Everyone Was Obsessed With Me After I Became the Youngest Princess Favourite - Chapter 282

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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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“Pardon?”
“Um….”
Both Lucio and I stared blankly, unable to immediately grasp Father’s words.
Mother burst into laughter upon seeing the Grand Duke equally taken aback.
“What’s with that expression? Anyone would think you’d just received a marriage proposal!”
“A, a, approval?”
“Yes.”
Mother answered lightly, then averted her gaze slightly and added with embarrassment.
“Truth is, I never intended to oppose it from the start.”
“What?! Then why did you act that way at the first meeting! Tormenting the children like that…!”
“Why are you raising your voice? The children are sitting quietly. It seems your own heart was more troubled, wasn’t it?”
As Mother responded with her habitual sarcasm, Father quickly called out “My dear” to stop her.
The Grand Duke, who had been about to counter, also cleared his throat and closed his mouth at the Duchess’s glance.
Once the atmosphere had barely settled, Father let out a shallow sigh and apologized to the Grand Duke.
“I suddenly opposed the engagement and startled not only the Young Duke but you and your family as well. I apologize.”
“No, there’s no need to apologize.”
Doubt still lingered in the Grand Duke’s expression as he said this.
Father, not noticing this, looked toward Lucio.
“At the last meeting, I said you’d have every reason not to trust us.”
“Ah… Yes.”
Lucio, who had been dazed until then, nodded his head a beat too late and answered.
“But we have never distrusted you.”
“…Pardon?”
“Rather, you’ve been so trustworthy it’s been difficult. The more I observed you, the more certain I became that you truly cherish and love our Adriana.”
Perhaps he was greatly surprised to learn he was already trusted, when he had said he would request the engagement again after working to restore trust.
Emotions welled up slowly across Lucio’s face, which had worn an awkward expression unsuited to his sharp features.
But he soon bit his lip softly.
“However, I….”
“Don’t tell me you’re about to say you lost your memory again and made Lia sad?”
Mother cut off Lucio’s words and clicked her tongue.
“I don’t know who he takes after to be so rigid.”
The Grand Duke flinched, but Mother, brushing it off lightly, continued.
“You seem to genuinely believe it was your fault, but that was unavoidable.”
“That’s right, Lucio. If you keep this up, it’ll seem like you don’t intend to marry Lia….”
“That’s impossible, Askart.”
Before Askart could finish, Lucio denied it and took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly.
It was a rare display of tension from him.
“I am more aware than anyone that I am insufficient for Lia. Despite this, I am truly grateful that you trust and permit me. From now on, I will not disappoint you.”
Lucio spoke with sincere conviction to my Parents and Grandfather, bowing his head slightly.
Father answered with a pleased smile.
“All right, I believe you.”
“So now it’s okay if our Lia cries?”
As Askart added his own plea, Lucio nodded in agreement.
My mother, who had been watching this exchange, suddenly spoke up.
“Of course, what I mean is don’t make her cry by hurting her feelings or disappointing her. I’m talking about tears shed from genuine emotion, not from pain.”
I wondered why she felt the need to state something so obvious.
“You have to be a bit rigid and inflexible about these things. If I don’t spell it out like this, who knows what might happen later. Isn’t that right, Dominic?”
It seemed Mother had found Lucio’s demeanor during the formal meeting quite frustrating.
I felt the same way, but watching Mother treat Lucio like a fool while asking Duke Elrad for his opinion made me uneasy.
I was worried that after finally receiving permission for the marriage, the two of them might quarrel again and spoil the mood.
But then.
“The boy does have his issues. I wonder who he takes after—he’s certainly stubborn.”
Duke Elrad, whom I expected to frown, immediately agreed with Mother’s assessment.
‘Perhaps Duke Elrad was actually the most frustrated during the formal meeting.’
“Well, my wife and I don’t resemble each other. He’s just peculiar on his own, Stella. Or rather, my new in-law!”
Duke Elrad, having cleanly separated himself from Lucio’s behavior, suddenly changed how he addressed Mother.
When Mother exclaimed in disbelief, “What? Your new in-law?” and Duke Elrad grinned back saying, “It’s not wrong, is it~?” I couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
“Sister, this is wonderful! Don’t you think?”
Diana, finally realizing that my engagement to Lucio was confirmed, squealed with delight and threw her arms around me.
Allen, standing nearby, chuckled and said.
“Diana, shouldn’t your brother be the one hugging her in a moment like this? You seem happier about this than the people involved.”
“Is that not allowed? Becoming a real family with Sister was always my dream!”
I felt too embarrassed to openly rejoice about marrying Lucio, so I held it back.
But hearing Diana say that becoming family with me had been her dream, I found myself breaking into a radiant smile without thinking.
“I love becoming family with our Diana too!”
“Sister!”
“Dana!”
As we embraced each other with moved expressions and shared our happiness, Askart blinked and asked.
“Lucio, is it possible Lia chose you because of your youngest sister?”
“…I can’t entirely deny that.”
Lucio looked at Diana and me, smirked, and answered.
Without worrying about it, I giggled happily with Diana, and Duke Elrad gazed at us with a deeply satisfied expression.
“My new in-law, look at that. I should have given my permission long ago, shouldn’t I?”
“Stop calling me your new in-law. It’s creeping me out. We haven’t even set a date for the engagement yet.”
“What a disheartening thing to say…!”
Duke Elrad, emphasizing once more that there was no backing out now, casually asked.
“But why did you really oppose it during the formal meeting?”
Wow. Regardless of anything else, Lucio’s tendency to hold grudges is definitely inherited from Duke Elrad.
‘How persistent he is!’
While I was thinking thoughts I couldn’t voice aloud, Mother suddenly cried out.
“Dominic, this is all your fault!”
“Mine?”
“Yes. The Duchess already told me everything. How you ordered her to decorate the newlyweds’ chambers and started pushing for wedding preparations.”
“W-well, I thought it would be good to prepare in advance….”
“Hmph! Do you think I don’t see through your schemes? I know exactly what you were trying to do—subtly pressuring us. And you knew full well we had no intention of marrying Adriana off immediately!”
Mother glared at him with displeasure, and the Duke coughed apologetically.
“I apologize for that. Our Lucio is getting older, and I was greedy wanting to have Lia as my daughter-in-law as soon as possible. But surely you don’t think it’s right to tear apart two people who are getting along so well?”
“I told you I had no intention of opposing it. I just wanted to take a firmer stance and set some conditions. We could proceed with the engagement immediately, but the wedding should be held no sooner than two years from now. And if possible, I’d prefer it to take place in Bellus Duchy.”
Only then did the Duke finally understand our family’s true intentions, his mouth falling open in surprise.
“Then why didn’t you just say so honestly! Why did you have to overturn the marriage talks and cause all this commotion?”
“Did I? If we’re being fair, your son was the one who overturned them. He said he understood his own mistakes better than anyone!”
It was a fair point. After all, Lucio was the one who had withdrawn willingly before any conditions were even presented.
I wondered what his reaction would be when he realized that fact.
As I turned my head out of curiosity, I caught sight of Lucio blinking slowly, his expression seemingly blank yet clearly flustered.
He soon averted his gaze, his eyes asking if I had known all along.
‘Of course I knew.’
Though I hadn’t said it outright.
As if reading my thoughts with his usual perceptiveness, Lucio exhaled softly. Then he spoke immediately.
“I shall defer to the Grand Duchess’s wishes.”
“…What?”
His response, which naturally evoked memories of the formal meeting, left Mother and everyone else staring at him in bewilderment.
“Regarding both the engagement period and the location of the ceremony. If you wish, I shall hold not only the wedding but also the engagement ceremony in Bellus Duchy.”
And with his next words, everyone felt relief wash over them.
Especially I, who had only been thinking we should discuss it together and hadn’t even broached the subject, was startled by Lucio’s ready acceptance.
I was delighted in my heart, but I worried that by deciding without consulting the family first, the Duke and Duchess might be displeased.
Fortunately, however, both their expressions appeared bright.
They seemed quite pleased by Lucio’s proactive attitude.
“Two years will pass in a flash. You can date freely during the engagement period.”
“That’s right. If we hold the ceremony in the Duchy, we’ll be able to see the sea, won’t we? Just imagining it sounds so romantic!”
“No, you don’t need to accept everything so readily.”
Mother was even more flustered by this favorable response.
The other family members who had participated in the act felt the same way.
In the end, deciding to discuss the details later, Father and Mother boarded the ship bound for the Duchy.
“Safe travels, my in-law!”
Accompanied by the Duke’s teasing cry that followed Mother all the way!
And two days later.
My Uncle arrived in the Capital City.

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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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