A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 257

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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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“If Luna continues to exist without disappearing, then we no longer need such dark magic, do we?”
Everyone’s mouths fell open in shock. Duke Sefra’s expression was the most remarkable of all.
Seeing him dumbfounded, Duke Sorpel and Duke Jebillen regarded their longtime companion with expressions of intrigue.
“…Prevent her disappearance?”
It was something no one had ever considered.
Rather, because no such method could possibly exist, they had never even thought to contemplate it.
How could one possibly prevent the disappearance of Shinsu, who shared life itself with the family head?
‘And yet….’
Yet this child had found that very method.
“….”
A torrent of emotions flooded Duke Sefra’s eyes.
After gazing at Camilla in prolonged silence, he alternated his gaze between the golden fruit and Luna.
His final glance was directed toward where his son stood.
“Camilla, you….”
Arsian sat there with an expression he had never worn before—a face that held much to say but knew not where to begin.
After observing his son, who could not tear his eyes from Camilla, Duke Sefra let out a weary sigh.
The ring of darkness that had bound him, his son, and everyone in the family for countless ages.
Could such a ring truly be severed so easily?
Emptiness, regret.
And an inexplicable, strange exhilaration.
“Ha… hahaha!”
Duke Sefra burst into laughter aloud.
“…!”
The eyes of Duke Sorpel and Duke Jebillen widened at the sight.
Though they had been together since childhood, they had never seen him laugh with such volume.
“You’re permitting this, then?”
“….”
To Camilla’s question that followed moments later, Duke Sefra could offer no immediate answer.
Permission? Did I have the right to be asked such a question?
“…Yes.”
With a bitter smile, he slowly nodded his head after a long pause.
How could he possibly refuse such a proposal? Rather, it should be he who clung to her and made the request.
“….”
Arsian, whose gaze met Camilla’s, still could not utter a single word.
Camilla, meeting his eyes, offered only a faint smile in return.
The last being to receive her gaze was Luna.
“Luna.”
[….]
At Camilla’s quiet call, Luna, who had been positioned beside Duke Sefra, drew closer to her.
“Would you like to eat this?”
Above all, what mattered most was Luna’s heart.
‘I hope she’ll eat it….’
Camilla, holding the fruit in her hand, felt a slight tension.
The emotional turmoil caused by the Dark Shinsu was, in the end, a problem for humans.
‘It’s not something Luna needs to concern herself with.’
What if Luna didn’t desire a life free from dissolution?
There were certainly madmen like the Church Leader of the Eba Cult who wanted to live their entire lives taking human lives, but there were also beings who didn’t want that.
“I’m absolutely not forcing you, Luna.”
That’s right—this could never become coercion.
Whatever happened, it had to be left entirely to Luna’s choice.
[….]
After staring silently at the golden fruit for a long while, Luna’s gaze turned toward Duke Sefra.
Duke Sefra, meeting Luna’s deep black eyes, nodded calmly as if to say: do as you wish.
Having confirmed his intention, Luna gazed silently at Camilla and the golden fruit resting in her hand for a long moment.
Whoosh.
Moments later, Luna’s face drew close. And she swallowed the fruit in Camilla’s hand whole.
Whoa!
A brilliant light burst forth from Luna.
Those watching Luna gradually suffused with golden radiance gasped in wonder.
“Mm….”
“…! Hey, are you alright?”
“What? Feeling dizzy?”
At the faint whimper coming from beside them, Duke Sorpel and Duke Jebillen hurried toward Duke Sefra.
“…It seems to have snapped.”
Duke Sefra, who had felt a brief dizziness as something that had been heavily binding him snapped free, now gazed at Luna, whose light had vanished.
[….]
Luna too was looking at Duke Sefra. She could feel it as well—the severing of the bond that had allowed her to exist in this place.
“Luna, are you okay?”
Camilla’s eyes widened in an instant as she asked, worried about Luna’s condition.
The corners of the black wolf’s mouth seemed to curl upward, as if she were smiling.
[…Thank you.]
And for the first time, she could hear it. Luna’s voice.
“Luna!”
The moment Camilla stood there dumbfounded, arms wrapped tightly around Luna’s neck.
It was Rio, rubbing her face eagerly against Luna’s.
“Luna, you’re going to keep living with us from now on, right?”
Rio, uncertain of how things had unfolded but certain of one fact—that Luna would no longer disappear and would remain with them—broke into a radiant smile.
[….]
Luna licked Rio’s face. As if answering that her words were right.
Rio burst into bright laughter, tickled by the licking sensation on her face.
Whoosh!
“…!”
Camilla, who had been watching the two of them with contentment, startled at the sensation of arms wrapping around her from behind.
But the moment she recognized who it was, the corners of her lips curved upward.
“Arsian.”
The arms encircling her trembled more intensely. From him, with his head buried against her shoulder, came a long sigh that seemed to flow endlessly.
As if to soothe him, Camilla gently stroked his arms.
“…Can I dream of it now?”
A voice so soft it could only be heard by her at this distance reached her ears.
“A little longer….”
A future with you.
“Just a little longer….”
Can I dream of it for just a little longer?
Arsian’s arms tightened further around Camilla.
Though Camilla couldn’t grasp the exact meaning of his words, she gently stroked his arms once more.
“Hey! Get away from my daughter this instant. What do you think you’re doing!”
“Why does your son keep clinging to that brat like this? It’s sickening!”
“If it’s sickening, then don’t look. Your Shinsu has returned anyway, so why don’t you just leave?”
“…Are you actually enjoying these arguments lately?”
“Besides, now that the connection is severed, wouldn’t it be difficult for Luna to remain as your household’s Shinsu?”
“True. Now it’s up to that Shinsu to choose who to follow.”
“Right, it’s the Shinsu’s choice. Even if it leaves, there’s nothing we can do about it.”
“Really?”
The other two Dukes’ eyes widened at Duke Sefra’s surprisingly calm—or rather, almost relieved—demeanor.
“It doesn’t seem like it will leave anyway.”
“Hm?”
“It’s so fond of Camilla.”
“What? Hey, what does my Shinsu not leaving have to do with my daughter—”
“The tea’s gone cold. Brew some fresh.”
“Don’t change the subject! You bastard!”
The surroundings erupted into chaos once more.
[As expected of Camilla—that girl really is something else. Hey, you try finding some of those fruits too. I want to taste something like that.]
“Quiet! If you like that brat so much, then just stay here!”
[Really?]
“Ugh….”
The way those eyes asked if it was truly acceptable suggested that one wrong answer would result in sulking for over half a year.
But losing an argument to that creature would wound his pride…!
A groan of despair escaped Duke Jebillen’s lips.

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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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