Everyone Was Obsessed With Me After I Became the Youngest Princess Favourite - Chapter 257

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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 reason Lia’s family had gathered together, heaving sighs in unison, was abundantly clear.
“Like father, like son, I suppose….”
It was all because of Lucio, who had just meekly declared moments ago that he would renounce his engagement to Lia.
The Grand Duchess, clutching her throbbing temples, could no longer contain her frustration and cried out.
“How can someone so young be so utterly stubborn?”
At the Grand Duchess’s words, Askart’s expression grew equally troubled.
“Exactly. I never expected him to take responsibility just because he couldn’t keep a promise he made back then….”
“Sigh.”
“Hmm.”
The Previous Marquis and the Grand Duke likewise exhaled heavy sighs with troubled expressions, swallowing their words.
They had no choice. In truth, none of them harbored any genuine desire to cancel this marriage proposal!
They were well aware that Lucio’s loss of memory was not entirely his fault, and watching him remain steadfastly by Lia’s side throughout her soul’s recovery had even caused them to forget their earlier anger.
Above all, having learned that Lia had suffered through adulthood only to die meaninglessly and return to childhood, how could they possibly reject this union?
The Previous Marquis, who had failed to recognize his granddaughter even when she stood within arm’s reach.
Askart, who had buried himself in fruitless research within the Academy while his sister begged nearby, bearing false accusations.
Even the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess, who had remained in ignorance, struggling through their anguish in the Grand Duchy.
In a life that had been nothing but arduous and lonely, they had no right to oppose Lucio, who—save for the Demon and the Demon Worshippers who had deceived Lia—was virtually the only one to show genuine goodwill and tenderness.
Moreover, the debt they owed to Duke Elrad was considerable.
They had never imagined in their wildest dreams that the Emperor would extend such terrible claws, nor that the Duke would become entangled and serve as the Emperor’s instrument for so many long years.
‘If only he had spoken of it, we would have tried to resolve it together.’
Though she regarded the Duke as foolish for bearing that heavy burden alone in silence, the Grand Duchess could not help but smile bitterly, knowing the sincerity beneath his reticence.
The Previous Marquis, who thought of Duke Elrad as a son, felt equally bitter.
Intellectually, he understood that the Emperor would have targeted the Duke regardless of time or place, yet his heart whispered that perhaps such suffering might never have occurred had he not foolishly shared drinks with the Emperor.
Precisely because of this regret and sorrow, becoming one family with Duke Elrad was absolutely not something to oppose.
Of course, the Grand Duke’s sentiments were no different, now that he knew all the circumstances.
In fact, the Grand Duke even found himself agreeing with Duke Elrad on certain points.
‘If we’re going to arrange an engagement anyway… it’s far better that Lia be with the Young Lord than risk her meeting someone strange and being hurt.’
As a father, he found greater peace of mind in binding her early to someone trustworthy.
Besides, it seemed unlikely that Lia and Lucio would meet lightly and part ways.
Thus, they were absolutely in favor of this marriage proposal.
Yet there was a reason they had feigned reluctance during the formal meeting, concealing their true intentions.
“It seems Lucio didn’t know about this after all….”
Askart, who had inadvertently provided the cause, spoke in a dispirited voice.
Several days prior, when he had gone to the Elrad Duke’s Mansion to fetch Lia, he had accidentally obtained shocking information.
Namely, that House Elrad was already preparing the wedding ceremony for Lucio and Lia, and had even begun decorating the bridal chamber.
No matter that they had already received a marriage proposal, had a formal meeting scheduled, and had accepted House Elrad as family in their hearts….
〈Already preparing the wedding?〉
〈…A bridal chamber?〉
For Lia’s family, who had never even contemplated romance, let alone marriage, until arriving in the Empire, this news struck like a thunderbolt from a clear sky.
Anxious that they might lose their daughter if they remained passive, they began postponing the formal meeting and putting their heads together in worry.
And the result of that deliberation was to act as though deliberately sabotaging the marriage proposal.
When House Elrad panicked and attempted mediation, he planned to concede defeat and propose conditions: they would become engaged for now, but the wedding would be postponed at least two years, with the ceremony to be held in Bellus Duchy….
“It seems the marriage preparations were Duke Elrad’s unilateral decision. Askart, it’s not your fault, so don’t make that face.”
“Right. In a way, the talk of marriage went through smoothly. We’ve achieved what we wanted.”
Though the situation had spiraled far beyond expectations and was deeply awkward, the Grand Duchess and the Previous Marquis comforted the self-reproaching Askart with their words.
Yet Askart’s eyes, drooping far lower than usual, showed no sign of returning to their normal state.
Because what mattered more than the outcome was….
“You must be quite disappointed, aren’t you?”
Adriana’s feelings.
Remembering the bewildered expression Lia had worn from the moment they first broached the subject, and especially the face she’d made when Lucio said he would follow the Grand Duchess’s wishes, my chest grew heavy with unease.
So after finishing the meal, when I said I would speak briefly with Lucio before leaving, I simply nodded without protest and returned to the Marquis’s Residence.
It was then that Askart fretted anxiously, wondering if his reluctance to part with his precious sister had instead wounded Lia.
“It will be fine, Askart.”
The Grand Duke spoke gently.
“After all, the Young Lord said he would follow our wishes, so he’ll naturally find a way to appease Adriana’s anger. Besides.”
“…?”
“I don’t think we need worry overmuch about this matter.”
At those words, the Previous Marquis and the Grand Duchess widened their eyes.
“What do you mean, we needn’t worry? That we don’t need to worry?”
“Your Grace, didn’t the Young Lord say he would do his utmost to restore the trust he has broken? So shouldn’t we simply watch over them with good intentions?”
“But, Your Majesty. What will we say if Adriana demands to know why we did this?”
At the Grand Duchess’s anxious voice, the Grand Duke offered a tender smile.
“Shameful as it is, we must confess honestly.”
“Ah….”
“Adriana will surely understand.”
Yes, our kind and angelic daughter surely would.
Though it would be terribly embarrassing and we’d lose all dignity….
Lacking the courage to speak, my gaze naturally fell.
Seeing that my wife, father-in-law, and son had all grown despondent, the Grand Duke judged that more vigorous reassurance was needed, thought for a moment, then spoke with conviction.
“In fact, what my wife said wasn’t wrong, was it?”
“Pardon?”
“As the Young Lord himself acknowledged, the fact that he wounded Adriana is undeniable.”
He deliberately omitted the usual platitudes everyone knew—that losing his memory wasn’t Lucio’s fault, or that the debt owed to Duke Elrad was substantial.
Having comforted his family with such a one-sided approach, the Grand Duke wore a satisfied smile.
But then.
“…?”
For some reason, his wife and son—whom he’d expected to find some relief—and even the Previous Marquis wore oddly strange expressions.
The Grand Duke was not particularly perceptive, yet in this moment, an inexplicable chill ran down his spine.
Turning slowly, he finally discovered it.
His precious daughter, gazing at him with trembling pink eyes.
“Ah, Adriana…?”
I hadn’t heard a single sound or sensed any presence, so when on earth had she returned?
‘Surely she didn’t hear that.’
The Grand Duke tried desperately to believe as much, but judging by the shock in Lia’s eyes, it seemed she had already formed a firm misunderstanding.
And as expected.
“It was Father?”
“Huh?”
“I was absolutely certain it was Grandfather, Mother, or Older Brother who opposed it!”
To think that Father, who had always quietly supported me, was the one who stepped forward!
Watching Lia tremble with a sense of betrayal, the color drained from the Grand Duke’s face.
“Young Lady, it’s not like that…”
“I heard it myself—are you denying it now?”
Goodness. Not even being honest?
When Lia wore an expression of genuine disappointment, the Grand Duke shot up from his seat and tried to protest urgently.
But.
“Your Majesty asked if he could approve the marriage as things stand, didn’t he?”
“R-right! Father said so!”
The Grand Duchess and Askart attacked the Grand Duke one step faster.
The Previous Marquis had likewise changed his stance.
“Lia, my dear, this old grandfather never opposed anything! When you marry, you’ll live in the Elrad Duke’s Mansion, which is practically next door to the Marquis’s Residence—you could see your face every day without having to take a boat. Why would I ever oppose it?”
“Ah, even Father-in-law…”
Thud.
In an instant, the Grand Duke—who had not only been betrayed by his family but had become the culprit who ruined Lia’s marriage prospects—felt his legs give way beneath him as he collapsed onto the sofa.

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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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