A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 236

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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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“That’s exactly my point. It’s not just that children dislike her—it’s that she dislikes children too. To put it kindly, she simply doesn’t like them, but honestly, I’d say she despises people altogether.”
“Rio seems to be treated well by her, though.”
“That little one is the only exception, Older Brother. She doesn’t treat every child the way she treats Rio.”
Regardless, Arsian’s smile deepened. He whispered softly.
“If it were a child just like you….”
“What?”
“….”
If it were such a child….
Even if they carried my cursed blood, I think I could love them.
But these were feelings he could never voice aloud.
The moment he spoke them into existence, he feared his desires would become all too real, so Arsian kept his lips firmly sealed.
He had no wish to drag her into that terrible darkness.
Arsian gently stroked Camilla’s head as she tilted it in confusion.
“Now that I think about it, I’m genuinely worried.”
“About what?”
At the sight of Arsian, a serious thought crossed Camilla’s mind, and her expression grew grave.
“Will our Rio still call me sister, even after seeing me like this?”
* * *
“Sister?”
“Yes.”
“Sister Camilla?”
“That’s right, Rio.”
Someone, noticing Camilla’s desire to see Rio, arranged for a small visitor to arrive at the Sorpel Mansion the following day.
“Why did you get smaller?”
Arsian had originally planned to come along, but Duke Sefra had detained him and dragged him off to the Study.
‘At least he still calls me sister. Thank goodness.’
Rio gazed at her with round, rabbit-like eyes and hung his mouth open in wonder, which made Camilla laugh softly.
Of course, to the others present, Camilla’s laughter was equally endearing.
“I wonder why, indeed.”
“Did you get smaller to be my friend?”
At Rio’s characteristically innocent response, Camilla finally burst into genuine laughter.
“Are you hurt somewhere?”
Sena, who had accompanied Rio, was equally startled by Camilla’s appearance and stood dumbfounded for a moment before asking with some concern.
“No, nothing’s wrong. I didn’t shrink because of an injury.”
Only then did her expression ease slightly.
Realizing the situation wasn’t serious, Rio’s demeanor shifted in an instant. His face was alight with excitement.
“Sister, would you like me to read to you?”
“…Yes.”
Camilla nodded, suppressing the laughter that threatened to escape.
“Sister, this tastes good!”
“Yes, yes. Eat plenty, both of you.”
It had been a leisurely moment after a long time.
Rio, who kept breaking into radiant smiles, was endearing, and Sena, who blinked her eyes repeatedly whenever I offered her a new snack for the first time, was adorable.
Bzzzz— bzz—!
Just as I was discreetly sliding my untouched plate toward Sena’s empty one, I felt a vibration emanating from the desk drawer.
“Hmm?”
Opening the drawer, Camilla’s brow furrowed slightly. A video communication crystal was ringing quite loudly—not an ordinary communication crystal.
“Why on earth?”
Unlike ordinary communication crystals, which required only a small amount of mana, video communication crystals consumed an enormous amount of mana.
So it was something rarely used unless there was something urgent.
“Surely not….”
Camilla’s brow furrowed repeatedly as she saw the red light indicating who was requesting the video communication.
Bzzzz—!
Just when I thought the call might disconnect.
Bzzzz— bzz—!
It started ringing again.
Camilla pressed her forehead.
“It seems like they must have heard something about this….”
But I couldn’t be certain.
Clinging to a slim possibility, I ignored it to the end, but the other party changed tactics. This time, the ordinary communication crystal began to ring.
Finally, Camilla gave in.
“Yes?”
「…Daughter?」
It was Duke Escra.
「Why won’t you accept the video communication?」
“Why? Is something wrong?”
「….」
“Hello? Say something. Why did you contact me first and then not speak?”
「Daughter, your voice…. Has it really become younger?」
“…How on earth did you find out?”
I had sensed something was amiss from the moment I tried to connect the video communication, and it seemed he had indeed heard about my condition from somewhere.
But how much time has passed since this happened, and news has already reached someone so far away?
‘I deliberately haven’t gone outside.’
Then, a certain fact suddenly came to mind.
Wasn’t there one person over there who could obtain any information very easily?
「Camilla.」
As if confirming my suspicion, another voice filled with laughter came through.
「I heard you became a child.」
“Jainer, how did you even find out?”
「That’s a trade secret.」
So you’re not even trying to hide it anymore?
I already knew that Duke Escra had discovered I was the head of the Assassin Guild. Still, to be so blatant about it like this….
「How does it feel being demoted? Do you like it?」
“Want to know what it feels like to be insulted by a child?”
At the snickering laughter, Camilla clicked her tongue lightly. This brat seemed to grow more shameless with each passing day.
「Move aside, Jainer. So when are you supposed to go back to normal?」
“Ravi is looking for a way.”
「Is there a chance you’ll return within next week?」
“Next week? I’m not sure. How would I know? But why do you ask?”
「Daive has a break next week.」
“A break?”
What was that supposed to mean?
「Don’t grow up too quickly.」
“What are you—I’m hanging up right—”
「Sister!」
“Daive?”
Just as I was about to cut the connection, finding the conversation pointless, another familiar voice came through.
「Sister? Is that really you? Your voice doesn’t sound right. Can’t you connect through the video communication crystal and talk to me?」
“Of course I can.”
「Really?」
“But I have a guest right now. Could I call you back later?”
「Yes!」
「Daughter, are you connecting video with Daive? Why didn’t you answer when I called with video communication?」
“I’m hanging up.”
「That’s harsh. I’m curious too.」
“About what?”
「What you looked like when you were little.」
Why would he be curious about that? Camilla immediately ended the call.
There was nothing to say anyway. Isn’t that true for everyone? Memories from when you’re too young tend to fade….
“Oh!”
There is one thing I remember clearly.
‘It hurt terribly back then.’
Those were days when I wouldn’t even consider going to the hospital for a common cold or minor wound.
Yet that time seemed so severe I might die, and even that father didn’t stop Mother from taking me to the hospital.
But the hospital couldn’t reach any meaningful conclusion.
My entire body burned like a ball of fire, and I even lost consciousness, yet they could only repeat that they couldn’t find the cause.
When they suggested running detailed tests, Mother took me back home. She must have thought they couldn’t waste such a large sum of money on something like this.
‘Strangely, that memory remains vivid.’
It’s from when I was so young it should have faded, but perhaps because the pain was nearly fatal, that memory never disappears.
‘Just let me die!’
The words that Father had uttered came back to me with crystalline clarity.
‘My life has always been like this, after all.’
Surely, just because I’d returned to that age didn’t mean the pain would be the same as back then?
‘Right, that was when I was in Sia’s body.’
Camilla let out a soft laugh, brushing away such pointless thoughts, and couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight of Rio rushing toward her with a book in hand.
And she did not yet know.
That Camilla—the girl who had once been the true owner of this body—had also narrowly escaped death around this very age.
* * *
“Camilla, are you coming to your senses?”
“Hey! You don’t have to force your eyes open!”
My head feels heavy and dull. My vision is blurred.
All I hear are the urgent voices of my family members.
‘Damn it…’
I don’t understand what’s happening. Or rather, I understand far too well—that’s the problem.
This heat, this pain. It’s so familiar that it’s all the more bewildering.
‘Why on earth?’
This body is faithfully recreating the very suffering I endured when I lived as Sia.
This absurd synchronization phenomenon left Camilla’s mind in turmoil.
‘Is this what they mean when they say the mind dominates the body?’
This body isn’t that body, so why is that old illness resurfacing now?!
“Miss, please have some water.”
Watching Dorman gently support my body while offering me water, I genuinely wanted to ask him something.
Could you explain what’s happening right now?
“What? Camilla was ill at that age?”
Through the haze of consciousness, Duke Sorpel’s voice pierced my ears.
“Yes, she suffered quite severely.”
“Why? What was the cause?”
At Duke Sorpel’s urgent question, Ravi shook his head.
“All the healers could only shake their heads. Unable to determine the cause, they could only wait and see, but gradually her condition improved. Eventually, she recovered completely, and the matter was left unresolved.”

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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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