LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 31
Chapter 31
Thus Saith the Fortune Teller (1)
『 Translator – Divinity 』
Five days after the forced march in the name of the first class.
Instructor Redfield didn’t go back on his word. He sent the five of us home, leaving only the
With this time to relax, I thought about skills, future events, and even the upcoming midterm exams, and…
Not even a day passed. After finishing all the preparations, I was extremely free.
So I tried to meet with Liu or the Princess, but they just said let’s meet next time, and it was a bit awkward to visit the Arthur siblings.
After lazing around for a day and strolling around the academy for the past few days,
“…Honestly, I’m a bit flustered.”
“I understand.”
…I was caught.
By Prince Kim Seong-il, who had finished his class, and the students who entered the academy with him under the guise of bodyguards.
Half-dragged into a classroom in some building, I sat in an ornate chair that didn’t suit this place and looked around.
‘There are six of them.’
Prince Kim Seong-il sitting opposite me, and six students surrounding him as if to guard him.
Three buff male students, one male student with annoying-looking glasses, and two female students looking at me strangely.
All of them were privileges exclusive to Prince Kim Seong-il.
‘Honestly, I didn’t realize it in the game… but the position of the next emperor of a superpower is really something.’
Actually, it didn’t make sense for the crown prince, the next emperor in line, to come to the academy, even if it was plausible for the princess.
But he came? Did that little sister bitch just thoughtlessly write it in because she wanted to try capturing the prince’s route?
And since it became reality, the academy also exceptionally allowed the prince’s aides to enroll to prevent any unforeseen dangers.
Of course, they were only academy students in name and didn’t actually attend Romance Academy, it was just a justification for them to follow the prince around.
But.
“First of all, thank you for seeking out this humble Fortune Teller, Your Highness.”
“You’re welcome.”
“But I dare ask… love fortune-telling…?”
What the hell, love fortune-telling?
You didn’t have this kind of event! You were a pure-hearted lover who only had eyes for the protagonist!
“Literally.”
“…You really mean love fortune-telling?”
“Yes.”
The prince, who only answered curtly with single words no matter what I asked.
I don’t feel offended because I know it’s an act.
‘Can’t you see the looks your aides are giving me!?’
Refuse. Refuse. Refuse.
The guys standing behind you are giving me all kinds of looks! They’re pressuring me to refuse!
Yes, even I would be dumbfounded if the next emperor suddenly fell in love and called a Fortune Teller for a love reading.
But then why are you taking it out on the poor Fortune Teller instead of talking to the prince himself?
Are these guys the real ‘strong against the weak, weak against the strong’ types?
“Your Highness, may I have a word with you?”
“Go ahead.”
“Among fortune-telling, love fortune-telling is the most uncertain. The human heart cannot be easily understood through fortune-telling, and even if you understand it, love is something that changes quickly.”
If someone came for a fortune-telling, it was almost always for one of three things.
The future, academics, and love.
That’s how popular love fortune-telling was, and you could see it in various ways, like compatibility, the Four Pillars of Destiny, birth dates, tarot, physiognomy, and so on.
But actually, love fortune-telling was the biggest nonsense among fortune-telling.
“Continue.”
“Peeking into someone’s heart through fortune-telling is a betrayal of human relations, and trying to force a relationship with someone is a betrayal of heavenly relations. Even if the result is good, love fortune-telling is something that can change with the slightest alteration.”
What? You confessed because the love fortune-telling was good, and they accepted?
Then they were already interested in you from the beginning. It wasn’t because of the fortune-telling.
What? You didn’t confess because the love fortune-telling was bad?
Then what’s the difference from not having your fortune told?
That’s how fortune-telling worked. It made you think that if things went well, it was thanks to the fortune-telling, and if they didn’t, it was your fault.
That’s why people who had their love fortune told weren’t really doing it for the fortune-telling itself, but to gain a kind of ‘courage’.
Because the fortune-telling was good, because the fortune-telling said it would work out.
They gained courage from that and confessed. Even if they were rejected after confessing like that, not many people blamed the fortune-telling. They didn’t truly believe in it in the first place.
But if the confession was accepted? They would think “Ah, it’s thanks to the fortune-telling” and continue to visit that fortune teller.
That was how those swindlers worked.
“So, I believe it would be wiser to confess directly or build a relationship rather than have your love fortune told.”
“……….”
As I spoke indirectly, the aides looked at me with approving eyes or nodded.
No, you guys should be the ones stopping him. Why are you making me do it?
I said all that, so he wouldn’t keep asking for his fortune to be told…
“Even so, I request it.”
“…Hmm, this is strange.”
Even though I indirectly refused, he’s still pushing for it, so even the aides’ expressions are filled with bewilderment.
Yes, Prince Kim Seong-il isn’t this kind of person. In the first place, it’s strange that he even sought me out.
He despises jobs like
Kim Seong-il hates jobs that he deems useless for running a country, like
Should I call him an efficiency freak? Anyway, he’s someone with firm standards.
But he came to me for fortune-telling? And he even came in person, not by summoning me?
‘It seems like there’s something going on.’
Let’s think.
Prince Kim Seong-il sought me out on purpose. In other words, he has something he wants to say or hear from me.
He used love fortune-telling as an excuse and is excessively pushing for it.
Why? What’s the connection between me and Prince Kim Seong-il?
…Could it be?
“Well, if you say so, Your Highness… Everyone, could you step back for a moment?”
“What? Hey, what are you talking about?”
“Love fortune-telling is quite a sensitive matter. If the person having their fortune told and others are too close, their love fortunes might get mixed up…”
“Is that… so?”
“Yes, I’m not asking you to leave the room entirely. Just stick to the wall.”
“Hey, we’re in charge of protecting His Highness. Such an absurd request…!”
Yes, it would be absurd to suddenly ask them to leave. But I was just as dumbfounded, you bastards.
And love fortunes getting mixed up if they’re close? Of course, that’s nonsense. Even those who know nothing about fortune-telling would question that.
But.
“Step back.”
“Y-Your Highness! If something happens to you…”
“Step back.”
“…Yes, Your Highness.”
That’s right. I thought you would help.
At the prince’s order, and my words as a seemingly skilled (?) Fortune Teller, and since they probably did a background check on me, they judged that I, who had no grudge against the prince and didn’t have a combat job, wouldn’t pose a threat to him.
This was enough to make the guards move to the wall. If I had asked them to leave the room entirely, they wouldn’t have listened, but sticking to the wall wasn’t a problem.
“Then let’s start the love fortune-telling. First, I will ask questions and draw on this paper at the same time. Your Highness, please answer and draw along with me.”
“Alright.”
And this room was quite spacious.
If they moved to the wall, we, sitting in the middle of the room, would barely be visible.
And if I covered it with my body, even those with combat jobs would have a hard time seeing what was written on the paper between us.
First, I leaned forward to cover the paper and started writing with a pen.
“Shall I see your compatibility with that person?”
[Is this about the Princess?]
“Yes. I’d like you to see our compatibility and tell our love fortune.”
[I’m glad you’re quick-witted. Thank you.]
“Not at all. Then first, I’ll draw the woman, so could you take a look?”
[Will this method be safe? Can we avoid the eyes of my aides?]
“That’s an interesting method. Alright.”
[This should be fine.]
As expected.
He’s trying to talk to me like this, yet not speaking directly, which means he wants to have a secret conversation.
If it was nothing important, he would have already talked to me, but seeing that he’s not, it means he wants to avoid the eyes of his guards and talk to me alone.
And lastly, the only connection between me and the prince is Princess Kim Eun-ha.
But why is he approaching me? What did I do to the princess?
‘Hmm…’
I didn’t do anything?
I just used her to break down walls, made a mutually beneficial deal, used her to make a path in the mountains, used her to catch that crazy knight…
It’s nothing special, what is it? Well, I’ll find out if we talk.
“Could I know the name of that woman?”
[Can I know what this is about?]
“I don’t know yet. I want to approach her slowly.”
[I want to ask you to be a messenger. There are too many eyes around me.]
“Hmm, then what about her appearance?”
[Is this a message for the princess?]
“That’s no problem.”
[Alright.]
A message for the princess, too many eyes around him.
…I’m getting a sense of what this is about.
“Then, while thinking about her appearance, please write it down.”
[What should I convey?]
“Long, straight hair, beautiful eyes, a high nose, red lips, big eyes, and even a lovely smile. She was a beautiful woman.”
[‘What I love and protect’, this is enough. No need to know more.]
“I see.”
[I see.]
I finally understand the situation.
The prince wants to secretly convey something to the princess, but there are too many eyes around him, so he’s trying to relay it through me like this.
He could use another student, but… I’m a citizen of the Unified Korean Empire, I showed closeness to the princess during the last class, and there’s the plausible excuse of love fortune-telling.
The description of her appearance was unnecessarily detailed, but anyway.
If I hadn’t noticed first, he would have probably tried to tell me in a different way, right?
Anyway, if I just agree and convey this message, it should be over.
But then,
“I see. Lastly, could you draw a circle while thinking of that person?”
[May I ask one thing?]
“Go ahead.”
[I will pay you with money.]
“Ah, after you’re done drawing the circle, could you also draw a triangle?”
[This is a different question.]
“Alright.”
[Since I’m the one asking, grant me just one thing.]
This seems like…
Something I need to intervene in.
“You’re done drawing.”
[Who is it?]
“Yes.”
[What do you mean?]
“…Hmm, it seems like the result isn’t very good.”
[I’m asking who among the guards is trying to assassinate the princess.]
Thud.
The prince dropped his pen.
“…What?”
“It’s an unfortunate result, but I can help you.”
Rip. Rip. Rip.
Leaving the dumbfounded prince, I crumpled and tore the paper we were using.
At my sudden action, the guards flinched and looked as if they were about to rush in, but…
Who among them would care more about the paper that the prince and I wrote on than the prince’s safety?
“A bad result must be torn away. It’s much better to tear it up and pretend it never happened than to leave it as it is and try again.”
“…You’ll help me?”
“Of course. I can’t just send Your Highness away like this.”
Rip, rip, rip.
I crumpled and tore the paper to shreds, making it completely unreadable, and scattered it on the table.
The prince, still dumbfounded and bewildered, looked at me.
“I’m a Fortune Teller, aren’t I? I’m needed in situations like this.”
“…Huh, haha. Yes.”
He hid his bewilderment and only showed gratitude on his face.
That was an act. An act to deceive the eyes watching him… his guards.
An act of being grateful to the Fortune Teller who offered to help with the bad result of the love fortune-telling.
But I could see the prince’s true feelings.
‘He’s suspicious of me.’
He might even think he’s been caught in a trap.
One of his guards is a traitor, so he had no choice but to choose a Fortune Teller as a messenger, and that Fortune Teller knows about the assassination?
It was only natural to be suspicious. Even if it wasn’t Liu, anyone would be suspicious.
‘But this is an opportunity.’
It wasn’t easy to gain the trust of the prince and princess. Their character events were difficult and occurred later on.
But if I intervened in the ‘princess assassination attempt’ that I could only watch unfold in the game,
“Then, when should we do the next fortune-telling?”
“…Tomorrow.”
“Understood. Please contact me when you decide on the time and place!”
One day until our next meeting. During that day, the prince would thoroughly investigate me.
But I’m already a pro who has been investigated twice by Liu and Rain.
A true pro is confident. Because there’s nothing to find even if they investigate!
“Farewell.”
“…Yes.”
Now then, first,
Shall we go see the princess?