A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 230

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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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“A girl, you say?”
“Where did you hear that?”
“Is that alright?”
“What is?”
“That child. Is it really okay for her to keep staying at your house?”
“Stop worrying about it.”
Petro’s eyes betrayed a hint of concern, as though he’d already learned through Duke Jebillen that Arsian had brought the child back with him.
“I heard you didn’t even realize she was a girl.”
“….”
Arsian, who had been irritated moments before, found himself without a retort, his brow furrowing repeatedly.
It was true—despite being with the child from the moment of her rescue until arriving at House Sephira, he hadn’t even managed to discern her gender.
“Is it really okay for her to stay at your place? Are you sure the child is alright?”
“What are you rambling about now?”
“Should I really tell you what your house is like?”
“…No, don’t.”
Seeing Petro’s earnest expression, as though he were genuinely prepared to elaborate, Arsian uncharacteristically swallowed his words.
“My, there’s a girl at Arsian’s place?”
“Goodness… what will happen to her?”
“That child is still alive, right?”
At the remarks from Laila, Elisha, and Jewela, who had naturally joined the conversation, Arsian’s frown deepened further.
“These people….”
What’s wrong with having a girl at my house? Why? Why are they all acting so horrified?
“What am I?”
Are they suggesting I’d torment her or something?
“Look, look. He’s glaring at us.”
“S-surely you’re not mistreating the child, are you?”
“I wouldn’t mistreat her. I’d just kill her with a look.”
…Maybe I should kill all of you instead.
“You’re all being too much.”
Just as Arsian was about to express his fury, someone stepped forward in his stead—Camilla.
“Are you ignoring Arsian right now?”
“Uh, sister, that’s not what we meant….”
“You’re disrespecting our Arsian because of his terrible personality?!”
“Huh?”
“Sure, our Arsian has beaten up plenty of people. But does that mean you can all gang up on him like this? Just because other people call him a handsome trash, you treat him the same way?!”
“Um… sister?”
“Our Arsian’s personality is absolutely rotten, but he doesn’t hit children. How dare you criticize him without even knowing him properly?”
…It seems like you’re the one criticizing him more right now.
I can’t tell if you’re defending him or just insulting him alongside them.
The others, wearing ambiguous expressions, shook their heads upon seeing Arsian’s pleased face—clearly delighted that someone was fighting on his behalf.
Why does he turn into a handsome idiot only in front of me?
“And don’t worry.”
I smiled softly and continued speaking.
“Rio is at that house, after all.”
Unlike Arsian’s bewildered reaction, everyone else nodded in agreement.
“Ah.”
“Right, Rio is there.”
“That’s true.”
No one expressed any further anxiety or complaint about the Young Girl being at House Sephira.
“…What is it with you all?”
Why do they all look relieved the moment Rio’s name comes up?
“You’re saying our entire household is now resolved by just one kid—”
“Yes.”
“That’s what we’re saying.”
….
Even I, bewildered as I was, soon fell silent. When I thought about it, their words weren’t wrong.
It felt somewhat unfair, but if I imagined Rio suddenly disappearing as they suggested…?
….
It seemed best to simply keep my mouth shut.
“But something feels a bit chaotic, doesn’t it?”
I glanced around the Club room with a tilted head.
The Club president and others were busily preparing something.
“You don’t know, sister?”
“Know what?”
“There’s an event coming up soon.”
“An event?”
“The year-end Academy Festival!”
“Ah….”
“It’s always held around this time, isn’t it?”
Now that I think about it, I do remember. There was indeed one event at the Academy in the dead of winter.
“Wasn’t the Academy’s founding day around this time?”
“Yes!”
The festival was held to commemorate it. With external guests invited and famous figures attending, it was quite a renowned festival in the surrounding area.
However… I had never participated in it even once.
‘Well, there’s nothing new about that.’
Classes and clubs prepared for the festival—some ran businesses, others decorated the stage.
But nowhere did anyone make room for me in the festival preparations. I myself had no intention of fitting in with those who didn’t welcome me.
Naturally, on festival day, I spent the time quietly at home instead of at the Academy.
“Are they holding it this year too?”
During this turbulent time with the Eba Cult?
“That’s precisely why they’re pushing forward with it. It seems the Imperial Court is even sponsoring the event this time.”
“The Imperial Court?”
“In times like these, it’s beneficial to have something that redirects people’s attention and soothes their hearts.”
“Ah.”
At Petro’s explanation, I nodded in understanding.
Now that he mentioned it, there did seem to be quite a few Imperial Court-sponsored events happening lately.
“So what is our club doing?”
“Yes!”
“We’re going to do something absolutely fun!”
Laila and Elisha chimed in with squeals of excitement, their faces brimming with anticipation.
“What exactly are we doing?”
“A haunted house!”
“…A what?”
“A haunted house!”
“Isn’t it going to be incredibly fun? Aren’t you excited?”
….
Should I just skip participating this year too?
* * *
“Here, make this area darker!”
‘I never knew.’
Our club president was such a horror enthusiast.
“Don’t make the hands pop out too quickly. Wouldn’t it be better to apply more blood?”
John’s eyes sparkled brilliantly as he directed the haunted house setup, meticulously attending to every single detail without letting anything slide.
“Look at this! Isn’t this amazing? Didn’t we do a great job?”
I shook my head lightly at the sight of our president, who was holding up a grotesquely disfigured face model with half the head blown away, beaming with pride.
I couldn’t believe this was the same person who usually couldn’t speak harshly to Laila or others, who seemed to barely breathe freely in daily life.
How could I describe those eyes—not the usual dull gaze, but now so resolute and vivid?
“Should we remove one of the eyes on this side too?”
“What if we make blood drip from the eyes?”
“Camilla! You’re a genius! How did you come up with that!”
When you’ve spent decades seeing all manner of ghosts, ideas flow endlessly, even the ones you didn’t know you had.
“Sigh.”
I exhaled softly as I watched the club members bustling about with festival preparations.
‘A haunted house for a winter festival, of all things.’
Back in that other world, I appeared on various entertainment shows, but there was one thing I absolutely refused—horror specials.
People mistakenly thought I disliked and feared such things, but naturally, it was the opposite.
‘My daily life is the horror.’
For those programs to be entertaining, I’d need to act scared and scream, but that was impossible for me.
Of course, I could cover it with acting, but I didn’t want to go that far. Besides, what if an involuntary snicker or strange laugh slipped out?
The ghost meant to scare others, and me—what an awkward atmosphere that would create.
“Where’s the mage? We need some magic here!”
“Put some light magic in this area.”
“Here too!”
“Hey! Where is the mage?!”
My gaze shifted to one side. There was someone moving even more frantically than the Club director—no, far more frantically than anyone else.
“What are you doing! We need some mist magic here, quickly—!”
Magic was the most essential element in decorating Ghost’s House.
Self-moving puppets, the eerie light that spilled out when doors opened, the desolate music—all these contraptions required magic.
And naturally, the one providing that magic was Arsian.
Of course.
“…Hey.”
I flinched.
Giving orders to someone like Arsian was never an easy task.
“Ah, no. That is…”
The problem was that I’d been too absorbed in the work.
The Club director and the others, who had been carelessly shouting orders while searching for the mage, only then realized from the quiet voice what they’d done.
‘Have I lost my mind?’
‘What did I just say?’
‘Did I just shout at Arsian? Telling him to hurry up?’
They suddenly realized that the person they’d been ordering around and yelling at to move faster was none other than Arsian himself.
“W-well, now that I think about it, this area probably doesn’t need it.”
Shuffle.
“Ah, no. Really…”
Shuffle.
“I-I’m sorry…!”
The director, who instinctively squeezed his eyes shut at the sight of Arsian approaching silently, was certain he was about to be grabbed by the collar.

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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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