Everyone Was Obsessed With Me After I Became the Youngest Princess Favourite - Chapter 77

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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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“How did you come to be outside?”
Bianca asked in a startled voice, and the Grand Duchess replied wearily.
“His Highness insisted most earnestly that I take a walk, saying the weather is lovely.”
“I see. That was wise of you.”
Bianca’s face brightened noticeably.
The Grand Duchess, who typically dozed under the influence of medicine or remained in her bedroom with vacant eyes, had ventured outside for the first time in ages—it was simply astonishing and delightful.
“If you’re heading to the garden, allow me to guide you—”
“Wait.”
“Yes?”
The pallid Grand Duchess caught Bianca, who looked ready to dash forward at any moment, and tilted her head gently to one side. Her pink hair, braided and draped over her shoulder, fell softly with the movement.
“What are you holding? I noticed you standing there earlier, studying it intently.”
“Oh…”
Only then did Bianca realize the letter in her hands and hurriedly slipped it into an envelope, tucking it away in her bosom.
“It’s nothing of importance. A letter arrived from the Empire, and I was merely reviewing it.”
“From the Empire?”
The Grand Duchess’s eyelids blinked slowly, then trembled faintly.
“Could it be from Father or Askart…?”
“No, Your Highness. It is not.”
With Bianca’s swift denial, the glimmer of hope that had briefly flickered faded quickly.
“Then what letter has come from the Empire?”
At the listless question, Bianca hesitated before explaining.
“You know I traveled to the Empire recently on House Elrad’s business. During that time, I came to know a child at the orphanage who had been caring for the young lady. Duke Elrad took her in, and she now works as a maidservant at his estate. She is such a kind and clever girl…”
The moment Bianca mentioned what had transpired at House Elrad, she noticed the Grand Duchess’s expression grow clouded and fell silent.
After a brief pause, the Grand Duchess opened her eyes slightly.
“Duke Elrad must be aging. How unusual for someone who cares only for his own family.”
Bianca smiled faintly at the Grand Duchess’s candid remark about the Duke.
As they naturally continued walking toward the garden together, the Grand Duchess spoke again.
“Tell me, how old is this child?”
“She appears to be about nine years old. Since her exact birthday is unknown, the orphanage simply added a year each time the year changed.”
Suddenly, the Grand Duchess stopped in her tracks and frowned.
“A maidservant, you say? Isn’t she far too young? I assumed she was at least fourteen. No wonder she seemed so mature for her age. I must immediately—”
Clicking her tongue in disapproval, the Grand Duchess staggered.
“Your Highness!”
Bianca and the maidservant beside her immediately steadied her, but the Grand Duchess pressed her hand to her forehead, her face drained of color.
“The headache is returning. I must retire.”
“Yes. Allow me to attend you.”
“No.”
The Grand Duchess shook off Bianca’s arm as she moved to follow and waved her hand.
“You need not accompany me.”
And she spoke in a clear voice.
“Seeing you exchange letters suggests you’ll handle things well enough, but the child seems far too young. Should she struggle or need assistance, please help her whenever necessary.”
“Yes, do not worry.”
As Bianca spoke with conviction, the Grand Duchess gave a slight nod.
Unlike the woman whose breath still clung to her body but whose spirit seemed long dead, she appeared different.
Yet her bright, luminous eyes quickly grew clouded.
The Grand Duchess staggered as though she might collapse at any moment, leaning on her maidservant’s support as they made their way into the castle.
Bianca stood rooted in place, watching her figure for a long time.
* * *
Time flew like an arrow.
The sweltering summer drew to a close, and in that span, the House Elrad experienced countless developments.
Among them, the most significant was that the Splecia cultivation research, which had stalled for so long, made dramatic progress thanks to Askart’s assistance.
The Splecia, which had remained in a state of stagnation, now bore flowers and fruit, sprouting new shoots. Soon, not only cultivation but also serious research into remedies would begin in earnest.
‘The reactions of Tellin and the mages when they first saw the magic circle were truly remarkable.’
I cannot express how startled I was when they suddenly hoisted me onto their shoulders in celebration.
Though I explained from the beginning that Askart had created everything, the bewildered mages seemed not to hear a word.
Baron Bardo and the council members, who learned belatedly that the cultivation research was progressing successfully, reacted little differently.
Of course, thanks to my steadfast explanations, Askart’s credit was not stolen, but somehow everyone seemed to have misunderstood that I thought of nothing but the Duke’s Estate even when away.
〈I wondered what you were doing in the library, but you really….〉
I felt embarrassed when the Duchess Elrad praised me with tears of emotion, but when even Allen apologized awkwardly, saying “I thought you were bewitched by his face…,” I truly lost for words.
‘The truth is, I couldn’t boldly deny being captivated by that face, which is also why I fell silent….’
Moreover, the matters did not end there.
The Duke said that not only did I discover Splecia, but I also contributed greatly to its cultivation, and he substantially increased my share of the profits I would receive.
I undertook this work thinking it would benefit me if Splecia cultivation succeeded, but the unexpected proposal truly startled me. Thus, I resolved that when profits came, I would gift Askart first.
In any case, my share in the Splecia venture unexpectedly expanded, and I had completed all preparations for gathering my independence fund.
In truth, having decided to remain at Diana’s side rather than depart in search of freedom, my entire life plan required revision.
Of course, my desire to become wealthy remained unchanged, but I, who had planned to create an alias at an opportune time and earn vast sums to live freely, now resolved to establish my foundation under my current identity.
To utilize future knowledge, seed capital was essential, and fortunately, I already possessed the money I had received upon discovering Splecia.
‘Soon I must secretly hand over to the Duke the list of investments I had planned.’
Though the Duke manages my funds through an agent, I know better than anyone which investments will certainly succeed.
Now all that remains is the matter of selling ‘mana stones.’ This was planned to proceed secretly, briefly and decisively, then withdraw.
The purpose was to prepare emergency funds in case of unforeseen circumstances, but since creating mana stones, which are essential to magical tools, carries multiple dangers, I had to execute it with utmost caution.
‘Revealing my abilities, which are difficult to explain properly, is problematic in itself, but it will certainly attract considerable attention.’
If I proceed as a maidservant, the House Elrad might become troubled unnecessarily.
Honestly, managing my own survival is not difficult, but the position of the House Elrad, loyal servants of the Empire, is different.
Drawing the attention of the Imperial Palace and Terenthium was something I wished to avoid at all costs.
‘Sigh, this is why I wanted to live quietly alone.’
Though the mana stone business would proceed in secret, I was genuinely concerned about the future that successive investment successes would bring.
A young child suddenly grasping great wealth and becoming a nouveau riche—people might attach themselves with greed, or those who envied and coveted might emerge, watching warily.
In my previous life, I had never escaped the jealousy and animosity of others, which made me all the more anxious.
‘Still, I should not dwell on it further.’
It was my choice, after all—there was no helping it.
I exhaled softly and mentally rehearsed my plan to venture out soon and sell the mana stones.
In truth, mana stones were ordinarily mined from special quarries where mana accumulated naturally; artificially infusing mana into jewels to create mana stones was far from conventional.
Both the ‘aura’ wielded by swordsmen and the ‘mana’ commanded by mages drew their foundation from the reserves pooled within the heart, and mages in particular treated mana as though it were their very lifeblood.
Indeed, excessive use of mana could damage the heart and prove fatal—it was no exaggeration.
Yet I possessed an abundance of mana at present, and my training from my previous life had granted me considerable mastery in its manipulation.
‘I invested considerable effort into using even modest quantities of mana with maximum efficiency.’
Though the cause of my mana’s continued growth remained a mystery, I had nonetheless succeeded in converting the jewels I had procured at the Academy Festival into mana stones as planned—now I merely needed to sell them.
Though some of the cheaper jewels had shattered during the infusion process, unable to withstand the mana, I had since developed the knack to produce respectable-grade mana stones in mere moments.
The higher the purity of a mana stone, the greater the performance of any artifact it powers; thus, mana stone prices vary enormously.
While I could not gauge the exact value of the stones I had created, the Laksten Empire relied almost entirely on the Bellus Duchy—which possessed the mana stone mines—for its supply, so I suspected I would earn a considerable sum.
‘Once I receive the advance payment, I should exchange it for higher-quality jewels.’
Then I could craft mana stones of even greater purity.
As I gazed fondly at the mana stones stacked thickly within my warded wardrobe, a sudden thought prompted me to ask Diana a question.
“Miss, you still have the bracelet I gave you last time, don’t you?”
“Hm?”
Diana lifted her head from enthusiastically devouring her sherbet at my words.

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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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