A fortune-telling princess Chapter 125

Chapter :What the Child Was Looking For

“Punishment for Nanny Sevine will be carried out soon. To think she dared lay a hand on Master Dive—utterly unforgivable.”

For the first time, the usually cheerful and kind-eyed Count Althon’s gaze turned ice cold.

“Moreover, the money she embezzled over the years is staggering. She’ll face severe consequences for that alone.”

She had been siphoning off almost all the money allocated for Dive each month, using it as she pleased. With those funds, she had bribed other staff members to ensure her actions remained hidden.

“The staff under Master Dive’s care will also be punished.”

“Good. You’ve done well.”

The Duke of Escra gave a curt nod as he listened to Count Althon’s report. Yet, his expression remained uneasy.

“Stop glaring, would you?”

It wasn’t hard to see why. Someone had been silently boring holes into him with their gaze for some time now.

“You do realize this is all your fault, right?”

Camilla’s eyes were a mix of disdain and irritation as she fixed the Duke with a murderous glare.

“What did I do? I didn’t do anything!”

“Exactly—that’s the problem!”

The reason Sevine had been able to act as she pleased was, without a doubt, the Duke’s negligence.

He had left everything concerning Dive in her hands and paid no attention himself. The boy, isolated in a separate annex under the pretext of focusing on his studies, had become increasingly cut off from the world. That annex had turned into Sevine’s personal kingdom.

‘You really can’t judge someone by their appearance.’
A woman with such a seemingly kind face had been committing such heinous acts.

“And what about his arm? After seeing those bruises, how can you say this isn’t your responsibility?”

“You’re speaking informally to me…”

“Does that matter right now?”

“…It doesn’t.”

The Duke shot a pleading look at Count Althon, silently asking for help. The Count, however, merely smiled and turned his attention elsewhere.

“At the very least…”

Camilla paused, exhaling sharply as she struggled to rein in her emotions. She knew she was far more agitated than usual.

How could she not be?

She knew better than anyone what it felt like to live knowing your parents didn’t love you. She understood the weight of a child’s heart when every door to the world felt tightly shut.

“At the very least, I wish you could be a father to Dive.”

With that, Camilla stood and left the room.

Thud.

As the door shut behind her, silence filled the office for a moment.

“You really dote on your younger sibling, don’t you?”

It was Count Althon who broke the silence.

“Who does she take after to act so brashly?”

The Duke scowled as he recalled Camilla pointing her finger at him and yelling just moments ago. Shaking his head, he sighed softly.

“She’s just like Lord Kays.”

“Excuse me?”

“You saw her slapping Sevine, didn’t you? No one around dared step in. Her presence was overwhelming.”

Both the Duke and Count Althon had witnessed the scene. They had been passing near the library when they spotted Camilla rushing somewhere. Curious, they had followed her and ended up witnessing everything—Sevine’s tirade, the raised rod, and Camilla’s intervention.

They had intended to step in themselves but had been beaten to it by Camilla. Once she took over, they hadn’t been able to find an opening to intervene.

‘Someone very close to the boy.’

‘What?’

‘Think carefully about who I might be.’

When Camilla had left with Dive, neither the Duke nor the Count could do anything but stand there, dumbfounded.

“It seems she’s acknowledged Master Dive as her younger brother.”

Count Althon’s face was alight with admiration, clearly moved by her actions. Meanwhile, he clicked his tongue disapprovingly when he looked at the Duke.

“But it’s still ‘that man’ for you, isn’t it?”

“So what? It doesn’t matter.”

“Then, can I call you ‘that man’ too—”

“I’ve been too lenient with you lately, haven’t I?”

“Hahaha.”

“…”

“…I’ll get back to work.”

Sensing the Duke’s gaze growing colder by the second, Count Althon hurried back to his seat.

***

[I’m sorry… sniff…]

Camilla found Sharuah in the garden where they had first spoken. The ghost sat on a bench, sobbing.

[I’m such a fool.]

Seeing her crying figure, Camilla said nothing. What was the point? Sharuah already seemed to be blaming herself enough.

[I really thought it was for Dive’s sake. Sevine… she always said it was.]

Not a chance.

Camilla knew Sharuah must have realized by now that Sevine’s behavior wasn’t normal. From the start, the ghost had looked uneasy whenever she mentioned the nanny.

‘The woman who screamed at a child, blaming him for his mother’s death?’
No one could be naive enough to believe such a person was acting out of goodwill.

But Sharuah had likely convinced herself otherwise, unable to accept the truth. Admitting that Sevine was abusing Dive would have been too much for her to bear.

[Is Dive okay?]

Tears welled in her eyes as she glanced at Camilla, seeking reassurance. She had avoided Dive all day, unable to face him out of guilt and pain.

“He’s been sleeping all day.”

Dive had refused to return to his annex, so Camilla had brought him to her room. He seemed utterly exhausted, spending the entire day eating and sleeping. Each time he woke, he would check to see if Camilla was still there.

“Are you my sister?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Because of the way you and Count Althon act… and what you said to the nanny. Also… your eyes.”

Smart kid.

Camilla didn’t answer directly, only smiled. That was enough for Dive, who nodded in understanding.

“Sis.”

“Yes?”

“Hehe, sis!”

“Mm-hm.”

Camilla didn’t mind his repetition. Each time he called her, she responded, indulging his efforts to reconnect with someone he could trust.

And because it was adorable.

Every time Dive shyly called her “sis” with a bashful smile, Camilla found herself answering again and again.

Once he was sound asleep that evening, Camilla stepped outside.

[D-Dive!]

Sharuah suddenly stood, alarmed. Camilla turned to see Dive walking toward them.

‘His eyes are unfocused.’

The boy’s gaze was hazy—another sleepwalking episode.

“I thought this might stop once Sevine was gone…”

Dive wandered the garden, looking around as if searching for something.

Camilla suddenly remembered what Dive had told her before.

‘My mother loved stargazing here.’

‘Could it be…?’

Was this why he kept returning to the garden?

Camilla glanced at Sharuah, whose face was filled with regret.

“Sharuah,” she called softly.

[Yes?]

“Come closer.”

When Sharuah hesitated, Camilla sighed.

“Come on. Enter my body.”

[What?!]

Sharuah’s eyes widened in shock. Camilla sighed again, wondering if she was becoming an expert in possession.

“Dive’s looking for you.”

***

Where am I?

The world around him was hazy, blanketed in fog. No matter how far he walked, there was no one else in sight.

Am I alone again?

It was cold, dark, and terrifying.

Why am I always alone? I hate it…

My wrist hurts. It hurts so much.

Isn’t there anyone here? Anyone at all?

“Dive.”

Who’s there?

A gentle hand grasped his own, its warmth piercing the chill.

“Sweetheart.”

That warmth spread through his entire body as he was pulled into a comforting embrace. Only then did he realize…

“I’ve found it.”

What he had been searching for all this time.

“Dive.”

Camilla—or rather, Sharuah—whispered his name aloud for the first time, her heart swelling.

“My darling.”

Holding him close, her chest ached with bittersweet emotion.

She had never embraced him like this before, never even stroked his hair.

The boy squirmed in her arms before slowly raising his own to return her embrace.

“I’ve found it.”

Hearing his words, tears began to flow from Sharuah’s eyes.

****

“Dive.”

“Yes?”

“You don’t have to eat it if you don’t want to.”

Dive paused mid-bite, staring at the carrot he had been forcing himself to eat.

‘What was that woman thinking?’

Camilla had noticed that Dive’s plate always seemed to have an abundance of carrots. Clearly, Sevine had lied to the chef, saying the boy liked them.

Had she found satisfaction in forcing the boy to follow her whims?

Recalling Sevine’s smug smile during one of Dive’s meals, Camilla silently cursed her.

“Really, you don’t have to eat them.”

“R-really?”

“Give them to your father.”

“What?”

“Your dad loves carrots. Give them all to him.”

Dive turned to the Duke, who gave Camilla a bewildered look.

‘Since when do I like carrots?’

Camilla’s pointed stare silenced his protests. Sighing, the Duke slid his plate toward Dive, resigned.