Everyone Was Obsessed With Me After I Became the Youngest Princess Favourite - Chapter 96

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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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“It’s all because of you! Everything I’m doing is because of you!”
The Head Maidservant, trembling as she bore the brunt of the Duchess’s fury, shrieked with venom.
“You insignificant creature! Just because you’ve attached yourself to the Duke’s side!”
Lucio regarded the Head Maidservant’s shrill outburst with an expressionless gaze.
There was no need for the confession drug he’d prepared in advance.
Believing herself already exposed, the culprit was voluntarily revealing the true face she’d concealed.
“If only you didn’t exist…!”
“Did you wish to become the Duchess?”
In place of his parents—his mother clutching her chest and his father consoling her—Lucio spoke.
The Head Maidservant turned her head as if drawn by his voice, looking up at him.
At Lucio, who bore an uncanny resemblance to Duke Elrad as she’d first seen him in some distant past, when she was merely a baron’s daughter of no consequence.
She wished he would have shown her contempt instead.
Despite the years they’d spent together, Lucio possessed the same indifferent gaze as Duke Elrad, who had never even acknowledged her existence.
“No! I didn’t covet such a position!”
The Head Maidservant shook her head in denial, her lips trembling as she spoke.
“I simply… wanted to be by the Duke’s side.”
At this confession, hidden for decades, Duke Elrad’s face twisted with displeasure.
Tears welled in the Head Maidservant’s eyes at the sight.
“I knew it. How could someone like me ever stand beside him? Even if I died and were reborn….”
Yet her sorrow was fleeting; her resentment soon turned back toward the Duchess.
“But you’re not worthy either. The Duke deserved a noblewoman at his side, not some vulgar woman like you. I was prepared to serve loyally once the Duke took a woman befitting him!”
Duke Elrad let out a derisive snort at her preposterous words.
But before he could speak, the Duchess opened her mouth first.
“No matter which woman came, you’d have found fault with her, wouldn’t you? You’d have repeated the same obsession.”
“…What?”
“Listen well. This man chose me. It was never your place to judge. But you were right about one thing—even if you died and were reborn, you could never stand beside this man.”
At the Duchess’s words, the Head Maidservant’s eyes widened.
Her eyes, with burst blood vessels from all her shrieking, were a grotesque sight.
Duke Elrad turned his head and spoke.
“Take her away.”
With those words, the Head Maidservant lost consciousness.
* * *
Taize carried the unconscious Head Maidservant from the room. Then the Duchess, who had barely been holding on, collapsed into the Duke’s embrace and burst into tears.
The Duke gently patted the shoulders of his wife, who had grown gaunt and unrecognizable in mere days.
It was then that Lucio asked Baron Bardo.
“Are you truly certain there’s no further concern regarding her physical condition?”
“Yes. In truth, with such an extreme poison, survival is nearly impossible, and even if one survives, the aftereffects are typically severe—loss of mobility, blindness, and such. However, the Madam will suffer no aftereffects whatsoever, and with proper recuperation, all the toxins that had accumulated in her body will be purged. She should emerge even healthier than before.”
Of course, physical recovery wouldn’t heal the wounds to her heart….
Yet the fact that she lived was what mattered most.
The Duke let out a hollow laugh at information he’d already heard once, yet still found difficult to believe.
“So this Splecia… it truly was something remarkable.”
When Lia first discovered Splecia in the Duke’s Castle back garden, I honestly felt no great impression at the time.
Even when physicians and apothecaries came flocking to request support for their research, it wasn’t because I understood its value.
I had granted permission lightly, with an attitude of “it would be nice if it worked out, but if not, so be it.”
Yet here we are, facing such circumstances.
“It’s no wonder it’s called a legendary medicinal herb. But all of this is thanks to Lia giving her all to create the antidote. If that child hadn’t been here…”
I likely wouldn’t have even thought to verify whether the poisoning was from Splecia, let alone attempted a cure.
Baron Bardo shook his head at the naturally foreseeable outcome, and the Duke, who had nearly lost his wife helplessly, held his wife’s shoulders tightly once more.
“But Your Grace, how do you intend to handle the matter of Lia cultivating Splecia and creating the antidote?”
Until now, the situation had been so urgent that we focused entirely on creating the antidote.
But now that matters had settled somewhat, I wanted to uncover how Lia had accomplished this remarkable feat.
As both a physician and a scholar, Baron Bardo felt a mad scholarly passion and curiosity burning within him.
“That is…”
Lucio’s brow furrowed as he watched the Duke fall silent, contemplating the situation ahead.
“Father, regarding that matter…”
“Let Lia do as she wishes. Don’t ask her anything, and don’t burden her with it.”
At that moment, the Duchess, who had been weeping, lifted her head.
Though her eyes were red, they held a resolve sharper than usual, and the Duke nodded in agreement.
To Lia, he owed not only his wife’s life but also his family’s happiness.
So he would grant the child whatever she desired, within the reach of his power.
* * *
After briefly concluding the discussion regarding the Head Maidservant’s disposition, the Baron and Lucio stepped outside.
The Baron had also overexerted himself treating the Duchess, and as she descended the staircase, unable to overcome her exhaustion and rubbing her eyes, it was then that—
Lucio, who had been leading the way, suddenly stopped, causing the Baron to lightly collide with his back in surprise.
“I-I apologize, Young Master…”
But no response came.
Tilting his head curiously and looking up, the Baron saw that Lucio was staring at something.
“…Lia?”
Baron Bardo was startled to see the small child descending the lower staircase.
Perhaps hearing the sound, the child lifted her head abruptly.
“Oh! Physician. The Young Master is here too.”
“…”
Since Lucio offered no reply and merely gazed quietly, the Baron, feeling oddly embarrassed, asked with forced brightness.
“I thought you were with the Young Lady—where are you hurrying off to so busily?”
“The Young Lady said she was hungry, so I’m going to fetch her some refreshments.”
“My, why didn’t you call someone else to do it?”
“Well…the Butler is currently gathering the other servants right now.”
Since the Baron had already given the Butler a hint about the Head Maidservant’s matter, it was clear he was briefly explaining the situation to the servants.
Thinking it was likely an order from the meticulous Young Master, Baron Bardo spoke in place of the still-silent Lucio.
“Lia, you’ve worked so hard. You can’t even rest properly before having to attend to the Young Lady.”
“It’s no trouble at all. This is my duty. And serving the Young Lady is never difficult for me.”
The child answered with a bright smile, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.
It was clear that Lia cherished the Young Lady just as much as the rumors suggested the Young Lady adored her.
“Where on earth did such a wonderful and kind child come from? You truly are a blessing to House Elrad, just as the Duchess said.”
“Oh, no!”
Lia waved her hands urgently, her face flushing even deeper.
Baron Bardo burst into laughter at how endearing she looked.
“Don’t be so modest—it won’t do you any good. Don’t you agree, Young Master?”
Before he could finish speaking, Lia glanced shyly toward Lucio, embarrassment written across her face.
No matter how firmly I had resolved not to crave others’ approval anymore, in my previous life I had pursued it relentlessly.
And because I kept showing Lucio such clumsy sides of myself, I found myself yearning for his praise.
‘Even if not a word of thanks, I’d like to hear something like “you did well.”‘
But contrary to my wishes, Lucio spoke to Baron Bardo with an expressionless face.
“I’ll go finish up the remaining tasks, so please rest now, Baron.”
“Pardon? Ah, yes.”
Though he might have said something more, Lucio simply passed by Lia and descended the staircase.
The Baron, who had felt an inexplicable chill and rubbed his arms, noticed Lia unable to tear her gaze from the direction Lucio had disappeared and smiled awkwardly.
“Come, let’s go down as well. The Young Lady must be waiting.”
“…Yes!”
Lia, who had been standing dazed, startled and answered hastily.
But just as she began to follow Baron Bardo’s lead, she suddenly stopped in her tracks, her eyelids trembling.
It was a moment of realization.
* * *
Splash.
The Head Maidservant regained consciousness as cold water struck her face, her body shuddering at the chill.
But her bound limbs left her unable to move freely.
“Where… where is this…?”
Surrounded on all sides by gloomy, dark stone walls, her breath caught involuntarily.
Though she had known of the Underground Dungeon’s existence during her nearly twenty years managing the Duke’s Mansion, she had never set foot in this place until now.
“How leisurely you seem. Unaware that poison is spreading through your body even as we speak.”
It was then that Taize spoke coldly, watching the Head Maidservant’s bewildered gaze dart about.
Just as the Head Maidservant’s eyes widened and she tried to glare fiercely at Taize—
A tall figure entered the dungeon before her eyes.
“…D-Dominic, sir?”
Taize’s eyes narrowed at the trembling in the Head Maidservant’s voice.
“How dare you speak His Excellency’s name so carelessly. You haven’t come to your senses yet. Or has the poison driven you mad?”
“How much time is left?”
“Since we’ve used all the remaining poison that was hidden in her room, there can’t be more than twelve hours left.”
Lucio nodded and regarded the Head Maidservant, who was breathing heavily as if struggling for air, with a look of utter contempt.

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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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