A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 273

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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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“Is tomorrow convenient for you?”
“Yes.”
Watching Arsian nod without hesitation, unlike moments before, a sigh heavy with resentment burst from those around us.
“Hey.”
“Wow… did you see his expression change?”
“When we said it, he acted like he didn’t even hear us spouting nonsense.”
Regardless, Arsian approached Camilla and listened only to her voice.
“Tomorrow we’re going to have a small party, just us.”
“You’re attending too?”
“Of course.”
“Understood.”
Camilla smiled faintly and gently ruffled Arsian’s hair as he obediently nodded.
“Dress up nicely.”
“Yes, and you—don’t bother dressing up.”
“Huh? Why?”
“Because you’re beautiful just as you are.”
“….”
If anyone else had said such a thing, I would have scoffed and dismissed it as some outdated pickup line. But coming from Arsian, I could only smile.
‘How strange.’
When those words came from his lips, laughter simply flowed.
I didn’t dislike the way he said it with such sincerity.
“Whoa.”
“Ugh…!”
“Annoying.”
Of course, the others watching made expressions as though they’d witnessed something unbearable.
“Hey, I don’t want to see you lot, so go play somewhere else.”
“Fine.”
“What, what?”
“No way! I’m not leaving Camilla unattended!”
As if waiting for their reproach, Arsian took Camilla’s hand and left the place.
* * *
“Where is Rio?”
“He went out.”
“With whom?”
Having finished my preparations to go out, I tilted my head at the unusually quiet atmosphere in the home.
Unlike other houses, this place was naturally shrouded in silence, but it had become much livelier since Rio arrived.
Yet today the home was peaceful. As if no one were here at all.
“He said he had business with Miss Sena and went out.”
“….”
Hearing the butler’s response, I swept my gaze lightly across the home with a peculiar feeling.
‘Was it always like this?’
I had spent my entire life surrounded by such quiet air, yet what was this strange feeling?
With merely the children gone, the house felt utterly hollow.
“The Duke also had an engagement today and has stepped out.”
I hadn’t even asked, yet the butler informed me that Duke Sefra was also absent from home.
“I hear you’re hosting a small party with friends today?”
At Old Butler Baol’s question, my gaze shifted back to him. Had I mentioned my schedule for today?
“Miss Camilla informed me of it.”
“Camilla did?”
The butler’s face bore a faint smile, noticing how my demeanor softened at the mere mention of her name.
“I hope you have an enjoyable time, young master.”
At the Old Butler’s farewell—words he rarely spoke so personally—I stared at him blankly for a moment.
“…Yes, I shall.”
A brief response escaped my lips. Feeling oddly uncomfortable for reasons I couldn’t explain, I hastily departed.
“Heh heh.”
As I left, the butler bowed deeply in farewell.
When Butler Baol raised his head, an even warmer smile graced his lips than before.
Everyone in this household now understood: Arsian had changed greatly from his former self.
Butler Baol, who had witnessed Arsian’s growth since childhood, could feel it most keenly of all.
That appearance of always being pursued by something, of precariously standing upon thin ice—it was nowhere to be found anymore.
He stood upon solid ground now, upon verdant earth where warm sunlight descended and new shoots were just beginning to sprout.
Duke Sefra, whom he had served for so long, now stood upon that same earth beside him.
‘It is all thanks to her.’
He knew well who had brought these two people, standing in the biting winds of ice, into such warm sunlight.
As he thought of Camilla, who had become the true power of this household, a satisfied smile bloomed upon his lips once more.
“It is spring.”
His gaze turned toward the window, thinking that this year’s spring would be truly warm indeed.
* * *
“This should be the place?”
Upon arriving at the promised location, I furrowed my brow slightly.
They said they would hold the party in the Sorpel Family Small Hall, so why was it so quiet?
Not a single light seeped through the windows. Was this not the right place?
‘Come to think of it, there’s no one to guide me.’
Even when meeting Camilla normally, I had rarely been guided by anyone. Most of the time, I would visit secretly at night.
But today something felt odd. On my way here, I hadn’t seen a single attendant or maidservant properly. Not even a butler in sight.
“Hmm.”
I pushed open the firmly closed doors of the hall and stepped inside. I forced the heavy doors open with all my strength.
And in that moment….
Boom! Bang! Pop!
A series of small explosions erupted from the pitch-dark space, and light suddenly flooded back into the room.
“Arsian!”
“Happy birthday—!”
The brightened space was filled with numerous people.
But the faces of those offering congratulations gradually stiffened, one after another.
“….”
“….”
Ravi, who had created and detonated what Camilla called fireworks at her request, along with the others, found themselves at a loss for words at the sight of Arsian without a single speck of pollen on him.
A transparent barrier enveloped his body. He had cast a defensive spell in that brief instant.
An awkward silence suddenly filled the hall. What was happening here? As my brow furrowed in confusion….
Boom!
Another small firework exploded. This time, the pollen contained within the firework covered Arsian completely.
“Happy birthday, Arsian.”
It was Camilla.
“…Birthday?”
Arsian, whose mind had been momentarily blank, finally regained his senses and inadvertently parted his lips at the unexpected word.
“Yes, today is your birthday.”
“Today is?”
He surveyed the hall with newfound awareness. Now that he looked, there were quite a few unusual things.
Colorful, strange spheres floated suspended in the air. What could be inside them to make them hover like that?
The walls were decorated with ornate birthday greeting letters. These were decorations he had never seen before.
Arsian cast a dazed gaze about him, quite unlike his usual self.
“That fellow seems surprised.”
“All our preparation was worth it!”
Everyone watched Arsian with delight.
Camilla had prepared everything for this party. She had even commissioned Ravi to create the fireworks, the letter balloons for the walls, and the floating balloons in the air.
‘I wanted to give him a special birthday party.’
She thought it would be lovely to decorate the party in a modern style. Laila and Elisha, who had seen the various balloons and fireworks, had been squealing with delight, but did Arsian not approve?
“….”
Arsian simply stood there in a daze, saying nothing. Camilla stared at him intently.
“Arsian?”
“…Yes.”
“Are you surprised?”
“A little….”
Noticing that Camilla was concerned, Arsian finally offered a faint smile.
“Well then, shall we officially begin the party?”
At Petro’s words, music began to flow through the hall, and people finally started to enjoy the party.
Though they had said it would be a small gathering among acquaintances, there were unexpectedly many people in the hall.
Not only members of the Volunteer Club were present, but also knights from various families whom I had seen frequently while dealing with the Eba Cult.
“Big brother! Happy birthday!”
“Happy birthday, Young Master.”
He’d said he had an appointment this morning and was heading out, yet Rio and Sena were here as well.
Rio came bounding over and thrust something into my arms—a small gift clutched in his hand.
“It’s a present!”
What Rio handed me was a small branch adorned with blossoms.
“Spring.”
“Spring?”
“Yeah! Sena said this is spring. So I’m giving you spring first of all!”
“….”
My expression went blank for a moment.
Spring, he said….
I knelt on one knee to meet Rio’s gaze, and an unusually gentle smile graced my face.
“Thank you.”
“Yep!”
I ruffled Rio’s hair lightly as he beamed with pure joy.
“….”
Turning my gaze, I could also spot Father standing with the other dukes—Duke Sefra. He’d said he had an urgent appointment and was leaving. Had he come here instead?
‘A birthday, they said.’
Had I ever bothered with such things in my life? I came from a house where birth itself was a curse. What exactly was there to celebrate?
But….
“Arsian, would you like to eat this? I made all the food here myself.”
“Yourself?”
“Yes.”
Perhaps now it wouldn’t be so wrong.
“Don’t let anyone else eat it.”
“Huh? Why? I’m actually quite good at cooking. You can trust me.”
“Because I’m going to eat it all. It’d be a waste to give it to anyone else.”
“Really? Then try this too.”
If there was even one person—just one—who celebrated my birth… perhaps that would be enough now.
“You two, cut it out.”
“Could you at least spare a thought for those of us listening?”
“I, I’ve got goosebumps all over.”
“Ugh, seriously. I can’t even stand to look at this! You two, get away from each other already!”
Those accustomed to the behavior of the two exchanged envious glances without mercy.

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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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