A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 149

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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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“Why on earth did you have to bring this?”
“The woman who was originally the protagonist of this play left this as her final possession.”
“And?”
“I thought she’d like it even in death.”
“Excuse me?”
Elisha couldn’t hide her bewildered expression. There, sitting plainly in the audience section below the Stage, was her vanity table from her Room!
“I suppose I can treat that as my audience and perform.”
“Cra—!”
The word “crazy” nearly escaped Elisha’s lips, but she barely managed to swallow it. She simply couldn’t understand why that vanity table had been hauled all the way here.
‘What else could I do? It’s unavoidable if I’m bringing a bound spirit.’
Who would willingly carry something so heavy?
There was no way around it if I wanted to place the ghost Julia on this Stage. This is exactly why dealing with bound spirits is so exhausting.
[Ah…]
Julia, upon entering the Theater, couldn’t tear her trembling gaze from the Stage. How long had it been since she’d seen a Stage like this?
“Sigh…”
Elisha felt the same way. The Stage was already perfectly arranged to suit this production.
A Heart of Malice. Since a Stage was scheduled to open here in the Capital in just a few days, borrowing the Stage set for a day was nothing.
Across all eras, there was nothing money couldn’t solve.
“It really is a Stage.”
Her voice trembled with emotion. Elisha’s heart raced wildly at the realization that she could finally step onto the Stage she’d only ever watched as an audience member.
Though there wasn’t a single audience member present, her trembling only grew stronger.
“Shall we get ready then?”
Elisha watched silently for a moment as Camilla stood in her position with such composure, so unlike herself.
“Can you really do it?”
“Do what?”
“Play all those other roles by yourself.”
Camilla had said she’d take on every role except the protagonist alone. There weren’t just one or two people in the play—how could she possibly manage it all?
‘She does seem to know something about acting.’
Over the past few days, Camilla had been watching my performances.
Unlike practicing in front of a mirror every night, performing in front of someone else was entirely new and felt awkward at first, but soon I forgot everything and poured my whole heart into the performance.
“Here, here, and here. Your voice cuts off. You need longer breath control.”
“Your pronunciation needs to be clearer here. Put strength in your diaphragm.”
“Your breathing is too fast. Slow it down.”
“Your expression isn’t bad though.”
At first I suspected she was just spouting nonsense, but deciding to trust her, I followed her advice and my acting definitely became easier.
“Do you know how many people come to me with money to learn acting? Consider yourself honored.”
…What is she even talking about?
In any case, I had to admit that with Camilla’s help, I’d gained more confidence in my acting.
“Don’t worry about anything else and focus on your performance.”
“Understood.”
Leaving Elisha to her nod, I turned my gaze toward Julia one final time.
Hoping they would both ignore everything else and focus solely on their respective roles, I made my way behind the Stage to change into costume.
* * *
A heart steeped in malice.
There was a woman—one who had spent ten years caring for her mother, unable to move properly, all alone.
One day, her mother died. The cause: asphyxiation. She had been murdered. The culprit was none other than her daughter. A trial was held.
“I am innocent of any crime.”
“You did not kill her, then?”
[No… I did kill her. But I only honored my mother’s request.]
“Mother… she asked me to end her life.”
[She begged me desperately, saying she could no longer bear such a painful existence.]
Though the lines were identical, Elisha and Julia’s acting styles diverged considerably. Their delivery methods differed greatly, yet both possessed their own distinct charm.
‘Quite impressive.’
Julia was already an established actress, so I had no doubt about her skill. What astonished me was Elisha.
I had sensed it while coaching her, but she truly possessed talent.
Though her pronunciation and vocal tone still showed signs of inexperience, she performed remarkably well—hardly believable for someone making her Stage debut.
“Silence! You are a murderer! A murderer who killed your own mother! How could you… how could you take your mother’s life with your own hands!”
Yet the ones marveling inwardly at every moment were none other than Elisha and Julia themselves.
“No. Anna was truly a loving daughter to her mother. Everyone knows it. How devotedly she cared for her.”
I, playing the townspeople testifying in court, was truly remarkable.
With each villager I portrayed, my expression and tone transformed the instant I inhabited that role—it drew admiration effortlessly.
Managing so many roles alone, I never faltered in my rhythm once.
“I… I killed my mother.”
[But that was not murder.]
Drawn in by my performance, Elisha and Julia poured their all into their acting as well.
“Anna Esnia, I find you not guilty.”
The play rushed swiftly toward its conclusion.
“Mother, when I took your life, was it truly for your sake?”
[Were these hands that strangled you truly meant only to end your suffering?]
“Was that heart purely good?”
[Only God could know that.]
Elisha climbed onto the prepared chair and looped the rope hanging there around her neck.
Julia likewise overlapped with Elisha’s body, taking her final place on the Stage.
Thud—!
As the chair toppled, the lights cut out and the Stage curtain fell.
“Phew.”
My long exhale served as the signal, and the lights came back on.
‘It was rather exhausting.’
Standing on a proper theatrical Stage after so long felt overwhelming. Yet despite my weary body, a smile refused to leave my face.
The satisfaction of completing the play safely—isn’t this the very reason I perform?
After taking a moment to steady my breath, the first thing my eyes caught upon lifting my head was Elisha standing blankly on the Stage.
Beside her, I could see Julia wearing a smile that mirrored my own satisfaction almost perfectly.
[You….]
Julia’s smile deepened as our eyes met.
[You were the finest partner of my life.]
With those words, Julia’s form grew increasingly translucent.
[Thank you.]
I watched her silently until she vanished completely, then slowly approached Elisha.
Elisha was already looking at me, her eyes brimming with countless emotions.
“Did I….”
Did I truly bring the Stage to a close?
An inexplicable heat rose gradually from my feet upward.
My heart raced faster, my chest swelled so full I could scarcely breathe. A different kind of tremor—distinct from what I’d felt before taking the Stage—swept across my entire body.
Thump.
“…!”
In that moment, a hand gently stroked my head. It was Camilla.
“You were quite good.”
At those words, Elisha’s expression went blank for a moment before her eyes reddened and she burst into tears.
Chapter. Protect the Guardian’s Sword
“Camilla! Please have this.”
“Strawberry cake?”
“I made it myself.”
“You did?”
Elisha had changed somewhat.
“I made it starting from early this morning. For you!”
Or perhaps she’d changed quite a lot?
Ever since that day when I performed the play on the Stage, she hadn’t left my side for a moment. She was desperate to do anything for me.
Even now, she’d brought this with eyes sparkling brilliantly.
‘They say people die if they change too suddenly.’
Imagining a tail wagging behind her, I picked up my fork.
Still, I should at least take a bite to appreciate the sincerity she put into making it, right?
Stab!
“Huh?”
But before I could, someone plunged their fork into the cake first.
“It tastes bad.”
A man who took one bite and immediately frowned. It was Arsian.
“It tastes bad? Why? I made it properly…!”
No, that’s not the issue right now!
“Why are you eating that! It was for Camilla!”
“Are you discriminating against guests? I’m a guest too.”
“You’re your brother’s guest, not mine!”
Elisha snatched the fork from him with a huff, gripping it tightly as though it were a weapon of intimidation, and glared at Arsian with narrowed eyes.
Of course, Arsian merely scoffed at her antics.
“I have a question!”
Elisha thrust her fork-wielding hand up dramatically.
“What is it?”
“When are you going home? How long are you staying here?”
At her question, Arsian turned to look at me instead of answering.
“Camilla, when are we going home?”
“I’m not sure.”
“I’m not sure.”
Arsian relayed my answer to Elisha with the exact same words, and her eyes grew even more intense.
“My sister is going to spend more time with me! You need to stop monopolizing her right now!”
Wait. When did I become her sister?
Watching Elisha bark at Arsian with her hands on her hips, I was utterly flabbergasted.
“My sister already has someone she likes! So stop wasting your time and go home!”
Excuse me? What are you talking about?
‘And aren’t you even afraid of him?’
Is she relying on Petro’s presence? Her attitude toward Arsian was recklessly bold.
I glanced back over my shoulder, and my expression became bewildered once more.
Petro was watching Elisha with an utterly delighted expression, sending her encouraging looks as though she were doing splendidly rather than stopping her.
“I won’t feed you anymore!”
Wow. Resorting to blackmail over meals? How petty.
Of course, Arsian treated Elisha as though she didn’t exist at all, ignoring her whether she spoke or stayed silent.
“So you need to leave our house right now—”
“Elisha, enough.”
“Yes!”
“….”
I really can’t get used to this.

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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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