A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 226

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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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To them, these were treasures and keepsakes, no doubt.
But to me, Camilla, they were merely secondhand junk.
Take the assassin Zero’s sword I’d given to Rube just moments ago—what use would it be to me?
I suppose I should be grateful that Rube at least appreciated it.
That said, some of these items did prove useful in their own way.
What I was retrieving now was one such piece. In fact, I’d say this was the most useful of them all.
[What is that?]
[Alcohol?]
What Camilla withdrew from the box was a rather large bottle of spirits—not just one, but several.
“Aclerea fruit wine.”
[Aclerea fruit?]
[Hmm… but the color is different from ordinary Aclerea wine?]
“Four hundred years old.”
[F-four hundred years?]
[Four hundred years?]
Derin and Perol’s mouths fell open in unison.
Aclerea fruit was not something easily obtained to begin with.
Even in the Southern Hot Region, one could only harvest it properly once every twenty years if the weather cooperated—it was that rare.
Yet people still sought it out desperately because the wine made from it possessed an exquisite flavor.
Moreover, it was said that as time passed, the taste deepened and the bouquet blossomed ever more richly.
But four hundred years? Not ten or twenty, but four hundred years old!
I’d actually wondered whether something aged four hundred years could even be consumed, but…
How wrong I was.
The moment I uncorked one of the bottles that had been sealed away in the Palace for so long, the entire air filled with a floral fragrance so intoxicating that even I found myself lost in it for a time.
Even wine made from flowers wouldn’t carry such a scent, I thought.
[Thank you. I’ve been curious about this wine’s taste even in death.]
Had he been a devoted drinker even in life?
The Crown Prince, who had asked me to find the wine hidden in a secret place and let him taste just one cup, drank what I poured for him with evident satisfaction before departing.
[The rest of the wine is yours.]
Though I’d never tasted it myself, the aroma alone was enough to tell me it was exceptional, so I gladly accepted all of it.
“Does anyone want some of this?”
Before Camilla could even finish speaking, Derin and Perol’s hands shot up immediately.
It was entirely predictable. I’d often noticed how knowledgeable they were about spirits and how they’d lick their lips whenever passing the wine storage room.
But…
Four hands raised?
There were four hands stretched upward.
Zeno and the Priest Ghost Arena had appeared at some point, standing right beside Derin and Perol with their hands held high.
Well, Zeno I could understand, but…
“Can priests drink alcohol?”
[What does it matter that I was a priest when I’m dead?]
Arena let out a scoff at Camilla’s words, as if to say the comment wasn’t even worth laughing at, and was the first to claim a seat before the bottle of liquor.
[And what do you take me for?]
“Pardon?”
[Do you think I lived a proper priestly life when I was alive?]
No, of course not.
[I drank plenty even when I served as a priest. There’s a secret passage behind the Vatican Courtyard, you see. I’d slip away through there—]
I’m sure you did.
What in the world was the Chief Deity thinking, bestowing such immense divine power upon Arena? Religious discipline and faith were practically nonexistent in her.
“Then shall everyone have a glass?”
[Yes! Miss!]
[Sounds good.]
[Give me two glasses!]
[Three for me!]
[Kyuu!]
Hmm?
“King, when did you get here?”
[Kyukyuu!]
“…You want some too?”
[Kyu!]
“A tiny thing like you wanting to drink.”
[Kyuuuu!]
“…You’ve grown that much?”
[Kyukyuu!]
“…”
Even with those little front paws raised so proudly, you don’t look much bigger, King.
“…Want an apple instead?”
[Kyuu…]
Even with such a pitiful gaze, it wouldn’t work.
“Tsk.”
At Camilla’s reproachful look, King’s ears drooped down in defeat.
Chapter. Sena
Crash!
“You’re really going to do this!”
The chair, kicked by a foot, flew to one side and smashed against the wall. It was a rather expensive chair too. I’d have to place another order.
“Want to be dragged out like last time?”
Jewela didn’t even blink at the sight of the broken chair.
The antics of someone who was once family, an older brother, had long since ceased to surprise her—now they were simply tiresome.
The employees who had initially been startled by such outbursts had by now grown accustomed to them.
Of course, she was well aware that all the employees kept their ears and eyes fixed on this side without a moment’s rest, ready to call for soldiers at the first sign of danger.
“Do you not understand the situation we’re in?”
“Should I care?”
“You’ve completely ruined our family!”
“Ha.”
Jewela let out a hollow laugh. The same words, repeated with such monotonous regularity, had long since lost their sting.
And she, too, always offered the same response.
“It’s not because of me—it’s because of Mantiz Bakes. Did you forget who squandered everything on gambling and buried us in debt in the first place?”
“This is ridiculous!”
Mantiz’s face twisted in fury at the way Jewela referred to him by his formal name, treating him like a stranger rather than family.
The memory of when she once called him brother, reaching out to him with affection, seemed to have vanished into the distant past.
“Now that you’re making some money, you think you can look down on me!”
“I’ve been looking down on you since before.”
She had simply tolerated him because he was family.
“This is ridiculous!”
Mantiz clenched his fists, looking as though he might strike her at any moment.
Yet some dim awareness of his precarious position kept him from swinging immediately.
“Ungrateful wretch! You don’t appreciate the miserable life I’ve given you! You—”
But his crude words continued unabated, as if spewing such insults was the only way to salvage his pride.
Jewela watched him without so much as a twitch of her brow, offering no reaction whatsoever.
‘My father used to say this.’
‘Duke Sorpel said that?’
‘When a dog barks, if you respond, it only barks louder. So never react.’
She recalled the advice Camilla had once given her.
Of course, if the intervals between barks grew shorter and the volume steadily increased…
“Because of you, our house—!”
Whack!
“Aaaagh!”
“Sometimes pain is the best medicine.”
A familiar voice came from behind Mantiz, who was now clutching his head in agony.
The moment Jewela identified the speaker, a smile bloomed across her face.
“Camilla.”
It was Camilla, holding one pointed-toed shoe and clicking her tongue in disapproval.
“Why are you still listening to his drivel?”
“I was just thinking about what to throw at him to shut him up.”
Camilla and Jewela continued their conversation, completely ignoring Mantiz’s whimpering.
“Get him out of here. Sprinkle some salt on him too.”
“You heard her? Get out. Now.”
“You—you insane bitches! Do you think I’ll let this slide? You—”
“Mantiz Bakes.”
“…!”
Mantiz flinched involuntarily, his curses dying in his throat. The chill in Camilla’s gaze was far too piercing.
“Watch your tongue.”
“What, what?”
“No one in this room has any reason to hear such words from you. Above all….”
Camilla took a step closer to him.
Flinch!
At her approach, Mantiz instinctively shrank back, retreating a step as though driven by pure instinct.
Watching him, Camilla clicked her tongue softly to herself. How utterly predictable he was.
Strong against the weak, quick to tuck tail at the slightest show of force—such a pathetic creature. It was remarkable that Jewela had endured living with him all this time.
“Do you really not know who this woman is that you speak of so carelessly? Jewela received a medal and a title not long ago.”
The garments Jewela designed had become extraordinarily popular not only throughout the Empire but in other nations as well, particularly in the Gracia Empire.
With her winning awards at international competitions and her fortunes rising by the day….
Crown Prince Edsen, who had been watching Jewela’s ascent with keen interest from the beginning, bestowed upon her a medal and title as though it were his prerogative. Something about preventing the loss of talent, or so he claimed.
「Wasn’t that all thanks to me?」
‘What are you talking about? Why would Jewela receiving a title be thanks to you?’
「I promoted her quite diligently. I spared no praise for those who wore the clothes your friend created. Surely you understand how much weight my words carry in High Society?」
‘I’m so grateful I could cry. Should I really weep for you? I’m quite good at crying on cue, you know. I could sob profusely if you’d like.’
「Daughter, haven’t you become rather cold lately?」
‘That’s unexpected.’
「What is?」
‘You say I’ve only recently become cold. I thought I’d always been this way.’
「….」
Duke Escra, my biological father, had tried to take credit, but I let it go in one ear and out the other.

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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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