A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 8

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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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Camilla gazed silently at the two figures standing before her with gentle smiles—or rather, the two ghosts.
[Why are you looking at us like that?]
[Is there something you wish to say to us?]
At her scrutiny, the phantom chef Perol and the spectral butler Derin tilted their heads in unison. Had they done something wrong?
“Tell me now.”
[Tell you?]
[Tell you what?]
“What is it that you want from me?”
After more than twenty years of living alongside ghosts, I had learned something invaluable.
That being: “There is not a single wandering spirit who helps others without reason.”
‘Especially not strangers.’
Why should these two be any different?
“I will need your assistance going forward.”
Hoping that merely placing flowers in my study and preparing one meal would change their perception of me was far too ambitious.
“So please, tell me. What is it that you desire?”
I was prepared to grant most requests. After all, they were the ones who had shown me how to escape death—what could I possibly refuse them?
[….]
[….]
At my words, Perol and Derin exchanged glances before bursting into laughter simultaneously.
[There is only one thing I desire.]
“And what is that?”
[To cook.]
“…To cook?”
Camilla’s expression grew troubled.
To cook? Did he want me to prepare food for some kind of ancestral rite? Such customs did exist, after all.
‘But I have no particular talent for cooking.’
The cooking I had done in the kitchen moments ago was not truly my own work. Perol’s hands had possessed my hands, allowing him to create the meal himself.
[My wish was simply to cook again. There is no greater happiness than having someone savor food that I have made with my own hands.]
Yet Perol’s next words caught me completely off guard.
“Your wish is to cook?”
So he wanted me to allow him to cook directly through me? What kind of wish was that?
Perol chuckled softly at her bewildered expression.
[Thank you.]
“….”
[Thank you for letting me cook again.]
I had believed I would never touch a cooking utensil again. I thought I would never be able to present a dish of my own making to anyone.
Even now, it felt like a dream—that I could stand before the flames once more.
Though they were Camilla’s hands, holding a knife again and grasping a pot filled me with such profound joy.
“I see….”
Camilla nodded with a somewhat reluctant expression.
It would be foolish to deliberately stir up trouble when someone explicitly denies needing help.
Yet for someone like me, who had never experienced receiving aid without compensation, letting this pass felt deeply unsatisfying.
[I feel the same way.]
Derin, the butler’s ghost, smiled faintly as he met my gaze.
[I was delighted to restore the baby’s breath flowers to the master’s Study.]
What was he talking about? That was happiness?
[Being able to help the people of the Sorpel Household with the information I possess is a profound joy. Thank you.]
Watching the two ghosts offer their gratitude to me instead, I felt somewhat bewildered.
‘These people….’
In other words, they were wandering the earthly realm because they harbored lingering attachments to bringing joy to others.
I’d met all sorts of peculiar souls in my time.
‘Well, it works in my favor.’
Either way, both of them had nothing they particularly desired, did they?
I brought my hands together respectfully and bowed deeply toward Perol and Derin.
“I look forward to your continued assistance.”
I didn’t know what would happen later, but for now I found myself in a position of receiving help without compensation. I was more than willing to show courtesy and propriety.
[….]
[….]
Perol and Derin’s eyes widened with surprise at my unexpected greeting.
But soon, gentle smiles bloomed across both their faces.
* * *
“You can make this as well?”
Chef Jelard’s eyes widened as he beheld the dish I had completed.
That crimson sorbet. The wine-based dessert was also something my late master had excelled at preparing.
After adding the finishing touches, I turned to regard Jelard intently.
“….”
“….”
A soft rustling sound.
After exchanging gazes with me for a moment, Jelard naturally bent his knees, lowering his stance.
Only once his eyes had descended did I speak.
“You don’t know this recipe either?”
“Ah, I do know it.”
It’s simply that my version never achieves such a beautiful color.
For over ten days now, I had been watching as I repeatedly created dishes with remarkable skill—all of them favorites that my master Perol had loved to prepare.
‘Could it be….’
Naturally, suspicion began to take root.
‘Did the master leave behind a separate recipe book?’
Had Miss Camilla discovered it?
‘No, no!’
But I quickly dismissed the thought.
This wasn’t a problem that could be solved simply by knowing a recipe. That level of skill could never be achieved merely by consulting a cookbook.
‘And what on earth is that display all about?!’
The way she effortlessly located tools and ingredients scattered throughout the Kitchen made it seem as though she’d worked here for decades.
“Um… Miss Camilla, should I dispose of what’s left here…?”
“Eat it.”
“Yes!”
Jelard, who had hesitantly pointed to the remaining wine sherbet in the glass, quickly brought it to his lips at Camilla’s permission.
‘Just as I thought!’
Jelard’s eyes wavered incessantly as he tasted the wine sherbet.
Why was that? What could it be?
We used the same recipe, so why doesn’t mine taste like this?
“Is it good?”
“It’s, it’s not bad.”
His pride still intact, he deflected the question with a subtle change of subject.
Watching Jelard, Camilla tapped the back of her neck lightly with her hand.
Whoosh.
Jelard’s gaze, which had risen for a moment, lowered again.
“Miss.”
Just then, the butler Rube entered through the Kitchen entrance.
Observing Jelard standing before Camilla with his knees slightly bent as always, Rube quietly suppressed the laughter threatening to escape.
“Are you finished?”
“Yes.”
Camilla gestured toward the wine sherbet placed to one side.
A small mint leaf was adorably garnishing the crimson sherbet nestled in a delicate glass cup.
“Please take care of it as usual.”
“Yes, Miss.”
The butler Rube bowed lightly and gathered the cups containing the sherbet.
‘How unexpected.’
Rube, lifting the tray, glanced briefly at Camilla.
‘Why has she suddenly changed like this?’
He’d never disliked her. Nor had he ever particularly liked her.
He was well aware of her situation, growing increasingly isolated within the Sorpel Household, yet he felt no compulsion to offer assistance.
Extending a helping hand first to someone who does nothing for themselves was the behavior he despised most.
So he simply observed from a distance.
‘But…’
For some time now, Camilla—she had changed.
That incident where the Kitchen maidservants’ tampered food ended up in the Duke’s mouth. Was that truly mere coincidence?
For reasons he couldn’t quite explain, Rube found her increasingly entertaining these days.
‘Even now.’
To think she’d reduced the foul-tempered and self-centered Jelard to such a state.
I found it quite fascinating to watch Jelard sneaking glances at Camilla while surreptitiously devouring his sherbet.
“But you’re holding a meeting at this hour? It’ll be past midnight soon—doesn’t anyone feel drowsy?”
That was when Rube’s ears caught the sound of Camilla’s voice.
“Or did something urgent come up?”
The sherbet prepared tonight wasn’t the usual two servings. There were multiple trays laden with glasses.
This was because all the household’s retainers had gathered in the Conference Room. It was a meeting hastily scheduled for today.
“I couldn’t say, miss.”
The butler Rube smiled broadly at Camilla’s question.
It was Duke Sorpel himself who had decided to postpone the meeting that should have been held during the day to this hour—precisely when Camilla would bring refreshments.
The reason was likely…
“Then I shall take my leave.”
Rube bowed respectfully and quietly exited.
Several Maidservants followed behind him, carrying trays laden with sherbet.
“I wonder… what technique produces that particular color…?”
“You want to know?”
“Yes!”
“Then show me some proper manners.”
“L-like this?”
“…Remove your hand from your cheek. And stop slurring your words.”
Rube heard the conversation between the two behind him and hastily suppressed the laughter threatening to escape.
* * *
“It’s quite refreshing to hold a meeting at this hour, isn’t it?”
“W-well, yes, haha!”
“I’ve been losing sleep lately, so this works out well.”
Those gathered in the Conference Room exchanged awkward smiles and continued speaking.
‘Why on earth at this hour?’
‘Didn’t he say he was too busy during the day?’
‘I heard there was nothing particularly urgent today…’
No one could fathom Duke Sorpel’s intention in postponing the daytime meeting to this hour, approaching midnight, citing busyness as the reason.
There were no particularly pressing matters, so the meeting could have been held tomorrow during the day without issue, so why?
Of course, no one dared to openly express their bewilderment and displeasure to Duke Sorpel.
‘But…’
‘Why does he keep glancing at the clock?’
Everyone could see Duke Sorpel repeatedly looking at the clock mounted on the wall throughout the meeting.
It wasn’t as though he had another appointment at this hour, was it?
Knock, knock!
Then, with a knock, the Conference Room door opened and butler Rube entered with several Maidservants.
Each of them carried a long tray in their hands.
“Your Grace, Miss Camilla has sent refreshments again this evening.”
“Mm, bring them here.”
Duke Sorpel nodded lightly.
Then, as though about to impart something of tremendous importance, he asked in a loud, deliberate voice.
“Did Camilla make this herself today as well?”
“Yes, Your Grace. Miss Camilla prepared the dessert with her own hands. She was generous enough to make plenty for our guests as well.”
At their exchange, the guests’ eyes widened in astonishment. Who made what?
“My, my… how extraordinary.”
“She possesses such skills?”
Those who had tasted the sherbet with cautious wariness upon hearing that Camilla had made it soon found themselves offering genuine admiration.

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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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