A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 10

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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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“Huh? You were called too?”
“You as well?”
“Seriously, why did she summon all of us so suddenly?”
“Who knows.”
Four Maidservants who appeared to be in their early twenties and two Attendants stood before the door to Camilla’s Room, snickering amongst themselves.
“I heard her relationship with the Duke has improved lately?”
“So what, is she going to scold us now? After all this time?”
“Pfft! As if!”
“Think it’ll actually last?”
“I’ll bet those new earrings she bought that she’ll lose her temper again and fall out of the Duke’s favor.”
“Me too, me too.”
Not a trace of fear or apprehension toward Camilla could be detected in their laughter.
A few Kitchen Maidservants had been caught tormenting Camilla and dismissed not long ago, but that was simply bad luck on their part.
Knock, knock—they rapped on the door without hesitation and immediately pushed it open, without waiting for permission to enter.
It was their usual custom, so there was no hesitation.
“Eek!”
“Ugh!”
But in the next moment, they had to swallow their screams before they could escape their throats.
They had discovered Camilla sprawled limply across the bed.
The sight of Camilla collapsed on the bed with crimson blood trickling from the corners of her mouth was enough to terrify them.
Unknown medicines were scattered all around. To anyone’s eyes, it appeared she had taken her own life.
“D-did she… die?”
The voice of the one speaking trembled violently. Her complexion had turned ashen.
How could this have happened? Camilla was dead!
Faced with such an abrupt situation, they all stood frozen. They lacked even the courage to approach her and confirm whether she was truly dead or alive.
“That…!”
After some time had passed, those who had been frozen in place, unable to move, suddenly snapped to attention at the cry of one of the Maidservants.
Only then did they tear their gaze from Camilla and look toward where the Maidservant was pointing.
“C-could that be…!”
“Surely not!”
A single sheet of white stationery lay atop the bed where Camilla was collapsed.
Everyone present could easily guess what it was.
A suicide note. It was unmistakably Camilla’s final farewell letter.
They hastily seized the letter.
“…!”
The expressions of the Maidservants and Attendants reading through the letter’s contents shifted moment by moment.
Fear bloomed across the faces of those who had initially been flustered.
Their names were written clearly in the letter.
Not only their names, but every cruel deed they had inflicted upon Camilla was meticulously documented.
The letter concluded with words expressing their grievances and pleading for their resentments to be avenged.
“Good heavens.”
“What, what do we do?”
“This is madness…!”
“If, if this reaches the Duke’s hands….”
The power of a suicide note left behind by the deceased is difficult to ignore. My usual lies and excuses would be utterly useless.
Everyone would surely think, ‘How wronged must Camilla have been to resort to suicide?’
Even toward someone one despises, hearing of their death stirs a measure of sympathy—such is human nature.
Moreover, I had been getting along reasonably well with Duke Sorpel recently, had I not?
If this letter reached the Duke in such circumstances?
“Let’s get rid of it.”
“What?”
“Destroy the letter.”
“But….”
“We can’t die together!”
The Maidservant, who had shouted in a burst of panic, seized the suicide note before her words had even finished and tore it to shreds.
Those who had initially been flustered released sighs of relief as the note disappeared. After all, they needed to survive, did they not?
As long as the suicide note was never discovered, there was no evidence linking them to Camilla’s death.
Her suicide would be concluded as always—an impulsive choice made by Camilla, who could never control her temper—
“My, my—you all trust your luck far too much, don’t you?”
“…?”
That was when it happened.
“Do you truly believe you’ll always be fortunate enough to discover my suicide note first?”
“Gasp!”
“Shriek!”
A voice all too familiar echoed from behind those who had been relieved.
They spun around hastily, and without exception, screams tore from their throats. Some collapsed to the floor.
Camilla, whom they believed dead, rose smoothly from her place and observed everything they had been doing.
She wiped the crimson stain from her lips with a handkerchief and smiled wickedly.
“I was merely acting out my death again.”
“You, you were acting?”
Only then did those present grasp the situation, and their faces contorted with rage.
Had she been toying with them? They had been fooled by such a trivial prank?
By none other than Camilla herself?
In that instant, fury surged within them. Forgetting the fear they had felt mere moments before, they all wore expressions of irritation.
Camilla, observing all of this, laughed softly.
“Though it could become real.”
“…What do you mean by that, my lady?”
The faces of those present stiffened once more.
Could become real? Was she truly considering taking her own life?
“You all know I visit the Kitchen every night lately, don’t you?”
By now, everyone in the Sorpel Household knew that Camilla visited the Kitchen at the same time each day to prepare late-night snacks for Duke Sorpel.
Rumors had even begun circulating that the Duke secretly enjoyed the refreshments she brought and waited for them eagerly.
“What if I don’t appear in the Kitchen at that time? What would happen then?”
“I… what?”
“At the very least, someone would find it strange and come looking for me, wouldn’t they?”
Seeing their bewildered expressions, Camilla graciously elaborated in simpler terms.
“What if I were to slash my wrist slightly at that exact hour, clutching this suicide note tightly in my hand?”
“…!”
“Or perhaps I could scatter something that looks like poison on the floor and collapse, just like now. You all fell for it—do you really think others wouldn’t?”
“Oh, Miss!”
Only then did they realize this was no jest, and their faces drained of color.
“Are you… are you threatening us right now?”
“Threatening?”
The smile vanished from Camilla’s lips for the first time.
Her entire demeanor shifted in an instant. The Maidservant standing directly before her trembled involuntarily.
“Threats are something you make…”
Camilla’s words trailed off as she stepped closer to the Maidservant.
“…to people who have something to lose.”
Then she extended her hand toward the Maidservant who had just spoken.
Flinch!
Thinking she was about to be struck, the Maidservant squeezed her eyes shut—only to feel Camilla smile softly.
Instead, she gently tapped the Maidservant’s cheek with her fingertips.
“Do you threaten insects?”
“…!”
“Insects…”
Her hand drifted downward, now caressing the Maidservant’s throat.
“You simply crush them. Stomp them to death or squash them with your palm.”
“Ah… Miss!”
“The only drawback is that your hands and feet get dirty. That’s all that bothers me.”
Meeting Camilla’s gaze directly, the Maidservant trembled violently.
“But you know…”
Her voice dropped even lower.
“Even that has its limits, doesn’t it?”
Watching Camilla’s eyes turn glacial, they all swallowed hard.
“I’m running out of patience for these buzzing nuisances… what should I do?”
The touch of her hand against their throat felt ice-cold. It seemed as though their necks might snap at any moment.
“We’re sorry! Miss!”
“Please forgive us!”
Before long, both the Maidservant and the Attendants had dropped to their knees, some pressing their foreheads to the floor.
She was different! This was not the woman from before!
If she’d thrown a tantrum in her usual manner—shouting loudly and hurling objects—I would have simply accepted it.
I might have even scoffed at her, thinking, “Of course you’d do something like that.”
‘But…!’
Now, however, the air itself felt suffocating. It became abundantly clear that these were not people I could treat carelessly.
Tap, tap.
“Do better.”
“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!”
Unlike the others, the Maidservant trembled without even managing to kneel, and I gently tapped her cheek once more.
“Find it.”
“…Yes?”
“The ring you stole from me. Bring it back.”
“…! Yes!”
“Understood!”
The moment my words ended, they all bolted from the room without hesitation, scrambling over one another in their haste. Some even tripped over their own feet in their desperation.
Slam!
The door shut in an instant. Left alone in the room, I finally exhaled a long, weary breath.
‘Goodness, I’m exhausted.’
Playing the villain is truly the best stress relief.
But it consumes just as much physical and mental energy. After all, the performance only works if I overwhelm the other person’s presence with an even greater force.
[….]
[….]
Derin and Perol approached as I collapsed onto the bed.
Their faces suggested they had much to say, yet neither could easily find the words.
“What is it?”
Seeing them open and close their mouths repeatedly, I finally spoke first.
[We were startled.]
[You looked ready to kill them.]
Derin, the butler’s ghost, and Perol, the head chef’s ghost, who had been observing everything from the corner of the room, finally spoke. Their expressions were still filled with astonishment.
[Was that really acting?]
Though I’d given them advance warning, the way I’d pressured the Maidservant and Attendants moments ago seemed genuine to anyone watching.
The atmosphere had been so intense that someone could have died without anyone finding it strange. Had they not known the situation, they would have nearly rushed out screaming for me to show mercy.
“I’m someone who won the Best Actress award by overshadowing the lead with my villain role.”
[Best Actress? What’s that?]
[Do they give awards for acting?]
Leaving the two confused ghosts behind, I picked up the water glass on the table and took a sip.
[But Miss Camilla.]
“Yes?”
Derin seemed to have more questions and spoke again.
[Haven’t you already found the ring?]
I’d just ordered the Maidservant and Attendants to find the ring, but in truth, I’d already located it myself and had it in my possession.
“I’m actually quite well-mannered, you see.”
[Well-mannered?]
[What are you talking about all of a sudden?]
“Isn’t it only proper that people repay what they’ve received?”
I gazed down at my hands, still gripping the water glass.
My palms were covered in scratches from the rose thorns scattered across the garden.
‘So that’s why the Rose Garden felt cursed.’
If others saw not just me but everyone else rummaging through the Rose Garden like this, they’d think we’d all lost our minds.
‘Well, you lot should hear some of the insane things I’ve had to endure.’
As Derin and Perol stared at me in bewilderment, I smiled brightly.

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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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