as I’m with you, Young Duke.”
“Then I shall have refreshments prepared there as well.”
At their swift exchange of tender words, my expression finally hardened completely.
Watching the Imperial Princess flush with joy, I couldn’t manage my composure properly.
That’s when Lucio glanced at me and asked.
“Surely nothing has gone amiss in the Duke’s Mansion’s back garden without my knowledge?”
“….”
It was a subtle jab, implying that I had prevented him from entering the Maze Garden earlier.
My heart was already shattered, and with Lucio’s words, it felt as though it was crumbling into dust.
“Older Brother, how could you say that to——!”
“It’s fine, Diana.”
I gripped Diana’s hand firmly as she rushed toward Lucio in agitation.
Then, forcing a smile, I spoke.
“The back garden is perfectly fine. Please, enjoy your time together.”
Instead of answering me, Lucio turned his gaze toward Serphin.
Beneath the parasol he held over her, Serphin wore an expression of pure delight as she nodded and walked alongside him.
Though holding a cream-colored parasol with frills might have made him look like an attendant.
Yet Lucio’s natural grace was such that his escort of Serphin appeared to any observer as a gentleman tenderly caring for a lady of distinction.
“Sister….”
As I watched their receding figures without turning my gaze away, Diana called to me with a trembling voice.
“It’s fine, Diana.”
I spoke in a deliberately cheerful tone, then turned away.
Then the man who had been fidgeting with much to say since Lucio arrived at the Duke’s Mansion widened his eyes.
* * *
“I’m truly sorry to say this to my lord, but you’re clearly not in your right mind! Honestly, no matter what, I could hardly believe that the Empire’s Imperial Princess had joined hands with a demon, but this is really…!”
Nix, Lucio’s Aide, rushed toward me and launched into an impassioned speech, unable to contain his agitation.
“It was already strange that you came to work in the first place, but you skipped the morning meeting and all your usual briefings, spending the entire morning at the Princess Palace!”
“…Is that so?”
“Yes! And at the Imperial Princess’s mere mention of wanting dinner at Obli Restaurant, you immediately ordered me to make a reservation….”
“Obli Restaurant?”
Lost in troubled thoughts, I furrowed my brow.
That restaurant was the most popular date destination for couples in the Capital City.
One could barely secure a reservation even with months of advance notice.
“So you made the reservation?”
“Yes? Of course….”
“Ahem, ahem!”
Just then, as Nix continued speaking, Diana suddenly coughed, and he belatedly noticed my expression before closing his mouth.
But my mood had already soured, and I couldn’t relax my expression.
‘And here he’s never even taken me on a proper date!’
Reflecting on it, Lucio and I had only ever spent time together in secret, as though conducting some clandestine affair.
‘But Serphin… they’re having dinner at a nice restaurant together?’
Even knowing Lucio wasn’t in his right mind, I couldn’t help but feel my pride sting.
“Your Highness, the Crown Princess. Still, our lord didn’t go to meet the Imperial Princess on a reckless whim.”
It was then that Nix, who had been watching my expression, spoke carefully.
When I looked at him questioningly, Nix explained that last night Lucio had informed him and Bert, his closest confidants, that Serphin had become a Demon Worshipper, and then ordered them to monitor and report on everything the Imperial Princess said and did.
“To be honest, I didn’t understand why he gave such an order yesterday… but it seems our lord had anticipated it. That when he’s with the Imperial Princess, his mind might not be entirely sound.”
Nix, who had been marveling at Lucio’s foresight, wore a pitiful expression.
“Our lord doesn’t remember a single word or action he took with the Imperial Princess. Even today, he received reports from Bert several times and was astounded each time. So…”
Nix, whose words had been trailing off, suddenly looked directly at me and spoke solemnly.
“Everything our lord said and did to Your Highness just now was not sincere.”
His earnest expression silently pleaded with me not to misunderstand.
It was the same sentiment as the Duchess Elrad’s request last night.
But my feelings were quite different now.
‘Yesterday, I thought I could understand and forgive whatever Lucio did…’
I was well aware that Lucio’s condition was abnormal.
The moment I saw Lucio with Serphin, I could even deduce what kind of spell had been cast on him.
‘It’s probably an enchantment spell that makes the caster blindly followed and loved.’
Fortunately, Diana had mentioned earlier that Lucio seemed to have resistance to magical power.
Whether because of that or my own wishful thinking, he didn’t appear to be a man who loved Serphin enough to lay down his life.
Yet, seeing him laugh cheerfully with another woman right in front of me…
“Your lord doesn’t remember me, so is it really all right to tell me such things?”
I asked curtly, pretending not to notice the part of me that understood with my head but couldn’t accept with my heart.
At that, Nix jumped up and answered.
“What? Of course it’s all right! Your Highness, the Crown Princess, will become our future mistress. I’m sure our lord will praise us for it once his mind returns.”
Hearing that answer, guilt washed over me.
Unlike my resolve from last night, it seemed I wasn’t embracing Lucio well enough.
In the end, I let out a short sigh and rose from my seat.
“I should go see for myself.”
No matter how much my stomach churned, he was my lover—I needed to see with my own eyes what he was doing.
* * *
I made my way to the Back Garden, moving without a sound.
Lucio and Serphin were leisurely strolling through the Back Garden.
‘Are they planning to spend time like this and then go out for dinner?’
Though reluctant, I felt I had to stop Serphin.
‘I absolutely cannot watch them dine together intimately.’
As I quietly followed the two of them, I suddenly felt a strange sense of déjà vu.
‘This feels exactly like… chasing after evidence of a husband’s infidelity!’
In fact, wasn’t this the kind of task I used to do frequently when hired by noblewomen?
Never imagining I’d experience the feelings of the wronged party myself, I felt my blood boil hot enough to make my head spin.
That was when it happened.
Something caught at Serphin’s feet, and I watched as she stumbled forward with a startled cry.
Lucio immediately caught her by the waist.
“…?!”
In an instant, their bodies—which had been close enough for him to shield her with an umbrella—pressed against each other.
The atmosphere had become decidedly strange.
Serphin’s cheeks flushed crimson as her eyes grew hazy, and she suddenly began reaching her hand toward his face.
‘What, what is she doing! Is she about to kiss him?’
I held my breath in shock.

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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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