Everyone Was Obsessed With Me After I Became the Youngest Princess Favourite - Chapter 43

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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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“Jack, over here!”
Standing in front of the Knight Order Barracks, I waved my hand at Jack, who was looking around uncertainly.
“Lia! What’s wrong?”
“You didn’t need to run like that….”
Seeing him breathe heavily, it was clear he’d rushed out the moment he heard I’d called for him.
‘He really did pass along my message.’
Honestly, when I’d asked a servant to fetch Jack, I’d worried they might ignore him like they did the other servants, but I was relieved to be wrong.
Then again, the servants might have found it difficult to treat me carelessly.
Ever since I’d fought with the servants who’d bullied Jack back at the Duke’s Castle, I’d noticed a peculiar mixture of fear and admiration in their gazes whenever I visited the Training Grounds.
“Were you waiting long?”
“Huh?”
“I thought it was a lie when they said you’d come. This is the first time you’ve ever sought me out.”
“…Was it?”
As I tilted my head in confusion, Jack spoke flatly.
“It was.”
I was startled to catch a glimpse of hurt flickering across Jack’s otherwise expressionless face.
“So what’s this about? Could it be….”
“Here!”
I handed over the round medicine jar I’d been clutching tightly in my hand, afraid of dropping it.
“It’s an excellent salve. Minor scrapes heal in a day, and it’s effective even on deep cuts.”
“….”
“Of course, injuries are inevitable when training, but still….”
Jack simply stared at the salve jar in his hand without saying anything.
Watching him, I felt oddly embarrassed and began chattering about anything that came to mind.
“This is really something special. It was made personally by Baron Bardo, the Duke’s Estate physician. And he said next time he’ll make medicine that’s good for recovering physical strength and growth.”
I’d recalled the wounds I’d seen on Jack’s hands the last time and asked the Baron for this salve, telling him to make whatever he thought best.
The Baron, startled thinking I was the one injured, nodded and gave me the salve when I explained it was for a friend who’d joined the Knight Order.
He also added that if I came with Jack next time, he’d examine him directly and prepare medicine good for bones and muscles.
I was planning to visit soon to hear more about Spletia anyway, and I thought it would be nice if Jack came along.
“Do you still think I’m that weak?”
“Huh?”
“No, I mean, you’re right that I’m weak.”
Jack’s reaction was strange—I’d expected gratitude.
‘Weak? What on earth is he talking about?’
Jack had grown taller and more solidly built compared to when he was at the Orphanage.
Besides, I’d heard rumors that his skills were improving at an alarming rate, so how could he be weak?
“Anyway, thanks. I’ll use it well.”
Ignoring my pouting expression, Jack continued.
“Let’s go. I’ll walk you back to the Servant Quarters.”
“….”
I let out a short sigh.
“You don’t need to walk me there. I can go alone.”
“We’re going together. It’s getting late.”
“Really, it’s fine.”
“….”
Though I’d refused with what I thought was firmness, Jack looked at me with an expression full of things he wanted to say, then promptly took the lead ahead of me.
Despite having given him a gift, he showed not a trace of joy—if anything, he seemed displeased.
Moreover, watching Jack sigh heavily as he glanced back at me repeatedly only soured my own mood.
“Jack. Do you have something to say?”
Unable to bear it any longer as we approached the Dormitory, I asked.
Jack then opened his mouth as if he’d been waiting for this moment.
“You’re not being foolishly taken advantage of again, are you?”
“What?”
Once again, his words made no sense to me.
As I furrowed my brow and stared at him, Jack clicked his tongue as if to say I should understand. My mood darkened further.
“What are you even talking about? You’re the one treating me like an idiot right now.”
I shot back with uncharacteristic sharpness, and I saw Jack falter.
“That’s not what I meant…. No, you’re right. I’m sorry.”
After a moment of denial, Jack quickly admitted his fault and apologized to me.
His ready acceptance made me feel somewhat embarrassed about my anger.
“So why are you acting like this? Tell me what’s going on in detail.”
At my question, Jack fell silent again and stared at me with a dark expression.
As the silence stretched on and my eyes began to narrow with renewed irritation, Jack spoke urgently.
“You’re doing well these days, right?”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“The people….”
Seeing Jack trail off, I finally grasped what he was trying to say.
It seemed he’d overheard the servants gossiping about me.
“It’s fine. I’m not bothered by it at all.”
“But…. You’re not being bullied, are you? Like having all the work dumped on you, or being called out separately to be scolded?”
“Nothing like that. Really, what do you take me for!”
Seeing the genuine concern in Jack’s expression, I let out a hollow laugh.
There was none of the bullying Jack described. If anything, the problem was that I was being completely ignored.
Yet Jack wore the face of someone watching a fool who was suffering without realizing it.
“I’m really fine, I’m telling you? Jack, have you forgotten who saved you from those arrogant servants?”
I laughed as if it were absurd and patted Jack’s shoulder. Then, waving my hand to tell him not to worry, I rushed straight into the Dormitory.
In that moment, I was moved by how much my friend cared for me, and my nose stung with the threat of tears.
‘I’m really fine.’
And yet.
From the day after I confidently told Jack I’d be fine, everything began to fall apart.
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Splash.
Water spilled from the staircase drenched not just my clothes but my entire body. The stench of wrung-out mop water rose up to greet me.
As I stood there in shock, I heard stifled laughter echoing from above.
When I looked up, the maidservants on the staircase quickly vanished.
“…Really, this is too much.”
I clenched my fists and gritted my teeth.
This blatant harassment had started not long ago. I found myself actually missing the days when they simply ignored me subtly.
‘It seems like this started around the time Jack began seeking me out.’
Whether out of lingering concern for me or not, Jack visited me nearly every day.
‘The servants’ eyes grew noticeably colder when they saw Jack and me together, but I didn’t think much of it at the time….’
After being grateful for his concern, I found myself resenting the popular Jack, just a little.
“Ah, I shouldn’t blame others.”
But I quickly caught myself and shook my head.
In truth, thinking back, this undercurrent had existed even before they started ignoring me.
Once when I went to meet Baron Bardo, and once more to visit the Annex Library where the herbalism and magic texts were kept.
During those two visits to the Annex, I overheard other servants gossiping about why I wasn’t doing my work properly and was just loitering around.
Since I was legitimately a maidservant receiving wages, their words weren’t entirely wrong, so I stopped visiting the Annex after that.
Besides, the librarian only guided me toward children’s books rather than specialized texts, so I couldn’t obtain the knowledge I truly sought anyway.
In any case, when I asked the head maidservant to assign me tasks, she—unlike her previous passive demeanor—eagerly began allocating work to me daily.
Cleverly difficult tasks that made it hard to encounter the Duchess Elrad, Diana, or Allen.
Looking at it this way, it seemed Jack’s words had come true. And now this crude harassment on top of it all.
Of course, I had considered asking an adult for help once the seemingly trivial harassment began to escalate.
After all, despite my adult mind, my body was genuinely that of a child.
And tormenting a young child like this crossed a line.
But my worries came to an abrupt end in less than a day.
A few days ago, I happened to overhear a conversation between the Duke and Duchess Elrad, who had returned late from a party at the Imperial Palace.
“I expected it, but it’s truly exhausting. I don’t understand why everyone speaks in such roundabout ways. They say that’s how nobility conducts itself. Honestly, I feel like I’m the only fool, like I’m someone without any sense. It’s so frustrating.”
“If you want to return to the Territory now, you can. Don’t push yourself.”
“I don’t want to. I’m your wife and the children’s mother. I’ll make this work no matter what.”
At the Duchess Elrad’s words, my mind suddenly cleared.
All this time, I had believed she was adapting well to life in the Capital City and doing fine. She had only shown me her bright side.
But that wasn’t the case.
How could I have forgotten that the Duchess Elrad might not even live much longer?
I felt contempt for my ungrateful self.
‘And here I was thinking of burdening the Duchess Elrad with my own troubles.’
Of course, reporting the wicked servants who tormented me to the Duchess Elrad would be the best solution for House Elrad, just as I had done with Sid Valery, but she was already struggling outside the house—I couldn’t add more chaos inside it because of me.
So I tried to endure as much as I could.
‘But if I stay silent even after it’s escalated to this point, I’m truly a fool.’
Very quietly, I had resolved to teach a lesson to those who tormented me—but I suddenly realized that wasn’t my most pressing concern.
“Sigh. That was my last clean outfit.”
Diana’s lessons would be ending soon, so I needed to wash away the stench clinging to my body immediately.
I rushed back to the Dormitory, showered, and let out a heavy sigh at the sight of my empty wardrobe.
All the maid uniforms I’d been issued were already soiled and sent to be laundered, so I had no choice but to retrieve the clothes I used to wear at Duke’s Castle.
“Right, what does clothing matter? As long as I carry myself with confidence, that’s enough.”
It was obvious the servants would whisper behind my back when they saw this outfit, but I couldn’t very well walk around naked.
Instead, I tied on the small apron I used to wear at Duke’s Castle, steadied myself, and was heading toward the Main Building when—
“Huh? Lucio, is that girl your sister?”

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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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