A fortune-telling princess Chapter 161

“Today, I’ve prepared a special dessert just for all of you.”

“Oh my! It’s so beautiful.”

“It’s almost a shame to eat it, Your Highness.”

Even so, as the daughter of a duke, Camilla had often been invited to tea parties hosted by the imperial consort, Javiela.

“Huh? It seems we’re short by one serving.”

“What’s going on here? I specifically instructed that there should be enough for everyone.”

“I apologize, Your Highness. It seems there was a mistake.”

“I’m sorry, Lady Camilla. What should we do?”

“It’s, it’s fine. I don’t really have much of a sweet tooth anyway……”

“Oh, is that so? What a relief.”

What kind of relief is that?!

‘Damn it!’

Mistakes happen once or twice, but how is it that every time, it’s always one serving short? And it’s always Camilla who ends up without food. Is that really just a coincidence?

‘How childish, using food like this.’

Even children wouldn’t stoop to such pettiness, yet the imperial consort of the empire was doing just that. Outwardly, she laughed and smiled, but her eyes were filled with contempt whenever she looked at Camilla.

“Lady Camilla, how is the tea? I hope it suits your taste.”

One day, for some reason, Javiela poured tea for Camilla first. It was unusual, but Camilla thought nothing of it at the time.

“It’s very delicious, Your Highness. It suits my taste perfectly.”

“Is that so?”

As Camilla quickly took a sip and shared her thoughts, the smile on Javiela’s lips deepened. Only then did the imperial consort lift her teacup to savor the tea.

“Ugh! Annie, why does the tea taste like this?”

“I’m sorry, Your Highness. It seems the tea leaves were spoiled. I’ll prepare a new batch right away.”

“Oh my! Lady Camilla, I’m so sorry. What should we do? Stop drinking that. The tea is spoiled.”

“Are you kidding me?!”

How could there be spoiled tea leaves in the imperial palace? And for the tea meant for the imperial consort, no less?

Unless someone deliberately sought it out, no sane person would deliver such things to the palace. There should be some limit to how far you can toy with someone!

“She drank spoiled tea and said it was delicious.”

Everyone present laughed at Camilla. Whispers about her lowly origins could be heard.

Hearing those words, Camilla shrunk further into herself, her face reddening. She couldn’t say a word and had to leave. Javiela, the imperial consort, enjoyed Camilla’s discomfort as if it were a form of entertainment.

‘And now she’s invited me again?’

She couldn’t just tear up the invitation.

‘It’s really ridiculous.’

Ever since she became the owner of the magic stone mines and took over the Ghost Trading Company, she hadn’t been invited as often as before.

‘Perhaps it became too burdensome to keep making me the laughingstock.’

Or maybe they didn’t like seeing the once-ignored lady suddenly rise to prominence.

But what could be the reason for sending such an invitation now?

“What? You don’t want to go this time either?”

At that moment, Duke Escra’s eyes flashed as he asked.

“No, I really want to go this time!”

Worried that he might show up and cause a scene again, Camilla quickly shook her head.

You might be a powerful man who can act boldly even in front of the royal family, but I’m just an ordinary commoner!

‘Of course…’

Even a commoner will squirm if stepped on. I should at least show that much, right?

“I’ll write the reply accepting the invitation myself.”

Camilla smiled faintly as she tucked the invitation away.

‘Yes, I’ll attend this time with a very happy heart.’

Her smile deepened.

  *

“Have the guests arrived?”

“Yes, everyone is here.”

“Even Lady Camilla?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

At the maid Annie’s reply, a short sigh escaped from Javiela’s lips.

“Why her, of all people…?”

Of all people, why did she have to be the daughter of that man?

“Even though I’ve ignored her all this time.”

Of course, she didn’t regret her past actions.

Even though her biological father had been revealed, Javiela’s disdain for Camilla’s mother remained. If anything, this incident only strengthened her conviction.

“How vulgar.”

From what she’d heard,Ravi Sorpel’s father wasn’t that man, but another. Just how many men had that woman been with?

“To think I have to deal with that woman’s child myself.”

But what could she do? This was all for the sake of her son.

She had tried to meet with Duke Escra several times, but each attempt ended in failure.

He was the kind of man who would outright refuse even an invitation to dine with Emperor Fable. In the end, her only option was Camilla.

“I hear he’s still staying with the Sorpel family.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

As she listened to Annie’s reply, Javiela’s brow furrowed further. It seemed that if she wanted to meet him, she would have to use Camilla.

“Let’s go.”

With a short sigh, Javiela quickly composed herself and headed to where Camilla and the others were waiting.

The weather wasn’t too hot today, and it was quite pleasant, so they had set up a tea table in the garden.

“Oh my! Goodness.”

“It’s so beautiful.”

“I love it so much, my lady.”

As they arrived, the gasps of the noblewomen were the first thing to reach their ears. The continuous exclamations made Javiela quicken her pace.

What’s going on? Even as she approached, everyone seemed too engrossed in something to notice her.

“Ah! Your Highness, you’ve arrived?”

Only after a while did one of the noblewomen exclaim, causing everyone to stop and bow hurriedly toward her.

“Everyone seems to be enjoying themselves.”

Javiela smiled faintly.

“Please take a look at this, Your Highness.”

“Lady Camilla has given us such precious gifts.”

In the hands of the noblewomen were small boxes, each containing what appeared to be jeweled hair ornaments. The moment she saw them, even Javiela couldn’t help but gasp.

The craftsmanship was exquisite, and the design was incredibly beautiful. Above all, the small blue diamonds embedded as accents were stunning.

“I’m glad everyone likes them. I was worried they might be too simple.”

“Too simple?!”

Camilla, who had approached unnoticed, smiled and bowed her head toward Javiela.

“I hope they meet Your Highness’s approval as well.”

Of course, she must have prepared something for me too. A faint expectation appeared on Javiela’s face. Camilla turned her head and reached out toward Dorman, who had accompanied her.

“Oh no! What should we do, my lady?”

“What’s wrong?”

“It seems I made a mistake in counting.”

“What? There’s no more?”

“Yes, my lady. I’m sorry.”

“I told you to prepare enough for everyone.”

After briefly scolding Dorman, Camilla quickly bowed her head very politely toward Javiela.

“I apologize, Your Highness. What should we do? It seems my attendant made a mistake.”

“…….”

…A mistake?

‘Why does this feel so familiar?’

The situation felt all too familiar.

“Sometimes, small mistakes like this happen.”

The corners of Camilla’s eyes curved even more as she looked at Javiela.

“Like how the dessert count often falls short.”

At Camilla’s words, something suddenly came to Javiela’s mind. Hadn’t she played a similar trick on Camilla before?

‘This wench!’

Javiela gritted her teeth inwardly. How dare she bring up that incident now? How dare she?

‘What? Are you being childish?’

People tend to get angrier over childish actions. Outwardly, she might say it’s childish, but inside, she’s boiling.

‘I was going to serve her spoiled tea too, but I held back.’

Though her insides might be churning, Javiela maintained a gentle smile on her face. Camilla, in turn, smiled brightly back at her.

It was a smile that carried a message: Don’t forget what you did to me.

She knew. She knew exactly why Javiela had invited her today.

‘It’s because of Duke Escra.’

Everyone knew that Javiela had been running around trying to get close to Duke Escra lately.

She probably wanted to use Camilla to arrange a meeting with him, right?

Camilla’s actions made it clear that she had no intention of helping with that.

You’ve done things to me, and you think I’ll grant you such a favor? That’s what she was saying, in so many words.

‘So don’t bother inviting me with ulterior motives again.’

It’s annoying.

“Heh… Hahaha!”

“……!”

At that moment, a burst of laughter rang out. When she turned her head, Crown Prince Edsen was shaking his head and laughing loudly.

His sudden appearance caused Javiela’s brow to twitch slightly. But it was only for a moment, and Camilla was the only one who noticed.

With a smile on her lips, Camilla greeted him warmly.

“Welcome, Crown Prince. What brings you here?”

“I was just taking a stroll. Had I known something this amusing was happening, I would’ve come earlier.”

“…Amusing?”

Instead of answering, Edsen smiled faintly and approached Camilla.

As he drew closer, Camilla rolled her eyes, trying to avoid his gaze.

‘No, why?’

I just wanted to give her a light, really light warning!

I just wanted to show her that even a commoner can squirm when stepped on! So don’t come over here!

“You must know why someone who always looked down on you for your ‘dirty, lowly blood’ suddenly invited you here.”

…Are you openly mocking me now? They say a meddling sister-in-law is worse than a scolding mother-in-law… Huh? Maybe that’s not the right analogy. Anyway, you’re worse!

The words Edsen spat out instantly chilled the atmosphere.

Everyone present knew exactly who he was referring to.

They had all witnessed how Javiela had subtly looked down on Camilla and had tacitly agreed with her.

“Isn’t it funny? Just a while ago, she was scheming to ruin you, and now she’s desperate to meet him.”

It’s not funny at all. In fact, it makes me want to cry!

‘Why are you having this conversation in front of me?!’

Camilla was afraid to look back. She had felt someone’s gaze on the back of her head for a while now.