A fortune-telling princess Chapter 123

Chapter: Her Kingdom

‘What could you even expect from someone who didn’t even know the child’s age?’
It wasn’t like she was a doctor. There wasn’t much she could do for the child anyway.
‘Fine, let’s just not bother. Sleepwalking isn’t a life-threatening condition, is it?’
What’s the big deal about wandering around a bit at night?

“…”
…Damn it.

“I shouldn’t have gone for a walk last night.”
The hollow expression on the child’s face as he wandered aimlessly in the garden, the sight of his bare feet on the cold ground—it all kept gnawing at her mind.
But befriending this prickly little brat wasn’t going to be easy. She needed to get closer first if she was to say anything at all.

[Gyuu?]
Hearing her click her tongue repeatedly, King tilted his head curiously. As if to comfort her, he gently licked the back of her hand.
The maids standing behind her quickly covered their mouths to stifle their laughter. Dive, too, paused with a spoon in his hand, staring blankly at King.

“Hmm.”
Noticing their reactions, a peculiar smile briefly tugged at the corner of Camilla’s lips.

****

Rustle, rustle.
The sound of a pen nib scratching paper softly echoed in the library.
Dive sat alone in the grand library, reading books and jotting down notes.
He had been in the same position for over an hour, showing no signs of restlessness.

Plop.
“Eek!”
As Dive diligently continued his studies, he suddenly froze at an odd sensation on his foot.
Something small and alive was moving on top of it.

His face stiffened, his eyes filling with dread as he slowly looked down.
Was it a mouse? The creature he hated most in the world?

[Gyuu.]
“…!”
Dive’s eyes widened as he glanced at his feet.

A small creature was indeed sitting on his foot.
Thankfully, it wasn’t a mouse. It was the same mystical beast he’d seen in the dining room.

“King?”
Recalling the name Camilla had called the creature earlier, Dive hesitantly spoke.

[Gyuu!]
As if confirming its identity, King tapped Dive’s foot lightly with his paw.
Dive’s tense face slowly softened.

Glancing around to ensure no one was watching, Dive carefully reached out and picked up King.
The child’s eyes sparkled as he held the tiny, white creature in his hands.

Lick.
“Haha…!”
When King licked his hand, Dive couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh before quickly clamping his mouth shut. He had learned that silence was mandatory in the library.

“What are you doing here?”
[Gyuu?]
At Dive’s question, King tilted his head repeatedly as if he didn’t understand.
Dive’s lips slowly curled into a smile again.

“King?”
A voice suddenly interrupted from behind.

“There you are.”

It was Camilla.

At her appearance, the smile on Dive’s face vanished, replaced by his usual cold expression.

Swoosh.
Without saying a word, Dive extended King toward her.
However, his eyes lingered on King, reluctant to let him go.

[Gyuuu…]
King let out a pitiful whimper, his round eyes glistening with sadness as if asking, Are you really going to give me up?
Dive’s gaze wavered as if he couldn’t bear the sight.

“How curious.”
“…What is?”
Dive spoke to Camilla for the first time, his voice wary.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen King so attached to someone.”

“He doesn’t usually like people?”

“Not at all, except for my father and me. Usually, he just growls at everyone else.”

Dive’s eyes shifted back to King, now filled with curiosity.
Once again, King licked Dive’s hand. Dive’s expression unconsciously softened.

‘There it is.’
Camilla noticed this and a faint smile appeared on her face.
She silently praised King with her eyes.

Earlier, Camilla had spotted Dive in the library and given King a mission.

 

‘King.’

[Gyuu!]
‘Go charm him.’
[Gyuuuu?]
‘What do I mean by charm him?’
[Gyuu.]
‘Just do what you always do to me.’
[Gyugyu!]

King proudly raised his head as if to say he had perfectly completed his mission. Camilla gave him a slight nod in acknowledgment.

“Were you studying?”

At her words, the child flinched and hurriedly set King down on the floor. He quickly returned to his seat, picked up his pen, and sat upright.

“Why not take a break?”

“I have to memorize all of this today,” Dive said, shaking his head fervently.

Seeing his determination, Camilla subtly nudged King’s backside with her foot. King trotted over to Dive again, understanding her intent.

Tap, tap.
[Gyuu?]
King pawed lightly at Dive’s foot and let out a small cry, immediately drawing the child’s attention.

King lifted his head and locked eyes with Dive before laying his belly flat on the boy’s foot.

“Well… maybe just for a moment…”

In the end, Dive gave in and picked King up once more, holding him in his arms.

***

Camilla and Dive left the library for a short walk. Watching King darting about playfully, Dive burst into laughter repeatedly.

‘He laughs so easily.’
Camilla was a bit surprised by how quickly Dive had warmed up. Though he still hesitated when their eyes met, his expression no longer turned as rigid as before.

[It’s the first time I’ve seen Dive laugh so brightly!]

Sharuah, who had at some point joined them, exclaimed in admiration. Seeing Dive’s laughter seemed to bring her joy as well, as she giggled every time he smiled.

“He’s pretty cute.”

[Right, isn’t he?]

For a ten-year-old, Dive often seemed unusually mature, but now, playing with King, he looked just like any other child his age.

“Oh? This place…”
Dive suddenly came to a halt as he wandered the garden.

‘Could he remember?’
The spot he was now inspecting closely was the very place where Camilla had first spoken to Sharuah.

Standing exactly where he had been before, Dive glanced around. Camilla couldn’t help but wonder if the boy remembered the events of the previous night.

“What is it? Is there something here?”
Feigning ignorance, Camilla asked. Dive hesitated briefly before responding.

“Well…”
He raised his head.

“They say the stars look really pretty from here.”

“Stars?”

“They shine the brightest when the moon hangs on that tree,” he explained, pointing to a tree that lined up perfectly with the view from the bench.

“And…”
He trailed off for a moment, biting his lip.

“My mother… my mother loved stargazing here.”

[Oh, Dive…]
Sharuah’s eyes instantly turned red with emotion.

[He remembered that?]
Her voice trembled as she added,

[A maid who used to work here mentioned that once, in passing. She said I loved this spot.]

Though he had been very young at the time, Dive had remembered. Sharuah gazed at him with a look of newfound tenderness.

“King! Let’s go over there!”
Dive called out to King, then started running again, the mystical creature eagerly chasing after him.

Camilla and Sharuah followed silently, keeping a gentle watch over the boy.

****

“Huff… huff!”
As they left the garden and headed back toward his quarters, Dive’s pace quickened. His breaths grew heavier, but he didn’t slow down.

[Dive, you’ll fall if you’re not careful.]
Sharuah followed behind, voicing her concern. But the boy paid no attention, determined to press forward.

Eventually, Dive reached his quarters without slowing for even a moment.

Bang!
The door burst open.

The boy panted heavily, his breath hitching as he stood just inside the doorway. After a long moment, he lifted his head, only for his face to harden at the sight of Madam Sevine seated in a chair.

When their eyes met, his gaze trembled violently, and his head quickly bowed again.

“You’re thirty minutes late,” she said.

“I… I…”

“Late by thirty minutes for your lesson.”

“…I’m sorry.”

At last, Sevine rose from her seat and approached the boy.

“Yes, you should be sorry.”

Her voice softened, her tone low and measured, but the boy’s trembling grew even more pronounced.

“If you’ve done wrong, you must accept your punishment.”

[Sevine! Just let it go this once!]

Sharua appeared, placing herself between Sevine and Dive.

[He was happy for once—truly happy. He smiled, laughed… Please, just this once, let it slide!]

Her desperate cries went unheard, of course.

“Roll up your sleeve,” Sevine commanded.

[Sevine!]

The boy obeyed, lifting his sleeve with weak, trembling hands.

[Please… just this once, forgive him!]

His arm was already covered in scars—some old, faded into pale lines, and others fresh, still raw and angry.

Sharua sobbed quietly at the sight, but Sevine remained unmoved. Without hesitation, she raised the thin switch in her hand.

Swish! Crack!

The sharp sound echoed through the room, but no one reacted. It was a familiar occurrence, one that garnered no attention from the staff passing by.

Crack!

The boy’s delicate skin reddened and swelled almost instantly, but Sevine continued.

[My baby, my Dive…]

Only Sharua wept, her wails heart-wrenching.

“This pains me greatly, young master,” Sevine said at last, setting the switch aside. Her voice was as gentle and tender as if she had just been caressing him, not striking him.

“I do this because I care for you. You understand, don’t you?”

“…Yes.”

“You mustn’t be late again.”

“I won’t.”

“Good. Now go upstairs. Your tutor is waiting.”

“…Okay.”

“Here, let me fix your sleeve.”

She carefully pulled his sleeve back down, hiding the welts on his arm. Smiling warmly, she sent him upstairs.

[Sevine, you’re doing this for my son’s sake, right?]

“This is all for him,” Sevine replied, her voice unwavering.

[I trust you. We’re friends… after all.]

“I’m always on his side.”

[Yes. You’re always on Dive’s side. It’s all… all for him.]

Sharua wiped her tears hastily, forcing herself to believe Sevine’s words.

****

“The culprit’s been caught.”

Summoned by the Duke of Escra, Camilla found herself in his office. The moment she sat down, he delivered unexpected news.

“The ones who attacked me? Their backer?”

“Marquis Gaviel. Do you know him?”

She knew him all too well—that was the problem.

“He’s the one who tried to kill me?”

“Yes.”

“Unbelievable.”

She had suspected that the strange organization behind the fake Rania might have been involved. But the revelation that Gaviel, of all people, was the mastermind? It felt absurd.

Camilla’s lips curled in disbelief. Sure, she’d ruffled his feathers, but had she truly provoked him enough to warrant an attempt on her life?

“He’s dead,” the Duke added bluntly.

“What?”