A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 240

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

“Yeah… I like it too.”
“Hehe.”
Rio, who had been inserting the twig that Sena handed him into the snowman, continued with a bright voice.
“Have you ever been to the Haunted House, hyung?”
“The Haunted House?”
“Yeah! It’s a place with so many patients!”
“…Patients?”
“I went there with Camilla noona last time. It was so much fun! Let’s go together next time, hyung!”
“…Yeah.”
“Hyung, have you tried the strawberry pie they sell at the Marketplace?”
“No.”
“I went with noona last time and ate it—it was so delicious! Let’s definitely go there together too!”
After that, Rio’s stories continued on.
Stories about the older sister I didn’t know. Stories that only Rio and noona shared.
“…”
Daive, who had stopped rolling the snow in his hands, quietly watched Rio scampering across the Snowy Field.
‘Does noona…’
Does Camilla noona cherish that child more than me? I don’t even get to see her often.
‘The time we spent together is shorter than with that child too.’
Noona has that child. Maybe someone like me isn’t needed? She probably doesn’t even want to see me, so why did I come here anyway…
“Hyung? What’s wrong? Are you cold?”
“No… it’s just…”
“Want this?”
“…What?”
“Wrap it around your neck. It’s warm!”
Daive felt an unexpected lump in his throat as Rio unwrapped the scarf—the one Camilla had gifted him that he’d just put around the snowman—and offered it to him as if bestowing a favor.
“…I don’t need it.”
“Huh?”
“I said I don’t need it!”
“Hyung?”
“Stop acting so noble! You’re not even noona’s real sibling!”
“…What?”
“You’re not even family bound by blood!”
Even knowing how childish it sounded, I couldn’t stop the words from pouring out. Why was I so angry?
‘It’s just…’
Just hearing stories about noona that I didn’t know made me feel inexplicably hurt and bitter about everything.
“Hyung…”
Daive bit his lip as he saw the shocked look in the child’s eyes.
He felt ashamed and disappointed in himself. What was he saying to such a young child!
When his gaze met Sena’s cold, reproachful stare, the self-loathing deepened further.
“Blood?”
Rio, who had stepped closer without my noticing, asked in a slightly trembling voice.
“If blood doesn’t connect us, we’re not family?”
“That…!”
“Then Puppy and Arsian and mister… they’re not family to me?”
“…!”
“I thought they were family….”
Rio’s face fell.
Daive’s eyes, already knowing that Rio had been adopted, trembled ceaselessly.
“No, no! You are family!”
“Huh?”
“I misspoke!”
Daive rushed to continue, looking at Rio whose eyes had widened.
“Bloodlines don’t matter!”
“Really?”
“Your brother… I’m just an idiot who said something stupid….”
My head hung low.
“I’m sorry….”
Tears welled up. I felt so foolish, so pathetic. How disappointed would my sister be if she saw me like this?
“You’re not.”
“…What?”
“You’re not an idiot, brother.”
My gaze returned to Rio. Rio, whose eyes had widened as if he’d never been downcast, tilted his head repeatedly.
“Camilla said you’re really smart.”
“…Sister said that?”
“She talks about you every time we play together.”
“She talks about me?”
“Yes! That’s why I like you! Sister likes you so, so much! So I like you too!”
“….”
Tears finally streamed down from my glistening eyes. Rio, seeing this, hurried over and reached out his hand.
“Brother, why are you crying?”
“I also….”
“Huh?”
“I like you too.”
Rio, wiping my eyes with his gloved hand, widened his own eyes. But soon a bright smile spread across the child’s face.
“Brother! Should we make a snowman again?”
Instead of answering, I nodded vigorously.
The two children began running eagerly through the Snowy Field as if they’d never quarreled.
“….”
Sena simply watched over them quietly from beside them.
“Brother! Here, here! Roll it this way!”
“Got it!”
And so another contest for supremacy ended before it even began.
Chapter. Hello, Arena
“Where is Jainer?”
“I’m right here.”
“Ah.”
The last time we spoke, Jainer had said he would personally bring the child to visit once Daive’s break began.
I couldn’t fathom why Duke Escra had come in person instead of Jainer, but…
‘It would be difficult for both of them to be away at the same time.’
Jainer’s absence made sense. I nodded lightly and picked up the cup placed before me.
‘They really do think I’ve become a child, don’t they.’
Looking at the cup of cocoa filled with milk instead of the tea I usually drank, I clicked my tongue softly to myself.
Just because my body had grown younger didn’t mean my taste had changed…
*Slurp.*
‘…It’s delicious.’
Why was it delicious?!
The cocoa clung sweetly to my lips, and I gave up trying to set the cup down, exhaling a long sigh.
“About Jainer.”
“Yes?”
Just then, Duke Escra’s voice reached me. I lifted my head to find him regarding me with a somewhat solemn gaze.
“You knew about it too, I hear.”
“Knew about what?”
“Khan.”
“Ah.”
The Assassination Guild Khan, which Jainer leads.
I had heard that Duke Escra had discovered the true identity of his adopted son—what Jainer had been hiding all this time.
“It was that bastard who tried to kill you.”
“To be precise, he was simply carrying out a contract.”
The fact that Jainer was the leader of the organization that had tried to assassinate his own daughter.
“If that contract had succeeded, you would have…”
“I didn’t even know who I was back then.”
I quickly cut off his words, keeping my expression as composed as possible, as though what happened then was of no great consequence.
“…”
Perhaps my effort paid off, for an unusually long sigh escaped Duke Escra’s lips.
“I’m sorry.”
“…Pardon?”
At his next words, I nearly dropped the cup I was holding.
“To Jainer… I haven’t said anything.”
Or rather, I couldn’t.
When I learned all the facts, my mind went blank for a moment. Anger flared briefly, but it didn’t linger long.
What was the point of blaming or meddling now? On what grounds could I?
“It’s all in the past now.”
I had received considerable help from him in return, and there was no real reason to hear an apology now.
Especially not from Duke Escra, who wasn’t even the one directly involved.
“…Yes.”
I had learned from Jainer that I had already known all the facts long ago.
Duke Escra gazed at me with newfound curiosity.
So she knew everything—that Jainer had tried to kill him—yet she still kept him by her side?
And more than that, she even put him to use after learning the truth?
‘Who does she take after?’
Duke Escra let out a soft chuckle. Then he quietly observed me as I gripped the cocoa cup with both hands and drank.
These moments felt both pleasant and bittersweet.
The regret of not being by Camilla and Ravi’s side as they grew only deepened with each passing day.
“Is Daive doing well?”
“Of course.”
Now I finally understood why Camilla had insisted I spend more time with Daive.
“Better than I could ask for.”
She meant for me not to create regrets and longing by neglecting him now, as I did with Daive later.
Knock, knock.
The door opened and Dorman quickly entered.
“Miss, Arsian has arrived.”
Behind him, I could see Arsian’s figure.
“Arsian.”
I set down my cup and greeted him warmly.
I had been puzzled that I hadn’t seen his face in so long.
Laila and the others had visited me often while I was ill, but Arsian hadn’t appeared at all.
It was both disappointing and worrying. I wondered if something had happened to him.
“Huh?”
My eyes widened as I approached Arsian and saw him up close.
“You… why is your neck like that?”
There was a large wound on Arsian’s neck.
Though it had already healed, leaving only a faint scar, it was clearly a deep cut from something.
“It’s nothing…”
“Nothing? What exactly did you do to get a wound like that?”
“I got hurt during sword training.”
“…”
Was he seriously asking me to believe that? I looked at Arsian with an expression of disbelief.
Everyone knew that even Petro, who showed talent in swordsmanship, deferred to Arsian’s skill. For someone of his ability to claim he was injured during training?
“You…!”
“I’m not in pain anymore.”
Camilla narrowed her eyes at Arsian’s subtle attempt to change the subject.
“You didn’t even visit me while I was sick.”
“…You’re right. I’m sorry.”
Why was the mood growing heavier again?
Watching Arsian lower his head with a bitter expression, Camilla found herself even more flustered.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————