Everyone Was Obsessed With Me After I Became the Youngest Princess Favorite

There were many things he wanted to ask the child who was still groaning and suffering.

 

Since when had she been tormented like this? Why did she pretend to be okay and not say anything about the treatment she received? And why did she want to leave us?

 

But he couldn’t feel resentful.

 

How could an adult, who couldn’t even properly understand the situation they were in while carrying the child, harbor resentment? He could only feel deep remorse.

 

“It must have been my incompetence. To the point where I couldn’t even say those words.”

 

Because it was a clear fact that he had hurt the child and failed to protect her, the Duke’s gaze sank deeply.

 

But he hadn’t given up yet.

 

He wanted to correct his mistakes now and become someone the child could trust and rely on.

 

That’s why there was only one thing he desired at the moment.

 

For Lia to get through tonight’s crisis and safely welcome the next day.

 

* * *

 

“Who are you?”

 

“You keep calling my name.”

 

Lucio remembers the day he first met the child.

 

It wasn’t something he would usually pay attention to, but he had initiated a conversation because the child, trembling as she looked at him, reminded him of a small, fragile animal fleeing.

 

He had never seen anything so weak before.

 

She seemed weaker than a newborn animal.

 

A fragile body, scars visible between her worn-out clothes on her arms and legs.

 

And the brown eyes that rolled while looking at me kept catching my attention.

 

Even after that, I encountered the child several times.

 

No, to be precise, it wasn’t just accidental encounters. He intentionally appeared in front of the child.

 

There were many naked and starving street children loitering in front of the Academy, so it was strange that only this child stood out so much.

 

I couldn’t understand it myself, but without realizing it, whenever I stepped out of the Academy, I would habitually look for the child.

 

The child always looked untidy, as if she hadn’t properly washed herself, with dirty smudges on her wheat-colored hair like other neglected children.

 

Sitting on the street in such a state, begging for money or sometimes rummaging through piles of garbage with her filthy hands.

 

But strangely, I didn’t find her dirty.

 

The only thing bothering me was the fear reflected in her trembling pupils when she looked at me.

 

It didn’t sit well with me.

 

For some reason, it made me angry.

 

I couldn’t even understand why my mood was so low.

 

It wasn’t that I cared about how others feared me; it was a strange occurrence.

 

And then, one day, it happened.

 

Heavy rain poured outside the window, and naturally, the child came to mind.

 

She would definitely get wet since she didn’t have an umbrella.

 

It was certain that her frail body would suffer greatly, and then…

 

‘Perhaps even die.’

 

When that thought occurred to me, I was already holding an umbrella and walking outside the academy.

 

But in front of the main gate, it was more chaotic than usual.

 

Soon, a familiar and terrified voice reached my ears.

 

“I didn’t steal it. I really… it’s not a lie…”

 

At that moment, I felt as if all the blood drained from my body.

 

As soon as I arrived at the scene in quick steps, my eyes met with the child lying face down on the ground.

 

Yes, let’s grant that wish.

 

Not only that, Lucio thought, but let’s give the most precious gifts in the world, let them eat delicious food to their heart’s content, and dress them in beautiful clothes to make them happier than anyone else.

 

However…

 

The child was nowhere to be seen.

 

Despite searching for people’s help, they couldn’t find that small child.

 

To make matters worse, it rained all night.

 

Lucio couldn’t sleep as he looked at the pouring rain outside the window.

 

The image of the suffering child plagued his mind.

 

He deeply regretted it once again.

 

He should have immediately chased after the child.

 

Regretting like that throughout the night, the day eventually dawned.

 

Lucio headed to the place where the child often begged and sat, even though he knew they weren’t there.

 

He even walked to the sleeping den where the beggars who accompanied the child usually gathered.

 

But the child was not there.

 

The next day, and the day after that.

 

“Now that I’ve finally learned their name…”

 

Lucio silently laughed with a sense of emptiness, not knowing how long his waiting would continue as he watched the pouring rain.

 

“…Lia.”

 

It was the moment when a man who had never known loneliness had his world turned upside down.

 

* * *

 

Lucio slowly lifted his eyelids.

 

Last night, he had interrogated the maidservants in the underground prison all night, and in the early morning, he had come up to the library and briefly closed his eyes.

 

But somehow, he had fallen into a deep sleep.

 

However, although he woke up from sleep, his mind was foggy and his body felt heavy.

 

It seemed like he had dreamt the same dream for the past few days.

 

“What dream was it?”

 

Lucio sighed, casually wiping away the tears that streamed down his cheeks.

 

The emotions from the dream still engulfed his body.

 

The problem was that he vividly felt like he had dreamt, but couldn’t remember anything about its contents.

 

“Ha.”

 

As he sat up, tears welled up in his eyes once again and fell with a soft thud.

 

Then he realized that the sofa was damp from how much he had cried. A hollow laughter escaped him.

 

“Am I going insane?”

 

* * *

 

I reluctantly opened my eyes, feeling a throbbing headache.

 

Under the dimly lit high ceiling, I saw the swaying canopy hanging over the bed.

 

My whole body felt sore as if it had been beaten, and my limbs were too heavy to even flick a finger.

 

Though I wanted to sit up immediately with my mind, reality wasn’t cooperating. I could barely roll my eyes to the side, and outside the window, the view of the rain-soaked curtain was clearly visible.

 

Last night, I couldn’t focus due to the loud rain, but now the sky had cleared up after a heavy downpour.

 

“Ah, ugh!”

 

I made a short sound as I recalled yesterday’s memories, furrowing my brow with a grimace.

 

As soon as I made a sound, my throat felt sore and painful.

 

It seemed to be the aftermath of screaming and vomiting blood yesterday.

 

“Lia? Are you awake?”

 

At that moment, the door between the bedroom and the reception room opened, and the Duchess entered.

 

With a tired face as if she had spent the night awake, she wasn’t alone.

 

“Darling, come on.”

 

The Duchess tapped the Duke’s arm, who had a dazed expression. He quickly shook the bell placed on the bedside table.

 

Then, as if they had been waiting outside the whole time, the magician and the council members rushed into the room.

 

“Now that you’re awake, let’s check your condition right away.”

 

Upon the Duke’s words, Telin and the magicians approached me with magical stones and strange devices, starting to cast healing magic. At the same time, Bardotz and the council members examined my body and mouth.

 

“Your throat is indeed swollen.”

 

With a sympathetic look, Bardotz handed me a painkiller-like medicine.

 

I swallowed it without a word, and she gently stroked my head as if to say I was good.

 

“The medicine will take effect soon, so endure a little longer.”

 

Then she turned to the Duchess.

 

“You should avoid hot and spicy foods.”

 

“I understand.”

 

Nodding her head, the Duchess stepped back, and it was Telin, the magician’s turn.

 

“You had a mana surge. Do you remember?”

 

Feeling more comfortable in my body thanks to the healing magic, I felt ashamed and nodded my head with a downcast face.

 

Because I vividly remembered all the misdeeds I committed yesterday.

 

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Translator Note:

 

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