A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 292

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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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Emperor Gracia watched Duke Escra’s expression intently, reading every shift in his demeanor.
After all, it was he who had insisted the Duke attend the council meeting despite his claim of prior commitments, summoning him to the Council Chamber by force.
It was rare to see his face otherwise, so what could be done about it?
Recently, the Duke had been visiting the Palace far less frequently. When asked why, Duke Escra had offered only a single explanation.
‘I promised to spend time with my son.’
‘A promise? With whom…?’
‘Our daughter.’
….
When everyone first heard those words, they had burst into hollow laughter, thinking he was joking.
Emperor Gracia was no exception. Duke Escra was, by any generous assessment, hardly a family man.
Yet from that day forward, his visits to the Imperial Court had genuinely diminished, and he was frequently seen in the company of Daive, his second son.
Those who spotted him at the Theater or the Library with his son could scarcely hide their astonishment.
“Does the Duke have any thoughts on this matter?”
Emperor Gracia addressed Duke Escra with careful words, and in response, the Duke’s sharp gaze pierced directly toward him.
A low grunt.
…Yet Duke Escra, who had always been rather witty with him before.
It seemed he truly resented being forcibly summoned to the Palace today.
“It appears a conclusion has already been reached. Might I be excused?”
Despite the courteous tone, Duke Escra’s eyes were desolate. The Emperor’s smile grew all the more strained.
He truly seemed angry. Was his claim of urgent business not merely an excuse? The Emperor had assumed it was a pretext born from reluctance to visit the Palace.
“Is there some pressing matter today…?”
Whoosh.
Rather than answer Emperor Gracia’s question, Duke Escra rose from his seat at once.
“My daughter is coming today.”
As he departed the Council Chamber, he offered that simple explanation.
‘His daughter….’
At those words, Emperor Gracia’s eyes widened slightly.
“Ah.”
So Camilla had arrived.
“How thoughtless of me….”
Only then did Emperor Gracia understand why Duke Escra had displayed such displeasure throughout today’s council meeting.
‘I made a mistake.’
Today was not a day to forcibly bring him here.
Emperor Gracia knew better than anyone how profound Duke Escra’s affection for Camilla, his lost daughter, truly ran.
‘I should like to formally meet your daughter one day. I have seen her as a member of the Divine Envoy Delegation, but never as your daughter. Perhaps an invitation to the Palace….’
‘That will not happen.’
‘Hmm? Does she not intend to return to the Gracia Empire?’
‘It would be a waste.’
‘…? A waste? What do you mean?’
‘To display her.’
‘….’
When I first heard that he had a daughter, I recalled the conversation we’d shared, and Emperor Gracia shook my head gently.
At first, I wondered if he was joking, but seeing that serious gaze, I knew he meant every word. That’s why I couldn’t bring myself to ask to see her again.
And yet now she had come to this place—the Gracia Empire.
“Hmm.”
The daughter of none other than Duke Escra had arrived. Shouldn’t I prepare some gift for her?
Gazing at the spot where Duke Escra had vanished, Emperor Gracia allowed a faint smile to play at the corners of my lips.
* * *
Click.
“Here it is!”
Daive pushed the door wide open and stepped into the room ahead. When he turned back to look at Camilla, his eyes brimmed with anticipation.
‘…What is this place?’
Following the boy inside, I barely managed to restrain my feet from turning around and walking straight back out.
‘Isn’t this exactly what a princess’s room from a fairy tale would look like?’
It was overwhelmingly pink. The lace draped around that bed—what on earth was it doing there? And those enormous ribbons adorning every fabric surface, from the curtains to everything else?
“Daive.”
“Yes!”
“What is this room?”
Had Duke Escra somehow acquired a young daughter without my knowledge? If so, the existence of this room would make perfect sense.
‘Surely not….’
This couldn’t be my room, could it?
“It’s your room, sister.”
My desperate hope shattered at Daive’s next words.
“…My room?”
Could he not have said that? I looked around the room again with weary eyes.
No matter how many times I looked, it was absolutely not my taste. Duke Escra, what on earth were you thinking creating a room like this…!
“I decorated it.”
“What?”
“I picked out everything in here!”
“…You did?”
“Yes!”
“Now that I look at it again, it’s quite nice.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
That’s right—ribbons should be big to look their best. The color is perfect too. It’s not just men who love pink, after all. Women do too!
I gently patted Daive’s head as he beamed at me, and his smile deepened under my touch.
“But why did you suddenly make this room?”
“Father said we should make it. He said you might come and live here.”
….
I was only here for a brief visit. More precisely, I was just here to find the jewel and leave right away.
But looking at Daive’s bright, eager eyes, I couldn’t bring myself to tell him the truth.
“Where is Arsian’s room?”
Camilla watched Arsian standing by the entrance, waiting for the conversation to end. Only then did he speak for the first time.
“The room next door?”
“No!”
Daive shook his head vigorously as if Arsian had said something absurd.
“Then?”
“…Follow me.”
As Daive left the room, he shot Arsian a subtle glare—hidden from Camilla’s view.
“Then organize your things and I’ll see you later.”
“Okay.”
Despite Daive’s pointed look, Arsian simply exchanged a casual greeting with Camilla before following the boy.
Well, this wasn’t his first time experiencing something like this. It was something he always encountered whenever he was around Camilla.
He’d developed some immunity to it, one might say. Having one more person wary of him didn’t bother him in the slightest.
*Click.*
“You can use this room.”
….
The farthest room from Camilla’s. It was quite spacious and clean, but something about it felt rather bare.
The room contained only a bed and a table.
“If you’re not satisfied, I can arrange a room at the nearby inn….”
“I’m satisfied.”
“…Really?”
“Yes.”
“…Tsk.”
Daive kept pouting, clearly hoping Arsian would express displeasure and anger.
If he’d gotten upset, he would’ve rushed straight to his sister and tattled on him!
“Then rest well.”
Daive quickly left the room, his entire body expressing that he was unwelcome here.
“Hmm.”
Arsian casually set his luggage to one side and sat on the bed.
“The bed isn’t bad.”
That was good enough for him.
Though the room contained only two pieces of furniture, it was actually a satisfying space for someone who disliked clutter.
* * *
[That’s why I possessed Camilla’s body!]
[My goodness, my goodness! You actually met your son directly! How moving!]
[And furthermore….]
[I also had adoptive parents who killed me, and Camilla….]
….
What were those two doing right now? Or rather, what were those two ghosts doing?
Camilla watched the two beings huddled together in one corner, engaged in endless chatter. It was Amy the ghost and Sharua, the Duchess Ghost.
‘Why hasn’t she ascended yet?’
What lingering attachment could possibly remain?
She’d driven away the nanny who tormented Daive, discovered the bank vault that only she knew about, and handed everything over to the child. Hadn’t she done all that?
There shouldn’t be any reason left for her to linger in this place.
[Our Duke looks even more magnificent now than when he was young!]
…Was she waiting to take her husband with her? Perhaps she’d remain like this until he died.
Camilla watched Sharua, still wearing that girlish expression as she conversed with Amy in obvious delight, and let out a small sigh.
[She seems pleased to have found someone to talk to after so long.]
Zeno, who had followed her, also seemed fascinated by their conversation, unable to tear his eyes away. They’d been talking non-stop for over an hour now.
[Camilla!]
After a considerable time, Sharua finally approached Camilla, apparently having exhausted their topics. Her face was radiant with joy.
[I’m so happy you came back!]
“….”
Camilla regarded Sharua with a somewhat reluctant expression.
‘…Why is she so delighted to see me?’
As Sharua’s eyes sparkled with particular brightness, Camilla quietly took a step backward.
My instincts are tingling. They’re definitely tingling.
[I’m truly so very glad you’re here.]
This is exactly that situation, isn’t it?
[You see, I have something I really must tell you, Camilla….]
“I don’t want to hear it.”
[What? But I really must say….]
“No.”
[But that’s….]
“Leave.”

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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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