Everyone Was Obsessed With Me After I Became the Youngest Princess Favourite - Chapter 290

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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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Lia, lifting her chin with an expression of unmistakable pride, was absolutely endearing.
Lucio, who had momentarily worn a blank expression, belatedly grasped the meaning and hesitated.
“A close Young Lady friend?”
Surely until yesterday, she had no one to associate with.
“You’re not saying you became friends in that brief span since the ball began?”
Lia, unable to conceal her proud expression, nodded. Then, as if her business here was concluded, she turned to leave.
“Wait. Dance one more song with me.”
Lucio, urgently catching Lia’s arm, spoke almost pleadingly.
He was genuinely desperate.
With the coronation ceremony since morning, he hadn’t been able to stay by her side, and if she returned to her family now, it was clear he would barely exchange a few words with her.
“Just one more song.”
Holding her hand firmly and gazing at her with those beloved blue eyes, her heart could not help but waver.
Lia, who hadn’t been particularly angry since he hadn’t said anything fundamentally wrong, nodded at the desire to boast about her newly befriended Young Lady.
After all, she had danced with Nicholas multiple times before, so dancing consecutively with Lucio seemed only fair.
Though the Previous Marquis, who had been waiting for the next turn, seemed slightly disappointed, Lia deliberately pretended not to notice and began dancing to the flowing music.
She was grateful that Askart was too occupied filming with an image artifact to show the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess, so at least that was a relief.
Then, relieved that Lia hadn’t left coldly, Lucio asked.
“Who is this Young Lady you’ve newly befriended?”
“Teresa Heron, the Young Lady!”
“…The Heron Family?”
As she nodded, Lucio narrowed his eyes and murmured.
“I heard she went to the Territory for recuperation when she was young.”
“That’s right!”
Truly the head of the Information Guild!
Lia, letting out a small exclamation, made no attempt to hide her excitement at making her first friend, and chattered enthusiastically about Teresa.
From how she came to the Capital City to express gratitude for saving her family on the day of the Sword Tournament finals, to how their conversation flowed naturally, and how Diana was remarkably free of greed—a rare quality—so it seemed they would grow close in the future.
As Lia’s words lengthened, Lucio’s expression subtly darkened.
But Lia only lamented that Teresa didn’t seem to intend to stay in the Capital City.
“Oh, and I’ve been invited to Heron County. It’s a quiet, small town, and there are an enormous number of books in the Count’s Residence, so she says it won’t be boring at all.”
“…There are plenty of books at Duke Elrad’s Residence as well.”
“I know that well!”
It was a subtle suggestion to spend more time in her own space—the Library—rather than going far away, but Lia didn’t catch on and continued speaking.
“But meeting someone I truly think is wonderful made me understand Diana’s feelings.”
“What do you mean?”
“The desire to make her a sister-in-law.”
As she leaned forward slightly while speaking, Lucio’s lips visibly stiffened.
“You’ve taken a liking to her that much?”
“I went too far on a first meeting, didn’t I?”
“Well….”
Honestly, it was none other than Diana who had approved of this person by Lia’s side.
Besides, what could I say when Lia wanted to grow closer to me?
The thought that she’d taken such a liking to me she wanted to become family was both flattering and unsettling—I’d already gained one rival, and the anxiety gnawed at me.
Lia, oblivious to Lucio’s unease, spoke with a note of disappointment in her voice.
“But it was all for nothing. My brother showed absolutely no interest in her.”
I’d known Teresa had no intention of marrying.
Yet I’d wondered if her resolve might waver upon meeting Askart—a strikingly handsome man whose very presence commanded attention.
Love possessed such formidable power, after all, capable of overturning a person’s entire worldview and convictions!
So, ignoring the envious gazes of other young ladies, my heart racing with anticipation, I’d introduced Teresa to Askart—only to be met with disappointment.
“Wow. I thought the rumors were exaggerated, but it seems they were actually understated.”
Askart’s response came without a shred of romantic interest, delivered with genuine amazement at her appearance while remaining utterly harmless.
Lia recalled Teresa whispering near her ear and laughing innocently, then sighed.
On the chance it might work, I’d introduced her to Allen and Jack as well, but both men treated her with the distant courtesy of strangers.
Jack I could understand, but Allen supposedly dated frequently—so why did he act so oblivious?
Of course, love at first sight existed, as did love that crept in gradually, so one could never predict how relationships would develop, but…
“In my opinion, there’s no hope. Especially not with my brother.”
If he’d at least shown awkwardness at recognizing her as a woman, I might have harbored some hope.
But Askart simply displayed the kindness the Grand Duchess had instilled in him—that ladies must always be treated with courtesy—along with the gentle nature he’d inherited from the Grand Duke, enthusiastically explaining the visual magical artifacts Teresa had politely expressed interest in.
As his explanation grew increasingly technical and lengthy, I could see Teresa’s face glazing over in real time, forcing me to hastily stop him.
Only then did Askart, eager to show his sister’s first friend to their parents, photograph Teresa’s face with a magical device and beam with pure joy, while Teresa hastily escaped toward the Garden, claiming she needed some fresh air.
Watching the two of them produce not even a spark between them, Lia clicked her tongue.
“Mother’s been worried lately about when my brother will start dating and get married. What worries me more is that he seems to have taken Uncle’s words to heart.”
A few days ago, Askart had suddenly declared that the more nieces and nephews he had, the better, boasting that as an uncle, he’d treat them better than Allen or Diana ever could.
When he mentioned he’d cherish them like his own children, even someone as oblivious as Lia couldn’t help but catch his drift.
I’d turned beet red and sternly told him not to even mention such things before he was even married—but…
Why were there so many people targeting children who hadn’t even been born yet?
‘We haven’t even discussed having children!’
Feeling slightly wronged by this, Lia turned to Lucio—the only one who could understand her heart.
But seeing his expression, which had grown distant, she started in surprise.
“Lucio?”
“Hmm.”
“Is something bothering you?”
That’s strange. He’d seemed fine when we first danced.
He’d been curt for a moment, speaking differently than usual, but he’d apologized and danced with me again—we’d moved past it smoothly, hadn’t we?
“Tell me. Did I do something wrong?”
“It’s not that.”
Lucio immediately denied it, shaking his head.
Coaxing him gently to tell her what was wrong, he finally spoke.
“You…”
“Yes, me.”
“It seems like you don’t care about me.”
“Huh?”
“Throughout the entire dance, you kept talking about other people.”
Wait, did I really do that?
Lia only then reviewed the conversation and was startled.
I had merely wanted to share what had happened to me during the time we were apart, but it seemed I had overdone it.
As Lia fidgeted with an apologetic expression, Lucio spoke urgently.
“I understand your heart. It’s just that there are already so many people who adore you, and I thought even more would come in the future, so our time alone together would only decrease….”
He didn’t dare voice the selfish desire to monopolize Lia entirely.
Thoughts were free, after all, and occasionally—or rather, quite frequently—he did imagine going to places where he could spend time alone with Lia, but the possibility of that dream coming true in reality was nearly nonexistent.
Not only would Lia’s family not allow it, but his own family, who loved Lia no less, would never step aside either.
Above all, there was Diana beside him—a rival more formidable than anyone else.
Once she had been remarkably helpful in connecting him and Lia, but it had been quite some time since her wish to become family was fulfilled and she had transformed from an ally into a competitor.
Lucio, who was freshly realizing the inconvenience of having a lover who was attractive and popular, suddenly became aware that he had spoken far too honestly.
He had suppressed even his jealousy, afraid Lia would dislike him if he showed it too openly….
To tell Lia, who had been so pleased about making a new friend, that he disliked the idea of more people caring for her gathering around her, regardless of the reason—how could he have said such a thing?
Lucio, thinking there was nothing he could do even if Lia became frightened or angry, bit his lip in dismay.
The movements of the two people who had been dancing as one body came to a halt.
Lucio, who had lowered his gaze to reflect on his mistake, lifted his head.
As expected, Lia appeared before him with her cheeks flushed red, as if his words had been utterly absurd.
He waited anxiously for whatever punishment was to come.
The hand that had been resting on his shoulder suddenly grasped his hand and pulled.
“Let’s go.”
“Huh?”
Where on earth were they going?
As if answering his unspoken question, Lia glanced toward the Terrace and whispered softly.
“You said you wanted to be alone with me. Come on, let’s go—for a secret rendezvous.”

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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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