Everyone Was Obsessed With Me After I Became the Youngest Princess Favourite - Chapter 78

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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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“The bracelet! I hid it really well where no one would find it!”
A smile bloomed naturally at Diana’s earnest answer.
A few days ago, I had gathered the purest and most flawless mana stones I’d created and crafted them into a bracelet.
After carefully applying reinforcement magic, I gave it to Diana.
It was my first gift to her.
Everyone at the Orphanage praised me for looking after Diana, but no matter how much I reflected, I could only recall receiving abundantly from her and her family.
That’s why, after joining House Elrad, I wanted to repay their kindness with whatever I could offer—and I was delighted that I’d finally given Diana a proper gift.
Moreover, after observing and caring for Diana all this time, the child had quite a fondness for pink.
Fortunately, my mana was the same color, so the mana stones had a rosy hue. I presented it with trembling excitement, and Diana jumped with joy.
“You did well, Miss. You mustn’t show it to anyone until I say it’s alright.”
“Okay! It’s a secret.”
“That’s right. If you keep the secret well, I’ll make you something even better next time.”
Watching Diana nod and beam with laughter, I couldn’t help but smile along with her.
In this new life I’d been given, I didn’t ask for much.
It was enough to live with dignity without being scorned by others, and to spend ordinary, joyful days with precious new connections like Diana.
To protect this happiness I’d only recently discovered, I was willing to use all my knowledge and abilities.
“Oh! Miss, are you eating my sherbet?”
It was only then that I belatedly realized what Diana had been eagerly consuming was mine.
Seeing that she’d already finished hers and pushed it aside, I was utterly dumbfounded.
“Miss…”
“Uh, sorry.”
At my blank expression, Diana began fidgeting with her fingers and making excuses.
“You weren’t eating it… and it would all melt if we didn’t hurry.”
The sight was so adorable that my lips naturally curved upward, but I deliberately put on a stern expression and spoke.
“Miss, you made a promise with me!”
“Mm…”
“You kept seeking cold sherbet all summer long and even gave yourself severe stomach troubles!”
“…”
“You promised you’d only have one today, and I trusted you completely and gave you mine, yet you break your promise like this.”
“Whimper, sister…”
When I scolded her more sternly than usual, Diana became flustered and her eyes grew teary.
Feeling my resolve weaken, I quickly turned my head away and spoke firmly.
“Miss, that’s too much. You’re doing this on purpose to upset me, aren’t you?”
“…What?”
“If you get sick again like this, it will upset me.”
“Sister is upset?”
“Of course. Very, very upset.”
Recalling Diana suffering severely from stomach troubles just days ago, I felt a sudden surge of emotion.
Sensing the sincerity in my appeal, I soon heard the child’s dejected sigh.
“Sister, I’m sorry…”
Unable to bear the dejected tone, I quickly turned my head to meet Diana’s eyes.
“Miss.”
“Whimper… Sister, I don’t want you to be upset, but this is so delicious.”
Diana, caught in a dilemma, wore a troubled expression. I couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
“There’s no helping it. You may have it just today, but not anymore. Do you understand?”
“Yes!”
Just as I was smiling contentedly while brushing Diana’s silver hair behind her ear as she answered brightly and cheerfully.
Knock, knock. Suddenly, I heard the sound of someone tapping on the door.
Tilting my head in confusion, one of the Maidservants attending to the Duchess Elrad opened the door and entered.
“Lia, Duchess Fairount has just arrived. She’s looking for you, so go with Miss.”
“Yes!”
I nodded and quickly checked Diana’s hair and clothing.
There was a slight bit of sherbet on the corner of her mouth, but fortunately, nothing violated propriety.
After wiping Diana’s mouth with a handkerchief, I followed the Maidservant out of the room and explained once more to Diana how to greet Duchess Fairount.
Diana was clever enough to do it well, but since she was still young, I felt more at ease looking after her like this.
‘Lucio would want me to play this role for him too.’
Now that I had truly become a proper lady’s maid, my shoulders lifted with pride.
* * *
Duchess Fairount, a guest who has been visiting Elrad Duke’s Mansion every day lately, is a princess of the Dhamba Kingdom, also called the desert kingdom, and in fact, in my previous life, she had no separate connection with Duchess Elrad.
Though Duchess Elrad passed away not long after arriving in the Capital City, Duchess Fairount had remained in the Capital City since her marriage but engaged in almost no social activities.
Thus, the two mistresses of House Elrad, called the two pillars supporting the Empire in the same Emperor faction, had virtually no points of contact.
‘Perhaps they’ve only seen each other once or twice at grand parties held by the Imperial Palace.’
Especially since Duke Fairount, who serves as the Empire’s Chancellor and handles actual state affairs, is the Empress’s younger brother, Duchess Fairount had no need to worry about appearances even if she didn’t attend banquets hosted by the Imperial Palace. This made it all the harder for them to become acquainted.
But the reason Duchess Fairount came to Elrad Duke’s Mansion like this today was…
‘In a way, it’s because of me.’
A few days ago, when the mages and physicians of House Elrad were in an uproar over the Splecia incident, I was diligently staying by Duchess Elrad’s side to fill the Head Maidservant’s vacancy.
Among the duties of a noblewoman as the mistress of a noble house are typically organizing budgets and writing financial reports, as well as managing servants.
In fact, Duchess Elrad had done such work sufficiently at Duke’s Castle, so she was managing the household without great difficulty alongside the Butler.
However, she did encounter difficulties in social activities.
‘If only I had needed to know the preferences or weaknesses of other noble ladies, I could have helped sufficiently.’
Planning themes suited to the season, weather, and trends in society, then selecting guests and hosting gatherings accordingly—I had never done such things myself.
In the end, I could only watch anxiously from her side.
Duchess Elrad stopped mid-sentence while writing invitations for her first tea party at the Duke’s Mansion.
“Hmm. The other ladies seem almost confirmed, but House Fairount is a concern.”
At those words, I glanced at the paper Duchess Elrad was holding and saw she seemed to be deliberating over which flowers to send along with the invitation to Duchess Fairount.
In the Empire, there was a custom of sending flowers that noble ladies of each house favored whenever a noblewoman hosted a gathering. It subtly displayed information and wealth while wrapping it in the guise of thoughtful consideration.
Noble ladies active in society had no worries since their preferred flowers were well-established, but since Duchess Fairount had no known preferences thus far, it was customary to send anemones, the symbol of House Fairount.
However, from the perspective of Duchess Elrad, who was hosting a tea party in the Capital City for the first time, she seemed to want to put in more effort. Despite the very high probability that the invitation would be declined.
After Duchess Elrad deliberated for some time, she murmured whether she should send anemones after all, and I carefully opened my mouth.
“Madam, what about a cactus?”
“A cactus?”
“Yes. Duchess Fairount comes from a desert kingdom, after all. She might enjoy seeing plants from her homeland.”
My habit of studying travel journals and maps of kingdoms near the Empire in the library was quite well-known throughout the Duke’s Mansion.
Perhaps because of this, the Duchess didn’t find my suggestion strange and quickly nodded in agreement.
However, among the Empire’s nobility, there was not a single one who favored cacti covered in thick, densely-packed spines, so her expression held a hint of concern.
‘In reality, there are few merchants who even deal in them, so it would be difficult to obtain one.’
But I knew from my memories of my past life that Duchess Fairount, who had suffered from homesickness, eventually divorced the Duke and returned to her homeland.
‘So she will certainly love it.’
“Very well. Lia, let’s prepare a cactus as you suggest. You are our household’s blessing.”
At that moment, the Duchess spoke as if she had made a firm decision.
Though her final words were rather embarrassing and burdensome, a few days later when I saw the cactus we had painstakingly obtained, such thoughts vanished.
They say a blooming cactus is extraordinarily beautiful, and it truly was.
The Duchess, delighted, sent the cactus along with an invitation to House Fairount.
And as I anxiously prayed for the Duchess’s tea party to succeed, I witnessed a remarkable result.
Duchess Fairount, who had frequently declined even the Empress’s tea party invitations and rarely left her home, had come to the Elrad Duke’s Mansion.
At the same time, I too was summoned to the Reception Room.
“Did you truly ask me to send you a cactus?”
Duchess Fairount, whom I met for the first time, possessed an exotic appearance rarely seen in the Empire—skin of a deep bronze hue, hair black as obsidian, and mysterious violet eyes.
Simply gazing upon her, I felt momentarily entranced by her enigmatic presence, and I quickly nodded.
I explained that I had learned of her homeland, the desert kingdom of Dhamba, through the travel books I frequently read.
“…I thought you were mocking me by sending a cactus, using a child as an excuse.”
In that instant, the Duchess Fairount’s cold gaze softened into warmth.

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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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