A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 68

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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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‘What is this?’
‘Why is she acting all virtuous on her own?’
‘How irritating.’
This is how it goes.
[You could help too!]
“Thank you.”
[For what?]
“For seeing me as such a good person.”
I have no intention of participating in tormenting others, but I also lack any real desire to step forward and help them.
As I just said, the moment I get involved, I’m dragged into an incredibly troublesome situation.
‘A single student can’t stand against the entire Student Council.’
Not only the Student Council President Meriz, but all the executives beneath her are in on it together.
In other words, I’d have to confront those who control the Academy with an iron grip.
If I half-heartedly got involved, my school life would become hell from that moment on.
[Damn it! Even so!]
“Don’t get too worked up. That student you saw today will be leaving the Academy soon anyway.”
In the end, Kevin Brian couldn’t endure the harassment and withdrew from the Academy.
Though he desperately wanted to graduate, his parents eventually discovered that he was being bullied.
The Baron’s Household urged Kevin to leave the Academy, and they hoped to settle everything quietly and move down to the Countryside to live in peace.
‘They won’t even think of reporting it.’
Because the social status of those leading the harassment was far too high.
Meriz, the Student Council President, was the daughter of a Marquis, and the other executives were all children of noble families who wielded considerable influence throughout the Empire.
They knew all too well that any protest from powerless people like themselves would only bring greater harm in return.
According to Camilla’s memories, the Student Council executives were actually delighted when they heard Kevin had withdrawn from the Academy.
‘Finally, he’s gone.’
‘He clung so desperately to this place.’
They laughed openly in the Classroom without caring who heard them.
Even Camilla, who drifted on the fringes of the Academy, had heard about it.
[Those damn bastards!]
“They did cross the line.”
But that didn’t move my heart. I still had no intention whatsoever of getting involved with the Student Council.
The problem, however, was the next target.
“A new target will be chosen soon.”
[A new target?]
“Because Kevin is gone.”
[These insane people!]
And I knew exactly who this next target would be.
* * *
“Kevin was too naive.”
“Right.”
The Student Council Room—a space accessible only to Student Council executives.
Gathered there, they chuckled over a single withdrawal form lying on the desk. It was Kevin Brian’s withdrawal form.
“Who should be next?”
Meriz, the Student Council President seated at the head of the table with a gentle smile, broached the main topic.
“Has the next target been decided?”
“Yeah, here.”
“Who is it this time?”
In response to Meriz’s question, one of the executives handed over a slip of paper. A single name was written on it.
“It looks like the entire class voted for them.”
“I suspect someone pulled strings behind the scenes though.”
“Hmm.”
After confirming the name, Meriz’s lips curved upward in a soft smile.
A new game was beginning.
* * *
“Huh?”
Returning to the Classroom after lunch, Laila’s eyes widened at the pile of notes stacked on her desk.
Wondering what was happening, she glanced around, but no one offered an explanation.
Instead, when their eyes met, they subtly averted their gaze elsewhere.
“What is this?”
After tilting her head in confusion for a moment, Laila began unfolding and reading the notes one by one.
─ Laila, you’re from the Orphanage, right?
─ Your parents work at a Farm? Is that true?
─ You sometimes smell strange.
─ You’re the one clinging to the Academy like a beggar on a scholarship? Isn’t that scholarship coming from our pockets?
As Laila read through the notes, every student in the Classroom stared at her.
Some snickered, while others looked away in disdain at such students.
But the truth was that most of the students were enjoying Laila’s reaction.
“Wow…”
This was Laila’s response after reading all the notes. She opened her mouth slightly as if genuinely impressed.
“You all know so much about me!”
“…?”
“Thank you for taking an interest in me!”
At Laila’s bright smile, a momentary silence fell over the room.
Regardless, Laila sniffed at her own sleeve.
“I wash my clothes frequently though… Sorry, I’ll be more careful. I do grow quite a lot of crops.”
“Laila.”
A group approached Laila as she smiled bashfully.
It was Grace and her friends—those who had once asked to copy her homework but failed to achieve their goal and were driven away by Camilla.
“Did you know?”
“Huh?”
“Your mother receives work from our household.”
Grace’s smile deepened at the corners of her mouth.
Of course, it was a lie.
Though she had heard rumors—that Laila’s mother earned money by taking on odd jobs like sewing work from the neighboring noble families.
“Really?”
“Of course. Would I lie to—”
Snatch!
“Thank you!”
Laila beamed with genuine joy and squeezed Grace’s hand firmly.
“Mother’s been so discouraged lately without work… I’ll be counting on you from now on.”
“….”
“If you don’t mind, could you give me some work too? I’m good at sewing!”
I meant it as a joke, meant it to embarrass her…
“You really are a wonderful friend, Grace!”
Zero impact.
Instead, Grace’s face flushed crimson as she hastily withdrew from her. The other students looked at Laila with expressions of disbelief.
“Is it okay if I throw away these notes? There are so many, it’ll be hard to keep them all.”
Regardless, Laila swiftly cleared away the stack of notes piled on her desk.
‘Pfft.’
Meanwhile, there was someone quietly observing the scene—none other than Camilla.
Camilla had come on a hunch, and seeing Laila behave no differently than usual, she couldn’t help but laugh inwardly.
She knew this was only the beginning, so she couldn’t simply laugh it off, but seeing their bewildered expressions did provide some satisfaction.
‘How will this unfold?’
For the first few times, Laila would handle it well with this unintentional innocence, but as the harassment escalated in intensity, she would eventually realize something was amiss.
Previously, when she recognized the malice and suffered, Petro and Arsian had helped her.
Those two, who had been indifferent and ignorant of the situation, came to understand everything because of Laila, and as a result, the Student Council collapsed.
Since it happened during a time when they were deeply interested in Laila, it didn’t take long for that to occur.
‘But now?’
Honestly, I’m not sure.
Both Arsian and Petro had no particular connection with Laila, and their demeanor toward her was far colder than before.
Camilla continued to watch Laila, who was busily clearing away the notes with a bright expression.
“For now, should I just observe the situation?”
…Can I keep watching even if nothing changes?
“Achoo!”
“Did you catch a cold?”
“I’m fine.”
She didn’t seem fine at all.
“My friends accidentally spilled water on me.”
“Those friends seem to have accidents every single day.”
“Ha, ha ha….”
“My knees are scraped again.”
“Oh, I tripped over some friends’ feet…”
Laila’s laughter gradually faded. The smile that had graced her lips vanished as well.
Even someone as obtuse as she was beginning to sense that something was amiss.
‘Hmm.’
What had begun as juvenile cruelty—malicious notes and letters, humiliating messages scrawled on her back—had escalated into something far more sinister.
In truth, even those initial acts could hardly be dismissed as mere childishness.
Though Laila had brushed them off without concern, the contents would have been psychologically devastating to anyone else.
Imagine classmates whispering and snickering whenever you passed by. Would you call that merely childish?
When the harassment crossed the threshold from pranks into something undeniably cruel, Laila finally grew visibly flustered.
But that was all. She had merely become aware of the strange atmosphere surrounding her.
She still failed to grasp what was truly happening to her.
‘And those two remain silent.’
Arsian and Petro showed no interest in Laila whatsoever. Naturally, they were oblivious to her suffering.
‘This is so different from before.’
Of course, it wasn’t yet time for them to intervene. Arsian and Petro would only step in just before the Student Council resorted to direct violence against Laila.
Still, this time they’re showing far too little concern. Back then, they at least sensed something was wrong!
I pressed my throbbing temples and exhaled heavily. My mind was a mess.
‘Do I really have to wait until then?’
In the past, this situation had resolved itself naturally.
Though the circumstances differed somewhat, the core pattern remained the same, leaving me uncertain whether I should intervene at all.
What if my meddling only made things worse?
“Don’t worry. I brought a change of clothes just in case. Smart, right?”
Watching Laila smile cheerfully as though nothing were wrong, my dilemma deepened.
* * *
“This one’s rather peculiar, isn’t she?”
Student Council President Meriz burst into laughter.
“Her reactions are unusual.”
“She doesn’t even seem to realize she’s being bullied.”
“Are the kids going too easy on her?”
One of the council members shook his head in response to Meriz’s comment.
“Rather, this target seems genuinely dense. She even laughed about it.”
‘Please throw away the trash. Understood. I’ll clean it all up!’
Laila had simply smiled brightly and tidied up without hesitation.
“This is amusing.”
Meriz’s smile deepened.
“The students must be absolutely frustrated.”
“Undoubtedly.”
Watching Laila remain unmoved by every form of harassment, they were all seething with irritation.
“Perhaps we should intimidate her directly ourselves?”
“But…”
Meriz’s gaze shifted from her cheerful giggling toward Vice President Ruhis. Something seemed to weigh on her mind, and her expression darkened noticeably.
“That girl appears to be acquainted with Camilla.”
“Camilla? Camilla Sorpel?”
“That’s right.”
Meriz’s eyes widened slightly, as if taken aback.
“There’s actually someone who gets along well with Camilla? This one truly is peculiar.”

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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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