A fortune-telling princess Chapter 163

“Do you know what kind of family the Escra family, where that man is from, is?”

“Why should I know?”

For the first time, a hint of pity appeared on Duke Sephra’s otherwise unreadable face.

“That girl is too precious to be given to someone like you.”

“…What?”

“Do you think a girl with a good personality, good looks, and a good family background would suit someone like you?”

As Arison’s temper began to flare, Duke Sephra turned his gaze back to the cushion.

“Some people don’t even have the skill for handiwork.”

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

“I’m saying I can’t give that girl to you.”

“Ha!”

If anyone heard this, they’d think you were her father!

“Petro, even that guy thinks she’s too good for you.”

“Well, of course…! So why are you even worrying about that?”

“At least try to make that cushion properly.”

“What?”

“If you can’t do it with skill, at least show some sincerity.”

“That’s not for her! It’s mine!”

“Good luck.”

Ignoring Arison’s outburst, Duke Sephra took Rio and headed out. The cold air emanating from inside suggested that Arison was truly furious.

“Brother is angry.”

“It seems so.”

“Do you hate brother, mister?”

At Rio’s question, Duke Sephra’s steps paused for a moment.

“I’m just giving him a little push.”

“A push?”

“So he doesn’t lose her to someone else.”

Rio tilted his head, not understanding what he meant.

“You’d like it if Camilla became part of our family, right?”

“Yes! I like her!”

Understanding that much, Rio nodded vigorously, and Duke Sephra gently patted his head.

Now, even such actions didn’t feel awkward. At first, even facing the child had been uncomfortable.

“Hehe.”

It was undoubtedly this child who brought bright laughter back to this barren space. So…

“Should I come back tomorrow to give him another push?”

“Yes!”

Even though he didn’t understand what a “push” was, Rio enthusiastically agreed, thinking it would help him live with Camilla.

And so, Arison Sephra, thoroughly pushed, found himself in Camilla’s room.

Sigh.

He had only thought of seeing her, but when he came to his senses, he was already in her room.

He didn’t even remember how he had bypassed the strict barriers of the ducal estate. It seemed he had used all his abilities to avoid detection…

Only after seeing her sleeping soundly did Arison finally come to his senses. He crouched on the floor, clutching his head.

Breaking into her room in the middle of the night without permission! How pathetic would she think he was if she found out?

Though he always acted arrogantly in front of others, he became unusually timid around Camilla.

‘This is all because of that damn man!’

Remembering Duke Sephra’s words about how she was too good for him, his anger flared up again.

“Ugh… ugh…”

At the sound of Camilla stirring, Arison flinched and quickly suppressed his aura.

If she woke up because of him, he planned to use teleportation magic to leave immediately.

But for some reason, he felt reluctant and turned his gaze to Camilla one last time. Since he was already here, he wanted to see her face once more.

“…!”

But when he turned his head, his heart sank.

“Why…?”

Camilla was crying. Silently. Her tears left Arison frozen like a statue.

Thinking she might have woken up, he approached her but stopped again. She was still deeply asleep.

‘Is she having a nightmare?’

Should he wake her?

Seeing her cry, Arison, uncharacteristically, didn’t know what to do. His face slowly hardened.

“Why…?”

Her tears were silent. Like a child who had lost her voice, she just let the tears flow endlessly.

Don’t people usually cry more easily in dreams? Why couldn’t she even sob in her dream?

“…”

Arison cautiously reached out his hand. He felt the dampness of her eyelashes.

Pausing for a moment at the wetness on his hand, he gently wiped her tears. Of course, they soon welled up again.

“What kind of dream are you having?”

As he kept wiping her tears, Arison eventually reached out and pulled Camilla into his arms. Instinctively, she burrowed deeper into his embrace, seeking comfort.

Curled up in his arms, she sobbed like a child, and he carefully patted her back.

Is this what it feels like to be heartbroken?

Seeing her cry silently made his chest feel tight. The fact that he couldn’t do anything for her right now made him feel helpless.

Unconsciously, his arms tightened around her, and he let out a short sigh, calming himself.

He gently stroked her tear-stained cheeks again.

“What’s hurting you?”

Holding her tightly, he slowly patted her back, mimicking what she had once done for him.

  *

She had a dream from when she was very young. Something she couldn’t even remember now.

‘Did something like that happen?’

She didn’t know what it was about, but she was being beaten by her father again. Well, what did the reason matter? He always beat her for the most absurd reasons.

She was beaten for spilling water, for looking at him the wrong way, for no reason at all.

The child, not even four years old, cried bitterly. But crying only earned her more beatings.

The child soon learned to cry silently. At such a young age, she only let the tears flow.

A wave of bitterness washed over her. What had she done so wrong to deserve such beatings? What sin had she committed to be treated like this? Why? Why?

Yes. It’s all because…

“Dorman, you son of a…!”

…Huh?

Without realizing it, Camilla woke up shouting, blinking her eyes rapidly.

‘…What’s this wall?’

Even though her eyes were open, her vision was blocked by something in front of her.

“Gasp!”

Realizing it was someone’s chest, Camilla’s pupils dilated.

‘Who, who is it?’

She quickly looked up and saw a familiar face.

‘…Arison?’

Wait, why is he here?

‘Am I still dreaming?’

What on earth is going on…!

Trying to make sense of the situation, she rolled her eyes, but the back of her head felt strangely sore.

Why is it so cold in the middle of summer? Did I leave the window open?

Swallowing dryly, Camilla slowly sat up. And then she froze.

“Did you sleep well, daughter?”

Duke Escra greeted her. Though the greeting was directed at her, his sharp gaze was fixed on Arison. It was clear he was contemplating how to drag him out of the bed and kill him.

“It seems we had a guest all night.”

The bigger problem was that he wasn’t the only one in the room. Three others, emitting a similarly cold aura, were also present.

Duke Sorpel, Ludville, and Ravi were glaring at her and Arison.

‘Hey, wake up.’

Camilla shook Arison’s arm repeatedly.

How can you sleep at a time like this? Explain what’s going on!

“Well, you see…”

I don’t even know what’s going on myself, okay? Camilla’s gaze returned to Arison.

Finally, he stirred, stretching and yawning as if he’d had the best sleep.

“Are you awake?”

This is not the time for casual greetings! Your life is on the line!

“Arison.”

“Huh?”

“What’s going on?”

“What?”

“Why are you here?”

“Ah.”

Still half-asleep, he blinked his eyes and reached out to gently rub Camilla’s cheek.

What are you doing! Startled, she quickly pulled back, and he gave a faint smile.

“The pillow looked uncomfortable.”

Pillow?

“What…?!”

He lightly tapped his arm. Only then did she realize she had been using his arm as a pillow, and her face turned slightly red.

At that moment, feeling the cold air again, Camilla turned her gaze to the four men emitting a murderous aura and forced an awkward smile.

Finally, Arison also looked at them. Seeing them ready to draw their weapons at any moment, he turned back to Camilla.

“I’m hungry. Can’t I eat before getting kicked out?”

…Is that even possible?

Watching Arison being dragged away by the four men, Camilla looked at him with pitying eyes.

‘I hope you survive.’

“…Wow.”

Seeing Arison return after being dragged away, Camilla was speechless.

“What happened?”

He looked a mess. Though it was expected after being taken by those four, this was Arison Sephra.

He wasn’t the type to just take a beating quietly, so what on earth happened?

“I’m not dead.”

“Are you crazy? Did they really try to kill you?”

“They were serious about it.”

“Well, they were… No, that’s not the point! Why did you just take the beating?”

At least defend yourself!

Camilla frowned as she examined his wounds. How could they beat him like that!

“I deserved it for entering your room without permission.”

Come to think of it, she still hadn’t gotten a proper answer.

“What happened last night? Why did you come to my room?”

“To see you.”

“Why? Is something wrong?”

If it was urgent, he would have woken her up.

“Just to see you.”

“So why?”

“I wanted to see you.”

As if asking why she was stating the obvious, he stared at her, and Camilla eventually looked away first.

Am I really sick? Why does my heart ache again? It feels itchy too.

“Get treated.”

Seeing him leave his wounds untreated despite being able to use healing magic, Camilla sighed.

“They said not to heal with magic.”

“What? Who?”

“Your fathers and brother.”

These people!

“Not satisfied with beating you, they also told you not to heal?”

“They probably meant not to erase the pain with magic right away.”

“How do you expect to face Duke Sephra after this?”

“Well, I don’t think he’ll say much.”

If anything, he might say it was well-deserved.

“Enough of that, just get treated! Why are you letting them push you around like this?”

Since when do you follow others’ words so well?

“They’re your family.”

“Huh?”

“I don’t want to be disliked by your family.”