A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 82

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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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It happened suddenly, just after Ludvil turned five years old.
Please don’t look for me. I’m sorry.
She vanished, leaving behind only a brief note.
Duke Sorpel gazed upon Ludvil.
Observing his son, who still regarded him with that indifferent gaze, he exhaled a shallow sigh.
“I searched for her for so long.”
Yet no trace of Anna could be found anywhere.
As if she had never existed in this world from the beginning, she simply vanished like smoke.
“It was an unavoidable choice.”
In the end, he announced that she had died. He could not reveal the truth—that the Duchess had abandoned her home.
He feared it might inflict too grave a wound upon Ludvil.
He could not allow his son to bear such a stigma—that of being abandoned by a Duchess who had forsaken even her own child.
Afterward, he secretly pursued her whereabouts, but to no avail.
As time passed, he eventually remarried to Camilla’s mother, whom he met by chance, and buried all memories of Anna deep within his heart.
“And yet….”
A daughter, suddenly appearing.
If one were to identify the most bewildered person in this room, it would undoubtedly be Duke Sorpel.
If Lania were truly his daughter, then Anna must have left him while carrying his child.
“You should speak with Lania first, Your Grace.”
“…Yes, I suppose I must.”
Camilla observed Duke Sorpel as he exhaled a heavy sigh, then cast a brief glance toward Ludvil as well.
She wondered if the shock might be equally profound for him….
‘…What expression is that, exactly?’
Ludvil showed no particular reaction. He merely sipped the tea prepared for him.
Then their eyes met directly.
“Ah.”
After staring blankly at her for a moment, Ludvil suddenly began rummaging through his pocket as if remembering something.
He then withdrew something and offered it to Camilla.
“Take this.”
“This is….”
A necklace.
It appeared to be custom-made, adorned with gems that matched the exact shade of her hair.
“Happy birthday.”
“…Thank you, Older Brother.”
To offer a gift and birthday wishes with such composure in the midst of this chaos.
‘What on earth does he think about as he lives….’
Camilla suppressed the sigh that threatened to escape and maintained an awkward smile.
* * *
“My mother… has already passed away.”
Lania’s mother was no longer of this world. She had succumbed to a severe fever two years prior.
“Mother never once spoke to me about Father.”
Then, not long ago, I happened to discover a letter Mother had left behind—one addressed to Duke Sorpel.
“Here it is.”
As Duke Sorpel accepted the letter from Lania’s hands, his eyes flickered with unrelenting turmoil.
I’m sorry.
The letter’s opening words were an apology.
It spoke of unavoidable circumstances, and should the child ever come seeking him alone, it was her fault—she asked for his kindness.
“Anna’s… handwriting. It’s unmistakably hers.”
He traced his fingers over the script with a bitter expression.
Though years had passed, how could he fail to recognize her distinctive, flowing penmanship?
“At first, I couldn’t believe I had a father. I thought he had passed away when I was young…”
“That bracelet—she gave it to you?”
Duke Sorpel’s gaze shifted to the bracelet adorning Lania’s wrist. It was indeed the one he had gifted to Anna long ago.
【To my wife】
After obtaining Lania’s permission to examine it, the inscription he had engraved inside the bracelet himself remained intact.
“Yes, Father.”
“I would prefer you not call me that… just yet.”
“I-I’m sorry.”
Watching Lania’s eyes glisten with tears, Duke Sorpel exhaled a short sigh. The fact that she—whom he had searched for so desperately all these years—was dead weighed heavily upon him.
And the revelation that she had been carrying his child when she left was even harder to fathom.
The evidence she had provided certainly testified that Lania was his daughter, yet acceptance did not come easily.
“Rube.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Yet he could not simply cast her out.
Countless people at the Party Venue had already witnessed this child’s existence, and it was far too late to resolve this quietly.
“Prepare a room for this child.”
“Understood.”
Thus, permission to accept her was granted.
“F-Father! Thank you so much!”
At the realization that she need not leave this place, Lania’s expression brightened instantly.
Duke Sorpel watched as she offered her gratitude repeatedly, tears brimming in her eyes, and another short sigh escaped his lips.
* * *
“Camilla…”
The next day, as expected, rumors of what had transpired at the Party Venue spread like wildfire.
“Are you alright?”
Though I had anticipated it, the moment I stepped into the Academy, an intensely burning gaze descended upon me without cessation.
“What do you mean?”
“About yesterday…”
“What about yesterday?”
“Oh, never mind.”
I know exactly what Laila is saying and what she’s worried about.
I’ve heard this question countless times today. While some genuinely concerned themselves with my wellbeing, most spoke to me with thinly veiled mockery.
“I heard Duke Sorpel’s biological daughter has appeared?”
“Oh no!”
“Right? Poor Camilla….”
“Surely you won’t be cast out immediately? I’m so worried….”
“If you have nowhere to go, please contact me. Even though we’re acquainted, I couldn’t simply pretend not to know you.”
Now that Duke Sorpel’s biological daughter had appeared, they assumed my position as a fake would become utterly laughable.
‘Indeed.’
It was quite a troublesome situation.
Resting my chin on the desk, I tilted my head repeatedly.
‘How strange.’
Unlike the others’ concerns, I felt remarkably nothing at all.
Now that the likelihood of Lania being Duke Sorpel’s daughter had grown—or rather, was nearly certain—my heart remained oddly unmoved, contrary to everyone else’s anxiety.
If anything, the way those around me were making such a fuss about this situation felt genuinely peculiar.
‘Is this really such a grave matter?’
I couldn’t quite understand it myself. Why was I so unaffected?
One wrong move and I’d lose everything to the Duke’s biological daughter and be cast out from the household.
‘Lose everything?’
Lose? That word bothered me in an odd way.
“Will she continue to stay at the Sorpel Household?”
As I was lost in thought, Laila’s voice pierced through once more.
“Probably?”
“I see….”
Laila’s expression grew even more gloomy. Then, as our eyes met, she forced a bright smile.
“Camilla, nothing beats something sweet at times like these!”
I’m really not bothered at all. Looking at the desserts that carried an even sweeter aroma than usual, I let out a small laugh.
“Hehe.”
Only then did Laila’s expression brighten a little.
“I’ll make something even more delicious tomorrow!”
Listening to Laila’s spirited voice, I brought a rather generous raspberry pie to my lips.
‘Delicious.’
Should I bring Father a pie as a snack tomorrow?
I should ask Perol if he has a delicious pie recipe.
* * *
“Haha!”
“Really?”
“My goodness….”
“Pfft!”
I paused as I stepped into the Kitchen entrance.
“….”
The atmosphere in the Kitchen was distinctly different from usual.
Instead of sharp rebukes or hurried commands, laughter filled the air.
What was remarkable was that Chef Jelard’s voice was among those laughing—he who had always forbidden idle chatter and merriment in his domain.
“I’m telling you, the pot actually burst!”
“Haha.”
At the center of the Kitchen staff’s circle stood Lania, regaling them with her tale. Everyone erupted in delighted giggles at her words.
“Oh! Camilla!”
Lania spotted me first and waved cheerfully.
“What are you doing here?”
“I was just chatting with everyone! I used to work at a Dining Hall before, you see.”
“A Dining Hall?”
“Yes! After Mother passed away, I had to earn money. I’m actually quite skilled at washing dishes—I did nothing but that every single day.”
The Kitchen staff’s faces grew sorrowful at the revelation that one bearing the blood of the Sorpel Household had once performed such menial labor.
“Camilla.”
After a moment, Lania called out to me carefully.
“I… heard something.”
“Heard what?”
“That you make Father snacks every night and bring them to him?”
“So?”
“Would it be alright if I did it today instead?”
She clasped her hands together tightly, her eyes pleading as she gazed at me.
“I really want to serve him something I’ve made with my own hands.”
Her voice grew thick with emotion.
“You wouldn’t understand since you don’t have biological parents, but….”
Biological parents?
“Parents are truly special. You want to do everything yourself for them… to spend even a moment longer with them….”
…Was I the only one finding this grating?
I found it somewhat absurd, but the Kitchen staff seemed to interpret it differently. They all looked upon Lania with sympathy.
“Do as you wish.”
“Really?”
Lania’s face bloomed with joy. Everyone watched her clap her hands in delight with warm approval.
“Jelard.”
“Yes, Miss.”
“Tell Lania what Father likes.”
“Pardon?”
“We can’t serve him something he dislikes. Besides, this is the first dish his own daughter is bringing him.”
“Ah, yes. Understood.”
Chef Jelard cast a surprised glance in my direction.
She’s backing down so easily? I thought there would be a confrontation.
In the past, she would have seized them by the hair without hesitation.
She had been docile only before Duke Sorpel and the other two young masters, but she absolutely would not tolerate anyone else coveting her position or possessions.

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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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