A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 121

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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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Is it just my imagination, or does the plate in front of the child look unusually orange? The stew-filled plate seems that way, and the salad appears to have an excessive amount of carrots?
Yet the child swallowed the food without complaint, gulping it down dutifully.
Lady Sebinne, watching from beside the child, wore a face full of contentment.
‘Is the child going to get indigestion from eating like that?’
Though it would be absurd for me, a guest, to say anything about it.
My attempt to resume eating halted abruptly. The ghost I’d seen before was still clinging to the child’s side.
[My dear, our poor baby….]
With eyes that looked ready to shed tears at any moment, the ghost gazed at the child, and I could be certain of one thing.
That she was the child’s mother.
‘Didn’t they say the child died right after being born?’
Count Alton’s casual remark came to mind. There was no particular illness—it was a difficult birth, and the bleeding wouldn’t stop, so she eventually passed away.
“Hmm.”
In that case, such tenderness was understandable.
Having never properly held the child before dying, it made sense that she remained bound to the child’s side, unable to depart.
‘Well, I don’t know.’
I understood, but I felt no particular sympathy. Such ghosts were hardly rare.
I turned my attention away from the child and focused on my meal.
* * *
「…What did you just say?」
“What? I said I was working.”
「No, no! Before that!」
“Before that?”
「You ate your meal… alone in the Study?」
“I have mountains of work to handle. I took care of it roughly there.”
This wasn’t something that happened just once or twice. I’d always done this when busy, so I couldn’t understand why he was suddenly so surprised.
「….」
“What?”
Count Alton, who had rushed home saying he had urgent matters to attend to, contacted me via communication.
We were discussing work when I mentioned I’d taken care of dinner in the Study, and suddenly he fell silent.
「Kaise, sir.」
“So what?”
Why was his voice suddenly so strained?
「This is hopeless.」
“Hopeless? What is?”
「Your relationship with Camilla is beyond repair!」
“What did I do? And I don’t particularly care if my relationship with that child improves. Things are fine as they are.”
「Just be quiet!」
This bastard? Did you just raise your voice?
「You made her eat alone on the very first day! In this unfamiliar place!」
“She wasn’t alone. Daive was there too.”
「@$%@…!」
Did you just curse?
「Why on earth would I bring him to that place, sir?」
“You said it would be awkward to leave him alone at the Imperial Palace.”
「Wrong, wrong, wrong!」
“You little brat…!”
Just because he’s not in front of you right now, you’re acting out?
「Go find him this instant, sir.」
“Go where?”
「Go find Camilla, sir!」
“And do what?”
A deep sigh echoed from within the communication orb.
「Have tea with her or take a walk.」
“Why would I do something like that?”
「Damn it, you infuriating man!」
“…What.”
「Ah, our Attendant dropped something. My apologies.」
“That doesn’t sound right.”
「In any case, go find her right now, sir.」
“I’m busy.”
「Duke Escra!」
“End the call.”
「Kai-」
Duke Escra tossed the communication orb aside onto the table.
Clicking his tongue repeatedly, he picked up the documents he needed to process once more.
I have mountains of work to do—what tea? Where would I even find the time for such a thing?
* * *
“….”
“….”
Camilla regarded the man seated before her with a look of utter bewilderment.
Duke Escra had suddenly appeared moments ago, insisting they have tea together, and now he sat in silence.
The problem was that he hadn’t spoken a single word since then.
‘What on earth did he come here for?’
She’d thought perhaps he had something to say, but since arriving, he’d simply been gulping down cup after cup of tea.
“Would you like another cup?”
“Yes.”
He’s actually going to drink more? That’s already his fourth cup.
*pour*
Camilla poured tea into his cup with her own hands, shaking her head slightly.
“I shouldn’t have listened to that man.”
“Pardon?”
That man?
He exhaled a short breath and regarded me with a steady gaze.
“Is anything uncomfortable?”
“Not particularly.”
I hadn’t even been here a full day yet. What could possibly be uncomfortable? Though honestly, this entire situation felt rather awkward.
That exchange marked the beginning of a heavy silence. His teacup continued to empty with each sip, and soon it was drained once more.
“Shall I pour you another?”
“…That’s enough.”
Right, you’re human too—five cups would be pushing it.
“Is the child’s name Daive?”
Just as he was about to clamp his mouth shut again, Camilla tilted her head lightly and broached the subject herself.
“How old is he?”
“Hmm… Ten years old, I believe.”
What was that? Why did his answer come a beat too late?
‘Surely not…’
Was he just now calculating his child’s age? No, that couldn’t be it.
“And your eldest son’s age?”
“…Twenty-five?”
Why was that phrased as a question? Why the uncertainty?
This man had no interest in his children whatsoever. I could understand my own indifference, but shouldn’t he at least know the age of his own son he lives with off the top of his head?
“Where is your eldest son at the moment?”
“Jainer.”
…Jainer?
“It’s Jainer, not ‘my eldest son.'”
He frowned slightly, as if displeased with the formal address.
“I haven’t seen him around, though.”
He wasn’t at meals, and it was clear he wasn’t home.
“He’s dealing with remnants.”
“Ah.”
Camilla understood immediately. The civil war had ended, but the First Prince’s forces still lingered in various places. He was likely finishing up that cleanup.
“The second transaction list will be ready soon.”
“Understood.”
Duke Escra rose from his seat with those words. He regarded me briefly with an unreadable expression before leaving the room without another word.
Camilla watched him until he disappeared entirely, and as the door closed, she tilted her head in bewilderment.
What was he really doing here?
* * *
“It’s completely spring now.”
It was well past midnight. But had my constitution—the kind that could sleep anywhere with just a place to rest my head—somehow changed?
Even lying in bed, my eyes grew only more alert, so I eventually ventured outside. Perhaps a walk would help me sleep better when I returned.
Yet stepping outside at night, I could feel it anew—the weather in the Gracia Empire had grown remarkably warm.
Even with only a thin cardigan draped over my shoulders, I didn’t feel particularly cold.
“Still, wear one more layer.”
Dorman, who had insisted on following me out, draped another outer garment across my shoulders.
“You’ll catch a cold. You’re quite susceptible to the cold, after all.”
“I’m not as cold when I’m with you.”
“Really? To think you rely on me so—”
“It’s annoying.”
….
Watching him pout with only his lips moving, I let out a soft laugh and resumed my leisurely walk.
The Garden wasn’t particularly impressive, but it was pleasant enough for a stroll. The night air I breathed in while walking between the trees felt especially refreshing.
“Wait here for a moment, Miss. I’ll warm some milk for you.”
“Milk?”
“A warm cup should help you sleep better.”
Do I look like a child? And I don’t even particularly like milk.
Still, I didn’t refuse. There was something rather pleasant about him continuing to look after me like this.
Watching Dorman hurry away, I settled onto a nearby bench.
“Sigh.”
I drew the night air deep into my lungs. Then, glancing up absently at the sky, my gaze became fixed.
I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the magnificent expanse of stars scattered across the night sky.
“Beautiful.”
[It is, isn’t it?]
…!
But someone answered my murmur.
[I loved watching the stars here when I was alive too.]
It was the ghost I’d seen in the Dining Hall. A woman who appeared to be the Duke’s wife was now sitting beside me—though I couldn’t say when she’d arrived.
Like me, she gazed blankly at the night sky, speaking in a stream of consciousness.
[The stars are beautiful even after death, you know.]
….
[Oh! A shooting star! I must make a wish, a wish!]
She seemed unaware that I could actually hear her. Her words tumbled out without order, and she didn’t even glance in my direction.
[The weather suddenly improved—perhaps that’s why the stars are so much clearer.]
Should I move to another spot?
“Miss!”
Just then, Dorman approached with quick steps. Our eyes met, and his pace quickened further, worried the warm milk would cool.
“Drink it while it’s warm.”
Along with the milk, a large cookie was arranged on the plate. Thick chocolate chips were studded throughout, making it look quite appetizing.
“I thought it would pair well with the milk.”
I gave a light nod and picked up the cup of milk. Its warmth transferred directly through my fingertips.
[The cookie… it looks delicious.]
Camilla was about to take a sip of milk when she nearly spit it out.
The ghost who had been sitting beside her just moments ago was now pressing her face right up against the plate of cookies, blinking her eyes expectantly.
The way she gazed at those cookies was so utterly pitiful… yes, truly pitiful. It was enough to make me hesitate to reach for them myself.
“What’s the matter?”
When I sat motionless without eating anything, Dorman looked at me with confusion.
Eventually, Camilla set down her milk glass and picked up a cookie, extending it forward.
“Please, have one.”
[…?]
The Female Ghost’s eyes widened slightly as she lifted her head to follow the cookie.
“Go ahead and eat the cookie.”
[…! Kyaaaaa!]
A tremendous shriek erupted from her mouth the moment our eyes met.
[Kyah! Kyaaaaa!]
This reaction was rather unexpected.
Watching her curl up as small as possible while screaming, I found myself at a loss for words.
Wasn’t that supposed to be the reaction humans showed when they saw a ghost? Why was she the one more startled?
‘And something else…’
My conviction that she was the Duchess wavered slightly.
The way she squeaked like a teenage girl seemed rather far removed from the dignity one would expect of a noblewoman—especially one of considerable power and status.
As Camilla waited for her to calm down, I picked up my milk glass again.
[….]
At this, the Female Ghost carefully straightened from her crouched position and looked at me.
[C-can you see me?]
“If you don’t want the cookie….”
[I want it!]

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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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