Everyone Was Obsessed With Me After I Became the Youngest Princess Favourite - Chapter 98

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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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“Drham?”
I asked in surprise, and Duchess Fairount clapped her hands together with a smile.
“Oh my, what’s wrong with me? I completely forgot to mention that.”
She spoke as though it were nothing, but my heart seemed to sink.
‘So she’s really going back to the kingdom? Is she actually getting divorced?’
Unlike my efforts to save Duchess Elrad, the circumstances of House Fayerunt were something I couldn’t fully understand or interfere with.
‘I thought that since the situation had changed from before, I might be able to influence things somehow….’
Duchess Fairount was the first person Duchess Elrad had truly opened her heart to in the warlike world of high society.
Moreover, Aiden was Diana’s first friend, and the thought of them parting ways filled me with regret and disappointment.
‘…Wait? But why is Aiden going to the kingdom?’
Turning over Aiden’s words in my mind, something felt off.
When Duchess Fairount divorced and returned to the kingdom, Aiden had remained in the Empire.
He was Duke Fairount’s only blood relative, and since the Duke never remarried, I had watched him naturally become the heir.
I was blinking at this unexpected question when I heard Duchess Elrad’s worried voice.
“Going to the kingdom so suddenly? Is something the matter?”
“Nothing serious. Since I’ve never been able to go even once since giving birth to Aiden, I thought I’d visit. And Aiden has been showing such interest in the kingdom lately that my husband took leave and we decided to all go together.”
“My, the Duke is going as well?”
Duchess Elrad asked in astonishment.
I was startled too.
“I told him it wasn’t necessary, but he insisted on taking leave and going with us.”
“Goodness, the Duke must be quite devoted to his family. Still, His Majesty the Emperor must not have approved easily. It takes dozens of days just to reach the kingdom.”
I nodded inwardly in agreement with her concerned words.
Duke Fairount is a high minister entrusted with deciding matters of great importance to the Empire.
It wouldn’t be an easy decision for someone of his position to be absent for such an extended period.
‘No, but why is Duke Fairount even following her there in the first place?’
I stared at her in astonishment, but Duchess Fairount merely shrugged her shoulders.
“Well, he’s done nothing but work without a break all this time, so wouldn’t a vacation of that length be reasonable?”
“That may be true, but….”
“Well, apparently he kept saying he’d step down from his position as minister if she kept discouraging him.”
At her casual remark, my jaw dropped involuntarily.
Then Duchess Fairount’s gaze turned toward me.
“Come to think of it, in a way, our first family trip is thanks to Lia.”
“…?”
“After the Duchess collapsed, Aiden and I were feeling down for a while, so my husband asked if I’d like to visit my homeland and said he’d make time for it.”
She let out a hollow laugh, saying she still couldn’t believe how shocked she’d been at that moment.
According to what followed, Duchess Fairount had believed all this time that the Duke disliked her homeland, the Dhamba Kingdom.
They had married for political reasons according to agreements between nations, but she thought he had no affection for her.
But to Duchess Fairount’s words, the Duke instead….
〈What are you saying! It was political, but I chose to marry you. And you think I dislike your country…. I was the one avoiding the subject because I thought you were uncomfortable with it!〉
…he apparently exclaimed in exasperation.
It turned out that Duke Fairount and his wife, who had lived in distant formality without genuine conversation until now, had begun to talk more frequently since the Duchess started visiting the Elrad Duke’s Mansion recently.
Then, when Aiden showed interest in the Dhamba Kingdom and even began making traditional snacks himself, the Duke realized his misunderstanding and suggested they take a trip together.
Hearing the story of a couple who, contrary to the future that led to divorce, now shared their true feelings and lived in harmony, stirred something strange within me.
“In truth, my husband had every reason to misunderstand. My homesickness was so severe that I actually avoided talking about the kingdom altogether. Even after spending years in the Empire raising a child, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I remained a foreigner. If those days had continued, I might have suddenly fled back to my homeland one day without warning.”
Listening to Duchess Fairount speak with such self-deprecation, I swallowed a sigh inwardly.
Because I knew she had actually carried out those very words.
At that moment, as if to clear the heavy atmosphere, Duchess Elrad asked a question.
“When will you be departing, then?”
“Once I finish the work I have in hand, we’ll leave immediately. I want to rest in the warm kingdom before winter arrives.”
Since winter was not far off, by the time Duchess Fairount and Aiden returned, the year would have changed.
Knowing it would be a long journey lasting months, I felt an unexpected pang of loss and longing.
It was then.
“So, Lia, I told Aiden not to expect anything, but since we’re on the subject, I wanted to ask you.”
“Me?”
“Yes.”
Duchess Fairount, uncharacteristically hesitant, broached an unexpected proposal.
“According to Aiden, you have considerable interest in the neighboring kingdoms. Would you perhaps consider traveling to Dhamba with us?”
“…!”
* * *
Duchess Fairount’s sudden proposal startled not only me but also Duchess Elrad.
Of course, without a moment’s hesitation, I declined the offer immediately.
〈I apologize. I must care for the Young Lady.〉
Though I felt sorry toward Aiden, whose eyes had been filled with anticipation, I could not be separated from Diana.
Fortunately, Duchess Fairount seemed to have already anticipated my answer and nodded in understanding.
She then bid farewell, saying she would return with plenty of gifts, and departed from the Duke’s Estate.
I thought that would be the end of the matter, a brief interlude, but….
“What? You proposed what to Lia? Asking her to travel all that distance with you!”
“Exactly. She’s been eyeing Lia eagerly every time she visits!”
…It seemed Duke Elrad and Duchess Elrad considered this matter far more serious than I had anticipated.
During dinner, when Duchess Elrad brought up the subject, the Duke’s expression turned cold.
“She’s been like this all along?”
“Yes. Though she hadn’t been so direct about it before, when I bristled and questioned her, she said that since I’m not a servant bound by a lifetime contract, what difference does it make whether Lia attends to Diana or to Aiden?”
Duchess Elrad spoke with lingering indignation.
Though she had fully recovered her health, her agitation concerned me, and as I listened to the Duke and Duchess’s conversation, embarrassment set my ears aflame.
As Duchess Fairount had said, I was merely an ordinary maidservant, not a servant bound by a dependent contract like the Butler.
And it was not uncommon for maidservants and servants to receive letters of recommendation and transfer to other households.
Though I now understood well that the Duke and Duchess Elrad cherished me, still, seeing them both so animated made me feel as though I had become someone special, and that stirred something peculiar within me.
“In any case, you did well, Lia. That’s the way to handle it—a clean refusal prevents any further presumption.”
The Duke praised me and cautioned that should I hear such a proposal again, I must refuse immediately.
I thought to myself that surely no one else would make me such an offer, yet I still nodded and replied, “Yes.”
Just as the Duke smiled, seemingly satisfied with my docile response.
“But you’ve read so many books about other countries. Didn’t you want to visit Bellus Duchy?”
Allen spoke suddenly.
“So you really did want to go to Bellus Duchy.”
“Sister won’t leave Dana behind! Right?”
“…Of course not.”
Diana cried out at Allen’s murmur.
For a moment, I froze without realizing it, but Diana didn’t notice and laughed triumphantly.
Meanwhile, the Duke and Duchess exchanged glances with peculiar expressions.
“That’s right. Lia cannot be separated from Diana. You’ve already made that choice long ago, so there’s no need to reconsider.”
“Of course. No matter how wonderful Bellus Duchy is, Diana isn’t there.”
“…?”
The tone of voice and the conversation seemed oddly strained.
As I tilted my head in confusion, the Duke spoke.
“So Lia, you mustn’t waver.”
“Yes?”
“The Academy graduation ceremony is coming up soon. Surely the Grand Duchy will send someone to see the Grand Duke… Ah, no, never mind.”
I watched the Duke trail off and fall silent, bewildered.
I couldn’t understand what the Duke meant, but I was oddly glad to think of Askart after so long.
“Tch. Once my brother graduates, I’ll still be at the Academy. He’s so lucky. Now he can see Diana every day!”
But at Allen’s following words, I could say nothing and hung my head low.
Thinking of Lucio, my chest felt inexplicably tight and my mind grew tangled.
After hearing a few more words of caution from the Duke and Duchess, dinner finally ended.
Diana seemed tired and went to bed early, so I returned to my room shortly after.
“….”
But sleep did not come easily.
After dwelling in thought for a long while, I finally rose from bed and made my way to the Main Library.
I had kept putting it off, but it seemed the time had come to face the truth I had been avoiding.
The dark, empty library was quieter than ever.
“Sigh.”
I exhaled softly to ease my tension, climbed the narrow staircase, and reached for an inconspicuous book.
And shortly after.
“So Lucio really was the master of Darel.”
I squeezed my eyes shut.

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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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