Everyone Was Obsessed With Me After I Became the Youngest Princess Favourite - Chapter 38

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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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“Why aren’t you getting ready, sister?”
Diana tilted her head curiously as she asked me.
This morning, as Diana prepared for her outing, I had selected my cleanest and most carefully pressed maid’s uniform, determined to serve her flawlessly for her successful salon debut. I was about to say that this would do just fine.
“Young lady, this child will not be attending the salon. Instead, this one will accompany you.”
The Head Maidservant introduced the girl standing beside her.
“She is a girl I brought from my own household and trained from the ground up, so she will serve you excellently.”
“Hello, young lady! I’m Sophie. I know all about the families and names of the young ladies attending today, so please trust me.”
The girl named Sophie, speaking with such confidence, glanced at me briefly.
At this, the Duchess Elrad and Allen, who had come to see Diana off despite having morning appointments, wore expressions of bewilderment.
“Helen, this is the first I’m hearing of this.”
“Madam. I thought it would be good for the young lady to select a dedicated personal maidservant soon.”
“Diana’s attendant is…”
“Surely you’re not thinking of that child Lia, are you?”
The Head Maidservant cut off the Duchess Elrad’s words sharply.
“Madam. The young lady cannot be served by just any maid. Much less as a dedicated personal attendant. And today especially—her first visit to the salon—to entrust the young lady to such a small child?”
“…”
“It’s called a gathering for friendship, but there are already plenty of young lords and ladies forming cliques. While we’re going to a salon frequented by young ladies most favorable to House Elrad and socially adept, no one knows what might happen. The young lady needs someone sharp-witted and perceptive at her side.”
“Helen. You simply don’t know—Lia is a bright and clever child.”
“Yes, madam, and she receives such favor from you and the young lady that she must be quite intelligent. But she is not yet even ten years old.”
Even I, who had naturally intended to follow along, found myself at a loss when my age was mentioned.
The Duchess Elrad seemed to feel the same way, and Allen, who had remained silent observing the situation until now, wore an expression of agreement.
But Diana was not one to accept being suddenly sent off with a strange maidservant to an unfamiliar place.
“Wahhh! I don’t want to! If sister doesn’t go, I won’t go either!”
Diana burst into tears with a wail.
* * *
“Young lady. It’s time for you to go now.”
I spoke carefully, watching the anxious Sophie.
Diana, who had buried her face in my arms, asked through sniffles.
“Dana, I don’t want to go.”
“There will be delicious things there, and many friends too. Everyone will like you, so it’s sure to be fun.”
“…Mmm.”
“When you return, I’ll read you fairy tales and play with dolls with you.”
“Really?”
“Of course.”
With those words, the long standoff finally ended.
I stepped outside with Diana, whose tears I had wiped clean.
The carriage waiting outside came into view, along with Allen who had come to see her off, and Taize, the escort knight.
Taize, having apparently heard what happened inside, looked at me briefly with a somber expression, but time was too pressing, so without further words he quickly helped Diana into the carriage.
I stood blankly watching the carriage carrying Sophie depart.
“Hey, you incompetent thing.”
Allen, who stood beside me, called out at that moment.
‘If Diana were here, I would have bitten her leg right away.’
Swallowing my regret inwardly, I responded flatly.
“Why are you calling me?”
“Diana’s not around today—what are you planning to do?”
“What do you mean? I have work to do.”
“Then come to the Training Grounds later.”
“Pardon?”
I turned my head at his sudden remark, having been responding with indifference until then.
Allen spoke in a loud voice, as if making sure the Head Maidservant beside him could hear.
“It’s hot, so bring some cool drinks and snacks.”
“It’s not even summer yet, and you’re already feeling the heat?”
“Ah, just bring what I ask you to bring!”
I flinched and shrank back at his sudden raised voice, and Allen’s expression turned flustered.
The Head Maidservant, observing this, asked.
“Young Master, shall I prepare refreshments for the other knights as well?”
“No! That would be too much trouble! …The kitchen.”
“…?”
While it couldn’t compare to the Imperial Palace, the vast kitchen of House Elrad, which served countless servants, would never find such additional work burdensome.
‘In fact, they’d probably be delighted and eager to prepare snacks for the Lexion Knights.’
Knowing how these rigid servants took immense pride in House Elrad, Allen’s words sounded utterly absurd to me.
Allen himself, realizing his words made no sense, shouted with a flushed face.
“It’s for eating during my sparring match with Jack, so keep that in mind and prepare it. Don’t send it through another maid because you find it bothersome—you have to come yourself!”
When had I ever delayed work because I found it troublesome?
I watched Allen’s back as he fled, pouting, but in truth, I had already noticed that he deliberately called me out.
‘So Allen does have this kind of consideration.’
I was certain he meant to comfort me for being upset about not being able to follow Diana, and I hesitated for a moment.
‘Surely he didn’t call me out just to torment me now that Diana’s gone. Right?’
I turned around, nodding my head urgently as if to shake off my anxiety, and froze.
The Head Maidservant, whom I thought had left long ago, was staring at me with eyes like an abyss.
Her silent, unwavering gaze felt strangely unsettling.
She soon turned and left, but I remained standing in that spot for a long while.
* * *
“…Young Master!”
“Hm?”
Allen, who had been staring blankly toward the entrance of the Training Grounds, turned his head at Jack’s voice calling him.
“Is something troubling you? If so, shall we end the sparring match and rest…?”
“No! Nothing’s wrong! Let’s continue.”
Jack tilted his head in confusion.
Today, this small young master seemed unusually unfocused and strange.
‘Though he usually jests and pranks, when he draws his sword, he becomes serious.’
Despite Allen’s initial impression being that of an arrogant and disagreeable typical noble young master, he had since formally apologized and completely rehabilitated his image in my eyes.
Of course, I still found it bothersome that he continued to tease and harass Lia.
At that moment, Allen chuckled and shook his shoulders.
“…Seeing a handsome face certainly lifts one’s spirits. Though of course, appearance isn’t everything….”
Pleased with his own magnanimity and thoughtful consideration, Allen had been grinning for quite some time before he lifted his head at the peculiar gaze directed at him.
It was Jack, his expression asking what nonsense he was spouting.
For a moment, Allen bristled at the embarrassment, but then collected himself and spoke.
“Come to think of it, you lived with Lia at the Orphanage but claimed not to know her well.”
“…?”
“She likes handsome men.”
Watching bewilderment bloom in Jack’s eyes, Allen smiled with satisfaction.
“And she’s told me I’m handsome more than once.”
“…!”
Jack paused, then spoke curtly.
“I didn’t know she favored that… but Lia also told me I was handsome.”
At Jack’s words, Allen’s lips, which had been soaring to the heavens, trembled.
“What?”
“She was staring at me intently, so I asked why. She said it was because I was handsome.”
Jack’s expression and tone seemed no different than usual.
But Allen was certain he was now 100 percent showing off.
This time, he was about to explode with indignation and shout, ‘You think you’re so great!’
“Young Master, Jack!”
Lia entered the Training Grounds carrying a picnic basket nearly as large as herself.
* * *
Whether the Head Maidservant had given advance notice, when I visited the Kitchen during the hottest afternoon hours, the food was already prepared.
Neatly wrapped sandwiches and fruits were enough to feed five grown men comfortably.
“Young Master is still growing, so you must eat plenty.”
The Kitchen Maid, who had always watched me with envious and jealous eyes whenever I dined with Diana, spoke gently.
However, having recently overheard her complaining to the head cook that no matter how carefully she prepared dishes with rare ingredients, it all ended up in that strict young lady’s stomach anyway, I could only nod with a lukewarm expression.
I understand her envy—she must save an entire month’s wages just to afford one such delicacy, while I eat my fill beside the young lady.
But I’m not entirely at ease either. They say even dogs won’t touch food during meals, yet I find myself watching her expression every mealtime. It’s heartbreaking.
‘And gossiping like that about a child, no less.’
As I grew visibly disgruntled, the flustered maidservant suddenly poured cool juice into a large glass bottle filled with ice and carefully packed expensive-looking crystal glasses into the picnic basket.
I gasped inwardly, my eyes widening in alarm.
‘If even one of those breaks, it’ll cost me several months’ wages!’
Though the Duke had recently given me the key to a vault at the Capital City bank, claiming it was mine, I hadn’t yet seen my wealth in physical form, so it didn’t feel real that I was actually wealthy.
Rather, my monthly maidservant’s salary felt far more precious.
So I suddenly panicked, wondering if my slightly sullen attitude just now meant she was asking me to carry all this alone.
“This seems too heavy for you to carry alone. Would you like me to help?”
The maidservant spoke in a coaxing tone, as if luring a small child.
I looked up at her with startled eyes.
The maids at the Duke’s Mansion had never been unkind to me, but they weren’t particularly warm either.
Moreover, I had been secretly resentful that they’d spoken ill of me behind my back, so when she suddenly showed affection, my irritation melted away and I found myself reflecting on how petty I’d been.
“You knights train so hard every day, and with the weather growing warmer, I’m sure your throats must be parched. I’ve prepared plenty, so it would be nice if you’d share it with them. Wouldn’t it?”
The maidservant added her words and her eyes sparkled. Only then did I realize my mistake.
‘So that’s why she was being so kind…!’

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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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