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

“…”

 

I looked up at the maid, blinking at her. here was no annoyance or reluctance in her eyes. Seeing that it contained only worry, regret, and a slight sense of guilt, I slowly nodded.

 

“Yes. The doctor said we can move now.”

 

“I see. I’m so glad.”

 

The maid who said that smiled awkwardly and turned her body to allow me to pass by. I also slowly passed through the hallway with an awkward expression on my face. Although I had expected this to some extent since the room was moved, the attitude of the employees working in the Duke’s residence had clearly changed. The maids who cleaned my room or brought me meals treated me with great care, and although the food served was patient-style, it was prepared with care and balanced nutrition and taste. Even though the favoritism was obvious and the treatment was undeserved for a single maid, no one showed dissatisfied eyes or a grumpy attitude like before. It would be more accurate to say that none of the users who disliked me were visible.

 

“Am I an easy person?”

 

Even though they didn’t directly harass me, they were people who knew but pretended not to know and ignored me. Now that he was treating me with an apologetic face, I was feeling relieved.

 

‘If this is the case, it’s no different from the brat Lope mentioned.’

 

Before my eyes, I could see a face shaking its head, asking, “Why are you still like this even though I taught you not to trust people easily?” It seems that being next to the friendly duchess made me feel weak as well.

 

‘hmm? Still, it’s pretty…’

 

It didn’t seem like a bad thing. Although she still thinks Bianca is the most wonderful person in the world, she also wants to be like the Duchess’ sweet and warm persona.

 

“Keu, keuhm! Well, it doesn’t matter if you think you want to be like me.”

 

Pressing my now flushed cheek with the back of my hand, I walked up the stairs with light steps.

 

* * *

 

“Why did you call me like this?”

 

Lucio looked at the Duke and Duchess, Allen and Diana gathered together and looked puzzled.

 

“Is this what you wanted to talk about last time?”

 

“Sit down first.”

 

The Duke, who looked a little nervous, cleared his throat briefly and suddenly asked.

 

“By the way, Lucio, when are you going back to the academy? They said they were only here for a short while, but they stayed longer than expected.”

 

“…I’ll be back soon. Preparations for the festival are in full swing now, so there is no problem if you don’t go.”

 

“Ah, is it already festival season?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Lucio took a moment to catch his breath and then spoke.

 

“If you have time, you can come to this Academy Festival. If you bring Allen and Diana, it will be fun to watch.”

 

“…uh?”

 

The Duchess, who did not know that she was speaking to herself, asked in bewilderment as Lucio looked at her and waited for her answer.

 

“Really? Is that okay?”

 

“Of course.”

 

The Duchess smiled broadly at her immediate reply. The Duke, who was watching her, said at once:

 

“I can’t go because I’m busy.”

 

“I know.”

 

This time too, the duke frowned at the immediate response. The Duchess smiled slightly as she looked at that. Entry to the Imperial Academy was strictly restricted except for students and faculty, except in special cases, so there was no need to visit it outside of the festival period. Due to Lucio’s personality, he didn’t think his family would be very happy to come, so he thought he could tour the school during the graduation ceremony, but he was surprised and grateful that they asked him to come first. The Duchess felt very sorry when she thought that perhaps Lucio had been wanting to call her and her siblings all this time, but that she was down at the estate and could not speak out.

 

“Keu, keuhm.”

 

At that time, the Duke noticed her with a look on his face as if asking how long he was going to be absorbed in her sentiments. The Duchess asked, only then did she remember why she had called all her siblings over today.

 

“Do you want to do it, or will I do it?”

 

“You tell me.”

 

She had called me anyway to ask for her opinion, not to force it, so I thought it would be better for my soft wife to speak rather than my hard self. She nodded her head and spoke carefully, as if the Duchess thought so too.

 

“Lucio, Allen, Diana. I have something important to tell you. “It’s about my family.”

 

“Please speak.”

 

“What?”

 

Not only Lucio and Allen, but even Diana blinked and showed interest. The Duchess swallowed her saliva nervously and opened her mouth.

 

“You all know that Lia is a good and kind girl, right?”

 

“Ha! It may seem a little stupid, but…”

 

“Allen.”

 

When the Duke lightly restrained him, Allen pouted his lips. Although he is two years older than Lia, the Duke slightly shook his head as he looked at Allen, who seemed to be much younger than her. And the Duchess continued speaking again.

 

“I thought a lot about this. She was hurt and bullied because Lia was a commoner and an orphan.”

 

“That was unfair!”

 

“Yes. Allen, it’s exactly as you said. But we can’t guarantee that once Lia goes out, something similar won’t happen again.”

 

“Outside?”

 

“Yes. From now on, we will make sure that such a thing will never happen within the Duke family…”

 

The Duchess trailed off her words. Allen, who looked like he didn’t understand for a moment, jumped up.

 

“Are you going to kick her out?”

 

“No, that’s not it. Lia might want to leave.”

 

“Nonsense!”

 

Allen shouted excitedly.

 

“If a little girl like her goes out, she won’t last a day! And why would she want to leave, given how good Diana and I treat her?”

 

Allen thought she could never do that. However, the Duke and Lucio, who remembered Lia’s words shouting that she could leave at any time, had no choice but to remain silent.

 

“You don’t know what Lia thinks.”

 

The Duchess asked quietly, trying to calm the excited Allen.

 

“So, what would it be like to welcome Lia into our family?”

 

“That means…”

 

“I want to officially adopt Lia. So, I pass on Eladra’s last name, make her a member of the dukedom, and hope she can live proudly without being looked down upon by anyone.”

 

The person who answered Lucio’s question was the Duke of Elad. He spoke more firmly than ever and recalled the first time he met Lia. He had certainly thought at first that she was an unremarkable, vague child. But the moment he lost her daughter, he felt anxious, perhaps because she was the child he had met. She was such a kind and gentle child that when you look at her, you somehow want to take care of her even more. The Duke thought of Lia, who was always busy playing with Diana, but when my wife and I appeared, she quietly retreated to her wall and looked at them. She may have grown up quickly, and she could have been envious and jealous of Diana, who enjoyed everything she had, but it was heartbreaking to see her calmly accepting the situation.

 

‘So at first I was just trying to be her supporter…’

 

After what happened a few days ago, when he found out that Leah had insisted on working as her maid with the intention of leaving at any time, he couldn’t leave her alone any longer. He wanted to become a real protector for the child, who until now had not been properly protected by the adults. Then his wife said.

 

〈Couldn’t we be Lia’s parents?〉

 

The moment the Duchess mentioned the adoption, it was only then that the Duke realized that she had wanted to do this all along, ever since he had decided to take the child from the daycare. Since they are not her biological parents, they may not be able to fill her child’s empty heart until the end, but if he can be a strong fence that she can trust and rest in peace, that is enough. After thinking briefly, the duke looked at his children’s faces to see their reactions. Lucio had an expressionless expression as always, and Allen looked bewildered, perhaps surprised. And Diana… 

 

“What is adoption?”

 

Her head was tilted and her eyes were wide.

 

“Well, sister Lia would become Diana’s real sister.”

 

“Really sister? Her older sister is still Diana?”

 

The Duke burst out laughing as he tilted his head as if he didn’t understand what the Duchess was saying.

 

“Our Diana really likes Lia.”

 

“Huh! I like her!”

 

The Duke smiled happily as he saw Diana raising her hands in the air, saying that he loved her as much as the sky and the earth.

 

“I think Diana agrees.”

 

The Duke looked at Lucio and Allen as if all that was left was your answer.

 

“If you all agree, she becomes Lia and she becomes your little sister.”

 

“Uh… younger sister?”

 

Allen scratched his head as if this situation was very embarrassing. It was then.

 

“I don’t like it.”

 

“…Lucio?”

 

“I am opposed to adopting that child.”

 

Uncharacteristic of a Duke who was taken aback by the unexpected opposition, he was speechless and closed his eyes. The Duchess, who was seeing this, asked instead.

 

“What is the reason?”

 

“I only have one sister, Diana.”

 

Allen, who had blinked at Lucio’s words, also raised his hand.

 

“Me too! One Diana is enough as sister!”

 

The atmosphere changed in an instant, and the embarrassed Duke was about to tell her what to say.

 

“Okay. If that is what you mean, there is nothing we can do.”

 

The Duchess spoke to her husband, summarizing the situation as if to stop the Duke.

 

“It’s something that can’t be forced. It’s about accepting her as part of the family, but if even one person objects, we’ll never be able to have a good relationship.”

 

“But!”

 

The Duke, who was about to refute, made a frustrated face, but eventually closed his mouth. Because there was nothing wrong with what his wife said. Since they hadn’t even asked Lia’s doctor in the first place, it was fortunate that the matter had been decided at this point. However, it was true that he felt a little resentful, so the Duke secretly glared at Lucio.

 

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Translator Note: