A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 199

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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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“….”
Even after Camilla finished speaking, Dorman remained silent. The surprise that had flickered across his face had already settled into composure.
Soon, a short sigh escaped Dorman’s lips.
“That’s correct.”
At his brief affirmation, a sigh burst from Camilla’s own lips. It was what she’d expected, yet receiving confirmation made her feel strangely unsettled.
“So, all of that….”
The suffering I endured while living as Sia. The times I nearly died at Father’s hands.
All of it was to keep me alive.
“What on earth were you thinking, doing something like that?”
You even lost your administrative position because of this.
“What was the reason?”
Why did you stay by my side despite all the mistreatment? And what was your reason for keeping silent all this time?
“Don’t tell me I’m the reincarnation of your sister….”
“Absolutely not!”
Dorman shook his head vigorously in denial.
“My sister was a very kind child.”
“…I’m sorry. I’m not a good person.”
“Ah, haha.”
Hmm? He’s not denying it?
Why is he avoiding my gaze? Don’t look away! That makes me even more upset!
“No, that’s not it. I told you before—my sister’s soul was completely annihilated at that time. She couldn’t have been reincarnated.”
“Then what? I’m not your sister’s reincarnation, so why did you do something like that?”
“That’s what I’m wondering too… Why did I do that?”
“What?”
Why are you asking me that?
Watching Dorman turn the question back on himself, Camilla’s brow furrowed slightly.
At her expression, a bitter smile bloomed at the corners of Dorman’s mouth.
“I don’t know myself.”
“….”
“I felt pity watching the Mirror of Truth slip away in their hands each time, never even catching a glimpse of light.”
The face of my sister, who never even had the chance to be reborn, kept appearing in my mind.
Even knowing that the bonds formed during my time as human had become meaningless, I couldn’t help it.
“When I came to my senses, I had already committed the act.”
The moment I saw the soul of that child, born with the destiny of the Mirror of Truth, I unknowingly sent her to another world.
Hoping somehow that she would be born safely.
“The artifact they possess only reacts when the Mirror of Truth is born.”
“Only at birth?”
“Yes. I thought if I could just get past that moment, I swapped the two souls. I believed that if I returned them to their proper places afterward, there would be no problem.”
If she were born in another world and then brought back, the artifact wouldn’t detect her. Then the child would be safe.
But Dorman had never anticipated that it would take this long to return everything to its rightful place.
So many lifetimes had to repeat before we could truly recognize each other.
“I am deeply sorry for all of this. My decision caused so much suffering in the lives of Sia and Camilla.”
“There’s one more person.”
“Yes, Jainer as well.”
Sia and Camilla, and Jainer who was caught up in it all by accident.
Three people whose fates were altered by his decision.
But…
“I have no regrets.”
“You…”
“Because you are alive and well, miss.”
Watching Dorman smile softly as he finished speaking, another long sigh escaped from Camilla’s lips.
She had resented him so much over the years. She had hated him quite a bit and vented her anger on him countless times.
She had believed that all the pain she suffered was caused by him.
‘But it was all to keep me alive.’
He even lost his job because of it.
‘That man’s life really…’
It was absurd, and she felt hollow.
“But Dorman.”
“Yes.”
“I’m not sorry to you.”
It was his own decision, so he should have borne the consequences. As he said, it wasn’t my choice.
Even in such hardship, I had entertained dark thoughts more than once about whether I truly had to keep living.
“So I can’t even say thank you.”
Words of gratitude—for saving me, for helping me find my place again—didn’t come easily.
Was I truly so wretched?
“But.”
I would never say I’m sorry, thank you, or well done.
No, I won’t say them.
“You’ve been through a lot.”
But this much I could say.
This was the only thing I could say with sincerity… yes, this was all.
“All those long years, you watched over me alone. You’ve been through so much.”
“…”
At those brief words, Dorman’s eyes widened.
A faint smile soon appeared at the corners of his mouth. He seemed quite satisfied with those words.
“But that’s fine for me—what about the other two?”
Camilla clicked her tongue softly. What crime did Sia and Jainer commit?
Those two lived through all those long years in suffering with no fault of their own.
“I am already considering how to compensate Jainer. Once I reach a conclusion, I will visit him.”
“What about Sia?”
Camilla froze for a moment.
Now, calling Sia by that name felt utterly natural—as if she were speaking of a stranger.
A faint smile played across her lips as she shook her head lightly. It was time to let Sia go.
After all, I am Camilla.
“Sia has likely received the final offer by now.”
“An offer? What kind of offer?”
“A choice.”
“What choice?”
Dorman merely smiled enigmatically at Camilla’s bewildered expression, offering no answer.
Watching him, Camilla tilted her head in confusion.
* * *
[Sigh.]
After spending the day dutifully shadowing Camilla, the priestess ghost Arena let out a long yawn once her charge had fallen asleep.
It was peculiar—even in death, boredom still drew yawns from her lips.
[Will she finally get some proper rest tonight?]
Watching Camilla lose sleep over recent troubles, I harbored genuine concern.
Though tonight, at least, she’d fallen asleep earlier than usual.
[The Eba Cult…]
She gazed absently at the moonlit sky for a moment, then exhaled softly.
Following Camilla these past days, I’d come to realize that the Eba Cult hadn’t truly vanished from the world—they’d merely been lying dormant, holding their breath all this time.
[Cockroaches, the lot of them.]
I knew the Eba Cult well enough. It was a name I’d heard endlessly after entering the Temple.
Whenever lessons covered the heretics who once plunged the world into chaos, the Eba Cult was invariably mentioned.
[Ugh.]
Back then, I’d been utterly exasperated—why did they keep referencing a pseudo-religion that had supposedly disappeared ages ago?
My gaze drifted toward Camilla’s Room, where I’d just been.
Though the time spent there wasn’t long, observing Camilla revealed a girl far too young to carry so many untold burdens.
Seeing the dead, maintaining connections with Reapers—none of it was remotely ordinary.
[And now, the Eba Cult on top of everything else.]
Her fate was remarkably tangled. It was rare for so many threads to converge upon a single person.
[…Tsk.]
My brow furrowed slightly as I gazed at the sleeping Camilla with something akin to pity.
[You again.]
The one bowing respectfully before me was none other than Reaper Habel.
“You’re here again tonight.”
[Why’d you come back? That girl’s finally getting some decent sleep—don’t disturb her. Those rotten bastards keep pestering her with their pathetic requests, and it’s infuriating!]
“I haven’t come to see Camilla.”
[Then what?]
“How much longer will you continue like this? Don’t you understand that if one ascended to godhood persists in this manner, dissolution is inevitable?”
[You say the same thing every time.]
Arena waved her hand dismissively, as if bored.
[You say the same thing every time, yet here I still am, perfectly intact.]
“That is only because the Chief Deity continues to watch over you. No one knows when his heart might change.”
[Let it change then.]
Arena crossed her arms and let out a scoff.
[You think I’d be frightened if I were to disappear? I’ve lived long enough—or rather, existed long enough. There’s nothing I regret.]
“Since you have no regrets, why not ascend with us?”
[No regrets, so why would I follow? What’s so wonderful about that world up there? Have I lost my mind? To willingly go to a place filled with creatures like you?]
Reaper Habel let out a short sigh—another failed attempt at persuasion.
Arena, like the Orphanage Director, had been elevated to godhood before her death, but her circumstances were quite different.
She was not designated as a lower-tier deity, but rather as a high-ranking one, and the Chief Deity himself had personally assigned her position.
The reason she had not dissipated despite wandering the world freely for all this time was because the Chief Deity cherished her greatly.
As a result, only the Reapers, who could not compel such a spirit, had perished.
[Ah, I don’t care. Tell that old codger directly—whether he makes me disappear or not, it’s his choice to make!]
“Old codger? But he is….”
[Why should I care? Why must I work even in death! Damn it! He gave me divine power without my asking, and I’ve suffered my entire life because of it. Do you have any idea?]
“The Chief Deity cherishes you greatly….”
[‘Unwanted affection is violence,’ don’t you know that? Huh? Wow, speaking so carelessly about something that isn’t your business? Running around using divine power here and there, I swear!]
“….”
After continuing to curse the Chief Deity without restraint for some time, Arena’s expression finally seemed to lighten, and she departed from that place.
Reaper Habel, already accustomed to such scenes, simply exhaled another silent sigh.
A moment later, his gaze slowly turned backward.
Upon spotting Dorman standing there with a gentle smile, Reaper Habel bowed respectfully and quickly turned to leave.
“Are you still angry?”
“Not at all. How could I possibly dare!”
At the vigorous shaking of his head, Dorman’s smile deepened.
Watching him, Reaper Habel bit his lip firmly.
Now… are you amused right now?
“Will you not come to regret this?”

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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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