A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 115

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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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Flap, flap!
A figure approached rapidly toward Camilla as she entered the Guest Palace quarters.
A white dragon with small wings fluttered down and perched upon her shoulder.
“…Aislah.”
[Why?]
Aislah released a leisurely yawn, and Camilla finally let slip the words she’d been holding back.
“Don’t you have things to do?”
She’d kept quiet all this time, afraid Aislah might grow irritated again and freeze this place solid…
“Why do you keep staying here?”
She simply couldn’t hold the question back any longer. Why was she still here? The other Spirit Kings were all busy with their own crises.
[I’m not busy.]
“Ah, I see.”
Watching the white dragon release another long yawn, Camilla exhaled a quiet sigh within her heart.
[But I should rest properly for a while longer.]
The Spirit King of Winter took flight once more.
She circled leisurely around Camilla’s face for a moment, then suddenly fluttered downward and gently tapped her hand.
[Open your hand.]
“My hand?”
Though she didn’t understand why, Camilla extended one hand forward as instructed.
A soft breath.
White crystalline fragments gathered before Aislah, then gently descended to rest upon Camilla’s palm.
Camilla blinked repeatedly at the cold, crystal-like jewel. What was this?
[Call upon me when you need it. Even if I’m in the Spirit Realm, I’ll come running whenever you wish.]
Was it some sort of communication stone?
“You’re returning to the Spirit Realm?”
[Yes, I’ve been here far too long.]
Hearing the slight weariness in her voice, Camilla nodded in agreement.
A sharp whistle of wind!
In an instant, cold air swirled around them.
When Camilla opened her eyes, Aislah had transformed back into human form and stood before her.
Aislah regarded her silently for a moment, then drew closer.
“…!”
She gently pressed her lips to Camilla’s forehead.
At the sensation of something cold yet tender—like a gentle breeze—Camilla gazed at her with slightly widened eyes.
[Thank you.]
Aislah offered the faintest of smiles before vanishing from sight entirely.
Camilla, who had been touching her forehead, finally allowed herself a soft smile.
“Miss!”
The door opened and Dorman stepped inside.
“Are you all prepared?”
Somehow he seemed far more excited than she was.
And for good reason—the Capital was hosting its first festival today, and the entire Gracia Empire thrummed with celebratory fervor.
“There’s nothing to prepare. We just go.”
Camilla hastened her departure to enjoy the festivities.
Truthfully, she was a little excited too. This would be her first time experiencing a festival in this world.
“Let’s hurry!”
Camilla left her room with a light heart, letting Dorman’s urging pass through one ear.
* * *
“A festival?”
“Yes, she left just moments ago to enjoy it, or so I’m told.”
Duke Escra’s brow twitched as he reviewed the documents.
“What about her escort?”
“Two knights, from what I understand.”
“Merely two?”
“They’re reportedly quite skilled members of the Sorpel Family. Besides, bringing too many people to a festival would only draw unwanted attention.”
“Fair enough.”
Duke Escra nodded dismissively and returned his gaze to the documents he’d been holding.
“There will be quite a crowd at the festival today.”
“Indeed. With such fine weather and the festival being held for the first time, it’s only natural.”
“There shouldn’t be any security concerns?”
“I’ve ordered the Guard to conduct regular patrols throughout the day.”
Count Alton’s response earned a light nod, and Duke Escra returned to reading his documents.
Thud!
“Your Grace?”
But moments later, he suddenly rose from his seat.
“I think I should take a look around.”
“Pardon?”
“We wouldn’t want anything unfortunate to occur at such a rare festival, would we?”
“But…”
Since when did he concern himself with such matters?
“What about these documents?”
“Is paperwork more important than the safety of the Empire’s people?”
Count Alton couldn’t hide his bewilderment at Duke Escra’s unexpected behavior as he headed toward the door.
His lord, who had never postponed work a single time, was acting strangely—and Count Alton, releasing a short sigh, hurried after him.
* * *
“There are so many people!”
Dorman gasped in wonder upon entering the festival street, which was packed shoulder to shoulder with revelers.
“Flower seeds! Get your flower seeds!”
Throughout the street, vendors distributed flower seeds, and both those handing them out and those receiving them wore bright smiles.
‘It makes sense. The meaning behind this must be quite profound.’
For the first time, plants could finally grow in this land that had been locked in winter year-round.
For the citizens of the Gracia Empire who had never even dreamed of farming, the meaning of these small seeds was extraordinarily precious.
“Still, I never expected winter to end so easily.”
Dorman, who had received flower seeds along with everyone else, murmured to himself.
Though Camilla had given him a rough account of the situation, learning only a few truths, Aislah’s decision to end the winter seemed somewhat unexpected.
A grudge held for so long—could it really dissolve this easily? Even if it was all a misunderstanding, how could that be possible?
“She must have been exhausted.”
Watching Aislah depart for the Spirit Realm that day, Camilla found herself thinking just that. She looked utterly worn down.
“Hating someone for so long isn’t easy either.”
Especially for several centuries.
Perhaps she needed a reason—a catalyst to finally suppress this suffocating rage of hers.
[Thank you.]
Her parting words seemed less gratitude for revealing the truth and more appreciation for giving her a reason to stop her own actions.
“In any case, it ended well, so that’s—!”
Crack!
Camilla’s body went rigid mid-step. The earring hanging from her ear emitted an eerie sound.
It was the protective charm earring Arsian had given her.
Crack! Crack!
It wasn’t just the earring. The bracelet and anklet Arsian had placed on her also erupted with magical pulses.
“My lady!”
Sensing something amiss, the knights who had been standing at a distance rushed forward, shielding her and scanning their surroundings vigilantly.
‘Magic?’
The activation of the protective spell meant something had attacked her. And with considerable magical force!
“Let’s move to a safer location.”
Camilla, who had been momentarily stunned, quickly nodded at the knight’s words.
There were far too many people here. Fearing innocent bystanders might be caught in the crossfire because of her, she hastened her steps.
‘Who is it?’
Realizing the magic had held, no further attacks came.
This was clearly an assassination attempt aimed at her.
Camilla’s skin crawled. This was her first direct attempt on her life. The unreality of it mingled with creeping dread.
Whoosh! Clang!
“…!”
Daggers! Tiny daggers flew toward her only to be deflected by the knights’ blades, clattering to the ground.
“Ahhhhh!”
Hearing the screams of nearby civilians, Camilla quickened her pace even more.
Moments later, the knights entered an alley. With an unknown number of enemies and fewer allies, such narrow spaces offered tactical advantage.
‘It’s fine, it’s fine! Zeno is here.’
Looking at the two knights blocking her path, Camilla steadied her trembling nerves by watching Zeno carefully surveying their surroundings.
As long as he was present, she wouldn’t fall to the enemy so pathetically.
‘Damn it.’
I deeply regretted not having a weapon in my hands. I should have brought at least one of the arms Ludvil had so carefully prepared for me!
[Camilla!]
Whoosh!
Before Zeno’s cry had even finished, my body was yanked backward with tremendous force.
Thunk!
In that instant, daggers embedded themselves where I had been standing—the attack poured down from the buildings surrounding the alley.
“Wow, there are quite a lot of them.”
Dorman, who had seized my arm and pulled me close, gazed upward and murmured softly in amazement.
“Protect the lady!”
“Yes!”
Enemies revealed themselves at the alley’s entrance. Knight Henald stepped forward and commanded another knight to guard Camilla’s side.
‘There are far too many of them.’
Whether from the rooftops or pouring through the alley entrance, the number of enemies far exceeded what I had anticipated.
‘To die here, of all places! To die here!’
After all the desperate struggling I’ve done to survive until now! To perish in a place like this?
Shaking my head vigorously, I picked up one of the daggers embedded in the ground.
“Zeno, if things get urgent, come inside.”
[Understood.]
At my soft whisper, Zeno nodded emphatically. With at least this minimal safety measure in place, my nerves eased just slightly.
Footstep.
…Damn it! Eased, my foot! As the enemies drew closer, I found myself swallowing dryly again and again.
Scrape! Clatter—
That was when it happened. The approaching enemies froze. Five objects fell to the ground and rolled away with a rattling sound.
Thud!
“Leave one alive.”
“Yes, my lord.”
In that moment, a familiar voice reached my ears.
A blood-stained sword being casually wiped clean, and an indifferent gaze fixed upon me.
At Duke Escra’s arrival, I remained speechless for a long moment. But soon, a long breath escaped my lips.
I was alive.
The moment I saw him, relief flooded through me from the tips of my toes upward.
“Ugh!”
At a sound that suddenly rang out, I lifted my gaze to see enemies on the rooftops falling one by one.
Their bodies charred black as though struck by lightning itself, and I stared at them with my mouth agape.
Whoosh!
Turning my head toward the strange energy, I saw a faint magical circle spreading across the entire alley.
And standing at its center was none other than Count Alton.
‘He was a mage?’
Shocked by this revelation, I couldn’t hide my astonishment. I had only vaguely known that he was Duke Escra’s closest confidant.
Footstep.
As the enemies fell helplessly ensnared by Count Alton’s magic, Duke Escra strode toward her with deliberate steps.
‘…Are you angry?’
Reading the fury that flickered behind his seemingly impassive eyes, Camilla shrank back slightly. It seemed all too clear that she was the cause of this catastrophe.
She didn’t know who had orchestrated these attackers, but one thing was certain—she was the target.
Thud.
“Your Grace, what brings you here?”
Thud.
“I… I never intended to cause such a disturbance, I assure you.”
Thud.
“Honestly, I’m a victim in all this too.”
Whoosh.
Seeing Duke Escra’s hand drawing near, Camilla squeezed her eyes shut.

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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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