NOVEL NEXT Chapter 34
Chapter 34
Thus Saith the Fortune Teller (4)
『 Translator – Divinity 』
Everyone.
Understanding what those words meant, the prince’s expression hardened for a moment.
He knew there was an assassin among his guards, but was it so unexpected that it was all six of them?
Thud.
The prince, who had been holding onto the pen while acting, put it down and leaned back comfortably in the plush chair.
“Everyone…”
“Yes, that is correct.”
“Haha. That is truly…”
Fortunate.
The prince quietly muttered, not hiding his following words.
He was relieved that the assassins were all his close aides.
Was it because the mastermind behind the princess’s assassination was the prince himself?
‘No.’
No. Although the prince and princess might be at odds, they wouldn’t try to kill each other.
This was because the princess, who was more competent than the prince, had voluntarily given up her claim to the throne, and the prince knew well that she had taken the dark side of the imperial family in exchange.
This was especially true because they were siblings who knew better than anyone what kind of repercussions would occur if they killed each other.
Then why was the prince muttering that it was fortunate?
“Are you so happy that your compatibility with that woman is perfect?”
“Of course I am. It was a problem that was bothering me quite a bit.”
As he said, this assassination issue was a big concern for the prince.
The prince wasn’t trying to assassinate the princess. And there was no reason for the princess to stage it herself, and the other factions within the imperial family had been taken care of long ago.
Was there anyone else who could harm the princess?
There was. There was someone more powerful than the prince and princess.
‘The Emperor.’
The current emperor of the Unified Korean Empire, Kim Seo-joon.
It was something he could definitely do. The prince must have been truly worried about the tragedy of a father-daughter conflict.
Even if they were a threat to the throne, even if they had to share power, even if they were at odds,
They were family.
They were the people Prince Kim Seong-il loved most.
“I’m glad your worries are resolved, Your Highness.”
Then why was the prince relieved that there were six assassins?
…Actually, there were many strange things about this assassination attempt from the beginning.
‘First, sending the assassination warning.’
An assassination isn’t child’s play, and logically, no one would send a warning letter for the assassination of an important figure like the princess.
But well, let’s say it’s possible. The assassins might have a sense of honor (lol).
‘Secondly, the assassins are the prince’s guards.’
Why would the assassins be among the prince’s guards instead of just infiltrating the royal residence?
The prince’s guards had the extremely demanding job of never leaving the prince’s side. This meant it was impossible for them to secretly approach the princess or the royal residence privately.
‘Thirdly, all six of them are assassins.’
It’s not like having more assassins is always better, and if even one of them were caught, the whole plan would be ruined, so there’s no reason to deploy so many people.
Especially since the target was the princess, a politically influential figure, it would be even more unlikely if there was a chance of being caught.
If there was only one assassin, the prince would have been truly wary of the assassination, but he was rather relieved at the absurd number of six.
Why?
‘Because it’s not a real assassination attempt.’
Sending the assassination warning, the assassins being the prince’s guards, and there being six of them.
These were all possible because this assassination attempt itself was a lie.
That’s also why I could be relaxed in a situation where the princess could actually be assassinated.
If it were truly dangerous, I would have told the princess who the assassins were. I wouldn’t have made strange excuses about the assassins being wary or anything.
I made those bold claims to the princess because I knew the assassination itself was a lie.
“So, what are you going to do?”
This incident was caused by the prince’s subordinates going rogue.
Even if the prince himself trusted the princess, the fact that a royal with the qualifications and ability to aim for the emperor’s position was alive was a threat to the prince’s supporters.
But they couldn’t actually eliminate her, so their goal was to threaten the princess with assassination and make her withdraw.
Why did they send the assassination warning?
‘Because their goal was to threaten the princess with the possibility of assassination.’
Why the prince’s guards?
‘Because they were part of the prince’s faction in the first place.’
Why all six of them?
‘Because it would be impossible otherwise.’
The fact that someone among the guards could leave their post, the fact that the prince’s messages to the princess were constantly being intercepted,
These were all impossible from the beginning if all the guards weren’t involved.
The prince immediately realized all of this and grasped the whole story.
But there was one thing these subordinates overlooked.
“Now that I’ve seen the compatibility… I have to take action myself.”
The prince was more family-oriented than they imagined.
He wouldn’t let his subordinates’ reckless actions slide. So what if they didn’t actually intend to kill her? Attempted murder was still a crime.
In other words, this incident showed an appealing side to the prince, a surprisingly warm heart despite his character and appearance…
‘The beginning of… the dating sim.’
Yes. I can’t forget, but…
This is a female-oriented dating sim game. And in this game, Prince Kim Seong-il is a main capture target.
Originally, it was an event where the female protagonist, who resolved the assassination incident, met with the prince, learned the truth, and became closer to him.
And the story of the princess, the main culprit behind the assassination incident?
It just ends with a few lines. This is a female-oriented game, you know? They’re busy telling the story of the capture target (the prince), why would they give importance to another female character?
I keep forgetting because the girls I used to hang out with were like Liu and Rain.
“You’re going to take action yourself?”
“Of course. For such an important matter… I can’t leave it to anyone else.”
“That’s a wise decision.”
Because of this incident, all of the prince’s guards would be replaced, and those who ordered the assassination threat against the princess would be immediately expelled.
Well, it was questionable how the prince’s leadership allowed all of his closest aides to be involved in this incident, but…
‘Whatever.’
There wouldn’t be any other incidents after this, so he must have tightened his control this time.
“Thank you, Namgung Min. I was a bit uneasy about the fortune-telling, but it feels like everything has been cleared up this time.”
“It’s an honor.”
The princess was glad to be free from the assassination threat, the prince was glad to have cleaned up his rebellious faction, and I was glad to have properly gotten acquainted with the prince and princess.
Everyone was happy, so all’s well that ends well.
I held the prince’s outstretched hand with both of mine as he got up from his seat.
Both the prince and I,
were smiling.
***
The following matters were resolved smoothly.
The prince started to reform his faction the day after our conversation, and all the guards were replaced.
Naturally, since it was an internal matter of the imperial family, Romance Academy was peaceful.
“…And that’s how the matter was resolved.”
“…I see.”
Thanks to that, I could meet with the princess and talk with a smile like this.
Instead of the prince, who was busy reorganizing his faction, I was to convey the whole story of the assassination incident to the princess.
She seemed relieved at the explanation that there was never a real assassination attempt from the beginning.
Right after taking a sip of the obviously luxurious black tea and barely swallowing it down due to its devastatingly bitter taste, pushing the teacup aside,
The princess, who could actually drink that bitter stuff, opened her mouth.
“Actually, I was anxious.”
“That’s only natural.”
“Even though I said I trusted you, I was trembling in fear. I’m confident in my strength, but it doesn’t make me invincible. More than that, the fact that I could be attacked was also painful.”
That’s what the prince’s faction wanted.
To make the princess withdraw through the threat of assassination and diminish her authority and influence.
That was the reason for the assassination warning, and they were probably planning to continue threatening her in this way.
“But… it’s truly resolved. Because I trusted and entrusted you…”
“As the Fortune Teller says, didn’t I tell you to trust only me?”
The princess looked at me with a renewed gaze.
What I felt from those eyes was trust.
Faith in the Fortune Teller named Namgung Min.
“Fortune-telling is… truly amazing.”
Princess Kim Eun-ha felt all her preconceived notions about fortune-telling shattering.
She thought fortune-telling was just a superstition, something only those lacking in confidence would cling to, a scam to extort money, but…
Were Fortune Tellers such amazing beings?
“…Your Highness, there’s something you must keep in mind.”
“Yes?”
“Don’t believe in fortune-telling.”
“…Excuse me?”
Don’t believe in fortune-telling?
Escaping the maze, passing the class in one day, this matter being resolved, it was all thanks to fortune-telling.
Then why—
“Believe in me, not in fortune-telling.”
“……….”
“All other Fortune Tellers besides me are frauds. Only I am real, and I can tell you the truth, Your Highness.”
Namgung Min’s eyes were so serious as he said that.
He was speaking with a grave expression, without his usual smile.
The princess, Kim Eun-ha,
“…Yes.”
nodded.
It was a scene that, if anyone saw, would make them think the princess was being deceived by a swindler of a Fortune Teller.
“Well, the atmosphere has become a bit heavy. Your Highness, how is the academy these days?”
“Are you asking that to a fellow student? Well, the next class is on Monday next week, so it’s a break until then.”
“Although I’m also a part of it, the other students are busy with classes and such, but the special class is quite unique.”
“I heard that the special class wasn’t much different originally. But this time, the academy is holding an urgent meeting.”
“A meeting… you say?”
A meeting? A meeting.
There wasn’t anything special after the princess assassination attempt.
Just small interactions with the capture targets, developing my job through training, attending the academy, and then…
‘The first major event would come.’
An event that was on a different scale from the entrance ceremony or the princess assassination attempt, a huge event both for the academy and the game.
The ‘midterm exams’ and the ‘Skill Thief’ event were coming.
‘To intervene in the Skill Thief event, I need to be at least within the top 5 in the midterm exams…’
Come to think of it, I’m the second-best student, don’t I have a special event?
The top student had an event to raise their aptitude, and I remember the second-best student also having something similar.
But it’s not like I can just go and ask “I’m the second-best student, don’t you have anything for me?”…
“Are you curious about what kind of meeting it is?”
“…Don’t tell me, can royalty know about the internal affairs of the academy?”
“Where do you think the biggest donor to Romance Academy is?”
Is this that political and business collusion? Or school corruption?
Still, the fact that she’s telling me this… can be seen as proof that the princess trusts me quite a bit.
I have no intention of revealing this, and it feels good to have my relationship of trust with the princess confirmed.
“I would like to hear it.”
“Huhu, I knew you’d be curious. It’s nothing special, the academy is planning to penalize a certain student.”
“A penalty?”
And it’s on an academy level?
No, who caused trouble when it hasn’t even been that long since we enrolled?
“Whoever that delinquent student is, they must be something else. It hasn’t even been a week since the entrance ceremony.”
“I know, right? I’m telling you because it’s not really important news.”
“I’m deeply grateful for your grace, Your Highness.”
“Words are…”
The princess was smiling brightly as she spoke. Just a few days ago, she was barely managing a smile because of the assassination threat.
That insignificant smile becomes my motivation to continue intervening and acting.
For a perfect ending where no one becomes unhappy.
…More importantly, it’s about time.
“Your Highness, I think I should be going now. I have things to do afterwards.”
The basic etiquette towards royalty, which I also said when we parted last time.
At those words, the princess…
“…If you wish, you may stay longer.”
…replied with a gentle smile.
Although a part of my heart felt ticklish at the different reaction from last time, I really did have things to do this time.
“I’m serious this time. I’ll see you in the next class.”
“Yes. See you then, Namgung Min.”
…She doesn’t add “mr.” anymore.
Was that the princess’s way of distinction?
Receiving her farewell, I walked out the door.
“I will guide you.”
“Yes.”
Waiting for me outside was the same servant from before.
To him, who was still looking at me with suspicion,
I approached first.
“How is your work?”
“Casual conversation about work is prohibited.”
“Ah, I misspoke.”
For the sake of the ‘things to do’,
I looked at the servant once again.
“I’m asking about other matters.”
“What do you mean—”
“For example, cooperation?”
“………….”
The servant still looked at me with suspicion.
What are you going to do by looking at me like that? You, who tried to actually assassinate the princess by distorting orders.
“You know that all of the prince’s aides have been replaced, right?”
“……….”
“So, you should have chosen the right side.”
Even though the prince’s faction didn’t actually intend to assassinate the princess, the princess assassination attempt did happen.
That’s why the academy was in an uproar, and the player could intervene.
Then who exactly tried to assassinate the princess?
Which of the prince’s guards would send an assassination warning to the princess in the royal residence and try to infiltrate the royal residence to assassinate her?
‘Of course, it would be the assassin’s accomplice who was in the royal residence.’
The reason why I tried to smooth things over when I first talked to the princess.
It was this servant, the assassin’s accomplice, who was outside the door.
The reason he told the princess that the assassination would happen in three days was that he was actually going to attempt the assassination in three days.
“The prince’s wrath will reach you in an instant. Because his aides will report you.”
“….”
“How does it feel to have your downfall set in stone?”
“…Shut up!”
He instantly drew the blade hidden at his waist and swung it at me.
But I wasn’t so weak as to lose to an ordinary person who wasn’t even a job holder. I was still superhuman, after all.
I lightly twisted my body to dodge the blade, kicked his hand to make him drop it, and grabbed him by the collar.
“Gasp, ack!”
“Do you really think you came here to assassinate the princess? The princess is a
It was truly ironic.
Even though it was a foolish idea, it must have been an assassination threat planned by those so-called elites.
But to send an idiot as the on-site agent and ruin everything.
“People will be here soon because of the commotion.”
“Cough…”
“Be grateful that you’re being caught like this.”
I caught him first this time, but even in the original game, this guy was caught with his whole body fractured by the princess’s reflexive punch right after the assassination attempt.
It was a rather anticlimactic backstory where the guy, who was originally an imperial servant, had been secretly hiding his hobby of killing people, but after coming to the royal residence and receiving the order to threaten the princess with assassination, he just went ahead and did it out of spite.
But that was an anticlimactic story in the game, in reality, he’s a murderer who could kill someone at any moment!
There’s no telling what kind of butterfly effect would happen if I left this guy alone, so of course I had to do something.
Since I couldn’t tell the relieved princess that this guy was actually going to attempt an assassination, the excuse that he tried to kill me, the princess’s guest, with a knife should be enough.
“Cough… ack…”
“You’ll probably rot in prison for the rest of your life… You seem to have a look of injustice. Why? Because you haven’t assassinated yet, so it’s not a crime?”
It was truly absurd for someone who had already killed several people. So it’s not a crime because he hasn’t been caught yet?
That’s why I continued to mock the servant until the end.
So that this murderer’s end would be as painful as possible.
“I, the Fortune Teller, say this.”
“Ugh, ack!”
“—Over there! I heard a sound from there!”
“You are a sinner. That is what my fortune-telling revealed.”
Although I hated fortune-telling and Fortune Tellers,
At this moment, it felt pretty good.
***
“…Ah, please.”
“I, the vice-principal of Romance Academy, say this.”
“No, right? Vice-principal, this isn’t right, is it?”
“We will restrict Namgung Min’s fortune-telling.”
Damn it.
The one being penalized is me?