A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 35

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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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“Ugh, why do all the dark mages belong to that faction….”
The Sefra Ducal Family, Arsian’s household, was an exceptionally closed-off place that wouldn’t even tolerate interference from the Imperial Palace itself.
No one dared object when they claimed such policies existed solely to protect the power they wielded—the authority to command Shinsu, the darkness itself.
‘That’s why I approached Arsian in the first place.’
Directly contacting the Sefra Family would have been impossible, so I’d attempted to propose a business venture to Arsian, who was the easiest to reach.
Of course, I couldn’t even show that man a mineral, let alone a business proposal.
‘But what does it mean to command darkness anyway?’
The Sefra Family’s Shinsu was a black wolf. I’d never witnessed its power with my own eyes. Despite living through countless repeated cycles across those long years, I’d never had any connection with the Sefra Family or Arsian.
Yet rumors abounded. People spoke endlessly of how tremendous the power of the Shinsu possessed by the Sefra Family head truly was.
They claimed that wherever the black wolf’s power unfolded, only death existed—and how passionately they spoke of it.
I stared intently at King, who was eagerly licking my hand. The way he toddled about seemed particularly small today.
“I’m starting to think I named him wrong.”
[Grrr?]
At King’s mischievous expression—blinking his large eyes and tilting his head in confusion—I let out a short sigh.
The most arrogant one around; I’d be lucky if he didn’t get himself killed in a fight.
“You run away.”
Don’t pointlessly fight things like that—just flee unconditionally.
“Yes! Not dying is winning. Remember that.”
[Grrr?]
King continued tilting his head in confusion as I gently stroked his fur once more.
* * *
“Look over there!”
“Hmm….”
Today, people’s gazes seemed to gather on me more intensely than usual.
‘What? Why? It’s comfortable and looks nice.’
A white shirt paired with deep brown flared trousers—truly comfortable attire.
I’d swept my hair back cleanly and tied it naturally into a single braid, while frameless glasses added a subtle accent to my face.
“What kind of clothing is that, exactly?”
“W-well, yes.”
“Trousers… like that?”
It was extremely rare for a woman to wear trousers as everyday clothing. Since this was the first time anyone had seen a noblewoman’s daughter dressed this way, people’s eyes increasingly gathered upon me.
Moreover, the trousers I currently wore were of a design no one had ever seen before, so everyone expressed their astonishment.
‘But why does it suit me so well?’
‘Why does it look so beautiful even though it’s trousers?’
Click-clack, click-clack.
Watching me walk forward confidently in this unfamiliar design, everyone cast peculiar glances my way.
Especially the girls’ eyes sparkled brilliantly—as if they’d discovered a new fashion trend.
[Wow, you look incredibly cool today!]
‘You looked cool yesterday too.’
The first person to speak to me as I entered the Classroom was Amy, the female student ghost.
‘She used to sit alone in the corner of the Classroom, and now she’s finally speaking to me.’
The first person to approach me wasn’t a living soul—it was a ghost.
I found myself drowning in doubt about my own relationships.
Camilla exhaled a short sigh before opening her books to prepare for the upcoming midterm examination.
She intended to raise her evaluation scores, which had climbed since finding Shinsu, even further with this midterm.
Though she’d taken countless exams before, there was no room for carelessness—she resolved to ignite her scholarly passion starting today.
Creak—!
As the Classroom door opened, the gazes of those who had been watching Camilla naturally shifted forward.
“Huh!”
Sharp intakes of breath echoed throughout the room. Wondering what had happened, she lifted her head and found herself staring blankly with her mouth agape.
“Uh…”
What are you doing here?
It was Arsian. At his entrance, everyone in the Classroom fell silent with fear.
‘…I’m terrified too.’
Arsian, who seemed to be searching for someone, had apparently found his target and began striding forward with purpose.
Camilla swallowed hard as the man drew closer.
‘Take back what I said!’
I won’t complain again about my relationships being filled with nothing but ghosts! I don’t want to add such a menacing person to my circle!
Tap—!
Just as Camilla had done yesterday, Arsian lightly tapped the desk where she sat. The sound pierced her ears with unusual intensity.
“Look at me.”
His low, pleasant voice followed.
Though her heart trembled terribly, Camilla instinctively curved her lips into a smile.
“What will you do for me?”
“What?”
Arsian’s brow twitched, as if he hadn’t expected such a response.
Her heart clenched for a moment, but Camilla maintained an even more composed expression.
“If you’re going to demand someone’s time, there has to be compensation.”
After all, you came looking for me first today.
Sharp intakes of breath echoed from various corners, but Camilla never took her eyes off Arsian.
And then…
“Anything.”
“Huh?”
“Whatever you desire.”
Gasps of astonishment rippled through the room. Camilla felt the same shock.
‘What exactly do you want from me?’
His willingness to grant anything made her guard shoot up. If he was saying such things while asking to see her, there had to be a reason.
‘This feels off.’
Deeply off.
* * *
“You can converse with them, can’t you?”
Leaving countless gazes behind, they made their way to the most secluded place as expected—Spirit Lake.
Upon arriving there, Arsian immediately fired off a question.
‘If I said he couldn’t talk despite having a mouth, I’d definitely get hit for that.’
The kind of conversation he was referring to was probably…
“If you mean conversing with the dead, then yes, I can.”
It seemed this was indeed the answer he wanted. Arsian’s eyes changed.
Eyes that trembled as if emotions had swelled to their limit.
“Ask.”
“Ask what?”
“Who they are.”
Arsian’s head turned to the side, and Camilla followed his gaze.
A child who appeared to be around seven years old still stood there, gripping Arsian’s sleeve tightly.
‘Tsk.’
The little one with golden hair and deep green eyes was utterly adorable. If they just gained some weight, they’d be even prettier.
Camilla took a step toward the child.
[….]
The child flinched and hid behind Arsian, yet never let go of his sleeve.
“Hello.”
As I waved in greeting, the child shrank back further.
I wondered how to get closer and rummaged through my pockets.
Fortunately, I found a few candies I’d kept in my pants pocket for when I was bored.
“Want some?”
The child, peeking out from behind Arsian, stared intently at the candies.
[What is that?]
After a long moment, the child spoke for the first time. The voice was as adorable as their face.
I felt a smile bloom unbidden as I knelt down to meet the child’s eyes better.
“Candy.”
[Is it something you eat?]
“Yes.”
Once again, I noticed the child’s skeletal frame.
They didn’t even know what candy was.
I suppressed the hardening of my expression and unwrapped the candy, holding it closer to the child.
Whoosh.
As the child carefully reached out, a faint light shimmered above the candy. They placed it in their mouth and began to chew.
“What are you doing?”
Arsian asked in a puzzled voice.
“They seem hungry.”
“…Can the dead eat food?”
“They shouldn’t be able to.”
Crunch.
The candy that had rested in Camilla’s palm crumbled into powder and scattered away on the wind.
“It’s less about eating and more about absorbing the essence the food carries. It’s better than nothing at all.”
Unlike Arsian, who flinched at the sudden turn of events, her expression remained serene.
“Does it taste good?”
[Yes.]
“Would you like more?”
Nod!
Seeing the child nod enthusiastically, Camilla unwrapped the remaining candy and offered it to the child.
This time, the child showed no hesitation and immediately popped the candy into his mouth.
Watching a smile bloom across the child’s lips, Camilla finally asked the question she had been wanting to pose.
“What’s your name?”
I felt Arsian’s body stiffen at my question.
The child glanced at Arsian once before turning his gaze back to me.
[Sier.]
“Sier?”
Nod.
I straightened my posture. There was no need to repeat the child’s name.
As if he had already heard it clearly, Arsian gazed at where the child stood, his eyes burning with even greater intensity than before.
After staring at the child for a long moment, he dropped to one knee and extended both hands forward.
“Sier.”
[Brother.]
The child then wrapped both arms tightly around his neck in an embrace.
‘Brother?’
I simply stood there, watching the two of them in stunned silence.

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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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