Everyone Was Obsessed With Me After I Became the Youngest Princess Favourite - Chapter 49
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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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“Let’s call it a day.”
“Already?”
Jack asked, lowering his wooden sword at Allen’s words.
Allen was the type to skip lunch whenever he finished morning sword training and began sparring.
Seeing Jack’s expression, Allen chuckled and replied.
“My older brother has arrived. He’s harder to see than Father… Oh! Now that we’ve come to the Capital City, maybe I’ll get to see him more often?”
Allen scratched his head, then blinked and clapped his hands together.
“Then I can ask him to watch our sparring match. Actually, my brother… no, never mind. Since we’re on the subject, let’s go see him now. He’s definitely in the Library.”
Excited from the moment he brought up his older brother, Allen dragged the bewildered Jack toward the Main Building.
And the entire way there, he began boasting about how magnificent and intelligent his brother was, how there was nothing he couldn’t do.
Listening to him, one would think his brother was the most perfect person in the world.
Jack recalled how Diana had once mentioned her older brothers were handsome, and he thought this pair of siblings must be quite close.
Of course, looking at Allen’s face, he couldn’t deny that her words held truth.
Half-listening to Allen’s words, Jack glanced around as they made their way to the Main Building, hoping to catch a glimpse of Lia hurrying past with cleaning supplies.
That was when it happened.
“Head Maidservant?”
“…Young Master.”
Allen tilted his head, noticing the Head Maidservant climbing the staircase with unusual haste, her composure shattered. Her face had gone deathly pale.
“Where are you rushing off to? Is something wrong?”
“No, sir… I was just heading to see the Elder Young Master.”
“Really? Perfect. I was heading to see my brother too.”
Allen took the lead, saying they might as well go together. Naturally, their destination was the Library, where Lucio practically lived.
“Brother, it’s me, Allen! I’m coming in.”
Without waiting for permission, Allen threw the door wide open.
“Lia?”
His eyes widened at the sight of a face he hadn’t expected to see here.
“Don’t mind us. Go ahead and eat.”
At that moment, Lucio, who had been sitting leisurely with a teacup in hand, spoke.
Looking closer, the table was laid with a fresh salmon salad, orange juice, and a sandwich.
Lia sat on the sofa across from Lucio, her expression uncomfortable as she glanced nervously toward Allen, then brought the sandwich to her mouth and began chewing.
Allen, bewildered by the scene, asked.
“Brother, what are you doing? Lia, what are you doing here?”
Lia couldn’t answer with food in her mouth.
Yet her expression clearly betrayed her own confusion about the situation.
* * *
Just moments before.
Lia was certain she would be punished.
But the moment Lucio rang the bell, a maidservant appeared as if she’d been waiting, and he said to her.
〈Prepare some warm tea, and… a light meal.〉
With that, as if he had nothing more to say, he picked up his fountain pen and began scribbling something.
The maidservant’s expression grew flustered.
Given Lucio’s characteristically cold and stern nature, there was no way he would simply overlook someone who had brazenly invaded his private quarters without permission.
Thus, the maidservant—who had expected him to drag the child out immediately and administer severe punishment—stood hesitantly before the door.
“Why are you still standing there instead of leaving?”
When Lucio finally regarded her with that glacial gaze once more, she scrambled out in haste.
Seeing this, Lia sensed the atmosphere and attempted to follow her out as well.
However, Lucio spoke in a clipped tone.
“Didn’t you say you came here to work? And now you’re simply leaving?”
“Oh, then… shall I finish cleaning?”
“No. Something else.”
Lia swallowed hard at his response.
But the task Lucio assigned was nothing particularly difficult.
After scribbling for some time, he tore the paper and handed it to me. At first glance, it appeared to be a list of book titles.
Quick-witted as I was, I nodded promptly and began surveying the vast library.
In the meantime, two maidservants arrived with food.
Judging by the increased presence compared to before, it seemed other maidservants had gathered at the door as well.
Pretending not to notice, I carefully climbed the ladder and began retrieving the books Lucio had requested, placing them one by one beside him.
The maidservants setting down the food bit their lips as the situation unfolded contrary to their plans.
Yet since Lucio remained unmoved, none of them dared show their displeasure and could only withdraw.
And finally, when I had retrieved all the books.
“Well done. Now eat something.”
Lucio said this while lifting the teapot and pouring into his own cup. It was tea with a strong mint aroma—apparently meant to invigorate.
After he took a sip with those elegant fingers holding the teacup and set it down, I hesitated before speaking carefully.
“Actually, I’m not hungry. I ate breakfast rather late.”
It wasn’t a lie. Thanks to Diana, who was unusually prone to sleeping in, I always ate breakfast quite late.
And immediately after Diana went off to her morning classes, I would go to receive my daily assignments—such was my routine.
But when I finally mustered the courage to speak honestly, the reaction was decidedly unfavorable.
Seeing Lucio’s brow furrow slightly, I had no choice but to force out, “Ha, but it looks so delicious that I’d like to eat some,” and pick up a sandwich.
Why did everyone in House Elrad insist on subjecting people to this food torture every time they saw them? I inwardly cried out.
And in that very moment, Allen’s voice came from outside, leading to the present situation.
Instead of me, who couldn’t explain this long tale and was merely mumbling through my bread, Lucio answered Allen.
“Just having some tea.”
“Lia? What’s she doing here?”
“She said she came to clean.”
“Clean?”
Allen, who had been blinking, suddenly jumped back.
“She came here to clean?!”
Loving his older brother Lucio dearly, Allen knew his cold temperament all too well and felt a sudden chill of fear.
Whenever he came to the Capital City following their father, his brother always stayed here, and whenever he did not grant permission, no servant dared linger anywhere nearby.
He enforced rules far more terrifying and merciless than their father would have, dismissing servants without hesitation. Consequently, even the maids desperate to catch his eye learned to keep their distance.
“Why did you do that! This is practically my personal study.”
Though the current situation made it perfectly clear that Lia was in no danger, Allen cried out anxiously.
He reasoned that while he could get away with barging in as a younger brother, Lucio would never extend such leniency to Lia, who had no such connection to him.
At Allen’s interrogation, Lia swallowed what was in her mouth and spoke with an aggrieved expression.
“I didn’t know because it’s always empty.”
Allen’s words caught in his throat.
This place was used only by the direct members of House Elrad.
Their father left before dawn and returned late at night, spending his time at the Estate in his Study, and their mother had become unprecedentedly busy since arriving in the Capital City.
He himself was absorbed in swordplay, and Diana was still at an age to read fairy tales—there was no reason anyone would come to this Library.
Until Lucio arrived, the lights had always been off here, so it was entirely understandable that Lia would be mistaken.
‘But why didn’t anyone warn her?’
Even he, slow as he was, found this strange.
The Head Maidservant standing behind Allen stepped forward.
“My apologies, Young Master. One of my subordinates seems to have made an error….”
“I don’t care whether it was an error or not. But handle it properly. If something like this happens even once more….”
“Absolutely not, sir. This will never happen again. I sincerely apologize for the trouble.”
The Head Maidservant bowed deeply, folding herself in half.
Lucio’s gaze remained cold, but he said nothing more.
The Head Maidservant took his silence as trust and straightened. Then she turned her attention to Lia.
She was about to say she would take the child and leave now.
“From now on, I’m putting this child in charge of managing this Library, so keep that in mind.”
“…Pardon?”
The Head Maidservant’s expression became strange upon hearing Lucio’s words.
As if she’d heard something she shouldn’t have.
But she didn’t respond to his statement.
Instead.
“So you’re coming here again tomorrow. Don’t do anything else—come straight here.”
He spoke to Lia, who had been nibbling bread while watching his expression carefully.
“Even after I return to the Academy, keep coming.”
“….”
“You only do what I tell you to do.”
Lucio rested his chin on his hand, waiting for Lia’s response as she blinked in surprise.
“Young Master.”
At that moment, the Head Maidservant called to Lucio in a stiff voice.
“If I may ask…why are you entrusting this child with managing this place? What is your reason?”
Allen, who had also been curious about this, pretended indifference while perking up his ears.
Lucio, who had been looking at Lia slowly, turned his head.
“Helen.”
“…Yes, Young Master.”
“Must I explain every little thing?”
“No, sir. My apologies.”
“Then you’re dismissed.”
As Lucio turned away, he noticed Allen and Jack standing awkwardly beside the departing Head Maidservant.
“So, Allen. What brings you here so suddenly?”
“Oh… I just wanted to ask you to watch our sparring match, brother.”
“I’m busy now. This afternoon.”
Lucio cut him off sharply and picked up his book again.
Yet Allen couldn’t bring himself to leave. Forgetting even to introduce Jack beside him, he pressed on with his question.
“But brother, what exactly are you having Lia do?”
“…Various things.”
“Then what’s with all this food that’s been prepared?”
More precisely, he was asking why Lia was eating here in the first place.
At those words, Lucio lifted his gaze from his book and muttered dismissively.
“Compensation. Feeding her… seemed best.”
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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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