A fortune-telling princess Chapter 20

 

Even so…

The Duke of Jabilon was the same. He seemed completely unaware of the divine beast perched on his shoulder, occasionally brushing that shoulder with his hand.

Are they like ghosts until they’re summoned?

It was said that divine beasts resided in their own domain and only appeared when called by their master. But now, it seemed the truth was a little different.

Do they just hover around their master like ghosts, unseen by others?

And only when summoned, do they reveal themselves?

The red eagle, which had been dozing off on the Duke of Jabilon’s shoulder, suddenly lifted its head.

“……”

[…]”

Their gazes met.

The divine beast, which had been staring at her silently, spread its wings and lightly flew to the table, perching there. Camilla unconsciously followed its movements.

“You can see me.”

Camilla flinched at the sound and realized the voice came from the red eagle. Her expression stiffened awkwardly.

Isn’t the voice of a divine beast supposed to be heard only by its master?

Why was everything so different from what she’d heard?

Even as she thought this, the divine beast circled her as if fascinated.

“You’re clean.”

Clean? What? Me? Well, I do like to keep myself tidy.

“Your spirit is very pure.”

What kind of monk-like talk is this? Are you some kind of cult leader?

“Zetty.”

At that moment, the Duke of Jabilon quietly called out a name.

“Zetty?”

Chocolate…

Just as Camilla began thinking of sweet chocolate drinks, a radiant light filled the room.

When her vision cleared, the red eagle perched on the Duke of Jabilon’s shoulder came into focus, and Duke Sorpel’s sharp gaze locked onto the divine beast.

“It seems I was right.”

It appeared that divine beasts only became visible when summoned. The same applied even to their masters.

But why can I see them?

And hear them, too.

They’re like ghosts, definitely ghosts.

That was the only conclusion she could come to.

“Why are you summoning your divine beast for no reason?”

“I just wanted to see it.”

“Planning to turn this place into a sea of fire?”

“I told you, I just wanted to see it. Divine beasts are the kind of thing you can’t get enough of, even when they’re right in front of you. Of course, you wouldn’t understand that.”

“Then go home and admire it all you want there.”

“You’re so prickly.”

Anyone could see the Duke of Jabilon had summoned his divine beast just to annoy Duke Sorpel. His smug grin only made the act more irritating.

And then—

Flap.

“……!”

Zetty lightly flapped its wings and flew off, landing somewhere unexpected.

Not on the Duke of Jabilon’s shoulder but on Camilla’s.

“……”

“……”

“……”

What is this now?

Why are you acting friendly all of a sudden?!

An awkward silence fell over the room. Both Duke Sorpel and the Duke of Jabilon stared at Camilla with wide eyes, too stunned to speak.

“…Zetty.”

[…]

“Come here.”

Flap.

“……!”

Even when the Duke of Jabilon called, Zetty pretended not to hear, turning its head away. Instead, it flew up and landed on Camilla’s head.

“Zetty, I said come here.”

“No.”

“What?”

“I like it here. This girl’s spirit is pure, like a newborn’s.”

“What nonsense!”

“I like her.”

“……”

The Duke of Jabilon glared daggers at Camilla, who could only smile awkwardly.

‘I tend to attract these kinds of beings.’

To her, divine beasts were no different from ghosts.

In other words—

“Shoo!”

They were just annoying.

Camilla shook her head, trying to dislodge Zetty, but the divine beast simply fluttered up and settled back onto her shoulder.

“Go away!”

She tried shaking her shoulder again, but it clung stubbornly.

These creatures really were like ghosts—once they latched on, they wouldn’t leave!

“Hmmm.”

Duke Sorpel, who had been watching the entire scene silently, smirked faintly.

“It seems your divine beast likes my daughter more than it likes you.”

“What nonsense! Zetty is the most loyal to me! Zetty, come here this instant!”

Flap!

“……”

“Right. It’s clear how well it listens to you.”

“……”

The Duke of Jabilon’s face turned beet red, while Duke Sorpel’s grin widened in amusement.

***

---

Chapter. Going to School

“Are you really sure about this?”
Donna, the maid, asked anxiously.
‘Why is this girl always so worried?’
Well, it was understandable.

“Just like the Duke said, maybe you should change your department…”
Today marked the beginning of the new semester. Having finished all preparations to attend the academy, Camilla had to face Donna, who hadn’t looked pleased the entire time she helped her get ready.

“Don’t worry.”
Camilla gently patted Donna on the shoulder.

“But still…”
Seeing Donna’s face remain tense to the end, Camilla chuckled lightly. She knew exactly why Donna was acting this way.
‘No one’s more of an outcast than me.’
Camilla wasn’t only isolated in noble society but also at the academy.

That didn’t mean she was being bullied.
After all, no one would openly harass someone registered under the name of the House of Sorpel, one of the empire’s three grand ducal families.

‘It’s more like I’m invisible.’
She was treated as if she didn’t exist. Whether Camilla was there or not, no one paid her any mind.

This was most evident in the department she had chosen.
There, she truly existed like a ghost. Even the instructors didn’t show the slightest interest in her.
‘Why, you ask?’
Because she was absolutely terrible.

Camilla’s skills were so bad that people gave up on her. Teach her one thing and she’d forget another.
And since no one could yell at or harshly punish a duke’s daughter, the conclusion had been to simply ignore her.

The department she had chosen—
“Posture straight!”
“Yes, sir!”
“James and Hamill, begin sparring immediately!”
“Understood!”
—was the swordsmanship department.

‘Sigh… girl, really.’
She had no talent for physical activity.

Camilla sighed as she looked around at all the students fervently training in the sparring ground.
The House of Sorpel was, without question, a family of swords. It had risen to power through the sword and still held the title of the finest swordsmanship lineage on the continent.

That was exactly why Camilla had chosen the swordsmanship department—to declare that she, too, was a part of House Sorpel.
‘That’s a choice you make when you have the skills to back it up.’

A complete klutz like her choosing swordsmanship?
Camilla, who had not shown even a hint of sword talent, was nothing more than a laughingstock here. If anything, she was proving with her whole being that Sorpel blood did not run through her veins.

‘She sure is stubborn.’
Even though she was fully aware of this fact, she still refused to give up and continued to cling to the swordsmanship department.

‘Maybe it’s her last desperate attempt.’
Maybe she just wanted to acknowledge, to herself if no one else, that she was a member of the House of Sorpel.

There was no other reason to stay in this place, enduring such alienation and failure.
‘It’s more pitiful than sad, honestly.’

Because she could relate, she couldn’t bring herself to agree when the Duke of Sorpel had recently suggested she transfer departments.

Besides, the real Camilla might return to this place one day. She couldn’t arbitrarily change departments. Whether it turned out well or terribly, it had been Camilla’s choice.
‘Ah, screw it.’

Camilla plopped down onto the ground.
Neither the instructors nor the students paid her any mind, too busy training among themselves.

She had no desire to beg attention from people who ignored her even when she tried to talk to them.
‘Whatever, it’s fine.’

Sprawling out flat on the ground, Camilla stared up blankly at the cloudless sky and slowly closed her eyes.
‘That tree’s shade over there would be perfect…’

A single large tree stood at one side of the sparring ground. But someone was already sitting under it, so she didn’t bother looking that way.

“……”
“……”

The eyes of those in the sparring ground turned toward Camilla. Their faces showed a mix of confusion and disbelief.

Even though she kept her head down, Camilla always stayed in her place until class was over…
But what was that supposed to be?

Seeing Camilla lying so leisurely on one side of the training field, as if she were on a picnic, left their jaws hanging.

Still, no one dared approach her.
Even the instructor, who had long ignored her, found it awkward to suddenly say something now.

“Tch!”
“……!”

Had she noticed their stares?
Camilla suddenly sprang to her feet with a curse.

Everyone who had been watching flinched at her abrupt movement.
‘What kind of sparring ground doesn’t have a single spot of shade?!’

Only one tree with shade? Seriously?

Scorched by the sun, Camilla finally stood and glanced toward the shade under the tree. The person already seated there…
‘…Are you some radiant yet melancholic god?’

Why do you have a sword stuck in your chest?

A man in his early twenties.
He gazed wistfully at the trainees, a cold sword protruding from his chest.

Camilla alternated her gaze between the blazing sun and the tree’s shade, then finally walked over and sat beneath it, avoiding eye contact with the ghost.

Fortunately, the male ghost showed no interest in her either.
He just stared at the sparring ground like a statue, exactly as he had when she first saw him.

‘Not even curious, really.’
Whatever his story was.

Camilla lay back down on the ground and closed her eyes to sleep.

---

* * *

“Hey, isn’t that Lady Camilla?”
“I-I think it is?”
“Is she… sleeping right now?”
“What the…”

People walking near the sparring ground stopped in their tracks. Their gazes turned toward the same spot.

Wondering who had the nerve to lounge around during class, they squinted to get a better look—and were visibly taken aback when they recognized the person. It was none other than Camilla.

Among the onlookers was Petro, the son of Duke Jabilon.

“……”

Watching Camilla tossing and turning under the tree’s shade, Petro’s lips curled into a faint smile.