Everyone Was Obsessed With Me After I Became the Youngest Princess Favourite - Chapter 79

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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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After that, Duchess Fairount’s demeanor transformed entirely.
Not only that, but she began visiting the Elrad Duke’s Mansion with remarkable frequency.
Fortunately, Duchess Elrad, despite being a princess from a foreign land, seemed to genuinely enjoy her encounters with the unpretentious, candid, and confident Duchess Fairount.
And on days like today when Diana and I were invited to join them, I found myself eagerly anticipating her visits, as the tales she shared from her homeland proved quite delightful.
As Diana and I made our way toward the reception room, eager to hear what stories awaited us today, I came to an abrupt halt.
“Ah….”
There was one more matter of significance that had occurred recently within House Elrad.
I had just encountered the Head Maidservant, who had recently returned.
“Good day to you, Head Maidservant.”
The Head Maidservant, who had previously been punished by Lucio with confinement after the incident where I suffered harassment from the maidservants, had been reinstated by the Duchess’s order just days ago.
While her years of dedicated service managing the mansion were certainly considered, the Duchess had also felt the absence of her expertise keenly—the void left by the one who had meticulously reviewed the flood of invitations since arriving in the Capital City and advised on social dynamics and etiquette.
And the reinstated Head Maidservant performed her duties flawlessly, as though nothing had ever transpired, demonstrating impeccable work without a single flaw.
“Miss, the guest is waiting inside, so please do enter at once.”
With one exception: her treatment of me.
‘She was never particularly fond of me to begin with….’
Believing herself to have suffered hardship because of me, she had begun treating me with far more blatant disdain than before.
Even now, she bowed respectfully only to Diana while deliberately ignoring my greeting and walking past without acknowledgment.
I exhaled softly.
The Head Maidservant had not directly tormented me as the other maidservants had. Though I had harbored suspicions about her all along, no concrete evidence had emerged proving she had orchestrated the harassment.
It occurred to me that she might genuinely feel wronged.
‘Though I must admit, it’s difficult to accept.’
In any case, when she was first reinstated, I felt somewhat anxious, but fortunately nothing troublesome had occurred beyond her coldness.
* * *
“Ah, you’ve finally arrived.”
After a brief knock, Diana and I entered the reception room, and Duchess Fairount set down her teacup with a radiant smile.
Diana immediately bent her knees slightly and lifted the hem of her dress.
“Diana of House Elrad, I pay my respects to Duchess Fairount.”
Though I had reviewed the protocol beforehand, watching Diana offer her greeting with such flawless composure filled me with quiet admiration.
Diana truly seemed to be the most brilliant and beautiful child in the world.
“The young lady remains as adorable as ever.”
Duchess Fairount appeared to share my sentiment.
With her chin resting lightly in her hand, Duchess Fairount received Diana’s greeting with a delighted smile, then plucked a meringue cookie from the pastry plate before her and held it up enticingly.
Diana’s eyes, drawn to sweets, followed the cookie as it swayed, then she glanced up at me with a questioning look.
‘The restriction was against cold sherbet, not against snacking altogether today.’
I smiled slightly and nodded, whereupon a delighted Diana scampered over to Duchess Fairount.
“Lia, come sit with us as well. Make yourself comfortable.”
“Yes, my lady.”
The moment Duchess Elrad gave her permission, I took my seat beside her.
Duchess Fairount let out a disapproving hum.
Startled by the sound, I turned my head, and she lifted the corner of her mouth slightly as she spoke.
“I told you that you don’t need to follow such formalities in front of me.”
Understanding his meaning, I laughed awkwardly.
Recently, through the etiquette manual that Lucio had shown me, I learned that commoners cannot speak freely without a noble’s permission.
Since Duke Elrad and Duchess Elrad said such ancient customs were rarely observed anymore and told me to act freely, I had been comfortable within the Duke’s Mansion, but in front of other nobles, I adhered strictly to the rules to avoid tarnishing the reputation of House Elrad.
However, Duchess Fairount, being from a foreign land, seemed exasperated that I followed such etiquette so meticulously, even though she was of royal blood.
“My lady, are you feeling better?”
Observing the situation, I noticed that Duchess Fairount’s attention had shifted to Diana, and I quietly asked Duchess Elrad, who was sipping tea beside me.
I was worried because she hadn’t eaten breakfast this morning, complaining of discomfort.
“Yes. Lia, now that you’ve shown your concern, I’m feeling better. It seems I was simply a bit indigested.”
The Duchess spoke with a gentle smile.
Knowing her body was unwell, Baron Bardo had rushed over to check on her, but pleased by her words alone, I laughed shyly and asked once more.
“Then there’s nothing else troubling you?”
According to my memories of the past, the Duchess should have been bedridden by now.
Since the time of her illness had already passed, my heart eased somewhat, yet I remained anxious.
I feared that the shadow of death might fall upon her without my noticing.
“My goodness. Even the maidservant I brought from my family doesn’t follow me as closely as this.”
At that moment, Duchess Fairount, who had been feeding meringue cookies to Diana as if offering seeds, spoke.
“I’m truly envious. If I had a maidservant like Lia, every day would be joyful! Oh, that’s right. Instead of this, Lia, wouldn’t you like to come to our house? I’ll treat you very well. Come to our home.”
And it was when she even extended her hand toward me that I looked on in surprise.
“That won’t be possible, my lady.”
Duchess Elrad wrapped her arm around my shoulders and spoke.
“Lia is a precious child of House Elrad. Isn’t that right, Diana?”
“That’s right!”
Diana, who had been beside Duchess Fairount, answered firmly, threw down her meringue cookie, and rushed over to grab my arm.
“Oh dear. It seems difficult to take only Lia because of the young lady… Ah! Then, what if the young lady also came to live at the Pairont Duchy Mansion? Young lady, we have many delicious sweets. I’ll give you many different sweets every single day, so would you like to come to our house?”
Duchess Fairount spoke in a blatant attempt to tempt her.
‘But our clever Diana wouldn’t fall for that.’
However, looking down beside me, the child’s eyes were wavering rapidly.
When Duchess Elrad called out Diana’s name in exasperation, Diana flinched and burrowed into my embrace.
Seeing this, Duchess Fairount burst into laughter.
“She’s really adorable! Well, I can’t help it. But Lia, next time I’ll bring our son along, so you’ll have to play with him well.”
At her added words, I could only nod in agreement.
* * *
Aiden Pairont, the only son of Duke Fairount who had recently turned five, stared out the carriage window with a sullen face and his mouth hanging open.
He was being forced to visit House Elrad due to his mother’s nearly coercive insistence.
“Hmph.”
He deliberately showed his displeasure and even snorted in front of his mother, but she merely responded with a pleased hum.
“Aiden, cheer up. I’m taking you because I’m thinking of you. You’ll surely be able to make good friends.”
There he goes again.
Aiden frowned inwardly, grumbling to himself.
My mother, who had scarcely engaged in outings before, suddenly attended a tea party at House Elrad some time ago and has since begun venturing out nearly every day.
If only that were all, I might have been grateful.
Out of nowhere, she began asking if I wouldn’t like to meet a charming girl of my own age and a kind, gentle maidservant, speaking such peculiar things that she eventually dragged me here today, insisting she would make a friend for me.
‘Friends? Even if they pretend to be good in front of me, they’ll curse me behind my back anyway.’
Though Aiden Pairont was still young, I had witnessed countless times how people would praise House Fayerunt and revere the young prince in his presence, only to mock and ridicule his skin tone behind his back.
“I don’t need friends,” I protested.
I barely managed to suppress my gloomy mood as I spoke in objection, but it seemed my mother, Duchess Fairount, did not hear me.
Releasing another sigh as a captive of my frustration, I suddenly widened my eyes at the scenery I discovered beyond the window.
The carriage had already passed through the main gate of the Elrad Duke’s Mansion and was now traversing the renowned Maze Garden.
As the carriage came to a halt before the Main Building where a wolf statue stood, my restless fidgeting—so different from my complaints during the entire journey—betrayed my eagerness to explore the surroundings.
While Duchess Fairount stifled her laughter and pretended not to notice her son’s adorable behavior, the coachman opened the door.
“Oh my, there was no need for you to come all the way out here.”
“It’s the young prince’s first visit, after all. Since we have the opportunity, I thought it would be proper to exchange greetings formally.”
As my mother exchanged pleasantries with Duchess Elrad, I descended from the carriage and swiftly surveyed the Elrad Duke’s Mansion with wide eyes.
True to a ducal house that had wielded authority in the Laksten Empire for so long, the estate—adorned with fluttering blue banners bearing the Elrad Family crest—possessed a grandeur and splendor befitting the family’s renown.
In particular, the colossal wolf statue, which appeared to move with life, caused my mouth to fall open in awe.
“Aiden?”
At my mother’s call, I startled and quickly straightened my posture.

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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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