A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 269

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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 way you looked at him was incredibly fierce.]
[It would’ve been fortunate if it were just fierce, but the moment that creature showed even the slightest sign of not leaving, you bared your fangs like you’d kill him on the spot.]
[It was pitiful.]
From the incessant chatter of the spirits and Aislah about what had transpired in my absence, I could piece together roughly what had happened.
“….”
Arsian, too, seemed to sense something ominous from the dark mass of entities gathered around Camilla, his gaze turning fierce once more.
“Did those things say anything strange to you? Don’t believe them, Camilla. It’s all lies.”
“Hmm, I suppose.”
[L-lies?! And what will you do if you keep glaring like that?]
[Miss, perhaps you should reconsider your relationship with this man.]
[Honestly, those Sefra lot have always been insufferable.]
Despite their complaints, all the spirits knew well of Arsian’s ability to annihilate the dead, so they crouched as low as possible behind Camilla, hiding themselves away.
“Arsian.”
Camilla smiled softly and subtly blocked Arsian’s gaze, which had been fixed on the spirits.
“I’ve realized something for certain this time.”
“What?”
Camilla’s smile deepened.
“That my place is truly here.”
Where family exists, where friends are, and….
Where you are.
“You occupy a larger share than I expected.”
“Share?”
The entire time I was there, this place weighed on my mind. And the one who held the largest share in making me feel that way was….
Watching Arsian smile without understanding why, Camilla’s eyes curved even more beautifully.
* * *
“Rube.”
[Why are you calling me?]
“I’m curious about something.”
[What is it?]
Sena, who had been cleaning Rio’s Room as always, suddenly set down the cloth she was holding as a thought occurred to her.
“You said it before. That I would disappear if I didn’t make a contract with you.”
[Huh? When? I never said that!]
“You did.”
Though he immediately denied it, I had certainly heard it—his anxious voice muttering to himself about what would happen if he disappeared, and he hadn’t seemed surprised at all.
“So why haven’t you disappeared yet?”
[Hey! Do you want me to disappear?!]
“No, that’s not it. I’m glad you’re here, Rube.”
[…What?]
It was an answer he hadn’t expected, and bewilderment colored his voice.
“It’s my first time. Having such an easy conversation with someone.”
I’m sincere about it. At first, I was incredibly confused and the voice ringing in my head was terribly bothersome, but now I’ve grown accustomed to it.
In fact, when Rube occasionally sulks and says nothing at all, I even feel a sense of emptiness.
“Rube?”
[….]
When Rube offered no response, Sena tilted her head in confusion.
Had something else I said just now touched a nerve with him?
[…It seems to be because of the name.]
Only after a considerable time passed did Rube’s voice return.
“The name?”
[The name you gave me—I suspect it has influenced my very existence in ways I hadn’t anticipated.]
“It’s just a name, though?”
[Just a name?! It’s the first true name I’ve ever possessed since my existence began!]
“….”
[…What is it? That expression?]
“What about my expression?”
[You’re looking at me with such pitying eyes right now!]
“I’m not.”
[You are!]
Click.
“Sena?”
At that moment, the door opened and the Maidservant stepped into the room. She surveyed the space with a puzzled expression.
“Were you alone?”
“Yes.”
“Is that so?”
She had likely caught a glimpse of Sena murmuring as if in conversation when she opened the door.
Sena pretended to know nothing and resumed her cleaning.
“Stop cleaning and come with me. The Duke’s carriage has just passed through the entrance.”
“Yes.”
Sena put away the cleaning supplies scattered about and left the room.
After hastily tidying up and descending to the first floor, she could see Duke Sefra and Arsian just entering.
“Welcome back.”
Beginning with the butler, all those who worked for Duke Sefra bowed their heads.
As Duke Sefra received their greetings and moved silently forward, he caught sight of Sena and paused.
“Where is Rio?”
For some time now, he had taken to asking Sena about Rio first, rather than the butler.
“He’s reading. He has a book he must finish by today.”
“By today?”
“Yes, he promised to finish all three books before meeting Camilla today.”
At the mention of Rio and Camilla, a faint smile crossed Duke Sefra’s lips before vanishing.
“Then I mustn’t disturb him.”
Arsian quietly followed behind Duke Sefra as he turned from his path toward Rio’s location and headed instead to his Study.
[That’s it, that’s it…!]
‘What is that?’
In that moment, Rube, who had been silent until now, let out an exclamation and began to fuss excitedly.
[Hurry and follow them! Quickly!]
“…?”
At the urgency in his voice, so unlike his usual tone, Sena found herself following the two men without thinking.
No one stopped the girl from doing so. After all, Sena frequently enjoyed refreshments in Duke Sefra’s Study alongside Rio.
“Is there anything I might help with?”
Sena spoke carefully as she entered the Study. It had felt natural when she was with Rio, but stepping in alone now felt terribly awkward.
At the girl’s words, Arsian clicked his tongue briefly and gave Sena’s forehead a light tap.
“Just sit there and have a snack. What could a little thing like you possibly help with?”
“Yes…”
Sena picked up one of the cookies that were always prepared on one side of the table for her and Rio, and munched on it hesitantly.
Even so, Rube’s cries continued to reach her ears.
[That thing, what that fellow is holding in his hands!]
‘What is that?’
[A sacred relic! A sacred relic! Ask him to show it to you at once!]
‘A sacred relic?’
Sena’s gaze turned toward the small box held in Arsian’s hands.
Just then, Arsian, looking annoyed, set the box down on the table with a thud.
“What is that?”
Sena asked hesitantly about the box’s identity.
“A ritual vessel used by the Church Leader of the Eba Cult.”
“What? The Eba Cult?”
[As I thought! A sacred relic imbued with my power!]
Sena nearly spat out the cookie she had in her mouth.
‘I suspected as much.’
I had anticipated it to some degree.
Every time he spoke of needing to find sacred relics, of how his followers were already scattered across the entire Continent.
Whenever I heard such absurd claims from Rube, one thing always came to mind.
‘The Eba Cult.’
The Eba Cult where I had been captured. Recently, hadn’t the Church Leader of that very cult died, plunging the entire Empire into chaos?
Considering the timing, and the way everything Rube spoke of seemed connected to it somehow.
‘Rube, are you the Eba God?’
[That’s merely the name they arbitrarily gave me. I simply granted them power.]
…So that was it.
Sena exhaled a long sigh internally. No wonder he always seemed to know only how to burn and destroy things.
Click.
As Sena could not tear her eyes from the box, Duke Sefra opened it and showed her its contents.
Inside the box lay a strangely shaped stone that gleamed with an eerie black light.
“Why is a sacred relic of the Eba Cult here?”
Setting aside the matter of Rube’s presence for now, Sena voiced her curiosity.
She couldn’t fathom why such a terrifying and dreadful object would be kept in this place.
“The Imperial Court found it bothersome and dumped it on us.”
“Pardon?”
Arsian clicked his tongue in disapproval, then continued matter-of-factly.
“Since it can’t be destroyed, they’re ordering us to seal it with magic.”
To disperse the efforts of those endlessly scaling the Imperial Palace walls in search of the sacred relics, the Imperial Court had distributed them among the various Guardian Families.
[Excellent, excellent!]
Rube burst into loud laughter, delighted that the sacred relic had returned without him even having to search for it.
‘What are you planning to do with that relic? I’ve told you I don’t need such power.’
[You don’t understand because you’re ignorant, but do you have any idea how magnificent this is? With just this, my power could…! Wait?]
But Rube’s joy was short-lived. Bewilderment crept unmistakably into his voice.
[What, what is this?]
‘What’s wrong?’
[Why, why? Why isn’t it responding at all?]
Rube’s voice, as if examining the sacred relic, grew increasingly alarmed.
[This can’t be… This, this shouldn’t be possible! It doesn’t make sense!]
‘Rube?’
[My power won’t work on it! The sacred relic no longer accepts my power? Why? Why on earth?]
Listening to Rube muttering frantically despite her calls, Sena decided to tune him out.
She wasn’t entirely sure, but it seemed the sacred relic simply wasn’t obeying Rube’s will.
‘That’s fortunate.’
In fact, she felt relieved. She had been worried about what would happen if Rube actually managed to use it.
[It’s your fault, you!]
…Me? What is he suddenly talking about? Sena tilted her head in confusion.
[Because you’re rejecting it, I can’t use it either! Argh—!]
Ugh, so noisy.
It was then that her brow furrowed slightly.
The door burst open.
“Uncle! Big brother!”
A small silhouette slipped through the Study door. It was Rio.

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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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