A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 186

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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. Jewela Bakes
“My, what a lovely necklace. I don’t recall seeing it before?”
“I acquired it recently from the Ghost Merchant Store.”
“Really? I’ve been wanting to find one myself!”
“I also procured a holographic printer from the Ghost Merchant Store just recently.”
“Goodness! Might I have a look at it?”
“Of course.”
Camilla offered a radiant smile to the noble ladies adorned with accessories from the Ghost Merchant Store, as though seeking their recognition and approval.
Yes, they were all valued patrons, after all.
“Everything looks absolutely exquisite on you all.”
Unlike before, when she rarely accepted invitations despite receiving them, Camilla had been attending social gatherings with increasing frequency of late.
Though she didn’t accept every invitation—her criteria remained singular.
‘The sacred necklace.’
She only accepted invitations from families who had purchased that particular necklace.
Today, her destination was none other than—
“Camilla, would you care for a drink?”
“Yes, thank you.”
the House of Bakes, Jewela’s family.
She had learned that they too had acquired a sacred necklace.
“Your hair looks absolutely beautiful today.”
You’re trying so hard again. Yet dissatisfaction still fills your eyes.
It’s become almost pitiful watching you force that bright smile onto your lips.
‘Well, it’s not my concern.’
In any case, I had already achieved today’s objective.
I had seen Jewela’s parents, Count Bakes and his wife—and it was Count Bakes himself who wore the sacred necklace.
‘It seemed fine enough for now.’
The color was quite vivid, and there were no apparent signs of trouble.
But the future was the concern. I was pondering how to prevent him from wearing that necklace.
What would be a good method?
‘Should I create a counterfeit market?’
It was something I had said in passing irritation before, but now it seemed like a rather viable approach.
I could naturally reduce people’s desire for the necklace without publicly revealing the truth about the sacred necklace.
“I’ve prepared a small gift for all of you. Would you mind waiting just a moment?”
After some time had passed, Jewela rose from her seat and hurried out.
It was customary and courteous for a host to prepare small gifts for their guests.
Everyone offered her a warm smile, impressed by her thoughtfulness in fetching the gifts herself rather than sending a maidservant or servant.
“I’ll step out for a moment as well.”
To escape the endless chatter of those who wouldn’t be separated, I too ventured outside. I thought I’d take a brief stroll through the Garden and return.
I had glimpsed it earlier—the Garden was quite magnificent. By the time I returned, the gathering should be winding down anyway.
[So that sacred necklace really is the problem, isn’t it?]
As I exited the meeting place, Priest Ghost Arena, who had followed me this far, spoke up.
She had also noticed that recently I had been seeking out only those who had purchased the sacred necklace.
“Do you feel something from that necklace, perhaps?”
I recalled her expression during the Ceremony of Abundance, how she had regarded the sacred necklace worn by the Pope with obvious displeasure.
Could it be that only she, with her vast divine power, sensed something distinct about it?
[Not at all.]
“Then why do you dislike the sacred necklace so much?”
[Because that Pope bastard only thinks about making money.]
Well, if the Pope and the other priests felt nothing particularly strange from the red stone either, they would naturally wear it around their necks.
Recalling that the Pope himself wore that necklace, I nodded in agreement.
I wanted to know who had first suggested selling that necklace, but I couldn’t ask directly.
Was there any subtle way to find out?
“But why do you keep following me around lately?”
[Why, you ask?]
She opened her eyes wide as if asking why I would pose such an obvious question.
[I’m bored.]
…Ah, yes.
Having been unable to converse for so long, she had enthusiastically relieved her frustration by sticking to Zeno, and now she was growing restless again.
I didn’t particularly mind her following me around.
[You haven’t missed taking the legend fruit in the morning, have you? You must eat it on time without fail. It’s perfect for a child with weak vitality like you.]
She possessed considerable knowledge that proved quite helpful.
[I’ve tried to obtain that before too. Those bastards charged such outrageous prices. Those damn fools!]
…The only problem was her utterly unrefined manner of speech.
“I’m certain I told you before. Don’t walk around with your head held high in front of me. You filthy thing of unknown origin.”
But whose harsh voice was this?
Not long after entering the Garden, a low male voice pierced my ears.
I could quickly identify the owner of that voice. I had spotted two people standing not far away.
One was Jewela Bakes, who had left moments ago saying she would bring a gift.
‘That man is….’
The other was Jewela’s older brother and the heir to House of Bakes—Mantiz Bakes.
He too was a figure in my memory. I had encountered him several times at the Party Venue.
But what was he spouting about now? Had I misheard something just now?
“Just do what Father told you to do. Stop meddling in my affairs.”
“But Father said you must introduce yourself to Lady Sorpel today, older brother—”
“Are you talking back to me again!”
Mantiz immediately raised his hand. As if accustomed to such an action, Jewela raised her arm to shield her face.
Crack!
“Ugh!”
But the pained cry that erupted was not from Jewela, but from Mantiz’s mouth.
“What, what is this!”
Mantiz Bakes was struck on the head by something and immediately turned around. What kind of person dared to—!
“Oh my! I’m so sorry. It was you, Mantiz Bakes.”
But upon identifying his assailant, his eyes widened.
“The Sorpel Princess?”
Camilla stood before him with a single pointed shoe in her hand, her expression deeply apologetic.
“I thought Jewela Bakes was being threatened by someone.”
Even as she continued to apologize profusely, she refused to release the sharp-heeled shoe from her grip.
“You’ve misunderstood. I would never raise a hand against my own sister.”
“Of course not.”
“We simply had a difference of opinion, and our voices rose a bit.”
Mantiz Bakes offered a faint smile and gently patted Jewela Bakes on the shoulder.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to raise my voice. Let’s talk about this later.”
“…Yes, Older Brother.”
A forced smile appeared on her face.
“Then I’ll take my leave.”
Mantiz Bakes gave Camilla a slight bow before hastily departing.
“Hmm.”
It hurt less than I expected, didn’t it? Since I didn’t know the exact situation, I struck him with the flat part of the heel rather than the pointed end.
“…”
“…”
After he left, neither Camilla nor Jewela Bakes spoke first.
Only the sound of leaves rustling in the wind filled the space between them.
“Did you hear everything?”
Eventually, Jewela Bakes broke the silence.
“More or less.”
A long sigh escaped from her lips.
“That man never had any intention of hiding it anyway. If he had any sense, he wouldn’t have carelessly spouted such things on a day when so many guests were present.”
Jewela Bakes collapsed onto a nearby tree, her legs giving way beneath her. Sighing repeatedly, she slowly lifted her head to look at Camilla.
“It’s exactly as you heard.”
“…”
“I’m not blood of this house.”
She continued speaking matter-of-factly, as though recounting someone else’s story.
Originally, this house had one daughter. But she died immediately after birth, and a baby abandoned on the roadside caught the eye of the grief-stricken Countess.
“I took the place of the dead child.”
The Count and Countess kept this fact hidden from everyone. They raised her as their true daughter.
Had the Countess not given birth to another daughter years later, Jewela Bakes would have remained their precious daughter still.
“When I was young, I wondered why I was being treated differently.”
At first, I thought it was because my younger sister was still small. There’s a saying about loving younger siblings more—it was inevitable to feel more affection for a younger sibling.
My older brother was my older brother, the firstborn who would inherit the family name, so I accepted it. I consoled myself this way and lived on.
Then one day, the three children accidentally overheard a secret conversation between their parents.
“Everyone found out that I was a child you picked up.”
After that, Mantiz Bakes treated her like vermin, and my younger sister Kerin also made a habit of ignoring Jewela Bakes.
Our parents, too, seemed to think there was no longer any need to hide it, and their treatment of her grew increasingly harsh.
“Sigh.”
After finishing her story, another long sigh escaped from Jewela Bakes’ lips.
She herself didn’t fully understand why she was telling Camilla all of this.
“That’s why I hated you so much.”
“….”
What kind of absurd conclusion was this?
Camilla continued to regard her without saying a word.
“When I looked at you, it felt like I was looking at myself.”
The way you fumbled around your family, constantly watching people’s expressions, yet still had enough pride to bristle with anger.

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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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