A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 145

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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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The Sword of Protection wasn’t merely concealing itself.
It would be stolen during the chaos of an attack by an unknown force and the Jebillen Household burning in flames.
‘And all of this would happen while Duke Jebillen was away.’
It was clear that someone had deliberately targeted the gap when the master, Duke Jebillen, and Shinsu Zetti were absent.
How could the Jebillen Household, which had Zetti with the ability to control fire, burn so fiercely and suffer such massive damage?
It could only happen when Shinsu was gone.
Duke Sorpel and Duke Sefra, who heard the news belatedly, rushed to help, but the Sword of Protection had already vanished.
For a long time afterward, the entire Empire was in an uproar.
While the direct attack on the Household was shocking, the disappearance of the Sword of Protection dealt an even greater blow to the people.
The symbolic meaning the Sword of Protection carried was immense.
Everyone feared that with the disappearance of the sword that had protected the Empire for so long, something terrible might befall the nation.
“When exactly will the Duke be leaving, sir?”
“Hmm… may I ask why you’re inquiring about this?”
“Well, that is…”
What should I say?
Camilla’s eyes darted about. Wasn’t there some reasonable excuse I could use? Ah!
“Elisha!”
“Elisha?”
“I promised to visit her when you’re not here.”
“Pardon?”
“I made a promise with Elisha before. To spend a few days together when you’re away.”
I decided to use Elisha, Petro’s sister, as my excuse.
“Why specifically when Father isn’t here…?”
“Because it’s more comfortable that way.”
This was the truth. After all, visiting a friend’s house was always best when their parents weren’t around.
Of course, I’d never actually visited a friend’s house before.
“I welcome it wholeheartedly.”
Petro smiled slightly, but there was something suspicious about that smile. Surely he hadn’t noticed anything?
“I’m so glad my sister and you have grown closer again.”
“Ha… haha. Yes, well.”
Closer, my foot! Ever since I’d given Elisha a piece of my mind before, things between us remained awkward.
After reluctantly receiving her apology at the Hunting Grounds, we hadn’t faced each other since.
We’d crossed paths a few times at the Academy, but she’d glared at me with such intensity.
‘But what else can I do?’
This was the only excuse I had right now.
‘The problem is, I can’t be certain about this either.’
Unlike other incidents, I couldn’t sense this one coming in advance, making it difficult to predict exactly when it would occur.
I knew they’d target a moment when Duke Jebillen was absent, but how could I know if it would be this time or next?
‘Especially when so many things different from my previous life are already happening.’
I couldn’t be certain.
‘So I can’t even offer advice through false divination.’
If I say something will happen and then nothing does? It takes just a moment for people to lose respect.
“I’ll inform Elisha in advance.”
“No!”
Camilla shook her head urgently. Seeing his puzzled expression, she quickly continued.
“Won’t she be even more delighted if I show up suddenly? Please keep it a secret from Elisha and the others.”
If I told her beforehand, my lie would be exposed immediately.
“Understood.”
“Hey.”
At that moment, Arsian interjected into their conversation.
“Rio wants to play with you too.”
“Oh, really?”
It’s been a while since I’ve seen Rio. Has the little one grown much?
“I’ll make sure our household elder is away from home soon.”
“What are you talking about?”
He won’t be there… no, he’ll make sure he’s not there?
“Our house has plenty of empty rooms.”
What’s that supposed to mean?
Camilla gazed at his dissatisfied face with an incredulous expression, and Petro couldn’t hide his look of disdain.
* * *
“Long time no see.”
“….”
“You’ve been well, haven’t you?”
“What?”
“I’ll be staying for a few days.”
“Excuse me?”
“I’ll use that room, right?”
“Wait, just a moment!”
Elisha, Petro’s sister, couldn’t hide her bewilderment at the person standing before her.
Camilla had shown up at her home out of the blue this morning.
Carrying a large travel bag. For no other reason than to play with her.
“What on earth are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking of having fun.”
“That’s what I mean! Why should I play with you?”
“Don’t worry. You’ll do your thing and I’ll do mine.”
“What?”
She held back the urge to shout that this was nonsense. When was the last time she’d won an argument with that woman?
Even now, just seeing her made her teeth clench.
It was all because of that woman that she’d been scolded by Father in front of so many people and had to apologize.
‘But what now?’
You came here to play with me?
“What are you trying to do this time…!”
“Here, a gift.”
Elisha, who had been about to throw me out with fierce determination in her eyes, suddenly froze as something was placed in her hand. A gift? Out of nowhere?
“What is this?”
It was a small box. At first glance, it looked like jewelry.
“Open it.”
“This is a gift for me?”
“Yes.”
After hesitating for a moment, Elisha couldn’t resist the temptation.
Click.
“Oh!”
“Do you like it?”
“Th-this! Could it be…!”
Do I like it? Is that really what you’re asking right now?
‘Good heavens!’
Elisha couldn’t easily close her gaping mouth. The box contained a necklace and earrings as a set.
The issue was the material of the jewels used to craft the necklace and earrings.
“B-blue diamonds?”
“That’s right. You know your stuff.”
Without realizing it, Elisha covered her mouth with her hand. A scream was about to burst out!
Facing the brilliantly blue diamonds, Elisha could fully understand why people were so obsessed with these gems.
With limited mining quantities and custom orders available only to an exclusive few VIPs, they were extremely difficult to obtain.
Most people had only heard rumors; few had ever seen the real thing.
But once captivated by their exquisite beauty, one couldn’t escape, or so the rumors went—and anyone with money was frantically buying items from the Ghost Merchant Guild.
You had to become a VIP member first just to place an order. Though when you’d actually receive it was anyone’s guess.
“Really, I can accept this?”
Yet now those precious gems were in her hands. The very gems that even the Empress hadn’t managed to obtain.
“So you do like it?”
At Camilla’s question, Elisha nodded softly. Who could possibly dislike something like this?
“Then I’ll use that room.”
Having cleared Elisha more easily than expected, Camilla headed to the adjacent room.
Throughout all this, Elisha still couldn’t tear her eyes away from the jewels.
* * *
[This place hasn’t changed much.]
“You haven’t visited here even once in all this time?”
[Coming here fills my mind with unnecessary thoughts.]
Zeno, who had followed me to the Jebillen Household, looked around repeatedly as if returning home after a long absence stirred fresh emotions within him.
[But what’s going on with this place all of a sudden?]
“What do you mean?”
[Stay here for a few days?]
Just moments ago, unlike what I’d told Petro, I hadn’t made separate plans with Elisha—she hadn’t even seemed particularly welcoming.
“There’s something I need to look into.”
[Look into? What?]
“Just something.”
Honestly, whether the Guardian’s Sword was stolen or not had nothing to do with me.
‘There’s no real benefit coming my way from this.’
Yet here I was, going out of my way to seek out someone who wasn’t even glad to see me, pressing a precious jewel into her hands and setting up camp—it was excessive and meddlesome.
‘But…’
‘Zeno, what if the Guardian’s Sword goes missing?’
[Why would the Guardian’s Sword go missing?]
‘I’m just saying, what if?’
[Why would such a thing happen in the first place?]
‘Someone could steal it.’
[Then I’ll find it.]
‘Why? It’s just a sword with no power left.’
[It’s the result of my life exchanged for it. You expect me to just watch as someone takes it? I’ll chase it to the ends of the earth and bring it back.]
‘…I see.’
He would retrieve it no matter what.
Since there was a very high chance I’d get caught up in his pursuit, I decided from the start to prevent the sword from being stolen in the first place. That would be far better than wandering aimlessly searching for it.
[Your family doesn’t seem too pleased about it either.]
“Well, there’s nothing to be done about it.”
‘You’re staying at the Jebillen Household for a few days?’
‘Yes.’
‘You again!’
‘Again? What do you mean?’
‘You’re clinging to that man again!’
‘I’m not.’
‘You’re not, my foot!’
‘I’m going to play with Elisha.’
‘That’s rich. When did you two become close? That’s a ridiculous excuse!’
‘That Ravi…’
The problem was he knew me far too well. Unlike Petro, Ravi didn’t accept my excuses so easily.
He seemed to think I was going back to my old ways, chasing after Petro and doing foolish things.
Duke Sorpel and Ludvil felt the same way.
‘Do you really have to go to his house?’
‘I’ve never done it before.’
‘Done what?’
‘Sleeping over at a friend’s house. I’ve always wanted to try it.’
‘But why his house of all places?’
‘Hmm… then should we head to House Sephira? Arsian invited me to visit his home too. He said there are plenty of rooms, so I could even stay the night-‘
‘You’re going tomorrow? Have a safe trip.’
‘I expected as much.’
Arsian, you really aren’t popular with adults, are you?
The moment Arsian was mentioned, Duke Sorpel’s expression hardened, and he immediately approved Camilla’s visit to the Jebillen Household.
Knock, knock.
“Camilla, may I come in?”
“Please do.”
It was Petro. As he stepped into the room, his eyes swept across the surroundings continuously, examining every detail as if checking whether anything was amiss.
“Is there anything else you need?”
“No, the room is quite lovely.”
“I’m relieved to hear that. The guest room we normally use is currently under renovation, so I hastily prepared this one. I was somewhat worried about it.”
“Is that so?”
“If there’s anything uncomfortable, please let me know at any time.”
“Thank you. By the way, when will Duke Sorpel return?”
“He departed planning for roughly a fortnight’s journey.”
A fortnight. That meant there was a very high possibility something would unfold within that time.
‘Though Zeno is by my side…’

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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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