A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 33

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

“Is there anything else?”
[Anything else?]
“Perhaps a family treasure that only you know about, or a secret location?”
[There isn’t one.]
“Ah, I see.”
Tsk.
Watching Camilla’s disappointed expression, Hersel burst into laughter repeatedly.
She was truly a peculiar child. In fleeting moments, she displayed cunning and fox-like qualities, yet when observed quietly, she was as innocent and sincere as a child.
Hersel gazed at Camilla in silence for a moment.
[Little one.]
“Is there something else you need me to do?”
Why did he keep calling her that in such a subtle way?
Camilla’s eyes immediately filled with wariness. Was there another task besides learning about Shinsu?
Whoosh.
“…?”
In that instant, Hersel’s hand rose above her head.
Camilla flinched momentarily, but upon realizing he was stroking her hair, she remained still.
Though his touch wasn’t directly felt, watching his expression made her feel something peculiar.
It was exactly the expression Jihyun’s grandmother used to have when looking at Jihyun.
[Thank you.]
Though the gratitude was brief, I could fully sense the sincerity contained within it.
In that moment, Hersel’s form began to grow increasingly translucent, enveloped in a soft luminescence.
Camilla, who understood well what this phenomenon meant, etched his image into her eyes.
This was the end.
At last, he was departing after resolving all his regrets.
Watching her, Hersel smiled brightly. There were no further farewells.
Until Hersel’s form completely vanished, Camilla saw him off to the last.
* * *
‘I need a dark mage.’
After arriving at school, Camilla remained deep in thought, still holding the black mineral in her hand.
To properly utilize this mineral, she would need the power of dark mages, and there was only one place throughout the entire Empire where they were collectively affiliated.
‘That one place is the problem.’
Ultimately, Duke Sorpel, unable to discover the mineral’s purpose, sells the mine at a bargain price to Duke Jebillen.
Duke Jebillen had shown great interest in that mine from the very beginning.
And a year later, Duke Jebillen, having finally discovered the mineral’s purpose through dark mages, amassed considerable wealth.
It went without saying how many times this affair had infuriated Duke Sorpel.
‘This time, I need to be the one to do it….’
There really was no other way, was there?
‘Direct assault!’
Camilla suddenly rose from her seat in the classroom.
With that, I left the classroom and headed toward the third-year level instead of the space where second-year students resided.
“Huh?”
“Mm?”
The moment I appeared, students’ gazes converged from the corridor itself.
Camilla met each of their stares head-on as she made her way toward third-year Class C, her intended destination.
*Click.*
As I opened the door and stepped inside, the classroom’s low murmur gradually fell silent.
‘As expected, wherever I go, I’m the center of attention.’
Yet the moment all those eyes had fixed upon Camilla, they swiftly shifted in unison to a single point. This wasn’t the first time she had made such an entrance.
Their focus had turned to Petro Jebillen.
Though her visits had become sparse recently, until not long ago Camilla had lingered around Petro Jebillen’s vicinity during every break—all to meet him.
The students naturally assumed her purpose today would be the same: Petro Jebillen.
But then….
*Tap.*
The person at the location where Camilla headed was entirely unexpected.
The faces of the students who watched where she walked grew rigid in an instant.
*Tap!*
She approached the desk of the one sitting in the farthest corner of the classroom and placed her hand upon it lightly.
“….”
The one who had remained indifferent to everything happening in the classroom slowly lifted his gaze.
Meeting those black eyes head-on—eyes that instantly chilled the surrounding air—Camilla broke into a smile.
Then, leaning her face closer toward him, she spoke in a hushed tone.
“I have something nice to show you. Would you care to take a look?”
At Camilla’s casual words, delivered with the smile of a merchant, everyone’s expressions filled with astonishment.
Even Petro Jebillen, who had been quietly observing the situation from the side, rose from his seat with startled eyes.
“….”
The person she had addressed was Arshian Sefra, the son of Duke Sefra.
Chapter. Arshian
The Sefra Family—an organization where dark mages gathered.
Every head of household who led the Sefra Family was a dark mage possessed of formidable magical power.
The Sefra Family’s influence had been tremendous in changing perceptions of the ostracized dark mages and earning them recognition as a pillar of magic itself.
‘In other words, to properly sell this mineral, I absolutely need the Sefra Family’s assistance.’
Arshian Sefra—the heir to Duke Sefra.
‘I hate it just as much, honestly.’
If there’s anyone out there who values their own life as much as I do, let them step forward.
I knew well of Arshian’s cruelty. I had even witnessed firsthand what he was capable of when things didn’t go his way.
Approaching him required considerable courage on my part as well.
But there’s no business before profit.
If it was something I had to do eventually, there was no point in hesitating further. Fear doesn’t resolve itself with the passage of time, after all.
‘Besides, I have some reason to trust him.’
No matter how much of a figurehead she was as a duke’s daughter, surely they wouldn’t dare openly kill the young lady of the Sorpel Household?
Even so, I clutched the bracelet Ravi had made for me tightly in my hand.
Despite the students’ gazes fixed upon me as though I were some sort of lunatic, I maintained my smile before Arsian without wavering.
My insides were burning, but I wasn’t inexperienced enough to let it show on my face. I hadn’t chosen acting as my profession for nothing.
“….”
“….”
But why wasn’t he reacting at all?
If he disliked it, he would tell me to leave, or show interest in the item I mentioned, or give some small reaction so I could continue—but….
‘Why is he so quiet?’
Arsian simply kept his mouth shut, watching me calmly.
Scrape.
In that moment, he rose from his seat. The sound of the chair dragging echoed unusually loud through the classroom.
Everyone in the classroom flinched and held their breath at the sight.
Honestly, I flinched a little too. I thought I was about to be hit. Of course, I didn’t let any such emotion show on my face.
But….
‘Huh?’
Arsian simply left the classroom. He walked out without any reaction whatsoever.
“What.”
Did he just completely ignore me?
I stared at the space where Arsian had disappeared with a bewildered expression.
‘He just… left?’
‘What’s going on?’
Meanwhile, the other students in the classroom stood with their mouths hanging open.
Arsian was someone who never let it slide when someone bothered him or showed off in front of others.
He didn’t spare anyone just because they were a woman.
‘I thought something was going to happen….’
‘Right?’
Yet he had simply disappeared without any reaction. It was unprecedented.
“Damn it!”
Unaware of the situation, I regained my composure after a brief moment of losing it, and immediately rushed after Arsian.
Since I’d already started, I intended to show him the item today and get a definitive answer from him.
“Miss Camilla.”
Someone urgently grabbed me as I hurried out of the classroom.
The person who took hold of my arm with a gentle touch was none other than Petro.
“What is it?”
“What is it, you ask?”
“It seems you have some business with Arsian.”
“That’s right.”
I nodded lightly and tried to hurry on my way again.
But soon my brow furrowed slightly. Petro still hadn’t released my arm.
“May I ask what business brings you here?”
“No.”
“….”
“Is there anything else you wish to say?”
When Camilla’s gaze shifted to the arm he was holding, Petro slowly released his grip.
“Whatever the matter is, I shall convey it to Arsian on your behalf.”
“Why?”
“Pardon?”
“There’s no need for you to relay a message I can deliver myself. Why would you insist on doing so?”
Petro, caught off guard by this unexpected response, soon recovered and smiled once more.
“It’s rather delicate to mention, but… you could find yourself in danger.”
“Ah, yes. Thank you for your concern.”
“Then allow me to—”
“That will be all.”
Camilla turned and left the Classroom. Shinsu darted swiftly after where Arsian had vanished.
“….”
This felt familiar somehow.
Petro watched the space where Camilla had disappeared, his gaze distant, as he recalled how she had ignored his suggestion for a stroll through the Garden and departed just the same.
* * *
“Where did he go?”
Despite the brief moment that had passed, Arsian was nowhere to be seen.
[Looking for Arsian? I know where he went. Want me to tell you?]
“Really? Then I’d be grate—”
At the sudden voice, I turned around eagerly, only to snap my gaze away at lightning speed.
I saw nothing. Absolutely nothing….!
[Just as I thought! You can see me, can’t you?]
Damn it.
A ghost. And one I already knew.
The female student ghost who always sat in the back row of the Classroom and attended lessons with us.
‘I thought she was a bound spirit, but she wasn’t?’
I’d assumed she was a ghost confined to the Classroom, unable to leave that space.
I never expected her to approach me directly like this, so I’d let my guard down.
[Our eyes seemed to meet occasionally. I wondered, but it really was you who could see me.]
“Where on earth am I supposed to find him?”
[There’s no point pretending you don’t know now, is there?]
Could I really keep up the act until the end?
Camilla exhaled a short sigh and finally faced the female student ghost directly.
“So what? What do you want to say?”
[My name is Amy.]
“Right. Nice to meet you.”
Camilla was about to rise from her seat.
[I actually know where Arsian is.]
Camilla’s movement halted mid-stride.
Turning back, I could finally examine the female student ghost Amy’s face carefully.
We’d crossed paths countless times in the classroom, but I’d never really looked at her before.
Short bobbed hair. Her face wasn’t strikingly beautiful, but she had an endearing, charming quality to it.
Seventeen or eighteen years old, perhaps? The clothes she wore didn’t look particularly expensive.
My gaze settled on the area around her neck. After staring there for a moment, I turned away again.
[What? I really do know.]
“Yeah, you seem to actually know.”
[But why are you just leaving?]
“I don’t want to get entangled with you.”
[Why? Because I’m a ghost?]
“Yeah, I’ll just find Arsian on my own.”
With that, I quickened my pace and walked away. Amy seemed to chase after me from behind, but I paid no attention.
‘That guy tends to frequent….’
Given that he hated crowded places, he was likely in some secluded, sparsely populated area.
[Not that way.]
“Should I try going over there….”
[Not there either.]
“No, I should go this way.”
[That’s definitely not it.]
“….”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————