A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 190

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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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That’s why I sought out the Jebillen Household. I’d even rummaged through the Sorpel Family’s Library on the off chance, but found little of value.
Of course, there was a place with even better collections on the Eba Cult than the Jebillen Household.
The Durial Marquis Estate—a family that had pursued the Sword of Protection just as earnestly as the Jebillen Household.
But the problem was….
‘That place is Empress Javela’s family home.’
The current Durial Marquis was Empress Javela’s biological father.
I found it too awkward to visit there, so I’d settled on this place as my second choice.
‘The Eba Cult.’
Zeno says there’s a possibility, but honestly, I’m not sure.
Wasn’t it a cult that was completely annihilated long ago? That’s what everyone believed, wasn’t it?
“Sister!”
As I made my way toward the Library under Petro’s guidance, I stopped when I saw Elisha rushing toward me with all her might.
“When did you arrive?”
With her arms crossed, rubbing her face against me playfully, she looked just like a kitten seeking affection because it wanted something.
When did she transform from a little fox into a kitten?
“I was planning to come greet you.”
“I just got here.”
Elisha stepped back and spun around in a full circle, showing off the dress she was wearing.
“Sister! What do you think of this outfit?”
A smile naturally bloomed on my lips at the sight. The shoulders and back were made of thin, sheer material that looked wonderfully cool.
“It suits you beautifully.”
I lavished her with praise without reservation.
And for good reason—she was wearing a dress I’d invested in, created by Jewela.
“I saw you wearing one last time and went straight to place an order. I thought I was quick about it, but there were already so many reservations. It took forever to receive it, but it really suits me, doesn’t it?”
“You look lovely.”
“Right? The design is a bit unfamiliar, but it’s so beautiful! Plus, the whole dress is incredibly light, which is wonderful!”
Elisha’s keen observations of the best points made my smile deepen.
“It’s even prettier because you’re wearing it.”
“Really, truly?”
At my casual compliment, Elisha’s face flushed red as she squeaked with delight. Compliments don’t cost anything, after all.
“But who is the designer? Everyone’s been so curious about it. You know, don’t you? Since you’re an investor here?”
“I’m not sure.”
I hadn’t revealed Jewela’s identity to anyone yet. She preferred it that way.
She said the family would certainly oppose her involvement in such trivial work done by commoners.
She didn’t want to create unnecessary discord right now. For now, she wanted to focus solely on quietly making clothes.
‘Well, there’s no harm in it.’
If the designer wanted to focus only on her work, why would I interfere?
I readily accepted her wishes and kept Jewela’s identity thoroughly hidden.
Instead, I took an active role in promoting the dresses.
Recently, I’d worn only Jewela’s creations to every gathering I attended, and by now, the orders had skyrocketed.
Our designer Jewela is currently abandoning all pretense of dignity and letting out delighted shrieks, insisting I look at this.
‘Of course.’
I’m wearing it.
Do you know how many items I’ve worn in that other world and sold out completely? I’ve even revived failing companies, I’ll have you know.
At first, everyone hesitated at this new style, so far removed from restraint, but their eyes soon sparkled with interest.
It’s human nature to be drawn to novelty, and when that novelty is beautiful besides, what more need be said?
“Sister, you said you’d be reading in the Library?”
“Yes.”
“Then once you’re done with the books, let’s definitely have tea together.”
“All right.”
Once Elisha learned that Camilla was heading to the Library, she immediately abandoned the idea of following.
She despised books unless they were related to theatre, and would never touch them otherwise.
Camilla shook her head lightly as she watched Elisha.
I suspect her year-end exam score will also end in a seven. At the very least, the leading digit should be in the tens, not the hundreds.
‘Now that we’ve grown distant, she should probably withdraw from that wretched seven-score group.’
But what could I do? I couldn’t force her to study when she didn’t want to.
When should I find time to teach her acting again?
‘She seems to be hoping for it, in her own way.’
She does have some talent, after all.
“Right this way.”
After being guided by Petro, I stepped into the Library and exhaled a quiet sigh internally.
“It’s quite spacious.”
Though I’d expected as much, seeing the interior stretch endlessly before me gave me a sudden sense that this investigation wouldn’t be easy.
“What sort of book are you looking for?”
“Will you find it for me directly?”
I thought there was a librarian here? Why would he need to do it himself?
At my puzzled expression, he responded with his characteristic smile.
“I’d like to help, if that’s all right?”
“Yes, of course.”
If he’s offering to help, I’m grateful for it.
I immediately listed the books I wanted. I already knew several titles from what Zeno had told me.
“I’d appreciate it if you could bring me all the books related to the Eba Cult.”
At that, Petro’s eyes filled with confusion.
“Why are you suddenly looking into the Eba Cult?”
“Just curious. I heard the Guardian’s Sword shone brilliantly when facing the Eba Cult long ago?”
“That’s what I’ve heard.”
“I was wondering if there might be another reason the sword responded to me.”
I made up an excuse. Now that the possibility of the enemy being the Eba Cult had emerged, I had to be even more careful with my actions.
“Please wait a moment.”
Petro didn’t ask further questions and promptly gathered books related to the Guardian’s Sword, Mars, and the Eba Cult, bringing them to me carefully.
“…There’s quite a lot.”
“Well, that’s only natural. Among our predecessors, there were those who took a particular interest in this subject, so we’ve accumulated quite a collection.”
A moment later, gazing at the books piled high across the desk, I couldn’t help but grimace. I didn’t particularly dislike reading, but a sigh escaped me nonetheless.
“Did you happen to read all of these books, Petro?”
Or perhaps a summary version?
“Well, it’s not really my area of interest.”
I supposed there was no helping it. The moment I thought about having to read through all of this from beginning to end, my eyes already began to ache.
“If you need anything else, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
“Yes, thank you. This should be enough for now, so you can go about your business.”
“Understood.”
I steeled myself and took a seat. Since I’d already started, it was better to read through as much as I could as quickly as possible and be done with it.
‘Hmm?’
But I soon found myself looking up again. Petro had settled into the chair directly across from me.
‘I told him to go about his business, so why is he sitting there?’
When I questioned him with my eyes about what he was doing, he smiled broadly.
“I happen to have nothing pressing to attend to today. I thought I’d spend some time reading here as well. Would that be a bother?”
“No, not at all.”
What could a guest say when the master of the house insisted? I simply put it out of my mind and immediately picked up the book nearest to me.
Soon, I channeled the same concentration I used when reading scripts and became absorbed in the book.
‘When I’m focused like this, I’m completely in the zone.’
When reading scripts, I barely notice what’s happening around me.
Petro, who had been quietly observing me for a moment, soon retrieved a book of his own and began reading as well.
Yet he spent far more time gazing at me than at his book.
His eyes, as they rested upon me, grew soft and tender.
Why hadn’t I noticed before? How comfortable and precious these moments with her truly were.
“When did you last see Arsian?”
“Yesterday.”
“Ye…yesterday? What for….”
“Just because.”
“…Just because?”
“He drops by whenever he feels like it.”
The family members who once showed their displeasure at merely hearing Arsian’s name now simply accepted it as the natural order of things.
In fact, they’d ask if the two of us had quarreled whenever he didn’t visit.
“…?”
I, who had been answering without lifting my eyes from the book, finally looked up.
“Is there something else you wanted to say?”
Our eyes met as I tilted my head, noticing he’d been staring at me intently. Why did his expression look so vacant?
“Ah, my apologies. I was being a distraction.”
Petro quickly smiled and shook his head gently. At that, I returned my gaze to the book.
“….”
Petro’s expression grew slightly downcast as he watched her.
‘Perhaps…’
Perhaps it was already too late.
I’d been turning away from it, but every time I saw Arsian, I felt something.
Watching him show no regard for anyone’s opinion when it came to Camilla.
‘Look at this too.’
Unlike myself, who had never once visited her for fear of causing her trouble despite being too busy to even leave the Academy, Arsian…
“Sigh.”
A long breath escaped Petro’s lips. Watching Camilla, already absorbed in her reading, a bitter smile crossed his face once more.
“Hmm.”
How much time had passed like this? As the stack of read books grew higher beside her, Camilla’s expression grew increasingly grave.
‘This seems right, doesn’t it?’
What Zeno had said wasn’t baseless.
There were far too many points of correspondence between the enemies I had seen, heard of, and faced over time and the followers of the Eba Cult mentioned in the books.
‘Most of all, this.’
I couldn’t tear my eyes from a single passage written in the book.
All those who follow the Eba Cult are those whose souls have been stolen.
‘Those whose souls have been stolen.’
It could mean their minds had fallen into heresy and corruption, but to me, it read as the literal truth.
‘And this… I can’t deny it.’
What the Eba Cult had put forth as their doctrine was ‘eternal life.’
Reading how they had drawn people in with the sweet lie that those who believed and followed the Eba Cult would never die, I could only arrive at certainty.
The book didn’t detail how to obtain eternal life. Of course, they couldn’t reveal it.
‘Because they had to use humans as sacrifices.’
The fact that they had used children or the poor as sacrifices was revealed only later.
Afterward, it was Mars who led the effort to drive out the Eba Cult.
Sacrifices to seize physical bodies.
“Ha.”
I let out an involuntary laugh of despair.
When Mars wielded the Guardian Sword and saved the world, people were certain the Eba Cult had completely vanished from existence.
‘Vanished my foot.’

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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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