Everyone Was Obsessed With Me After I Became the Youngest Princess Favourite - Chapter 66

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

‘He seemed to have goodwill toward Lia, but….’
Lucio possessed the same composed nature as I did, yet his sense of responsibility toward family and House Elrad ran deep.
Since he had never opposed my decisions as his father until now, I had assumed he would gladly accept Lia as a member of the family.
‘Yet he’s opposing it so vehemently.’
Allen, who admired and adored his exemplary older brother, would likely follow his lead—so I hadn’t worried greatly about him. My expectations regarding Allen proved correct, but the outcome was entirely reversed.
Perhaps Lucio’s goodwill had been nothing more than simple kindness toward a child who cared for Diana.
I was exhaling a sigh, realizing I had been hasty in my assumptions.
“Then, big sister—you’re not Dana’s sister?”
Diana, who had been observing the situation, asked through trembling tears.
“That’s not true. Even without adoption, Lia will always be Diana’s older sister.”
As Duchess Elrad hastened to console her, Diana nodded through her sorrowful expression and sniffled her response.
“That’s right. Lia is a princess, and Dana’s sister!”
* * *
Click.
I quietly closed the door and slid down to sit before it.
“….”
Something lodged in my throat, stealing my words.
Without my awareness, a tear rolled down my cheek.
The elation I’d felt moments before about sending a reply to Bianca evaporated entirely.
Overhearing the Duke, Duchess Elrad, and their family’s conversation outside her room had been entirely unintentional.
Since the mana rampage, manipulating mana had become far easier than before.
As a result, my physical senses had awakened, allowing me to hear even the faintest sounds with acute sensitivity, and I could move discreetly without deliberately suppressing my presence.
That’s why I had quietly made my way toward Duchess Elrad’s room, marveling anew at how masterfully Lucio wielded mana—his presence barely perceptible even under normal circumstances.
But then….
〈If you all agree, then Lia becomes your younger sister.〉
Had I not overheard this, I would have foolishly knocked and become an unwelcome intruder interrupting their family’s intimate conversation.
〈I refuse.〉
〈One younger sister is enough—Diana!〉
Lucio’s and Allen’s voices echoed alternately in my ears.
An indescribable feeling washed over me in waves.
Watching how generously the Duke and Duchess Elrad treated me, I had believed they regarded me as somewhat special.
But I never imagined they had considered adoption.
“I would have been content simply not to be abandoned… I never harbored such greedy desires.”
Tears began falling steadily. Sorrow flooded through me like a torrent.
‘I shouldn’t resent them, so why am I….’
Though it hadn’t come to pass, I knew I should be grateful they had even considered adoption.
But the thought of being rejected for something I hadn’t sought wounded me deeply.
“No. I’m the one at fault.”
If I truly hadn’t desired it, I would have no reason to feel this disappointment and sorrow.
I am a wicked child.
“I’m such a terrible person that I’m not welcomed anywhere.”
Even though I’d already experienced this once, I foolishly wondered if perhaps this time might be different.
That maybe I had a place here.
I’d repeated the same mistake like an idiot.
‘No matter how specially they treat me, I can never become family with anyone.’
My chest began to tighten, though this wasn’t a new realization.
Why was I even born into this world?
I was nothing but a drifting existence, unable to settle anywhere.
That’s when my neck suddenly felt hot.
Without thinking, I grasped the necklace in my hand and wiped away my tears with my arm.
Foolishly, both in the past and now, all that remained with me was this necklace.
Even if this wasn’t truly something my parents left behind, and not proof that I could find my family.
* * *
A few days later.
“That took longer than expected. Should I send it as is?”
Duchess Elrad asked, looking at the letter I’d handed her.
I nodded and said, “Yes,” smiling as though nothing had happened.
Since several days had already passed, crying alone like that seemed remarkably trivial now.
Still, I felt somewhat apologetic seeing Duchess Elrad’s face.
I knew she felt a sense of responsibility toward me, and I worried that as time went on, my presence might become a burden to her.
‘I can’t make things difficult for her.’
In truth, I sometimes wondered if things might have been different had I accepted Duke Elrad’s offer of patronage from the beginning.
But I’d come to understand that regardless of the form it took, a relationship that began unequally would only repeat the same patterns as before.
Just as in my previous life I’d been desperate for Master’s recognition, I would inevitably find myself making countless expectations and becoming dependent once again.
‘So I need to prepare to stand alone.’
But I had no intention of slipping away quietly under the pretense of wanting freedom, as I had before.
My desire to live without forming bonds with anyone had also changed somewhat.
‘Even if I can never truly become family….’
A desire was born within me—couldn’t I become someone who cherished and protected Diana by her side, just as I was doing now?
Of course, I might later regret my choice again, but I resolved to gladly bear whatever hardships might come.
‘First, I need to rise to a position where no one can look down on me.’
Since I needed to maintain my connection with House Elrad, my original plan of cleansing my status had become difficult.
While pursuing magic or healing, where I’d already shown promise, wasn’t a bad option, the easiest method without arousing suspicion was ultimately money.
‘Of course, at first I’ll be looked down upon. But if I become a magnate who sweeps up the wealth across the entire Continent….’
“What did you write?”
“For that, I’ll need to be really busy now… Yes?”
While I was steeling my resolve, Allen, who’d been watching from beside me, asked bluntly.
“What did you write in the letter?”
How should I handle this young master of the Duke’s household, who had become the heir yet showed interest in someone else’s correspondence? I regarded him with pitying eyes.
Diana was even quietly playing and drawing, yet this was quite the unusual interest.
“I just wrote about Belus Duchy. Once I looked into it, I discovered it was an incredibly beautiful and magnificent place.”
“Ha! Beautiful and magnificent?”
Allen let out a loud snort at my words, his face scrunching up in displeasure.
“What’s so magnificent about a tiny duchy with nothing special to offer?”
“….”
“There’s nothing worth seeing there.”
“…Young Master, didn’t you say before that the duchy was a wonderful and fascinating place?”
“I don’t know. I don’t remember. Anyway, it’s not impressive.”
Hearing Allen’s words, I felt a twinge of disappointment.
But I didn’t want to quarrel with Allen, who seemed to be in a foul mood for reasons unknown, so I pressed my lips together and said nothing.
‘What’s the point of arguing with a child?’
Watching Allen grumble anew, I found the situation rather amusing.
If the adoption had truly gone through, I would have had to call Allen my older brother.
Of course, he was actually older than me in age, but having lived through another life, it didn’t feel that way at all.
‘Jack at least carries himself with dignity, so I sometimes feel like he’s my older brother. But Allen….’
“Why are you smiling like that?”
“Pardon?”
I was startled as I shook my head, trying to suppress the smile creeping across my face.
“Your smile seems rather impure. What are you thinking about?”
“Oh, I wasn’t thinking about anything!”
I jumped up and denied it, but Allen continued to regard me with suspicion.
He had moments like this where his sharp side would startle me, and it wasn’t good for my heart.
“Children, it’s time. Let’s go.”
At that moment, Duchess Elrad, who had set aside the letter I’d written, spoke up.
At her words, Allen, who had been looking at me with displeasure, sprang to his feet.
“Diana, let’s go see your brother off.”
He coaxed Diana, who was in the middle of drawing.
“Hmm, I don’t want to.”
Diana, who had been sulking ever since hearing that Lucio was returning to the Academy, stubbornly shook her head.
But when Allen joked that her brother might feel hurt and even cry if she didn’t go see him off, she opened her eyes wide and looked at me as if to ask if that were really true.
I couldn’t quite imagine Lucio weeping, but thinking he might still feel sad, I nodded my head.
At that, tears began to well up in Diana’s eyes.
“I want to go with big brother.”
Judging that Allen would be better than me for moving quickly, Diana stretched both arms toward him.
Allen, finding Diana adorable beyond measure, picked her up with his lips curling widely.
Watching the picturesque scene of the siblings, I smiled contentedly and followed along with Duchess Elrad.
* * *
Once outside, Lucio was already standing before the carriage, prepared for his departure.
“Lucio, travel safely.”
Duchess Elrad, stepping forward in place of the Duke who had gone to the palace early that morning, greeted Lucio first.
Looking at Duchess Elrad, whose eyes openly betrayed disappointment and longing, I no longer sensed any distance between her and Lucio.
“Once the festival arrives, we shall meet again, so please do not grieve so deeply.”
Though Lucio’s expression remained impassive, his measured words revealed that the two had grown considerably closer through this encounter.
For a moment, I thought Lucio’s gaze had turned toward me, but I dismissed it without concern and sank into contemplation.
‘The festival.’
Not long ago, Allen had mentioned that when the Academy festival arrived in a few days, everyone except the busy Duke would attend together.
Only then did I recall how the usually quiet Academy would become bustling with visitors around this time of year.
‘Vendor stalls would line the streets beyond the Academy’s entrance, and the entire thoroughfare would teem with merchants and spectators.’
I remembered feeling oddly exhilarated by the lively atmosphere, even as a beggar.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————