Everyone Was Obsessed With Me After I Became the Youngest Princess Favourite - Chapter 289

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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 Emperor has arrived.”
At the Attendant’s announcement, the Empire’s nobility bowed their heads in respect.
I too bent my knee lightly while watching Nicholas enter with confident strides.
‘I felt it during the coronation ceremony, but this is truly a scene I never could have imagined.’
In my previous life, the line of succession for the Empire remained uncertain until my eyes closed for the final time.
Moreover, since the Former Emperor was in such robust health, I never expected to witness a change in the throne when I came to the Empire.
Of course, with Lucio standing behind him, I naturally knew Nicholas would become Emperor… but wait?
‘Am I placing too blind a faith in Lucio?’
I was startled by this belated realization.
And it had been that way long before we even became lovers.
Even thinking about it myself, it seemed severe enough to make my cheeks flush with heat.
And then I felt a truly scorching gaze—so intense it seemed my cheeks might burn through. It was Lucio.
Following Nicholas’s quiet entrance, Lucio had found me without hesitation, his blue eyes gleaming.
With a faint smile on his face, he walked toward me without a moment’s hesitation.
Thump—!
Watching him approach, my heart inexplicably sank.
‘Is it because I’m remembering that last ball?’
That day, when I had encountered Lucio after such a long time, I had felt this same sensation of my heart dropping.
Unlike then—when I was overjoyed at finally meeting him yet simultaneously so terrified of facing him that I wanted to flee—now my chest swelled with nothing but pure delight.
Without realizing it, I smiled broadly, watching Lucio approach with long strides, when suddenly I felt another gaze upon me.
‘Hmm, why is that person…?’
“Lia?”
As I blinked, realizing the source of that gaze, Lucio, who had drawn near, called out to me.
“What’s wrong?”
“Well…”
I stopped mid-explanation and turned my head.
Nicholas was expressing his gratitude to the nobility attending the banquet, as if asking when he had looked at me with such a strange expression.
“Then please, enjoy the banquet to your heart’s content.”
As Nicholas finished his greeting, the orchestra began playing as if they had been waiting. Simultaneously, a hand extended before me.
“Would you grant me the honor of the first dance, Crown Princess Bellus?”
Lucio, with a slight bow at the waist, lifted the corners of his mouth with languid eyes.
He was being cheeky despite already having promised to dance with me.
I laughed in exasperation while nodding my head, playing along.
“I gladly accept.”
The moment my answer left my lips, Lucio took my hand and led me to the center of the hall.
Typically, the first dance is performed by the host of the banquet.
However, Nicholas was the Emperor, had no betrothed, and had not sought out a separate partner.
As we stepped forward, the nobility naturally understood the Emperor’s intention and began entering the hall with their own partners.
Among them, Lucio and I stood facing one another.
“Finally, I get to dance with you.”
As I curtsied slightly while holding the hem of my dress and lifted my head, I caught sight of Lucio’s face, radiant with a smile he couldn’t quite contain his excitement.
“Were you very disappointed at the last ball?”
I asked, recalling how I had danced consecutively with Nicholas and the Young Lady, followed by my Grandfather and Father, and Lucio nodded with heartfelt sincerity.
“Yes. Very much.”
“Then why didn’t you dance with someone else?”
In truth, during our last date, I had asked Lucio who he had danced with at the Academy festival over the years.
I wondered if I was being overly jealous, but I had been curious for so long that I wanted to hear the answer.
Yet, to my surprise, Lucio said he had never once partnered with anyone until now.
He hadn’t even danced at Imperial Palace banquets or noble gatherings, he claimed.
But right now, the way he was leading me was far too skillful.
‘Could he have been lying?’
Suspicious, I glanced up at him, and Lucio furrowed his brow and asked.
“Are you serious?”
Was the suggestion that he dance with someone else really so offensive to him?
Seeing his noticeably subdued voice and expression, my irritation melted away instantly.
“No. I didn’t really mean it.”
“I know.”
“What?!”
Was he teasing me just now?
Bewildered, I opened my mouth to protest, but it was precisely the moment I had to release his hand and turn away as the dance required.
Having missed my chance to argue, I found myself laughing at the absurdity of it all.
Lucio, who had caught my waist as I returned to position, laughed back at me.
Completely disarmed, I surrendered myself to him.
Though we were dancing together for the first time, our rhythm matched perfectly, as if we had been partners for years.
Lucio, being a Sword Master, moved with natural grace, and I too had diligently cultivated my refinement alongside etiquette since becoming the Crown Princess.
‘With Grandfather, Father, and even Askart as practice partners lined up, I had quickly reached an advanced level.’
Though unintended, displaying such skill before Lucio filled me with pride.
As my mood brightened, my movements felt even lighter and more fluid.
‘Wait…?’
I felt that familiar prickling sensation on my cheeks again—the weight of someone’s gaze.
When I turned my head, sure enough, the culprit was Nicholas once more.
* * *
As Lucio danced, he noticed Lia’s concentration wavering.
He was so overwhelmed by this moment that he saw no one else, yet Lia had the presence of mind to notice someone else.
It stung slightly, but blaming Lia was now impossible for Lucio, who had only just found her again.
‘Just who is this bastard…’
He shifted their direction, his eyes quickly scanning to find who had stolen her attention. And he discovered someone unexpected.
“…Nicholas?”
“You felt it too?”
Even as Lia’s attention drifted elsewhere, she executed the intricate dance movements with flawless precision, her voice warm and cheerful.
“His Majesty keeps staring at me. Actually, he’s been doing it since I entered the hall….”
Lia trailed off momentarily, then whispered as though sharing a secret.
Nicholas’s gaze when he looked at me seemed rather peculiar.
Sometimes it appeared as though he were observing a fascinating new creature, and other times he seemed faintly bewildered.
“In any case, it was quite strange. Do you happen to know anything about it?”
“….”
Lucio fell silent.
He thought he understood why Nicholas had looked at me that way.
〈No flaws whatsoever? What does that even mean…. Ah! Lucio, does that mean she appears that way to your eyes?〉
〈No. Lia is truly perfect.〉
〈…where does a perfect person exist? Even you, whom I thought was perfect, seem quite strange right now. Besides, she’s Askart’s sister. Isn’t she rather lacking in perceptiveness?〉
〈Lacking perceptiveness is not a flaw. I find even that aspect endearing, so it’s rather a virtue.〉
Lucio spoke with absolute sincerity, not a trace of falsehood in his words.
Nicholas appeared equally shocked, clearly sensing that Lucio meant every word.
As a result, he seemed to be observing Lia even after entering the hall.
‘If I spoke honestly, Lia would be embarrassed.’
She might even scold me for acting shamelessly.
Of course, if such words came from Lia’s lips, I would welcome even her scolding, but she might issue a prohibition against saying such things in public.
Just as she had asked me to refrain from expressing affection in front of family because she felt shy.
When it came to Lia, even I became audaciously shameless in ways that surprised myself—I wanted to boldly proclaim her as my beloved whenever and wherever the opportunity arose.
So instead of laying bare the true reason for Nicholas’s strange behavior, I shifted the subject slightly.
“He’s envious of us.”
“Hmm?”
“He said he wants to marry. More precisely, he wants an engagement with marriage as the premise, and to experience courtship during that time.”
“Ah.”
Lia nodded as though she understood the situation.
“So there’s someone he likes?”
“No. He asked me to introduce someone, but I refused.”
“An introduction? What kind of person did he say he liked?”
Lucio gazed quietly at Lia as she asked again with curious eyes.
A question rose to the tip of my tongue—what was she so curious about?
Even knowing that Nicholas harbored no ulterior motives, I felt displeased that she showed such interest in another person while standing right before me.
But I suppressed my jealousy and spoke calmly.
“Why? Are you thinking of introducing someone? Besides Diana, there’s no other Young Lady you’re close to.”
…it was a calmly sarcastic remark.
The moment I finished speaking, I realized my mistake, and I swallowed hard while looking at Lia.
As expected.
“Are you saying I have no friends right now?”
Lia glared at me and pouted her lips.
Even now, seeing her pouting expression so adorably made me want to kiss her—I wondered if she’d run away if she knew.
Lucio, barely clinging to his fading reason, apologized.
“That’s not what I meant. I’m sorry.”
“Hmph.”
She let out a small, dismissive scoff, unwilling to accept his apology so easily—and just then, the music ended.
Lia stepped back and whispered softly.
“But what do I do now? I’ve finally made another close friend besides Diana!”

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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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