A fortune-telling princess Chapter 126

At first, Dive hesitated, unsure of what to do, but when Camilla nodded encouragingly, he began to pick out all the carrots and place them on the Duke of Escra’s plate.

Only then did the boy’s face brighten as he started eating his food with visible enjoyment.

[Thank you.]

Sharuah, watching the scene from the side, expressed her gratitude to Camilla. The ghost’s face also seemed more relaxed than it had been before.

After that night when Sharuah had temporarily entered Camilla’s body and directly embraced Dive, the boy’s sleepwalking episodes completely stopped.

It seemed that what Dive had been searching for all along was his mother.

Of course, there were likely multiple reasons for his symptoms disappearing—his living situation had changed, and the oppressive presence of Sevine was gone.

But most importantly, it was likely the warmth of that embrace from Sharuah that caused such a profound change.

‘Although I paid the price with days of misery.’

Once again, Camilla had struggled with the aftereffects of possession. The cold that gripped her body refused to fade, leaving her bedridden for days.

“Sister, are you feeling better now?”

“Yes.”

“That’s a relief.”

Being sick in an unfamiliar place was one of the most miserable experiences. Yet ironically, the one who comforted her during her loneliness was none other than Dive.

The boy had practically worn down the threshold of her room, constantly checking in on her.

[Gyuu!]

And King had stayed by her side as well.

Watching the boy and the mystical beast play together, Camilla found she had little time to feel lonely.

Meanwhile…

“What’s with that look?”

“What look?”

“You were glaring.”

“This is just how my eyes are.”

That man—Duke Escra—hadn’t visited even once while she was sick.

‘Not that I was expecting him.’

Camilla shot him one last glare before setting down her fork and standing.

“I’ll be going first.”

“Me too! I’m done eating!” Dive quickly followed her, leaving the dining room together.

Now, only the Duke and Count Althon remained at the table.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

The Duke, who had been stabbing the carrots on his plate with a knife, furrowed his brow at Count Althon.

The Count was watching him with a mix of exasperation and pity.

“I told you, didn’t I? Instead of harassing the healers you sent to check on her, you should’ve just visited her yourself.”

The Duke of Escra had been more concerned than anyone else when he learned Camilla was sick. While he maintained a cold façade, he had spent hours rereading the same page of his documents, waiting for news from the healers.

Yet in front of Camilla, he acted tough. Watching him from the sidelines was utterly frustrating.

“She doesn’t like it.”

“Pardon?”

“She doesn’t like me being around.”

With that, the Duke stood and left the table.

“Also, tell the chef that if carrots show up on the table again, there will be consequences.”

Leaving behind that petty remark, he exited the dining room.

Count Althon sighed, shaking his head lightly.

***

“Ugh!”

With a short groan, a man fell to the ground.

Arsion wiped the blood off his sword, glancing indifferently at the fallen man. Around him, groaning bodies littered the floor—none would be getting up anytime soon.

He stood in one of the many branches of the Kan organization.

Even though the mastermind had already been dealt with, Arsion hadn’t stopped dismantling the group. For him, it wasn’t about the mastermind; anyone who had dared target Camilla would face his wrath.

As his eyes scanned the area, they settled on a shadowed corner, and a low curse escaped his lips.

“Come out while I’m still asking nicely.”

At his words, a figure slowly stepped out from the darkness, wearing a black mask that covered half his face. The masked man clicked his tongue in mock regret as he surveyed the fallen bodies around him.

“This isn’t something that used to happen.”

The man sighed and spoke to Arsion.

“I even took care of the mastermind for you, but it seems it wasn’t enough.”

“Are you connected to Khn?”

“What if I am?”

A faint smile appeared on the man’s lips. Arsion, however, showed no reaction, simply raising his sword.

“Then I have nothing more to say.”

“Just as the rumors say—no mercy for anyone. Let me ask you one thing.”

The man stepped back as Arsion moved, his voice quickening.

“Why are you continuing this? Even the Sorpel family has stopped.”

“I don’t have a habit of chatting with the soon-to-be-dead.”

“Is it because of her?”

The mention of Camilla sharpened Arsion’s aura, while the man’s smile deepened.

“If you stop now, I’ll give you some information.”

“I said I’m not here to talk.”

“It’s about her.”

Arsion paused for the briefest moment. But that hesitation vanished in an instant as his aura grew even more menacing.

“Don’t you dare speak her name.”

He had no intention of hearing anything about her from anyone else. If there was something he needed to know, he would hear it directly from her.

“You’re impossible.”

The masked man clicked his tongue and suddenly threw a dagger at Arsion.

Dodging easily, Arsion sighed as the man activated a teleportation stone and vanished.

“Who the hell was that?”

He considered pursuing the faint trail of magic but dismissed the thought as dawn broke.

“It’s time to head back.”

Rio would be waking soon, and Dive’s breakfast time was approaching.

After deciding to live with Rio, Arsion had made a promise to Camilla: he would never let Rio eat alone. And he hadn’t broken that promise once.

Whoosh!

Arsion cast a teleportation spell, disappearing instantly.

***

“King! Fetch!”

Dive threw a small ball with all his might.

As the ball sailed into the garden, King glanced at Camilla as if to ask, Do I really have to do this?

When Camilla nodded, King let out a reluctant sigh before dashing after the ball. He quickly retrieved it and dropped it at Dive’s feet.

“Good boy!”

Watching Dive treat King like a puppy, Camilla chuckled softly.

Despite his reluctance, King seemed to understand that Dive needed his attention, and he played along surprisingly well.

“Here I go again!”

But there were limits.

[Gyuu.]

King flopped onto the ground, turning his head away in protest as Dive prepared to throw the ball again.

“Huh? You don’t want to play anymore?”

Dive quickly understood King’s meaning.

“Okay, sorry! I’ll go get it this time. Wait here!”

…Was Dive being trained by King? Surely not.

“Whoa—ah!”

Dive tripped and tumbled to the ground as he ran.

“Dive!”

[Gyuu!]

Camilla and King rushed toward the boy, but someone else reached him first.

A man knelt, dusting off the dirt from Dive’s clothes. Dive’s eyes widened as he recognized the newcomer.

“Brother.”

“Are you alright?”

“When did you get here?”

“Just now.”

Brother?

Camilla instantly understood the man’s identity from their conversation.

Jaynor Escra, the Duke’s eldest son, had returned at last.

As he gently ruffled Dive’s hair, Jaynor turned to face Camilla.

‘An idol.’

That was her first thought. He had the kind of face that any talent agency would sign on the spot. He didn’t even need to dance or sing—just standing on stage would be enough.

Even Arsion, who was quite tall, seemed shorter in comparison. Jaynor’s blue-black hair and warm smile only enhanced his striking features.

The Duke’s bloodline had certainly produced another remarkable figure. But then…

‘Wait a minute.’

Jaynor’s eyes were black.

‘Why?’

Weren’t the Escra family’s eyes supposed to be red? The Duke had explicitly said so.

“I envy you.”

Jaynor stepped closer, his smile deepening.

“Those red eyes of yours.”

His tone was light, but Camilla felt a chill run down her spine as he greeted her.

“Nice to meet you, little sister.”

Her thoughts spiraled into further confusion.