A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 214

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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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[Growl.]
“Hey, I’m just trying to give her medicine! Don’t bite!”
What is this insignificant human doing now? He keeps approaching this female human, and it irritates me to no end!
“I’ll just give her the medicine!”
Insignificant human, I grant you permission.
The woman remained unconscious. Watching her fever rise and cold sweat drip down her face stirred an inexplicable unease within me.
This human is truly fragile.
[Pat.]
Wake up soon, human.
As I gently patted the woman’s hand, I heard footsteps echoing from somewhere distant. The sound grew closer, then ceased at the door.
[Click.]
Hmm? Another visitor.
[Growl…]
No, no. I mustn’t bare my fangs to this human.
“You.”
My actual master—this human—smiles at me.
Do you like me that much, human? Even so, I prefer this female human to you.
And stop petting my head. It’s annoying.
“From now on, protect this child well.”
[Yelp!]
Don’t worry about that, human. I will protect this child from now on!
“No, King. This is mine.”
Damn little human. You’ve already eaten two, so naturally the last apple belongs to me.
“Sister said we should share nicely.”
Don’t you understand what “sharing nicely” means at your age? Sharing fairly is what sharing nicely means! Put that apple down right now!
[Yelp yelp!]
[Bounce!]
“Ah!”
[Yelp!]
So I only got to eat half! Why does this little human keep showing up like this!
I’m fed up. Why must I, a great Divine Beast and White Tiger, share such things with this tiny creature!
I’m done! Even I have my pride!
Despite my irritated growling, the little one paid no mind. Rather, the way it gently patted me was utterly absurd.
Impudent little thing! Do you know who I am? I am the great Divine Beast King, I tell you…!
“Rio, King, would you like some strawberries too?”
[Yelp yelp!]
“Yes!”
[Patter patter patter!]
Me first! Me first!
“King, are you asleep?”
Yes. Human, I’m quite tired. I’ve been very busy protecting you all day long.
When you were napping, I had to chase away insects approaching you, and occasionally I need to visit the original owner and play with them.
You know well enough that that human gets sulky quite easily, don’t you?
I have to go to the Kitchen for snacks, and I need to make sounds from time to time to prevent bad things from entering this Home.
Still, even with all my howling, there are things that come looking for you, human.
In any case, I’ve been very busy today, unlike you.
[Grrruuuu….]
The reason I’m nestling into your arms like this is all to protect you.
“Hehe, yes, King. Sleep well. You can close your eyes now.”
Yes, human. You sleep well too. I’ll see you again tomorrow.
Lick.
[Grrr.]
Goodbye.
Side story. Reward
“Um… Father?”
“Yes, go ahead.”
Daive, who had been reading a book, glanced up slightly to look at the person sitting before him.
“Aren’t you busy?”
“I am busy. That’s why I’m looking over these documents right now.”
Duke Escra set down the documents he was holding, dropping them with a soft thud, and clicked his tongue briefly.
Whether they were multiplying on their own or not, these documents were endless no matter how much he processed them—it was almost remarkable.
“Then shouldn’t you go to the Office….”
Why are you doing this in my room instead?
Daive swallowed the rest of his words and spoke again carefully. Lately, he had been coming to his room like this to look over documents.
“Otherwise, I barely have any time to spend with you.”
“What?”
“Am I bothering you?”
“Oh, no!”
Daive quickly shook his head. Just as his father said, he seemed to see his father’s face more in recent times than he had in his entire life before.
And… he didn’t hate it.
“Could it be… could it be that you’re trying to spend time with me….”
At the boy’s somewhat nervous question, Duke Escra even removed his glasses and looked at Daive.
“Of course. If it’s not you, there’s no reason for me to be here.”
At Duke Escra’s answer, Daive’s eyes widened, and his face grew brighter and brighter.
The boy, whose face had flushed slightly, smiled softly, then turned his gaze back to his book, as if embarrassed.
Duke Escra watched the boy’s expression with great interest.
‘Is this really so good?’
He had truly hated spending time with his father when he was young.
He disliked the unnecessary meddling, and he hated hearing pointless nagging.
But….
“You must spend at least three hours with Daive every single day.”
‘…When am I supposed to work?’
“You can do it beside Daive.”
‘The child won’t like that. Just because I’m a parent doesn’t mean I should force my way into every aspect of his life—’
“Yes, be quiet and do as I say.”
‘…’
Camilla had commanded it.
It would be more efficient for each of us to work and study in our own spaces, so I couldn’t fathom why this was necessary. Yet looking at Daive’s expression now, it seemed I’d made the right choice listening to her.
But seeing the boy’s face now, it appeared I’d done well to heed her words.
“And help the child with his studies too!”
“Daive, once you’ve finished, bring me that test paper.”
“Y-yes?”
Daive’s eyes widened as he prepared to grade the completed test alone.
After hesitating briefly, Daive shuffled toward Duke Escra and carefully handed over the finished test paper.
“Hmm.”
As Duke Escra began grading the test, Daive’s expression grew increasingly tense. The boy swallowed hard, his throat dry.
‘W-what if I got it wrong?’
The moment I clenched my fists from the tension, Duke Escra’s head lifted.
“You got one wrong.”
“Th-that is…”
My voice trembled without my realizing it.
Though it had happened long ago, the child habitually wrapped his arms around himself—arms that now bore no scars at all.
“I-it was a mistake…”
“A genius?”
“…Yes?”
Daive quickly looked up and saw Duke Escra seriously admiring the test paper.
“Getting all but one correct? My son is a genius.”
The corners of his mouth lifted slightly.
“He’s clever, just like me.”
Watching Duke Escra nod repeatedly, a smile finally returned to Daive’s lips as well.
So you could receive praise even without a perfect score.
“My sister said I take after Mother.”
“…Camilla?”
“Yes, she said Mother was incredibly good at mathematics too.”
[That’s right, Daive! Your mom was amazing at math! I mentioned it to Camilla before.]
Ghost Sharua, who had been watching the father and son from the side with satisfaction, squeaked with delight. Of course, no one could hear her words.
“What does that child know? He’s never even met her.”
“Ah…”
That was true.
Daive tilted his head, sensing something odd. Had he simply said it to match my mood?
“Camilla’s right about that.”
It was then that Jainer quietly interjected into the conversation between the two.
“Brother, when did you arrive?”
Daive greeted him warmly right away.
“Sorry. I came in without knocking.”
“It’s fine.”
Jainer gently stroked the boy’s head as he watched him smile more readily than before.
The smile he habitually wore had become somewhat bitter.
‘If only I had known this would be the last time.’
Had I known sooner that life would no longer repeat itself, I could have spared this child his suffering beforehand.
Jainer had known from the beginning that Daive was being tormented by his nanny. But he had never thought to help.
There was no point—he would just return to the beginning anyway.
In the early cycles, back when the memories were still vivid, I had desperately tried to save Daive. I drove the nanny away, and killed her several times.
But as that life continued to repeat endlessly, everything became meaningless.
I grew weary. Utterly sick of it.
Eventually, I lost interest in everything and withered away. I could find no meaning in what I had done, nor in what I would have to do.
And yet this life had been the last one.
Jainer stroked Daive’s head once more.
“You came early today.”
“Yes, I was a bit tired.”
“Did something happen outside?”
“An unexpected guest arrived.”
“A guest?”
Jainer’s smile deepened at the corners of his mouth.
* * *
“Dorman? What brings you here?”
It was Dorman who had suddenly come looking for Jainer.
“I’ve come to offer you compensation.”
“Compensation?”
“Yes, for the unforeseen error you were caught up in.”
It was an intriguing matter.
“Compensation, you say.”
I was curious what compensation a former Soul Manager Organization member could offer.
“I will grant you the authority to reconstruct your life.”
“Reconstruct?”
As expected, what came from his mouth was quite novel.
“I will condense your more than twenty-six repeated lives into one. In exchange, I will erase all the painful memories and preserve only the good ones.”
“Hmm.”
Jainer pondered for a moment. It wasn’t a bad proposal, but….
“I decline.”
“Pardon?”
Jainer didn’t deliberate long. He chuckled softly and shook his head lightly.
“If I cling to this any longer, things will become complicated.”
“What do you mean…”
“There’s only one thing I want to remember.”
Camilla. Memories connected to her.
Beyond that, there are no other memories I wish to preserve.
If I could keep only the beautiful memories I shared with her…
“I don’t think I could handle myself if I pushed further.”
I couldn’t predict what would happen if I became more obsessed with this.
“So you’re also refusing, Lord Jainer.”
“Also?”
Dorman fell into deep contemplation. Why was it that everyone rejected the reward he offered? He had even sacrificed his reinstatement to obtain it.
“Hmm, this is troubling. Lady Camilla specifically instructed me to reward both Lord Jainer and Lady Sia.”
So he had left the system intact for Sia. Going forward, she could continue to benefit from the system’s assistance as long as she didn’t refuse it herself.
But what about Jainer? After deliberating at length, Dorman retrieved another proposal.
“Lord Jainer has killed a total of 124 people in this lifetime.”
“124? That’s fewer than I expected.”
“That is…”
Dorman could only offer an awkward smile as Jainer tilted his head in apparent surprise.
“W-well, in any case, Lord Jainer is confirmed for Hell. The moment your life ends, you’ll go straight to Hell without trial.”
“And?”
“…I’m telling you that you’re going to Hell.”
“So what do you want me to do about it?”

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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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