A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 281

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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 moment Camilla laid eyes on him, she sensed it instinctively.
Ah, I’ve been caught.
Still, I did my best to feign ignorance—a desperate hope, nothing more.
Arsian, whom I’d kept outside the Guard Headquarters to avoid drawing unwanted attention, stood alongside Ludvil, but I turned away from them both and strode past with as much confidence as I could muster.
‘Camilla.’
Of course, that desperate hope crumbled into reality.
At the sound of Ludvil’s calm voice calling my name, I had no choice but to approach him with an awkward smile.
I shot Arsian a sharp glare. Did you tell him?!
But he was shaking his head earnestly in response to that look—absolutely not, he insisted.
‘Then how on earth did he find out?’
How could he possibly know about me bringing Kenel to the Guard Headquarters, let alone my transformation?
“Because I heard everything.”
It was Ravi who answered my unspoken question.
Standing right beside Duke Sorpel with arms crossed, he was fanning Father relentlessly while insisting he deserved further punishment. Noticing my bewilderment, he continued.
“I embedded a sound detection spell in that bracelet.”
“What?”
Sound detection? What are you saying right now…?
“You eavesdropped on me!”
“Don’t misunderstand. I didn’t eavesdrop on everything—I only set it to detect sound when you actually used the magic embedded in the bracelet.”
“That’s still eavesdropping!”
“And you’re bragging about it like you did something right.”
“Tch….”
…It was you? Older Brother, it was you all along?!
Only then could I comprehend the entire situation.
The moment I used the magic embedded in the bracelet to change my appearance, everything had been broadcast live to Ravi.
And that cunning fox had immediately scurried off to report it all to Duke Sorpel.
“How dare you glare at me like that! Do you have any idea how shocked I was? Some strange child suddenly confessing to murder, and—!”
I’d suspected something was off ever since he came to my room that day with his bizarre behavior, but to actually get entangled with a murderer again!
Ravi was about to rush out to find her immediately. But at that very moment, an all-too-familiar voice cut through the air.
‘Hey, lunatic. Who exactly are you attacking right now?’
It was Arsian. The moment Ravi heard that voice, his urgent anxiety eased somewhat, and he could finally exhale in relief.
‘Well, at least that madman is useful in situations like this.’
I’ll give him credit for his abilities, anyway.
Ravi’s gaze shifted slightly. Arsian sat there, having remained silent as a ghost ever since entering with Camilla, his lips sealed tight.
“So you enjoy eavesdropping on your sister, do you? Unauthorized surveillance is a crime, a crime!”
“Crime? Don’t make me laugh. You’re the one who fearlessly approached a murderer and gave the family a fright—that’s the real crime! You reckless troublemaker!”
“How is that a crime! It’s upholding social justice! You don’t even know what crime means, you idiot….”
“Sigh.”
“….”
I flinched at the deep sigh that pierced my ears as I sparred with Ravi.
When I turned my head slightly, I could see Duke Sorpel pressing his fingers against his brow as if his head ached.
“Camilla.”
“Yes….”
Her voice had grown noticeably quieter than when she’d argued with Ravi.
“Didn’t I tell you before?”
Back when that business with Professor JB happened.
“I said you should tell your father first about anything dangerous.”
“This time it really wasn’t dangerous at all. Surely I wouldn’t come to harm from that child….”
“Camilla Sorpel.”
“Yes, sir.”
Camilla, who had been responding with feigned innocence, quickly closed her mouth at Duke Sorpel’s chilling tone.
“What is this? Why do you keep throwing yourself into dangerous situations?”
“Why are you asking something so obvious?”
“Obvious?”
“Well, because I’m the one and only daughter of our fair and just father.”
“….”
At Camilla’s artlessly clever response, which seemed to tumble out as if she’d been waiting for the question, the corners of Duke Sorpel’s mouth began to rise almost without his notice.
“Father!”
Almost—if it hadn’t been for Ravi’s urgent call.
“You can’t fall for that!”
Ravi, standing right beside Duke Sorpel, hastily raised his voice.
“That’s a trick, sir! If you let it slide now, she’ll definitely do it again next time!”
“What are you talking about? I’m not using any tricks. It’s all sincere.”
…That cunning fox. He’s no help to me at all.
‘Tch.’
The atmosphere had been about to pass over the matter.
Camilla fixed Ravi with a suddenly murderous glare. Just wait—I won’t be giving you any free mana stones from now on!
“Camilla.”
Duke Sorpel, who had been exhaling silent sighs, called to her again. Thinking she was about to be scolded further, Camilla hung her head low.
“You’re truly not injured anywhere?”
“….”
But what reached her ears was a question filled with concern.
After a moment of silence, a faint smile gradually spread across Camilla’s lips.
She suddenly recalled how, the moment she’d stepped into the Duke’s residence, Duke Sorpel had rushed over before anyone else and examined her complexion from every angle.
‘Come with me.’
…Of course, immediately after that he’d issued the command in a stern voice.
“Yes, I’m not injured at all.”
Even while scolding her, he always ended with that same unwavering question. How could she not smile at such concern?
“And I didn’t go alone either. As you can see, Arsian was with me. We moved together from the start.”
“Is that so.”
Both Camilla and Duke Sorpel’s gazes turned toward Arsian simultaneously.
“….”
Suddenly finding himself the focus of their attention, Arsian blinked rapidly.
Watching Camilla’s eyes grow increasingly fierce, he slowly nodded.
“…Yes.”
I didn’t realize it myself, but… it seems that was the case.
“That’s a lie!”
Ravi, who had been observing the entire scene, cried out in exasperation, even pointing an accusing finger.
“Where’s the lie? I heard you yelp in surprise when that guy appeared!”
“When did I? You must have misheard, Older Brother. Are you getting old? Your ears aren’t working properly anymore, are they?”
“What!”
“By the way, where’s Ludvil Older Brother?”
Camilla hastily changed the subject.
Yes, I was startled when Arsian suddenly appeared. But what? You saw it? Did you see it directly? I’m saying it wasn’t me—what are you going to do about it!
“He went back to the Guard Headquarters.”
“The Guard Headquarters?”
“Work needs to be finished.”
“Ah….”
Kenel—that man was talking about work. There was still much to handle. They needed to find the corpse he’d killed and verify the authenticity of the footage.
“I could do it….”
“Shh.”
“Yes! I’ll excuse myself here.”
With Ludvil Older Brother taking charge, the work would proceed far more smoothly. Who would dare ignore the words of the eldest son of the Sorpel Household?
‘They’ll move quite efficiently.’
Once Ludvil appeared, the Guard members’ expressions had changed entirely.
Though Camilla could no longer involve herself further in this matter, she felt reasonably satisfied.
“Arsian, let’s go.”
Camilla grasped the hand of Arsian, who sat there vacantly, and fled the scene as if escaping. Ravi looked ready to launch into another round of nagging.
‘That brother of mine!’
I’d already given him a heads-up beforehand!
I told him that even if I got caught up in incidents again, it wasn’t my intention, and that things in this world don’t always go as planned!
‘I said it beforehand hoping he’d take my side when I got caught like this. But it didn’t help at all!’
Instead, he even egged Duke Sorpel on to scold me more!
The moment Camilla left the Study, she removed the bracelet. She’d only asked for an appearance-altering enchantment, but when had he added an eavesdropping spell to it!
‘If it weren’t for this, the situation wouldn’t have blown up like this!’
I should destroy this cursed bracelet…!
“….”
…But destroying it felt wrong. Camilla stopped just as she was about to hurl the bracelet away.
“If you don’t like it, throw it away. I’ll make you a new one.”
Arsian glanced at the bracelet in Camilla’s hand and spoke casually, as if telling her not to worry over such trivial matters.
“…No, never mind.”
Camilla, who had been staring intently at the bracelet, shook her head gently.
My older brother, whose hobby is digging tunnels—I could already picture how dejected he’d become if he found out I’d discarded it. There was no need to even see it.
‘Does that fool of an older brother even realize?’
How kind his younger sister truly is.
In the end, Camilla clicked her tongue softly and fastened the bracelet back around her wrist.

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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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