A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 296

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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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Duke Escra began voicing his objections quite vehemently to the idea of Camilla and Arsian departing alone together.
‘Very well, I’ve noted your opposition. We depart the day after tomorrow.’
‘….’
…Well, it wasn’t much of an obstacle, truth be told. There was no reason for me to yield to Duke Escra’s objections, was there?
The real obstacle came from elsewhere….
‘Sister! I want to come with you!’
‘That’s not a place for children.’
‘If children can’t go there, then you shouldn’t go either. That means it’s dangerous!’
‘No, it’s not dangerous at all.’
‘Then take me with you!’
‘….’
…It was Daive.
Convincing the boy as he threw a tantrum for the first time—insisting he come along and refusing to let his sister go alone—proved to be the most difficult task of all.
‘It won’t take long. I’ll be back soon.’
‘….’
‘I’ll video call you every single day.’
‘Really?’
‘Yes.’
Only after promising daily video calls could I finally secure Daive’s permission.
Once I found the jewels, I’d use the magic circle to return immediately. Two days should be more than enough, shouldn’t it? If there were no complications, I could finish in a single day.
[It’s this way.]
As we entered the foothills of Armis Mountain, Amy stepped forward confidently, volunteering to lead the way.
Watching her, my eyes narrowed slightly.
‘Can I really trust that girl?’
If the nation had restricted access, it meant the magical beasts inside were in serious condition. Would we really be alright?
Blinded by the allure of the jewels, I’d come this far, but now that I was about to enter the mountain, anxiety suddenly washed over me.
[Kyuu!]
King, nestled in my arms, let out a loud cry as if sensing my unease. Trust only me, he seemed to say.
I gently stroked King’s head and set him down on the ground. That’s right—what do I have to worry about with you here?
“Let’s go.”
“Okay.”
…Besides, Arsian was here too.
I clasped the hand he extended toward me and began slowly following Amy.
As I held Arsian’s hand and entered Armis Mountain, all trace of anxiety had vanished from my face.
* * *
[This way.]
We’d been walking the mountain paths for two hours now—and not on any well-trodden trail, but through dense undergrowth on a rough, untamed path where few people ventured.
“How much further do we have to go?”
[We’re almost there now.]
“…You said that a moment ago.”
Camilla exhaled a slightly ragged breath and shot Amy a pointed glare.
Those liars who descended the mountain always claimed it was only fifteen minutes to the summit. I’d heard it countless times, and it never failed to irritate me. Now I understood exactly why.
“Carry me.”
….
I really did want to be carried. I’d never seen someone’s back look so invitingly comfortable before.
When Arsian turned and offered his back to me, an overwhelming urge surged through Camilla—to simply reach out and lean her exhausted body against him without hesitation.
“It’s fine. We just need to go a little further.”
But being carried up a mountain path like this wasn’t exactly dignified, was it? I had to avoid being a burden. After all, I was the one who’d insisted so strongly on coming here in the first place.
‘Jewels… jewels… jewels!’
Just think about the jewels I’ll find soon! Camilla pushed forward with renewed determination.
“At least we haven’t encountered any beasts, thankfully.”
Just as Amy had said, no beasts appeared on the path they were taking.
“Is there a barrier or something?”
“Possibly.”
[I scouted ahead, and everywhere else is absolutely swarming with beasts. Strangely, they all seem to avoid this path entirely.]
According to Amy, beasts were still prowling everywhere else.
Yet on this particular route, they seemed to fear something—they wouldn’t approach it at all.
“So we really just need to go a little further, right?”
[Yeah! Just about an hour more!]
“…An hour?”
[Yep!]
“…That’s your definition of ‘a little further’?”
[We’ve already come more than halfway!]
….
I could kill her.
No, wait—she’s already dead. I should be thinking about how to make her disappear instead.
[R-really, just one more hour!]
Amy hurried to continue speaking when she saw holy power gathering in Camilla’s hands.
“Sigh.”
Why couldn’t you have just told me from the start that it would take over three hours? Then I could have mentally prepared myself better!
‘No beasts and an easy walk,’ she said.
Well, you’re a Spirit—nothing tires you out. But I have to walk on two feet! I’m a living, breathing person!
Camilla clicked her tongue lightly. Right, who was I to blame? I was the fool who’d momentarily forgotten that you should only believe half of what Spirits say.
[Kyuuu!]
“Hmm?”
Just then, King, who had been trotting ahead, turned to look back.
Whoooosh!
“…!”
In the next instant, King suddenly swelled in size, transforming into a massive White Tiger that approached Camilla and crouched down directly in front of her.
Swish.
“…Ride me?”
Nod, nod!
“….”
King bobbed his head eagerly, his massive frame urging me forward. I couldn’t help but laugh softly before carefully climbing onto his back.
“Can Arsian ride too?”
Woof, woof!
[Grrr….]
“…I understand.”
King shook his head vigorously and growled low at Arsian, as if warning him to stay back. I quickly patted his neck to soothe him.
“I’m fine, just be careful so I don’t fall.”
“Okay.”
Arsian hadn’t intended to ride anyway, and he watched me anxiously atop King’s back with no safety measures whatsoever.
Still, I couldn’t keep walking when I was this exhausted.
‘At least he’s carrying me.’
Shinsu were creatures that typically obeyed no one but their masters. Of course, I was the exception.
‘So incredibly soft.’
I marveled anew as I stroked King’s back. Fluffy, soft, and… now that he’d grown larger, why did his fur feel even better?
Riding on King’s back allowed my overworked legs to finally rest.
King maintained a leisurely pace for my sake, moving with utmost care.
Despite the lack of any handholds, I felt surprisingly stable.
[There it is!]
Exactly one hour later, a small cottage appeared before us.
“That’s it?”
[Yes!]
“The Lair?”
No matter how I looked at it, that was just a thatched hut on the verge of collapse.
[That’s the Lair, I’m telling you.]
“Hmm.”
It looked like it would crumble the moment I opened the door. But would King really bring me all this way just to deceive me about whether a Lair exists?
“It’s magic.”
“What?”
“I can feel magical energy.”
Arsian stepped forward, urging me to stay back. He warned me to follow from behind before opening the door and stepping inside.
Creak.
Contrary to appearances, the door opened smoothly instead of creaking, revealing the space within.
“The inside is also abandoned…?”
Step.
Looking inside from the doorway, the cottage was dark and thick with dust. But….
“…Whoa.”
The moment I stepped inside, the landscape transformed completely. The crumbling space vanished, replaced by a vast, brilliantly lit expanse that seemed to stretch endlessly.
“Now that’s real magic.”
Just as Arsian had said, the space was enchanted to appear different from reality.
[That room is packed with spell books, and over there are tons of weapons!]
“Then that’s where…?”
[Yes! The jewels are over there!]
The moment Amy finished speaking, I rushed toward the direction she was pointing.
Why would I need spell books or weapons? My sole objective was the jewels!
“Wait.”
“What?”
Arsian quickly grabbed me before I could move further. A silent sigh escaped his lips at my disgruntled response. This wasn’t like me to be so reckless.
“Let me go in first.”
This was the Dragon’s Lair, after all. There could very well be some mechanism designed to eliminate intruders.
From the moment we entered this space, Arsian had been pushing all his senses to their maximum.
‘This is far too lax.’
There was an enchantment making it appear like an abandoned house, but beyond that, there were no other devices to prevent intruders.
And this wasn’t just any place—it was the Dragon’s Lair. How could such a location be so poorly defended?
‘That can’t be right.’
Then perhaps there was something dangerous hidden within this space that he hadn’t detected yet.
” ….”
Yet no matter how carefully I examined the room Camilla was about to enter, I could find nothing that appeared particularly dangerous.
“Don’t worry. Amy said there are no traps. Besides, this place has been thoroughly encased in ice all this time. It wouldn’t have concerned itself with outside intruders.”
I wasn’t moving blindly without thought. I reassured Arsian and stepped into the room.
“Good heavens….”
As I looked around the room, my mouth fell open in astonishment.

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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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