A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 127

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

“When Kaise regained his memories, he was immediately faced with heartbreaking news. A subordinate he held dear had lost his life.”
“A subordinate he held dear?”
“Yes, while searching for the missing Kaise, he was ambushed and died. That subordinate had a son he was raising alone.”
“Could that child be…?”
“Yes, that is Jainer. Kaise took him in as an adopted son.”
I regarded Sharua with newfound understanding.
As for Kaise, it made perfect sense that he would accept the orphaned child as his own—after all, his beloved subordinate had died because of him. His conscience demanded it.
‘But Sharua’s position was somewhat different, wasn’t it?’
Wouldn’t it have been difficult for her to accept a child with no blood relation as her own?
[I supported it too.]
Sharua smiled warmly, having read my expression.
[I had been without a child for so long. Jainer filled that void, and I grew to love him dearly.]
Well, if that’s what she felt, then so be it.
[Jainer was such a good child from the start. He followed me like I was his real mother, and he never caused a moment of trouble.]
“Initially, the family opposed it strongly, but now everyone acknowledges Jainer’s abilities.”
As I listened to their praise, I recalled the Jainer I had met. Their words were true—his first impression was certainly not unfavorable.
He seemed attentive to the child, and when he approached me first with courtesy and a greeting, there was nothing objectionable about him.
‘Yet something about him rubbed me the wrong way.’
The light in his eyes as he smiled at me felt strangely unsettling.
I was even more frustrated because I couldn’t pinpoint exactly why I felt this way.
“He is such a thoughtful person that I’m confident he will get along well with you, Miss Camilla.”
“That would be fortunate.”
“Kaise has been calling for you—shall we go together?”
He seemed intent on formally introducing Jainer to me.
I nodded obediently and made my way with Count Alton to Duke Escra’s Office.
Knock, knock.
“Come in.”
Upon entering Duke Escra’s Office, I could see Jainer already seated.
“Welcome, sister.”
He waved lightly toward me with a smile.
Regardless, how could this man say “sister” so easily? Didn’t it feel awkward to him?
“You knew?”
“About the new family member?”
At Duke Escra’s question, Jainer nodded immediately.
“Everyone already knows, don’t they? I heard something happened while I was away.”
“Something?”
“Lady Sebinne.”
“Ah.”
True enough, there were quite a few ears listening back then. I was so infuriated by Lady Sebinne’s abuse of the child that I hadn’t thought to mind the gazes of those around me.
Though I hadn’t explicitly stated that she was blood-related to this household, everyone had pieced it together like Daive had.
“I heard he was beaten to a pulp.”
He chuckled softly. Camilla picked up the teacup the Maidservant had set down and took a sip without comment.
“So you’ll keep living here with us from now on?”
“No.”
Camilla shook her head without hesitation. There was no reason to continue imposing on others when I had my own home.
[You’re leaving?]
But it seemed the others had different thoughts.
[Why? Please stay here with us!]
Sharua was the first to react.
Why has she been following me around since earlier anyway? Shouldn’t she be with Daive?
“Miss Camilla….”
Count Alton also wore an expression of disappointment, his eyes glistening as if he might cry.
Camilla regarded him with a bewildered gaze before quickly looking away. When a good person makes that expression, my resolve weakens.
“…?”
Then, as my eyes met Duke Escra’s, I had to tilt my head in confusion for a moment.
Why does that man have such deep furrows in his brow?
“You’re going to the place where the one who sent the assassin is?”
“But you said the mastermind was already caught?”
You’re the one who said Marquis Gabriel was the mastermind. You said he was already captured and dead?
“There could be another enemy.”
“Are you hoping there is?”
Duke Escra didn’t answer, his displeased expression remaining unchanged.
Meanwhile, watching their exchange, Jainer burst into laughter as if thoroughly amused.
“At least you’re not leaving right away, though?”
“I plan to review the third order form before I go.”
“That’s a relief. I would have been quite disappointed if my newly found sister left so soon.”
So he really does have excellent social skills. He genuinely seemed delighted at the prospect of my staying here for a while.
‘But why do I feel so strange?’
His eyes, as he looked at me, were still brimming with amusement.
Something felt off.
* * *
“Dorman.”
“Yes, Miss?”
“You’re hiding something else from me, aren’t you?”
“No, Miss.”
“Are you sure?”
He shook his head vigorously in denial.
Despite Dorman’s vigorous head-shaking, which conveyed his grievance, Camilla didn’t soften her piercing gaze one bit.
“If you confess now, I’ll let it slide.”
“Really?”
“Look at this, look at this!”
“No! There really isn’t!”
“Are you sure there isn’t?”
“Yes!”
“Then what are all those?”
I pointed toward my wardrobe.
“Where did all my shoes go?”
I’d noticed unfamiliar shoes appearing one by one, and before I knew it, all my original shoes had vanished without a trace.
The peculiar thing was that all the new shoes had low heels and blunt toes.
Seeing my pointed shoes disappear, I had no choice but to suspect Dorman.
“Did you get rid of all my shoes because you’re guilty of something? To avoid getting beaten with them?”
That’s what it seemed like!
“No, miss! I simply prepared lower heels because the excessively high shoes seemed like they would strain your feet.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
That doesn’t seem right. There’s definitely something going on here.
I pretended not to notice while giving Dorman a sharp look as he avoided meeting my eyes properly.
Knock, knock.
At that moment, a knock sounded, and Dorman quickly opened the door without even checking who it was.
“May I come in?”
“Please do.”
It was Jainer.
“This is a gift.”
He held a bouquet in his hand. But these weren’t ordinary flowers. It was a small bouquet composed of wildflowers whose names I didn’t even know.
“Interesting, right? When I looked carefully, I found these flowers blooming all over the Garden.”
“They smell wonderful.”
It wasn’t a lie. Though their appearance was unremarkable, the distinctive fragrance of wildflowers was better than I’d expected, and I was pleasantly surprised.
“Could you make me a cup of tea?”
“Please, have a seat here.”
I offered Jainer a seat and brewed the tea myself. I was confident in my tea-making skills, having learned from the butler ghost Derin.
“The tea tastes excellent.”
After taking a sip, Jainer immediately offered his approval. But after that, he remained silent throughout the rest of his tea.
“Mana stones and diamond mines too.”
After a moment, the words that came from his lips were an unexpected topic.
Setting down his teacup, Jainer looked at me with a slight smile.
“Your luck is truly remarkable.”
“I suppose I do have good fortune.”
“Especially the Areaas Mine you purchased recently.”
“….”
“The difference from the amount Duke Jebillen offered was truly marginal.”
I set down the teacup I’d been holding. I couldn’t fathom why he was bringing up such a topic.
“You’ve done quite a bit of investigating, haven’t you?”
“Ah, I’m sorry. If I’ve offended you, I apologize. I’m just so curious about my newly discovered sibling.”
But his words didn’t end there.
“I hear you’ve also secured a rather substantial deal with our Empire?”
“I’m told I was simply fortunate.”
“Fortunate, you say….”
He chuckled again.
“I heard you possess foresight abilities. Did that help?”
“Well, it’s possible.”
I gave a vague nod and lifted the teacup again.
This man was truly unsettling.
Those eyes, that expression—I couldn’t read what he was thinking. From experience, entanglement with such a person never boded well.
“I was wondering….”
He paused briefly, his gaze fixed upon me.
“Whether you might be repeating the same life over and over.”
What?
‘What did he just say….’
I failed to compose my expression—uncharacteristic of me. In truth, I deserved praise merely for not dropping the teacup.
“I was joking.”
Jainer, clearly savoring my reaction, smiled faintly as if it meant nothing.
“The tea was excellent.”
With that, he rose from his seat.
I couldn’t speak until his figure had completely vanished from sight.
“…What was that bastard on about?”
Only after a long moment did I finally manage to open my mouth. Yet even afterward, I couldn’t shake the tension from my expression.
* * *
“The ice walls of the Scholtz Mountain Range have finally melted entirely.”
“Hmm.”
“With our current forces alone, defense will be difficult.”
“That’s precisely why His Majesty is seeking assistance from Kaise.”
Though it was breakfast time, Duke Escra, Count Alton, and Jainer barely ate while discussing matters of state.
“Shinsu! Would you like some strawberries?”
[Chirp!]
Meanwhile, Daive, Shinsu, and I were eating earnestly. I, in particular, was experiencing quite a shock.
‘Shinsu, you can eat food too?’
I had always regarded Shinsu as a being scarcely different from a ghost, so I’d never expected it to consume food.
I’d never offered it any, and besides, Shinsu had never made a gesture requesting food.
Yet now, watching Shinsu happily accept fruit from Daive’s hand, I felt utterly bewildered.
Was this a growth phase?
Wait, that doesn’t make sense.
I’d heard that Shinsu grows by absorbing the aura of the one who chooses it, so does eating also help with its growth?
“This time, an apple.”
[Chirp!]
Well, it’s nice to see him eating so well.
Watching King eagerly devour the precious fruits and vegetables grown in the Greenhouse, I briefly considered whether I should prepare separate snacks for the creature going forward.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————