Everyone Was Obsessed With Me After I Became the Youngest Princess Favourite - Chapter 252

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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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No one in this world threatened me and my precious people anymore.
My fractured soul had also been restored.
So I was certain of it.
That my future would be filled with nothing but happiness.
But then.
“With the previous Emperor already deceased, is there truly a need to proceed with the engagement?”
Wait, Mother?
“I fully understand your lack of faith in me. Therefore, I shall defer to the Grand Duchess’s wishes.”
No, Lucio! What are you doing now?
So utterly bewildered that I lost my words, my mouth fell open.
Who could have anticipated such an unexpected complication lying in wait!
* * *
One day before the incident.
I was enjoying a peaceful time with Diana, just as I always did.
“This is absolutely infuriating! I explicitly told them never to create a study, yet they brazenly hung a nameplate reading ‘Saint’s Chamber’ on the Temple! They revere me to my face while scheming to exploit me behind my back!”
Perhaps this peace had only come to me.
Diana clenched her fists and shouted in anger.
Since Diana had been voicing her grievances about the Temple for quite some time, I could only laugh.
The incident where the Imperial Princess of the Laksten Empire became a Demon Worshipper and assassinated her own father, the Emperor—an event that shocked not only the Laksten Empire but the entire Continent—quickly subsided as Prince Nicholas ascended to the throne as the new Emperor.
But unlike the Emperor’s assassination that faded from memory….
​
〈Saint, please show us your face just once!〉
〈We have a child dying of illness in our home. Saint, please show us mercy….〉
​
The interest in the Saint officially appointed by the Temple—she who had annihilated the Demon and purified the forbidden Black Forest—burned ever more fiercely like wildfire.
Both the Elrad Duchy and the Temple, preoccupied with Diana’s renown, could not simply turn people away, and were at a loss for what to do. It was Diana herself who brought order to the situation.
〈I shall visit the Temple twice a week from now on. If you require divine power, come then. Should you cause a disturbance by visiting my home otherwise, I shall never set foot in the Temple again.〉
As Diana spoke with unwavering resolve, radiating brilliant pure white light from her entire being, a powerful aura of purification gently enveloped the surroundings.
And remarkably, from that very day, the people causing chaos in front of the Duke’s Mansion vanished entirely.
‘Thanks to that, the Temple was in a festive mood, eagerly awaiting Diana’s arrival.’
Raezl in particular, who had returned to his position as High Priest after fulfilling his duty, was so delighted he could have danced.
But Diana was not.
She had expected to spend abundant time with me once everything was resolved, only to be deeply disappointed by the suddenly established regular schedule.
“This is really too much. Twice a week is already plenty for me, yet they’re subtly trying to increase it to three times! How am I ever supposed to go on a distant journey with my sister!”
Watching Diana pout with her cheeks puffed out looked exactly like when she used to sulk as a child, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“That’s what you’re worried about? Don’t you remember when I arrived at the Duke’s Mansion on your birthday using a teleportation scroll?”
“Huh?”
“With a little more development, it should be possible to travel from the Empire to Bellus Duchy in a single movement.”
“Really?”
“Of course. And if we travel even farther than that, I can use spatial magic directly to take you with me.”
At my words, Diana clapped a hand over her mouth in surprise.
“You’re the best, Sister!”
I patted Diana’s back as she nestled against me like an excited puppy, and I couldn’t help but feel a swell of pride in my shoulders.
I was deeply pleased to know that the Saint—a legendary hero from mythology—could be so affectionate and adorable.
Yet precisely because of this, I found myself worrying.
I wondered if young Diana felt burdened by the intense attention she received from everyone for her every action, and…
“Diana, people have been pestering you lately to use your holy power. Are you finding it difficult?”
When I asked carefully, Diana’s eyes widened.
“Huh? Not at all. Holy power recovers quickly with just a little rest, you know?”
“Really?”
Every time Raezl visited the Grand Duke’s Castle, he complained bitterly about his holy power being depleted and exhausted.
It was the same even after he purified me.
“The Saint truly is different.”
“Hehe.”
Diana smiled bashfully at my sincere admiration, then asked in a subtle tone.
“But Sister, it’s finally tomorrow.”
“Huh? Oh, ah…”
For a moment I didn’t understand what she meant, but then I nodded shyly.
“Actually, since you woke up and everything was resolved well, my family has been incredibly worried because we couldn’t set a date for the formal meeting.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. We need to hold the formal meeting first and set a date so we can proceed with the engagement ceremony or the wedding.”
A wedding?
“Anyway, yesterday he suddenly asked us to have dinner together, and my entire family was thrilled.”
After subtly bringing up the topic of marriage, Diana smoothly changed the subject, watching my reaction.
I couldn’t help but laugh at her shamelessness.
Yet even as I laughed now, I was just as anxious as she was.
Normally, we should have held the formal meeting long ago, set a date for the engagement ceremony, and discussed concrete details.
‘But because Lucio lost all his memories of me, it’s been postponed indefinitely.’
I had been so anxious since that day until now…
As I let out a quiet sigh of relief, Diana chuckled and asked.
“Did you convince him?”
“Huh? No!”
I quickly shook my head in denial.
And I revealed to Diana alone the true feelings I was too embarrassed to tell my family or even Lucio.
“Actually, I was afraid that if I brought it up first, it might backfire, so I stayed quiet.”
“Right! If you had, the Previous Marquis and the Grand Duke’s son would have been incredibly disappointed.”
The truth was I was worried my parents would be just as disappointed, if not more so than Grandfather and Askart, but I didn’t add that unnecessarily.
It seemed the Duchess Elrad and Diana had an image of Mother as a “cold and aloof noblewoman.”
I was dutifully protecting Mother’s image in this way when Diana suddenly asked.
“But Sister, you don’t think something will happen tomorrow, do you?”
“What’s wrong?”
“Suddenly, your family is opposing the engagement, or something like that…”
Diana’s expression grew anxious, as if recalling how cold our family’s reaction had been when Lucio lost his memory.
“No, it’ll be fine.”
Though Grandfather suddenly complained of knee pain and poor condition, and my parents began mentioning they should return to the Grand Duchy soon, deliberately avoiding occasions with House Elrad…
“In any case, we’ve decided to hold the formal meeting.”
I reassured Diana.
My family also understood that what happened then wasn’t Lucio’s fault.
I had revealed my regression and shared the connection between Lucio and me that stretched back through my previous life.
‘Besides, now that they know of Duke Elrad’s sacrifices for our family, there’s no reason for them to object.’
Thus, completely unaware of the future bearing down upon me, I smiled back at Diana, whose face was bright with anticipation.
* * *
Finally, the day of the formal meeting arrived.
My eyes opened naturally before dawn at the thought of seeing Lucio, whom I hadn’t met in a week.
Taking advantage of the early hour, I paid careful attention to my appearance and attire.
‘Hmm. It’s not just because of Lucio.’
After all, today was an important day!
Having made all my preparations from morning, I set out with my family toward the Elrad Duke’s Mansion.
Duke Elrad, the Duchess Elrad, Allen, and Diana were waiting to receive us at the entrance of the mansion.
“Welcome.”
The Duke greeted us with a somewhat sheepish expression.
“Lucio is running a bit late finishing some urgent matters. He said he’d be here soon, so let’s go inside for now.”
Ah…
I’d wondered why Lucio wasn’t visible, but to think he was actually running late.
More than disappointment, memories of the last formal meeting flooded back, and my heart sank inexplicably.
There was no way Lucio would return covered in blood like that day.
‘I know, I know…’
Yet my chest still raced with anxiety.
At the same time, even knowing how important his duties were, I felt a twinge of resentment.
‘No matter how urgent the matter, shouldn’t he be here early on a day like this?’
Before things even began, I was already losing points!
But then.
“We know well that the Young Lord is the busiest person in the Empire right now. It’s fine—let’s just go inside.”
“Yes, he said he’d be here soon, so let’s wait inside.”
My parents’ response was so favorable it made my worry seem foolish.
“Why are you standing there gaping? Do you mean to keep an old man on his feet? Are you checking if the tonic is working?”
“Just hearing Grandfather’s voice tells me the tonic is working well!”
Askart, grumbling as always and exclaiming with innocent admiration, was the same.
‘Wow, the atmosphere is actually nice?’
It seems my family has truly opened their hearts!

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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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