A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 154

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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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“Have you heard the tale of the Sword of Guardians?”
“I was so shocked I couldn’t speak for quite some time.”
“They say if it weren’t for Camilla, something truly terrible would have happened?”
“I heard Camilla was the one who caught those who tried to set fire to the Mansion.”
Since detailed accounts of the incident had already spread throughout the gathering, she had inevitably become the center of attention. Whenever two people gathered, the conversation inevitably turned to her.
“Do look at that necklace.”
“It’s truly beautiful.”
“It seems to be a newly released design….”
Everyone’s attention then turned to the necklace adorning Camilla’s neck. The necklace that Answa had recently crafted for her was more than enough to captivate the eyes of the noblewomen.
‘The promotion will certainly work.’
Even as I watched Duke Sorpel, Ludvil, and Ravi being led away by acquaintances, I remained focused on promoting the jewels.
I moved gracefully to showcase the gems better, smiling brightly. After all, they were all potential customers—this much service was only natural.
“Everywhere I go these days, all I hear about is you.”
“Oh!”
How startling!
Crown Prince Edsen’s voice reached my ear from nowhere—when had he arrived?
“It’s been a while, Lady of the Sorpel Household.”
“Indeed.”
I turned to see him dressed in a white formal suit, smiling gently. I exchanged a light greeting with him.
“I heard you wept profusely in front of the Tower of Guardians.”
“That….”
Well, I suppose I should acknowledge his skill at poking at sore spots. Of all the things he could have mentioned, why did he have to bring that up?
‘Do you have nothing else to say?’
Ah… I suppose I don’t. Very well then. What would we even talk about, you and I? Go ahead, poke away. Rub salt in the wound.
“Your brother must be fortunate.”
“What do you mean?”
“To have a sister like you.”
What? If Ravi heard that, he’d be absolutely mortified.
As I fixed him with a bewildered stare, Crown Prince Edsen let out a small laugh.
“Having someone who weeps for you like that—it must feel more reassuring than one would think.”
Crown Prince Edsen smiled again, a hint of melancholy in his expression.
That smile seemed strangely bitter, and I furrowed my brow. Why was he acting so unlike himself?
“And I find it curious.”
Curious?
“How can blood connected only halfway be so affectionate?”
What?
“Halfway?”
Could he possibly know that Ravi and I share a different father?
“What’s this reaction?”
As my expression stiffened, Crown Prince Edsen’s eyes widened slightly before he laughed as if bewildered.
“Did you really think no one would find out about that? Are you underestimating my intelligence network?”
“…Yes, you’re right.”
What was I thinking? How could I have overlooked something so obvious?
In the Gracia Empire, everyone who mattered already knew the fact—that Duke Escra had a new child.
So why had I assumed the Faebler Empire wouldn’t learn of it? Because Count Alton said he would do his best to prevent information leaks? Had I blindly believed that?
“I’m asking this just to be sure, but…”
Crown Prince Edsen’s expression grew even more delighted.
This was the first time he had seen her wear such a vacant, bewildered look before him.
“You haven’t forgotten that the Sorpel Family’s intelligence network rivals that of the Imperial Court itself, have you?”
I had. Completely!
‘What’s wrong with my head? How could I have missed something so obvious!’
The fact that Crown Prince Edsen knew meant that my biological father’s appearance was something the entire Sorpel Family was aware of.
“Good heavens.”
Now it all made sense.
I began mentally reviewing the strange behaviors Duke Sorpel, Ludvil, and Ravi had displayed in front of me.
‘So that’s why they acted that way.’
Whenever the subject of the Gracia Empire came up, those three men would avoid meeting my eyes.
“Sigh.”
A hollow laugh escaped me. I had nothing to say about my own stupidity.
How could I have failed to consider that angle?
‘Well, I suppose I can excuse myself.’
But why hadn’t they said anything? I had stayed silent to avoid causing unnecessary trouble, but what was their excuse?
‘…Actually, no.’
Perhaps they had the same reason—they didn’t want to stir up needless discord.
Duke Sorpel and Ludvil both despised commotion, after all.
Or perhaps…
‘They deemed it not worth mentioning?’
The appearance of the biological father of a child who wasn’t even my blood sister held no real significance?
“Ugh.”
I didn’t know. The sudden realization left my mind spinning.
Where was I supposed to even begin unraveling this?
“His Imperial Majesty has arrived.”
At that moment, a voice from the entrance announced the arrival of the evening’s host—the Emperor.
I exhaled a quiet sigh and stopped my spiraling thoughts, lifting my head.
‘Right, I’ll worry about this later.’
It wouldn’t do to lose focus at a party attended by the Emperor himself and make a mistake. There were already more than enough people watching my every misstep.
Footsteps echoed.
A moment later, a man slowly entered the hall. The instant a man in his early fifties appeared, everyone bowed their heads.
I was about to do the same, preparing to bend at the waist with utmost courtesy.
‘…What?’
Yet the moment she laid eyes on Emperor Faybler, she froze entirely. Her mind went blank, leaving her incapable of any movement whatsoever.
“My lady?”
Crown Prince Edsen called to her gently, and only then did Camilla snap back to awareness, hastily lowering her head—though her complexion remained ashen.
‘What… is that?’
In all my years, I’ve witnessed countless bizarre phenomena. But I can say with certainty—I’ve never seen anything like this.
“I hope you all enjoy yourselves this evening.”
Emperor Faybler stood with a benevolent smile, receiving greetings from countless attendees. Yet Camilla’s gaze was fixed not on him, but on what lay behind him.
‘They’re swarming.’
Swarming with what?
‘Ghosts.’
Ghosts devoid of all reason and consciousness.
More than dozens of them were arrayed behind the Emperor like a grotesque backdrop.
* * *
“What occupies your thoughts so deeply?”
“Oh, this and that.”
“Do you wish to speak with Father? I can escort you to him.”
“No!”
Have I lost my mind?
At Crown Prince Edsen’s question, Camilla let out a sharp cry before she could stop herself.
Realizing her outburst, she quickly forced a smile, but Crown Prince Edsen continued to regard her with bewilderment.
Camilla offered an awkward smile and subtly averted her gaze from his scrutiny.
[Those creatures possess no consciousness, just like Lania did.]
Zeno’s voice reached her at that moment.
He had just finished approaching the ghosts clinging to Emperor Faybler’s side, following Camilla’s earlier signal.
[What in the world are all of those?]
‘That’s precisely what I’d like to know.’
What could they possibly be?
The ghosts were all young men in their late teens to early twenties. Like those I’d encountered with Lania, they all hung their heads low.
Even when Zeno approached and attempted to speak with them, they showed no reaction whatsoever.
‘This makes no sense.’
If there had been only one, I might have understood it.
The fact that the Emperor was connected to such a group was shocking enough, but I wouldn’t have been quite so terrified.
But how could I comprehend that so many people were bound to a single individual?
‘Does that mean one person has stolen the bodies of all these people?’
Though the conclusion was clear, accepting it proved difficult. What kind of life would one have to live to achieve such a thing?
‘Could it be…?’
A horrifying thought kept pressing into Camilla’s mind, raising the hair on her skin.
Her gaze drifted involuntarily toward Crown Prince Edsen.
“What is it? That look in your eyes?”
“You have a long life ahead of you.”
“Ha ha!”
Crown Prince Edsen laughed heartily at Camilla’s sudden remark. What an unexpected greeting this was.
‘This is no laughing matter.’
Camilla turned her gaze back to the Emperor. She desperately hoped her suspicions were wrong, but the sight of all those ghosts only deepened her certainty.
“Oh…!”
In that moment, her eyes met the Emperor’s directly—entirely by accident.
Camilla averted her gaze as naturally as she could, but an awkward situation unfolded regardless.
Thud.
The Emperor was walking straight toward her! No, why? Why was he coming this way?
“So you are the one.”
“I pay my respects to the eternal sun of the Empire.”
Camilla bowed more respectfully than ever before. Yet inwardly, she could only sigh repeatedly as her head remained lowered.
Why did the word “eternal” that had just left her lips feel so dreadfully ominous today?
“I hear you awakened the Sword of Guardians.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Ho… truly remarkable.”
“That is surely thanks to Your Majesty’s grace.”
As Camilla lifted her head, the shock that had consumed her moments before vanished entirely, replaced by a radiant smile.
Crown Prince Edsen, observing her from the side, wore a peculiar expression. What scheme was this woman concocting behind that mask of hers?
“I have much I wish to hear from you regarding that day. I hope we might find time to meet privately soon.”
…Meet privately?
‘Have I lost my mind?’
I should be fleeing, yet here I am about to meet with him alone!
Yet I could hardly refuse a command veiled as a request from the Emperor.
‘This is maddening.’
Camilla found herself trapped, offering only an awkward smile.
Emperor Faybler waited patiently for her response, as though his words were far from casual.
“A delegation from the Gracia Empire has arrived.”
Just then, the Attendant’s voice echoed from the entrance once more.
As the Emperor’s gaze shifted away from me, I released a short breath of relief.
Perhaps I could slip away from the party venue after all…
‘Wait.’
Where did he say?
My relief was short-lived. I quickly lifted my head, replaying the Attendant’s words in my mind.
A delegation from the Gracia Empire had arrived?
As I turned my gaze toward the hall entrance, my eyes widened progressively at the group entering within.
The figure standing at the very front of the delegation was far too familiar.
A man who walked with such confidence, as though this were his own front yard.
Eyes cold and indifferent to the point of seeming aloof, with an expression to match.
He looked exactly as I had last seen him.
‘Why is he here!’
It was Duke Escra.

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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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