A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 43

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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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“Anyway.”
Duke Sorpel’s gaze shifted away from the King, turning toward Duke Sefra.
“I’ve been hearing some rather interesting rumors lately.”
“Glad to hear they’re entertaining.”
“Tell me the truth. Where exactly did you obtain those mana stones?”
Duke Jebillen, following Duke Sorpel’s lead, immediately displayed his interest as well.
The reason he’d elbowed his way into insisting they come together today was largely to discuss this very matter.
Where those precious mana stones had suddenly come from, after all.
“And there’s a separate owner?”
“You, of all people, cleaning up someone else’s mess?”
Duke Sefra offered no response to their questions. Nor did he make the tactless mistake of glancing toward Camilla, who sat awkwardly in the corner.
“I should take my leave.”
Camilla rose hastily from her seat. If she remained any longer, maintaining her composure would become impossible.
Though her attendants moved to follow, she silenced them with a sharp look before hurrying from the room.
* * *
Silence.
Three figures walked through the Garden, yet the quiet was suffocating. Not one of them spoke.
Their footsteps barely registered, as if the Garden held no visitors at all.
“Shall we rest over there for a moment?”
It was Petro who finally broke the oppressive silence.
With his customary disarming smile, he gestured toward a bench positioned at the Garden’s edge.
“No.”
The refusal came swiftly.
Walking together like this was awkward enough without settling into seats and maintaining this suffocating quiet.
“Haha… I see.”
Petro chuckled briefly, then turned his attention to Arsian, whose expression screamed bewilderment at his own presence here, his tongue clicking repeatedly.
“I’m curious about something.”
Arsian’s eyes, fixed on Petro, burned with irritation. Had they been at the Academy or elsewhere, curses would have already spilled forth.
But causing a scene here felt equally distasteful to him.
‘…I don’t know.’
It simply bothered me.
That this was Camilla’s home, that her brother stood present in this very moment—these facts kept my lips sealed.
“You seem to spend considerable time with Miss Camilla recently.”
“That’s none of your concern.”
“Just curious, really.”
‘This bastard.’
His smug expression today was particularly grating.
“With Camilla?”
Ludvil, who had maintained silence until now, finally spoke.
“Yes, the two of them seem quite close recently. It’s good for fellow students to build friendships, wouldn’t you say? Haha.”
His previously indifferent gaze sharpened in an instant, fixing upon Arsian.
Arsian glared at Petro as though he might kill him, while Petro found the entire situation so amusing that he burst into laughter repeatedly.
‘Excuse me….’
It was Camilla who approached the three of them.
Having escaped the Reception Room, Camilla learned through the butler Rube that the three men had headed toward the Garden.
Such an unexpected combination that she couldn’t resist her curiosity and came to find them….
Camilla hesitated and took a step backward.
‘What on earth is this atmosphere?’
Camilla felt slightly bewildered.
* * *
“Um… Miss.”
“What?”
“Those people keep following us.”
I had set out shopping as planned that morning.
Since I had already met with all the guests I needed to see, there was no reason to remain at the Duke’s Mansion any longer.
I didn’t want to cancel the plans I had made for this rare day off, so I ventured out onto the Street with Dorman.
Though irritating, moving about with Dorman—who knew my circumstances better than anyone else—felt most comfortable. There was no need to act or hide anything.
But then….
‘Why are these people following me?’
Three men walking through the Street, sightseeing just as I was.
At the sight of Arsian, Ludvil, and Petro, my brow furrowed.
“I happened to want to see the Marketplace as well.”
Petro breaks into a grin at my gaze.
“It’s dangerous alone.”
Compared to the previous one, Ludvil’s reason was reasonably plausible.
Indeed, ever since the incident with Juide, he had been more attentive to my safety.
‘I saw Father knew about it last time….’
Could Ludvil have mentioned it?
In any case, I turned my gaze away at his words and looked at Dorman. Seeing him grinning away, a sigh escaped me naturally.
You were just treated as if you didn’t exist.
Finally….
“I was bored.”
What?
Arsian’s manner of turning his head away to avoid my gaze was utterly ridiculous.
Since when did he enjoy such places? If he’s bored, he should go home and sleep.
With a tsk, I clicked my tongue and resumed walking.
I felt the presence of the three men trailing behind me, but I paid them no mind.
‘This place is worth seeing too.’
Though not quite as grand as the Shopping District I frequented regularly, there was truly much to observe here.
“Will you be purchasing that?”
“Yeah.”
“Hmm… no matter how I look at it, this seems like something a man would wear…”
“I know.”
A small silver fox brooch on a street vendor’s stall caught my eye.
It was crafted with remarkable delicacy, complete with tiny gemstones set where the eyes should be. It didn’t look cheap, and it would suit a formal black suit perfectly.
“Are you buying this for Duke Sorpel?”
“No.”
After I paid for the brooch, Dorman asked again.
“I’m giving it to Ravi.”
“Ah, so it’s a gift for the young master?”
“Yes.”
Seeing the fox shape, Ravi immediately came to mind.
Since he’d given me a bracelet before, I figured I should give him a gift of this caliber too.
‘Hm?’
As I turned to leave with the brooch carefully secured, I felt an odd sensation and glanced back.
Three men a short distance away were staring directly at me.
Ludvil’s gaze was the most intense among them. He looked like he had something to say, staring so intently it honestly made me uncomfortable.
‘What’s his problem?’
But the moment I sent him a questioning look, Ludvil immediately turned his head away.
“You seem to have an excellent relationship with your brother.”
Petro approached with a bright smile and struck up a conversation.
I barely held back the urge to snap at him. So buying one gift means we’re close now?
“Why would you give gifts to family?”
“…”
Never mind.
Ignoring Arsian’s genuinely curious question, I quickly excused myself from the spot.
“We have beautiful accessories here! Come take a look, everyone! You there, pretty lady! Please check this out!”
I’d already gotten a good sense of things last time. About that girl’s true nature.
There was nothing particularly surprising about it anymore, but…
“What are you doing here?”
“Camilla!”
Upon discovering Laila working at a stall on the side of the street, I felt it once more.
“I asked what you’re doing here.”
“The grandmother looked so tired. I’m helping her out.”
An elderly woman with white hair was sitting behind the stall, resting.
“Do you know her?”
“No.”
“…”
I’ve never seen such a gullible person in my life.
‘And I’ve never seen someone smile so brightly while being taken advantage of either.’
Bright and cheerful.
“Would you like to take a look too, Miss Camilla? There are so many pretty things!”
So bright and cheerful I might just turn around and leave.
“Are you having fun?”
“Yes!”
“Good.”
Sell plenty then. If she’s enjoying herself, what more can I say?
Camilla turned away without hesitation. I’d tried to get closer to her as insurance, but it clearly wasn’t working out.
‘I’m exhausted.’
Having someone like that around just drains your energy too.
“Oh? You’re leaving just like that?”
“Yeah.”
Camilla quickened her pace, leaving behind Laila with her disappointed expression.
“That person is….”
Dorman pretended to recognize her then. In my repeating life, Laila was a character who never failed to appear.
He also seemed quite bothered by Laila’s existence.
“You’ve already become acquainted, it seems.”
“I’m trying to become strangers starting now.”
“Is that even possible? Every time—”
“Don’t look back. Don’t look back.”
I stopped Dorman from turning his gaze toward Laila. The best thing to do now was to cut ties and pretend I didn’t know her.
Crash!
“Aaah!”
“…?”
But then came a thunderous sound.
When I turned my head, a very tedious scene was unfolding.
Five men who clearly reeked of thuggery were kicking over the stall where Laila stood.
The other merchants around them were already hurrying to get out of the way.
“Who told you to do business without paying the stall fee!”
“You’re already two months behind!”
“Hey, old man! You know the protection money is overdue too, right?”
Having nearly destroyed the stall, they looked ready to throw punches at the elderly man at any moment.
“Stop this!”
‘Of course.’
Laila stepped directly in front of the men approaching the old man.
Seeing this, I let out a small sigh. I’d anticipated this kind of development, but it’s really so exhausting.
‘Now that I think about it….’
The Marketplace was where Ludvil and Laila first met.
Perhaps it was something like this—Laila helping others and getting caught up in trouble, which Ludvil happened to help her with, and their connection grew from there.
“A stall fee? The merchants doing business here already pay taxes to the nation! What kind of additional stall fee are you talking about?”
“That’s none of our concern.”
“This place has its own laws, and we follow them!”
“What’s with you butting in like this from the start?”
The rough voices that had been directed at the old man now turned toward Laila. The atmosphere grew tense enough to shatter at any moment.
‘Hmm.’
But I felt no anxiety whatsoever.
These people gathered here—they were among the most formidable in the entire Empire.
Even setting aside Arsian, who disliked meddling in others’ affairs, neither Ludvil nor Petro would stand idle.
A heavy footstep.
‘There it is.’
As expected, someone stepped forward.
The figure striding toward the men was none other than Petro—kind to all, intolerant of injustice—.
Whoosh! Thud-thud-thud—
In an instant, something rolled across the ground. One man’s head, its owner unable to comprehend what had happened, unable even to close his eyes.
“Aaaahhh!”
“What—what is this!”
Screams erupted. The cries of the men who had been threatening Laila and the old man moments before.
But those screams didn’t last long.
“Aaaahhh! Run—!”
Whoosh!
“You talk too much for your own good.”
With a few swift movements, the men’s bodies lay scattered across the ground.
“Oh my, I hope no blood splattered on you? Are you quite all right?”
Petro, sheathing his blood-stained sword, suddenly turned to examine me with urgent concern.
Confirming that I had suffered no harm, he offered his usual warm, gentle smile.
“What a relief. Your lovely clothes remain unspoiled.”
I found myself unable to speak at the sight of him.
“That bastard smiles even while killing people.”
I heard Arsian’s voice from beside me, but I still couldn’t muster any response.

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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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