Everyone Was Obsessed With Me After I Became the Youngest Princess Favourite - Chapter 71

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

* * *
“Why are you so late!”
The moment I rushed toward the main gate with the drinks in hand, Allen erupted in frustration.
Under normal circumstances, I would have grumbled that he was being unnecessarily temperamental, but now I could only understand his impatience.
Lucio was standing behind Allen.
‘He must be eager to see the Academy as soon as possible, so his restlessness is understandable.’
Moreover, Lucio alone—a renowned figure at the Academy—was enough of a draw, but with Allen and Diana, who had only recently arrived in the Capital City, standing alongside him as well.
With three members of House Elrad standing together, not only the Academy students but also the passersby on the street were too distracted staring at them to focus on anything else.
“I apologize for keeping you waiting. Please, have this first.”
I quickly bowed and silenced Allen’s complaints by offering him the drink.
“This is delicious!”
His honest exclamation burst forth immediately, and I smiled before glancing sideways at Lucio.
Today, he wore the Academy’s blue uniform, emblazoned with the crest symbolizing the institution across his chest.
It was a sight I thought I would never see again—one I had longed for.
“Please try some too, Young Master. It’s incredibly refreshing.”
I offered the drink to Lucio as well, noticing he seemed displeased at being made a spectacle.
Rather than accepting the drink, Lucio stared at me intently before suddenly turning away and entering the Academy.
I watched his retreating figure with a blank expression, then muttered dejectedly.
“This really is delicious though…”
Of course, it must seem trivial to Lucio, but it was the first thing I had bought with money I had painstakingly saved after returning to the past.
I had always felt guilty that I could never repay him for the times he had given me alms in the past, and I wanted to show my gratitude in whatever small way I could. Yet somehow, I felt disappointed.
“I’ll drink it all then.”
At that moment, Jack, who was standing beside me, took one of the drinks from my hand.
‘Even though he’s still holding the one I gave him.’
I looked at Jack, who was comforting me in his taciturn way, and smiled broadly. Then I spoke.
“You’ll get a stomachache if you drink all of that.”
* * *
The interior of the Academy was already bustling with numerous visitors.
Most were families of current students, though there were quite a few tourists eager to see the sights within those towering walls.
And I, too, was entering the Academy for the first time, unable to hide my sense of wonder.
The statue of the founding Emperor that stood prominently at the entrance, which I had always viewed from outside, appeared far more magnificent up close, and the expansive pathways that showed meticulous landscaping along with the colossal buildings captivated my gaze.
But what thrilled me more than anything else was the magical barrier that enveloped the entire Academy.
It was only natural that protective magic would be in place, given that it housed the Empire’s future—its students and professors—along with invaluable research materials.
However, considering the Academy’s vast grounds, I couldn’t even begin to calculate how many mana stones were being consumed to maintain such a barrier.
“Sister, what is this?”
At that moment, Diana, who had been looking around with an excited expression while sightseeing with Allen, asked me.
I glanced at the pouch I was holding and answered.
“Nothing special, just bracelets and necklaces, that sort of thing.”
In fact, the time I spent purchasing these was partly why I had bowed so apologetically to Allen.
After finishing our tour of the Fountain and waiting for the drinks to be prepared, I happened to spot a street vendor selling accessories nearby.
I had been looking for exactly these kinds of items, so I happily purchased bracelets and necklaces adorned with jewels.
In truth, the gems were so dull in color and crude in shape that they could hardly be called jewels at all, but cheap as they were, they were still gems.
I swept up not just one but everything scattered across the stall, emptying the purse of wages I had accumulated thus far. I recalled the bewildered expression on Jack’s face.
“What? These look way too cheap.”
Allen picked up one of the bracelets jutting out from my pocket and frowned.
“You bought so many. Even if you were going to buy one, you should have chosen something better.”
It was a remark befitting a nobleman and a wealthy one at that, but truthfully, I agreed as well. However, there was no helping it.
“For now, I’m going for quantity over quality.”
At my words, Allen seemed to regard me as an incredibly vain person, but this too was unavoidable.
‘This is all capital for my business!’
Embarrassed, I retrieved what was in Allen’s hand, and he asked.
“You liked things like this?”
“…Yes, I suppose I do like them.”
If I denied it here, I wouldn’t be able to explain why I had bought so many, so I nodded awkwardly.
Then I turned to Diana, whose eyes sparkled with delight as she examined the items, and held up the one that looked most lustrous.
“Miss, shall I put this on your wrist?”
“Huh? But this is yours, sister…”
Diana, who distributed all of hers to me without any reluctance and yet harbored no greed for mine, was utterly endearing.
I resolved inwardly that when I earned much more money later, I would buy her something truly fine. I opened the clasp of the flimsy bracelet and tried to slip it onto Diana’s wrist.
Snap!
In that instant, true to its cheap nature, the thin string snapped, and the beads scattered across the floor with a clatter.
‘No, my money!’
Most fell right there, but I watched several roll far away.
To my eyes, they were as precious as gold coins—I couldn’t afford to lose a single one. I was rushing to gather them when—
Click.
A gem that had been rolling endlessly came to rest against someone’s feet. Slender, pale fingers picked it up.
I lifted my head and, squinting against the backlighting, finally met someone’s gaze and gasped in surprise.
A beautiful young boy with lustrous golden hair as if dusted with glittering gold powder and fine, delicate features smiled down at me with an intent gaze.
Above his transparent emerald eyes, which had a gentle, drooping quality like a puppy’s, golden eyelashes fluttered.
‘What kind of person sparkles like that?’
“Is this yours?”
Even his voice was as soft and gentle as an angel’s. Merely hearing it felt purifying.
I nodded blankly, and he carefully placed the gem in my palm, asking.
“You look young—are you a student at the Gifted Academy?”
I shook my head, and the boy smiled faintly.
“Then you must be visiting for the festival. Do you have family at the Academy?”
Entranced by his kind eyes and gentle manner, I was about to shake my head and deny that as well.
“Askart.”
But a voice from behind caused the boy to withdraw his gaze from me first.
Following his eyes, I turned to see Lucio standing there with a frightening expression.
* * *
“I knew it! I knew his face would cause a stir!”
The beautiful youth whose eyes seemed to open wide was none other than Askart, the Grand Duke of Bellus Duchy.
‘Honestly, I was half-expecting and half-doubting how impressive a handsome face could really be.’
Seeing him in person, I realized his reputation was no exaggeration whatsoever.
“You’re so handsome! Really, really!”
Diana’s eyes also seemed captivated by Askart’s appearance.
When Diana, who always boasted that her older brother was the most handsome in the world, clapped her hands in delight, Allen couldn’t contain his frustration and jumped up with a cry of “Diana!”
“Ha ha. Well, thank you.”
Though he must have grown tired of compliments about his appearance over a lifetime, Askart blushed and looked embarrassed.
When he smiled shyly, it seemed as though flowers bloomed around him.
“….”
His face naturally drew admiration, yet for some reason, I felt oddly unsettled.
I had never met Askart even once in my previous life, and yet there was an aching sense of longing.
This was the first time I had ever felt this way upon seeing someone.
‘Why am I like this.’
For some inexplicable reason, my chest ached, and I pressed my hand against my heart.
Then I heard the sound of someone clicking their tongue beside me.
“Askart. You’re usually holed up in the library and never come out—what brings you wandering about outside today?”
Lucio spoke in a rather sharp tone.
At first glance, one might suspect their relationship was poor, but Allen had told me that the two of them were close friends with Prince Nicholas.
It seemed Lucio, like Allen, disliked hearing his younger sister Diana praise Askart.
“I looked out the window and the sunlight looked nice, so I thought I’d take a walk for a change.”
Unlike Lucio, Askart answered with a gentle expression.
Now that I thought about it, his claim about staying in the library wasn’t false—his eyes were slightly dark and he looked tired. I had only noticed it belatedly because his face shone so brightly.
Perhaps sensing my fixed gaze, Askart looked toward me. Soon his drooping eyes curved softly.
Even after learning I was a maidservant of House Elrad, Askart hadn’t changed his attitude toward me.
Rather, he remained remarkably kind and gentle, almost humbly so.
‘It would be unfair to even compare him to Kenneth Petite.’
Whether I had been captivated by his appearance or not, I found myself drawn to him despite meeting him for the first time.
In my previous life, I had only heard that he graduated from the Academy and returned to his duchy, so I couldn’t know what kind of person he was. But seeing him now, he didn’t seem like a bad person at all.
“If you’ve walked enough, why don’t you go now. I thought you said you had no interest in watching the festival.”
While I was making eye contact with Askart, Lucio’s sharp voice cut through once more.
His words, practically an outright dismissal, made the atmosphere tense.
‘Lucio… I didn’t know he was such a severe case of sister complex.’
Still, I thought he was being too harsh to his friend, so I gave him a sullen look—and our eyes met immediately.
Whether my displeasure was properly conveyed or not, Lucio added something more toward Askart.
“You hate crowds anyway.”

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