A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 143

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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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Chapter 143: The Invoice
“They’re still operating that place?”
“Despite defiling the shop with filth for over ten days now, they show no signs of concern whatsoever.”
“Tch!”
“In fact, their cleaning skills seem to be improving—they’re tidying up faster and faster.”
“Idiots!”
Dorald, the owner of Dorald Dessert Shop, clicked his tongue repeatedly.
“How on earth did you bungle this!”
“The job itself was executed flawlessly. Perhaps those people are simply exceptional? It seems they only hired the most diligent staff.”
“Shut your mouth!”
When news first arrived that a new cafe was opening on this street, Dorald had scoffed.
Countless establishments had challenged him before, yet none lasted more than a few months before closing their doors.
No one could match the flavor of his desserts.
The newcomer seemed no different.
The shop’s unusual interior design had sparked a glimmer of curiosity, but when no customers appeared even after several days, he dismissed it with a sneer.
“But then.”
Not long after, things changed. Customers began flowing steadily into the new establishment.
Strange menu items like shaved ice, desserts he’d never heard of—they captivated people’s attention and soon surpassed his own shop’s revenue.
“Calling such absurdities desserts!”
Of course, he’d initially dismissed it as trivial. People would react briefly to novelty, he’d thought carelessly.
But what was this? As time passed, the fervor only intensified, and he could no longer sit idle.
“What’s so delicious about that garbage!”
“To be honest, the taste was quite—”
“Whose side are you on!”
Dorald had his staff bring some back so he could taste it himself. Truthfully, the flavor wasn’t bad at all.
Whether it was the shaved ice or macarons, the fundamental skill in crafting desserts was exceptional.
He’d heard the shop manager made the desserts personally, and he thought they’d be an excellent addition to his own establishment.
But he was rejected outright. Even when he visited multiple times, offering higher wages, it was futile.
“Damn it!”
He’d attempted to recreate the macarons himself. A woman with no pedigree could make them, so surely he, with his superior skills, could as well.
‘But…’
Failure, failure, failure!
It wasn’t as simple as he’d thought. After countless trials and errors, he’d managed to replicate the appearance roughly, but not the taste.
So he changed tactics. He’d drive them out of this street!
“But what is this!”
That plan too was unfolding differently than expected. When he’d first hired thugs to disrupt their business, he’d thought it would resolve quickly.
He’d vaguely heard that the cafe’s owner was the young lady of the Sorpel Family, but it didn’t seem particularly problematic.
Duke Sorpel appeared entirely uninterested in cafe matters. Besides, he’d heard that Camilla Sorpel, the owner, was away on business in another empire.
He’d thought the timing was perfect.
“Who on earth is that person!”
But things went awry. Just when I thought things were progressing smoothly for a few days, some thug suddenly appeared and crushed the gangsters.
After that day, no one was willing to take on my requests.
Even if I raised the payment, it was useless—they said they’d die if they ran into that guy again.
Eventually, I changed my approach, but that didn’t work either.
“Is there any better way?”
I had to drive those bastards out of this Street as soon as possible…!
Whoosh!
“Ugh!”
“Eek!”
That’s when it happened. The window shattered loudly, and something flew through and embedded itself in the wall. It was an arrow.
Dorald and his employee screamed and threw themselves flat on the ground without hesitation.
“W-what is that!”
Fearing another arrow might fly in, the two trembled with their heads bowed for a long time.
They didn’t even think to call for help from someone else. They were certain that someone had come to kill them.
“I-is it over?”
But as time passed with no further attack, Dorald, who had been holding his breath, slowly lifted himself back up.
“…A note?”
Then, noticing paper tied to the arrow embedded in the wall, Dorald carefully pulled out the arrow and unfolded the paper.
【Invoice】
“What is this?”
The paper labeled “Invoice” was filled with an endless list of numbers.
Business Loss
Total: 976 Gold 69 Silver
Day 1
: 66 Gold 30 Silver
Day 2
: 57 Gold 20 Silver
Day 3
: 49 Gold 82 Silver
⁝
Total Cleaning Costs
: 85 Gold 40 Silver
*Calculated based on minimum hourly wage.
“T-this…!”
Even the cost of detergent used for cleaning was meticulously itemized.
Dorald trembled violently.
It was a trembling of an entirely different nature than before. Because I had a suspicion of who had sent this note.
“These bastards!”
Dorald tore the paper to shreds. How dare they send me something like this!
“Cleaning fees? Compensation?”
It wasn’t even funny.
“Insane! Did you really think I’d give you something like this—”
Crash! Thwack!
“Eek!”
In that instant, the window shattered loudly once more as an arrow flew through and embedded itself in the wall.
Dorald collapsed to the floor, his entire body trembling. The fierce momentum from moments before vanished like a lie in an instant.
“W-what now?”
This arrow too had a note attached to it.
Hesitantly, he carefully unfolded the paper again.
【D-Day 15】
“…15?”
What did this mean? What happens in 15 days?
Though it seemed to carry some significance, Dorald tore that note to shreds as well.
But days later, he would come to understand the meaning of that date all too clearly.
Clang! Thwack!
“Ugh!”
【INVOICE】
Business Loss
Total: 1,021 Gold 39 Silver
⁝
Crash! Thwack!
“Gasp!”
【D-Day 14】
From that day forward, two arrows began arriving without fail each day.
One carried an invoice, the other announced the countdown.
And as the numbers dwindled, the arrows’ trajectory shifted as well, drawing ever closer. Toward Dorald’s heart.
Thwack!
“Ahhhhh!”
【D-Day 3】
“Huff… huff!”
With three days remaining, an arrow grazed dangerously close to his heart, and Dorald gasped for breath.
Hiding proved useless. Running away proved useless.
He reported it to the Guard, but received no help. They claimed they couldn’t identify the perpetrator.
Wherever he went, the two relentless arrows found him, leaving him trembling in fear all day long.
“I-I have to find the money…!”
In the end, he had no choice but to rush frantically to the bank.
* * *
“Really? You’ve already made a friend?”
「Well, it just happened that way. They kept following me around, wanting to be close to me.」
“That’s good.”
「He visits home sometimes, which is annoying.」
Pfft!
Camilla barely suppressed the laughter threatening to burst forth.
“Really? That sounds wonderful.”
「It’s not wonderful at all. He kept pestering me to let him come, so I just gave in.」
Despite his words of reluctance, Daive’s voice coming through the communication crystal sounded remarkably bright.
The boy who had transferred to the Academy a few days ago was telling Camilla all sorts of things about his newly made friend.
He was trying his best to sound indifferent and casual, but she could clearly sense the joy and pride woven through his voice.
“Next time, introduce your friend to me too.”
「Um….」
“Why?”
At her request to introduce his friend, Daive seemed to hesitate for some reason.
“You don’t want to show me?”
「It’s just….」
Wait! Really? He doesn’t want to show me?
‘But why?’
Am I embarrassing? This is quite a shock…..
Just as I was about to feel a little hurt by this unexpected reaction.
「I don’t want to show my sister to those other guys….」
“What?”
「She’s my sister….」
At his mumbled words, a faint smile played across Camilla’s lips.
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
「No! Sister, are you okay? You didn’t catch a cold again like last time, did you?」
“I’m doing well.”
「Thank goodness. Don’t get sick… Huh? Father?」
Huh? Father?
「When did you arrive?」
「Just now.」
A moment later, a familiar voice came through the crystal. It was Duke Escra.
「What brings you here?」
「Hmm… aren’t you hungry?」
「Pardon?」
「Should I have some snacks sent over?」
「Oh, no.」
‘What on earth is going on?’
When did he ever care about such things? Has his personality changed in the meantime?
Daive also seemed quite flustered by this unexpected situation.
「It seems you were in the middle of a call.」
「Yes, it’s my sister Camilla.」
「Yes.」
「Father?」
As the Duke showed no sign of leaving the room, Daive called out to him again with a puzzled voice.
「Is there something else you wanted to say…?」
「It’s not urgent, so finish your conversation.」
「Yes? Ah, yes.」
It seemed Daive had something important he wanted to discuss separately.
Unaware that she had completely misread the situation, Camilla bid Daive a calm farewell.
“Daive, you seem busy. Let’s talk again next time.”
「Yes, Sister! I’ll contact you again-」
「No!」
「…?」
「No, what I mean is… my business isn’t particularly urgent, so you don’t have to end the call-」
What was he saying?
Leaving behind his reluctant voice, Camilla quickly set down the communication crystal.
“That’s a relief.”
At least Daive seemed to be doing well even after I left. Recommending the Academy to him had been the right choice after all.
Tap, tap.
“Hmm?”
At the sound from the window, Camilla lifted her head, her eyes widening. Someone was standing at the window, waving their hand.
“Jainer?”
It was Jainer, the owner of Khan.
He had vanished suddenly after bringing me to the Faebler Empire that day, and now he had finally reappeared.
“I’ve come to collect the balance of payment.”
He stepped through the window with a radiant smile. Camilla stared at him somewhat dazedly.
Why did a man smile so beautifully?
It was not a sight I had ever encountered in the Gracia Empire. His demeanor, smiling so gently beneath the soft moonlight, was almost bewitching.
Was this the true form of the one called the Master of Darkness, Khan?
I had thought it a rather cringeworthy title, but now it seemed to fit perfectly.
But wait a moment….
“Balance? What balance?”
“The balance for this commission.”
His lips curved into an even more beautiful smile.

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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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