A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 80

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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. Lania
“Zeno.”
[Hm?]
Camilla, who had been sitting by the window for two hours lost in deep thought, called out to Zeno.
Sensing something unusual about her demeanor today, Zeno, who had been watching her carefully, approached at once.
“Are twins common in this place?”
[Twins?]
“Is it also common for one to be dead and only one to be alive?”
[What are you talking about? Why are you suddenly bringing up my story?]
“It’s not about you, Zeno. I saw a certain woman not long ago.”
[A woman? Who?]
“There is. But next to that woman, there was someone who looked exactly like a gho—”
Knock, knock.
Camilla, who had been conversing with Zeno, quickly closed her mouth.
“Miss, it’s Rube.”
“Come in.”
The butler Rube stepped inside and briefly surveyed the surroundings.
“What is it?”
“Nothing, miss. I thought I heard voices.”
“Voices?”
True to his position as the leader of Black Shadow, Rube’s ears were remarkably sharp.
I made a mental note to be more careful when conversing with spirits in the future, offering an awkward smile.
“I was alone.”
“I must have misheard, miss.”
He bowed respectfully in apology, then handed over the paper he had been holding.
“What is this?”
“It’s the list of guests you requested—those who absolutely must be invited to the upcoming party.”
“Ah.”
A party would be held at Duke Sorpel’s Residence in two weeks. It was my birthday party.
I had asked Rube to prepare a list of those who absolutely must be invited, since I knew very little about such matters.
“Hmm….”
Taking the list, I exhaled a short sigh internally.
This birthday held a different significance. It was the last birthday of the original Camilla.
But unaware that it would be her final birthday, the original Camilla had always ended that day in a mess.
‘Petro didn’t come?’
‘He said he was busy today.’
Petro had declined her invitation.
Already deeply infatuated with Laila by that time, Petro no longer even offered Camilla false kindness.
‘Ugh!’
‘Camilla!’
‘Where are you going right now?!’
When Petro failed to appear, I abandoned the crowded party in the Hall and left without a second thought.
With the guest of honor absent, the party descended into chaos, and I had to endure another scolding from Duke Sorpel.
‘It was truly the worst birthday ever.’
Even now, the memory drew an involuntary sigh from me.
What about this time? At least with Petro out of the picture, there was no way the birthday party would be ruined. Surely it would pass quietly?
“If there is anyone else you would like to invite, please let me know.”
“Yes.”
I skimmed through the invitation list. Some names were familiar, while many others were entirely new to me.
Then, the moment my eyes fell upon the name written on the last line of the final page, my entire body went rigid.
Edsen de Faybler
…Why is the Crown Prince’s name appearing here?
“Y-you’re inviting the Crown Prince as well?”
“Events held at the Sorpel Household are customarily announced to the Imperial Court with formal invitations.”
Right, it was merely a formality. Just a courtesy invitation, nothing more.
Only those who would actually come would attend, and there was no chance that man would accept.
Having instinctively flinched at the sight of his name, I forced myself to turn the page with an air of indifference.
‘Receiving an invitation doesn’t mean everyone will actually come.’
Right. Absolutely right.
* * *
“It’s been a while, Miss Sorpel.”
Dorman! Where is Dorman?!
The moment I came face to face with Crown Prince Edsen standing before me, I reflexively reached for a shield.
“…Your Highness, it is an honor to receive you.”
Is everyone free these days?
‘Why are they all doing things they never did before?!’
Since when did you become the type to accept invitations? And especially not to mine!
You hate me, don’t you?
“Fortunately, you seem to know who I am.”
“Pardon?”
“I thought perhaps you didn’t even know who I was, given that you never sent a reply.”
“What do you…”
“Or perhaps my gift simply wasn’t to your liking?”
Right, the gift!
After returning from the Hunting Competition, I had received a gift from Edsen.
Or rather, it was a ‘mountain of gifts,’ not just a single gift.
“I have been unwell for some time, Your Highness, and I was unable to attend to my correspondence.”
Only now did I realize that I had received so many gifts from the Crown Prince himself and yet had never sent a single word of gratitude in return.
“You seem to fall ill quite frequently.”
“I’m afraid my constitution is rather delicate…”
Camilla forced her expression into the most pitiful and sickly visage she could muster.
Playing a bedridden patient was child’s play.
After all, I was the one who had made a cameo appearance in a medical drama, sweeping away viewers’ tears and dominating search rankings with my portrayal of a terminally ill character.
“Really? I thought….”
He continued speaking while studying her with an intensity that suggested he wouldn’t miss a single shift in her expression.
“I wondered if you’d simply shoved all the gifts I sent into a corner and never even opened them.”
…Is he a ghost?
I’ll have to search every nook and cranny of this place later. What if he’s installed some kind of CCTV camera?
He was right. All the gifts I’d received were still stacked in one corner of the Storage Room, completely unopened.
“I wonder if the gifts pleased you.”
“Yes, I was very pleased with them.”
“Which one did you like the most?”
“Your Highness gave me these items—how could I dare choose just one? They were all precious gifts to me.”
This kind of answer couldn’t afford even a single second of hesitation.
“….”
Camilla smiled serenely even under the piercing gaze of Crown Prince Edsen. Then he suddenly leaned his face closer to hers.
This bastard…!
“You haven’t opened them, have you?”
‘Gasp!’
Why are all the men around me so perceptive? Damn it!
“I have opened them.”
“Really?”
“Of course.”
Control your expression! Control your expression!
“Do you know something?”
“Yes?”
“Your smile when you’re lying is so irritatingly beautiful that it drives me mad.”
Beautiful yet infuriating!
“From now on, don’t lie in front of others. I’ll only permit it in front of me.”
What is he saying?
As Crown Prince Edsen grinned and leaned even closer, Camilla tilted her body further back.
What the hell are you trying to do with me!
“…!”
Just as she lost her balance and began to fall, someone caught her gently.
“What are you doing?”
“…Arsian?”
Where did he suddenly come from?
And I could even see Petro in the distance. Why did he show up again?
As Camilla blinked in confusion, Arsian sighed and steadied her on her feet.
Once he confirmed she was properly balanced, he adjusted his position slightly and turned to face forward.
Arsian and Crown Prince Edsen’s gazes collided.
“….”
“….”
Watching the atmosphere between the two men who stared at each other in silence turn frigid in an instant, Camilla quickly straightened her posture.
Alarm bells blared frantically in her mind.
‘Two madmen have met!’
Lacking confidence in her ability to handle the consequences, Camilla gently tugged at Arsian’s arm and then bowed as respectfully as possible to Crown Prince Edsen.
“Your Highness, I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening.”
Without waiting for his response, Camilla hurriedly led Arsian away in another direction.
“What did that bastard say? What did he do to you?”
“Shh! Shh!”
Camilla quickly covered Arsian’s mouth and glanced around. A bastard? The man was still a Crown Prince, after all!
No matter how much of a special case Arsian was, touching the imperial family was dangerous.
“Stay quiet and follow me.”
Camilla hastily led him to the Terrace. Her only thought was to escape this situation as quickly as possible.
And so she failed to notice that everyone in the Hall was watching her and Arsian.
“Huh….”
“Isn’t that the young master of Sephrag?”
“Yes, it is.”
The sight of Arsian—the notorious Arsian himself, no less—being led by the hand like a puppy and meekly following behind Camilla was enough to leave people bewildered.
Only those who had occasionally witnessed such scenes at the Academy managed to shake their heads knowingly, as if somewhat accustomed to it.
“Hmm.”
Edsen, too, regarded the two of them with interest.

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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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