A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 85

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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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“Where is Camilla?”
“She has gone out.”
“Again?”
At Rube’s words, Ravi’s brow furrowed. Camilla’s outings had become remarkably frequent of late.
There was a time when she would barely leave her room even if I begged her to go out, yet nowadays she vanishes outside at the slightest provocation.
‘Is it because of her?’
Ever since Lania arrived at the house, Camilla’s frequent departures had been gnawing at me.
I wondered if that foolish girl was suffering silently again in her own way.
“Shall I prepare dinner?”
“Yes.”
Now that I thought about it, I hadn’t properly eaten a single meal all day. Through the window, the sunset was already painting the sky.
“Did you come looking for me on purpose?”
This was the first time Rube had ever sought me out in my Research Laboratory. Ravi regarded him with a look of genuine surprise as this realization dawned.
The butler Rube was not the type to fuss over someone other than his master, Duke Sorpel.
“Miss Camilla made a request of me.”
“Camilla did?”
“She said if you did not emerge by evening, I should come find you. She instructed me to ensure you eat and to coax you out of the Research Laboratory.”
“What?”
“Get some fresh air, you fool! If you stay cooped up like this, you’ll grow mold all over yourself, and I won’t take responsibility for it!”
“…!”
“Those were her words as well, which I was asked to convey.”
…There was really no need to do an impression.
Ravi stared at butler Rube with a bewildered expression for a moment, then rose from his seat with a hollow laugh.
“I’m not a child….”
Yet the feeling was not unpleasant.
“Then I shall prepare the meal.”
“I appreciate it.”
Watching Rube depart toward the kitchen, I finished organizing the books I had been reading and slowly made my way out.
“Hmm?”
As I walked, stretching my stiff limbs, I paused mid-step. I had spotted someone approaching from the opposite direction.
“Oh! Hello!”
It was Lania. Upon seeing me, she approached with a radiant smile, her pace quickening slightly.
But I intended to simply pass her by. I had no particular desire to engage in conversation.
I had no reason to dislike her, but neither did I feel compelled to grow closer to her.
Thud.
Yet in that moment, I noticed something falling to the floor, and my gaze naturally drifted downward.
“…!”
My eyes widened.
“That book…!”
My eyes could not easily leave the book that Lania hastily retrieved from the ground.
“Is that yours?”
“Pardon? This? Oh, yes.”
Lania answered with a slightly flustered voice, nodding her head earnestly.
“Someone I know gave it to me.”
“A grimoire?”
It was a tome authored by a sorcerer who had once made a name for himself across the Continent ages ago.
Ravi had long been searching for it himself, but his efforts had yielded nothing but disappointment—and yet here was Lania, holding the very book in her hands!
“I happen to have quite an interest in magic.”
“Magic?”
“Yes!”
“Can you cast spells?”
“Only a little.”
Lania, beaming with a radiant smile, suddenly channeled her mana.
A small shard of ice materialized in her palm, only to shatter with a crisp sound and dissolve into nothing.
“Magic at this level is still quite elementary. My mana is specialized in healing, you see.”
How had I not noticed before? That faint aura of mana emanating from her body.
‘I suppose…’
I had never truly looked at her properly until now.
“Have you seen this book?”
“…No.”
“Oh! Would you like to borrow it?”
“Can I?”
“Of course!”
Lania was genuinely delighted, even clapping her hands in joy.
* * *
“Take this.”
“What is this?”
Camilla, who had returned from the Trading Company and was resting in her room, received a visit from Duke Sorpel.
He handed her a small box he had brought.
“I thought it would suit you well.”
Camilla immediately accepted the box and opened it.
“This is…”
Upon seeing what lay inside, Camilla could not help but offer an awkward smile. It was rare for her composure to slip like this.
“It’s said to be fashionable these days.”
What he had brought was a mana-infused pendant sold at the Ghost Merchant Guild—the very Trading Company she herself operated.
“Everyone is said to have one of these nowadays.”
“So I’ve heard.”
No one knew this better than I did. I had just checked the sales figures moments ago.
My smile grew even more strained.
“Why? Don’t you like it?”
“No, I quite like it.”
Control your expression! Control your expression!
“It seems like such an expensive gift….”
“Expensive? Can’t a father give his daughter at least this much?”
Camilla fastened the necklace, its blue mana stone exquisitely carved, around her neck. The moment she clasped it, her already pale skin seemed to gleam with an almost luminous sheen.
“It’s beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
Duke Sorpel’s eyes gazing upon Camilla brimmed with contentment. Yet that warmth soon faded as the corners of his eyes gradually drooped.
“I’m sorry.”
Ever since I overheard Lania’s voice in my room, he had been subtly attending to my mood.
Perhaps this necklace gift was also meant to lift my spirits?
‘Not a bad move.’
I don’t know exactly what Lania’s objective is, but judging from her actions so far, she clearly wants to drive me out.
‘And it seems she wants to remain the good, pitiable one while casting me as the wicked woman who torments her true daughter and driving me away….’
So far, nothing has gone according to her plan. Duke Sorpel has only grown more sympathetic toward me because of her schemes.
Since I’ve already started, why not add one more move?
“Father.”
“Yes?”
Camilla carefully touched the necklace at her throat. Then she wore a smile more pitiful and bitter than ever before.
“Shouldn’t Lania be the one to receive something like this?”
“What?”
As expected, Duke Sorpel’s expression immediately turned pained.
“How could I possibly dare, with Lania here….”
“Camilla!”
Duke Sorpel declared firmly.
“I bought this for you. How dare you! Why would you use such a word?”
“But….”
“I’ll buy something separately for that child later. Don’t concern yourself with such things.”
“I’m sorry, Father.”
“Why are you apologizing?”
“Because I feel so terrible toward Lania….”
Duke Sorpel gently patted my shoulder in comfort. Toward him, I offered a pitiful smile.
Let me say it once more—I have no lingering attachment to this place.
‘But….’
That doesn’t mean I’m willing to simply hand it over.
If Lania keeps trying to trip me up, then even if I fall, I won’t fall alone.
‘I’ve always had a vindictive streak.’
I’ll cling to her desperately and drag her down with me.
“By the way, that Trading Company’s name is rather odd.”
“Yes?”
Duke Sorpel shifted the conversation as if to change the atmosphere.
“The Ghost Merchant Guild? Tsk. It seems he handed over the Trading Company to quite the peculiar fellow.”
Camilla’s smile became strained.
‘Is that name really so strange?’
Damn it.
“And to think he’d hand over such a profitable business to someone else.”
Watching my father continually express bewilderment at Duke Sefra’s decision, I found myself unable to offer any agreement whatsoever.
‘I need to tell him as soon as possible.’
I couldn’t continue hiding the fact that I was the owner of the Ghost Merchant Guild from Duke Sorpel.
With the quantity of mana stones being mined increasing steadily, even Duke Sefra would find it impossible to keep deceiving Duke Sorpel and Black Shadow indefinitely.
For now, Duke Sefra was using all his power to keep it concealed, but….
‘Wait?’
I suddenly realized something.
‘I’m receiving an enormous amount of help.’
He created new business facilities for mana stone purification, and on top of that, he’s maintaining my secrecy.
As I recalled one by one all the assistance I’d received from Duke Sefra, I found myself shaking my head at my own shamelessness.
* * *
“What brings you here?”
Duke Sefra regarded Camilla, who had sought him out without prior notice, with a somewhat puzzled expression.
“I wanted to prove that I still possess a modicum of conscience.”
“…Conscience?”
“Please accept this.”
“…?”
“It’s my conscience.”
Camilla withdrew an array of snacks from the basket she’d prepared and spread them across the table.
These were foods she’d prepared since morning with her own hands. Though she’d received help from Perol, the chef spirit, she had made everything herself.
“This is….”
Observing the table laden with food, Duke Sefra’s expression became peculiar.
“Sweet things, I see.”
The Study was instantly filled with the aroma of sweetness.
“I made them myself.”
“Yourself?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm.”
Duke Sefra’s gaze returned to the sweet desserts.
“Would it be alright if I distributed these to others?”
“You don’t like desserts?”
“I don’t particularly enjoy them.”
“Ah, then give them to Arsian.”
“…Arsian?”
“Yes, he seems to enjoy things like this.”
While Laila’s previous offerings had gone untouched, he devoured every single thing I brought without fail.
“He’s rather particular about his tastes, but he always eats well when it comes from our home.”
Duke Sefra’s expression grew even more peculiar. The corners of his mouth lifted as if he’d heard something terribly amusing.
“So the boy ate well.”
“…? Yes.”
Camilla tilted her head as she answered. Had I just said something strange?
“He dislikes them.”
“Pardon?”
“Sweet foods like these—he finds them absolutely dreadful. Even more so than I do.”
“…Who? Arsian?”
“He barely eats fruit because of the sweetness.”
…But he ate so well. Tremendously!
“But then why….”
“Who knows.”
Duke Sefra seemed to know something, but merely held a faint smile for a moment.
“Arsian aside, both Petro and Ludvil don’t care much for sweet foods either. The three boys have similar tastes in food.”
“Ah, so those two don’t like them either…?”
Wait, wait!
“Older Brother Ludvil doesn’t like sweet foods either?”
“He’s been that way since childhood.”
That can’t be right.
Then who was the person who always cleaned his plate of every snack I made? Someone else?
Pudding, cake—Ludvil, who ate so cleanly there was barely a dish to wash?

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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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