A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 244

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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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Sena recalled the first time she heard that voice.
When her father dragged her to the Eba Cult.
‘What was I thinking back then?’
Resentment? Anger?
Did I even possess such emotions?
‘I’m not sure.’
Everything was simply silent.
Even as children wept and screamed around me, as I watched people dragged away and imprisoned, I felt no meaning in any of it. It was as though everything had died, wouldn’t you say?
It seemed as though it wouldn’t matter if everything simply vanished as it was.
‘That’s what anger is?’
Sena tilted her head quizzically.
“Why don’t you look for someone else?”
I had suggested it after giving it some thought. After all, no matter how much I listened, this power seemed utterly useless.
A power that couldn’t even heat water—what was the point of constantly granting everything I desired?
[That…!]
“…?”
Was that an unexpected thing to say? I could sense bewilderment in the voice.
“Why?”
[…cannot.]
“Pardon?”
[I said it cannot!]
Cannot? Did that mean it couldn’t go to someone else?
[My choice is made, and if you do not accept me….]
“If I don’t?”
[I will disapp….]
The voice cut off abruptly. I could sense panic, as though it had uttered something it shouldn’t have.
“Disappear?”
[No. I misspoke!]
It seemed accurate to me.
“What’s your name?”
It didn’t seem like it would disappear anytime soon, and it felt strange to keep conversing without even knowing its name.
[…a name?]
“Yes.”
It wasn’t a difficult question, yet the answer took a long time in coming.
Just as Sena, wearing a puzzled expression, was about to resume mopping.
[I have no such thing.]
The voice spoke.
“You have no name?”
[I am power itself, the desire that humans yearn for-]
“So you don’t have one.”
[….]
“What about ‘Rube’ then?”
[Rube?]
“Yes, I’ll call you Rube from now on.”
[Rube… Rube….]
Was it her imagination, or did the voice repeating the name over and over sound slightly excited? Listening to Rube’s voice, Sena began to mop the floor.
[Rube….]
“….”
She must really like it.
It would be best to keep secret that the name came thoughtlessly from Luna—the black wolf of this household’s name—without any real consideration.
* * *
“Daive!”
“Rio!”
Whoosh!
Rio spotted Daive and rushed forward, wrapping his arms around his waist.
“Brother! I missed you so much!”
“Me too!”
“Anyone watching would think we hadn’t seen each other in years. We saw each other yesterday.”
Camilla laughed in exasperation at the two of them.
‘It’s Camilla.’
Sena couldn’t easily tear her eyes away from her as she approached where they stood. Today, they were planning to tour the city with Camilla.
‘She’s magnificent.’
While her younger form had been adorable, Camilla in her true age was far more striking and beautiful to behold.
“Hello, Sena.”
“…Yes.”
When their eyes met, Camilla smiled gently and greeted her. Sena bowed lightly in return.
[Why do you always get so shy in front of that woman!]
‘And why do you always get angry whenever you see Camilla?’
[Because that woman took away my best host! Thanks to her, at least I didn’t have to wander around for a while, but….]
‘Host? Does that mean I’m a host too?’
[That…!]
‘So I was a host.’
Rube, who had been slightly flustered, continued speaking after a long pause.
[You’re different.]
‘How so?’
[You don’t want to use my power. It’s strange. You had darkness stronger than anyone else, yet why can’t I feel it now?]
What was she talking about?
‘Because it’s not particularly useful power.’
[Don’t be ridiculous! How great of an existence am I! How many times must I say that if you take my hand, you can have the world—]
‘You don’t even have hands. And you can’t even do cleaning.’
[That’s…!]
‘All you can do is burn and destroy things.’
[Ugh….]
In the end, Rube clamped his mouth shut.
“Sena, look at this! Isn’t it pretty?”
In the meantime, Rio approached Sena with something he’d purchased and placed it in her hand.
“….”
It was a bracelet with a jade-green hue.
“It’s for you, sister!”
“…For me?”
“Yeah!”
Sena stared blankly at the bracelet for a moment. She had no idea how to react to receiving a gift for the first time in her life.
“Next time I’ll make one myself and give it to you! I’m really good at making bracelets!”
At those words, Camilla, who had been standing behind them, let out a soft laugh.
On her wrist was a crudely made bracelet woven from thread.
It was explained that Rio had made it himself and given it to both Arsian and her before.
“Thank you.”
Offering her gratitude, Sena clutched the green bracelet tightly in her hand.
‘Strength….’
If I ever gain strength… I want to protect that child.
‘That smile.’
I hope that strength will protect Rio, so I can continue to see that brightness.
[You really are strange. You possess me, yet all you think about is protecting some little brat like that….]
Ignoring Rube’s continued grumbling, Sena quietly followed behind Rio and the others as they moved forward.
“Sister, my legs hurt.”
“Then should we sit over there for a bit? I’ll go get us something to drink.”
“Okay!”
About an hour had passed. Rio, who had been excitedly running around and exploring various parts of the street, seemed a bit tired and patted his own knees.
At the sight, Camilla smiled and seated the children on a nearby bench.
Having come out light and free without any attendants, maidservants, or escort knights, Camilla moved to purchase drinks for the children herself.
“There, let me….”
Sena stepped forward to stop Camilla, saying she would get them herself.
Then Camilla gently stroked Sena’s head and shook her head.
“Will you stay with the children?”
“…Yes.”
It seemed she thought it would be difficult for the small-framed Sena to carry drinks for four people.
After watching Camilla disappear for a moment, Sena approached Rio and Daive, who were sitting down.
Even while seated, the two children kept their eyes moving restlessly, constantly scanning their surroundings for where to explore next.
“Hey! You!”
Whoosh!
“…!”
That’s when someone seized Sena’s hair with brutal force.
“What the hell are you doing here? Did you run away from there?”
A voice far too familiar. I didn’t need to see his face to know who it was.
‘Father.’
Sena’s eyes grew heavy in an instant, the light draining from them. Just as Arsian had first found her, the child swiftly extinguished everything within herself.
“Damn it! If you ran away, you should’ve come home! I’m already pissed that I sold you off so cheap!”
The man spat roughly, his grip on her hair unyielding as he began to walk. Sena’s small frame had no choice but to be dragged along.
Countless people around them watched with startled eyes, yet none stepped forward.
There was nothing to gain from interfering in such matters. Besides, the man dragging Sena away had a thoroughly menacing air about him.
“Sena!”
“Who are you!”
It was then that Rio and Daive moved to block the man’s path.
The two children spread their arms wide, preventing him from advancing further.
“What?”
The man’s face twisted viciously. He spat out a quiet curse, his brow furrowing repeatedly.
“I’m this child’s father. So stay out of it.”
At those words, both children’s eyes widened. Sena’s father?
Rio and Daive’s gazes snapped toward Sena. She stood with her eyes tightly shut, offering no response whatsoever.
“Sister….”
Seeing Sena like that, Rio’s eyes quickly reddened. Daive too clenched his teeth, glaring coldly at the man.
But they didn’t know what else they could do here. Could they really stop a father from taking his daughter?
‘But….’
Was it right to stand by and do nothing after witnessing this—a parent dragging their child like that?
“Get out of the way.”
The man walked past the two children.
Sena’s body was dragged along. Despite her hair being seized, she didn’t utter a single sound of pain.
“Sister!”
“Stop it!”
Shocked by the sight, the two children finally rushed at the man.
Rio and Daive clung to his arms and legs, desperately trying to pry Sena away from him.
“What the—! You little… Ahhhhh!”
As the two children bit his arms and legs with all their strength, the man finally screamed and released his grip on Sena.

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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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