A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 286

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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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“This is ridiculous. Her name is Arsian? And you’re calling her ‘hey, hey’ instead of using her proper name! Have you been treating Arsian like this the whole time? Bullying a newcomer like that. I’m reporting you to the labor board right now!”
“Report me? Go ahead! Who’s afraid of that!”
“You think I won’t do it!”
As the endless bickering between the siblings continued, people began quietly slipping away from the scene. No one wanted to risk getting caught in the crossfire.
“What are you even doing here?”
Only after their heated argument had finally subsided could Ravi ask Camilla why she was here.
“Why? I came to deliver mana stones.”
“Deliver?”
“Yes.”
“…Huh.”
Since when did she start bringing them herself!
Ravi couldn’t hide his bewildered expression. Despite knowing all along that Camilla was affiliated with the Magic Tower, she had never once personally delivered mana stones before.
And now she suddenly shows up with them in hand? Ravi’s eyes flashed with renewed anger as he glared at Arsian standing behind Camilla.
“You came to see that guy!”
“If you keep calling her by strange names instead of her actual name, I might just stop delivering mana stones to the Magic Tower altogether.”
“You’re always making a fuss about mana stones! Is that the only leverage you have!”
“Is that truly my only leverage?”
Flinch.
As Camilla’s lips curved upward in a subtle smile, Ravi found himself at a loss for words. Mana stones were hardly her only bargaining chip.
Lately, there wasn’t a single commodity that didn’t pass through the Ghost Merchant Store. One could say the Ghost Merchant Store controlled virtually all distribution channels.
Ravi knew better than anyone how exhausting it was when Camilla decided to be difficult.
Whenever he locked himself away in his workshop for days without eating, claiming he was conducting research, he’d heard countless threats from her.
‘Not just mana stones—every material I needed for my research fell under her control.’
When had she managed to monopolize everything like this?
Ravi glared at Camilla with displeasure, then finally directed his furious gaze toward Arsian.
Of course, seeing that she actually seemed to enjoy his hostile stare only made him angrier.
Thud.
“You carry this, big brother.”
“What?”
“Let’s go, Arsian.”
“Hey!”
Camilla kicked the box of mana stones toward Ravi, then grabbed Arsian’s hand and quickly made her escape.
Following behind her, Arsian’s face was still brimming with laughter.
* * *
“Goodness, how much have you been mistreated! Look how thin you’ve become.”
“….”
…I haven’t lost weight. I don’t even remember being mistreated.
But Arsian kept silent, holding her cheeks in both hands. He found it endearing the way Camilla was getting angry on his behalf.
“Have you eaten?”
“No.”
“You didn’t even feed him? These people are unbelievable! If you’re going to keep someone, you feed them—that’s basic. This is definitely your brother’s doing!”
“….”
…I simply didn’t want to eat, so I didn’t.
“I’m hungry.”
“Hungry? Come on, let’s go. Your sister will buy you whatever you want to eat.”
I could have sworn I heard Ravi’s aggrieved voice from somewhere, but what did I care?
Arsian mustered the most pitiful expression he could manage and appealed to his hunger while trailing obediently behind Camilla.
“So, you’re really going to the Gracia Empire?”
“Yeah. But Father absolutely won’t give his permission.”
After eating and even having tea, Camilla and Arsian strolled slowly through the Street, conversing as they walked.
The main topic was about the Dragon’s Lair that I’d learned from the ghost Amy.
It was a secret from others, but there was no reason to hide it from Arsian.
“I’m against it too.”
“What? Why?”
Even Arsian, after hearing everything, opposed the visit to Gracia.
‘What’s his problem now?’
Duke Sorpel doesn’t know anything, so that’s understandable, but you already know Zeno is attached to my side.
“It’s dangerous.”
“Dangerous? What’s dangerous about it? According to Amy, there aren’t even any traps in the Lair. Didn’t you just hear what I said? There are no magical beasts on the way to the Lair. And even if there were, so what? I’m bringing King. Or I could get help from Jainer.”
“That’s the problem.”
“What do you mean?”
That’s the problem?
“That man is the problem.”
“…?”
Arsian’s brow furrowed at the mention of Jainer from Camilla’s lips.
Though they’d only crossed paths a few times, every time he saw Jainer with Camilla, it irritated him.
‘That look in his eyes….’
It was definitely not the way one looks at a younger sister.
“Why Jainer?”
Camilla could only tilt her head in confusion. It was true that man was the head of an Assassination Organization, but….
“…He’s a good person.”
I’ve received a lot of help from him, and while his personality has some twisted aspects, honestly, it’s not really my place to talk about that.
In a way, I bear some responsibility for how his personality became that way.
‘Of course, Dorman bears the greatest responsibility.’
When I learned about Jainer’s circumstances—how he’d unintentionally continued living a repeating life—that twisted personality became somewhat understandable.
‘I wonder if he received proper compensation.’
Seeing that Dorman returned alive after seeking out Jainer, it seems the compensation was settled well, but he won’t tell me what he received.
In any case, what was strange was that Arsian particularly disliked Jainer.
“I don’t like him.”
“…Do you even like anyone?”
“You.”
“….”
…He always caught me off guard like this sometimes. I let out a stifled laugh and resumed walking slowly.
The weather was beautiful, and the breeze that swept across was refreshing. It was a perfect day for a stroll.
Should I pick up some desserts Duke Sorpel loved on my way home? Would that earn me his permission?
‘I need to lift his mood first if I want things to progress.’
As I pondered how to win over Duke Sorpel,
I paused.
“Hmm?”
I spotted something and couldn’t hide the puzzlement in my eyes.
‘What is he doing over there?’
Someone was hiding behind a tree, staring intently at something.
It was a suspicious sight by any measure, but the problem was that the person acting so strangely was someone I knew all too well.
‘Dorman?’
What was he doing there at this hour? He should have been working hard at the Cafe with Laila by now.
Didn’t you leave home earlier saying you were going to the Cafe?
‘Slacking off again?’
How long had it been since he promised not to shirk his duties? I shot him a look of disbelief. It seemed wage cuts weren’t effective.
‘What on earth is he staring at?’
I followed Dorman’s gaze. Something about the way he’d been fixated on one spot seemed off.
‘What trouble is he trying to cause now… wait?’
…A woman?
What Dorman was watching was a young woman—a girl in her mid-to-late teens working diligently at the Bakery.
“…Seriously?”
After alternating my gaze between Dorman and the woman for a moment, I furrowed my brow slightly.
‘Is he stalking her?’
Of all things…
The reason I jumped to this conclusion was because of the look in Dorman’s eyes as he watched the woman—it was anything but ordinary.
What was with that gaze full of longing and resentment? He looked like he might rush over and confess to her at any moment.
‘Hey, how old are you to be looking at such a young girl like that! Has he lost his mind from aging?’
No, wait. Still, Dorman isn’t the type to be so thoughtless… or is he? Maybe he is?
‘…I’ll just ask.’
What good would pondering do? The answer was to ask directly.
To find out what he was doing right now, I took a large step toward Dorman.
All the while, he remained so absorbed with the woman that his gaze didn’t shift anywhere else.
Whoosh!
“…!”
But at that moment, Arsian, who was standing beside me, quickly grabbed my arm and pulled me back.
Swish.
“…What?”
At that very moment, a figure materialized before Camilla—a pale, bloodless hand intercepting her path.
“…Habel?”
It was none other than Reaper Habel.
“….”
He glanced briefly toward where Dorman stood, then gestured silently for Camilla to follow him.
‘What is this?’
Camilla watched Habel move forward without explanation, her curiosity ultimately overwhelming her restraint. She and Arsian quietly trailed behind him.

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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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