A fortune-telling princess Chapter 164

…From what I can see, it doesn’t seem like you can get any more disliked than you already are.

“Put some medicine on me.”

“What?”

“Here.”

Camilla was momentarily stunned as he closed his eyes and tilted his face toward her.

Why is he acting so out of character today?

After letting out a short sigh, she carefully applied the medicine she was holding to Arison’s face.

“…”

Her hand, which had been applying the medicine to his split lip, suddenly paused.

‘Again?’

Her heart was pounding. Feeling her heartbeat quicken, she frowned slightly and let out another long sigh before meticulously finishing applying the medicine to his face.

  *

“Is there a physician more skilled than the ones working for the royal family?”

[Why are you asking that all of a sudden?]

[Why? Is someone in need of treatment?]

“Me.”

[What?!]

[Are you sick?]

At Camilla’s words, Derin and Zeno’s expressions hardened, and they urgently asked. Well, their already pale complexions turned even paler, which was a bit scary.

“I think there’s something wrong with my heart.”

[Your heart? Why? Are you in pain?]

“Sometimes it suddenly starts pounding, and there’s a sharp pain.”

[Since when has this been happening?]

“It started a while ago. It was when Arison and Laila were having a friendly conversation together. That’s when my heart started acting up.”

[Does it keep happening?]

“Not all the time. Most of the time, I’m perfectly fine.”

[Then? When does it happen?]

“Come to think of it, it mostly happens when I’m with Arison.”

[That’s strange.]

[Are you really sick somewhere?]

“That’s what I thought. The royal physician said there’s nothing wrong with me. Maybe I should get a second opinion?”

[It could be that Arison’s energy doesn’t align with yours.]

“Arison’s energy? Can that cause heart problems?”

[There are people who are naturally incompatible. I’ve heard that sometimes, when energies don’t align, it can be harmful to the body.]

“Really? Is my energy incompatible with Arison’s?”

[Maybe you should keep your distance for a while.]

[That might be a good idea.]

“Hmm. I’ll get checked by another physician first.”

[Do that.]

[You mustn’t get sick, Miss.]

“It’s not a serious illness, right?”

Zeno and Derin looked at Camilla with concern.

“…”

Dorman, who had been watching them from the side, let out a disbelieving laugh.

A man who had only experienced love through acting, a swordsman who knew nothing but the sword, and a butler who had spent his life gathering information without ever marrying—listening to their conversation was utterly ridiculous.

‘What are they even talking about?’

Though he couldn’t hear the ghosts’ conversation, Dorman, who had pieced together the situation from Camilla’s words, felt a headache coming on as he wondered how to deal with these love-struck fools.

“…Let’s pretend I didn’t hear that.”

“What?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Dorman, who had no desire to get involved in their conversation, carefully backed away and quickly left the scene.

—

*SIDE STORY. The Child Who Follows Orders*

“Start over.”

From the moment I gained what is called memory, I was always learning something by following orders.

I learned to dance, to sing, and to master all the behaviors that pleased others. And I also learned the easiest ways to kill a person.

Whether I was dancing, singing, or sharing a bed, I gradually learned how to decisively end someone’s life.

I didn’t know the reason. Questions weren’t allowed. No, I wasn’t even allowed to think. My world was simply doing as I was told.

I didn’t know the word “outing,” and I had never had a friend. My side was always filled with those who taught me.

“Let’s use this child.”

Then one day, when I was eleven, I met a stranger for the first time.

A man who appeared to be in his early fifties scrutinized me from head to toe before nodding in satisfaction.

The place he took me to was the palace. The man was the head servant serving the king.

“You’re pretty.”

After that, I had to dance for a man. I had to sing for him and share his bed.

It was only much later that I learned the man was the king of this country.

But it didn’t matter who he was. No matter who the other person was, if they gave an order, I simply followed it.

One day, I began dancing in front of people the king designated. I did everything they wanted. When the king gave the order, I killed them as I had been taught.

Refusal wasn’t allowed. I didn’t even know the word “refusal.”

“Cough… cough!”

Time passed quickly, and at some point, something went wrong with my body. When I felt my body weakening, I began vomiting blood frequently.

Finally, one day, I vomited blood right in front of the king.

“Disgusting.”

The king’s voice was colder than ever.

“Take her away.”

At the king’s command, the servants dragged me out roughly.

Even in that situation, I didn’t resist. I didn’t even resent the king.

I had never been taught to do so.

The only thought in my mind was, who will give me orders now?

“Don’t worry about that. You’re going to die now.”

At that moment, a voice that didn’t fit the situation at all interrupted.

As I was being dragged away, my gaze turned forward. There, a man was smiling mischievously.

“I came out to have some fun as a reaper, and I find an interesting one here.”

“Seize him!”

The king, wary of the man who had suddenly appeared, gave the order. At his command, the soldiers rushed at the man.

“Stop.”

“…!”

But with just one word from the man, the soldiers who had drawn their swords froze.

For the first time, fear appeared on the king’s face. The king, who had been the most powerful presence in my life.

The king tried to flee from his seat, but it seemed his body wouldn’t move as he wished.

“In the past, though it’s rare now, reapers would grant the wishes of those about to die.”

…A reaper?

“Do you have a wish before you die? Should I kill that guy for you? Those who interfere with a reaper’s duties can be executed on the spot. His orders just interfered with my work.”

Wasn’t it because you suddenly appeared?

“So? Should I kill him?”

At the man’s question, I looked at the king, whose complexion was turning pale.

A wish? What I want?

This was the first time I had been asked such a question. No, it was the first time I had been asked anything. I had only ever received orders.

“You don’t want anything? Opportunities like this are rare. I’m not actually a reaper, but a soul manager. I don’t usually do this kind of thing.”

The man reached out his hand to me. As if telling me to stand up without kneeling.

I stared at the outstretched hand. Then, slowly, I took it.

“I…”

For the first time, I spoke.

“I want to be like you.”

The man’s eyes widened at the unexpected wish. But soon, his signature mischievous smile returned.

“We’re actually short on staff, so this works out for me. You can’t become a soul manager right away… but you can start as a reaper.”

Is he allowing it? For the first time, someone listened to my opinion.

“Really… can I really become like you?”

“A long time ago, one of my seniors also had a bit of an obsession like you. But he had the best performance of anyone.”

The man smiled and reached out his hand again.

“I’m Dorman.”

“…”

The outstretched hand.

For the first time, a smile appeared on my lips.

“…I’m Havel.”

—

Chapter. The Red Stone

“Hold out your hand.”

“My hand?”

Reaper Havel had suddenly shown up. Without any prior notice.

Is there another unruly ghost around? Just as I was thinking that, he held out his hand first.

“Why do you want my hand all of a sudden?”

“Your hand.”

The murderous aura he was giving off made me instinctively obey. Then, Havel took off his earring and quickly cut his finger with it.

“Hey!”

Was that what the earring was for? Is that why it’s shaped like a crescent moon?

Startled, Camilla’s eyes widened, and the next moment, she had even more reason to be shocked.

Swish.

“What are you doing?!”

Havel smeared the flowing blood directly onto Camilla’s hand.

She panicked and tried to wipe the blood off her hand. What kind of bizarre behavior is this? Why are you smearing your blood on me?!

“Huh?”

But strangely, the blood had already disappeared without a trace.

“What? What just happened?”

Did I imagine it? No, I definitely felt it on my hand just now.

“Wait a minute.”

Do reapers even bleed? Aren’t they pretty much the same as ghosts?

“No, no!”

That’s not the important thing right now!

“What are you doing?!”

“Lord Dorman ordered it.”

“Dorman? To smear your blood on me?”

“Yes.”

Have they all gone crazy? Why are you smearing a reaper’s blood on a perfectly normal person?

“If you smear a reaper’s blood…”

“If you smear it, what? Do you get dragged off by a reaper or something?”

Are you guys conspiring to send me to the afterlife? Is that it?

“Wow, damn it!”

Fine, take me away, take me! I’ve got a lot to say to those guys up there too!

This is the perfect chance to meet your boss! I’ll show them what real chaos looks like! Take me there right now!

“It’s the opposite.”

“Opposite?”

“If you’re a soul marked by a reaper, no one else can touch you.”

“What are you talking about?”

Camilla, who had been mentally cursing Dorman out of habit, narrowed her eyes at Havel’s words. No one else can touch me?

“You mean…”

“No one can take your soul without permission. Even if it’s a reaper, unless it’s me, it’s impossible.”

In other words, I won’t have my body stolen by those strange beings like fake Lania or the water ghost’s son?

“Oh.”

Camilla let out a gasp of admiration, her eyes sparkling.

“Reapers have this kind of ability too?”

“…”

“If you had this ability, you should’ve said so earlier.”

“Why?”

“Then I wouldn’t have treated you so badly.”

“What?”

Snatch!

“…What are you doing?”

Camilla tightly grabbed his hand. Of course, Havel immediately shot her a murderous glare, telling her to let go.

“Let’s draw some more blood.”

“What nonsense are you spouting?”

“It’s not nonsense. I want to share it with others.”

“Others?”

“Yeah.”

With this blood, Crown Prince Edsen and others won’t have to worry about having their souls stolen by those strange beings, right?

“Let’s donate some blood out of the goodness of our hearts.”