A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 63

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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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Looking down, I found a familiar presence staring up at me with unwavering eyes.
“King.”
I had intended to leave King at the mansion, but his incessant whimpering left me no choice but to bring him along.
I quickly scooped King into my arms before anyone else could notice.
“When did you get out?”
Just moments ago, he’d been nestled in Father’s inner coat pocket.
“Bear with it, even if it’s cramped.”
[Whimper!]
“You can’t growl at other people. I’ll scold you if you do.”
[Whine….]
Seeing King’s spirits deflate in apparent understanding, I let out a soft laugh and tucked him into the small satchel slung across my shoulder, leaving the opening slightly ajar.
“It’s been quite some time.”
…Damn it. I’m caught.
As I noticed the figure who had approached my side, I cursed inwardly with vehemence.
Of course, I showed none of this on my face.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince, I offer my respects.”
The one who had come to my side was none other than the First Prince, Edsen.
‘Infuriating how handsome the bastard is.’
With golden hair and eyes to match, he certainly possessed the kind of striking beauty that commanded attention.
There was something in his kind gaze and his perpetually smiling lips that made hearts flutter.
‘As if that matters. His personality is the complete opposite of his appearance.’
If I had to describe him, he’d be like Arsian and Petro blended together—always wearing a smile on the surface, but with a truly insufferable temperament.
He cannot abide anyone who displeases him. He has a remarkable talent for grinning while stabbing people in the back.
“It’s been difficult to see your face. I don’t believe you attended the last Imperial Palace gathering either.”
“I was feeling somewhat unwell, Your Highness….”
“I thought perhaps you’d caused some amusing incident and been confined to your quarters again.”
“….”
An incident? As if I’m the type to go around grabbing people by the hair and fighting!
‘…Though I suppose I have gotten into a few scuffles.’
That doesn’t mean I’m constantly locked away—though I suppose I am fairly often confined.
‘Good grief.’
Camilla, Camilla! What on earth have you been doing with yourself!
“Or perhaps you simply didn’t come because you find my presence distasteful?”
Maintain composure! Maintain composure!
‘If only you’d make yourself scarce.’
This was the crux of the problem.
Both he and I despised each other—a fact we understood all too well.
The difference was that while I could not openly express it, he had no such qualms.
‘This is precisely why I’ve avoided encountering him.’
Where else could one find such an infuriating situation?
“I’ve been hearing some rather interesting rumors about you lately.”
“Rumors, Your Highness?”
“They say you’ve developed the ability to see the future? That you can divine people’s pasts through divination.”
“That is….”
“What about it? Do you see anything when you look at me?”
Edsen gazed intently at Camilla.
“It doesn’t manifest every time, Your Highness. Only occasionally do certain events or individuals appear without warning.”
“Hmm.”
Edsen’s expression turned indifferent—a look that seemed to say, “I knew it.” The man had a talent for making people’s hearts ache with just a glance.
It was truly a remarkable skill.
“Though there is one thing I can tell you.”
“One thing?”
“The winner of this Hunting Competition will not be you, Your Highness.”
Information about the Hunting Competition being held was scarce. The original Camilla had been caught tormenting Laila by Duke Sorpel, severely punished, and subsequently exiled from the Capital.
Having left the Capital, there were few who provided her with information, and at that time Camilla had been forced to live in near isolation.
Still, I had caught wind of one thing: the Crown Prince who participated in the Hunting Competition had suffered a grave injury and collapsed.
I hadn’t been particularly curious about that news and hadn’t bothered to investigate further.
Upon hearing that he—the one who constantly provoked me—had been wounded, I had actually felt quite delighted inside.
‘I’m not sure how he got injured, but….’
He certainly hadn’t won first place. How could an injured man possibly claim victory?
With that thought, I broke into a smile before catching myself with an awkward expression.
“I spoke out of turn before things even began. Please don’t mind it, Your Highness.”
I expected a cutting remark to come flying back, but for some reason, Edsen said nothing.
As the silence stretched on, I trembled slightly inside.
‘Did I go too far?’
Regret washed over me for speaking carelessly, but I maintained my composure outwardly. To falter here would be ruinous.
How much time passed like that?
Crown Prince Edsen, who had been regarding me with an odd look, suddenly opened his mouth.
“Do you know something?”
“Pardon?”
“Before, you see.”
He stepped closer and lowered his voice further. His lips still bore that angelic smile.
“Whenever I saw you trembling before me without reason, I felt an inexplicable urge to draw my sword.”
This madman!
“But isn’t it strange?”
Edsen tilted his head slightly, genuinely perplexed.
“Now I don’t particularly feel like drawing it. Why is that? Do you happen to know?”
‘How would I possibly know that!’
He’s insane. Absolutely insane!
‘Dorman! Dorman, where is this bastard!’
I’m definitely going to smack the back of that bastard’s head! Where did my shield go?
Camilla quickly scanned her surroundings. Her eyes caught sight of Dorman, who was quietly edging away in the distance.
Their eyes met directly.
‘You, get over here right now!’
No way!
Having read the message in Camilla’s gaze, he shook his head vigorously. That bastard!
With a time bomb standing before me, I couldn’t move freely, so I could only grit my teeth in frustration.
“Well, it should be entertaining to see whether your prophecy comes true or not.”
Edsen turned to leave with those words.
‘He’s gone.’
That madman actually left!
‘Ugh, seriously….’
I don’t know what he’ll get hurt by, but please let it be serious!
Camilla silently cursed him over and over, and deliberately didn’t even turn her head toward the direction he’d disappeared, lest she encounter him again.
And then—
“Dorman…!”
“Eek!”
A brief chase ensued.
“Will you be alright on your own?”
“Of course. Don’t worry, Father.”
“If you say so, I suppose there’s nothing for it… but wouldn’t it be better to move alongside either Ludvil or Ravi?”
“My older brothers need to go search for larger prey. They’re not the sort to remain in the early stages like me. Besides, no dangerous animals threatening enough to pose a risk to me should appear.”
“Hmm….”
After the opening ceremony concluded, Duke Sorpel and Duke Jebillen were scheduled to move to a separate designated area.
The moment they participated, the champion was essentially already decided.
“Be careful.”
“Yes.”
Duke Sorpel seemed deeply uneasy about leaving Camilla, who was participating in the Hunting Competition for the first time, alone, and couldn’t bring himself to depart easily.
“King should… stay with you.”
As he tried to retrieve the creature that had been playing inside Camilla’s bag, King extended his claws and refused to let go of the bag.
Moved by that pitiful display, Duke Sorpel chuckled softly and entrusted King to Camilla.
Though still growing and unable to fully manifest its abilities, it was still a Shinsu. Having King by Camilla’s side would certainly be better.
“Hmm.”
After seeing her father off, Camilla, now alone, surveyed her surroundings for a moment.
Her eyes fell upon several young ladies gathered around a group of men.
Ludvil, Ravi, and Petro were receiving something in abundance from them.
The moment Camilla recognized what those items were, the corners of her mouth couldn’t help but rise higher and higher.
‘How delightful.’
The mana stone brooches that had recently begun selling.
The young ladies were gifting mana stone brooches—inscribed with protective magic and various other enchantments—to the men they admired.
As expected, the demand was absolutely enormous. It didn’t matter that three people were monopolizing the gifts.
Whether other young masters envied them or felt jealous—what did I care?
The important thing wasn’t that someone had bought a mana stone ornament.
“Um… excuse me!”
“Yes?”
At that moment, someone approached me as I contentedly watched the three of them.
When I turned my head, there was a face that didn’t seem entirely unfamiliar. Where had I seen him before?
‘Ah!’
I recognized him immediately.
It was the day Sier had come asking me to stop his older brother, the day I’d poured an entire kettle of water over Arsian.
“C-Camilla, miss!”
“Yes?”
He was the student who’d been getting beaten by Arsian, whose eyes had gone completely wild.
‘Wasn’t he called the Count’s Young Master?’
I’d run into him a few times since then. I’d seen him approach as if to speak, then hurriedly turn away.
“C-Camilla, miss, I have something to tell you!”
“…?”
“I was really grateful back then—”
Thud!
‘Huh?’
The person speaking suddenly vanished before my eyes.
Bewildered, I widened my eyes and looked down. A man lay sprawled on the floor.
And someone was stomping on him repeatedly.
“…What are you doing?”
“There was something in my way.”
It was Arsian.
“I-I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!”
The man scrambled to his feet and fled hastily.
“…”
I gave Arsian a look of utter exasperation. I’d thought his temperament had improved, but it clearly hadn’t.
“No wonder you’re unpopular.”
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t you feel anything seeing those people?”
I gestured toward my two older brothers and Petro, still surrounded by numerous women.
Then I turned to look at Arsian, dressed in plain clothes with not even a brooch, let alone receiving a handkerchief.
“How can you be so unhelpful?”
“Unhelpful how?”
“Wouldn’t it be nice if you had enough charm to receive at least one mana stone brooch?”
“What would I do with something like that?”
“What do you mean, what would you do!”
Camilla scolded sharply, then turned her head again to point at the three men.
“That’s all money right there.”
My money!
“…I should have just taken it.”
“What?”
“Nothing.”
Watching her contentedly observe the three men receiving brooches from the young ladies, Arsian let out a quiet chuckle.
Especially seeing Petro surrounded by women without Camilla seeming to mind in the slightest—it was oddly amusing.
“By the way, do you know how to hunt?”
“Of course!”
Camilla nodded confidently.
‘Of course? What do you mean “of course”!’
Camilla repeatedly picked up her bow and set it down.
Her current game count: zero.
‘Am I insane? How am I supposed to shoot that?’
Shooting the bow itself wasn’t the problem.
The skills I’d learned long ago remained, and aiming at moving targets proved less difficult than expected. With luck, I might even hit something.
‘But…’
Chasing after the hopping rabbit and drawing my bow was all I could manage. I simply couldn’t release the bowstring.

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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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