A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 86

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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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‘These wretches!’
No, if you dislike something, just say so! Why force yourself to eat it?
“Sigh.”
Camilla’s expression turned utterly exasperated.
* * *
Knock, knock.
“Older Brother.”
As I cracked open the door and stepped inside, I found Ludvil drying his wet hair with a towel.
He had just finished training and emerged from his bath moments ago.
“May I come in?”
“Yeah.”
He rose from his seat and fully opened the half-ajar door for me.
“….”
Then his gaze naturally drifted toward the plate I held. As always, I had prepared a snack for him.
But….
“Looks delicious, doesn’t it?”
What captured Ludvil’s eyes was a very dark lump. Though he hadn’t even tasted it yet, the rich chocolate aroma stimulated his nose directly.
“Today I’ve prepared a very sweet chocolate cake for you. I added plenty of chocolate syrup just for Older Brother.”
“…I see.”
“And I’ve prepared a banana smoothie with loads of sugar as the beverage. Banana and chocolate pair surprisingly well together, you know.”
His composure wavered.
Watching that usually impassive man’s eyes flicker for an instant, I felt laughter bubble up inside me.
So Duke Sefra had been right after all. Ludvil also disliked sweet foods… and it was actually true.
‘How did I not notice?’
Had he been devouring the snacks so quickly all this time not because they were delicious, but out of sheer determination to finish something he disliked?
“Please enjoy.”
“…Yeah.”
As he displayed a faintly wavering gaze and reached for his fork as usual to eat the cake, I gave a subtle shake of my head as if to say I wouldn’t allow it.
“Have this instead.”
I pulled the chocolate cake toward myself and handed him a small pudding plate that had been hidden behind the imposing presence of the large cake.
“It’s a black tea pudding. It has no sweetness at all, but it has quite a refined, slightly bitter flavor.”
“….”
“What is it? Do you prefer the chocolate cake? Should I switch it back for you?”
“No.”
His answer came faster than ever before.
I suppressed my smile as much as possible and tasted the chocolate cake. Since I didn’t particularly dislike sweet foods, it suited my palate quite well.
Of course, the sweetness was so overwhelming that even I declined more than one slice.
Knock, knock.
At that moment, a knock sounded and the door opened cautiously.
“Um….”
It was Lania.
“Oh! Camilla! You’re here.”
Upon seeing Camilla, she startled with a surprised expression.
“I didn’t realize you’d returned. I apologize.”
Camilla regarded her, then cast her gaze toward the back of the room.
There was another person who had entered the room following Lania—the phantom chef, Perol.
[Didn’t realize? I watched you sneak out of the Kitchen the whole time. And I already know you made snacks and went to Ludvil with them.]
“I was discussing magic with Ravi and lost track of time.”
“Magic?”
“Yes! I’ve been learning magic from Ravi lately! I can’t tell you how kind he is. He keeps praising me, saying I have talent.”
Ravi? Of all people, that Ravi was being kind?
I barely suppressed a laugh that threatened to escape. Did she expect me to feel jealous?
If so, she’d chosen the wrong target. The Ravi I knew was absolutely not the type to openly dispense kindness.
‘He’s the sort who can’t naturally bring himself to say anything that might give someone goosebumps.’
Even if you gave him a gift, he’d claim he found it on the way. So what? Showering praise about having talent?
“What brings you here?”
“Ah! I thought you might be hungry after training, so I prepared something.”
In Lania’s hands was a small plate. Upon it sat a snack that appeared to be homemade.
It was a pancake, still warm with steam rising from its freshly baked surface.
[The moment you mentioned making snacks, she immediately prepared that.]
“It tastes best while it’s warm.”
Lania casually pushed aside the plate I had brought and set her own creation in its place.
“I guarantee the taste! Jelard helped me make it.”
I rose from my seat immediately. I had no intention of intruding on their time together.
Though it bothered me to see her scheming from behind, I had no desire to damage family relationships in the process.
I simply wouldn’t allow this moment to proceed smoothly—but why would I ruin their bond?
Besides….
‘He’s her real older brother.’
Might she not feel the same emotions toward him that I do?
A being unknown her entire life, yet one whose very blood connection made her mind waver….
“I’ll take my leave now.”
“I’ll see you out.”
“Pardon?”
Yet Ludvil rose from his seat as well.
‘Wait, if you escort me out now, what are you doing?’
Lania, left awkwardly alone at the table, had no choice but to rise as well, hesitantly.
“It tastes best while it’s warm….”
She repeated the same words with sad eyes, like an abandoned puppy.
“You don’t need to go through the trouble of making things like this anymore.”
Ludvil regarded her in silent contemplation for a moment before speaking quietly.
“Because Camilla makes it for me.”
With those words, he calmly turned to leave.
The smile vanished entirely from Lania’s face as she watched Ludvil depart with Camilla toward the outside.
Chapter. Addiction
“Good day, Sera Priestess.”
“Oh! Welcome, Lania.”
Lania stepped into the small Temple located at the edge of the Capital and offered a warm greeting.
The one called Sera Priestess rose from her seat with a bright smile and approached her with eager strides.
“I heard the news. You found your father, didn’t you?”
“Yes!”
“How wonderful. It’s truly the blessing of Midrad.”
“Thank you.”
“Daniel is waiting for you as well.”
“Yes, I came right after receiving word.”
“Daniel was overjoyed too—hearing that you’ve found family.”
“I’m so happy as well.”
“Just go through that way.”
“Yes.”
Lania bowed respectfully and headed toward the place Sera Priestess had indicated—a space where the faithful confessed their sins and worries privately to the clergy.
“Daniel.”
“You’ve come.”
As she opened the door and stepped inside, a small dimly lit chamber materialized before her, illuminated by only a faint flame.
A man in his early thirties, dressed in priestly robes, sat within.
“Fortunately, you weren’t cast out of your home.”
“Of course not.”
At Lania’s confident response, Daniel shook his head lightly.
“But it seems your progress is slower than expected.”
“That is…”
“Tsk.”
He clicked his tongue sharply.
“Don’t you know that The Cult tolerates no excuses?”
“…I apologize.”
“I told you. How important the role you’ve been given is.”
“…I understand.”
“Do you truly?”
Rising from his seat, he drew closer to Lania, then placed his hand upon her shoulder and lowered his voice further.
“I entrusted myself to you because my expectations were that great.”
“…Yes.”
The shoulder beneath his hand trembled slightly.
“I hear you haven’t even been properly recognized as a daughter yet.”
“Duke Sorpel is far more suspicious than I anticipated…”
“Are you making excuses again?”
Lania quickly closed her mouth.
“Time is not on our side.”
Daniel’s sigh-laden voice pierced sharply into Lania’s ears.
“You must establish your position before Shinsu awakens properly. Do not forget that this is the only opportunity to plant someone from The Cult within the Guardian Family.”
“I will keep it in mind.”
Lania nodded vigorously as if she understood perfectly. Then, watching his expression carefully, she continued hesitantly.
“But I think there needs to be some kind of catalyst.”
“A catalyst, you say?”
“Yes, an opportunity that would allow him to acknowledge me as his daughter.”
“Hmm…”
Daniel, who had fallen into thought for a moment, soon nodded.
“We shall handle that. I will create a stage where you can fully demonstrate your abilities.”
“Thank you!”
“We received word from above not long ago.”
“From… above?”
“Alberto is showing considerable interest.”
Lania’s complexion turned deathly pale in an instant. She trembled and instinctively bowed her head deeply.
As if Alberto himself stood before her eyes, she could not easily raise her head.
Pleased by her reaction, a smile deepened at the corners of Daniel’s mouth.
“I too have great expectations.”
“Y-yes, I will keep it in mind.”
Lania quickly rose from her seat and made one final request.
“First, I will bring the easiest one to my side.”
“The easiest one…”
“Could we receive more of the magical texts that The Cult possesses?”
“Understood.”
* * *
“Wow, it really is enormous.”
Even as I watched Lania continuously exclaim in wonder since entering the Academy, I said nothing in particular.
“To think I can attend a place like this too! I’m so happy!”
As of today, she had also begun attending the Academy.
“Yes, I’m glad you’re pleased.”
Currently, I was guiding her to the building where the Magic Department was located, since that was the department she had chosen upon enrolling at the Academy.
“It’s this way.”
“Ah, yes!”
Lania, who had been constantly looking around, quickly approached my side.
“Oh my.”
“Look over there.”
“Could it be…?”
“That’s right! Isn’t that the person we saw at the Party Venue last time?”
“Really?”
As expected, countless gazes converged upon me throughout my walk. Many of those who had attended that party recognized my face.
“There are so many people.”
Lania beamed at the onlookers with her characteristic radiant smile, delighting in their attention. The more she smiled, the greater their interest became.
“Here it is.”
“Ah! This is the place.”
“Then I’ll take my leave.”
Upon arriving at the Magic Department building moments later, Camilla turned to depart at once.
“Are you leaving?”
“Yes.”
My role ended here, after all.
Just as I was about to turn away.
“Camilla?”
I encountered someone.

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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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