A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 288

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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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“Just do as you’re told quietly…!”
Crack!
“Ugh!”
But in that instant, a pained groan escaped from Wood’s lips.
“Wh-what!”
My head spun. It felt like I’d been hit by something just now. Wincing, I spun around urgently to look behind me.
“Making a fuss over nothing. Not even bleeding.”
“Y-you! What are you!”
A woman stood there with a pointed heel gripped in one hand, her expression utterly indifferent. Had she just struck me with that shoe? Wood’s face twisted further.
“Me? I came to scout.”
“What?”
“Heard one of your employees works well, so I’m taking her.”
Approaching Meari and deliberately placing herself between the Agency President Wood and the woman—that was Camilla.
“You’re just going to take my employee without permission!”
“You don’t even pay her, and she’s your employee?”
“Wh-what! Why wouldn’t I pay! I just gave her two weeks’ worth…!”
“Sir.”
Camilla’s voice dropped lower.
“Are you joking?”
Flinch.
As she stepped closer with one corner of her mouth raised, Agency President Wood involuntarily stumbled backward.
‘Wh-what?’
Why was my body moving on its own…? What kind of murderous glint does this young thing have in her eyes! It looked like she’d draw a blade from her bosom and swing it any second!
“You have ten days.”
“…Ten days?”
“Settle the back wages by then.”
“Ha! You can’t pay what you don’t have! If I had the money, would I not have paid? I’m not that bad of a person!”
“Nonsense.”
“Wh-what?”
“A man who harassed an employee like a daughter sure talks a good game with that loose mouth of his.”
“H-harassment! When did I ever do something like that…!”
“Enough.”
Camilla cut off Agency President Wood’s words as if she had nothing more to hear, emphasizing once more.
“Ten days. Not a moment longer.”
“…Ha.”
I can’t pay it, so what are you going to do about it!
Wood let out a scoff and glared fiercely at Camilla. He also shot a vicious look at Meari standing behind her.
“Don’t look. Don’t look. Your eyes will rot seeing things like that.”
As if blocking that gaze, Camilla covered Meari’s eyes with her hand and led her outside.
“Hey! If you leave like this, you’re forfeiting your wages! Don’t forget the contract! Don’t even dream of working anywhere else…!”
Whoosh!
Wood, who had been shrieking and flailing about desperately, flinched once more. Camilla, who had been heading toward the door, suddenly whipped her head around.
Swish.
“…?”
…What was that?
She suddenly extended her hand forward, and as she smoothly raised her middle finger, Wood’s eyes widened in shock.
I had no idea what that gesture meant….
‘Why… why do I feel so terrible?’
Watching Camilla and Meari leisurely exit the Cafe, Wood found himself unable to say another word.
Chapter 4. Meari
‘Namia.’
Once again today, Dorman hid behind a tree and gazed at the Bakery. His younger sister Namia… or rather, the woman named Meari who possessed her soul.
After hearing everything from Habel, he immediately sought out Meari. And he watched her. He was deeply curious about how she was living her life now.
But….
She was living such a painfully difficult existence. Already serving as the breadwinner at a young age under her ailing single mother.
Yet Dorman could not intervene. Habel had already warned him.
‘Annihilation. If you, Dorman, directly involve yourself in her life, reveal your identity, and exert influence, you will be annihilated immediately.’
So Dorman could only watch from afar. All he could do was secretly pay for his mother’s medical treatment.
Still, it was enough that his sister’s soul had been reborn and was living a new life. Just being able to see her again like this was a blessing.
That’s why he couldn’t help it. Despite promising Camilla he wouldn’t shirk his duties again, here he was today, sneaking out to see his sister.
‘Something seemed off about Camilla lately.’
A few days ago, when Camilla returned from her outing, her gaze was distinctly strange.
The way she kept staring at me so intently made me wonder if she’d discovered my dereliction of duty. I was so anxious about it.
If my salary gets cut again, it’ll be harder to contribute to her treatment costs. I need to be careful.
‘Should I even make her a telescope?’
‘Excuse me? A telescope?’
‘It’s a basic tool for stalking, you could say.’
‘…?’
‘Should I provide a camera too?’
‘…??’
Yet she was looking at me with such pitying eyes while saying these random things.
Under that gaze, Dorman could only shrink further. Was this some new form of psychological attack? Was she telling me to confess on my own?
‘Just until today….’
Starting tomorrow, I won’t slack off anymore.
“Let go of me!”
As Dorman was recalling events from a few days ago, he suddenly lifted his head at the sound that reached his ears.
Though it was faint due to the distance, it was unmistakably Meari’s voice.
“….”
Dorman’s expression hardened rapidly. He had witnessed the Agency President groping Meari’s body. Realizing the situation, Dorman immediately tried to rush toward the Cafe.
‘You will be annihilated.’
I froze.
In that instant, Reaper Habel’s warning echoed in my mind—that childlike voice of caution.
“….”
If I stepped forward now, I wouldn’t face annihilation, but I would certainly face some form of punishment.
Perhaps I would no longer be permitted in the human world. Yet Dorman didn’t hesitate.
‘What does it matter.’
That child was in trouble right now. Even if I faced annihilation, it didn’t matter. I rushed toward the Cafe.
Thud!
“…?”
But in that moment, a hand swiftly caught my arm. Turning my head in alarm, my eyes widened slowly.
“…Camilla.”
It was Camilla. What was she doing here? I couldn’t hide my shock.
“I’ll go.”
“Pardon?”
“You stay here.”
“What do you—”
“I have some business at that Cafe.”
With those words, Camilla strode purposefully toward the Cafe.
And shortly after, leaving the Agency President shouting behind her, Camilla returned with Meari to where I stood.
“Ah….”
Watching Meari approach me, I found myself unable to speak.
What should I say? Was I even allowed to speak to her?
“Introduce yourself.”
“…Yes?”
My mind had gone blank, unable to do anything, but Camilla’s words suddenly snapped me back to awareness.
“She’s a new employee who’ll be working with us at the Cafe starting today.”
“…!”
…A new employee?
My eyes widened once more. Meari was… a new employee?
‘Camilla….’
Did she know everything? Who she really was?
“Hello. I’m Meari.”
Having already discussed certain matters while leaving the Cafe, Meari didn’t seem particularly flustered by Camilla’s introduction.
“….”
Even as I watched Meari bow respectfully in greeting, I still couldn’t find the words to respond.
After a long moment, I gathered my courage and stepped toward her, slowly extending my hand.
“I’m…Dorman.”
A faint smile formed at the corners of my lips.
* * *
“You….”
“Me? Why?”
“….”
Reaper Habel regarded her with a face full of things he wanted to say, but ultimately released a short sigh and closed his mouth.
His gaze fixed on one place—a woman arranging bread on the display shelf alongside another woman named Laila. She was Dorman’s sister, or rather, the woman named Meari who contained his sister’s soul.
“We were short-staffed, so I hired a part-timer.”
“I told you before. If Dorman gets too deeply involved, he’ll face punishment.”
“What are you talking about? Why is Dorman’s name coming up here? I’m just saying we needed help and hired a competent part-timer.”
“….”
At Camilla’s innocent expression and tilted head, as if she knew nothing at all, Habel cast her an exasperated look.
No wonder she was a former actress—her expression was so naturally guileless.
Habel’s gaze shifted this time to Dorman, who was cleaning in one corner of the Cafe while constantly stealing glances at Meari.
Seeing his evident joy, Habel said nothing more.
“The girl is kind. She works well too.”
Honestly, I’d brought her here for Dorman’s sake, but she worked so competently that I was glad I’d made the decision.
‘Even Laila likes her.’
She said it was helping a lot.
After learning all the facts from Habel initially, I had my butler Rube investigate Meari. I needed information about her first.
And there was one fact I discovered.
The Bakery owner she worked for was someone I wouldn’t mind grinding to dust.

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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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