Everyone Was Obsessed With Me After I Became the Youngest Princess Favourite - Chapter 81

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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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“I-I’m sorry!”
Aiden hesitated and stepped back, glancing at Diana’s expression before adding, “I apologize, Lady Diana.”
Realizing her status belatedly and speaking formally, he tried to act mature—a mannerism I’d heard countless times from Duchess Fairount, and it was utterly adorable.
“Oh! Young Master, I’m sorry.”
Charmed by his cuteness, I unconsciously reached out and patted his head the same way I did with Diana, then froze in alarm and withdrew my hand.
Aiden’s eyes followed my hand with unmistakable longing.
“I… I wouldn’t mind if you patted my head more…”
“Pardon?”
“No!”
“Whimper…”
Just as Aiden was about to reach for my hand, Diana’s stern warning made him flinch, and he began to sniffle again.
Diana, more flustered than I was, cried out in desperation.
“Don’t cry! Stop it! You’re not going to cry, are you?”
“Waaah…”
“Oh, fine! I’ll do it!”
Diana awkwardly raised her hand and began patting Aiden’s head.
Watching Aiden gaze up at Diana with tear-filled eyes and Diana nervously gauge his reaction, I finally burst into laughter.
* * *
A subtle fragrance of aged sandalwood drifted through the window on the breeze, tickling my nose.
Only then did I massage my stiff neck and stretch lightly.
My eyes felt dry and my head throbbed—the result of reading for hours every single day without fail.
Though I wasn’t naturally an active person, sitting for so long had left my body feeling sluggish and heavy.
In my previous life, I’d trained constantly and undertaken missions, so my body had been accustomed to constant movement—which made this stillness all the more noticeable.
‘Still, it was enjoyable. I got completely absorbed in reading.’
For some time, I’d focused on foundational texts that Lucio had written, along with grimoires and medical treatises, but today I’d ventured into a new book.
The truth was, the incident at the Duke’s Castle when holy power hadn’t worked against the Priestess had been nagging at me.
Moreover, when I asked Tellin about it, he said it was extremely rare for someone with abundant mana to be incompatible with holy power.
‘So I started examining everything from basic theology texts to books that apprentice priestesses read…’
Unexpectedly, I found myself captivated by mythology that even children knew—something I’d only just encountered.
The mythology recounted the Holy Demon War that had occurred five thousand years ago, long before the Empire was even founded.
The tale of a demon who sowed desire among people, sparking endless division and war, and of a saint who heeded the will of the gods to oppose such a demon—it was far more thrilling and entertaining than most novels.
‘But is this actually true?’
While mythology was generally unreliable, this story was widespread not just throughout the Empire but across the entire Continent, and aside from a few scattered gaps, it contained remarkably detailed descriptions.
However, the happy ending where they succeeded in sealing the demon felt like just another common heroic tale, making me wonder if the Temple had fabricated it over the ages.
“That’s a lie!”
“It’s true!”
Just then, Diana and Aiden, sitting side by side on the sunlit floor in front of the library window, began bickering over their book.
Since Aiden’s visit days ago, the two children—who had their first peer friend—had grown remarkably close.
Even Aiden, who had seemed somewhat shy at first, had become so comfortable that he now came to visit alone by carriage, even without Duchess Fairount…
“Aiden, you’re a crybaby! How can we trust what you say?”
“I’m not a crybaby!”
I let out a bitter smile watching Diana raise her voice and Aiden snort indignantly.
‘…They really do get along well, don’t they?’
“Miss.”
As I called out to Diana in a pacifying tone, both Diana and Aiden came rushing over.
“Sister, is the desert really as vast as the sea?”
Diana looked at Aiden as if to ask whether his words made sense, and I smiled seeing the book the two children had been reading.
“You were reading about the Dhamba Kingdom, I see.”
“Yeah. Everyone here has the same skin color as me.”
The shadow that had lingered in Aiden’s expression on the day we first met had largely faded as he answered shyly, fidgeting with his fingers.
“I saw it in a book too. They say everyone has healthy bronze skin and deep black hair.”
I brought out a map and pointed to the desert region at the southern edge of the Continent, explaining it to Diana as well.
“Miss, do you see here? This is said to be a desert completely covered in sand. I’ve never seen the sea myself so I’m not entirely certain, but I imagine it might be just as vast.”
Diana’s eyes widened in surprise at my words, while Aiden wore a triumphant expression saying, “I told you so!”
But Diana was already lost in imagination, envisioning the vast expanse of golden sand stretching endlessly before her.
That was when it happened.
“Um, Lia….”
“Shh!”
The moment Aiden hesitantly and carefully called out to me, Diana’s eyes snapped open sharply.
“…S-sister.”
“Miss, you mustn’t do that.”
It was preposterous for Aiden—a noble of high status, the heir of one of the great houses, and the Empress’s nephew—to call me “sister” when I was merely a commoner.
‘As an only child, the only person he could possibly call sister would be his cousin, the Imperial Princess.’
Every time Aiden called me by my name arbitrarily, Diana would insist on chasing him away.
No matter how much I tried to stop her, she pretended not to hear, and overwhelmed by her momentum, even Aiden ended up calling me sister, leaving me uncertain whether to laugh or cry at Diana’s commanding presence.
“Young Master, please speak.”
Watching Diana feign innocence with a fresh expression, I let out a shallow sigh and turned my gaze to Aiden.
He glanced nervously at Diana before finally opening his mouth.
“Did you finish the book?”
“Pardon?”
“If you finished the book, play with me.”
He must have known that I was Diana’s maidservant, so he could have asked earlier, yet he had deliberately waited until I finished reading the book.
It was likely Diana had said something to discourage him, but still, I found Aiden so admirable and endearing that I quickly replied.
“Of course, let’s play together. Shall we play house, Young Master?”
“Really? I’d love that!”
Aiden’s face immediately brightened, and he looked delighted beyond measure.
Unlike Diana, who loved hide-and-seek most, Aiden’s favorite was playing house.
When we were at the Estate, the maidservants and attendants rarely played with him, so he mostly played alone and couldn’t play house, which moved my heart, and I made it a point to play with him more enthusiastically.
“Diana, can’t I be the father this time?”
“What?”
“I’m always just talking about things.”
Diana looked frightened and hesitant, but Aiden clenched his small fists tightly and cried out earnestly.
“I want to be a husband too!”
Bang!
That was when Allen suddenly burst through the library door and spoke in an exasperated tone.
“Hey, what did you just say? A husband? A huuuuusband?”
“Hiccup!”
“You little brat, already noticing pretty things! How dare you set your sights on someone! Diana, come here right now!”
Before Allen could even finish speaking, Diana quickly rushed over and threw her arms around him. Then, looking down at Aiden triumphantly, she cried out.
“That’s right! Big sister’s husband is absolutely off-limits! I’m going to be the daddy!”
“…Huh?”
At Diana’s words, Allen, who had been glaring menacingly at Aiden with a furrowed brow, tilted his head in confusion.
I gently raised my hand while patting the terrified Aiden.
And I quietly spoke to my scatterbrained younger sister.
“Young Master, the mother’s role belongs to me, not Miss Diana.”
* * *
After a moment of silence, Allen felt embarrassed and sorry for raising his voice at Aiden, so he quietly took a seat. Then he volunteered to play the father’s role, saying he would specially participate in their pretend play.
Hearing this, I clapped my hands as if it were perfectly timed and entrusted the two children to Allen.
I had something to discuss with the Duke, but lately I’d been so busy that I hadn’t even had time to see his face, let alone during meals.
Fortunately, it was now before the Duke left for the Imperial Palace, when he would be in his study.
It seemed I wouldn’t be able to leave my post because of Aiden’s visit, but thanks to Allen, I had found the time.
‘I wonder if he’s doing well with the pretend play?’
As I headed toward the Duke’s study, I wore a slightly worried expression.
The moment I entrusted the children to him, Allen suddenly decided he didn’t want to be the father anymore and backed out, while Aiden eagerly raised his hand, insisting that this time he would be the father.
‘Then Diana should be the mother!’ Allen glared with an axe-like gaze, and Aiden clenched his mouth stubbornly, refusing to budge. After seeing them one last time, I closed the door and left, curious about how it would all turn out.
“Oh?”
Just then, I saw the Duke emerging from his study.
I rushed forward in one breath to reach him.
“Lia? What brings you here? Where is Diana?”
“Miss Diana is with Young Master Allen. But are you already heading to the Imperial Palace?”
“Not yet. Why, did you come to see me?”
“Yes. I have something to tell you. But if you’re busy….”
“Come in.”
I watched as the Duke immediately opened the study door again and entered, then I quickly followed him inside.
If I delayed any further, my plans would fall behind schedule.
Eager in my heart, I got straight to the point the moment the Duke sat on the sofa.
Then the Duke wore a peculiar expression.
“You want to go out?”
“Yes. This Saturday is my day off, and I’d like to go out then. Please grant me permission.”
When I explained once more carefully, the Duke looked at me as if asking why I had come to him for permission.
“It’s just that the Duchess asked me to obtain the Duke’s permission….”
As I stammered out the addition, the Duke’s expression grew even more puzzled.

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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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