A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 309

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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 knew him better than anyone else. Still, he was the one who had pushed for his ascension to the throne. The man wasn’t fundamentally corrupt.
‘That’s precisely why I elevated him to emperor.’
He possessed a modicum of consideration for his subjects and wasn’t unintelligent—certainly not the type to needlessly burden those around him with trivial matters.
‘However.’
He was far from foolish. He would never cultivate a relationship with someone who offered no benefit to him. So why did he keep seeking out Camilla?
‘He must have concluded that the girl would be useful to him.’
He seemed desperate to establish some connection, though of course, the fact that Camilla was his own daughter undoubtedly played a significant role in that desire.
Duke Escra found this deeply unsettling.
Deepening a personal relationship with a man of power—worse, with the supreme authority of an entire nation—would only amplify the dangers.
Troublesome parasites would inevitably swarm around her.
“I shall arrange to meet with him as soon as possible.”
Camilla hastened the arrangement. It was easier to settle such matters quickly.
The longer one delayed, the more unnecessary thoughts would accumulate.
“I’ll convey your intentions to him. Once a date is set, I’ll inform you immediately.”
In the end, Duke Escra could only nod in agreement. There was no point in continuing to dissuade Camilla once she had made her decision.
He knew all too well the Emperor’s stubbornness and persistence, so he would have to arrange a meeting eventually.
“By the way, you’ve brought back something strange again, haven’t you?”
Once the matter of the Emperor’s invitation was settled, Duke Escra inquired about Armis, whom Camilla had brought with her.
When word came that Camilla had returned home, he rushed over only to find an unfamiliar man engaged in something peculiar with Daive.
A man who hadn’t spared him a single glance upon his arrival, merely fiddling with some bizarre object.
“He helped me greatly during the journey. That’s why I brought him along.”
“What sort of help?”
“He… saved my life.”
It wasn’t a lie. He could have easily killed them, yet he chose to spare them instead.
“What?”
At that brief response, Duke Escra’s brow furrowed sharply.
Saved her life? She’d been in danger during the journey? And this man had assisted her?
“What was that fool doing?”
I sent him specifically to protect her, and he couldn’t even do that properly!
Duke Escra seized the opportunity to voice his displeasure at Arsian, who had departed with Camilla.
“….”
Arsian, who had been sitting quietly to the side, offered no response, merely bowing his head in silence.
It was a sight one would never ordinarily witness from him.
‘Look at this fellow.’
Had his spirit been broken? Duke Escra regarded Arsian with a mixture of bewilderment and disbelief.
Even when he’d held a blade to the man’s throat, demanding he stay away from Camilla, Arsian had never bowed his head before him.
‘What is this?’
What could have possibly transpired to render him speechless at such words, his expression so rigidly composed?
“….”
Arsian offered no excuse. It was true—he had failed to protect her properly in the Lair.
Fortunately, Armis had left them unharmed, but what if he had harbored different intentions?
‘…Could I have protected her?’
I couldn’t be certain I could have kept Camilla safe.
Ever since leaving the Lair, that question had refused to leave my mind.
“Ah, why are you blaming Arsian like that? He suffered so much during our entire journey.”
Camilla rose to Arsian’s defense, raising her voice. Arsian was such an easy target! Why did everyone keep saying they couldn’t help but pick on the boy?
“He nearly died. And he was right there beside us.”
“That’s not Arsian’s fault.”
“He’s useless. Completely useless.”
“How is he useless! Do you have any idea how difficult it would have been without Arsian?”
Thanks to his subspace, I was able to pack it completely full of items from the Other World! Without him, I never would have managed to bring everything back properly!
“…Items?”
“Yes! You made things so convenient for me.”
You were incredibly helpful, so there’s no reason to feel discouraged—Camilla nodded vigorously to emphasize her point.
“….”
…Wait?
Yet at Camilla’s words, Arsian’s head drooped even lower.
‘…Why?’
Why was he getting more dejected? Camilla tilted her head in confusion as she watched Arsian grow more sullen despite her encouragement. Did I say something wrong?
‘Tsk.’
Duke Escra clicked his tongue lightly as he observed the two of them.
With Camilla’s words, Arsian had been reduced to nothing more than a porter, and the Duke found himself thinking the boy was rather… well, just a tiny bit pitiful.
* * *
“It’s quite pleasant to see you again like this.”
“I’m grateful for the invitation, Your Majesty.”
“Do you mean that sincerely?”
“Of course.”
“Ha, I’m relieved then.”
The Reception Room—a place only those invited by the Emperor could enter. Camilla stepped inside with a professional smile plastered across her face.
“Your father… or rather, Duke Escra, keeps your face hidden from me so jealously.”
Emperor Gracia recalled all the efforts he had made to send a single invitation, and his expression took on a deliberately aggrieved tone.
“Do you know what reason he gave?”
‘…No.’
I really don’t want to hear this. Camilla wanted to shake her head vigorously, fearing he might say something strange again.
“He said he couldn’t bear to show you to others.”
“….”
Camilla cast a somewhat bewildered glance at Duke Escra sitting beside her. What? So I’m supposed to feel embarrassed?
“I heard there was a reason you invited me, Your Majesty.”
Camilla released a short sigh and quickly changed the subject.
There was no benefit in letting the conversation about her and Duke Escra drag on any longer.
“I called you here because I wanted to give you a gift.”
“I have no reason to accept a gift.”
Free gifts—of course I appreciate them. Who wouldn’t be happy to receive something? But that doesn’t mean I accept from just anyone.
‘Especially not indiscriminately.’
And when the giver is an Emperor, shouldn’t I be more suspicious of what lies behind such generosity?
“Because I want to become closer to you.”
“…Pardon?”
“It’s a gift to help us grow closer.”
“….”
Is that really the only reason? I’d heard hints of this from Duke Escra before, but could it truly be that simple—that he genuinely wants to befriend me?
Camilla found herself momentarily speechless as Emperor Gracia displayed a benevolent smile across his face, as if demonstrating his harmlessness.
‘This is certainly new.’
Crown Prince Edsen of the Faebler Empire—or rather, the Emperor he’d become—was something else entirely.
‘An inscrutably cunning presence?’
Being around him always felt deeply uncomfortable. A persistent unease gnawed at the back of my mind, that nagging dread that one day he might strike me down when I least expected it.
But Emperor Gracia?
‘Pure? Naive?’
Words that seemed utterly unsuited to his imperial station kept surfacing in my thoughts.
Of course, appearances could be deceiving, but the impression Emperor Gracia gave as he sat there beaming was far from unpleasant.
‘He’s like an elementary school student.’
You know that type—the thoughtless child who brings things from home to share with classmates because he wants to be liked.
‘The kind who later gets scolded by his mother….’
Why did such a childlike image keep surfacing in my mind?
“No matter how hard I thought about it, I couldn’t decide what would suit you as a gift. After all, you lack nothing in particular.”
Emperor Gracia released a short sigh, as if he’d genuinely wrestled with the decision.
“So I prepared this instead.”
With a soft rustling sound, he smiled and personally set down a substantial stack of papers onto the table where Camilla sat.
“…?”
What was all this? He said he’d give me a gift, yet all I saw were papers. Camilla picked up the topmost document.
“This is….”
As she examined the contents, her expression grew increasingly peculiar.
“…Land deeds.”
What Emperor Gracia had presented were indeed land deeds.
Skimming through the other documents, they were all deeds to lands within the Gracia Empire.
“Are you saying you’re giving me land as a gift?”
“That’s right.”
“….”
…Is that even possible?
Is that even possible?

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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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