A fortune-telling princess

[Are you looking at the map now?]

“Yes,” Camilla nodded lightly in response to the ghostly chef Ferrol’s question.

[You’ve looked at it before.]

“I have.”

It seemed she needed to hasten preparations to flee to the farthest place from here.

After visiting the market yesterday, her realization had solidified. No matter how she looked at it, she couldn’t stay here for long.

‘How is it that everyone around me is completely insane?!’

Petro. Annoying and insufferable, but at least she thought he was relatively normal.

He was always kind to others, couldn’t ignore those in need, and, in every sense, seemed like a good person. That was how she had always perceived him. However, his excessive kindness toward everyone, especially women, had always been irritating.

‘But….’

What was with his behavior yesterday?

‘It was utterly creepy.’

Seeing him with blood on his face, smiling softly as always, felt like watching a thriller movie.

“Haah.”

Thankfully, the men he had killed had a terrible reputation, so it didn’t become a major issue.

Thanks to the enthusiastic testimonies of nearby merchants, Petro avoided any legal consequences.

‘Being the son of a duke’s household certainly helped.’

The three ducal houses, known as protectors of the empire, could administer swift justice against others. But still, how could he act without the slightest hesitation…?

What was more horrifying was what happened after they died. It was clear that those men had committed numerous heinous acts while alive. Their souls were dragged away in a manner unlike any other.

Countless black hands emerged from the ground, seizing them and pulling them downward, deeper and deeper.

[Aaaahhh!]

[No! Nooooooo!]

Even now, their desperate screams lingered vividly in her ears.

‘They must have instinctively realized it.’

They knew that the place they were being dragged to was anything but pleasant. Although she’d never been there herself, it must have been something akin to hell.

‘I definitely don’t want to see that again.’

While the screams of the living were unpleasant, the wails of the dead were even more unsettling to hear.

“Miss.”

“Hmm?”

Before long, the butler, Luve, came to find Camilla.

“A guest has arrived.”

“A guest?”

Tilting her head curiously, Camilla rose from her seat and headed outside.

***

“Lady Camilla!”

“….”

An unexpected figure awaited her in the drawing room. Lila, smiling brightly, rushed toward her.

“What brings you all the way here?”

“I came to thank you!”

Thank her?

“I couldn’t properly express my gratitude yesterday…!”

“Well then,” Camilla began.

As much as she wanted to avoid Lila, she couldn’t just send away someone who had come all the way to her home. She offered her a seat.

“Oh… um….”

“…?”

“The weather is so beautiful today, isn’t it?”

“And?”

“I was wondering if you’d like to spend some time outside. I also have something to give you….”

Now that she mentioned it, Lila was holding a rather large basket. It seemed she had brought some food.

“Let’s go to the garden, then.”

Since the weather was indeed lovely, Camilla readily agreed.

A short while later, the two left the drawing room and headed toward the nearby garden. There was even a table prepared for enjoying tea.

“This place is so beautiful,” Lila said, her smile widening as she admired the flowers in full bloom around them.

After gazing at the garden for a while, she began unpacking the contents of her basket. As expected, the basket was full of food.

[Ohho.]

Ferrol was the first to react.

The basket contained a cake topped with fresh strawberries, a blueberry pie, freshly baked warm bread, high-quality butter, and fresh fruit juice chilled with ice.

“I hope it suits your taste,” Lila said.

“….”

“I’ve received so much help from you, and I wanted to give something back, but this is all I’m good at.”

“You made all this?”

“Yes! Even the butter—I churned it myself this morning.”

It was clearly not the work of an amateur. Camilla spread some of the still-warm bread with butter and took a bite.

“…!”

What was this? The flavor was incredible!

She wasn’t particularly a food critic with a refined palate, but anyone could appreciate the richness and depth of this butter’s flavor.

“It’s delicious.”

“R-Really?”

At Camilla’s words, Lila’s face lit up with a radiant smile. Just moments earlier, she had been watching Camilla nervously, but now she let out a long sigh of relief.

“The strawberries and blueberries—I grew them myself.”

“You farm as well?”

“Yes! Though calling it farming is a bit much. I just grow small things for me and my family. This summer, we’ll have potatoes and corn too—I’ve planted plenty!”

As Lila spoke about her crops, her eyes sparkled brighter than ever.

“…”

Watching her, Camilla felt a strange sensation.

‘I kind of get it now.’

She could see why men adored and cherished Lila so much.

Even Camilla, who had found her naivety frustratingly foolish, now felt oddly at ease watching her.

Yes, ease. Being with her seemed to soften the sharp edge her nerves had taken on just moments ago.

“This season’s weather has been so great that everything is growing really well.”

Seeing Lila so genuinely happy over something as simple as thriving crops, Camilla couldn’t help but feel like smiling along with her.

‘My worries feel pointless.’

There was certainly something about her that disarmed people.

“Thank you so much for yesterday. And I’m really sorry. It feels like you always end up in trouble because of me….” Lila bowed deeply.

“I wanted to give you something more precious… I’m sorry.”

“I like it.”

“What?”

“This kind of thing. I like it.”

Lila’s eyes widened in surprise, as if she couldn’t believe what she’d heard. Camilla began sampling the other desserts one by one.

[I want to try some too! Ugh, it’s so frustrating.]

Ferrol, who had been loudly exclaiming his excitement, looked more agitated than ever. Judging by his reaction, Lila’s food was no ordinary fare.

‘Should I share some with him?’

Though she could make it so ghosts could taste food by delivering it to them herself, she hesitated. If Ferrol found out, he’d never leave her alone.

[I want to taste it so badly…!]

…It seemed she’d have to give him something after all.

‘What a life I lead.’

Sighing at the sniffling ghost, Camilla relented.

***

“What? No way.”

“Is that real?”

“How….”

The midterm results were out, and the ranking board posted in the hallway left the students gaping in disbelief.

The top-ranked name was completely unexpected.

<2nd Year Top Ranker – Camilla Sorpel>

Camilla’s name was at the top, with a perfect score that was almost hard to believe. Students rubbed their eyes and double-checked multiple times.

“Someone who was always at the bottom….”

“Is that even possible?”

“No way!”

Until recently, Camilla’s grades had always been among the lowest. While she didn’t lack effort, her results were never great.

And now she was the top student? With a perfect score? It seemed impossible.

‘Let’s see how well you do after taking the same test fifty times.’

If they went through what she did, anyone could achieve such scores.

Unfazed by the students’ stunned gazes, Camilla remained calm. The outcome wasn’t surprising to her.

[Wow! What’s your secret to suddenly improving your grades?]

The ghostly student Amy, who had appeared out of nowhere, marveled beside her.

[Did you cheat using ghosts? No, that can’t be it—I was in the classroom the whole time during the test.]

Ignoring Amy’s questions, Camilla focused her attention elsewhere.

‘What surprises me more is this.’

Her gaze landed on the 3rd Year ranking board. Familiar names appeared there as well. The name at the very top wasn’t particularly shocking.

<3rd Year Top Ranker – Petro Jabilon>

‘That guy, as always.’

Petro had never once let go of the top spot since his first year.

What caught Camilla’s eye was the name in fifth place.

Someone who had been even lower than her before. Known for turning in blank exam sheets and driving professors crazy, Arsion had finally made it into the top ranks.

“What’s with this change?”

“Who, me?”

Arsion’s voice came from directly behind her, startling her.

“Have you ever seen a dumb wizard?”

“You.”

“…”

Arsion frowned at her comment, making Camilla chuckle softly.

Recently, Arsion had been diligently attending classes without skipping. His harsh personality hadn’t changed, so people still avoided him, but at least he was making an effort.

Even now, his mere presence caused nearby students to scatter.

“What’s that beside you?” Arsion asked, glancing toward Amy. She flinched at his question, having been hiding behind Camilla since his arrival.

“That ghost you tried to get rid of before.”

“Why does it keep sticking to you?”

“Who knows.”

Watching Arsion’s confusion over her relationship with ghosts, Camilla smirked.

‘To others, you seem stranger.’

From afar, the students exchanged increasingly bewildered glances, staring at Camilla and Arsion alternately.

It wasn’t often that Arsion willingly approached someone and started a conversation.