A fortune-telling princess

“…Fortune-telling?”

I know! I know! Of course, they’d find it ridiculous!

Camilla barely suppressed a sigh as the middle-aged couple’s faces twisted with bewilderment.

“Yes, would you allow me to read your fortune?”

“I’m sorry, but we’re not particularly interested in such—”

“You’ve recently experienced a heartbreaking event, haven’t you?”

“…What?”

“A family member has passed away.”

The man’s face froze, and the woman’s expression mirrored his shock. Camilla pulled out a few cards and spread them in front of the man.

“Pick one, please.”

The cards were something she had intentionally designed months ago. A tool she often used during her time in Isia to naturally handle requests from ghosts.

‘Ah, my fate…’

She sighed inwardly. Even here, she had to resort to these measures.

The cards resembled tarot cards, but their meanings were entirely different. Since she wasn’t an actual fortune-teller, she’d filled them with vague illustrations that could match any interpretation.

“A girl… must be your daughter. She passed away at night, didn’t she?”

“How… how do you know that?”

“See this round shape? It represents the moon.”

Her explanation was as simple as that. If the death had occurred during the day, the moon would symbolize the sun instead.

The first card revealed the time of death, and the man’s eyes wavered uncontrollably. Hesitantly, he picked another card.

“Your daughter was frail, wasn’t she? Asthma, anemia… she could barely walk.”

The man’s eyes widened in disbelief before he began to tear up.

“Yes, she passed away two months ago. If I’d known it would end like this, I’d have let her eat all the sweets she wanted… I kept telling her they weren’t good for her…”

The groundwork is laid.

“Would you like to pick another card?”

This time, the man didn’t hesitate. He selected a card depicting sharp objects against a black background.

“Your daughter didn’t die from illness.”

“…What?”

“She was murdered.”

“What nonsense!”

“See the swords here? They symbolize a death caused by another person—someone close to her.”

This was precisely what the ghost wanted to tell her father: she hadn’t died from her illness but had been killed.

And the culprit?

“What ridiculous accusations! Let’s leave, dear.”

The woman was the first to react, her face drained of color. She grabbed her husband’s arm and urgently tugged him toward the door.

The man seemed equally shaken and allowed himself to be pulled along. Camilla called out to him as he left.

“Check your daughter’s bookshelf. You’ll find the answers you seek.”

She had learned that the daughter’s belongings, including her diary and a recording crystal, were still in her room. Those items held the evidence—her stepmother tampering with her medication.

[Thank you! Thank you so much!]

The ghost repeatedly expressed her gratitude before hurrying after her father.

“Hmm.”

Watching them leave, Camilla pocketed her cards. She suddenly sensed an odd atmosphere and turned around.

‘Damn it.’

Everyone in the café was staring at her. It seemed they had all witnessed the scene just now.

‘Sigh. Looks like I’ll have weird rumors following me again.’

Camilla let out a long, exasperated sigh.

****

“You’d best avoid the café for a while,” Chris advised, to which Camilla immediately nodded with a resigned sigh.

The café was overflowing with customers, so much so that lines formed outside the entrance.

The problem wasn’t that they were there for desserts—they were coming to meet her.

“Congratulations. You’ve gained fame as a highly skilled fortune-teller.”

Chris sighed repeatedly, clearly as exasperated as she was.

The story of her resolving the ghost girl’s grudge had spread far and wide. The café’s owner was now rumored to be an extraordinary seer. Damn it.

The girl’s father had found all the evidence. Not only did he uncover the culprit—his wife—but also her lover.

In the process, he learned his second daughter wasn’t his biological child but the result of his wife’s affair. He also discovered their plans to seize control of his business.

“Business is booming, though.”

“Right? It’s all thanks to me! Hahaha.”

“….”

…Fine. I get it. I’ll be more careful.

Chris disliked it when she displayed her abilities openly.

In his view, a businessperson should keep their cards close to their chest. Showing her hand too often would only lead to trouble.

Camilla agreed, so she didn’t argue further.

“Anseois sent a letter of thanks along with a proposal.”

“Anseois?”

Who was that? The name sounded vaguely familiar… where had she heard it before?

“They run the Anseois Jewelers. They want to sell our products.”

Oh, that Anseois!

The renowned jewelry chain with stores across the empire, preferred by noblewomen.

“Wait, wait! Don’t tell me…”

The gentleman whose fortune she’d read was Anseois himself?

Holy crap.

She had sensed he was wealthy but hadn’t realized he was

that

rich.

“Didn’t you know when you helped him?” Chris asked, his gaze skeptical as she stood there, dumbfounded.

“…Of course, I knew. You think I do anything without personal gain?”

Nope, not a clue. But wow—what a jackpot!

“How’s the proposal?”

“It’s overwhelmingly favorable to us.”

“Really?”

Anseois Jewelers had a long history and an impeccable reputation. While Ghost Trading’s magic stones were thriving, their jewelry line was still a fledgling venture.

For Anseois to extend a hand first was a golden opportunity.

“Seal the deal.”

“Understood.”

With no reason to refuse, Camilla gave the go-ahead. Was her jewelry about to go national?

“Here’s the finalized contract we drafted.”

“Got it.”

Chris handed her another document. It was a revised version of the magic stone trade agreement with the Gracia Empire.

Now, all that remained was to bring it with her, negotiate any last points, and finalize the deal.

“I wish I could accompany you…”

“Take care of things here while I’m gone.”

Though taking Chris along would’ve been convenient, someone needed to manage the business in her absence.

“The trip is the day after tomorrow.”

“Yep.”

Soon, she would head to the Gracia Empire.

Drrring!

“Alright, that’s all for today’s lecture!”

The professor dashed out of the classroom the moment the bell rang.

The students, however, remained seated, their eyes fixed on the lectern.

‘What’s his deal now?’

At the very back, someone was exuding a dark aura. Arsion.

“Dammit… Why with her… Ugh…”

His low muttering sent chills through his classmates.

‘Why not just sleep through class like before?’

Recently, he had been attending lectures diligently, even with that oppressive atmosphere. It was driving everyone else crazy.

Suddenly, he stood up.

“…!”

The abrupt motion startled everyone. Arsion stormed out without a word.

“Finally.”

“I thought I was gonna die.”

“What’s his problem?”

Only one person seemed to know the reason—Petro. He shook his head with a sigh.

‘Must be nice to throw a tantrum because she’s leaving.’

“I wish I could be as honest.”

*****

“Arsion?”

Camilla tilted her head as he appeared after her class.

“Why are you here? You don’t have club activities today…”

Swish.

Her words trailed off as his hand reached for her face.

“This is a divine beast’s gem.”

“A divine beast’s gem?”

Camilla’s eyes widened. Divine beasts created these rare gems once in their lifetime, allowing their bearer to wield immense power.

“This is from…”

“I got it from the old man.”

He meant the Duke of Sephra. Camilla was stunned. The man who despised divine beasts had accepted their help for her?

Arsion replaced her earrings, fitted a bracelet onto her wrist, and even knelt to fasten an anklet.

“They’re all enchanted with protective magic. Don’t take them off, even when you sleep.”

“…Okay.”

She chuckled softly.

‘I’m not going to war, you know.’

Her brothers had fussed over her similarly, preparing weapons and charms. She’d survive even a battlefield at this rate.

“I promise, I won’t take them off.”

Finally, some of the tension left Arsion’s face.

Even so, he loathed that she was traveling—especially under Edsen’s watch.

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