A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 60

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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 60. The Invitation
“Are you out of your mind?!”
Through the haze of consciousness, someone’s sharp rebuke pierced my ears.
The moment I realized the voice belonged to Duke Sorpel, I squeezed my eyes shut against the encroaching awareness.
There was nothing good about facing an angry Duke Sorpel.
‘But what is this?’
Who was he so furious with?
“How did you train the girl to end up like this?!”
Training?
‘Wait, hold on!’
Was Ludvil the one being scolded right now?
“Ah, Father!”
I called out to Duke Sorpel urgently.
“…!”
But the moment I tried to move my body, a terrible pain shot through me, and I fell silent.
Even breathing alone sent waves of agony through my entire frame, as though my body was tearing apart. What was this overwhelming torment?
“Camilla!”
Though I watched Duke Sorpel hurry to my side, I couldn’t manage a single word.
Only after a long while, once the pain had subsided somewhat, could I open my mouth.
“It’s not Older Brother’s fault… it isn’t.”
Simply speaking sent cold sweat cascading down my entire body.
It was remarkable that a single sparring session could leave me in such a state. Did this even make sense? How exactly had he wielded that blade?
“I asked him to do it.”
“No matter how much you asked….”
Duke Sorpel clicked his tongue briefly and cast another reproachful glance at Ludvil. My eyes followed his.
‘Training, he said?’
So he hadn’t mentioned the sparring match.
It seemed Ludvil had kept secret the fact that I’d displayed extraordinary skill with the Jebillen Family’s swordsmanship.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes.”
Though I was anything but alright, I forced a smile at Ludvil’s question.
“I’m sorry, Older Brother. Because of me….”
This was the first time I’d seen Duke Sorpel raise his voice at Ludvil.
I felt both grateful and apologetic toward him—grateful that he’d hidden the truth without making excuses, even though he’d borne undeserved suspicion because of me.
Seeing my helpless expression, Duke Sorpel sighed and seized his son by the collar as he stood rigid as an old tree.
“Get some rest.”
Even as I watched Duke Sorpel and Ludvil leave, I couldn’t muster the courage to move. Even extending a single finger was difficult.
‘That aside….’
Why were those two acting like that?
I gazed at the figures gathered to one side. Two ghosts were glaring down at another ghost, their expressions stern with reproach.
“What on earth were you thinking?”
“You were planning to possess the girl completely.”
“To rampage through a body that hasn’t been properly conditioned—how reckless!”
“Just because I told you to enter doesn’t mean you should barge in like that.”
“A ghost should have some conscience.”
Zeno, being scolded by the two ghosts Derin and Perol, couldn’t utter a single word in response.
Intoxicated by the joy of wielding a sword after so long, he had charged forward without restraint.
It was undeniably his fault for completely disregarding Camilla’s physical condition.
“I’m sorry… No, wait! Hold on!”
After enduring their continued reproach and finally offering an apology, he suddenly realized something and lifted his head sharply.
“I understand I was wrong, but what about you two? Why are you making such a fuss with me? Do I really need to apologize to you as well?”
“We are…!”
“We are…!”
Derin and Perol’s words faltered.
They couldn’t define what their relationship with Camilla was.
As the two ghosts grew dejected, realizing they had no right to be angry, Camilla interjected.
“They’re like family to me.”
So don’t bother our grandfathers.
“F-family!”
“Miss…!”
Derin and Perol gazed at Camilla with moved expressions.
“I’m sorry.”
Zeno, who had drawn near to her side, bowed his head deeply and offered his apology.
“And.”
As he lifted his head, his lips had already curved into a gentle smile.
“Thank you.”
I can’t remember the last time I felt the joy of wielding a sword.
“That was a truly magnificent duel.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed it.”
“That fellow Ludvil was quite impressive as well.”
“Yes, yes.”
Camilla agreed with that assessment. That man certainly was remarkable.
He had reached the rank of Master at such a young age, just like Zeno, and was something of an idol to knights his age.
“Next time, I’ll be more gentle.”
“Yes, yes. …Yes?”
…What did he just say?
Camilla, who had been half-listening without much thought, flinched.
“This time I got too excited and couldn’t control my strength at all. Next time, I’ll carefully assess your condition and—”
“Wait, wait!”
What is this ghost babbling about now?
“What do you mean, ‘next’?”
[What?]
“You’re not leaving?”
[Leaving? Me? Where to?]
“Where else would it be?”
The other side, of course!
“You said your wish was to wield a sword freely. Now that you’ve achieved it, shouldn’t you depart?”
[Freely? Me? When did I ever?]
Seriously, look at this ghost.
‘What is this shamelessness?’
[I haven’t wielded it freely at all. If anything, my thirst has only grown.]
“….”
[So I’ll need your assistance again in the future.]
“….”
[Next time, I’ll be more careful—]
“Get out.”
Right now!
* * *
Knock, knock.
“Come in.”
A familiar, measured voice answered the knock.
Camilla carefully opened the door and stepped inside.
‘This is a first.’
Coming into this room.
As I entered Ludvil’s Room, I felt a peculiar sensation.
I suddenly realized that our only real interaction had been when he killed me.
“Are you busy?”
“No.”
Ludvil set down the book he’d been reading and offered me a seat.
“Please have this.”
I placed the snack I’d brought on the table. It was a pudding I’d made myself.
The taste was guaranteed. After all, it was prepared with the help of Perol, the chef ghost.
“How’s your body?”
“I’m fine now.”
Better than before, at least—though I still felt tingling sensations throughout my body.
Though it must have been obvious to him, Ludvil simply nodded without pressing further.
I watched silently as he tasted the pudding, and he quickly finished one entirely, apparently satisfied.
“Older Brother.”
I called to him quietly.
“Don’t you have anything you want to ask me?”
Five days had passed since the sparring match, yet Ludvil had not once asked me about what happened that day.
‘He must be curious.’
After all, I—someone who possessed not a shred of talent with the blade—had suddenly unleashed the Jebillen Family’s swordsmanship with impossible skill. He must have had countless questions.
Yet even when we were alone, he made no mention of it whatsoever.
Like a thief with itchy feet, even now that I had finally worked up the courage to seek him out, he remained silent on the matter.
Ludvil gazed at me quietly.
“Will you answer if I ask?”
“Of course.”
“Without lies?”
“That is…”
No, that wouldn’t be possible.
I could not finish the words I had been about to speak.
How could I possibly tell him that the ghost Zeno had inhabited my body and wielded the blade in my stead?
As I fumbled for some excuse, the steady intensity of Ludvil’s gaze rendered me speechless.
‘What is this feeling…?’
There was something unsettling about it—as though if I uttered a single lie before him now, I would carry the weight of guilt for the rest of my life.
How could an adult man’s eyes shine so brightly?
“You don’t have to speak if you don’t wish to.”
As I hesitated, Ludvil’s quiet voice continued.
“You need not speak of things that are difficult to share.”
“That is…”
“But I would prefer if you did not lie. Silence is acceptable, but not falsehood.”
I found myself slowly nodding in response to Ludvil’s steady gaze, which seemed to demand an answer.
“Thank you, Older Brother.”
I was grateful for everything—for agreeing to the sparring match despite the unreasonable request, for keeping the truth hidden from others, and for refraining from asking difficult questions.
“I’ll make you another one next time.”
I smiled as I glanced at the empty pudding plate.
“…Yes.”
With all my business concluded, I rose from my seat.
‘Hmm?’
Something caught my eye.
A bundle of flowers resting on the table beside his bed—a dried bunch of baby’s breath, already withered and brittle with age.
‘That is…’
It was unmistakably the baby’s breath I had carelessly handed him when we first met. Why was he still keeping it?
“…I like dried flowers.”
“Dried flowers?”
“Yes.”
“Ah… I see.”
Should I dry flowers for him from now on?
Since it was not my place to pry into another’s preferences, I quietly left the room without asking further.
After Camilla left, a faint smile briefly flickered across Ludvil’s lips as he gazed at the mist flowers, then vanished.
* * *
“Hey, you rich woman.”
“Yes, I’m rich.”
At her confident reply, Arsian burst into laughter.
Watching Camilla laugh so freely at his teasing, I couldn’t help but smile myself.
I had only just heard about the Professor JB incident. Since I rarely communicated with others, news reached me late.
I was both astounded and infuriated to learn that Camilla had single-handedly captured a serial killer and thrown him in prison.
‘I knew she was fearless, but…’
To think she would face a serial killer alone.
I had intended to scold her when we met, but seeing her face, I found myself unable to say anything at all.
It was already done, and watching her smile so brightly, I thought—what did it matter?
All I needed to do was stay by her side and protect her from such dangers going forward.
“What are you going to do with all that money?”
In Camilla’s hand was a single receipt.
It was a receipt from the Faybler Bank, the Empire’s only bank directly managed by the Imperial Palace.
Looking at the amount stamped on the receipt, Camilla couldn’t stop laughing.

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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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