A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 141

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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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“I myself was unaware until Lord Alberto informed me. That the aura of the sacred relic was concealed beneath the mana of countless mages… who could have imagined such a thing?”
Archmage Amiald was as troublesome a figure as Mars, who had wielded the Guardian Sword and caused such upheaval.
He had systematically destroyed the sacred relics that were the source of the Cult’s power, and whatever he could not destroy with his own abilities, he sealed away by any means necessary.
This sacred relic they had found was one of those sealed away back then—a treasure so precious it could be called the very root of all sacred relics.
To recover it was nothing short of divine fortune.
“In the end, we had to bow to Lord Alberto’s insight, but his cunning is truly exceptional.”
At the mockery directed toward Amiald, he responded with silence, a tacit agreement.
Lania’s infiltration into the Sorpel Estate had ended so anticlimactically that they had redirected all their personnel toward finding the sacred relic, and this excellent result was the fruit of that effort.
“Now we need not fret about running out of time. The faithful will be overjoyed.”
“Indeed.”
The crimson stone shattered into several fragments in an instant.
“Take it.”
Daniel darted forward with lightning speed, caught one of the fragments, and returned to his place. His expression was one of profound emotion.
“You understand what must be done.”
“Have no concerns.”
The source of the Cult’s power was immortality. Yet without the sacred relics, their strength was but half of what it should be.
Even with a fresh body granted new life, after a certain period had elapsed, the flesh would visibly age and become unusable.
A rapid fracture would occur in the union of body and soul.
But by borrowing the power of the sacred relic, the rate of aging could be slowed, and this problem was as good as solved.
“Surely the Goddess Eva is protecting Lord Alberto. And is not that time drawing near?”
At Daniel’s words, a faint laugh echoed from the darkness.
“I have been granted a little more time to choose.”
“It seems you have not yet decided which one, then.”
“The second child’s influence would certainly be more convenient to exploit.”
“Indeed. They already have points of contact with the Cult, do they not?”
“But the power possessed by the first child… hmm…”
“I humbly beseech you to decide with great care. Lord Alberto’s choice shall determine the future of the Cult.”
In agreement with those words, the hand holding the crimson stone tensed involuntarily.
“Yes, I must decide soon.”
His laughter deepened. After Daniel offered a few more pleasing remarks, he shifted the conversation elsewhere.
“However, in tidying up the Tower of Guardians, we have fallen somewhat behind on other matters.”
“You mean the Guardian Sword.”
“Yes, that too must be expedited.”
“Above all, it is an eyesore.”
“Quite so.”
Each time he flicked his hand, the crimson stone crumbled into smaller pieces and scattered to the floor. Daniel’s eyes gleamed with avarice as he watched.
“The abilities from before have vanished, it is said, but one can never be too careful.”
“I shall handle it with utmost haste.”
At Daniel’s words, a satisfied laugh echoed faintly from the darkness once more.
“What has become of the dark mages in the Turu Region?”
“I do want to join The Cult, but….”
“But?”
Daniel, gauging the mood carefully, continued his response with caution.
“A problem has arisen.”
“A problem?”
“The Sefra Family is tracking them.”
“Have we been discovered?”
The other’s voice turned cold instantly.
Daniel wiped the cold sweat trickling down his hands and assumed the most respectful posture he could manage.
“Recently, many have died by their hands, and it seems the matter has reached Duke Sefra’s ears. What should we do?”
“The Sefra Ducal Family.”
“If they were to share our cause, they could prove quite useful, but….”
“Hmm.”
After a moment of deliberation, a decision finally came from him.
“Dispose of them.”
“Sir?”
“There’s no need to create unnecessary friction with a ducal family at such a critical time.”
“Understood.”
* * *
“Welcome.”
As I stepped into the Dining Hall, Duke Sorpel greeted me warmly first.
Seeing his light smile, I returned it with one of my own.
Ludvil also nodded silently as our eyes met.
‘Still radiant as ever.’
Perhaps it was the sharper jawline? Father’s beauty had been elevated to another level.
Come to think of it, everyone seemed to have lost some weight. Had they all been dieting together?
“You came, crybaby.”
That voice at that moment!
I turned my head with a creak, and there was Ravi with a deep smile playing at his lips.
Yes, a deep smile.
“….”
Was it my imagination that the smile looked like mockery? It didn’t seem like it.
“As of this moment, the Ghost Merchant Store declares a complete halt to all transactions with the Magic Tower.”
“What, what? Hey!”
“If you wish to continue trading, we shall resume at a 50% markup on the current price.”
“Fine, fine! I was wrong!”
This brat. Why did you have to provoke me?
‘I’m embarrassed too.’
I’ve lost my mind, completely lost it!
‘Why on earth did I cry back then?’
When I lived as Sia in that other world, I never truly shed tears. Except when I was acting, of course.
Not when Mother passed away, not when Father beat me or dragged me through the streets by my hair—I never made a sound.
‘That’s why they said I was heartless and beat me even more.’
But what could I do if tears wouldn’t come?
‘Yet why in the world—!’
Why do I cry at the drop of a hat in this place? The memory of that day in front of the Tower of Guardians, sitting on the ground like a child and sobbing uncontrollably!
‘Ah! No, no, no! Don’t think about it! Don’t think about it!’
I could thrash under my blankets for a year and it still wouldn’t be enough. What was I doing, breaking down in the middle of the street in front of all those people?
Could something have gone wrong with my emotional responses when my soul found its proper place?
‘That bastard Dorman!’
Is he hiding something else from me?
“Camilla.”
“Yes?”
Camilla, who had been furiously tugging at her hair while battling her embarrassment, froze at Duke Sorpel’s call.
“You’re not in pain anywhere?”
At his question, her eyes, which had widened slightly, curved into a gentle smile. Hearing this question face-to-face, the same one he asked every time through communication, felt strangely moving.
“No, not at all.”
“I see.”
“….”
“….”
…Excuse me? Is that all?
As expected, no further questions came.
Ludvil and Ravi were the same. Instead, they took turns staring at me silently throughout the meal.
It was obvious they had much to say, yet all three kept their mouths firmly shut.
‘What on earth is going on?’
Watching the three of them, Camilla tilted her head in confusion.
‘The atmosphere in the household feels strange too.’
From the moment I stepped through the door, the butler Rube’s reaction was unusual.
He kept letting out sighs of relief, then wore a peculiar smile.
‘If you’d been any later, we all would have submitted our resignations.’
‘Resignations? What are you talking about?’
‘We felt like we were sitting on pins and needles.’
‘Pins and needles?’
‘Everyone here has quite the temperament, you see.’
‘What do you mean?’
The other servants were also unusually welcoming. Since when did they like me so much?
I brushed it off as them being happy to see me after so long, but now it seemed there was something I didn’t know.
“While I was in Gracia—”
Camilla decided to break the quiet silence and share what had happened in the Gracia Empire. There was so much to tell.
There was the matter of King dealing with the demonic beasts, and everyone would surely be interested in how the Gracia Empire looked with its suddenly warmer weather.
‘And the contract too.’
Now that I think about it, I came back after closing such a massive deal, yet not a single word of praise? Aren’t you even curious how I secured that contract?
“Camilla, you like this, don’t you?”
“Huh? Oh, yes…”
“Here, this too! Eat more.”
But Camilla couldn’t finish her sentence. Duke Sorpel and Ravi had simultaneously placed food onto her plate.
‘What?’
Even Ludvil averted his gaze subtly when our eyes met.
See? You’re changing the subject to shut me up right now, aren’t you?
“It was from the Gracia Empire over there. A very good—”
“Bring more beverages, would you.”
“Me too!”
“Camilla’s water glass appears empty as well.”
…What is this really about?
‘Can’t I at least know the reason?’
Whenever Camilla tried to bring up the matter concerning the Gracia Empire afterward, they all rushed to silence her.
Watching these three, Camilla could only wear a bewildered expression.
* * *
“The Tower of Guardians has collapsed, they say?”
“It was absolute chaos.”
“There were so many dead mages…!”
“Huh?”
Early in the morning, two female students entering the Academy paused mid-conversation.
They had spotted a figure walking ahead of them.
There’s almost no one arriving at this hour? Who could… Gasp!
“That person…!”
“Isn’t that Arsian?”
His back alone was enough to identify him immediately.
Tall frame, broad shoulders, and an air of casual elegance that made one wonder if he truly belonged to the Sorpel Household. His silhouette was unmistakable.
The eyes of the two female students observing Arsian began to sparkle.
Recently, those who harbored subtle admiration for him had become abundant within the Academy.
He remained as intimidating as ever, someone one could scarcely dare to gaze upon, yet a subtle change had emerged.
Witnessing how noticeably gentle he became in Camilla Sorpel’s presence, everyone was reassessing their evaluation of Arsian.
“Did you see when he knelt before Camilla and fastened the anklet for her?”
“I did.”
“Did you see him smile?”
“Everyone was going absolutely wild about it.”
Watching Arsian converse with Camilla while wearing a subtle smile, they all screamed internally.
That was when they first realized it—that smile suited his sharp, cold features remarkably well.
Not long ago, something like this had happened. Petro had thrown out a remark toward Arsian, who seemed irritated about something and was about to half-kill someone as usual.
‘Camilla told me not to cause any trouble while she’s away.’
Everyone stared at Petro as he uttered those words, their expressions a mixture of disbelief. Did this man really just react to something so—
‘….’
A soft thud.
…he did.
With just that single remark—Camilla’s warning not to cause trouble—Arsian released his grip and quietly stepped back.
While everyone was taken aback by his sudden compliance, more and more of them found their gazes drifting toward Arsian for reasons they couldn’t quite explain.
“What brings you here at this hour?”
“Yeah, what’s going on?”
It was then that Arsian, who had been walking ahead, came to an abrupt halt.

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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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