A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 119

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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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“You’re saying you have absolutely no memories from that period? Even now?”
“That’s correct. Please, I beg you not to misunderstand. He didn’t deliberately avoid searching for them.”
Count Alton understood precisely why Camilla had been so furious when she learned the truth before, and he emphasized this point.
“He didn’t know either. He was unaware that he had left behind a child of his own…. I assure you, this is the absolute truth without a shred of deception.”
Camilla fell silent for a moment, organizing her thoughts, then confirmed one fact once more.
“So it was only one year?”
“Yes, he disappeared for approximately one year and then returned.”
In other words, it wasn’t Ravi. Since there was a five-year age difference between Ravi and herself, he couldn’t possibly be Duke Escra’s child.
‘Mother’s life has been quite something.’
Now that I thought about it, her life seemed no less turbulent than my own.
Three marriages could happen to anyone, but none of those marriages had been particularly long, had they?
Even with Duke Sorpel, whom she’d been relatively happy with, she hadn’t lived even a full year before death claimed her.
“I understand your heart is deeply troubled by these sudden revelations. However, I do hope you might find it in yourself to understand Duke Escra’s circumstances as well.”
As Camilla exhaled a long sigh, her mind churning with conflicting emotions, Count Alton, mistaking her distress for a reaction to his words, gently tried to console her.
“Which is why I mentioned this before.”
Then, observing her complexion carefully, he continued with measured words.
“What would you think of relocating your residence to House Escra…?”
Was that why? Why they suddenly ordered me to pack my things at the Imperial Palace?
“So you already knew all the facts back then, Count.”
That I am Duke Escra’s daughter.
“Miss Camilla….”
At the sight of Count Alton calling her name with such earnest concern, a long sigh escaped from Camilla’s lips.
* * *
─ “Why not!”
─ “Must I repeat myself? All travel permits have been suspended.”
─ “That’s exactly why!”
Crash!
─ “I’ve gone out of my way to come find you like this and ask for a favor—just use that trivial influence of yours, please!”
─ “I just told you I can’t use that trivial influence.”
─ “Then why!”
─ “The Sorpel Family is already preparing to bring that child here. This isn’t something we should interfere with. What right do you have to go there when you’re not even family?”
The loud voices emanating from within the Study made those standing outside shift nervously on their feet.
Baol, the butler who had served these two for many years, also gazed at the door with eyes full of concern.
‘It had been quiet for a while….’
The loud voices had resumed filling the house ever since learning that the young lady of the Sorpel Family had nearly met with disaster in the Gracia Empire.
Arsian was insisting on leaving alone for the Gracia Empire to meet Camilla, but Duke Sefra refused to permit it.
Due to this incident, all travel permit issuances had been suspended, and permits were now only being issued temporarily through the Imperial Court.
In other words, those without connections to the Imperial Court could not cross into the Gracia Empire at all.
─ “So you’re just telling me to wait like this?”
─ “Then what exactly can you do right now?”
─ “Damn it!”
Crash!
At the sound of another loud commotion, everyone outside held their breath. Could this actually escalate into a serious fight?
Pitter-patter—!
“Hm?”
Then came the sound of small, hurried footsteps.
Butler Baol’s gaze shifted backward, and an unconscious faint smile played at his lips.
“Huh? What are you all doing here?”
It was Rio. The child, seeing the group gathered at the Study entrance, tilted his head in confusion.
His innocent expression was so endearing that everyone forgot the current situation entirely, their faces breaking into warm smiles.
At first, I had worried whether the child could truly hold his own in this place, between those two stern men.
But what happened instead? The entire atmosphere of the household transformed after the child arrived.
The power of a small life was far more formidable than I’d ever imagined.
Bright laughter and the soft patter of small feet.
Everyone found themselves smiling at the sight of him.
“But a moment ago, here with your brother—”
─ “Lend me a hand!”
Rio’s eyes widened slightly.
“Grandfather.”
Then he gently tugged at the butler’s trouser leg and asked carefully.
“Are you and brother fighting?”
Discomfort flickered across everyone’s faces. It was awkward to explain truthfully, yet lying to the child pricked their consciences.
At that moment, Butler Baol met the child’s gaze.
“It appears the two gentlemen’s opinions simply differ for the moment.”
“But that’s not good… if you fight, the teacher will scold you…”
Watching the child’s worried expression at the thought of the two being scolded by their teacher, a smile bloomed once more at the butler’s lips.
“Ah! Young Master Rio—!”
But the next instant, the child pushed open the door and dashed into the Study before anyone could stop him.
Click!
“….”
“….”
At Rio’s entrance, both Duke Sefra and Arsian fell silent simultaneously. Their gazes fixed on the child stepping inside.
After studying the two of them briefly, the child approached Duke Sefra directly.
“Sir.”
Rio grabbed the hand of the seated Duke Sefra, pulling him to stand up.
Though uncertain of the child’s intention, Duke Sefra complied without resistance.
“Here.”
Rio led Duke Sefra to stand opposite Arsian, then raised the hand he was holding with all his strength.
“Hand on shoulder.”
“…What?”
“Big brother, put both hands on my shoulders.”
“…You want me to?”
“Yes!”
Duke Sefra hesitated for a moment at the child’s instruction to place both hands on Arsian’s shoulders, but ultimately complied with the boy’s request.
“….”
A faint sigh escaped Duke Sefra’s lips, which had been expressionless. The moment he placed his hands on Arsian’s shoulders, something felt peculiar.
Was this the first time? Had he ever touched this child’s body for a reason other than drawing out the power of darkness?
Arsian seemed to feel the same awkwardness, his face contorting slightly.
But that expression didn’t last long either.
“Big brother too!”
The child holding Arsian’s hand gave him the same instruction.
“…Me as well?”
“Yes!”
Arsian stared at the child in disbelief, but ultimately sighed at the boy’s sparkling eyes.
What on earth was he trying to do?
“Now, say it.”
The child clapped his hands together upon seeing the two men grasping each other’s shoulders.
“I was wrong. Let’s not fight anymore.”
“….”
“….”
The two men, who had just learned a four-year-old’s method of reconciliation, found themselves unable to speak for a while. They remained frozen in that awkward posture, still grasping each other’s shoulders.
Perhaps this was how the Orphanage made children reconcile when they quarreled….
“We weren’t fighting.”
“That’s right!”
The two men quickly withdrew their hands from each other’s shoulders simultaneously and spoke up.
“We simply had a difference of opinion.”
So please, don’t make us do something this embarrassing ever again!
“Um… yes.”
The child had already lost interest and showed no further questions.
He simply remembered his original purpose for coming here, sat down immediately, and placed a stack of something on the table. They were papers dyed in beautiful colors.
“What are you doing?”
Arsian was the first to show interest in the child’s actions.
“Making wish flowers.”
“Wish flowers?”
“Yes!”
“What are those?”
“Sister Juri said that if you make lots of flowers like this and stick them on the window of your sleeping room, your wishes come true.”
“Wishes… granted by paper flowers?”
“Yes!”
“….”
I was flustered, but I couldn’t bring myself to say something like, “If wishes came true this easily, there wouldn’t be a single wish in the world that couldn’t be granted!” The child’s eyes were far too sincere.
“The more flowers you make, the better your wish comes true!”
“What wish are you going to make?”
“For Sister to come back safely.”
“…Sister?”
“Yes! I’m going to wish for her to come back soon.”
The child then began cutting paper with meticulous care. The expression on his face was so reverent that I couldn’t say anything more.
But Rio soon looked up again and thrust the paper toward the two of us.
“Let’s make them together. The more we make, the better!”
Arsian exhaled a short sigh internally. This wasn’t the time for him to be making things like this.
“Brother? Don’t you know how to cut flowers?”
“That’s not it…”
“Should I teach you?”
“…I don’t really want to.”
The child stared intently at Arsian, who shook his head and leaned back.
“Brother.”
“What?”
“Don’t you want Sister to come back safely?”
“…What?”
“You don’t want her to.”
“That’s not—”
“I want Sister to come back soon, so that’s why I’m making flowers…”
“….”
‘Why is it so quiet?’
Even after Rio had gone inside, the butler Baol, who had been pacing outside the study, felt puzzled by the unusually silent atmosphere within.
‘I can barely hear any voices. What’s happened?’
Eventually, he carefully opened the door to peek inside.
“…!”
His eyes widened slightly. He could immediately understand why the study was so quiet.
The unexpected scene left him momentarily speechless.
Three people were gathered around a table, earnestly making something.
Duke Sefra was selecting the colors of paper, while Rio and Arsian were cutting that paper with great diligence.
“Do you really think this red goes with that black? What kind of flower looks like that?”
“Abandon your preconceptions. For someone who uses magic, you certainly think in a rigid box.”
“Why are we even talking about magic here…!”
“I’m sorry. Let’s not fight again, okay?”
“….”
“….”
At the child’s single remark, both of them fell silent.
It remained the same after that.
“Your scissors work is atrocious. There’s not a single proper cut here.”
“What’s wrong with it! If you dislike it so much, why don’t you cut it yourself! You can’t even choose colors properly…!”
“I was wrong. I’m sorry.”
“….”
“….”
A faint smile flickered across the butler’s lips before vanishing.
He carefully closed the door, hoping that peaceful days like today would continue indefinitely.

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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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