A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 213

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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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I heard you left the Capital?
“It’s been a while.”
Both of them swallowed hard without realizing it.
Why was Kevin here? I distinctly told him to come here and undergo document screening…!
Their gazes shifted toward the desk. The nameplate placed there bore an engraved name.
【Examiner Kevin Brian】
“You… you’re an examiner?”
“What? What’s wrong with that?”
“H-how could you…!”
A Finance Department examiner wasn’t a position anyone could hold. Beyond mere competence, one needed a letter of recommendation from someone wielding formidable authority that everyone acknowledged.
Yet how could Kevin, who possessed no power whatsoever and came from a hopelessly humble background, possibly occupy that seat?
“I recommended him.”
“…!”
At that moment, the figure seated with their back turned slowly rotated to face them.
“You, you…!”
Both their faces flooded with shock once more.
“Long time no see.”
Camilla waved toward them in greeting.
“By the way, the Three Ducal Houses also wrote a letter of recommendation for him. His grades were exceptional enough that he could have forced his way into anywhere, but he specifically wanted to go to the Business Support Division.”
“It turned out to suit my aptitude quite well.”
“He initially applied to the Diplomatic Division. His Majesty and Duke Jebillen were incredibly disappointed about it. They’ve been dropping hints to me about it even recently.”
“…!”
After the Eba Cult incident, Crown Prince Edsen ascended to the throne… no, Emperor Edsen had purged everyone working in the Imperial Palace from the ground up.
Even those who had served in the Imperial Palace for years were mercilessly removed if they merely occupied their positions incompetently.
He threw himself into appointing new talent, and Kevin was precisely such a talented individual who had seized this opportunity created by the vacancies to enter this position.
“His Majesty was extremely satisfied with Kevin’s abilities. Kevin is remarkably intelligent. It’s almost a shame that he didn’t complete the Academy thanks to someone.”
Camilla’s gaze turned toward Kevin. When their eyes met, Kevin bowed with utmost courtesy.
“Why would you help Kevin…?”
Meriz and Louis couldn’t comprehend it. They hadn’t had any particular connection with him even when they were at the Academy.
“Kevin came looking for me.”
“What?”
“When was that again?”
“It was last autumn.”
“Ah, that’s right.”
Around the time cold winds began to blow, Kevin suddenly appeared at the Ghost Merchant Store.
His visit, given that they’d never had a proper conversation before, left Camilla bewildered.
‘Please help me.’
‘Me? Why?’
‘I don’t want to live as a loser like this.’
He likely came after hearing that the Student Council had collapsed because of me.
To be honest, I didn’t want to help at first. I’m not a philanthropist, so why should I?
‘I have no interest in extending a hand to someone who begs with empty words.’
‘I…’
‘But I do enjoy investing.’
‘Pardon?’
‘Do you study at all?’
However, I decided to appreciate the courage it took to seek me out. The fire burning in those eyes—the determination to accomplish something—wasn’t entirely unpleasant either.
Of course, that didn’t mean I helped him immediately. I truly had no desire to assist someone with no abilities whatsoever.
So I told him to prove it. To demonstrate his worth. If he did, I said I would invest as much as he needed.
‘And Kevin proved himself.’
He boldly passed what amounted to a civil service examination administered by the state—in just six months, no less.
Now even the Finance Minister has taken notice of him.
“So, what brings the two of you here?”
Kevin finally turned his gaze toward the documents Meriz and Louis were holding. It was obvious what they wanted, but he asked anyway.
“I asked what business they had here.”
“…”
Meriz bit her lip firmly. This man who once couldn’t even lift his head in my presence!
Louis exhaled a short sigh as well. His circumstances suddenly felt pathetic.
“You’ve come to borrow money.”
Camilla continued speaking on behalf of the two who couldn’t easily open their mouths.
“Both your families are in difficult straits these days. You each have debts exceeding ten million gold due in just two weeks, don’t you? There are other debts with a month remaining, but the amounts are larger.”
“H-how do you even know that!”
Louis and Meriz’s eyes widened in shock.
They had been meticulous about keeping it secret within their families—how could she possibly know?
Only then did Camilla slowly rise from her seat and take a step toward Louis and Meriz.
“I’ve never broken a promise.”
“A promise?”
Camilla’s eyes narrowed as she regarded Louis, the former vice-chairman.
“The video.”
“…!”
“As promised, I never released it anywhere else. However…”
She paused briefly, then clicked her tongue softly.
“I never promised to stop my father, did I?”
“…Father?”
Camilla’s father… Duke Sorpel!
His eyes flickered uncontrollably.
Could it be…!
“My father’s affection for his daughter is perhaps excessive.”
“N-no way! Our family’s current hardship is because of…?”
Camilla’s smile deepened further.
“I only recently found out that Father had been making moves. He cut off their business connections, blocked their funding, and provided support to their competitors.”
He had completely destroyed the families of every Student Council executive.
“That’s… that can’t be right.”
Now it all made sense. Why had the families of the Student Council executives suddenly fallen into ruin!
Had Duke Sorpel been behind it all? Or should I say it was Camilla?
“Why! We never even touched you!”
“You touched my friend.”
“…!”
“My father is very fond of Laila.”
My only friend, as he calls her.
Louis had nothing to say. He truly hadn’t realized that his foolish actions from those thoughtless days would bear such consequences.
His resentment was directed entirely at Meriz standing beside him.
If only she hadn’t existed! He hadn’t even agreed with Meriz’s actions…!
“Just leave the documents. Whether they’ll be approved is another matter.”
Watching Camilla point to the documents they were holding, Meriz ground her teeth in frustration.
“Who do you think you are! Are you even an employee here?”
“You didn’t know?”
“What?”
“That I’m the Finance Department’s largest patron.”
“…!”
“You do know the Finance Department operates through patronage, don’t you?”
More than half of that patronage comes from the Ghost Merchant Store. The remaining half is mostly provided by Duke Sorpel and the other two Dukes.
In other words, the Finance Department was being run by the Three Ducal Houses.
“I think I have the right to have a say in where the money goes.”
“Ugh…!”
Meriz clenched her fists in frustration.
She should have made sure to kill her back then!
Meriz also knew that her father had tried to kill Camilla. She had overheard a confidential conversation between him and his advisor by chance.
She had pretended not to hear anything, but inwardly she had cheered him on enthusiastically.
After all, her expulsion from the Academy and her father’s business difficulties were all Camilla’s fault. She had hoped she would simply die in that foreign land.
But in the end… it was her own father who died.
“Leave the proposal behind. If it’s a hastily prepared plan because you’re desperate for money, you’d be better off looking elsewhere right now.”
Meriz, who had been biting her lip repeatedly, simply turned around. Louis also let out a short sigh and turned away.
But the heaviness in Meriz’s steps as she walked ahead didn’t seem like mere imagination.
Though she had turned away in anger and shame, the despair of having nowhere else to borrow money must have crashed over her.
Louis understood that feeling better than anyone.
Before the door closed completely, Louis’s eyes met Kevin’s indifferent gaze, and he had no choice but to leave with his head bowed.
The price of past actions weighed painfully upon him.
Side story. King’s Day
It’s cold. This place is so freezing. Why hasn’t anyone come to find me?
I tapped my surroundings playfully, kicking at the water for a moment before curling my body into a tight ball and holding my breath as I always did.
So cold… I hate the water… How much longer do I have to stay here?
One day I swelled with anticipation, the next I wept myself to sleep in sorrow. I repeated these endless cycles countless times.
As I whimpered under the weight of loneliness that visited me without fail, a strange sound suddenly began to reach my ears.
[This is… an… egg!]
I hear a voice! Did you come to find me? I’m here. I’m right here!
At the thought that I might escape this place, I desperately radiated light with all my might.
Then, moments later, someone lifted me up, and finally…
“Baby… are… you… okay?”
“You… cough!”
Outside!
The moment I realized I had escaped the water, my tail moved of its own accord.
As I flailed, trying to catch my swishing tail, my body suddenly grew warm.
Huh? What is this warmth? It’s so warm. I feel wonderful.
“So… you’re saying? You’re… protecting… it?”
“Just as I… thought… fast!”
The one who found me hurried about busily here and there.
Having spent so long in the quiet water, I welcomed this commotion.
“…la, could this possibly be…!”
“Yes, Shinsu… egg…”
In my drowsy state, I rolled my body around, and I felt a familiar energy. This is…!
Uuuuung—!
Ah! You’re calling me! The one who will be with me is calling!
Screeeech!
Everyone will be so amazed when they see my form, right? They’ll all marvel at my incredible power!
Thump, thump, thump.
My confident stride.
[Kyuuu!]
A resounding cry!
“…a kitten? But you said White Tiger?”
[Finally, you’ve awakened!]
Yes, I am Shinsu White Tiger!
As I looked around, I saw a large man holding a pendant in one hand, his expression filled with emotion.
Ah, so this is the one I must protect from now on.
But the warmth I felt at first wasn’t from this human, was it? That tenderness was definitely… yes, it was that human!
Thump, thump, thump!
[Kyuuu!]
Hold me, human!
“No, no. It’s not me, I’m telling you.”
Huh? What? Did you just push me away? How could you?
When I looked up with eyes full of shock, the woman who had been wearing an awkward expression finally turned her head away.
Look carefully. I am Shinsu! The Shinsu that everyone desires! Do you think there could be another magnificent Shinsu like me?
Human, embrace me at once!
[Kyuu?]
Why do you keep pushing your rear end into me?
“It’s not me. Over there, go over there.”
Go? Really? To that human?
[Kyuuu….]
Yes… I understand. I shall go to that human. Uh, uh?
“Camilla!”
Human, why are you collapsing!
[Kyuu!]

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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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