Everyone Was Obsessed With Me After I Became the Youngest Princess Favourite - Chapter 30

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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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A few days earlier, on the evening I had shouted at Lia in anger.
Allen received an unexpected revelation from his father and mother, who had suddenly appeared.
Among the topics was information about Sid Valery, his former mentor, but what truly captured Allen’s attention was the story concerning the Orphanage where Lia had been.
The Duke and Duchess had refrained from sharing detailed information about Tessar Orphanage, fearing it would torment Allen further with guilt over losing Diana.
Upon hearing everything, Allen was shocked both that Diana had been kidnapped to such a terrifying place and that Lia had cared for Diana so tenderly in such circumstances.
Only then did he recall what Diana had said at the dining table while setting aside her own food for Lia.
“Sister is hungry too, so give it to Dana. That’s why Dana should give hers to Sister.”
At the time, he had believed Lia was not genuinely kind to Diana.
He had thought there must be some ulterior motive at play.
But what calculation or scheme could possibly exist in such dire circumstances?
Diana was not just his younger sister—she was a perceptive child.
Had Lia not treated Diana with genuine sincerity, Diana would not have followed her so faithfully.
As this realization struck him belatedly, Allen’s face drained of all color as he comprehended what he had done.
‘What was I even upset about? A pink diamond?’
Moreover, she had not even coveted it.
In fact, I had anticipated the possibility that she had merely adorned Diana with it temporarily.
Yet I still lost my temper.
‘I was taking out my frustration on her.’
Diana’s kidnapping, the truth about Sid Valery, the guilt and self-loathing I now endured—
None of this was Lia’s fault, and yet….
I needed someone to blame, and I chose her as an easy target for my anger.
In that moment, the memory surfaced of myself standing helplessly beside Lia when she was with Sid Valery, cowering in shame like a coward.
Allen’s fists clenched involuntarily.
After that, Allen lingered near Lia constantly, seeking an opportunity to apologize.
But Lia was occupied all day caring for Diana, and on the rare occasions she was alone, she seemed lost in deep thought, making it difficult to approach her.
Of course, the greatest obstacle was himself.
Whenever he met Lia’s eyes, he averted his gaze like a coward.
Watching for an opening, Allen finally followed Lia discreetly as the banquet began.
He hesitated to draw closer, but then Lia whispered something to Diana, and to his surprise, Diana walked toward him.
‘Even now, she’s looking out for me when I’m alone.’
Allen’s nose tingled unexpectedly as he held Diana in his arms, stealing glances at Lia.
He watched as Lia headed toward the food table.
His throat tightened with anticipation.
In truth, that magnificent chocolate fountain and all the desserts had been prepared by Allen as an apology to Lia.
He had heard that Lia seemed to enjoy chocolate.
But he felt a twinge of disappointment when Lia, her eyes widening in surprise, selected no chocolate at all.
Something felt off about the atmosphere.
Children who had been standing at a distance gradually crept closer to Lia, and her expression hardened.
It seemed as though words were being exchanged, but Allen’s ears could not quite make them out.
Diana seemed eager to go to Lia as well, her body twitching with anticipation, so I was approaching while cradling my younger sister in my arms.
With a loud crash, Lia tumbled toward the table.
And now, in the present moment.
“What are you saying, Allen?”
At the Duchess Elrad’s words, Allen pointed at Letisha and shouted.
“I saw it! She suddenly shoved Lia hard!”
“W-what are you talking about?”
Letisha’s voice trembled as she spoke.
“I would never push this maid girl… I’ve done no such thing.”
“What? I clearly saw it. Are you trying to deny it?”
Allen was flabbergasted.
It had only been days since he resolved never to cower behind others again.
Though he hadn’t deliberately sought out this opportunity, Allen—who had kept his eyes fixed on Lia throughout—had seen it clearly.
Among the cluster of children, that girl had pushed Lia with both hands with all her might.
“That’s not it… Perhaps you were mistaken, young master. There were many other people around this maid just now. And if you look now, you’ll see I’m standing much farther away than anyone else.”
“Ha!”
Allen’s breathing grew ragged.
“You all saw it! You didn’t see her push?”
…
The children stood silent, their eyes blinking in confusion.
Without evidence to prove it, and with the other party flatly denying everything, Allen felt as though he might explode with frustration.
Then it happened.
“Why hasn’t anyone asked the person involved?”
“…Y-Your Grace?”
The owner of that cold voice was Duke Elrad.
Everyone present doubted their ears.
That typically indifferent man actually involving himself in children’s squabbles—who would have thought.
The bewildered onlookers exchanged glances, watching the situation unfold, when the Duke spoke again.
“Third parties arguing about it is pointless. Lia, answer me directly. Did someone push you, or did you fall on your own?”
Only then did many people seem to notice the existence of the maid girl named Lia, turning their gaze toward her.
In their hearts, they hoped the young maid at the center of this commotion would let the matter pass quietly.
But.
“…I didn’t fall on my own. Someone pushed me.”
The answer that came from the maid’s lips was not a welcome one.
“Then did you see who pushed you?”
Lia noticed that beneath the Duke’s typically impassive gaze lay a subtle anticipation and curiosity directed at her.
He seemed to want to test something, and to confirm something as well.
Lia lowered her head heavily and shook it.
“Ah…”
A sigh escaped from someone’s lips.
It was none other than Letisha’s father, Baron Jude.
He watched the situation unfold while cold sweat dripped down his face, feeling a wave of relief wash over him inwardly.
Letisha felt the same way.
If even that maid had pointed her out here, the situation would have turned against her regardless of the lack of evidence.
The children around them would have no choice but to play dumb about what they saw or didn’t see, since they bore responsibility for their own whispering and mockery.
Yet even as relief flooded through her, she couldn’t make sense of this situation.
The fact that she had momentarily addressed that girl as a noble made her feel as though her pride would shatter, and the mere sight of such a girl wearing the same dress as a distinguished young lady made her blood boil.
How could even Prince Allen and Duke Elrad take that girl’s side?
“That’s why I’m telling you I saw it! That girl definitely pushed me!”
“Your Highness, I’m not sure what grievance you hold against me, but I truly did not push you.”
Letisha responded brazenly to the agitated Allen.
Seeing her defiance, Allen’s face flushed red with anger as he was about to shout.
“Did you truly not push her?”
The Duke asked with cold eyes.
A chilling silence descended in an instant.
Baron Jude interjected with a face as pale as death.
“L-Letisha! I understand your frustration, but what manner of speech is this toward His Highness? Apologize at once.”
He believed the Duke had stepped in not because of the maid’s involvement, but because Letisha had made his son Allen’s words into a lie.
“Baron Jude, I was not asking you.”
At the Duke’s icy words, the Baron quickly fell silent.
Letisha was also panicking.
But there was no evidence anyway.
She fought the urge to collapse right then and there, and cried out.
“Yes! Push? I didn’t even go near that girl!”
“I….”
That was when it happened.
As if Lia had been waiting for this very moment, she opened her mouth.
“I didn’t see who pushed me, but….”
And she extended the hand she had been clenching tightly all this time.
“Hm? What is that….”
“Isn’t that lace from the dress of Baron Jude’s daughter?”
As whispers spread rapidly through the crowd, Lia spoke to Letisha.
“I’m sorry, it seems I tore your dress when I fell.”
At the same time, all eyes turned to Letisha’s dress. Indeed, there were visible tears in the fabric.
Seeing this, Allen cried out triumphantly.
“Ha! You said you didn’t push me! You didn’t even go near her, so how could Lia have torn your dress?”
“That is….”
“I don’t think there’s much more to hear. Baron Jude, your daughter has caused quite a disturbance at today’s gathering, so you must take responsibility accordingly.”
“Y-Your Grace…!”
After finishing his words, the Duke turned to leave, then turned back once more to speak.
“Oh, and don’t forget to compensate us for the dress as well. It was tailored specifically for our Diana, and now it’s ruined.”
“Yes? I, I understand!”
Only then did the onlookers begin expressing their condolences, their eyes darting between Lia’s devastated dress and the young lady’s pristine gown.
The dress was a masterpiece from the most renowned boutique in the Duchy, and the cascade of jewels adorning it seemed far beyond Baron Jude’s means to replace.
Yet as Baron Jude watched the Duke’s retreating figure, he could only stand there with a hollow expression, while Baroness Jude, her face drained of all color, hurried to pull Letisha away.
Allen’s voice rang out at Letisha’s fleeing back.
“She belongs to our Diana. She’s not someone you can lay your hands on as you please!”
The temperature around us plummeted as if ice water had been poured over the gathering.
The faces of the noble youths and young ladies who had mocked Lia drained of color in an instant, their eyes trembling with fear.
The thought that they too might have ended up like Letisha sent a chill racing down their spines.
“Lia, are you alright?”
It was then that Duchess Elrad, having finished managing the situation, approached Lia.
Her gentle hands carefully tended to Lia’s sticky hair and face, dampened by the spilled beverage.
My throat burned as I swallowed hard, and I slowly opened my mouth.
“My lady, I’m so sorry. The dress….”
Was it just the dress?
Unintentionally, I had ruined not only her carefully prepared banquet but everything else as well.
I hadn’t wanted to cry.
Even though I tried to hold back, my eyes burned too intensely.
I broke down and wept right there.

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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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