Everyone Was Obsessed With Me After I Became the Youngest Princess Favourite - Chapter 287

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Who on earth was that?
Startled, I turned my head and spotted a delicate young lady standing nearby.
With her pale, porcelain complexion and long platinum hair cascading down, she was the last person I would have pegged as the one who’d made such a blunt remark moments ago.
“I beg your pardon?”
“Your audacity is astounding! Apologize at once!”
“Oh, I’m terribly sorry. I shouldn’t have lumped everyone in the Capital City together like that. It was careless of me.”
But the glib way she offered her apology made it abundantly clear—she wasn’t sorry at all.
“How dare you be so disrespectful!”
“I’m not sure who’s being disrespectful here. It’s rather audacious to air another family’s private affairs so publicly, and to speak that way about someone who defied the Emperor’s decree no less. Since when did the Emperor’s word become something to mock?”
The young lady with violet eyes blinked, her tone turning glacial.
“Does having circumstances justify defying the Emperor’s decree? And if you don’t even know what Amber did wrong, how can you claim the punishment was harsh or that someone’s influence was at play? Are we to understand that you young ladies think the Previous Emperor was a puppet ruler swayed by others, or perhaps a tyrant?”
“That’s not… what I meant…”
“That’s absurd!”
“Exactly! Who do you think you are, appearing out of nowhere and spouting such nonsense without even knowing the facts?”
“Nonsense? I was merely interpreting what I heard. And it wasn’t I who spoke without knowing the facts—it was all of you, wasn’t it?”
Though several voices rose in protest, the young lady—fragile as she appeared—didn’t shrink back in the slightest, firing back with equal composure.
“Oh, forgive me for the late introduction. I am Teresa of the Heron Family.”
“The Heron Family…?”
Seeing an unfamiliar face and having assumed she was some provincial noble newly arrived in the Capital City, the group suddenly fell silent at her introduction, their expressions shifting to shock.
I was equally taken aback.
The Heron Family was renowned for producing high-ranking officials and scholars, a lineage that had long been synonymous with the Imperial Faction.
Even now, many of those holding office were connected to the Heron Family in some way.
Most notably, Count Heron—the Minister of Justice—was famous for his exacting temperament, one that even Grandfather couldn’t match.
Now that I thought about it, I vaguely recalled hearing that the Count’s daughter had been in poor health and had gone to recuperate in a territory with better air when she was younger. If memory served, she was four years my senior.
The young lady before me appeared to be that very daughter of Count Heron.
“Have I been away from the Capital City so long that propriety has deteriorated this much? Or am I being unreasonable, as you suggest?”
“Well, it’s not exactly unreasonable…”
“I think there’s been a misunderstanding, my lady.”
Now that her identity was revealed, everyone scrambled to change their approach, attempting to appease Teresa.
Diana and I forgot our own anger entirely, watching their exchange with rapt fascination.
“A misunderstanding? Are you quite certain?”
“Yes, it was definitely a misunderstanding.”
“Since you all say so, I’m beginning to doubt myself.”
“Well, in that case…”
“I should ask my family about it. If I’ve misunderstood something this significant, it would be a terrible breach of etiquette.”
Teresa clapped her hands together brightly as she spoke, and the group attempting to soothe her suddenly looked panicked.
Realizing belatedly that half-measures wouldn’t suffice, they confessed that it hadn’t been a misunderstanding at all, apologized profusely for their careless words, and solemnly vowed never to repeat such a mistake.
How delightful.
I had been planning to nip any further gossip about the Former Countess and Clara in the bud from the start, but I hadn’t lifted a finger—and yet the problem had solved itself beautifully.
The moment the young ladies who’d misspoken scattered like frightened birds, I approached Teresa directly.
Diana, quick to notice the situation, promptly dismissed the other Young Ladies nearby and came to stand beside me.
“Good day, Young Lady of the Heron Family.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Young Lady!”
Teresa’s expression shifted to one of surprise—apparently she hadn’t expected us to act as though we were already acquainted, despite her having just helped us.
“I am honored to meet you, Crown Princess Bellus and Saint.”
She offered a respectful greeting, her face betraying a hint of nervousness.
“Please, there’s no need for such formality. Just call me Diana. You’re older than I am, after all.”
I was startled by how warmly Diana addressed Teresa.
‘She’s even allowing her to use her given name on their first meeting.’
Even among ordinary nobility, such familiarity was unusual without an established relationship.
Especially Diana—I’d heard she rarely permitted other Young Ladies to address her by name.
It was then that Diana gave me a subtle wink.
“Ah.”
That was a signal—a person whose spirit the Saint approved of, someone worthy of remaining at my side.
I’d found it curious that Diana was being so favorable despite Teresa merely offering help, but now the reason was clear.
As I nodded inwardly and regarded Teresa with fresh eyes, her pale cheeks flushed a rosy hue with remarkable speed.
“Then, please call me Teresa as well!”
Gone was the stern demeanor she’d displayed moments ago when rebuking the other Young Ladies; now she gazed at me with an expression of bashful delight.
“Actually, I came to the Capital City to meet you, Crown Princess.”
I’d heard that the devout traveled great distances to see Diana, the true Saint, but me?
The Heron Family had never had any particular connection to me until now.
As I tilted my head in confusion, Teresa offered a gentle smile.
“It’s been some time, but you remember the chaos that erupted when a Demon Beast suddenly appeared during the finals of the Founding Festival Sword Tournament, don’t you? I wasn’t present myself, but my family, including my parents, was there, and thanks to you, Crown Princess, they all came through safely.”
“Ah…”
“My younger brother especially suffered a serious eye injury, but thanks to your healing magic, Crown Princess, he recovered completely.”
Having said this much, Teresa turned her head slightly and gazed toward a young man of my age standing alone not far away.
Startled by the sudden attention, the young man flinched, then upon seeing me, he bowed his head respectfully.
“He’s a child who loves reading very much… I cannot even imagine what tragedy would have befallen my family had you not been there, Crown Princess.”
The Sword Tournament finals was a day I could never forget.
Not because a legendary Demon Beast had appeared, or because I’d demonstrated large-scale magic before thousands.
‘Rather, it was the day I learned that Jack was the one who killed me in my previous life, and the day I reunited with the Demon.’
But afterward, so many overwhelming events continued to unfold that I had little time to dwell on that day.
With the true Saint Diana’s appearance and other major events shaking the Empire, others must have felt the same.
So Teresa’s gratitude, referencing that incident, came as a pleasant surprise.
“I was actually about to thank you for stepping in just now…”
“Consider it a modest repayment of the debt I owe you.”
Teresa smiled, her joy at having the opportunity to help evident in every line of her face.
Her eyes held a steadfast respect for me that was neither servile nor condescending—I found myself drawn to her at once.
“Will you be staying in the Capital City for long?”
I still had time before departing for the Grand Duchy, so perhaps we could share tea together before I left.
Teresa blinked at the unexpected question, taking a moment before she answered.
“I’m planning to return to my Territory in a few days.”
“I see.”
Diana, sharing the same sentiment as I did, wore a disappointed expression at Teresa’s response.
“Is your health still quite poor?”
I asked again, wondering if perhaps Diana’s holy power or my healing magic could help treat her condition.
At that, Teresa’s cheeks flushed slightly as she lowered her voice.
“Actually, my health has improved considerably from before.”
“Then…”
“I simply dislike the bustling Capital City. I’m not particularly fond of engaging in power struggles with others either.”
Yet the way she had so effortlessly subdued those Young Ladies just moments ago seemed remarkably skilled…
Well, I supposed there was a difference between being capable of something and actually wanting to do it.
Teresa leaned forward, her voice dropping to an even softer whisper.
“Above all, if I remain in my Territory and stay a sickly Young Lady, I won’t have to marry, will I? I much prefer living freely on my own rather than being bound by the duties and responsibilities of becoming some family’s mistress.”
Wait, she’s being this candid with someone she’s just met?
She may be a few years older than me, but she’d make a perfect friend!
* * *
Meanwhile.
“I want to get married.”
“…Very well.”
“More precisely, an engagement with marriage as the premise, and perhaps some romance during that period.”
“It seems you may now do as you wish.”
“So introduce me to someone.”
At Nicholas’s bold request, Lucio’s brow furrowed.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————