Everyone Was Obsessed With Me After I Became the Youngest Princess Favourite - Chapter 286

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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 Imperial Princess worked hard at social activities because of our Lia?”
“Yes!”
Allen nodded enthusiastically at Askart’s bewildered question.
Until now, he hadn’t understood why Diana had devoted herself to social activities that weren’t even her hobby, but now he understood.
It was all preparation for the day when Lia would eventually take her place in high society as Duchess Elrad.
‘Come to think of it, when did Diana even find out about my brother’s feelings? Brother, you could have told me beforehand too.’
Allen, who had fully accepted Lia as his future sister-in-law, regretted that Lucio hadn’t given him a heads-up as well.
At the same time, he was about to subtly take credit for his own role, having escorted Diana every day.
“Why would the Imperial Princess….”
“Ahem, ahem! In any case, there’s no need to worry too much. Not only Diana, but my wife will also help Lia adapt to the Empire’s high society.”
Duke Elrad intercepted the conversation and smoothly changed the subject.
Allen, who had missed his chance to take credit, immediately wore a displeased expression, but the Duke only watched Askart and the Previous Marquis.
The reason was simple: to avoid revealing that Diana had been planning to make Lia her future sister-in-law all along.
Of course, now that the betrothal was confirmed, one might wonder what difference it made….
‘Still, they could take offense.’
Soon they would set the engagement date, and there was no reason to offend the in-laws’ sensibilities.
If the Grand Duchess had been present, she would have immediately grasped House Elrad’s long-held scheme just from hearing Allen’s words.
However, the Previous Marquis, who had become completely Lucio’s ally after the recent incident, pretended not to hear and feigned ignorance, while Askart, apparently lacking perceptiveness, not only abruptly cut off the conversation and changed the subject, but showed a moved expression rather than sensing anything amiss.
Given their relationship so far, it was only natural that Askart would care about Lia….
Duke Elrad’s conscience pricked him because of Askart, who was far too kind, and he unconsciously turned his head away.
Just then, he caught sight of his wife conversing with Duchess Fairount.
Seeing them talk with bright expressions, it seemed the meeting with Duchess Fairount was pleasant.
It made sense. Although Nicholas had drawn a line between Serphin Princess and House Fayrent, her maternal family, due to the Previous Emperor’s assassination, House Fayrent couldn’t simply act as if nothing had happened.
Moreover, the Previous Empress had gone to the Duchy saying she would exercise restraint, so Duke Fairount immediately submitted his resignation from his position as Prime Minister.
Of course, it was rejected outright, and when he tried to insist further, he was threatened that the newly enthroned Emperor would think poorly of him, so he eventually gave up—but Duchess Fairount and Young Duke Aiden had remained out of sight for some time.
Now that they had resumed social activities at today’s coronation and celebration banquet, it was only natural that his wife’s expression would be bright, having maintained a good relationship with Duchess Fairount for so long.
However, the Duke’s thoughts were only half correct.
While it was true that meeting Duchess Fairount was delightful, what made Duchess Elrad even more pleased was the appearance of her youngest daughter and Lia.
Duchess Elrad’s gaze turned to the bracelet hanging on Lia’s wrist.
It was the sapphire bracelet, a heirloom of House Elrad, which had been given once more a few days ago, using Marquis Diapel’s remarks as an excuse.
She was already delighted when Lia finally nodded and accepted it, but to think she wore it to the banquet and surprised the surrounding nobles!
With the necklace Diana had gifted her worn as well, Duchess Elrad couldn’t help but smile just looking at Lia.
She was so eager to boast, ‘That girl is our daughter-in-law!’ that her lips itched to speak.
“Our daughter-in-law is truly beautiful, isn’t she?”
And finally, unable to contain herself, Duchess Elrad spoke to Duchess Fairount beside her.
The words ‘she’s not quite the daughter-in-law yet’ circled in her mind, but Duchess Fairount swallowed her laughter and nodded.
Though they had known each other for a long time, this side of Duchess Elrad was truly unfamiliar….
‘Wait, now that I think about it, there was a time like this before.’
There was definitely a time when Duchess Elrad had been eager to boast about how pretty and clever that little maidservant was.
Duchess Fairount had also been very fond of that little maidservant named Lia.
‘Especially how much Aiden used to follow her around….’
After resolving the misunderstanding with my husband and returning from a trip to my homeland, she vanished without a trace, leaving my only son deeply melancholic.
In fact, it went beyond mere sadness—he soaked his pillow with tears nearly every day, and even when the family searched for her, he couldn’t fathom how she could disappear without leaving any contact information. He’d had such a terrible falling out with Diana, his closest friend, over it that I’d had to work hard to reconcile them.
Duchess Fairount, who had momentarily lost herself in memories, suddenly turned her head and surveyed her surroundings.
It had been quite some time since Aiden left to fetch refreshing drinks, yet he still hadn’t returned.
Sure enough, not far away, Aiden stood holding two glasses of drinks, staring blankly at Diana.
‘Is he really that smitten.’
Duchess Fairount was about to click her tongue and shake her head when her eyebrows rose slightly.
Aiden’s gaze, unlike usual, wasn’t fixed solely on Diana—it kept drifting toward the Grand Duchess Bellus standing beside her.
Knowing her son’s pure and steadfast love, having fallen for Diana at first sight in childhood and looking at no other woman since, Duchess Fairount didn’t even entertain such suspicions.
Yet she found it strange. Aiden’s expression looked terribly confused.
* * *
“You enjoy reading? Then would it be alright to invite you to our reading circle next time?”
“Poetry recitations—don’t you enjoy those, Your Highness?”
“Piano performances too….”
“We appreciate paintings at the Art Gallery every week….”
“Enough!”
The young ladies, chirping away like restless chicks, immediately fell silent at Diana’s decisive gesture.
Once the noise subsided, Diana spoke in a commanding voice.
“You’re only staying because of the coronation ceremony—the Crown Princess won’t be remaining in the Empire indefinitely, will she? You’ll be returning to the Grand Duchy soon, so how could you possibly attend all these gatherings?”
“Ah!”
“Oh….”
Everyone nodded in understanding at Diana’s crisp logic.
“We apologize, Your Highness!”
“We weren’t thinking clearly.”
“We’re truly sorry.”
Seeing their apologetic faces tinged with genuine regret, I felt my mood lift.
“It’s fine. My schedule is simply too tight. When I visit the Empire again, I’ll try to make time.”
After all, every young lady gathered here was someone Diana had carefully selected, believing they’d be pleasant to befriend!
“Really?”
“You promised, Your Highness?”
Seeing them so delighted by my response made me feel even better.
There was none of the cutthroat maneuvering in high society I’d imagined, nor the elegant circumlocution typical of nobility….
Which made it all the more enjoyable.
“Hmph!”
“Ahem!”
Well then. Those young ladies who kept clearing their throats, opening and closing their fans to show their displeasure, and eventually glaring openly at Diana and me—they were far worse than this.
For reference, they were the group of noble young ladies who had voluntarily served as followers of Imperial Princess Serphin, constantly paired Lucio with Serphin, wielded the princess’s authority to bully other young ladies, and were rejected by Diana’s standards.
When I first arrived at the Banquet Hall, they’d approached me with warm smiles, but once Diana coldly shut them out, they seemed hurt and had remained that way ever since.
Then it happened.
“Oh! Has everyone heard the news?”
“What news?”
“About Clara Amber, the Young Lady of Amber County—the granddaughter of the Previous Marquis Diapel.”
“Ah! You mean the niece of Grand Duchess Bellus?”
They were clearly trying to capture my attention by deliberately mentioning my Grandfather and Mother while discussing Clara.
There was nothing particularly unusual or surprising about it—just gossip about Clara, who had caused quite a stir in the Capital City days ago by disappearing after leaving a letter, and the paternity scandal that had erupted within the Amber County household.
The problem was that they seemed to think I was interested and began crossing the line.
“Poor Clara. Though she defied the Emperor’s orders, it must mean she suffered terribly in the Amber County household.”
“That’s right. She couldn’t rely on her parents, and it seems even her maternal family abandoned her as a Young Lady.”
“I’m not sure what wrong she committed, but could there have been reason for such harsh punishment? Unless someone pulled strings behind the scenes.”
“Exactly. The Former Countess was also abandoned by her own family….”
Diana was about to speak further, but I quickly stopped her, and I was just about to make a sharp retort.
“Wow, impressive! Do the Capital City residents always have such audacity?”
A delicate yet resolute voice resonated through the Banquet Hall.

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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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