A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 282

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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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“M-Mother? Father?”
“….”
“….”
The trial had begun. It was a proceeding that commanded the attention of countless onlookers. And for good reason—a child of merely thirteen years old stood accused of murder.
Not just one victim, but three children. The public’s fixation was inevitable.
“Mother! Father!”
“….”
“….”
“H-How could you….”
Kenel, standing in the Courtroom, trembled as he gazed upon his parents. Moments before, the judge had presented them with a proposal. And their response to it left Kenel drowning in rage and despair.
‘Is this what it feels like to be abandoned by your own parents?’
From her vantage point at the far end of the Courtroom, Camilla watched the scene unfold, clicking her tongue inwardly with satisfaction.
Juvenile law.
A single opportunity was granted to young offenders not yet fifteen years of age.
The court’s reasoning was that when a child commits a crime, responsibility also lay with the parents who should have disciplined and guided them properly.
This principle had birthed the juvenile law—a statute allowing parents to serve a portion of their child’s sentence in their stead.
‘Which means the child’s sentence is reduced accordingly.’
For instance, if a child received a ten-year prison sentence, the parents could serve up to five years in their place. In other words, the child could serve five years and the parents five years.
‘I thought the laws here were just as broken as in that other world.’
Camilla found herself disappointed by the fact that young offenders could not receive capital punishment or life sentences without parole.
Of course, she understood to some degree why opportunities were given—children could make mistakes and commit grave crimes.
‘But.’
There were certainly cases like Kenel’s, where it wasn’t a mistake but rather a fundamentally rotten soul beyond redemption. Yet simply because of their youth, they received lighter sentences. How was that justice?
‘Still, what can you do.’
While not the ultimate penalty of capital punishment or life imprisonment, the sentence handed down to Kenel was far from lenient.
‘One hundred years.’
It was essentially a death sentence—rotting away in prison until the end. No different from life imprisonment.
Camilla found herself quite satisfied with the judge’s verdict.
And moments ago, the judge had made a proposal to Kenel’s parents in accordance with the law.
Since they had stood by and done nothing while their child committed such atrocities, they too bore responsibility. Did they wish to assume a portion of the sentence in their child’s stead?
Of course, this carried no legal obligation—it was entirely the parents’ choice. From the hundred-year sentence, they could serve up to fifty years in their child’s place.
Anything less was acceptable as well. Ten years, one year—it mattered not.
“Sob…”
“I… u-ugh…”
The parents of the children killed by Kenel’s hand, gathered in a corner of the Courtroom, wept and watched the proceedings with barely concealed anxiety.
The monster who had so brutally murdered their children might have his sentence reduced by as much as fifty years.
‘Hmm.’
Camilla, however, could easily predict the outcome. From the moment they entered the Courtroom, Kenel’s parents had not once met their son’s gaze.
And moments later, their answer came—exactly as Camilla had anticipated.
“No.”
“We will not accept a sentence in his stead.”
Both of Kenel’s Parents shook their heads. Without a moment’s hesitation.
“Mother! Father! It’s me! I’m Kenel! Your one and only son!”
“….”
“….”
Bound from head to toe, Kenel cried out to call them, but neither parent spared him a single glance.
“How… how could you….”
Kenel’s eyes, which had first gazed upon them in disbelief, gradually filled with rage. Eventually, tears welled up at the corners of his eyes.
‘Tsk tsk.’
How pathetic. I don’t feel a shred of pity for him.
Camilla’s gaze remained utterly indifferent as she watched Kenel being dragged away, tears streaming down his face.
‘It’s almost a shame he’s not getting execution.’
What if that bastard lives far too long? I’ll be feeding and housing him with my own tax money. Ugh, what a waste.
As Camilla grumbled quietly to herself, her attention turned to one particular spot.
She saw a child gently stroking the back of a man who wept silently.
Of course, the man felt none of the child’s touch.
It was Rana and her Father. After consoling her father for some time, Rana gazed quietly at Kenel as he was dragged from the courtroom in tears.
‘She must wish it were worse.’
She probably hoped he’d receive a harsher punishment.
‘Well, his life is ruined anyway, so this is severe enough.’
Social destruction was certain. Camilla had mobilized every ounce of her influence to ensure that every single news outlet in the Empire covered this incident in meticulous detail.
Protests demanding his execution erupted across the nation. It took no time at all for Kenel’s face to be exposed throughout the entire country.
But what of that child who died at such a young age, innocent of any crime?
‘I should have tormented him longer.’
Should have sent Shinsu after him several more times.
“Tsk.”
Camilla clicked her tongue lightly and quietly left the courtroom. It was already over—what use was there in lingering? She could only hope that bastard would rot away miserably in prison for the rest of his life.
[Camilla!]
Moments later, Rana came rushing toward her and suddenly grasped her hand.
[Thank you so much.]
Contrary to Camilla’s expectations, Rana’s face was filled with a smile.
[I really thought that person….]
“That bastard.”
Camilla shook her head and corrected Rana’s words. That thing wasn’t a person. People wouldn’t appreciate being lumped in with something like that.
[That… that bas… ahem. I never thought his crimes would actually be revealed.]
She had been so afraid that no one would ever find her body, that her father would spend the rest of his life searching for her in anguish.
[Thank you.]
Rana bowed her head with genuine gratitude in her heart.
“Yes, be very grateful.”
I helped you out because you’re young. I’m not the kind of good person who purely helps with bothersome matters out of the goodness of my heart, you know.
[Poof!]
A bright laugh burst from the child’s lips for the first time. Seeing this, a faint smile graced Camilla’s face.
[Sister, please tell our father not to grieve too much.]
“…All right.”
The child’s form grew increasingly translucent. Knowing full well what this meant, Camilla offered nothing more.
The child’s radiant smile faded swiftly in response to her brief reply.
“Gone, then.”
“Yes.”
Only then did Arsian approach and speak.
He had come all this way with her, yet knowing that the ghost Rana feared him, he had kept his distance as much as possible.
‘My Arsian has changed so much.’
Once, he wouldn’t have cared whether ghosts feared him or not. Camilla let out a soft chuckle and linked her arm through his.
The commotion had ended, and now only celebrations remained, it seemed.
“Arsian.”
A grand event awaited very soon.
“You’re graduating soon.”
Arsian, a third-year student, was finally graduating.
* * *
Pitter-patter-patter.
“Sister!”
Crash!
As Camilla entered the Graduation Ceremony Hall, the small Inyoung rushed toward her and threw his arms around her, drawing a soft laugh from her lips.
“Rio, did you come to congratulate your brother?”
“Yes!”
Camilla’s gaze drifted backward as she habitually pinched Rio’s soft cheeks.
Duke Sefra stood there, and she could see a child nervously watching for an opportunity to speak with her.
Camilla offered Duke Sefra a light bow of greeting before approaching Sena.
“Hello, Sena.”
“Yes….”
The child’s expression brightened at Camilla’s greeting, though even this casual exchange seemed to embarrass her, her cheeks flushing slightly.
‘Who would believe it.’
That such a shy and gentle child harbored within her the god of the Eba Cult, who once threw the world into chaos.
‘Was the name Rube?’
The name Sena had given her, or so I’d heard.
[Why do you always get so embarrassed whenever you stand before that woman! What’s your crime? I’m such a magnificent being right here beside you—why do you carry on like this?!]
…Perhaps she was still bombarding Sena with such complaints even now.
Camilla straightened Sena’s slightly disheveled clothes. After retying the ribbon on her blouse, she gently stroked the girl’s hair. A faint smile appeared and vanished from the child’s lips at that touch.
Having exchanged brief greetings with those she knew, Camilla surveyed the Auditorium where the ceremony would take place.
Her face filled with pride. My troublemaker Arsian was finally graduating? Well, there was that, certainly.
‘It’s selling quite well.’
The Auditorium was adorned with countless objects that felt strangely familiar to me.

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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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