Everyone Was Obsessed With Me After I Became the Youngest Princess Favourite - Chapter 274

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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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“Ah….”
An uncontrolled groan escaped Lucio’s lips.
Jack, realizing that Lia must have asked Lucio the same question, spoke with sudden understanding.
“When she was young, Lia used to ask the orphanage children about her hair color and eye color.”
He said he could never forget how surprising and strange it was to see such a quiet, timid child—one who usually had little presence—asking around so earnestly.
Jack searched his memory and answered, recalling clearly how the child’s face had grown terribly melancholic upon hearing their responses.
Lucio’s trembling hands clenched into fists as he shot to his feet.
Now he was certain—Lia truly must be the Grand Duchess Bellus.
Most likely, a powerful spell had been cast upon her.
Convinced that only the Grand Mage could unravel this, Lucio sought out his father, Duke Elrad, and immediately sent word to the Bellus Duchy.
The Grand Duke replied without delay, announcing his departure for the Empire.
And the very next day, a strict order descended upon the Lexion Knights.
They were commanded to tighten security regarding any visitors to the Duke’s Residence that day, ensuring absolute secrecy, and to prevent any infiltration by outsiders at all costs.
Lucio waited for the Grand Duke’s arrival, terrified that he might never see Lia again.
He never could have imagined it.
That Lia would appear at the Duke’s Residence of her own accord.
“Why on earth are you….”
The moment I saw the face hidden behind the mask, I finally understood what it meant for one’s hair to turn white with shock.
All the sharp intensity I had maintained until moments before vanished, replaced by an overwhelming urge to seize her at any cost.
“Lia…!”
Lia, her heart pierced by the blade, collapsed while coughing blood.
All sound and movement around me seemed to slow to a crawl.
“No, why are you….”
How could you leave me and die again!
Perhaps it was the shock of witnessing something so utterly unreal.
Terrible anguish washed over me, and a scene I had never witnessed before flashed like lightning through my mind—words tumbled from my lips without thought.
Lucio’s cheeks were drenched with tears.
Even if I lost my own heart, I could never feel such sorrow and emptiness.
“Lia…?”
It was then that Jack, who had been staring blankly at Lucio as he sobbed as though his breath would cease, stammered out the question.
Jack too could see clearly the face of the intruder felled by his own blade.
To Jack, who had sketched Lia’s visage in his dreams countless times, those features were unmistakably familiar.
But.
“That can’t be… it can’t be.”
Jack shook his head frantically, denying it.
He had searched for her so long, all to speak those words—that he would protect her for life.
That he had killed Lia with his own hands was impossible, unthinkable.
As though rejecting a reality his mind could not accept, Jack continued to murmur denials without pause.
Yet hot tears streamed from his eyes—as though he were thrashing in a pit from which there was no escape.
And so, as Lucio and Jack stood in the depths of living hell, their anguished cries tore through the air.
A sudden gust of wind swept through, and thick darkness consumed the Duke’s Estate.
Only the enormous full moon provided light to the surroundings.
Beneath it, a strikingly beautiful man with a deathly pale face appeared silently atop the Tower Spire, accompanied by a desolate chill.
“…!”
It was immediately clear that he was not human.
No ordinary human could possibly have black wings sprouting from their back.
“A Demon….”
Lucio’s voice trembled thinly.
The hands cradling the fallen Lia trembled just the same.
His blue eyes, wet with tears, shattered like cracked glass, rippling with unbearable anguish and a long-buried, profound emptiness.
“You again….”
Why had I only just realized it?
The moment Lia’s breath ceased, a hateful surge of mana had swept across the Tower Spire and enveloped the Duke’s Estate like this.
And the very source of all this calamity stood right before my eyes.
Lucio, who had been glaring at the Demon with eyes consumed by madness, suddenly froze.
Even in the moment when the Saint stripped away its power and sealed it, when the arrogant Demon had screamed in rage, “How dare a mere human!”—its eyes now burned with lust.
Seeing those crimson eyes fixed upon Lia, Lucio understood.
The curse the Saint had cast had made Lia its target.
And the suffering Lia had endured because of it.
“Bring her back to life.”
Lucio clenched his teeth and shouted at Setikaael.
The emotion that the Demon—who had killed Spleshia and tormented Lia—must have harbored was too repulsive even to speak of….
“If you love her, bring her back to life!”
If only Lia could be restored, Lucio would have been willing to kneel before the Demon he so despised and loathed, begging and pleading.
If the Demon refused, he would throw himself at it to kill it.
He knew it was impossible for him without holy power.
He would likely die first. But that was fine.
After all, he had already severed this life without hesitation in a world without her; this would merely be a repetition.
Laying Lia down on the cold floor was something I hated enough to die over, but I couldn’t entrust her to the dazed Jack.
“Just wait a moment. I’m sorry.”
Pressing my forehead against hers, I whispered an apology I could never reach her with, then rose to my feet.
And in the instant I drew my sword toward my ancient enemy.
“Ah!”
At Jack’s cry, I turned to see Lia’s body, which I had laid on the ground, slowly rising into the air.
Realizing the Demon’s doing, Lucio desperately grabbed Lia while glaring at the creature.
In the next instant, he was pulled directly in front of the Demon.
The Demon’s crimson eyes gleamed as it laughed, regarding Lucio’s unflinching gaze with contempt.
“Ugh!”
But soon, its laughter faded as it seized Lucio’s throat.
Jack rushed desperately at the Demon, but with a mere gesture, he was hurled against a pillar with a resounding crash.
Even with his throat constricted, Lucio refused to release Lia, and the Demon sneered at him without inflection.
“You’re begging me to save her? I was already planning to, so stop being a nuisance.”
Lucio’s eyes, blazing with fury, wavered.
His mind knew better than to trust the sinister Demon, but….
“You must save her.”
As if suppressing the emotions surging up his throat, Lucio squeezed his eyes shut and slowly loosened his grip on Lia.
In that instant, brilliant light engulfed the entire world.
* * *
Lucio opened his eyes slowly.
Beyond the window of his room, the Tower Spire of the Duke’s Mansion loomed prominently.
Lucio gazed at it with an intense stare, then gradually turned his body.
After encountering Jack by chance and recalling memories of the past, I had traced back to the final moment of my previous life.
‘I truly despise it, but… I suppose I should be grateful that time was turned back.’
Of course, when I thought of those who had suffered misfortune because of the Demon’s existence, and when I considered the ending the Demon who ultimately saved Lia had dreamed of, such gratitude quickly faded away.
Yet after experiencing all of that and finally obtaining this peace, I felt indescribably joyful.
The brief date that left me wanting more, and the time spent holding close those painful and lonely memories as well.
My previously dark expression brightened, and a faint smile graced my lips.
Feeling a profound sense of fulfillment filling my chest, I vowed that no matter what came, I would protect this happiness.
Light began to flicker from the communication crystal I had placed on the desk when I entered the room moments ago.
Lucio’s eyes sharpened with intensity.
* * *
“I’ve never seen a blue rose before—it’s truly beautiful.”
“Isn’t it?”
At Mother’s words, I smiled with satisfaction.
After finishing the date, I had rushed straight to the Reception Room where my family was waiting, and it was worth showing off the flowers I had received today.
“Don’t you want to keep them in your room?”
We had arranged to decorate both our rooms and the Study.
Since there were so many flowers, we divided them among several vases and could display them in multiple places, Askart explained.
“I told him to put a few stems in my room too. But since they’re such a rare color of rose, it’s better to see them all together like this.”
When I brought them in just now, even the Butler from the Marquis Residence and the Maidservants from the Grand Ducal House were utterly astonished by the blue roses.
Since these were flowers Lucio had gone to great lengths to obtain, I thought it would be nice to display them in the Reception Room where many people pass through so they could appreciate them.
‘And earn some points with the family while I’m at it.’
As if noticing my true intentions, Mother narrowed her eyes and looked at me, then let out a soft laugh.
I was scratching my cheek in embarrassment when it happened.
“So was the date fun?”
Askart asked with sparkling eyes.
I was about to answer that it was naturally enjoyable when I suddenly hesitated.
Perhaps it was because the person asking was Askart of all people.
The whereabouts of the Former Countess Amber flashed through my mind.
At the same time, the anxiety planted in my heart revealed its presence and pounded relentlessly.

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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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