Everyone Was Obsessed With Me After I Became the Youngest Princess Favourite - Chapter 75
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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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Why is everyone shouting like this today?!
I barely managed to calm my racing heart as I glanced sideways at Allen and Jack.
But I soon came to accept that Ascart’s proposal was indeed remarkable.
Of course, I wasn’t sure how much Allen and Jack understood the significance of my invitation to Bellus Duchy—or more precisely, to the Magic Tower.
Ascart’s proposal meant he recognized my talent as a mage, and it meant he was granting me the qualification to enter the Magic Tower.
The Magic Tower of Bellus Duchy differed from the back gardens of ordinary noble houses because it respected individual mages’ autonomy, making its significance entirely different.
Honestly, the Magic Tower had such a strong individualistic character that it didn’t impose restrictions on personal activities even after joining, so I found myself somewhat tempted.
‘Belonging somewhere still feels burdensome, but….’
If it was the prestigious Magic Tower of Bellus Duchy, I felt I could uncover secrets not only about the Master but also about my regression.
“Why can’t you answer? Are you really going?”
“Sister, you’re leaving Dana behind?”
At Allen’s fuss, Diana’s eyes widened in alarm.
The child hugged my waist tightly with an anxious expression and asked.
“You’re not, right? Sister isn’t going anywhere, right?”
“…Haha.”
My heart ached at the sight of Diana looking up at me with teary eyes.
‘It seems I really can’t leave after all….’
Though I had resigned myself to it early on, now I truly couldn’t bring myself to leave so abruptly.
Even if I left the Duke’s Estate and became independent, I had no intention of severing our bond.
Rather, my desire to confidently remain by Diana’s side only grew stronger, so I was about to tell her clearly that I wouldn’t be going anywhere.
Boom!
Before I could even answer, the highlight of the Academy Festival—the fireworks—began.
* * *
The fireworks that everyone had been anticipating were truly beautiful.
I too had seen fireworks whenever there were founding day celebrations or major imperial events and festivals.
But I had always been in the midst of carrying out missions or passing through hastily, stopping only briefly to watch, so this was my first time truly enjoying them properly.
I felt a bittersweet pang realizing how far removed my previous life had been from anything ordinary, yet I was grateful to understand just how fortunate my current life was.
“Young lady, I said I’m not going anywhere.”
Diana, who was clinging tightly to my waist right now and refusing to let go, was proof enough of that.
“Mm. But, older brother….”
“Young lady, you trust the younger master more than me, it seems.”
“No! Dana trusts sister more!”
The moment I deliberately pouted with a sad expression, Diana shook her head and burrowed deeper into my embrace.
Allen called out from behind with a voice full of despair, “Diana…!” but it seemed Diana’s ears weren’t hearing it.
“Sister, you’re really not going, right?”
“Of course not.”
“Hehe.”
After reassuring her multiple times, Diana lifted her head with a bright smile, and there were bread crumbs stuck around her mouth.
While she had been anxious about where I might go, she had eaten snacks sold within the Academy that Taize had bought for her in the meantime.
As I gently wiped them away and cleaned around her mouth, her slightly protruding baby belly was absolutely adorable.
“Don’t look, please.”
When I stared, she grew embarrassed and covered her face with her small hands—a gesture so endearing it was almost unbearable.
“How could I possibly leave when the young lady is this adorable?”
The moment I chuckled and spoke, a scorching gaze fell upon my cheek.
I turned my head to find Lucio watching me.
“…?”
“You….”
“My lady, we must depart now.”
The instant Lucio opened his mouth to speak, Taize—who had been vigilantly observing from the periphery—addressed the Duchess Elrad.
As the fireworks concluded, throngs of visitors began rising to leave the Academy.
In truth, the Academy Festival’s grand finale was an elaborate ball, but since only students could participate, the guests were now obliged to depart.
“How the time has flown. Lucio, you must attend the ball yourself—do hurry along.”
The Duchess Elrad spoke with reluctant eyes, and Lucio shook his head.
“I shall escort you to the Academy gates.”
Following behind him as he led the way, I noticed male Academy students dressed in their uniforms carrying flowers for their partners.
I found myself suddenly curious about who Lucio’s partner might be.
Long past his coming-of-age ceremony, he remained without a betrothed, commanding the undivided attention of noble maidens and ladies alike.
‘Of course, his cold temperament meant no one dared approach him directly.’
Still, he would hardly miss the Academy’s most anticipated ball.
Particularly in the future, Lucio—unlike his father, Duke Elrad—demonstrated remarkably political conduct and cultivated intimate connections with the nobility.
He had even displayed such significant behavior that Terenthium had not designated him as a person of interest without reason.
Thus, even during his Academy years, he must have already built relationships with other noble youths and maidens.
He would never squander such an excellent opportunity as a ball.
‘So Lucio would be dancing and such, then?’
No matter how different my circumstances had become from my previous life, the world of nobility still felt distant and foreign to me.
‘A ball, of all things.’
To me, a ball had been merely a means to infiltrate noble households covertly during missions.
‘Ah, perhaps in this life, having become extraordinarily wealthy, I might receive an invitation….’
“Are you even listening to me?”
“Pardon?”
“A man is not defined by his appearance alone! If you chase after someone based solely on looks, you’ll come to regret it!”
Heavens. Was he still going on about this?
I regarded Allen with an exasperated expression as he grew increasingly heated.
Yet whenever he himself received compliments about his handsome features, his mouth would split into an idiotic grin each time.
Observing Allen’s simple yet persistent nature, I wore a tired expression, and as though pricked by guilt, he added hastily.
“W-well, of course Ascart has an excellent character and outstanding integrity, but not everyone is like that, you understand.”
“Still, a handsome beggar is better than an ugly rich man, isn’t that what you said?”
“W-what!”
Allen stammered in bewilderment, apparently never expecting me to counter his argument.
I could have let it slide, but his constant repetition had begun to irritate me.
“Who on earth told you such a thing!”
Allen protested vehemently, but since I couldn’t mention that Rope, a former Guild executive, had taught me, I simply claimed I’d heard it somewhere.
At that, Duchess Elrad, who had been listening to our conversation, burst into laughter.
“Whoever said it was quite clever. But Lia, while handsome is certainly nice, handsome and wealthy is even better.”
From the Duchess, who smiled contentedly as she spoke, I felt an unmistakable aura of a victor—one beyond reproach.
As I clasped my hands together and gazed up with sparkling eyes in newfound understanding, Jack suddenly leaned toward Taize and whispered something serious in his ear.
Taize immediately burst into laughter.
“Ahem, cough. I’ll explain the knight’s salary in detail when we return.”
I tilted my head in confusion as Jack’s face turned bright red at the sudden remark.
“Oh my, it seems we’re already done here.”
An unexpected person had appeared.
‘Handsome and wealthy… a man…!’
Duke Elrad, stepping out through the academy gates, frowned upon seeing us about to leave.
“What brings you here?”
“I came to pick you up.”
“You said you’d be late today.”
Duchess Elrad asked in surprise, but the Duke merely shrugged.
Yet I noticed the Duke’s eyes briefly flicker toward Lucio, and I smiled inwardly with satisfaction.
Though the Duke didn’t express it, he seemed to find Lucio just as dreadful as Diana and Allen did.
I was nodding to myself, thinking the Duchess hadn’t chosen him merely for being handsome and wealthy, when—
“…?”
My eyes met Lucio’s once more.
His lips parted as though he were about to say something urgent.
“People seem to be gathering. Let’s go.”
Just then, as the gazes of those leaving the Academy began to converge on us, the Duke spoke with irritation.
Fortunately, Taize had apparently already dispatched the knights beforehand—the Duke’s carriage was waiting at the academy gates.
“Lucio, thank you for showing us around today. I appreciate it.”
“Brother, take care!”
“Big brother, goodbye!”
I watched as Duchess Elrad and the others boarded the carriage in turn, offering Lucio a brief bow before stepping inside myself.
That was the moment.
“Wait.”
Lucio urgently grabbed my arm.
Those around us looked on in surprise, but I felt as though something I’d been expecting had finally arrived.
I realized I hadn’t been mistaken in what I’d observed.
‘It started when we watched the fireworks, didn’t it.’
I had noticed several times that Lucio seemed to have something he wanted to say to me, his lips parting repeatedly.
“You…”
“Young Master, I’m studying hard just as you instructed. I go to the library every day. Please trust me to take good care of the young lady!”
The moment Lucio’s lips opened, I poured out my words with resolute determination.
After all, there was little Lucio could possibly say to me beyond confirming the instructions he’d given me before, so I answered promptly to avoid wasting time.
‘Without a word spoken, I’ve already discerned my Master’s intentions and acted accordingly.’
I found myself quite pleased—even by my own assessment, I had become a rather seasoned and capable servant.
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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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