A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 107

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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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Chapter 107. The Fortune-Telling Store Owner
“Meeting again, Lady Camilla of Duke Sorpel.”
Why had things changed? Why!
The moment Camilla faced Crown Prince Edsen, who was grinning at her, she bowed as deeply as she could manage.
She had to hastily suppress the irritation that threatened to burst forth instinctively.
‘How strange.’
The delegation’s leader was clearly supposed to be the Second Prince.
That’s why there had always been much talk during this period. Those aligned with the First Prince—the Crown Prince—would express dissatisfaction with the Emperor’s decision.
It made sense that Crown Prince Edsen, as the Empire’s representative, should be the one to go, so why send the Second Prince as the leader instead?
‘Everyone was gossiping about it being the Empress’s scheme.’
They said the Emperor had fallen for the Empress’s manipulation, that sending the Second Prince to the Gracia Empire was meant to gain new power for him. It had been quite the commotion.
Yet somehow, this time it was Crown Prince Edsen who had been chosen as the delegation’s leader, not the Second Prince.
“It seems the others haven’t arrived yet.”
Did I come too early? I deliberately came early to avoid giving anyone a reason to criticize me—
“I only invited you today.”
“…Pardon?”
You said it was a delegation meeting! So why am I alone!
“What? You don’t like being alone with me?”
“That’s not it at all.”
As always, this man’s perceptiveness was far too sharp.
“The more I learn about you, the more surprising you become.”
Edsen wore a subtle smile on his lips, as if genuinely amused.
“So you’re the owner of the Ghost Merchant Store.”
That’s old news, you know.
“That’s why I prepared something.”
Camilla, concealing her irritation, offered him a small box she had been holding.
“What’s this?”
What else would it be? A bribe, obviously.
“It seemed like I was always the one receiving gifts.”
Either way, I’ll have to keep seeing his face for a while, so please just accept this and stop your teasing.
“A ring.”
“It’s a special product our store is releasing this time.”
I put more care into it than what I gave to the three Dukes. This man’s eye for quality is too refined; anything mediocre won’t satisfy him.
“I hope you like it.”
“I like the ring, but… your intentions seem suspicious.”
“Suspicious? I simply—”
“Are you trying to use me for publicity?”
‘Damn, this guy’s perceptiveness is incredible.’
He was right.
The gift was prepared partly to make this journey more comfortable, but I also harbored a slight ulterior motive to use Edsen to promote the Blue Diamond.
‘…No, quite a bit?’
After all, the people who wielded the greatest influence in high society were none other than those of the Imperial Court.
“Well, I suppose I’ll enjoy being used.”
Pleased with the gift, he immediately slipped the ring onto his finger. He seemed to be in quite a good mood.
Unexpected. To show emotion over such a simple gift?
“Indeed. Publicity is quite important for business, you see. So I was thinking, if I were to present gifts to the Empress and the Second Prince as well….”
But Crown Prince Edsen’s smile, which had been rather gentle, shifted back to his usual masked expression in an instant.
“You want to give them gifts? Then go ahead and try.”
“…I would like to, but! Your Highness alone provides more than sufficient publicity.”
Dorman, so this is how you must have felt. You’re doing well at the Cafe, aren’t you?
“Check this instead.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
What Crown Prince Edsen handed over was a mana stone trading contract sent from the Gracia Empire’s Imperial Court.
I could remove what needed removing and add what needed adding, then adjust the trading terms when we met again.
“By the way.”
His voice reached Camilla’s ears as she reviewed the documents.
“Is this the first ring I’ve ever received?”
“No, sir.”
“…No?”
“I gave the same ring to the three Dukes as well.”
Camilla lifted her gaze from the documents.
What was that? I just felt something oddly cold for a moment.
But when she looked up to confirm, Crown Prince Edsen’s expression seemed at ease. Was it just her imagination, or did he actually seem in an even better mood than usual?
“I’ll make sure the Dukes understand.”
Understand? Understand what?
Camilla shot him questioning glances repeatedly, but Crown Prince Edsen merely smiled enigmatically.
* * *
Ding!
“Welcome!”
As I stepped into the shop, an employee greeted me warmly.
I stopped the employees who recognized me from attempting to greet me properly again, and swept my gaze across the interior. The shop was bustling with customers today as well.
As I surveyed the scene with satisfaction, one thing caught my eye—something irritating.
Patter, patter, patter!
Smack!
“Ugh!”
I had struck Dorman’s back of his head with all my might as he sat leisurely napping by the window where the sunlight streamed in most beautifully.
“Ah, Miss!”
He jolted up in surprise and flinched upon spotting me.
“So your only value here is sleeping.”
“That’s not true! I was working very hard until just now, and I’m only taking a very brief, momentary rest!”
“Wipe the drool from your mouth before you speak.”
He hastily wiped his mouth with his hand.
“I’d need to drive a blade through your heel to knock some sense into you, wouldn’t I?”
“N-no, that’s not it… I just took a brief rest because there was a substitute!”
“A substitute?”
Camilla turned to look where Dorman was pointing, and for a long moment, she found herself utterly speechless.
“What is he doing right now?”
It was Reaper Habel.
He was wiping dust from every corner of the shop, apron and headscarf tied firmly in place, his expression as serious as always.
“When did you get hired at our shop?”
“…!”
Habel, who had been so focused on cleaning that he hadn’t noticed Camilla’s arrival, startled and quickly spun around.
“It suits you well.”
At her gesture toward the headscarf and apron, he hastily untied them and threw them to the floor.
“This is your fault.”
“My fault? How?”
“How dare you assign such work to Lord Dorman!”
“So you’re doing it instead?”
“Do you even know who that person is…!”
“Oh? There’s dust over there.”
Swish!
Before he could finish speaking, Habel snatched up the cleaning tools from the floor and began scrubbing away at a small smudge on one side with intense dedication.
“That fellow has quite the reputation for being fastidious, you know.”
Dorman, who had quietly approached her side, gazed at Habel with a pleased expression.
“So you’re just going to keep slacking off?”
“Ha ha….”
“….”
“…W-where are the cleaning tools again?”
Under the weight of Camilla’s steady gaze, Dorman finally grabbed cleaning supplies and positioned himself beside Habel.
Ugh, that slacker.
When I raised my fist to show him I meant business, only then did he start scrubbing the cloth vigorously.
Ding!
Just then, the shop door opened and a customer entered.
“Welcome…”
Camilla, who had been greeting them with her business smile, faltered.
‘They’re back again.’
Customers were always welcome, of course.
[Father….]
But customers accompanied by ghosts were hardly a pleasant sight.
A young woman who appeared to be in her late teens followed behind a middle-aged couple, tears streaming down her face.
It’s not as if I see ghosts every single day, and I could simply ignore them anyway.
[Please, just help us.]
That’s precisely the problem.
I was being careful, but last time my eyes happened to meet with that ghost’s gaze.
Her reaction afterward was no different from any other ghost’s—she made such a fuss asking if I could see her, if I could hear her voice.
“Does that person come here often?”
“Yes, he’s a regular customer. He always buys something for his daughter whenever he visits.”
“His daughter?”
Does he have another daughter?
[Every time he comes to see me, he always brings something like this. I’ve always wanted desserts like these so badly.]
The Female Ghost interjected softly into the conversation.
[Oh my!]
Then, noticing something, she trembled visibly.
Turning my head to see what was wrong, I caught sight of Reaper Habel staring directly at us.
“There’s a spot there.”
Swish, swish, swish.
With Reaper Habel returning his focus to cleaning, I watched the middle-aged couple selecting desserts.
[Please, our father….]
Hearing the Female Ghost’s trembling voice, I exhaled a short sigh.
“Does that customer buy a lot?”
“Yes, he buys quite a lot! He purchases almost every type of dessert on display.”
So he’s a VIP customer.
I clicked my tongue briefly and moved toward the customer.
“Dear, should we buy something for Jane today as well? That child really loves desserts too.”
“Shall we?”
The Middle-aged Woman’s face brightened with a pleased smile.
But at that sight, the Female Ghost’s expression twisted sharply.
While her gaze toward her father was tender and affectionate, her eyes toward the Middle-aged Woman were filled with resentment and murderous intent.
“Hello, customer. If you don’t mind, may I select a few items for you?”
As I approached warmly, a smile bloomed on the Middle-aged Man’s face.
“Would you really do that for us?”
His manner of speech was quite refined, even though he probably didn’t realize I was nobility.
I’d heard he wasn’t nobility himself, but his family wielded considerable influence through their wealth.
After selecting a few popular desserts, I broached the main topic directly.
This kind of acting really doesn’t suit my nature.
“How have you been lately? Are you doing well?”
“Pardon?”
At the man’s bewildered expression, I swallowed a sigh internally.
I hate ghosts. I really hate them. I truly hate them…. Can’t they just leave me alone….
“I do a bit of fortune-telling, you see.”

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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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