A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 152

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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. The Emperor’s Birthday
“What of those who were captured?”
“They’ve been dealt with.”
“Things are becoming complicated again.”
In the darkness, the sound of a tongue clicking repeatedly echoed through the air.
“The Sword of Protection has regained its power?”
“…Yes.”
High Priest Daniel bowed his head even deeper, his body trembling visibly.
He had lost far too much in this affair.
He had been forced to personally dispose of all those he had carefully cultivated within the Jebillen Family over many years, and countless soldiers had been lost.
“The Sword of Protection couldn’t exert any power at all, you said.”
“It appears the ancient form has been perfectly recreated.”
The soldiers they had created—they were those who had failed after being offered as sacrifices.
Bodies whose spirits had escaped but could not properly accept new ones.
Those with only flesh remaining had been inscribed with sorcery by The Church, making them a kind of puppet.
Unable to feel pain and with their physical strength pushed to its absolute limit, they had been The Church’s main military force both long ago and now.
The problem was that these puppets held no power whatsoever before the Sword of Protection. They crumbled instantly beneath the light it emanated.
Long ago, hadn’t all of them fallen like puppets with their strings cut when Mars wielded the Sword of Protection?
“That sword has awakened again.”
“I do not understand the reason.”
“It was that child again, wasn’t it.”
“Yes.”
The Sword of Protection.
The fact that it was none other than the Young Lady of Duke Sorpel who had awakened that sword from its long slumber had already spread throughout the entire Capital.
“Every time, that child becomes entangled in our affairs.”
Strangely, Camilla—that girl—kept being mentioned in connection with everything they undertook.
Could all of this truly be mere coincidence?
“She is certainly… a troublesome existence.”
“Hmm.”
“What shall we do?”
To High Priest Daniel’s question, no answer flowed readily from the darkness.
“We should eliminate her, should we not?”
“Did we not fail last time.”
“That was….”
He was referring to the incident with Lania. When they had attempted to remove Camilla, hadn’t all their long-laid plans come to naught instead?
‘Such precious material wasted.’
The material that was the daughter of Duke Sorpel. Had they not invested an extraordinarily long time to obtain that body?
“For now, I shall meet with her myself.”
“My lord?”
“To see what that child knows. Whether all that has transpired has merely been coincidence.”
High Priest Daniel’s eyes widened at the mention of meeting Camilla directly to verify the matter.
But he quickly bowed his head and quietly acquiesced to his wishes.
“The Guardian’s Sword?”
“It remains with the Jebillen Family for now.”
“That must be quite noisy.”
“A new master has appeared.”
Another long sigh escaped Daniel’s lips. It had only been days since he rejoiced at finding the sacred relic, yet what in the world was happening now?
“Handle that child with greater caution.”
“Understood.”
* * *
“Try holding it.”
“Do I really have to?”
He nodded.
“The situation was so urgent back then—perhaps the sword merely lent its aid momentarily? It is the Guardian’s Sword, after all. Maybe it simply wanted to protect the Jebillen Family so desperately? I’m certainly nothing special—”
“Try holding it.”
“….”
This is driving me insane.
At Duke Jebillen’s resolute gaze, I exhaled a continuous stream of silent sighs.
My eyes flickered sideways. There stood Zeno, watching with vacant indifference as though this had nothing to do with him.
The only difference from before was that the Guardian’s Sword no longer pierced his chest.
‘Since I ordered it, I can’t complain.’
How could I have possibly anticipated that the Guardian’s Sword would respond to Zeno’s soul?
I had merely hoped to move the Guardian’s Sword elsewhere!
‘Right, surely it won’t happen again?’
That was only because Zeno had been inside my body at the time—of course it reacted. Zeno had been the sword’s master, so it made sense.
‘But I’m not, am I?’
I maintained a deliberately composed expression and reached my hand toward the Guardian’s Sword lying before me.
Look carefully. I’m not your master.
Whooooong—!
I flinched.
‘Surely not….’
For a moment, it seemed the sword was humming? Didn’t anyone else hear it?
I grasped the sword slowly, an uneasy feeling settling over me.
Blaaaaze!
…Damn it!
Brilliant light poured forth from the sword—that cursed, infernal blade.
‘Hey! Why are you responding to me!’
I’m not Zeno!
I hastily returned the sword to its place and quickly stepped back. Instantly, the sword fell silent.
At the sword’s reaction, an awkward smile spread across my face. I was practically breaking into a cold sweat under the startled gazes of everyone around me.
Did that cursed blade eat the heat or something? Why can’t it recognize its master!
“This is unbelievable….”
The most shocked among them was none other than Duke Jebillen.
He stared at Camilla in disbelief for a long moment, then strode forward and stood before the Guardian Sword. With utmost reverence, he grasped the blade.
“….”
Yet even after considerable time passed, the sword gave no response whatsoever. It was merely a well-honed blade, nothing more.
“Why… why!”
Duke Jebillen was flustered.
Why not himself… no, wait! It wouldn’t matter if not himself, but surely the bloodline of the Jebillen Family should produce such a reaction?
Why did the blade respond to this child alone and no other! After cherishing it more than any precious treasure for so long!
Duke Jebillen felt betrayed.
“It seems both your Shinsu and this blade prefer my daughter to you.”
“This rotten…!”
Duke Jebillen, who had been about to shout at Duke Sorpel—who was snickering and scratching at his clothes frantically—barely managed to clamp his mouth shut.
There was still dignity to maintain, and with so many eyes watching, he couldn’t very well engage in a brawl like usual.
“So does this sword now belong to the Sorpel Family?”
“Shut your mouth! You bastard!”
But at the following words, he couldn’t help but explode. It was praiseworthy that he didn’t grab the man by the collar.
“What kind of sword is this!”
It was practically the symbol of the Jebillen Family! How could he simply hand over something so precious to another house!
“Then what?”
“What do you mean what!”
“Will you display it again like a corpse of a dead blade?”
“Ugh.”
A groan escaped him involuntarily. The word “corpse” pricked him like a thorn. After all, he too was a swordsman, and he did not wish to see a fine blade fail to demonstrate its true power and be buried away.
Yet as the head of the Jebillen Family, he absolutely could not surrender this blade to another house.
“Sigh.”
Duke Jebillen exhaled a long breath, his gaze shifting to the side. Simultaneously, his brow twisted sharply.
‘That damned brat!’
Did he not understand the gravity of this situation at all?
Watching his son Petro grin continuously, so carefree while he himself was bursting with frustration, only doubled his anguish.
“….”
And he paused upon realizing that the object of his son’s gaze was Camilla.
Duke Jebillen regarded her anew—she who was avoiding his eyes and wearing an awkward smile. Then his lips curved upward crookedly.
“There is a way, after all.”
“Hmm?”
“If we do that… yes, even after handing over the blade, we can wield its power under our family’s name.”
“Such a thing exists?”
Duke Jebillen dropped a bombshell upon those who looked at him with curiosity.
“We simply need to make that child part of our family.”
“…What did you just say?”
“Your daughter and my son—”
“Shut your mouth! You bastard!”
This time, crude language erupted directly from Duke Sorpel’s lips.
He lunged at Duke Jebillen’s collar, radiating genuine murderous intent, but the others quickly restrained him.
“W-wait, Your Grace! Please compose yourself!”
“Oh my! Your Grace!”
“How dare you look down on me, you bas—!”
Swish.
In that moment, someone quietly pressed something into Duke Sorpel’s raging hand. It was a sword.
When Duke Sorpel lifted his gaze, he saw Duke Sefra standing before him with an expressionless face.
“Kill that fool spouting nonsense.”
“Hey, wait!”
Why are you suddenly taking his side and causing a scene!
Until just moments ago, he had merely stood by watching, but now that he suddenly sided with Duke Sorpel, I felt betrayed.
“If you two gang up and leave me out, I’m calling Shinsu!”
“Go ahead, call him! Do you think only you know Shinsu? We know him too!”
…Are they children?
“Sigh.”
Why am I so embarrassed?
Watching the Dukes engage in a quarrel worthy of elementary school children, I quietly covered my face with both hands.

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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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