A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 83

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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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Yet rather than that, she was actually telling them what the Duke disliked….
Contrary to expectations, even the other kitchen staff wore puzzled expressions at Camilla’s parting words of caution.
“Then I’ll be going.”
Regardless, Camilla waved her hand lightly and departed from the Kitchen with unhurried grace. Everyone watched her retreating figure with peculiar expressions.
“….”
Lania was no exception.
She stared intently at Camilla’s back as she left the Kitchen.
* * *
“Haaah….”
“What? Didn’t you sleep last night?”
“Oh, I was reading some books.”
Watching Ravi walk with his eyes half-closed, Camilla shook her head lightly as if to say she couldn’t stop him.
He had been devoted to magical research before, but since the Hunting Competition, it had become far more intense.
However, unlike before when he had wallowed in self-loathing and fumbled about uselessly, it seemed he was now using that day’s events as a catalyst, so I simply observed from a distance.
“Then why did you come out instead of sleeping more?”
It seemed he had pulled an all-nighter, and Ravi wasn’t the type to eat every meal either. I couldn’t understand why he had come to breakfast.
“That girl will be here too.”
“That girl?”
Was he talking about Lania?
“Why would that matter?”
“Why? Because without me, you alone-”
“Huh?”
“…never mind.”
Ravi stopped mid-sentence and continued walking.
Camilla watched him silently for a moment, then let out a light laugh.
Pretending not to notice his ears turning slightly red at her laughter, she walked slowly toward the Dining Hall.
“You’ve arrived?”
Shortly after reaching the Dining Hall entrance, she encountered Ludvil. The three of them exchanged light greetings and entered the Dining Hall together.
“Ah! Welcome!”
Someone was already in the Dining Hall. It was Lania.
She greeted them warmly with a bright smile.
But….
“Hey!”
“You….”
No one properly responded to her greeting.
“Why are you sitting there?”
The seat she occupied was the problem.
The seat Lania had claimed was where Camilla always sat.
“Pardon?”
“Get up.”
Ludvil’s quiet voice reached Lania, who tilted her head in confusion at the situation.
“W-was I not supposed to sit here?”
At the angry reaction of the two men, Lania jumped to her feet in panic, unsure what to do.
“I-I’m so sorry.”
Tears quickly welled up in her eyes. She looked as though she might burst into sobs at any moment.
A soft sound.
“…!”
But in that instant, a hand gently pressed down on her shoulder and guided her back into her seat—it was Camilla.
“It’s fine.”
“Pardon?”
“Sit here.”
“But….”
Ignoring the furrowed brows of Ravi and Ludvil, Camilla smiled brightly.
“This is your seat from now on.”
“Hey!”
“Camilla.”
Watching the two men’s expressions harden further, Camilla shook her head lightly.
“Does it matter where anyone sits? Father will be here soon. Wouldn’t it be better to avoid unnecessary commotion?”
At Camilla’s words, the two men fell silent.
There was no benefit in stirring up more trouble here, just as she said.
“Enjoy your meal.”
“Wait! Is this seat perhaps….”
“This is your seat from now on.”
“No! I—”
“Shh.”
Camilla even silenced Lania’s mouth.
“Enjoy your meal.”
Pressing down on her shoulder as she tried to rise hastily from her seat, Camilla shook her head lightly. In the end, Lania had no choice but to keep her mouth shut.
Camilla regarded her in silence for a moment.
[I heard it clearly. Just moments ago, that woman’s maidservant said it. This seat is yours. And yet…!]
This was what the chef’s ghost, Perol, had been excitedly chattering about beside me.
‘Look at this.’
The maidservant recently assigned to Lania had clearly designated her seat, yet she had taken my seat instead. Only after the maidservant had completely removed her from the Dining Hall.
‘And then she acted as though she knew nothing about it?’
As if she had no idea whatsoever.
The moment I realized this, I immediately quieted Ravi and Ludvil.
I also stopped Lania from bursting into tears and offering apologies. I could roughly sense what scheme she was attempting.
I pictured in my mind exactly what Lania had been trying to do.
If Lania were crying and apologizing while Ravi, Ludvil, and I all pressed her together?
‘What if Father or others saw that scene?’
She would become nothing more than a greedy, ill-mannered stepdaughter who pressured the Duke’s own daughter for a single seat and caused all this commotion.
‘Rumors start from small things like this.’
She had already experienced the terror of rumors sufficiently in the world where she once lived.
In the entertainment industry, even spilling a little water you were holding could spawn rumors the next day that you had thrown water on someone else.
It was no different here. High society was much like the entertainment industry in its own way.
Camilla let out a quiet laugh to herself.
If Lania’s plan had succeeded, a rumor would have spread through high society by tomorrow.
A stepdaughter who pressured and mistreated the Duke’s own daughter!
…A rumor with such a title.
‘Of course, it might be overthinking.’
Camilla’s gaze turned back to Lania.
With her eyes wide open as she observed the situation, she appeared to anyone’s eyes as an innocent child who knew nothing.
But to Camilla’s eyes—those of a veteran actress—it was visible. Her expression had stiffened slightly, unlike moments before, as if she was displeased with this situation.
‘What exactly is this girl?’
Well, if I think about it simply, it could be seen as an action to find her own place.
After all, she might find whoever occupies the seat that should be hers absolutely unbearable.
“Hmm.”
For now, should I just watch and see?
In that moment, when her eyes met Lania’s, Camilla offered a smile more radiant than ever before. She savored the expression of hesitation that crossed Lania’s face at that smile.
* * *
“Camilla! I’m truly sorry!”
What is this now?
That afternoon, as Camilla rested comfortably in her room, she couldn’t hide her bewilderment at the sight of Lania who had come to find her.
“I really didn’t mean to….”
The moment she entered the room, her appearance—head bowed low, voice trembling with tears—was more than enough to irritate Camilla.
“What are you talking about?”
“I heard.”
“Heard what?”
What is she always hearing? Is she digging around for information about me?
“That things weren’t good between you and Father….”
“….”
“I heard you’ve been slowly recovering by making him snacks recently…. I’m sorry!”
Lania bowed her head deeply again.
“I didn’t know, and I took up that time….”
Tears were already streaming down her cheeks.
“I didn’t know about this morning’s meal either! That it was your seat!”
This time too, she clasped her hands tightly together as if appealing to her sincerity.
“I really want to get along with you, Camilla! Even though you’re not Father’s biological daughter….”
What?
“I have no intention of taking that seat from you.”
Wow, look at this?
“I’m sorry. I really… sob….”
Should I hit you once? So you won’t feel wronged.
Watching Lania shed tears with an expression that would make anyone think she’d been struck herself, Camilla let out a quiet laugh.
“Poor Camilla….”
Without bothering to wipe away her falling tears, Lania looked up at me.
“You must already be so anxious because of me….”
“….”
“I… I’ll speak to Father about it!”
“About what?”
“Don’t send Camilla away!”
She clenched her fists tightly.
“Even Father can’t refuse the request of his own daughter-”
“You do it.”
Unable to bear listening any longer, I cut off her words.
“…What?”
“You take this place.”
“What do you….”
Speaking with her now, I understood it clearly.
Why I remained so composed even after Lania, Duke Sorpel’s true daughter, appeared.
Why the word ‘taken away’ had bothered me so much.
“This position—you take it.”
It was almost laughable to say such things.
I had never possessed it in the first place.
I had never once thought of this position as mine.
So when I heard that his true daughter had appeared, I felt no particular emotion. How could I worry about losing a place I never had?
“I don’t have even the slightest desire to keep this position.”
I gently patted Lania’s shoulder as she stood there bewildered.
“If the rightful owner has returned, of course it should be given back. Isn’t that right?”
“That… that is….”
I lightly wiped away the tears clinging to the confused Lania’s face with a handkerchief.
Why was she so flustered? Did she think I was going to slap her?
‘The old Camilla would have.’
True daughter, true parents.
The moment I heard those words, not just her cheek but her hair would have been torn out. But I had no reason to do such things.
This position—you take it.
[Miss.]
Then the voice of the butler ghost Derin reached my ears.
[Outside….]
I moved toward the door and opened it. There stood a person with a stiffly set expression.
“Camilla.”
It was Duke Sorpel.
‘So it’s like this after all?’
The timing was remarkably convenient—just as it had been this morning in the Dining Hall.
Was Lania’s behavior merely coincidence? She wept and offered apologies precisely when Duke Sorpel appeared.
She spoke with such calculated gentleness, as though hoping I would lose my temper and strike her cheek.
“Father, what brings you here?”
“…Lania mentioned you asked her to have tea together.”
“Lania did?”
“Yes.”
Just as I suspected.
“Please, come in.”
“But just now—”
“Father.”
I cut off Duke Sorpel’s words and smiled as brightly as I could manage.

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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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