Everyone Was Obsessed With Me After I Became the Youngest Princess Favourite - Chapter 35

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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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‘Ah… this situation. Why does it feel so strangely familiar?’
I recalled the first time Master brought me to the Guild.
The members of Terenthium regarded me with both caution and curiosity at my sudden appearance.
And everything that followed had been nothing but awkward and frustrating for me.
‘This time will be no different.’
Drawing people’s attention inevitably led to troublesome situations, whether their intentions were favorable or hostile.
‘So if I want to live freely going forward, I cannot reveal all my abilities.’
I had decided to display only enough cleverness to remain at Diana’s side while staying at the Duke’s Mansion.
The Duchess Elrad spoke to the Head Maidservant.
“Before coming to the Capital City, I sent word ahead. This child is Lia. Since Diana is fond of her, I was hoping you might prepare a room adjacent to Diana’s….”
“Madam. That is not possible according to protocol.”
“…Pardon?”
“How could a maidservant reside in the main residence, let alone in a room next to the young lady? We have prepared quarters in the maidservant’s dormitory. She shall stay there instead.”
“But Diana will continue to look for her….”
“Then we shall place a chair in the corridor so she may attend to her mistress even during the night.”
“….”
From the moment the Head Maidservant cut her off, the Duchess Elrad’s expression, which had appeared flustered, hardened into rigid displeasure.
It was the first time I had seen her angry face since the incident with Sid Valery.
As the atmosphere sank instantly, I felt the servants watching grow flustered.
Simultaneously, I sensed subtle resentment directed at me.
It was likely their displeasure toward me for creating such a situation on the very first day of welcoming the mistress of House Elrad.
‘This feels completely different from my time at the Duke’s Castle.’
Though somewhat taken aback, I understood.
Before coming to the Capital City, the Duchess Elrad had told me that only the butler and the Head Maidservant knew the truth about my existence, as she had already imposed strict silence regarding Diana’s disappearance.
If word of Diana’s disappearance spread throughout the Capital City, news would reach every corner of the Empire in an instant. All manner of rumors and speculation would arise, potentially tarnishing Diana’s reputation in the future.
I cared deeply about Diana’s honor, but not about how I had come to House Elrad, so I harbored no resentment whatsoever.
I also disliked the notion of Jack and myself being treated as victims rescued from the wretched Orphanage.
In fact, Jack’s past was known to be that the Duke, having discovered his talents by chance, had brought him in.
Though I had not expected a warm reception, I had not anticipated such a rigid attitude.
I did not wish to make comparisons, but the servants here felt far more stiff than those at the Duke’s Castle.
And it seemed the Duchess Elrad was equally uncomfortable with this atmosphere.
It was the moment she was about to speak with a hardened expression.
“Madam. I am perfectly fine with this.”
I hastily stopped the Duchess Elrad.
The Duchess Elrad opened her eyes wide, clearly not having expected me to speak up.
But if I thought about it carefully, the situation up until now had been strange.
‘I thought staying in a guest room at the Duke’s Castle was already excessive, let alone a room next to Diana’s.’
The main residence of the Duke’s Mansion was where only the direct line of House Elrad resided.
I knew that even distant relatives, let alone honored guests, stayed in the annex rather than the main residence.
‘Of course, the Head Maidservant’s behavior toward the Duchess Elrad is irritating.’
If the Duchess insisted on having her way here, it would inevitably become a matter of gossip in the long run.
After all, it was already strange enough that a maidservant like me was staying in the room adjacent to Diana’s.
Moreover, people were already whispering about me, so there was no need to invite further scrutiny.
Now that I was in the Capital City, I had to be careful with every action I took.
I whispered softly as I tugged at the Duchess’s sleeve and pleaded once more, “Please.” The Duchess let out a resigned sigh.
“Very well, let’s proceed according to the Head Maidservant’s wishes.”
The Head Maidservant bowed her head, and the matter was settled for now.
I followed the maidservant the Head Maidservant had assigned to me and unpacked my belongings in my newly prepared room.
Compared to the room I’d occupied at the Duke’s Castle, it was small and shabby, but it was sufficient for a young maidservant.
Even the bed, which I’d been most concerned about, made no creaking sounds.
I’d lived in places like the Tessar Orphanage, so this was practically paradise.
I smiled to myself and gazed down at the Duke’s Mansion’s garden through the small window in my room.
Seeing the steady drizzle and the hazy mist, my smile faded somewhat.
I had an ominous premonition that life in the Capital City would not be easy.
* * *
Time passed quickly, and before I knew it, a week had passed since I’d arrived in the Capital City.
Duke Elrad was difficult to see, as he was constantly going back and forth to the Imperial Palace in his role as Minister of Military Affairs, and the Duchess was no different.
Once word spread that she had come to the Capital City, invitations from noblewomen who dominated high society poured in endlessly.
Though some might question her origins behind closed doors, she was the undisputed mistress of House Elrad, so no one could afford to ignore her.
‘Besides, she had two more children in addition to an excellent heir.’
Her position was more secure than anyone else’s.
However, having abstained from social activities until now, she suddenly began attending tea parties and gatherings, while simultaneously taking charge of the Duke’s Mansion’s internal affairs, so she appeared overwhelmed.
Fortunately, contrary to my concerns, the Head Maidservant was assisting the Duchess in every way possible.
In fact, the Duchess had commended the Head Maidservant multiple times, saying she could never have managed alone.
From my perspective as well, the Head Maidservant handled her duties with crisp efficiency and was doing her utmost for Allen and Diana.
While the Duchess was adapting well contrary to my worries, it was I who found myself adrift and isolated.
“Hey, you’re the girl the young lady favors, aren’t you?”
I turned my head as I was wiping dust from the windowsill in the Maidservant Quarters.
About five or six young maidservants with youthful faces came rushing over to gawk at me.
I awkwardly climbed down and stood before them.
I knew they were referring to me, but it felt embarrassing to respond with something like, “Yes! I’m the maidservant who monopolizes the young lady’s affection!”
Of course, it was hard to deny that I’d attracted considerable attention from the moment I entered the Duke’s Mansion.
‘I never expected a different problem to erupt that very evening.’
〈It is also improper for this child to sit at the dining table with us.〉
The Head Maidservant spoke curtly as she watched me sitting naturally beside Diana in the Dining Room.
I had been about to feed Diana a salad she disliked, but I hesitated and set down my fork.
I had thought I was serving Diana well up until then.
But hearing the Head Maidservant’s words, it seemed that my very presence at this table was the problem.
It was when the Duchess’s face hardened once more as the Head Maidservant insisted that the lady should be the first to uphold the servants’ regulations and should not act this way.
〈I hate you, auntie! Stop bothering my sister and go away!〉
Diana suddenly cried out.
The Head Maidservant, who seemed unfamiliar with such emotional outbursts, was greatly flustered by Diana’s fearless defiance despite her obvious terror.
Allen managed to soothe Diana, but the child’s attitude was so resolute, and Duchess Elrad had made it clear she would not interfere in this matter, so the Head Maidservant reluctantly abandoned her resistance.
Thus, against the Head Maidservant’s wishes, I found myself dining together with Diana as before—but…
‘It was like sitting on a bed of nails.’
The gazes of the maidservants standing along one wall of the Dining Room were piercing.
They were maidservants in the same position as me. Moreover, I was an orphan of unclear origins.
Their thoughts were transparent.
Aside from those uncomfortable meal times and playtime with Diana, I remained confined to the Maidservant Quarters.
No one assigned me tasks, and when I waited outside Diana’s room a few times while she attended her lessons, Duchess Elrad told me there was no need and instructed me to continue resting.
Yet I was a maidservant of House Elrad, and having recently received a substantial salary, my conscience troubled me for remaining idle.
So I lingered daily near the other maidservants, asking if there was anything I could help with, and they would shake their heads dismissively before casually telling me to clean the windows.
I immediately climbed onto the windowsill and began cleaning.
Only after witnessing my obedience did the maidservants apparently decide I was quite docile, and they gathered around to speak with me.
“Listen, no matter how much the young lady favors you, you need to know your place.”
“I heard you’re an orphan—you should consider it a blessing to work in House Elrad.”
“That’s right. Do you think it’s easy to get hired somewhere like this without a letter of recommendation?”
…Though it seemed like they were picking a fight.
“Yes, I’ll work hard!”
Still, I answered obediently and earnestly.
“Well, at least she understands what we’re saying.”
Bewilderment flickered across the maidservants’ faces.
They had apparently expected me to act arrogantly, relying on the favor of Diana and Duchess Elrad.
It was a pattern I’d encountered frequently at the Guild, so I wasn’t surprised.
“A servant’s duty is first and foremost to ensure our betters are at ease. Don’t go spreading rumors and causing discord.”
Even as they spoke, they continued their meticulous warnings, as if concerned I might behave one way in front of them and another behind their backs.
It was amusing that they treated a child who had just turned nine this way, yet I understood it somewhat.
‘They all wanted to serve Diana.’
How many maidservants must have harbored hopes that they might be assigned to attend to the young lady when word spread that a noble girl was arriving?
House Elrad had few maidservants of lower noble birth, so their expectations had likely soared even higher.
Becoming a young lady’s personal maidservant meant higher wages than ordinary maidservants, and the work was far less taxing than cleaning, laundry, or kitchen duties.
‘And if I received her affection, there would surely be many perks that came with it.’
But before they could even properly seize the opportunity, I appeared and claimed that position, so their resentment was understandable.
Being disliked was something I was accustomed to.
‘It was the same in my past life, the one that has already faded away.’
So I remained unbothered.

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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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