A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 41

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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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“All operations of the Hebli County have closed as of today.”
“I see.”
“Count Hebliy has also disposed of all his properties in the Capital and appears to be relocating to the Countryside soon.”
“Tsk, somehow he managed to scrape together enough to buy land out there.”
Duke Sorpel, listening to his aide Jacter’s words, continued to furrow his brow as if something still displeased him.
“If you raise a son like that, you must face the consequences.”
“Juide Hebli certainly had many problems.”
Jacter nodded at Duke Sorpel’s words, yet internally he felt a persistent sense of bewilderment.
‘Why suddenly?’
Juide—the son of Count Hebliy—his misdeeds were already common knowledge among those who mattered.
Of course, the Count had used his wealth to suppress the worst of it, but even money couldn’t stop rumors from circulating among the nobility.
Duke Sorpel must have heard those rumors frequently enough.
‘Yet he never showed interest before….’
Then suddenly he ordered an investigation into Juide, and shortly after requested all documents pertaining to the Hebli County.
Within days, he had utterly dismantled the entire family. He had exerted his influence over every business connected to the Heblis.
It was only the slightest pressure, yet the results were catastrophic. In less than a week, every operation of the Hebli County had begun to crumble.
‘Then again, if they collapsed from such minimal pressure, there must have been serious problems from the start.’
Ultimately, the Count had liquidated all his assets and fled to the Countryside.
“How dare he….”
“Sir?”
“Never mind.”
Duke Sorpel shook his head briefly and asked about something else.
“What about the Academy matter?”
“Yes, they responded immediately. They say they will strengthen security measures after classes from now on. They received the sponsorship funds gratefully and said the Headmaster will visit you in person soon—”
“That’s enough. Instead of wasting time on that, make sure to thoroughly investigate whether there are any other students like Juide at the Academy! How dare he…!”
“Sir?”
“Never mind.”
What was with all these “never minds” all of a sudden?
There was clearly something he didn’t know, but he couldn’t figure out what it was.
Jacter, tilting his head in confusion, changed the subject.
“By the way, have you heard the news?”
“What news?”
“The Sefra Family is planning to release new mana stones soon.”
Duke Sorpel tilted his head.
“Did they discover a new mana stone deposit?”
Currently, the Gabriel Marquis Family held a near-monopoly on most of the mana stones circulating throughout the Empire.
Had it been anyone other than the Sefra Family releasing new mana stones, the Marquis Gabriel would never have allowed it.
He would have abused his power to halt their sales or seized all their suppliers. He had precedent for it.
Thinking that far, Duke Sorpel let out a soft chuckle.
“With a new supplier in the market, Marquis Gabriel will be quite irritated.”
A contemptible man who not only gives nothing away for free, but engages in every conceivable scheme to ensure that anyone who displeases him can never purchase from him again.
Because of this, no one—not the Magic Tower, not the black mages, not even Marquis Gabriel—dared to ignore his moods.
“Though I cannot say with absolute certainty….”
“Is there something more?”
“Word from the Sefra Family is that the mana stones are not actually theirs.”
“Not theirs? What do you mean by that?”
“They refine and sell them, but they claim the true owner of the mana stones is someone else.”
“Someone else?”
What an absurd thing to hear.
If that were true, it would mean Duke Sefra himself was acting on someone else’s orders and merely handling the sales on their behalf?
“Hmm….”
It made no sense that he would involve himself in such tedious arrangements.
“Shall we investigate further?”
“As quickly as possible.”
“Understood.”
A thorough investigation was clearly necessary.
* * *
Bang!
The Study door burst open with more violence than ever before.
There was only one person in this world brazen enough to enter so carelessly into his presence.
Duke Sefra could discern his visitor’s identity without lifting his eyes from the documents.
“What is your business?”
No response came. Only then did Duke Sefra raise his head to look at the intruder.
Arsian stood before him with a composure I had rarely witnessed.
The moment our eyes met, Arsian stepped closer.
“Listen carefully.”
When Arsian finally spoke, his voice was remarkably calm.
Had this child ever maintained such ease in my presence before?
“I won’t kill you.”
“….”
“I don’t care anymore what your intentions were when you did those things to me and Sier. I still despise you and find you utterly detestable.”
Crack!
Arsian slammed his hand against Duke Sefra’s desk.
“So don’t you dare die.”
“What?”
“Don’t even think of taking the easy way out.”
“….”
“Live knowing how futile and meaningless everything you’ve done truly was.”
A bitter smile twisted across Arsian’s lips.
“The Shinsu Egg? Our family will never possess such a thing again. Because I will never release it.”
I don’t need that kind of thing.
“I’ll prove it.”
Arsian’s voice dropped even lower.
“That I can become strong without any of that.”
Crash!
“I’ll become stronger than anyone without that cursed Shinsu.”
So don’t you dare die—watch carefully and see how foolish your choice was.
Watching Father stand there speechless, looking utterly stupid, my lips curved upward of their own accord.
I’ve said everything I needed to say. My chest feels lighter somehow.
The more I organized my thoughts, the simpler the conclusion became.
‘I should have done this long ago.’
I only realized it after hearing what Camilla had to say.
What was Shinsu anyway? What was the position of family head?
From now on, I decided to live as I pleased. I would no longer be bound by this wretched family or Father.
Arsian turned away without even listening to Duke Sefra’s response. He had never intended to hear whatever the Duke had to say anyway.
Thud.
Left alone in the study, Duke Sefra finally set down the documents and pen he’d been holding.
“Hah….”
A long sigh escaped his lips.
A small ripple appeared in his eyes, which had always seemed bored and devoid of emotion.
Yes, it would be fine to extend this tedious life.
“Please, do it that way.”
So I can regret it until the day I die.
So I can deeply regret my choice.
“Please.”
Another long sigh escaped Duke Sefra’s lips.
Chapter. An Ordinary Day
“Miss, what will you do with all of that?”
“I’m going to eat it.”
“Pardon?”
Cookies, cakes, pies, and fresh fruit juice—an abundance of food filled a single basket.
Jelard, the head chef who had asked out of genuine curiosity, was taken aback by her answer. She was really going to eat all of that by herself?
“Anyway, thanks for your work.”
“Then, um, that is… could you share the recipe…!”
“Oh, I’m busy, so busy.”
“Miss….”
Camilla quickly left the kitchen with the snacks Jelard had prepared piled high in her arms.
‘Hmm?’
But there was someone waiting for her outside the kitchen.
“Brother, what are you doing there?”
It was Ravi.
“Look at me for a second.”
“…Is this about the mana stones? We can talk about that later.”
Ever since he’d seen the refined mana stones last time, he kept seeking me out at every opportunity, pestering me about their source.
I’d decided to keep my mouth shut, claiming I couldn’t discuss it since official sales hadn’t started yet….
“Did you get those mana stones from the Sefra Family?”
“Huh?”
Sales shouldn’t have started yet, should they?
“Am I right?”
“Yeah, how did you know?”
“Mages spread news about mana stones faster than anything.”
He clicked his tongue briefly and fixed Camilla with a piercing stare.
“You’re certain you got them from the Sefra Family?”
“Yeah.”
“How?”
“Arsian gave them to me.”
It wasn’t a lie. The mana stones I’d given Ravi were ones Arsian had refined himself, so it was practically the same as him giving them.
“You.”
“What?”
“Are you close with that guy?”
Ravi’s face had twisted into something unpleasant.
‘What’s wrong with him?’
The intensity in his eyes demanding an answer was no joke.
What was this about? Did he know Arsian? I didn’t have any information about their connection.
“You’re not going to answer?”
“…What if I said we were close?”
“Are you insane!”
So that’s what would make me insane.
“Are you really that close?”
“We just happened to get to know each other somehow.”
“How does someone end up knowing a guy like that?”
“Why are you acting like this?”
Why was he overreacting so much?
“Don’t ask questions! From now on, stay away from that guy.”
What was he saying?
“Then you don’t need it anymore?”
“Need what?”
“The mana stones.”
“….”
“Those mana stones will be hard to obtain without connections for a while. I heard mages are already desperate to get their hands on them.”
“….”
“Still won’t associate with me?”
“I… I won’t….”
“What?”
“I won’t….”
“What?”
“….”
“….”
Fine then, human.
Unable to finish his words and caught in a dilemma, Ravi was left behind as I gracefully departed the scene.
* * *
Thump.
Arsian, who had been resting beneath the tree, finally opened his eyes as something heavy settled onto his stomach.
“Quite leisurely, aren’t you?”
It was Camilla.
Arsian shifted the basket resting on his stomach to one side and sat up.
“I hear you caused quite the commotion during swordplay class?”
“It was training.”
“Ah, yes.”
Training where he’d nearly killed half the students in the training grounds.
“The rumors have already spread throughout the Academy.”
I couldn’t fathom why someone who rarely attended regular classes would conduct training so brutally.
“Why is your body so wet?”
“It was hot.”
Arsian gestured toward Spirit Lake. It seemed he’d jumped straight into the lake to wash away the sweat from his training.
‘But….’
Oh….
Poke, poke.
“…What are you doing?”
“You really are a swordsman.”
Look at these lean muscles.
When clothed, his frame appeared gaunt, but with his shirt clinging wetly to his body, his muscles were beautifully defined.
I poked with my finger and found him quite firm.
Poke, poke again—
“What are you doing?”
“Oh, sorry. You’re beautiful.”
I finally withdrew my hand from his arm muscles.
Any more touching and I’d risk sexual harassment charges. I should restrain myself.
“You really did push yourself hard in training. Your face is still flushed.”
“….”
Arsian turned his head slightly away.
“Why does a mage train so obsessively with the sword? Makes the other swordsmen look pathetic.”
In a world where mastering even one thing is difficult, yet he excels at both so effortlessly… Wait?
‘Is this it?’
The reason Ravi had been grumbling so much about Arsian?
To mages’ eyes, Arsian must appear disagreeable—spreading himself thin across multiple disciplines instead of focusing on one. The swordsmen likely felt the same way.
They toiled through sleepless nights and could barely show results, yet Arsian did not.
“My brother says he dislikes you.”
“I don’t know who he is, but tell him I dislike him too.”
“Understood.”
Of course, his personality had contributed to it as well.
But what good did it do to cast envious and jealous glances? What did it matter if they refused to acknowledge him among themselves?
The person in question remained utterly indifferent.

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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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