A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 331

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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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Chapter 17. Back to the Other World
“Today we’re all going to sing together. You know how it goes, don’t you, Luna?”
[A chorus? What chorus? They can’t even hear our voices, can they? Did you sing with this little one?]
[….]
At Rio’s declaration, Zetti couldn’t comprehend what he meant and stared at Luna.
Luna turned away from Zetti’s gaze with a somewhat resigned expression.
[Chirp?]
King tilted his head repeatedly, as if questioning what this chorus business was about.
“Just match the beat when I go ‘boom-boom-boom’ or ‘thump-thump-thump.'”
Rio seemed delighted that so many more people had gathered in one place than usual.
Today, Rio, Sena, and the divine beasts had found their way to Arueme Countess Estate.
Camilla had brought them here to meet the Countess and her daughter, Jesi.
“You can clap your hands when I go ‘boom-boom-boom’ like this. You can sing along too if you want.”
“….”
Jesi remained silent. She still hadn’t spoken a single word, even to her mother, Countess Arum.
“You’ll do great.”
When Jesi showed no reaction, Rio gently patted the child’s head as if to say it was fine to make mistakes.
“….”
She flinched slightly at the touch, but didn’t pull away. Jesi simply stared at Rio, who was beaming brightly before her.
“Then let’s begin!”
And so the chorus of children and divine beasts began.
And shortly after.
“No, bird. That’s not it.”
[What? Why am I wrong? I did it right!]
“Your timing was off. You have to clap exactly when I go ‘thump-thump-thump.'”
[I did it exactly right!]
“Luna does it well.”
[You little brat! Are you saying I’m worse than Luna!]
Peck, peck-peck!
Zetti pecked relentlessly at Rio’s head and hair.
“Ow, ow. That hurts.”
[I did it right! My sense of rhythm is excellent! Are you calling me a birdbrain right now! I’m not just any ordinary bird!]
“Ow, ow!”
[Damn this little brat.]
Whoosh,
Snap.
[Let go. I said let go! This little one just disrespected me!]
Luna quietly grabbed Zetti in her mouth and pulled him away from Rio. Even as Luna dragged him along, Zetti’s indignant squawks continued.
[See, see! That one takes after the master—that’s why she’s got such a temperament.]
“….”
[…? Why are you silent?]
Rube, who had been forming an opinion about Zetti in Sena’s mind, could see her lost in thought with a peculiar expression on her face.
“I was wondering if perhaps my personality is disagreeable.”
[What are you suddenly talking about?]
“After all, my current master is me.”
[That’s right. So what… wait? What? Are you saying my personality is disagreeable!]
“If we follow your logic….”
[Don’t reflect on it, don’t reflect on it! Your personality isn’t disagreeable, so don’t go into self-reflection mode for no reason!]
Rube hastily stopped Sena, who was slipping into a reflective mood, wondering if her personality had become this way because of her.
“….”
Jesi, the daughter of Jans, continued to gaze silently at the group with an unwavering stare.
[….]
However, King, sitting on Jesi’s lap, had detected that when the song began moments ago, the child’s fingers moved subtly in rhythm with the beat.
Lick.
King gently licked the child’s finger as if offering praise for doing well.
“….”
At that sensation, the child’s gaze turned toward King.
After gazing silently at King for a while, the child softly stroked King’s head.
‘It was good that we all came together.’
Camilla, who had been watching all of this from the side, let out a soft laugh.
Having heard that Jesi continued to stay at home and refused to venture outside, she had deliberately visited the Arueme Countess Estate, bringing the children and Shinsu with her.
“Thank you.”
The Countess Arum, observing her daughter continuously stroking King’s head and back with her small hands, offered her gratitude to Camilla.
“You’ve heard the news, haven’t you?”
“Yes. I did receive it in document form….”
Camilla’s visit today was not only to introduce Rio and Sena to Jesi, but also to inform her in detail of one piece of news.
“His Majesty has granted permission.”
Dotia and his son Peri—both had been captured as conspirators in league with the Eba Cult and faced trial.
They claimed ignorance that the one who purchased the child was the Eba Cult, but this argument was not properly accepted.
Above all, the conclusion was reached that selling the child of his remarried wife for money was a particularly grave offense, and a severe sentence was handed down.
‘Dotia received fifteen years imprisonment.’
And what of Peri, who had been the husband of the Countess Arum?
‘Fifty years imprisonment.’
The reason Peri received a harsher punishment than Dotia was that his attempted murder of his biological father Dotia came to light.
Dotia himself submitted the tea leaves he had received from his son to the judge, and also provided evidence that it was his son who had proposed selling the child.
As a result, Peri received a more severe punishment than Dotia.
‘Of course, his assets were naturally confiscated as well.’
All assets of anyone connected to the Eba Cult were confiscated without exception. However, Camilla had pulled some strings regarding the Arum County estate this time.
‘All assets registered under Dotia’s name were transferred.’
Specifically, they were transferred to the name of Jans, the Countess Arum.
Before Dotia and his son Peri’s trial began in earnest, I was able to change all the titles and ownership documents with Emperor Edsen’s assistance.
‘Isn’t this just blatant favoritism?’
‘Of course. I will remember this kindness for a long time to come.’
…If it weren’t for me, he never would have found Aaron in the first place. Of course, I did agree to receive land as compensation.
Still, it was rather presumptuous of him to act so gracious when he wasn’t even giving away his own wealth.
In any case, thanks to Emperor Edsen turning a blind eye and lending his support, I was able to transfer all of Dotia’s assets into Countess Arum’s name.
“I truly cannot thank you enough.”
Jans could only be bewildered upon receiving the documents confirming that all of Dotia’s possessions had suddenly been transferred to her name.
And only now, through my words, did she finally understand the full circumstances.
“I truly… I don’t know how I could ever repay such a debt….”
She meant it sincerely. She already owed a debt she could never repay for saving her daughter, and yet I had given her such tremendous help….
“Repay it over time.”
I smiled warmly, as if telling her to express her gratitude freely. At that smile, Jans’s lips curved into a bright smile for the first time in a long while.
“Even if I’m not here, the children and Shinsu will keep visiting Jesi.”
Of course, King would have to come with me, so he wouldn’t be here.
Watching Jesi continue to stroke King’s head, and King sitting on the child’s lap without resisting her touch, my smile deepened.
“Where are you going?”
Jans’s eyes widened slightly. The way I spoke made it sound as though I were departing somewhere far away.
I nodded as if to confirm her suspicion.
“Yes. Somewhere quite distant.”

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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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