A fortune-telling princess Chapter 184

Chapter : Eye of the Storm

“You mean… Abihale?”

“Yes, Lord  Alberto.”

High Priest Daniel’s response was so unexpected that the Emperor of Fabler silently stared at him, as though prompting further explanation.

“If we can’t extract her soul using the relic, then I thought it might be effective to bring her to our side. If that works, we won’t need to go through the trouble of soul extraction.”

“And the method you’ve chosen… is Abihale?”

“According to our investigation, there was a time when Lady Camilla showed considerable interest in Prince Abihale.”

“Hmm.”

The Emperor’s reaction was lukewarm.

Could they really sway Camilla with such a simple method?

“It may work better than expected.”

“Do you have any basis for that?”

“In our research, we found that she has a surprising weakness when it comes to those she considers her people.”

“Her people?”

“She’s soft-hearted toward anyone who shows her affection.”

Perhaps it was the result of growing up without much love from her family. She was easily drawn to those who showed her even the smallest kindness or care.

The situation with Prince Abihale was like that too. A polite smile and a bit of attention had led her to become oddly fixated on him.

Of course, it had ended quickly when Abihale responded coldly and pushed her away.

But even after that, her behavior hadn’t changed. She had once again fallen for someone else who showed her warmth—Petro from House Jayvillan.

“Her personality may have shifted recently, but the core hasn’t changed. She still seems starved for affection.”

Camilla appeared to care deeply about her family and the people around her.

Her charitable donations and good deeds done in her family’s name were likely acts of someone seeking love and approval.

“I believe she’ll fall for it more easily than expected.”

“We’ll see.”

“Prince Abihale should be sufficient. She already liked him once, after all.”

His looks needed no explanation, and his personality was generally agreeable. He was very popular among noble ladies—no less than Crown Prince Edsen.

In fact, many preferred Abihale over Edsen, whose thoughts were harder to read.

“If she’s given a kind of affection she’s never had before…”

Then things might be resolved far more easily than expected.

“Possibly.”

The Emperor of Fabler finally nodded in agreement.

“Humans are weak to emotion by nature.”

He had lived for an unfathomably long time and observed countless human lives. Many, like Camilla, were starved for affection.

He knew all too well how desperate such people could become—how far they would go to attain attention and love.

“It’s not a bad plan.”

Even if it failed, there was nothing to lose. If it succeeded, the rewards would be immense.

“Go ahead and proceed.”

“Understood.”

***

“Is it good?”

“Yes!”

To make Rio’s visit to the café extra special, Camilla brought out every item on the menu and set them in front of him.

“Ahhh—”

With his mouth wide open, Rio happily gobbled down a piece of cake, making Camilla smile softly.

“Where’s King?”

“At home.”

“Can I visit him next time?”

“Sure.”

Camilla began wondering how many memory orbs they had left at the house. Maybe she should buy some more.

“When’s big bro coming?”

“Soon, probably.”

Arsian had come with them, but he was currently in the office with Chris, writing up documents about a newly discovered mana stone.

Camilla had brought Rio to the café first—she couldn’t leave him in the office.

“He better come soon… it’s disappearing fast…”

“So you’re saving some for him?”

Camilla chuckled.

Even while eating, Rio had been leaving half untouched—turns out it was for Arsian.

“When he gets here, I’ll bring you a fresh one. Go ahead and finish this.”

“Ahh—”

She spooned some of the popular summer watermelon smoothie into his mouth, making Rio’s eyes sparkle.

‘If only I had a straw with a wider tip…’

Still, watching him eat with a spoon was adorable. Straw development would have to wait.

“It’s delicious!”

“Good. Eat lots.”

Camilla patted his head gently. Giggling, the child suddenly clapped his hands as if he remembered something.

“I have something for you too, noona!”

“For me?”

He pulled something from the small satchel slung across his chest.

“I made it myself!”

It was a small cushion—with Camilla’s face stitched onto it.

Of course, the stitching was uneven, and the colors varied. Without the outline drawn underneath, it would’ve been hard to recognize.

But still—he made this on his own? Our Rio’s a genius!

“You really made this?”

“Yup! I even bled from my fingers!”

…She was genuinely touched.

Camilla stroked his head again. What a sweet, lovable kid.

“I finished it before big bro!”

“…What?”

Big bro? Arsian?

Ding—

Just then, the café door opened, and Arsian walked in.

Spotting him, Rio raised his hand high.

“Bro!”

He came over to the table immediately. When he noticed the cushion, his gaze froze.

“Big bro’s still working on his—it’s not done—!”

“Rio! Here, have some cake!”

“Ahh!”

With lightning speed, Arsian cut a piece of cake and shoved it in Rio’s mouth. Then he nervously glanced at Camilla.

‘…Damn it.’

Camilla’s eyes shifted between Arsian and the cushion, her lips twitching with a suppressed smile. Arsian ran a hand over his gradually reddening face and looked away.

“When will it be finished?”

“What?”

“This.”

“Rio’s mistaken. No way I’d make something like th—”

“Nope! Yours is bigger than mine, and the cou—!”

“Rio! Ah!”

“Ahh!”

“……”

“……”

A moment of silence passed.

Arsian pressed his fingers into his brow like he had a headache. Camilla was clearly fighting hard to hold back her laughter.

‘Damn it all!’

Unaware of the tension, Rio simply ate another big bite of cake with an innocent smile.

Ding—

The café door opened again. A new figure stepped inside.

Camilla glanced over—and her eyes widened.

“What is it?”

Arsian followed her gaze, and upon recognizing the person, his expression instantly soured.

“Knew I’d find you here.”

It was Crown Prince Edsen.

Camilla couldn’t immediately respond. What is he doing here?

‘And what is with that awkward outfit?’

It looked like he had dressed plainly to avoid drawing attention—but it backfired. His noble aura gave him away completely.

He looked like a young master sneaking out without his attendants, which made Camilla shake her head slightly.

“What brings you here?”

And without any guards?

She knew how skilled he was with a sword—but with all the people targeting him, this was reckless.

“I came to ask something.”

“To me?”

Edsen took a seat and shifted his gaze to Rio, who stared back, blinking with cream on his face.

“So this is the child.”

He had already heard that the Sephra family adopted a child.

It was rare for noble houses to adopt, especially from commoners. And this was no ordinary family—it was the Sephra Ducal House.

Everyone had been curious about the child who had earned acceptance from both the Duke and his heir.

“Do you want some?”

“Hm?”

“Ahh—”

“……”

Apparently mistaking his gaze, Rio held out a forkful of cake.

Momentarily flustered, Edsen chuckled softly and shook his head.

“You eat it.”

“It’s good!”

“I like sweets, but I’m not heartless enough to steal a kid’s dessert. Go ahead.”

“Okay! Ahh—!”

Even after that, Edsen couldn’t take his eyes off Rio’s munching. His cheeks puffed up like a baby squirrel’s.

“…Um, Lord Edsen?”

Unable to take it anymore, Camilla finally spoke.

He hadn’t come to watch a child eat—what exactly did he want?

“You met Abihale, didn’t you?”

“Huh?”

Abihale? The Second Prince?

‘I mean, yeah, we met.’

They had run into each other at Empress Javiela’s tea party, but surely he hadn’t come all the way here just for that?

“It was just briefly.”

“The Empress has submitted a request to His Majesty. She proposed a marriage between you and Abihale.”

“Pfft—!”

W-What?!

Camilla nearly spat out her coffee. What kind of absurd nonsense was that?

“So… you didn’t know.”

“You’re joking, right?”

“Do I look like I came all the way here to joke?”

“Exactly.”

She had found Abihale’s sudden appearance at the tea party suspicious—but she never imagined it would lead to something this ridiculous.

“Apparently, His Majesty responded positively. What do you think?”

“My thoughts?”

All she could think was: What scheme are they pulling now?

Knowing the truth behind Emperor Fabler and Empress Javiela made their actions all the more horrifying.

Why did things keep leading her back to them? She didn’t want to deal with them at all!

“I was just curious. You used to chase after Abihale quite a bit, didn’t you?”