A fortune-telling princess Chapter 146

 

Would it be better to subtly warn a few others?
Initially, Camilla’s plan had only been to protect the Sword of Guardians. But the more she thought about it, the more she worried.

What if others got hurt in the process?

‘The house is supposed to catch fire, after all.’

What if someone died? Ugh! She absolutely hated feeling any sort of moral obligation for something that wasn’t even her fault!

‘It’s better to prepare in advance…!’

“Camilla.”

“Yes?”

Lost in her thoughts, Camilla snapped out of it when Petro called her.

“Isn’t it time you told me the reason for your visit?”

“What do you mean…?”

“The reason you came to stay at our house.”

“Didn’t I tell you? I’m here to spend time with Elisha…”

Camilla didn’t finish her sentence. Petro smiled faintly and shook his head lightly.

“It seems you’re reluctant to tell me the real reason.”

Sharp as ever. Camilla clicked her tongue in mild annoyance.

“I’m only guessing for now. I’ll tell you when I’m certain.”

“Understood.”

Petro didn’t press her further.

“I saw Elisha earlier, and she seemed quite happy.”

“Did she?”

“It must be because she’s glad you’re here.”

No, it’s because of the expensive jewelry.

‘Is this guy perceptive or clueless? I can’t tell.’

***

Knock, knock.

“Lord Petro.”

The door opened again as a servant entered.

“You have a guest.”

“A guest?”

“The young lord of the Sephra family has arrived.”

“Who?”

Before the servant even finished speaking, a figure emerged from behind the door. It was none other than Arsion.

“Why are you here?”

“To hang out.”

“What?”

“I said, I came to hang out.”

Petro’s usually composed face twisted into something unrecognizable, as though he’d just heard the most ridiculous statement in the world.

“Hang out? With who?”

“With you.”

“…….”

“So, which room should I use?”

“What are you talking about? A room?”

Was he seriously planning to stay here?

“I’ll take the room next door.”

“That’s my room.”

Whoosh!

“…You didn’t come to hang out; you came to pick a fight, didn’t you?”

“Why should you have the room next to Camilla’s?”

“Ha.”

But you just said you’d take the next room, too. Petro looked at Arsion incredulously as he grabbed Petro by the collar.

“I don’t want the room next to Camilla’s. That’s already my room. And besides, there are no other spare rooms on this floor.”

“Then I guess I have no choice. I’ll just stay in this room with Camilla—”

“Stop spouting nonsense and follow me. My bed’s big enough for both of us.”

“Why would I share a room with you?!”

“You said you came to hang out. Let’s make it fun.”

“Let go of me!”

“Follow me quietly, or I’ll make you take the room farthest from here.”

“…….”

In the end, Arsion was practically dragged out of the room by Petro.

***

[That guy’s here, too?]

“So it seems.”

Despite their constant bickering, the two seemed to be getting along lately. Maybe their polar-opposite personalities made them compatible in a strange way.

[You look happy about it.]

“What?”

[You’re smiling.]

“…Am I?”

Camilla blinked in surprise at Zeno’s comment.

“Well, it’s not bad.”

After a moment of hesitation, she shook her head lightly.

No matter what anyone said, Arsion’s abilities would be extremely useful in an emergency. It was only natural to be glad about his presence, wasn’t it?

She brushed off her reaction as unimportant.

Chapter: Elisha’s Dream

“What a nice day.”

It was so nice it felt like she was being roasted alive.

Feeling suffocated inside the mansion, Camilla stepped outside for some fresh air, hoping the breeze might help. But outside was no better.

“Shade, shade!”

She wandered around the garden, looking for a suitable spot to rest.

“Really?”

“I’m telling you.”

“What happened next?”

“So then I…”

As Camilla walked, she spotted a group of people sitting under the shade of a tree, chatting.

‘Ah, the 7th-generation bottom-rung crew.’

It was Elisha and her friends. Camilla immediately turned around. There was nothing good about getting involved with them.

“So? What happened to him in the end?”

“…….”

“…….”

“…….”

…Huh?

Camilla stopped in her tracks. Something about the atmosphere felt off.

When Elisha started speaking, the lively chatter abruptly ceased. No one responded to her, nor did they even acknowledge her words.

‘What’s with this mood?’

Turning her head slightly, she saw Elisha forcing a bright smile while the others sipped tea, avoiding her gaze.

Moments later, as if nothing had happened, the three girls resumed their conversation, leaving Elisha out entirely.

“I met Lord Adron a few days ago.”

“Lord Adron? You mean the eldest son of Count Esro? I’ve met him a few times, too. Still loves books, doesn’t he?”

“…….”

“…….”

“…….”

Once again, when Elisha tried to join the conversation, the other girls clammed up. It was obvious they were deliberately ignoring her.

Even though Elisha must have noticed, she pretended not to, trying desperately to fit in.

“Some people are so into men.”

“Pfft!”

“Why? Are you interested in him now?”

“Really? Isn’t thirty-something a bit much?”

“Right? That’s just too much.”

“Stealing a friend’s crush? What wouldn’t she do?”

Barbed remarks flew fast. Elisha’s forced smile crumbled, and she bit her lip.

“I told you, it’s a misunderstanding.”

“A misunderstanding?”

Lady Lindus, who had been Elisha’s closest friend until recently, smirked bitterly.

“You knew I liked Lord Oslyn, and yet you met him alone? Is that a misunderstanding? So many people saw it.”

“It was a coincidence.”

“There you go again.”

“I really just ran into him at the theater.”

“And what about that?”

“What do you mean?”

“Lord Oslyn confessed to you. Was that a coincidence or a misunderstanding?”

“That’s…”

Elisha felt utterly wronged. She had gone to the theater to watch a play she liked and had accidentally bumped into Lord Oslyn.

Knowing Lindus liked him, she had planned to exchange pleasantries and leave, but he had persistently followed her, asking to have tea together. She had declined and gone straight home.

Unfortunately, someone saw them together and spread rumors that Elisha and Oslyn had watched a play and spent time together.

‘Did you meet Lord Oslyn yesterday?’
‘Lord Oslyn? Yes.’
‘Yes? Are you serious?’
‘We just ran into each other and exchanged greetings—’
‘How could you? You knew I liked him!’
‘What? No! It was just a coincidence!’
‘Don’t lie!’

Elisha denied the rumors, but it was no use. To make matters worse, Lord Oslyn confessed to her, deepening the misunderstanding.

‘I invited them to clear things up, but…’

Hoping to mend things, Elisha had invited her friends over. She was thrilled when they all accepted.

But now it was clear they had come only to humiliate her.

‘Those horrible girls!’

Elisha wanted to leap up and pull their hair, but she held herself back.

As the daughter of a duke, she couldn’t afford such undignified behavior. No matter how upset she was, she wouldn’t give them any ammunition against her.

“You’re still as idiotic as ever, aren’t you?”

“……!”

A familiar voice interrupted. Everyone turned to see Camilla standing nearby, clicking her tongue in disdain.

“W-Why are you here…?”

“Me? I’m visiting.”

“What?”

Lindus immediately turned her gaze to Elisha, clearly wondering why she hadn’t been told Camilla was there.

“But you, 107th.”

“Ugh!”

Lindus’s face contorted as Camilla casually referred to her by her academy ranking.

She wanted to retort that she was no longer 107th and had risen to 77th in the last exam. But standing before Camilla, who was still at the top, only made her feel more pathetic.

“I always knew you weren’t the sharpest, but I didn’t think you were dumb enough to struggle with basic life skills.”

“What nonsense are you talking about?!”

Tap!

“Who’s her brother?”

“What…?”

“Who’s Elisha’s brother? Don’t you know?”

“Hah!”

Is she seriously asking that? Lindus let out an incredulous laugh.

“Lord Petro, of course.”

“Exactly. She grew up seeing Lord Petro every day from the moment she was born.”

Not only Lindus but even Elisha couldn’t follow where Camilla was going with this.

“And who’s Petro’s current close companion? Arsion.”

If Arsion had been there, he would’ve loudly objected to being called a “close companion,” but since he wasn’t, she let it slide.

“And who did she grow up seeing regularly, even if she didn’t want to? Our Ludville and Ravi.”

“What exactly are you trying to say…?”

Tap, tap.

“Her standards are high.”

Camilla lightly patted Elisha’s shoulder again.

“Petro, Arsion, Ludville, Ravi—having grown up around them, how could she possibly… who? Oslyn?”

That muscle-bound brute? Camilla had seen him at the academy a few times but had never given him more than a passing glance.

‘He’s just too loud.’

He was the boisterous type who spoke more than he acted. Sure, looks weren’t everything, but his personality wasn’t particularly charming either.

‘Though everyone has their own preferences.’

Lindus might find him attractive, but…

‘Let’s be real.’

Elisha, who often named Petro as her ideal, would never go for someone like Oslyn.

Lindus, who used to spend every day with Elisha, had to know that. And yet, she was making this absurd fuss.

It was obvious: she was throwing this tantrum because she was jealous Oslyn had confessed to Elisha.

‘No matter how jealous you are, this is just low.’