Everyone Was Obsessed With Me After I Became the Youngest Princess Favourite - Chapter 65

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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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“….”
I blinked and looked up at the Maidservant.
Her eyes held no annoyance or aversion toward me.
Seeing only concern, apology, and a faint sense of guilt reflected in her gaze, I slowly nodded.
“Yes. The physician said I may move about now.”
“I see. That’s truly a relief.”
The Maidservant smiled awkwardly and turned her body to let me pass.
I too wore an uncomfortable expression as I slowly made my way down the Corridor.
I had anticipated this to some degree since the room change, but the attitude of the servants working at the Duke’s Mansion had clearly shifted.
The Maidservants who cleaned my room or brought meals treated me with meticulous care, and the food that arrived, though suited for an invalid, came as a thoughtfully prepared diet balanced in both nutrition and flavor.
Despite receiving such obvious favoritism—treatment far too generous for a mere Maidservant—no one displayed the dissatisfied looks and curt attitudes from before.
More accurately, none of the servants who had disliked me were anywhere to be seen.
“Am I such an easy person to win over?”
These were people who had never directly tormented me, yet had pretended ignorance and ignored me all the same.
Now, as they approached me with apologetic expressions, my heart was already softening without my realizing it.
‘At this rate, I’m no different from the pushover Rope warned me about.’
I could see his face shaking his head, saying I shouldn’t trust people so easily, yet here I was doing exactly that. It seemed that being beside the kind Duchess Elrad had made my own heart grow softer as well.
‘Hmm? But even so, that seems quite….’
It didn’t seem like a bad thing.
I still thought Bianca was the most wonderful person in the world, but I also wanted to emulate the Duchess Elrad’s gentle and warm nature.
“Ahem, ahem! Well, it’s not a problem to want to emulate someone.”
Pressing my cheeks, which had grown warm without my notice, with the back of my hand, I climbed the Staircase with light steps.
* * *
“What brings you to summon us all like this?”
Lucio wore a puzzled expression as he looked at Duke Elrad, Duchess Elrad, Allen, and Diana gathered in one place.
“Is this the matter you meant to discuss last time?”
“Sit down first.”
Duke Elrad, whose face showed slight tension, gave a short cough before asking abruptly.
“By the way, Lucio, when are you returning to the Academy? I heard you were only visiting, yet you’re staying longer than expected.”
“…I’ll return soon. The festival preparations are in full swing now, so there’s no problem with my absence.”
“Ah, is the festival season already upon us?”
“Yes.”
Lucio took a moment to steady his breathing before speaking.
“If your schedule permits, you’re welcome to attend the Academy festival this time. If you bring Allen and Diana as well, it should be quite entertaining to watch.”
“…Pardon?”
Duchess Elrad, unaware the invitation was directed at her, asked in bewilderment as Lucio looked toward her and waited for her response.
“Really? Would that truly be acceptable?”
“Of course.”
At his immediate reply, Duchess Elrad broke into a radiant smile.
Seeing this, Duke Elrad suddenly spoke.
“I’m too busy to attend.”
“I understand.”
At her immediate acquiescence, Duke Elrad’s brow furrowed once more.
Duchess Elrad observed his expression and smiled softly.
The Imperial Academy strictly limited access to students and faculty except in special circumstances, so there was little opportunity to visit outside festival periods.
Given Lucio’s temperament, she had assumed his family would only be able to see the school during graduation ceremonies, so she was both surprised and grateful that he had extended this invitation so soon.
The thought occurred to her that perhaps Lucio had also wished to summon her and his siblings all this time, but had refrained from mentioning it while away in the Territory—and with that realization, the Duchess felt deeply apologetic.
“Ahem, ahem.”
It was then that Duke Elrad gave her a pointed look, as if to ask how much longer she intended to indulge in sentiment.
Only then did the Duchess, remembering why she had summoned all the siblings today, pose her question.
“Would you like to tell them, or shall I?”
“You tell them.”
Since they had been summoned to solicit their opinions rather than to coerce them, he thought it better that his gentle wife speak rather than himself, whose manner was more rigid.
The Duchess, thinking likewise, nodded and began carefully broaching the subject.
“Lucio, Allen, Diana. There is something important I must tell you all. It concerns our family.”
“Please, speak.”
“What is it?”
Both Lucio and Allen, as well as Diana, blinked with interest.
The Duchess, swallowing nervously, opened her mouth.
“You all know that Lia is a good and kind child, don’t you?”
“Hmph! She’s a bit foolish, but still….”
“Allen.”
At Duke Elrad’s gentle reproof, Allen pouted.
Watching Allen, who despite being two years older than Lia seemed far younger, Duke Elrad shook his head lightly.
And the Duchess continued.
“I’ve given this much thought since these recent events. How Lia has been wounded and tormented simply because she is a commoner and an orphan.”
“That was unjust!”
“Yes, you’re right, Allen. But there’s no guarantee Lia won’t face similar treatment once she ventures into the world.”
“Into the world?”
“Yes. We will ensure such things never happen within House Elrad, but….”
The Duchess trailed off.
Allen, who had momentarily looked confused, suddenly jumped up.
“Are you trying to cast her out?”
“No, it’s just that Lia might wish to leave on her own.”
“That makes no sense!”
Allen cried out in agitation.
“A small child like her wouldn’t last a day out there! And with how well Diana and I treat her, why would she ever want to leave?”
Allen could not fathom such a possibility.
Yet Duke Elrad and Lucio, who remembered Lia’s words about being able to leave whenever she wished, could only remain silent.
“But we don’t know what Lia herself thinks.”
The Duchess Elrad calmed the excited Allen and asked quietly.
“So, what do you think about accepting Lia as a member of our family?”
“That would mean….”
“I want to formally adopt Lia. I wish to give her the Elrad name and make her a member of House Elrad, so that she can live with confidence and never be looked down upon by anyone.”
It was Duke Elrad who answered Lucio’s question.
He spoke with unwavering resolve, recalling the moment he first met Lia.
At first, he had thought her an unremarkable child, one whose presence seemed to fade into the background.
Yet because she was the girl he had encountered at the moment of losing his daughter, his heart could not help but linger on her.
Watching her, he found himself wanting to care for her all the more—she was such a gentle and virtuous child.
The Duke recalled how, even as he played busily with Diana, the moment he and his wife appeared, Lia would quietly retreat toward the wall and gaze upon them.
Whether her maturity came early or not, though she might have envied and resented Diana for possessing everything, she accepted her circumstances with such composure that it weighed upon his heart.
‘That is why, at first, I merely intended to become her patron….’
After the events of days past, and upon learning that Lia had insisted on her duties as a maidservant because she was prepared to leave at any moment, he could no longer stand idle.
He wished to become a true protector for a child who had never received proper care from an adult.
It was then that his wife had spoken.
“Could we not become Lia’s parents?”
The moment the Duchess Elrad mentioned adoption, the Duke realized that this was what he had truly desired ever since he resolved to bring the child from the Orphanage.
Though he might never fully fill the hollow in her heart as her true father, if he could become a steadfast shelter in which she could rest assured and find peace, that would suffice.
Having made his decision, the Duke examined his children’s faces to gauge their reactions.
Lucio wore his usual inscrutable expression, while Allen appeared bewildered and taken aback.
And Diana….
“What is adoption?”
She tilted her head with wide, curious eyes.
“It means Sister Lia becomes Diana’s true older sister.”
“True sister? But isn’t Sister already Diana’s older sister now?”
Seeing Diana tilt her head in confusion at the Duchess Elrad’s words, the Duke broke into laughter.
“Our Diana truly loves Lia, doesn’t she?”
“Yes! I love her!”
Diana raised both hands high, declaring she loved her as much as the sky and the earth, and the Duke smiled warmly at the sight.
“It seems Diana approves.”
The Duke then turned his gaze to Lucio and Allen, as if to say that now only their answers remained.
“If you both agree as well, then Lia will become your younger sister.”
“Um… younger sister?”
Allen scratched his head, clearly flustered by the situation.
It was then.
“I refuse.”
“…Lucio?”
“I oppose adopting that child.”
Caught off guard by this unexpected objection, the Duke found himself at a loss for words, blinking in surprise.
Seeing this, the Duchess Elrad spoke in his stead.
“What’s your reason?”
“I have only one sister, and that is Diana.”
At Lucio’s words, Allen, who had been blinking in surprise, suddenly raised his hand.
“Me, me too! Diana alone is more than enough as my sister!”
As the atmosphere shifted in an instant, the Duke, taken aback, was about to say something.
“Very well. If that is your will, then so be it.”
The Duchess Elrad, as if restraining her husband, settled the matter and spoke to him.
“It is not something that can be forced. Accepting someone as family—if even one person objects, you can never build a truly good relationship.”
“But—”
The Duke, who had been about to object, wore a frustrated expression, yet ultimately fell silent. His wife’s words held no fault.
Besides, they had never even asked Lia’s own wishes on the matter, so it was perhaps fortunate that things had been decided here.
Still, the Duke harbored a touch of resentment and cast a pointed glance toward Lucio.

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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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