Everyone Was Obsessed With Me After I Became the Youngest Princess Favourite - Chapter 293

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

Diana, true to the promise she had made when she proposed to me before Lucio ever did, made it her mission to draw a smile from my lips without fail, day after day.
Yet for someone as devoted as Diana, even the most touching sentiment could not excuse tears shed in remembrance of painful yesterdays.
I had expected her to grow angry after being struck on the back while already weeping so sorrowfully.
Instead, Aiden did not rage at all; rather, he fought to stifle his own sobs, hiccupping softly as he struggled.
He even apologized for his petulance, saying he now understood why I had been unable to reveal my true identity so openly all this time.
‘Though I suppose he finally let go of his frustration when I assured him I had never intended to hide it forever.’
In any case, before returning to the Grand Duchy, we promised to meet once more, and Aiden departed from the Marquis Residence.
It was only later, as Diana and I shared a late breakfast, that I finally heard the reason for her sudden apology—the story of how my identity had been exposed to Aiden.
“I’m sorry, sister. I had no idea that Aiden was so perceptive.”
“It’s fine. Honestly, I find it remarkable that Aiden saw through me just by observing how you treat me.”
“Right? I told you he was unusual, didn’t I?”
“He is. Aiden pays such meticulous attention to every detail concerning you that it was inevitable. You bear no fault, Diana.”
Diana, who had been about to wear a triumphant expression at my words, tilted her head with a soft “Huh?”
She had raced ahead of me in matters of my own romance, yet she remained entirely oblivious to the affections blossoming in her own heart.
Charmed by her innocence, I laughed—then muttered to myself, lamenting the hope that had come too late.
“So that’s why you slipped away before the ball ended….”
“Sister?”
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
I quickly waved my hand.
Diana, who had blinked for a moment, offered another apology with childlike affection.
“Anyway, I’m truly sorry, sister.”
“I’ve already said it’s fine. And I meant it sincerely. I had already decided it would be acceptable to reveal my identity to Aiden.”
The fact that this child had not forgotten me all these years never ceased to fill me with wonder and gratitude.
“Besides, Aiden is not the sort to spread rumors about my past.”
‘Most importantly, we might become family!’
Unaware of what I was thinking, Diana simply replied, “That’s true.”
I smiled softly and added,
“I almost regret not telling you sooner, knowing you would be this delighted.”
Diana gazed at me intently.
Then she suddenly wrapped her arms around my waist and murmured,
“Sister, you’re too kind.”
“What, suddenly?”
“I know everything you say is genuine, but you’re saying it even more kindly to cover up my mistake. I understand.”
“Ha ha….”
“I’m truly grateful, and I’m sorry.”
If anything, I was more grateful that she could discern even the smallest gestures of consideration.
I had always marveled at how sensible she was as a child, and now, watching her grow into such a remarkable young woman, I felt nothing but pride.
As I gently patted Diana’s back while she whimpered affectionately, my eyes suddenly sparkled.
“Say, Diana.”
“Hmm?”
“Then… could you do me one favor?”
To be honest, if it were Diana, she would grant it without my even asking.
But I phrased it that way, hoping to diminish any guilt or sense of debt she might feel.
“What is it? Tell me! I’ll do anything.”
“You’re answering like that without even hearing what it is?”
“It’s my request, isn’t it? Not just anyone’s.”
Whenever I felt Diana’s unconditional affection like this, I felt both embarrassed and grateful.
At the same time, now that I understood the source of these emotions, I couldn’t help but grow more curious.
I took a moment to steady my breath and spoke.
“Diana, help me find my ancient memories too.”
“…What?”
* * *
Diana’s mouth, which had confidently told me to speak freely, closed in bewilderment.
She had never imagined that Lia’s request would be of this nature.
Diana had only learned of Spleshia’s existence and the truth about mana that the Temple had hidden just before her awakening.
But Lia had known far earlier that she was Spleshia’s reincarnation.
Yet I had heard she had never wished to recover her memories—so why now….
Ah! Now that I think about it, Lucio had asked me something not long ago.
If Lia were to ask me to tell her about the ancient times, he had said never to speak in detail about himself, hadn’t he?
Since Lia hadn’t brought up anything related to it afterward, I had completely forgotten about it.
Diana asked awkwardly, lifting the corners of her mouth.
“Why suddenly interested in your past life?”
“I just feel frustrated about it.”
“Then do you really need to recover your memories? If you’re curious about something, I or your brother can just tell you about it.”
“Diana, you would tell me everything. But Lucio absolutely won’t.”
In fact, I had tried several times, but each time he changed the subject and pretended not to know, Lia grumbled with dissatisfaction.
Then, as if feeling a bit sorry, she added with an awkward smile.
“Besides, Diana, you don’t know everything about what happened back then either.”
With those words, Diana realized that what Lia truly wanted to remember were her memories with Lucio.
Even if they lived in the same era, there would be limits to what she could tell, since she wasn’t the one directly involved.
‘Brother really. He could just tell her appropriately. Or at least not give any hint that something’s there!’
Of course, even as Diana grumbled like this, she knew both options were impossible.
Knowing what Spleshia had been to Lucio in ancient times, he couldn’t have hidden it even if he wanted to, and he would never dream of trying to deceive her with half-truths.
So she thought it would be better if he just came clean about it.
‘He really is embarrassed, isn’t he.’
It had been the same in the distant past.
After Spleshia died, when he was called a Monster Hunter and acted so wildly that even his allies found him unsettling, as if the opinions of others meant nothing to him—when was that?
〈What would she say if she saw me now…?〉
Standing before the Lake, staring down at his form drenched in demon beast blood from head to toe, he had once suddenly asked.
Though he had acted as if he resented Spleshia, it was absurd that he would wonder such a thing, so Diana had spoken mockingly back then.
〈What would I call him? A madman, obviously.〉
Lucio, raising his eyebrows, shot back immediately.
〈Spleshia doesn’t use such harsh language.〉
I found it absurd that he would ask in the first place, but I couldn’t refute him since it was true.
Diana, who had briefly recalled old memories, smiled wryly as she observed Lia, who still seemed incapable of uttering crude words.
“Sister, recovering memories from a past life is incredibly difficult and agonizing. Even if they remain etched in the soul, it’s best not to recall them now. I have inherent divine power, so it wasn’t quite so painful for me, but for ordinary people without divine power, death—or something close to it—is absolutely necessary.”
Lia understood perfectly well that Diana wasn’t speaking so seriously to deliberately frighten her.
After all, she herself had experienced death and returned with memories of her previous life intact.
But instead of saying so, Lia answered as if to reassure her.
“I know. Raezl once cast a sacred spell on me, saying it might help me recover memories from my past life.”
And in the Duke’s Greenhouse, when I saw Spleshia, for just a brief moment, I encountered a beautiful and vivid vision that was unmistakably a memory from ancient times.
“My chest ached terribly then. I can’t speak to other forms of pain, but I closed my eyes once and when I opened them, I had lost consciousness.”
“See? Besides, my brother is someone who despises mana to his very core, so he has strong resistance to magical power. That’s why, setting aside the pain, recovering memories was far easier for him. But you’re the complete opposite.”
Lia, who possessed the highest mana affinity among all living humans, wore an awkward smile.
Diana pressed forward with her persuasion urgently.
“Really! It will truly take a long time and be incredibly painful. Your soul, which has only just recovered from the cracks, has finally healed—do you really need to endure such torment again? It would be better if you used this as a reason to tell your brother honestly….”
“Diana.”
At that moment, Lia cut her off by calling her name.
“I’ve thought about this deeply, and I’m asking you to understand.”
Pain was certainly not something I welcomed.
But….
“When Lucio lost his memories, to be honest, I felt an enormous amount of jealousy. Even toward himself! At the time, he was only missing his memories, but he was still himself—I couldn’t understand why I felt that way, and I thought it was truly strange… but now I understand.”
So I absolutely must know.
What happened between Lucio and Spleshia in ancient times!

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