Everyone Was Obsessed With Me After I Became the Youngest Princess Favourite - Chapter 284

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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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As I tilted my head in confusion, my Uncle cleared his throat and asked in a slightly awkward voice.
“Adriana, am I not frightening to you?”
“Pardon?”
“Well… everyone says my face is rather intimidating.”
Oh no, what have I done now!
With my tension eased, I quickly shook my head and spoke.
“Not at all! You resemble Grandfather, which makes you feel quite familiar and approachable!”
In fact, my Uncle lacked the scar that marked Grandfather’s face, giving him an even gentler and softer appearance.
It was then that Grandfather burst into hearty laughter.
“Ivan, you scoundrel, you certainly benefit from resembling me! Indeed, even when our Lia was small, she showed no fear of my face—there’s no way she’d be frightened of yours, ha ha!”
It seemed my answer had thoroughly pleased him.
I felt proud to have delighted Grandfather, but this was our Uncle’s official first meeting with me, after all!
I suppressed my laughter and quickly added.
“We’ve exchanged many letters over this time, so I know how kind you are—there’s nothing frightening about you.”
At those words, my Uncle, who had been regarding Grandfather with a dissatisfied expression, widened his eyes.
“Truly?”
“Yes!”
“Ahem, ahem.”
My Uncle truly did resemble Grandfather.
Though he stiffened his expression with an embarrassed cough, the corners of his stern-looking mouth twitched slightly upward.
Though Grandfather protested with “Kind? Is he kinder than his grandfather?” his tone was merely playful, and the atmosphere remained warm and affectionate.
Watching this scene unfold, I released a quiet sigh of relief within my heart.
Today, my Uncle had come to the Capital City while discreetly escorting two criminals.
Before the ceremony, he must have received word from Nicholas regarding the final disposition of the Former Countess and Clara, then transferred them to the Imperial Palace.
‘Grandfather was likely present at that proceeding.’
That was why he instructed Askart and me to wait at the Marquis Residence.
Of course, since we were neither Imperial citizens nor direct members of House Diapel, we could not attend the ceremony as Duke Elrad and Lucio did, who served as witnesses on behalf of the Imperial Family.
Though there were ways to wait at the Imperial Palace, his deliberate refusal to do so likely stemmed from a desire to prevent us from encountering those two.
The crimes of the Former Countess and Clara were far from trivial, making it highly probable they would face either capital punishment or forced labor in the mines where serious criminals were imprisoned.
Either outcome seemed a fitting punishment to me.
Yet I had been inwardly concerned about how Grandfather and my Uncle might feel, and their expressions suggested my worries were unfounded.
Though I felt somewhat apologetic toward them, I was relieved to think there would be no further cause for concern regarding the Former Countess and Clara.
“But then again.”
My Uncle, who had been quietly observing my hand for some time, furrowed his brow.
“I heard you’re setting an engagement date soon, yet you haven’t received even a single proper piece of jewelry, let alone a ring?”
“Pardon?”
“Surely you’ve at least received a proposal?”
My Uncle asked with an expression of disbelief, his eyes full of suspicion.
I quickly cried out to dispel his doubts.
“Of course I have!”
Lucio arrived at the Marquis Residence with a handwritten proposal letter, flowers, and a ring, where he pledged his love to me before my family and placed the ring upon my finger.
Not only did Lucio propose to me, but Diana also asked me to become her older sister—a proposal I had accepted without hesitation.
“But why don’t you have the ring on your hand?”
“That is… well…”
I faltered and bit my lip firmly.
The image of the pink diamond ring I had received before—densely studded with glittering stones—surfaced in my mind.
‘I truly loved it so…’
The Demon had reduced it to powder in an instant.
The shock of that day had never faded, no matter how much my spirit had recovered.
My family, save for my Uncle, had all witnessed the ring’s disappearance after my final confrontation with the Demon, so none of them pressed the matter.
Being interrogated about it now was deeply unsettling.
‘It would be simple enough to claim I had lost it by accident, but…’
As the words refused to leave my lips and I merely fidgeted with my fingers, Lucio spoke.
“Perhaps my proposal did not please Lia, as she has asked me to propose again. I am currently preparing a new ring for this occasion. Please do not misunderstand.”
Lucio’s tone was courteous yet resolute.
I turned back to him in startled surprise.
When I considered it carefully, there was not a shred of falsehood in what he said.
‘Though the proposal that displeased me was merely a phantom I witnessed during my spirit’s recovery…’
In any case, it was true that I had asked him to propose again, and to prepare a ring more beautiful and radiant than before.
My Uncle, utterly unprepared for such circumstances, asked hesitantly.
“Is… is that so?”
“Yes.”
“Then… make sure it satisfies her from the start.”
“I apologize.”
“Are you confident this time?”
“Of course.”
My Uncle regarded Lucio with a peculiar expression as he answered without the slightest hesitation.
And in that moment, my lips curved upward.
I had already anticipated that my parents would grant their blessing, and that soon we would set an engagement date—so I had suspected Lucio would propose again before long.
But hearing it directly from Lucio’s own lips made my heart flutter with anticipation.
As I gazed at him with eager eyes, Lucio could no longer contain himself and turned away with a suppressed smile.
I had always been reluctant to display such tender moments before my family.
There had been times when I had chided myself for being so shameless.
Perhaps because of this, I had recently shown more restraint, and today too I was being cautious before my Uncle.
‘It seems I was mistaken…’
As we exchanged glances and smiled, my Uncle’s expression grew bewildered, his eyes widening in astonishment.
Just as embarrassment began to flush my face crimson.
“It’s not as though he’s some aging bachelor showing his inexperience—why must you look at the children with such eyes!”
“Precisely. Rather than compliment them as a lovely pair, you find fault with them instead.”
My Grandfather and Duke Elrad united once more, sheltering both Lucio and me with their support.
Especially since he had sent the Blue Sapphire Bracelet—a treasured heirloom of House Elrad—as a birthday gift, perhaps he was upset that he hadn’t received even a single accessory in return.
“Ivan, it is unfortunate that your unrequited love prevented you from marrying, but to harbor jealousy toward your own nephew? It is truly distressing to witness.”
The Duke leveled a merciless attack at my Uncle.
‘Unrequited love?’
I had known that my Uncle had remained unmarried all these years, but I had never learned the reason!
Askart, hearing this tale for the first time as well, widened his eyes with curiosity written across his face.
Upon noticing us both, my Uncle flinched and cried out to the Duke.
“Brother, what are you saying before the children! You agreed to marry into the family through Sister, and now you’re adopting her temperament as well? Such slander…”
“What? How dare you speak so harshly!”
Following the Duke’s indignant response to such a grave insult, Grandfather’s expression turned equally fierce.
“That’s right! Stella may have an unusual temperament, but she does not slander. Moreover, everyone who matters knows that you harbor feelings for Count Mareta!”
“Not even Father should—!”
It seemed the Duke and Grandfather’s points of anger differed somewhat, but that hardly mattered at the moment.
‘Uncle’s unrequited love is directed at Bianca?’
Now that I thought about it, during her difficult years as an illegitimate child of the Count’s house, Bianca had met my Mother and learned swordsmanship, eventually walking the path of a knight.
It appeared that my Uncle had naturally formed a connection with her during that time.
‘Bianca followed Mother to the Bellus Duchy, while Uncle could not easily leave the Diapel Marquisate…’
Even now, by the narrowest of margins, my Parents had returned to the Duchy, causing them to miss Count Mareta—the thought was simply heartbreaking.
Perhaps sensing my sympathetic feelings, my Uncle, wearing an awkward expression, gave a dry laugh.
“You’ve witnessed an unseemly display upon our first meeting.”
“Oh, no, that’s not it!”
“It was never jealousy that made me grasp at straws. Rather, I wished to express my gratitude.”
“I beg your pardon?”
Why would he suddenly offer thanks…?
In my moment of confusion, my Uncle’s gaze flickered toward my hand.
“I am insufficient and have not yet crossed that threshold, but I am still an Aura User. Though faint, I can read the flow of mana.”
“…!”
Only then did I realize why my Uncle kept glancing at my hand.
Why he had thanked me.
‘He’s realized that I was the one who delivered the Marquis’s confidential documents in the Liven Kingdom.’
I froze, never having anticipated that my Uncle would discover my involvement.
“Not only you, but the Young Duke Elrad, who commands capable subordinates, must be a far more exceptional talent than the world knows. Therefore, the child born to you both will surely be outstanding.”
“…I’m sorry?”
A child, suddenly?

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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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