A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 235

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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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“Huh?”
Suspended in mid-air for only a moment, I found myself suddenly seated upon Duke Sorpel’s lap, my eyes widening in surprise.
How could I even describe this strange yet oddly comforting sensation?
Noticing my confusion, Duke Sorpel gently patted my head.
“Would you like to eat this?”
He offered me a large cookie from the table, and I started to shake my head in refusal.
But seeing the hopeful gleam in Duke Sorpel’s eyes, I relented and accepted the cookie, placing it in my mouth and chewing thoughtfully.
‘What is this?’
The way Duke Sorpel gazed at me with such evident satisfaction only deepened my bewilderment.
Chew, chew… chew.
‘Is this what it’s always like when your body becomes smaller?’
As his hand patted my back in steady rhythm, my chewing gradually slowed.
‘Why am I so drowsy?’
I fought against my eyelids as they threatened to close, straining to keep my eyes open, but the warmth of his hand on my back was simply too soothing.
Eventually, my head, which had been bobbing in all directions, tilted gently to the side.
“Haa….”
A smile flickered across Duke Sorpel’s lips as he watched me fall asleep with the cookie still in my mouth, then faded just as quickly.
He carefully removed the cookie and set it aside, then adjusted my position to ensure I could rest more comfortably.
“So, there’s nothing wrong with her body?”
Even as he posed the question, his gentle patting continued. His every movement was cautious, as though he feared waking the child.
“No, there’s nothing wrong with her body at all. She’s simply become younger.”
Ravi answered in a voice even quieter than before.
Watching me sleep peacefully without a care in the world, Ravi’s heart grew heavy. A long sigh escaped his lips.
“I’ll find a way to reverse this as quickly as possible.”
“You’d better.”
His hand brushed away the cookie crumbs from my mouth with particular tenderness.
“But don’t push yourself too hard.”
“Pardon?”
“If it’s difficult, you can take your time.”
“…Pardon?”
“There’s nothing wrong with her body, so there’s no need to rush.”
Ravi threw him a puzzled look, but Duke Sorpel’s gaze remained fixed on my sleeping form.
When he finally rose to carry my small body to my room.
“I’ll take her to her room.”
A rival had emerged.
“No need.”
“Then let me carry-”
“Leave.”
“….”
Even as they silently disputed over who should carry me, not a single loud word was spoken.
Ravi simply stared ahead with his mouth agape, watching the two of them bicker in hushed tones.
* * *
“Miss.”
“What?”
“Shall I feed you?”
“Are you insane?”
What was he even saying?
Camilla, who had picked up a fork to eat the fruit, stared at Dorman—who seemed anxious about her actions—with an expression of utter disbelief.
‘Does he think my mental age has regressed along with my body?’
If so, that was a grave misconception. I mean, surely I can eat fruit like this on my own…
Thwick. Rollllll—
“….”
[Pffft!]
[Hey, don’t laugh.]
[Pahahahahaha! Look at her, she can’t even eat fruit by herself. What’s she going to do about that apple rolling away?]
[I said don’t laugh. The poor girl must be so embarrassed.]
[Says you, when your mouth is already twitching.]
Both of you, please be quiet.
Camilla glared daggers at the giggling ghosts Arena and Zeno.
Seriously, why wouldn’t that apple stay on the fork properly?
[Miss Camilla, if you hold the fork like this and use it this way, it should work.]
“….”
Why did the butler ghost Derin, who explained so kindly as if teaching a child to use a fork for the first time, seem far more irritating than Arena, who was openly mocking her?
“I know how to do it.”
I knew. I knew very well.
The problem was simply that these short fingers wouldn’t obey my commands.
“Ugh.”
Camilla tossed the fork aside and threw herself onto the bed.
‘This is infuriating.’
The most frustrating part was that I had no one to blame.
“I can’t even confront Ravi about why he created such a thing!”
[Why not? Go confront him.]
“I don’t have that little conscience.”
Besides…
“He’s already digging himself into a hole all on his own.”
[Digging?]
At Arena’s question, Camilla let out a sigh.
I couldn’t say anything to Ravi, who seemed to have already suffered a tremendous shock from the mere fact that she had been harmed by my magic.
Rather, I had to act as naturally as possible in front of him.
‘Anyway, he’s a master at digging his own grave.’
I heard Mother, may she rest in peace, wasn’t like this at all. So who on earth does Ravi take after?
‘Now that I think about it….’
I know absolutely nothing about Ravi’s biological father.
“Hmm.”
Camilla, who had been thrashing about on the bed, slowly pushed herself upright.
Then, sensing something odd, I turned my head and caught sight of the ghosts staring intently at me.
“What are you doing?”
[No, well….]
[Even when the little ones sulk, it’s adorable.]
[Our young mistress… was even more lovely when she was younger. When she first came here, she was already a bit older….]
What are they saying? I’m throwing a proper tantrum right now, but with these stubby little limbs, I can’t even get properly angry? Is that it?
Knock, knock.
At the sound of the knock, the door opened and the butler Rube stepped inside.
Upon seeing Camilla with her lips perpetually pouting, a faint smile crossed his face before quickly vanishing.
“Miss, you have visitors.”
“Visitors?”
“Yes, your friends, miss.”
“Ah.”
Having missed the Academy for the past few days, it seemed they had come to find me themselves.
“What should I do?”
“Let them in.”
Since this wasn’t something that would be resolved overnight anyway, and I had no particular intention of hiding, I nodded to Rube.
The door swung open!
“Camilla, sis…!”
“Camilla! If you’re hurt…!”
Moments later, those who had rushed into the room stopped short upon encountering a small child rolling about on the bed.
Their peculiar standoff continued even as Camilla tidied her disheveled appearance and straightened her posture.
Tensing at their unexpectedly intense reaction, I rolled my eyes nervously, and Elisha, who had been staring blankly at me, hesitantly opened her mouth.
“…Did Camilla have a younger sister?”
“Well, I’m not sure? I’ve never heard such a thing….”
“She’s obviously your sister, isn’t she? She’s a complete spitting image of Camilla.”
As I paused, uncertain how to broach the subject, Elisha, Laila, and Jewela arrived at a single conclusion.
At the appearance of a child who looked identical to Camilla, the three of them lit up with excitement.
Hearing them even mention that they wondered when Duke Sorpel had remarried, I let out a short sigh.
‘How could I possibly resemble a daughter born from Father and another woman?’
They need to talk sense.
“Camilla….”
“What has happened?”
Meanwhile, Arsian and Petro recognized her immediately.
‘Oh.’
Watching the two of them with their rather serious expressions, I couldn’t help but let out a small exclamation of admiration internally.
Just like during the fake Lania incident, I found it quite remarkable how these two could recognize me at a glance even when I’d become younger.
“What are you talking about?”
“W-wait, you’re saying this little child is Camilla?”
“What?”
At the two of them’s reaction, the other three people’s eyes widened in surprise. That little kid is Camilla?
“Hello.”
To confirm that what they were saying was correct, I raised my hand lightly in greeting.
“….”
“….”
“….”
At that sight, Laila, Elisha, and Jewela all covered their mouths with their hands.
Judging by their eyes flickering incessantly, they seemed quite shocked.
“It’s fine. Ravi said he’ll find a way soon.”
So you don’t need to worry too much—
“Kyaaaa!”
“Big sister! You’re so cute!”
“Wow, you’ve gotten so much younger! You’re calling me big sister now… goodness, look at how soft your skin is!”
…They weren’t worried at all, were they?
“Big sister Camilla! Can we record a video?”
“Me too, me too!”
“…Do whatever you want.”
These weren’t the type of girls I could tell not to do something anyway.
I shook my head as I watched Laila and Elisha, who had already gotten their hands on a recording orb and were setting it up.
“How did this happen?”
“It just happened somehow.”
“You’re even smaller than Rio.”
Arsian, kneeling on one knee, met my eyes quietly. A moment later, a smile slowly spread across his face.
“I’m usually not fond of children, but now that I think about it, this doesn’t seem so bad.”
“Huh? Oh, thank you…?”
Unlike me, who was thanking him somewhat bewilderedly, the people around us burst into barely suppressed laughter.
“Anyone listening would think you only dislike children.”

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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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