A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 105

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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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“I’m telling you, you’re a genius.”
“Camilla, really now.”
I even gave some to Perol, the chef ghost, and he was absolutely thrilled—said he’d never encountered a dessert like this before.
The problem, however….
“It’s a shame we don’t have any customers.”
The shop had barely been open for two weeks, and luck simply wasn’t on our side.
With the unfamiliar interior design, the ordering system, and the menu all being so foreign, no one was willing to step inside and place an order.
“Our desserts are truly delicious….”
“They are.”
“What if we go out of business like this?”
As Laila’s expression grew despondent, the other staff members around her hung their heads in unison.
“Don’t worry. We won’t fail. I’ve already taken measures.”
“Measures?”
Ding, ding—!
As if on cue, the shop door opened and familiar figures stepped inside.
“Huh?”
Laila’s eyes widened at the sight of them.
“What brings you two here?”
It was Petro and Arsian.
“Camilla called us.”
“Why did you ask them to come here?”
The staff members’ jaws dropped at their arrival. Both Petro and Arsian had such polished, striking appearances.
‘That’s exactly the reaction I wanted.’
I planned to use these two as bait. I decided to capitalize on their eye-catching looks. After all, I need to draw customers in first, don’t I?
“Laila, show those two to the window seat.”
After guiding them to the most visible spot from outside, I gathered macarons and several new items, then delivered them personally.
Tap!
“Enjoy.”
The two of them fell silent as they looked at what was placed before them.
“These are desserts.”
“…Are you seriously asking me to eat this?”
“Yes.”
“Hey! Something this sweet…!”
“Eat.”
“….”
“If you don’t want to eat, at least pretend to.”
My face was plastered with a business smile, but my eyes were burning with intensity.
Sensing that expressing any further reluctance would result in immediate dismissal, the two men kept their mouths shut.
“You should be smiling. How can you sit there looking like that while eating delicious desserts? Do you want to watch someone else’s shop fail so badly?”
When I even pointed out their expressions, Arsian’s face showed exasperation, while Petro let out a small laugh.
“What is this?”
Petro’s attention was drawn first to the dessert.
The macarons were unfamiliar, and so was the delicate dessert served in a beautiful glass bowl—a generous heap of fruit and ice cream that released a cool chill into the air.
“It’s shaved ice, perfect for summer.”
“Shaved ice?”
“I’ve minimized the syrup and condensed milk as much as possible. It won’t be overly sweet, so please try a spoonful.”
I’d gone through considerable effort to create this shaved ice machine. After all, craftsmen capable of building a machine from mere explanation alone were hardly common.
Fortunately, one workshop had managed to construct it quite convincingly. When I froze milk and ground it, it produced remarkably fine particles.
“It’s ice.”
After tasting the shaved ice, Petro wore a rather satisfied expression. Arsian, however, seemed to dislike the sweet fruit, merely pretending to scrape at the ice delicately.
“But why did you suddenly open a cafe?”
Wouldn’t the Ghost Merchant Store alone be sufficient?
“Because dessert comes after shopping.”
Camilla answered Petro’s question simply.
The true reason for opening the cafe was straightforward—I’d reasoned that people naturally sought out cafes after shopping.
So I’d opened the cafe right beside the Ghost Merchant Store, allowing those who’d finished shopping to naturally drift in.
“Who does that? Eating this sort of thing after shopping. I absolutely won’t.”
“Have you ever actually gone shopping?”
“….”
“Just eat the dessert.”
Watching him avert his gaze, Camilla clicked her tongue knowingly. If I judged by his standards, every shop would go bankrupt!
“In any case, I’d appreciate your cooperation.”
“Understood.”
Just then, several young women passing by the storefront noticed Arsian and Petro sitting by the window and stopped in their tracks.
When their eyes met Petro’s, his characteristic gentle smile bloomed across his face in an instant.
‘Oh.’
Those who’d been glancing curiously at the new shop were drawn in by that smile, and they promptly opened the door and entered.
Ding!
“Welcome.”
I’d certainly found an excellent draw for the shop.
‘…Though one person is a complete failure.’
Watching Arsian continue to nibble at his food with his brow furrowed as deeply as possible, I shook my head slightly.
“Hand that over.”
I took Arsian’s spoon from him. Then, scooping up a generous spoonful of shaved ice, I brought it to my lips.
“Mmm—”
I used every facial muscle to craft the most blissful expression imaginable. As if I’d just tasted the most delicious food in the world!
No dialogue was necessary. My expression said it all.
Arsian and Petro regarded me with somewhat dazed expressions.
They’d been eating the exact same thing just moments ago, so why did it suddenly look so appealing?
‘Well, I was a CF queen, after all.’
Do you think there’s only one or two companies that increased their sales because of my endorsement?
“U-us too, please! We’ll have the same thing!”
“What is that? I want some too!”
The response was immediate. Customers who had just entered the shop saw what I was eating and placed orders for the same menu.
“See? This is how you do it, like this.”
I handed the spoon back to Arsian and left my seat.
“….”
After I departed, Arsian stared intently at the spoon in his hand. Then he moved his hand toward the shaved ice.
Tap.
“What are you doing?”
But Petro snatched his hand away, forcing Arsian to stop mid-action.
“Could you bring us a fresh spoon, please?”
He called out with a bright smile, his gaze fixed on Arsian.
“What are you doing! Do you want to die?”
“Surely you weren’t planning to use someone else’s spoon again?”
“….”
“Put it down quietly.”
“Tch….”
Arsian let out a small curse and finally set the spoon down.
He wanted to make a scene, but when he saw me glaring at him with eyes that promised I wouldn’t let it slide if he caused trouble in the shop, he had no choice but to hold back.
“Here’s your fresh spoon.”
As the staff member exchanged the spoon, a short sigh escaped Arsian’s lips, and Petro’s smile deepened.
* * *
“Hm?”
After looking around the shop, I returned to find someone standing in front of the Duke’s Mansion.
At first, I thought it might be Duke Sorpel, but it wasn’t him.
“That person is….”
It was someone I recognized.
Belac, wasn’t it? I had briefly met him at the Hunting Competition before.
He had approached as if he had something to say, but Arsian had stepped on him and he disappeared as if fleeing.
“Ah! Miss Camilla! You’re back?”
He approached with a cheerful greeting.
“What are you doing here?”
“I, I was waiting for you, Miss Camilla.”
“Me? Why?”
“I have something to tell you.”
How long had he been waiting? Beads of sweat dotted his forehead—he’d clearly been outside for quite a while on this hot day.
What on earth did he want to say that he waited this long?
As I stared at him curiously, Belac’s face flushed crimson in an instant.
“It’s….”
With an expression brimming with awkwardness and tension, he carefully withdrew something he’d been hiding behind his back.
“This is my thanks for helping me last time.”
It was a rose. A brilliantly crimson rose at that.
“I’m truly grateful for your help back then.”
Camilla’s expression grew slightly dazed as she watched the flushed man offer the flower. The feeling was peculiar.
‘This is my first time?’
Receiving flowers from a man like this.
Of course, at award ceremonies, events, or from fans, she received bouquets almost daily.
But receiving a bouquet imbued with romantic affection like this was truly a first for me.
“I thought it would suit you so well, Miss Camilla….”
His hands trembled noticeably as he extended the bouquet forward.
A smile played at Camilla’s lips at the sight. Well, a bouquet was hardly a big deal.
Whoosh!
‘Huh?’
Someone swiftly snatched the bouquet on her behalf. Camilla’s eyes flicked upward.
“Our estate has a rose garden too.”
“Older Brother?”
Uncertain when he’d arrived, Ravi stood holding the bouquet, his gaze fixed intently on Belac.
“Ah, hello!”
Flustered by Ravi’s sudden appearance, Belac bowed hastily.
“Thanks, you say? Is a single bouquet really all your gratitude amounts to?”
“No! I was planning to give you flowers and treat you to a meal-”
“A meal? Don’t you know our estate’s head chef is the Empire’s finest cook? Is there someone out there who cooks better than the Sorpel Family’s chef?”
“Well, that is….”
“Where is this place? Can you say with absolute certainty?”
“Pardon?”
“Can you say with absolute certainty?”
“Ah, no.”
“Then come back when you can say with absolute certainty.”
“Eh?”
“In other words, get lost.”
“Y-yes!”
Once again, Belac achieved nothing and fled the scene in haste.
“What? You’re really just leaving after that? What a useless fellow.”
“…Older Brother.”
“What?”
“What did you just do?”
“Pest control.”
“What?”
“Make sure to tell that bastard—I’ve done my part.”
“What are you talking about?”
That guy? One of them?
“Earned a mana stone.”
“What do you mean, what am I talking about?”
A mana stone? Why would a mana stone appear here?
“More importantly, what are we doing with this flower? Throwing it away?”
“Why would we throw it away? What a waste.”
Camilla reached out to take the bouquet of roses back from Ravi.
Whoosh.
But once again, someone snatched the bouquet away before she could.
“Throw it away.”
“Older Brother?”
It was Ludvil. He hurled the bouquet he’d been holding backward with a sweeping motion.
His adjutant standing behind him then drew his sword and hacked the bouquet to absolute shreds.
Both Ludvil and Ravi watched the spectacle with evident satisfaction.
‘Why is everyone acting like this?’
Why take out their frustrations on an innocent flower!
Watching the scattered rose petals strewn across the street, Camilla exhaled a continuous stream of sighs.

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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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