A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 258

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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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The reason they had discouraged Camilla from accompanying them was because they understood the complicated relationship between Tia and Camilla all too well.
I had witnessed firsthand how Camilla was mistreated since childhood, and Duke Sorpel had surely grasped the situation from her tearful words spoken in her confused state just moments ago.
“….”
And then there was Ludvil.
Ravi glanced at his older brother, whose expression was unusually complicated today.
True to form as the first to sense the mother and daughter’s intricate relationship, Ludvil too made it abundantly clear that he was reluctant about Camilla coming along.
‘There wouldn’t be any good memories worth recalling.’
I was worried about what thoughts and memories she would stir up upon finding Mother’s Grave.
For this reason, all three of them had wanted to prevent Camilla from coming here. Seeing her vacant expression from moments ago, I now regretted not forcing her to stay home.
‘The anniversary.’
But contrary to their concerns, Camilla’s mind was occupied with different thoughts.
In truth, it wasn’t I who had been mistreated by Mother here—it was Sia, who originally inhabited this body.
There was no reason for me to harbor any anger or resentment toward Mother.
‘Yet….’
Upon meeting the anniversary of Mother’s passing, something suddenly came to mind.
‘Perhaps I should visit at least once?’
I had been deliberating over something for a while now, and coming here, my wavering heart gradually tilted decisively in one direction.
A gentle breeze stirred.
“Hm?”
Moments later, a warm hand brushed through the cold air and touched her hair. When she turned her head, Ludvil was gazing at her intently.
“Let’s go.”
Led by his careful touch, which naturally soothed and embraced her shoulders, Camilla slowly stepped away from that place.
‘Yes.’
I would visit at least once.
As I turned back one last time to look at Mother’s Grave, I reaffirmed my decision.
* * *
“It’s exactly two weeks.”
“I understand.”
“Once those two weeks pass, you’ll begin to distance yourself from people again.”
“How many times are you going to say this? I said I understand.”
Dorman, who had been repeating his warnings over and over, still seemed uneasy, letting out continuous sighs.
“Do you really have to go?”
“Yes.”
“Are you really going?”
“Why do you keep repeating the same thing over and over?”
The place where Camilla and Dorman stood was an Underground Space—the Lowest Layer of the Ghost Merchant Store, a location occasionally used for confidential meetings or operations.
‘Right now, no one is permitted entry.’
Camilla had issued that order not long ago. It was precisely for this.
‘The magic circle.’
She gazed calmly at the enormous magic circle that covered the entire floor and the premium mana stones densely arranged upon it.
“Dimensional transfer magic, huh.”
Dorman still shook his head disapprovingly at the situation.
This dimensional transfer magic—or rather, the dimensional transfer magic circle—was something Jishua had installed as thanks for finding him a grimoire.
[I want to give you something in return.]
‘You’ve already given me something before.’
When Jishua had given me the Mine, I’d already received compensation in the form of this magic circle.
‘Just in case.’
Perhaps it was because I always carried an inexplicable unease. The moment I learned of dimensional transfer magic, I couldn’t simply brush it aside.
A strong feeling that I absolutely had to visit that world once? Hadn’t I left that place far too abruptly?
So I’d made a request of Jishua—to set up a dimensional transfer magic circle that I could use to cross into the Other World.
[It’s possible if there’s someone whose wavelength matches yours.]
‘Don’t worry about that.’
It wasn’t just wavelength—there was someone whose very fate was intertwined with mine.
[You know someone in the Other World? How is that even possible? How could—!]
‘It just happened that way.’
[No, that’s not something you can explain away with “it just happened”! By any reasonable standard, this is—]
‘Is seeing the dead considered reasonable?’
[…Fair point.]
At my mention of having a connection to someone in the Other World, Jishua’s eyes filled with disbelief and confusion.
But seeing that I had no intention of elaborating further, he didn’t press me for more details.
[That works out well then. If you have a connection to someone, the transfer will be easier. If I add this formula to the magic circle here….]
Jishua drew the magic circle in the Underground Space for me.
Of course, because I had no mana at all, an enormous quantity of mana stones was required again. A truly staggering amount….
On top of that, all of it had to be prepared with the highest-grade mana stones. Dimensional transfer magic truly wasn’t a simple spell.
“You really did confirm it with Sia?”
“Yes.”
I’d also made one request of Dorman—to ask Sia in the Other World for her opinion on the matter.
‘Can you contact Sia? From what I saw before, you were giving her rewards and keeping watch over how she’s doing.’
‘Why the sudden question?’
‘Is it possible?’
‘It’s possible if I use the system. But why are you asking? Do you have something you’re curious about regarding Sia?’
‘Ask her if she’d be willing to come to this world.’
‘Huh?’
If I brought her here without warning, the way Jishua had done, she’d be shocked. So I asked him to ask her outright instead.
‘If Sia doesn’t want to, I was planning to drop the whole thing immediately.’
I had no desire to proceed if the other party was unwilling. No matter how much unfinished business awaited me in that world.
‘…You’re quite considerate.’
‘Really?’
‘Yes. Sia has chosen to return here for a time.’
And so Sia had agreed to come to this world far more readily than I’d expected.
‘Perhaps she was curious too?’
About what this world looked like after she left.
‘Or maybe she felt the same unease I do.’
The parting had been far too abrupt.
Without any time to prepare, we each abandoned the places we’d called home for so long—without even properly tidying up after ourselves.
There wasn’t much to organize, really, but if given the chance, I wanted to properly close out that other world at least once. Sia might not care, but I did.
“It’s really just two weeks.”
“I understand.”
The timeframe Dorman kept emphasizing was the period during which others would feel alienated by the soul swap.
“What if… when our souls swap again, we get rejected and mistreated all over again?”
“That won’t happen. The emotions we’ve accumulated will remain. However, even that period has its limits. You must not exceed two weeks.”
I’d worried that the moment our souls swapped, we’d immediately face rejection and mistreatment again, but apparently that wasn’t the case.
The memories we’d built up would sustain us for a certain period without issue.
“Please be careful on your way.”
“Got it.”
“You must return.”
“Even if I didn’t want to come back, the magic circle would activate after a certain time anyway, like you said. Don’t worry.”
“Yes….”
The dimensional transfer magic circle—or rather, the soul exchange magic circle—lay before me as I took careful steps forward.
“Take good care of Sia when she arrives.”
“Of course.”
Dorman nodded vigorously, as if to say there was no need to worry about that.
“Then I’m going.”
The moment the words left my lips, I hurled the mana stone I’d been holding to the ground.
Crash!
The mana stone shattered instantly, and the magic circle beneath it erupted with light.
As that radiance spread across all the magic circles, a brilliance incomparably stronger than before flooded the Underground Space.
Rummmmmm….
As the light faded, a strange vibration and resonance took its place.
“….”
Dorman, who had instinctively squeezed his eyes shut, slowly opened them as the light began to subside.
“Camilla.”
Or should I say Sia?
He spotted Camilla collapsed in the center of the magic circle and rushed toward her.
* * *
“Ugh… uhhh….”
The first sensation upon regaining consciousness was pain. My head throbbed as if it might split open.
Even as I opened my eyes with a groan, my blurred vision prevented me from seeing anything clearly. Only after some time did a pristine white ceiling come into focus.
“Where is this….”
I hurriedly rubbed my eyes to sharpen my vision, then quickly surveyed my surroundings. And I could tell exactly where I was.
“A hospital?”
Yes, unmistakably a hospital. That distinctive sterile smell—one I could never encounter in that other world.
“Hah…”
Have I truly returned?
Camilla hurried to find a mirror. Stepping into the bathroom, she came face-to-face with a familiar visage.
‘Sia.’
Wow… it’s been such a long time since I’ve seen this form.
Black hair and black eyes. That sharp, piercing gaze that seemed so aloof.
Sia stood before the mirror, her expression oddly complex.

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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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