A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 137

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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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“Welcome.”
As I approached the counter, the man seated there rose and bowed respectfully.
Though he recognized Duke Escra and Count Alton, a flicker of tension crossed his face before he quickly composed himself with a smile.
“How may I assist you?”
“I’d like to open a vault and change the ownership.”
“May I see your vault key?”
I handed him the golden key I’d brought with me.
This key was the first step in accessing a private vault. Duke Escra had kept it safe all this time.
“I see you have companions. Will they be accompanying you?”
In that instant, the energy of the staff members standing nearby intensified in unison.
Despite knowing their counterparts were Duke Escra, a Master, and Count Alton, a high-ranking mage, they made no effort to conceal their vigilance.
“Yes.”
But my brief response caused that tension to evaporate instantly.
Duke Escra and Count Alton showed no particular reaction, as if this were routine for them.
“Then please stand on that magic circle. All three of you will be transported.”
As I and the other two took our positions in the designated space, the employee inserted the key into a hole in the wall.
Whoooosh!
The magic circle activated. We were instantly engulfed in light and transported somewhere.
I closed my eyes briefly against the brilliant glow, but soon realized the air around me had changed.
“This place…”
When I opened my eyes, an unfamiliar space stretched before me. It was a small chamber, barely more than fifty square feet, with no visible doors.
There was only one thing to see: a pure white panel affixed to one wall.
What was remarkable was that within the panel, gentle ripples undulated like those on a Lake.
“What is this…”
“Yes, you simply write the number there.”
At Count Alton’s words, I moved closer to the wall.
“If an alarm sounds, you’ll be arrested immediately. Are you truly planning to just watch? Do you intend to handle matters after Camilla is taken away?”
“No. I cannot bear to see that girl dragged away.”
“Then we’ll need to subdue the staff first and handle this ourselves.”
“I’ll obtain His Majesty’s permission.”
These men.
At their absurd conversation, I turned back and glared at them, whereupon Count Alton broke into a bright smile and struck a fighting pose.
I exhaled a short sigh and turned my attention back to the wall.
Hummmmm—
As I reached toward the rippling white panel, light gathered and a pristine white feather pen materialized.
“Simply write with that pen.”
I gazed at the pen floating in midair for a moment, fascinated, then slowly grasped it.
Then I began writing numbers on the white panel.
325 12 04 19 50
This was the vault’s password—the one Sharua had given me.
[The day I first saw him.]
The day I first laid eyes on Duke Escra.
We didn’t even have a conversation, nor did we exchange so much as a glance. It was truly, literally, the day Sharua first saw him.
Imperial Calendar Year 325, December 4th, 7:50 PM.
[Oh my! I fell head over heels at first sight!]
[…Ah, yes.]
Whoosh!
The moment I carved in the final number, the ripples undulating across the pristine surface grew fiercer. Then, in an instant, a brilliant light poured forth from within.
I reflexively closed my eyes, and when I opened them again, the wall before me had vanished.
In its place, a magic circle materialized on the floor, emanating a faint glow.
I gazed at the magic circle, filled with incomprehensible geometric patterns, for a moment in a daze. The light flowing from it was truly wondrous and beautiful.
“Wow… you’ve truly opened Sharua’s vault.”
At Count Alton’s exclamation, I finally snapped back to attention and turned around.
“Only those who have proven their worthiness may stand upon that magic circle.”
I nodded at Duke Escra’s words and slowly stepped onto the magic circle.
The moment I fully stood upon it, the faint light rapidly brightened and instantly engulfed me.
A moment later, another space unfolded before my eyes.
“Huh….”
My jaw dropped involuntarily. Could all of that really be money?
Across all times, places, and dimensions, there exists a profession many aspire to.
That is… being a wealthy idler.
“Am I really becoming a wealthy idler now?”
Within a space spanning well over a hundred square meters, countless mountains had been formed.
Mountains composed of gold and jewels.
I never imagined there would be this much.
Still, as the daughter of a noble house, I’d expected some considerable wealth to be accumulated, but just how much was all of this?
I gazed upon the golden mountains with enchanted eyes for a long while.
* * *
“What is this, sister?”
“The vault key.”
“A vault?”
I placed the golden key into Daive’s hands as his eyes widened in surprise.
[So she was a woman of wealth rivaling House Escra itself.]
After confirming the vault Sharua had left behind, I finally learned one crucial fact through Count Alton.
That Sharua and her family possessed immense wealth.
[But why did he just let me open the vault like that?]
[What if he hadn’t?]
[He could have demanded just the password… no, that’s not it—how could he so easily give up such an enormous fortune!]
[…You sometimes make our family seem terribly poor. We’ve lived well enough without that money.]
[But still….]
‘I had no interest in that vault to begin with. I’d completely forgotten about it until you brought it up. If you’re the one who figured out how to open it, why would I stop you from becoming its owner?’
Am I the only one being materialistic? Am I the only one who cares about money?
Duke Escra and Count Alton both showed no sign of regret or reluctance about opening the vault themselves.
‘…I didn’t particularly plan to keep anything either.’
I was momentarily tempted by the larger-than-expected sum, but I’d opened it with the intention of giving it to Daive from the start.
“Your mother left this for you.”
“My mother?”
Camilla gently stroked the head of the child whose eyes had grown even wider.
“I’ll tell you the password now, so you can go back later and reset it yourself.”
Daive blinked repeatedly, seemingly unable to comprehend the situation at all.
[Camilla….]
Meanwhile, Sharua, who had been watching the entire scene unfold, gazed at Camilla with eyes that mingled admiration and wistfulness.
[That was supposed to be my gift to Camilla.]
At her words, Camilla shook her head lightly. No matter how she thought about it, that wasn’t something she should keep.
[Thank you. Really….]
Watching Sharua smile brightly, Camilla offered a faint smile in return.
“This is truly remarkable. I never expected you would actually open the vault.”
Count Alton marveled repeatedly.
Though he’d maintained a composed demeanor in front of Camilla, in truth he’d barely managed to suppress an exclamation of astonishment when he witnessed her actually opening Sharua’s vault.
“Could it have been something you saw in a dream?”
“That’s what I’m saying.”
“Is that what they call a premonition dream? Or perhaps divine revelation?”
“Divine revelation, my foot.”
“Why not? I heard the Temple over there is desperate to take Camilla away.”
“I’ve never liked anything to do with the Temple since the old days.”
“I doubt they’re particularly fond of you either, Duke.”
“Quiet.”
Count Alton let out a small laugh and continued speaking.
“From the moment you divined Ersha’s embezzlement, I knew… but our young lady is truly remarkable.”
“She certainly is.”
Watching Duke Escra’s lips curl upward slightly, a smile bloomed across Count Alton’s face as well.
A man who showed no reaction whatsoever to praise directed at himself seemed quite pleased by even the smallest compliment about his daughter.
“By the way, the third set of documents has been completed.”
“…Already?”
“Already? It actually took longer than expected because you kept emphasizing that I write it meticulously.”
“Write it again.”
“Pardon?”
“Check every single character carefully. Take as much time as you need—write it even more thoroughly.”
“I’ve already checked it dozens of times.”
“Merely dozens? Review it further.”
“Why not?”
What kind of new harassment is this?
Count Alton’s expression stiffened, but Duke Escra showed no sign of backing down.
“…You said you were leaving.”
“What… Oh!”
Count Alton finally understood what he meant.
‘It’s not like I’m leaving right away, though?’
‘I was planning to check the Third Manuscript before heading back.’
‘Thank goodness. If my newly found sibling was leaving so soon, I would have been terribly disappointed.’
A conversation between Camilla and Jainer from before came to mind.
Her words about leaving once the Third Manuscript was completed.
‘Could that be it?’
Count Alton stared at Duke Escra for a moment, his eyes betraying bewilderment.
“Take as long as possible… No, be thorough about it.”
“Understood.”
But then Count Alton himself clenched his fist and tore the Third Manuscript to shreds.
“Trust me.”
* * *
Tap, tap.
“Hmm.”
Tap, tap, tap.
“Mmm.”
Tap, tap, tap, tap.
“Mmm… Hmm….”
“Why don’t you just contact them first?”
“Contact who?”
“I’m saying you should reach out first instead of just staring at the communication crystal like that.”
Dorman, unable to bear watching Camilla tap her finger on the table where the communication crystal lay, finally spoke up.
“I don’t want to bother them unnecessarily.”
Only then did Camilla look away from the communication crystal.
The fact that there had been no word from home was making her unconsciously stare at the crystal intently.
[You know, sometimes you get timid about the most pointless things.]
Zeno, standing beside her, added his own comment.
This one, who moved without hesitation in everything and resolved matters swiftly, occasionally faltered in the most unexpected ways.
“What do you mean? I simply don’t want to be a burden to others.”
[….]
Are family not family?
Zeno shook his head lightly. Did she truly not realize how strictly she applied that word “burden” specifically to family?
Fundamentally, she rarely asked others for help, but with family, she was even more reluctant to do so.
Or rather, she seemed unable to.

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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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