A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 88

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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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“Who decided we should come here?”
“I did!”
So bright and cheerful that I couldn’t even bring myself to be angry.
‘Sigh.’
Upon arriving at the valley not far from the Orphanage, Camilla let out a long breath.
The water was clear and sunlight streamed down beautifully. The valley had both deep and shallow sections, making it perfect for children to play in the water.
Contrary to what one might expect from a mountain location, there were many flat areas scattered about, ideal for children to run and play—but the problem was….
‘Why did it have to be Water Ghosts?’
Water Ghosts were peeking out from the fairly deep part of the valley, and they were far too visible to her eyes.
Three of them, no less.
‘Is this a suicide hotspot?’
Otherwise, why were there so many Water Ghosts here?
Or was there some dangerous location where people died easily? Was it even safe to let the children play here?
“Sigh.”
Compared to other spirits, Water Ghosts harbored deep resentment and possessed a mischievous nature. While not quite malevolent spirits, they were the type of ghosts that caused direct harm to the living.
Under normal circumstances, I would have simply pretended not to notice. I certainly wouldn’t have acknowledged seeing them, but….
“Zeno, Derin.”
[Yes, Miss.]
[Those things are bothering you, aren’t they?]
With the children here now, I couldn’t simply ignore such a potential danger.
“Take care of them.”
The moment Camilla finished speaking, Zeno and Derin swiftly moved toward where the Water Ghosts were.
Even among spirits, there were hierarchies. To those dwelling in water like malevolent creatures, beings like Zeno and Derin were genuinely terrifying.
They could fully exercise the power they possessed in life against such spirits.
[Screeeech! Let go! This is my place! My space! What I do here is none of your business!]
Two of the Water Ghosts fled immediately upon Zeno and Derin’s approach. However, one female spirit in her early thirties shrieked defiantly in resistance.
Still, she alone couldn’t withstand the strength of Zeno and Derin. With both arms seized, she was hoisted up and dragged toward the forest.
[What are you! What is this!]
“Be quiet. Keep it down.”
Camilla also slipped quietly in that direction to avoid the gaze of others.
[…! You, you! Can you see me?]
“So what if I can?”
[This is impossible! How can a living person see us!]
“Enough.”
Camilla cut off her words immediately.
“If you keep making noise, I’ll summon the Grim Reaper.”
[…!]
“I know one Grim Reaper, you see.”
I’ve helped them before, so using this much should be acceptable.
Apparently, the Grim Reaper was frightening enough—the Water Ghost finally fell silent.
“I’m sorry for taking up that space, but I was worried the children might play pranks on you.”
[…So I just can’t touch the children?]
“You can’t touch the adults either.”
[….]
“If you promise to behave quietly, I’ll let you go.”
Toward the Water Ghost, who couldn’t answer easily, I issued one final warning.
“Do you see that dark-skinned man over there?”
I could see Arsian, whose gaze had been fixed in my direction ever since I headed toward the forest.
His eyes were already gleaming with a murderous intensity, as if he’d already sensed the Water Ghost’s presence.
“He can see you just like I can. But that guy has such a terrible personality that if you get caught by him, you’ll be annihilated on the spot.”
[…!]
“The number of spirits that have vanished after being caught by him is beyond counting.”
The Water Ghost’s complexion grew even paler as she turned her gaze toward Arsian. It was somewhat amusing how her already pallid blue complexion became even more ashen.
[…I understand.]
I sent a look to Zeno and Derin to release her. Only then did the two spirits let go of the Water Ghost’s arms.
“I’ll keep watching you.”
[I said I understand!]
Pouting, the Water Ghost slipped back into the valley waters.
“What was that?”
Arsian, who had been observing the entire situation from a distance, approached and continued to furrow his brow.
I couldn’t say for certain, but he had clearly witnessed something emerge from the water, stand beside me, and then slip back into the water.
“A Water Ghost.”
“A Water Ghost?”
“We’ll need to make sure the children don’t go near that area.”
Though I had received her promise, I remained uneasy. Unlike other Water Ghosts, this one seemed to have quite the temperament and didn’t appear particularly frightened of us.
[Don’t worry. I’ll keep a close watch.]
[Me too.]
Listening to Derin and Zeno’s words, I nodded lightly.
With those two around, controlling one Water Ghost like that would be entirely manageable.
“Kyaa!”
“It’s so cold!”
“Rio, try going over there!”
“Sister! There are fish here!”
By now, most of the children had waded into the water and were playing.
The younger children played in the shallows, while the older ones who were confident swimmers ventured into the deeper areas.
Laila and Petro, along with the other club members, had already entered the water and were joyfully playing with the children.
“Aren’t you going in?”
“I don’t like water. Especially cold water like that—absolutely not—”
Splash!
“….”
A cascade of water struck Camilla, and her gaze slowly descended to take in the sight below.
“Witch Sister!”
“Play with us!”
The children had initiated a water fight against her.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t really care for this sort of water play—”
Splash!
…So they wanted war?
Without hesitation, I kicked off my shoes and waded into the water up to my knees. My skirt hem became soaked, but I paid it no mind.
“You’re all finished.”
“Kyaaaa!”
What followed was an all-out battle with the children.
“This is exhilarating, truly exhilarating.”
So she claimed to dislike water play.
Watching Camilla throw herself entirely into genuine combat with the children, Arsian couldn’t help but let out an amused chuckle.
* * *
“…You look like a drowned rat.”
Though less than an hour had passed, it was more than sufficient time for Camilla to be thoroughly drenched.
Having endured a relentless barrage of water from the children, she emerged completely soaked from head to toe.
“Let me be clear—I despise cold water.”
Her lips had turned pale blue, and she trembled visibly. At the sight, Arsian clicked his tongue softly.
“One moment.”
Seeing her condition, Petro hurried to fetch a dry towel. But Arsian’s hand moved faster.
Whoosh—
With a gentle wave of his hand, light flowed from his fingertips and instantly enveloped her. The moisture clinging to Camilla’s body vanished.
“Oh….”
Camilla’s eyes sparkled with genuine admiration. She found herself appreciating anew just how useful this fellow truly was.
“You fought those little ones with everything you had.”
“Water play knows no age.”
It was truly warfare. And the outcome….
“Damn it.”
I had suffered a complete defeat.
There was no way to withstand those tiny creatures swarming me in unison. In the end, I had no choice but to cry out my surrender and make a dignified retreat.
“Sigh….”
Arsian and Petro, watching Camilla’s genuine indignation with bewilderment, finally burst into laughter simultaneously.
“Your hair is a mess.”
Arsian carefully smoothed down her disheveled hair.
“It certainly is.”
Camilla let out an amused laugh.
“We won!”
“Sister surrendered!”
“Next time, be on my team, big sister!”
“Me too!”
The children beamed at me with radiant smiles. The feeling was strange. Had I ever played like this before?
‘No.’
Never. Not once.
Whether as a child or as an adult, I had never played so carelessly, so freely.
Had anyone ever smiled at me with such pure, unblemished joy? That too, never.
‘It’s not so bad.’
As I watched the children wave their hands at me and call out to play again, I found myself swept up in an indescribable feeling.
“…Huh?”
[Camilla!]
But then someone rushed toward me rapidly.
‘Perol?’
It was Perol, the cook ghost. I couldn’t fathom why he had suddenly appeared here, especially after he said he would remain at the Sorpel Household and didn’t follow me.
[Perol, what brings you here?]
Zeno and Derin, who had spotted Perol, hurried over as well.
[Something’s happened at the Sorpel Household!]
[Something? What is it?]
Seeing Perol’s hardened expression, Derin’s face grew taut as well. He sensed that something terrible had occurred.
[The Duke has collapsed!]
* * *
“It’s poison.”
“That’s impossible!”
Rube, the butler, shook his head vehemently at the Healer’s words.
Poison was the very thing the Sorpel Family guarded against most vigilantly. This was especially true after the incident involving Hersel, the previous head of the family, which had nearly severed Shinsu’s life force.
All tableware was enchanted with poison-detection magic, and the family heads had built up tolerance to poison since childhood by consuming minute quantities.
How could he believe it? That the Duke of the Sorpel Family had been poisoned!
He had collapsed suddenly after finishing a meal with Lania and drinking tea.
Thanks to his tolerance, he hadn’t immediately coughed up blood or lost his life, but he had been unconscious for over an hour now.
“What type of poison?”
“That is…”
“You don’t know?”
“My apologies.”
“The poison has no distinctive characteristics.”
“It’s certain that he was poisoned… but we have no idea what poison it is. This is a poison we’ve never encountered before.”
They had summoned every poison specialist within the Capital, along with the family’s own Healer, yet all of them could only shake their heads.
“Father!”
Ravi and Ludvil, who had rushed over upon receiving urgent notice, grew rigid at the Healer’s words.
Was there truly no solution?
“Um…”
As despair began to grip everyone more deeply, there was one person who spoke up quietly—Lania.
Lania, who had been crying with her hands clasped tightly together the entire time the Healers examined Duke Sorpel, cried out desperately.
“Could I try something?”
“What?”
“You know I’m skilled in healing magic.”
“But….”
“The detoxification magic I know—”
Thud!
At that moment, the door burst open and someone rushed in.
“…Camilla.”
The figure breathing heavily was Camilla.
Arsian stood beside her. He was the one who had cast the teleportation magic to bring them here from the Valley.
“Poison?”
At her question, everyone nodded gravely.
Tap.
Camilla quickly approached Duke Sorpel and opened the box she was holding.
“What is that?”
“An antidote.”
“What?”
At Ravi’s question, Camilla answered simply. But the Healers’ faces changed drastically upon hearing her words.
“Wait, Miss Camilla! If you use just any medicine without knowing what kind of poison it is—”
“You mustn’t use it recklessly!”
“The poison could spread further!”
I knew. I understood better than anyone how reckless what I was about to do truly was.
“How much longer will it take to identify the poison? And then to manufacture an antidote? Can Father endure until then?”
“That is… we are doing our best—!”
“Words won’t save him. I could say the same thing.”
But—
“If you want to stop me, then offer an alternative solution to this situation.”
I could see no other way forward.
“If you’re just going to keep dancing around asking what to do, then shut your mouths.”
At my cold retort about whether they performed treatment with their words, the Healers hung their heads in dejection.

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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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