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

“No. I won’t go back.”

As if deflecting the Grand Duke’s words, the Grand Duchess quickly expressed her refusal. However, despite her firm words, her face was pale as if she would collapse at any moment.

“Madam…”

The Grand Duke sighed as if he had already anticipated her answer.

Knowing what determination his wife had for leaving the castle after living in seclusion for a long time, he didn’t think it would be easy to break her stubbornness.

He calmly began to persuade her again.

“It’s a long journey. Askart will understand if you don’t attend the graduation ceremony…”

“I know. That’s why I don’t want to.”

“…”

“Askart is my son too. I felt bad about sending him to the Empire alone, but he should attend the graduation ceremony.”

The Grand Duchess, who had said that much, turned her head as if she could no longer speak and slowly exhaled.

The eyes of the Grand Duke, the maids, and Bianca who were watching this darkened.

Especially Bianca, who had been excited for a moment while looking forward to the imperial journey, felt depressed in an instant when she saw the appearance of the Grand Duchess, and her mood suddenly sank and she felt unbearable.

The Grand Duchess she remembered was not someone so dead and lifeless.

She was brighter than anyone else, more confident, and always sparkling. However, nine years ago, she lost her newborn grand duchess and she changed completely. And no matter how much time passed, the sorrow of a mother who lost her child did not diminish at all.

Not even a little.

* * *

“Lia, stop looking and come and sit down. The desserts are all ready.”

I was absentmindedly looking at the pink roses blooming in the Marquis’ greenhouse when I turned my head at Askart’s voice.

I saw warm cocoa and sweet desserts on the table set up in the middle of the greenhouse.

As I sat down, Askart, who was across from me, asked with a smile in his bright lime-green eyes.

“You like it even though you see it every day?”

“Yes. It’s so pretty. The scent is also good.”

It was true. After Lucio and Ascari returned, I visited the Marquis’ residence for several days to see the flowers, but I never got tired of them.

“It would have been nice if the young lady had come too…”

Diana, like the Duchess, was also prone to feeling cold.

The Marquis’ residence’s greenhouse was warm, unlike the chilly weather outside, and it reminded me of the glass greenhouse at the duke’s castle, so I think she really liked it when I visited last time.

“Didn’t the princess say she went out with Lucio today?”

I nodded.

For the past few days, Lucio seemed very busy taking over the work. But for some reason, during breakfast this morning, he suggested that he take his younger siblings to see the capital.

Not only Diana, but even Allen, who I rarely see these days, seemed excited. So I decided to stay away from Diana today.

‘There must be a time when siblings can have a good time together.’

When the family had a cozy meal or tea time every day, it was only for a day or two that I got involved, so people had to be aware of it.

Besides, I didn’t have to be lonely even without Diana.

This was because I could come to the Marquis’ residence and see Ascari and pretty flowers and eat sweet desserts.

The Marquis of Diapel’s mansion had a grand and dignified atmosphere unique to the Muin family. However, from the moment I first entered, I felt somehow comfortable and friendly.

‘It’s also attractive that there is a greenhouse full of such gorgeous roses.’

Somehow, I thought of the Marquis of Diapel, who was blunt on the outside but kind on the inside.

And most of all.

“Here, try this.”

Ascari handed me a scone covered in clotted cream and raspberry jam.

As if he had a strong desire to feed me, the scone came right up to my nose, and I couldn’t even think of refusing, so I quickly opened my mouth and took a big bite.

“Haha.”

Askart smiled happily at me.

It wasn’t just now.

When he told me I could come over anytime, he must have been sincere, because whenever he saw me, Askart gave me a smile that made me feel like I was melting.

I had noticed early on that he liked me, but I couldn’t hide my blushing cheeks.

Embarrassed, I gulped down the cocoa, but it was hotter than I expected, and I gulped.

“Are you okay? It’s hot, so what should I do if I drink it so quickly?”

Askart immediately wiped my mouth with a handkerchief and made a worried expression.

“I, I’m sorry.”

“I didn’t mean to hear an apology…”

As I barely managed to speak with my eyes filled with tears, Askart suddenly shut his mouth tightly and stared at me blankly. Then, he hesitated to speak.

I tilted my head in confusion at that sight, and suddenly I felt the greenhouse door open and someone come in.

“Your Highness, who is…”

“When I see you, I think of my lost sister.”

Askart suddenly sighed.

Surprised, I forgot what I was going to say and looked up at him, saying, “…Yes?”

Askart frowned as if crying.

“I know I’m weird too…”

“…”

“I keep thinking about it. I wonder if I would have felt this way if I had a sister, and if you really…”

“Brother!”

At that moment, a girl wearing a neatly designed dress and with long dark brown hair walked toward the table with a big smile.

I instinctively stood up.

I knew who the girl who greeted Askart was.

It was Clara Amber, Askart’s cousin whom I had seen at the palace the last time and the granddaughter of the Marquis of Diapel.

“You’ve been staying at the Marquis’ residence for a few days now? I didn’t even know that…”

Clara, who had been approaching me with a face full of joy, stopped walking.

“You…”

I quickly bowed my head to greet her, feeling nervous for some reason at her gaze.

“Ah. I thought I’d seen you somewhere, but you’re Princess Elad’s maid. But why are you here…”

“I didn’t even tell you to come in, and you’re acting so selfishly. Clara, did you learn that from the Countess?”

Clara, who had been talking with a puzzled expression while looking at me, stopped.

I, too, was startled by the cold voice coming from beside me and turned my head away.

As usual, Askart had a gentle smile on his face, but for some reason, a sharp chill lingered.

I realized anew that the voice I had heard a moment ago was really Askart.

A suffocating silence descended on the greenhouse.

I was just awkwardly looking around when Askart suddenly turned his head and looked at me.

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m fine…”

“Let’s sit down.”

“…Yes?”

I was speechless.

‘I thought you would naturally tell me to go back since you were apologizing…’

Even Clara was still standing there. However, Askart smiled affectionately at me as if she wasn’t even there.

“You haven’t eaten yet. I prepared everything for you.”

“No, no, Your Highness. I’ll be going now.”

In the end, I couldn’t stand this atmosphere and spoke first.

I could see Askart’s expression darkening, but I couldn’t help it.

I quickly bowed to Clara, who was frozen, and quickly left the greenhouse.

* * *

Askart clenched his fists and glared at Clara as he watched Lia’s back disappear like the wind.

Clara flinched at his fierce gaze, then hardened her expression as if her pride had been hurt. But that was only for a moment, and she smiled faintly again and said.

“Brother. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you, so why are you making that face? You must have been upset because I didn’t come to see you right away, right?”

“Ha!”

Askart let out a sharp laugh. However, Clara ignored his reaction and sat down across from Lia.

“But Brother, what if you embarrass me like that in front of others? People will misunderstand. They’ll say you hate me.”

As Clara smiled kindly, Askart suddenly recalled an old memory.

His mother’s younger sister, Countess Amber, and her daughter Clara began visiting the Duchy of Belus when his mother’s days of not leaving her room became increasingly frequent.

Her maternal grandfather, Marquis Diapel, could not afford to leave the estate empty for long, so he invited Countess Amber to visit instead. Although they were not close sisters, he thought that his family would be more helpful than others in curing his mental illness. However, Askart felt unfamiliar and awkward with Countess Amber, who suddenly appeared and roamed the castle like her own home, and with his cousin, who was four years younger than him.

So even though Clara kept coming to visit him as if she wanted to become close to him and annoyed him, he pretended not to notice and stayed in his room, trying not to pay attention.

Several years passed like that.

At the age of 12, Askart, who had entered early puberty and was becoming increasingly sensitive, began to find the Countess and Clara wandering around the castle more annoying than before. And eventually, an incident occurred.

〈What are you? Why are you in this room?〉

〈Brother?〉

〈Put that thing you’re holding down right now. It’s my sister’s!〉

〈No one will use it anyway, so why can’t I use it? I’m my brother’s sister too.〉

Clara, who was wearing all the precious accessories her parents had bought for her sister every year and holding a pretty doll in her arms, said innocently.

At that moment, Askart’s eyes rolled back.

〈Who is my sister? You’re not my sister!〉

 

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