A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 17

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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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What would people say if they saw a Noble Daughter—and one with a particularly wretched reputation at that—suddenly diving into the water and flailing about?
Camilla pressed her fingertips firmly against her brow.
The moment I jumped into that water claiming I’d find Shinsu, I’d be officially branded the district’s true lunatic.
Yet honestly, there was a small—a very small—part of me that found it tempting.
‘If I actually found Shinsu for him, wouldn’t my chances of being killed drop significantly?’
He’d been searching for so long, hadn’t he? If I helped him find it, surely he wouldn’t just kill me like before.
[Miss, you look absolutely radiant today.]
“Are you saying I wasn’t pretty before?”
[No, no! It’s just that the black dress suits you so wonderfully!]
Derin chattered away beside me, clearly trying to lift my spirits by any means necessary.
But all that emerged from my lips was an ever-deepening sigh.
[Truly! I’ve never seen anyone look so stunning in black, not even-]
“That’s enough.”
Thud.
Just then, I noticed a group of people approaching.
I cut off Derin’s words and quickened my pace, still pressing my brow with my hand.
‘Water, that’s what he meant.’
Whoosh.
The approaching group seemed to pause when they saw me, but lost in thought, I simply hurried past them without acknowledging them.
Burdened with this troublesome matter, I couldn’t focus on anything else.
* * *
“Isn’t that Camilla?”
“Yes, it is.”
Those left behind exchanged words with somewhat surprised expressions.
“What brings her to this place?”
“Indeed, that’s strange.”
“We came because it’s your mother’s death anniversary, but…”
Their gazes, which had been following Camilla’s retreating figure, suddenly shifted in unison to one person. A man who stood quietly without joining the conversation.
“….”
Hair as red as the sun caught their eyes first. He appeared a year or two older than Camilla.
“That’s strange, though.”
“The Sorpel Household’s daughter didn’t even acknowledge you as she passed.”
“She didn’t see me?”
“Must be. That Camilla, who would come running the moment she spotted you from a hundred meters away…”
“True enough.”
At his friends’ snickering remarks, the man’s—Petro’s—gaze turned toward Camilla, whose figure was growing ever more distant.
Petro Jebillen.
The eldest son of the Jebillen Family, one of the Faebler Empire’s three great noble houses. The man destined to lead the next generation of the Jebillen Family.
“Every time she sees you, she chases after you like her life depends on it.”
“That she does.”
Her friends burst into soft laughter.
It was so well-known that Camilla had taken a liking to Petro and was constantly chasing after him that hardly anyone was unaware of it.
Wherever he went, she was always there. Camilla perpetually lingered in Petro’s vicinity.
“Nonsense.”
Petro chuckled softly and gently chided his friends.
“Don’t say such things. It’s disrespectful to her.”
“But it’s the truth.”
“In any case, your problem is that you’re far too good-natured. Remember when Camilla even took your belongings?”
“She didn’t take them—I lost them, and she simply found them and kept them.”
“You certainly have a talent for losing things.”
Both friends shook their heads simultaneously as if to say they couldn’t help it.
“But doesn’t Camilla seem a bit different today?”
“You too? I was just startled myself.”
“Was her face always like that?”
“For some reason, my eyes keep drifting toward her today.”
“Indeed.”
Listening to his two friends’ conversation, Petro clicked his tongue softly.
“Stop with the idle talk and let’s move along.”
At Petro’s urging, the two quickened their pace. Yet even as they walked ahead, Petro’s gaze drifted backward once more.
Petro gazed for a moment at the spot where Camilla had been, her figure now completely vanished, before departing with his usual bright smile.
Chapter. Divine Beast
“Ugh… ugh….”
Thirsty.
Perhaps it was because I’d been thinking about water all day long—late into the night, I awoke and slowly rose from my bed.
“Ugh….”
I couldn’t fall asleep easily as I pondered how to extract the Divine Beast’s egg from the water.
I had finally managed to drift off a moment ago, only to wake again so quickly.
“It’s empty.”
The pitcher I’d filled before bed contained not a drop of water.
Thinking about it had made me so anxious that I’d drunk the entire pitcher dry.
“….”
Looking at the clock mounted on the wall, I rose completely from my bed.
The clock showed three in the morning. It was far too late to call my maidservant Dona to fetch water.
‘I can simply go fetch some water myself.’
I slowly left my room.
The Sorpel Household, shrouded in deep darkness, was utterly silent. Not a sound could be heard—the quiet was so profound my ears seemed to ring.
Thud.
My footsteps echoed unusually loud. I made my way toward the Kitchen, treading as softly as possible.
“Hm?”
Approaching the Kitchen moments later, I stopped short. Light was emanating from the Dining Hall.
‘Who could that be at this hour?’
Unable to contain her curiosity, Camilla abandoned her path toward the Kitchen and turned toward the Dining Hall instead.
Upon entering the Dining Hall, she froze once more. Someone was eating.
Who? A fox of a man.
“You’re eating now?”
“…!”
It was Ravi, who had claimed to have research to conduct and hadn’t shown his face even during dinner time.
True to form, he was apparently helping himself to a meal at this late hour, alone.
“What are you doing here at this hour?”
Startled by Camilla’s sudden appearance, Ravi quickly lifted his head.
“Getting water.”
“You could have asked someone else.”
“It’s too late in the evening.”
“…Then what does that make me?”
Ravi grumbled softly, as if to say: what about the one who had prepared dinner at this ungodly hour?
“I can manage to find water on my own.”
Ravi regarded Camilla briefly, then resumed eating.
The spread on the table was remarkably sparse for the late hour—merely salad, soup, and bread.
After observing Ravi eat, Camilla turned and left the Dining Hall.
“Haaah….”
I’ll drink some water and get back to bed. If I’m not careful, I’ll be up all night.
As she stifled a brief yawn, her gaze drifted back to Ravi.
Watching him sit alone in quiet solitude at the expansive table, Camilla hesitated, then turned back and approached him.
Scrape.
She pulled out a chair and sat across from him.
“…?”
Ravi’s eyes widened at Camilla’s sudden action.
“What are you doing?”
“Watching.”
“What?”
“I’ve always enjoyed watching people eat.”
“Watching what?”
“Just eat.”
Ravi found himself momentarily speechless as Camilla rested both elbows on the table, her chin propped in her hands, clearly intent on her observation.
But he soon shook his head lightly and, unbothered by her gaze, brought food to his mouth, apparently eager to finish quickly and return to the Research Laboratory.
‘I’ve heard of people who fall asleep to mukbang videos.’
Was this a form of white noise?
In the hushed space, the quiet sound of him eating reached her ears like a lullaby, strangely soothing.
“Hey, if you’re tired, go to bed.”
“I’m not tired, I’m not tired.”
“Could you open your eyes and answer me?”
“My eyes are open. They’re open.”
“No, they’re not.”
“….”
“Hey.”
“….”
“…Are you asleep?”
Ultimately, Ravi set down his fork as he watched Camilla drift off to sleep, using her own arm as a pillow.
He gazed silently at her sleeping form for a moment, then let out a hollow laugh.
This was truly strange.
The moment she returned and sat before him again, something felt odd. It was as though something hollow within him had suddenly been filled.
He couldn’t quite say what that something was, but….
‘I don’t dislike it.’
Until just recently, she had been nothing but a nuisance to him.
Whenever he saw Camilla causing trouble and drawing the Duke’s displeasure, irritation would surge within him.
He was always anxious that her actions might cast him—someone who shared the same blood—out of the Duke’s favor as well.
‘But now….’
What could he call this feeling?
He didn’t dislike it.
Neither watching her like this, nor having her by his side.
“Mm….”
Seeing Camilla shiver from the cold, Ravi rose from his seat. He should take her to her room.
A soft rustling sound.
But at that moment, a pair of hands reached out before Ravi could, gently lifting her into an embrace.
“Older brother?”
It was Ludvil. Ravi’s brow twitched as he watched Ludvil cradle Camilla.
“Finish your meal.”
“I’ll take her to her room.”
“That’s enough.”
“But…!”
Ludvil left the Dining Hall without another word. Ravi’s frown deepened as he watched him go.
* * *
‘Huh?’
When did I fall asleep?
Camilla stirred awake slowly, pushing herself upright. She remembered meeting Ravi in the Dining Hall last night, at least.
“When did I get to my room?”
I have no memory of it. I must have been completely out.
“Ugh.”
So Ravi carried me all the way here?
‘That was completely inconsiderate of me.’
I kept wiping my face. How much had that man cursed at me?
When I told him to go to bed, he should have gone, but instead he sat there stubbornly. He must have been absolutely furious, grinding his teeth at what I was doing.
“Sigh.”
If I saw him today, I was bound to hear an earful.
I hurried to prepare myself, hoping to reduce even a fraction of the scolding that awaited me.
There was no need to arrive late at breakfast and draw even more of Ravi’s ire.
But as I gazed into the mirror, I suddenly froze. A dream from last night abruptly surfaced in my mind.
“Now that man is even appearing in my dreams. Unbelievable.”
It was definitely Ludvil. Even in the dream, I was trapped by him, unable to move. No matter how hard I tried to escape, my body wouldn’t obey my will.
“Don’t kill me….”
“I want to live… sob….”
“Please don’t kill me….”
“Damn it….”
Even in the dream, I had begged so desperately. It seemed I had even wept.
‘…I won’t kill you.’
At that response, I remembered laughing foolishly like an idiot, as if I hadn’t just been crying moments before….
“How childish.”
Dream or not, at my age, crying and laughing like that was utterly shameful.
I clicked my tongue softly and hurried out.

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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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