A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 209

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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. The Final Confrontation
“The Mirror of Truth was a person?”
Duke Jebillen could not hide his astonishment. He knew well what the Mirror of Truth was.
However, learning that it was not a mere object but an actual person was entirely new information to him.
Though his own household possessed many texts regarding the Eba Religion, most of the rare manuscripts were owned by the Duriel family.
It was inevitable, given that they had been desperately seeking the Guardian Sword for ages—though, of course, the Guardian Sword ultimately became the property of the Jebillen family.
‘Tsk.’
Duke Jebillen clicked his tongue inwardly as he observed Duke Sorpel, whose spirit seemed half-absent.
He understood perfectly well why the man was in such a state.
At a drinking gathering some time ago, he had heard of the troubles that Duke Sorpel had been wrestling with recently.
‘That child carries far too heavy a burden.’
‘What burden?’
‘The Mana Stone Mines alone were not enough—even the Guardian Sword chose that child, did it not?’
‘The Guardian Sword still belongs to our family. The Mana Stone Mines were purchased by her. She was not chosen.’
‘And now she is being called a Saint, no less.’
‘Do not mention the Guardian Sword in this context!’
‘Be quiet! That is not the issue at hand!’
He was already a man troubled by concern that his daughter bore a burden far too heavy.
‘And now the Mirror of Truth has been added to that weight.’
It would be strange if his mind had not been shaken.
“Father.”
“…Let us return home at once.”
“Pardon?”
“We must leave this place immediately.”
Duke Sorpel seized Camilla’s wrist without hesitation, insisting they depart for home at once.
He, too, knew what the Mirror of Truth was.
Not with the detailed knowledge of Marquis Duriel or Duke Jebillen, but he knew precisely one passage from the historical records.
The Mirror of Truth, utterly destroyed by the hands of the Eba Religion’s followers…
Though it was a passage he had read long ago, he remembered it distinctly because of the eerie chill it had inspired at the time.
And yet, that was his own daughter!
“We must leave at once.”
The Emperor’s death, the Eba Religion—none of it mattered now. What took priority was bringing this child to safety immediately.
“Father.”
Camilla was genuinely flustered by Duke Sorpel’s demeanor, so unlike his usual self. She had not expected him to be shocked to this degree.
“First, regarding Prince Abihel…”
In the chaos that followed Empress Javela’s death and the revelation of her ties to the Eba Religion, Prince Abihel had vanished without a trace.
He likely fled the moment he learned that I was the Mirror of Truth.
‘I certainly saw it.’
The ghost of Prince Abihel, bereft of reason like all the others, clinging tightly to his body.
I needed to find him as quickly as possible, yet…
“First, I need to get you home.”
Watching Father urge me forward, his voice trembling slightly, I found myself speechless.
‘What on earth…?’
What could possibly be wrong with him?
‘That expression… that’s definitely fear.’
Duke Sorpel afraid? Who would ever believe such a thing?
Yet that expression unmistakably betrayed terror.
“Father.”
“Let’s go. Now.”
As he seized my wrist again, I noticed his fingertips trembling ever so slightly. I could say nothing more.
‘But…’
My gaze swept across the Hall once more. Among the murmuring nobles caught off-guard by the sudden chaos, certain figures stood out.
Those already stripped of their flesh. Those whose lost souls now clung to their bodies.
I couldn’t simply leave them behind—not when they flinched and bowed their heads upon meeting my eyes.
Wait, wait? They’re escaping over there! I need to catch them…!
“Camilla!”
“…!”
Duke Sorpel seized my hesitating shoulders with surprising force.
“Do you have any idea what those creatures did with the Mirror of Truth!”
…Ah.
‘So that’s it.’
He knew all along.
‘That’s why…’
I found myself laughing despite everything. Understanding what he truly feared, I couldn’t help but smile even in this chaos.
“You foolish girl! How can you laugh at a time like this!”
“I don’t know.”
As I gazed at Duke Sorpel, whose fingertips still trembled, my eyes grew moist without my realizing it.
“C-Camilla!”
His eyes widened rapidly upon seeing my state, and he seemed utterly flustered. Had his urgent shout seemed like anger?
“No, no. Father isn’t angry…”
But he never finished his words. I had gently wrapped my arms around his waist.
“…”
Though our relationship had improved greatly compared to before, he sensed it still.
That I maintained distance from him. That I never fully surrendered myself to his side.
‘But…’
The Camilla embracing him now felt somehow different.
At the soft sound of her quiet sobs against my chest, I gently stroked her hair, feeling an inexplicable warmth bloom within me.
“Hey! Let go, let go! What’s with this family drama in the middle of all this!”
“My Rio hugs me like this quite often these days.”
“What? That brat’s always been bold… No, wait, this isn’t the time for this!”
“Why? Your own children have hugged you before, haven’t they?”
“….”
“…Should I tell our Rio to hug you too?”
“That’s enough! You brat! You’re the worst!”
At the continuous bickering between Duke Jebillen and Duke Sefra, Camilla finally took a step back from her father.
A smile had already returned to her face.
“Father.”
“Yes.”
“I have so much I want to say.”
Duke Sorpel’s hand gently stroked Camilla’s hair again. But moments later, his expression hardened rapidly.
The same was true for the others. Duke Sefra and Duke Jebillen also cast cold gazes out the window.
Boom! Bang!
In that instant, small explosions echoed from a distance in rapid succession.
“Father!”
It was Ravi who rushed in with quick steps.
“It’s the group we saw at the Hunting Grounds. My brother is holding them back, but there are so many of them…!”
Ravi’s voice was urgent.
Ravi and Ludvil, who had been surveying outside moments before, discovered an enormous number of enemies pouring in.
At Ludvil’s instruction to report inside, he had no choice but to leave his post hastily.
“And the one leading them is Prince Abihel, Your Highness!”
Unlike the other shocked nobles, the three Dukes showed little reaction, as they had already anticipated this to some degree.
“Go.”
Duke Sefra led the way quietly. Duke Jebillen moved to follow, but paused briefly and turned back to Camilla.
“Take it.”
“This is….”
The Guardian Sword.
“It’s better if you hold it than I do.”
“Our daughter won’t be fighting!”
“I know, I know! Just carry it for self-defense!”
“Camilla, don’t move from here under any circumstances. Understood?”
Duke Sorpel impressed this upon her firmly.
“But….”
If those gathering outside were the same creatures as before?
Camilla gripped the Guardian Sword tightly. As she tried to follow them, the gazes of the three Dukes converged on one point.
There stood Marquis Duriel, still vacant-eyed as he stared at the dead Empress Javela.
Feeling the three Dukes’ gaze upon him, he slowly lifted his head.
“You may charge me with treason.”
As Duke Sefra waved his hand, a massive black wolf appeared at his side in an instant.
“The foremost duty of the Guardian Houses is to protect the Empire.”
Next, a large eagle with crimson wings spread wide appeared beside Duke Jebillen.
“Huh?”
Duke Sorpel also retrieved King from his arms.
Wait, wasn’t bringing Shinsu to the Imperial Palace considered treason? When on earth did King get here?
‘My child still doesn’t know how to hide… which means…’
He simply brought King to the Imperial Palace regardless of the circumstances.
[Kyuu!]
Unaware of Camilla’s bewildered expression, King—delighted at finally being released—bounded over and burrowed into her embrace.
[Kyuu, kyuu!]
But it was short-lived. After greeting her, King wriggled free from her arms and turned back toward Duke Sorpel.
Whoooosh!
A brilliant flash of light erupted, and in an instant, King’s form transformed. The massive White Tiger I’d seen before now stood in his place.
“Don’t worry about anything and stay here.”
With one final word of caution, Duke Sorpel swiftly exited the hall.
“You stay put and behave.”
Ravi, apparently intending to follow the dukes, gave Camilla a stern instruction.
“Are you leaving too, brother?”
Camilla quickly grabbed him, her eyes brimming with anxiety.
Unlike Ludvil and Duke Sorpel, why did this one seem so helpless? Did others feel this way when looking at me?
“I need to help Father and my older brother.”
He tapped her forehead reassuringly with his hand. Camilla gripped his hand tightly.
“Just don’t die. As long as you’re breathing, I’ll restore you to your original state no matter what.”
“…You certainly have a brutal way with words.”
Ravi chuckled softly, his gaze shifting behind her.
There stood Arsian, who had been quietly following Camilla like a shadow all this while.
“Guard her well.”
Arsian simply nodded once without unnecessary words.
At that, Ravi clicked his tongue briefly. That bastard really got on my nerves, yet strangely, in situations like this, I found myself trusting him.
“Sigh.”
With Ravi gone as well, Camilla swept her gaze across the surroundings.
Few people remained in the hall. Everyone had been too busy hiding in the sudden chaos.
“Huh?”
A moment later, her eyes widened slightly.
“Where’s Jainer?”
Jainer, who had been nearby just moments ago, was nowhere to be seen.
“I don’t know. He suddenly disappeared.”
“What?”
At Arsian’s response, Camilla’s brow furrowed. Where could he have gone in a situation like this?
* * *
Crash!
Numerous enemies fell like rain beneath the sword Ludvil wielded.
“Young Master! They’re coming from that side too!”
The soldiers of the Three Ducal Houses who had been standing by were engaging the enemies, but the endless stream of Eba Cult followers showed no sign of stopping.
Where in the world had all these people been hiding?
“Why in the world is the Second Prince doing this?”
Everyone was confused at the sight of Prince Abihel standing at the forefront.
The Imperial soldiers had initially tried to follow Prince Abihel’s orders, but they hesitated upon seeing the Eba Cult followers he was leading.
The mindless mob that attacked without reason didn’t seem normal at all.
In the end, all the Imperial soldiers were paralyzed, unable to act either way.
“They’re attacking the Imperial Palace! What are you hesitating for!”
But at that moment, a familiar voice rang 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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