A fortune-telling princess

“Why the sudden change of heart?”

“Well, nothing special. I didn’t find any classes particularly interesting.”

Camilla had looked at a few other clubs, but none of them appealed to her. Most were filled with aristocrats and their refined tastes, making them unapproachable.

If she had to join something, it might as well be a club with someone she knew, and where there was someone genuinely eager for her participation.

“And I got a request.”

“A request?”

“…Something like that.”

Damn it… She didn’t want to care about it, not even a little. But completely ignoring the headmistress’s plea didn’t sit right with her either.

There was no advantage to antagonizing someone who had been revered as a saint. Besides, playing with the kids once in a while wasn’t so bad.

‘What was the little one’s name? Rio?’

The four-year-old who had eagerly run to her, asking her to read a book, still lingered faintly in her mind.

“I should tell everyone the good news!”

“Tell who?”

“My club members!”

“Oh.”

“Since our club has fewer members than most, everyone’s been worried.”

That was no surprise. Who cared about a volunteer club these days?

‘Wouldn’t it close down right after I join?’

Unpopular clubs often faced closure. If they didn’t meet a minimum membership requirement, the academy would stop funding them the following semester.

“And I should inform the person planning to join as well!”

“Planning to join?”

“Yes!”

“Who’s that?”

Laila’s smile deepened.

“There’s someone. For sure.”

****

“…What kind of club?”

“Volunteer club.”

“Camilla joined that?”

“Yes!”

Arsion frowned. Laila had shown up unexpectedly, and he had been about to ignore her when she said something outrageous.

She claimed Camilla had dropped her swordsmanship classes and, instead of choosing a new major, joined a volunteer club.

‘That doesn’t suit her at all.’

Was she sick? Had she hit her head when she collapsed recently? There was no other way to explain it.

He recalled the bizarre grin on her face when he handed her the bank draft. That same woman, spending her money on charity work?

“Our club is surprisingly popular,” Laila said.

“I didn’t even know it existed until today.”

“Oh my, really?”

Laila feigned surprise effortlessly.

“Not long ago, Petro joined us too.”

“…Who?”

“Petro,” she repeated clearly.

Laila emphasized his name, letting it hang in the air.

“Petro and Camilla came with me to the orphanage last time.”

“They went together?”

“Yes! And they had a wonderful time.”

“……”

“They handed out candy, read books to the kids…”

“…Is there?”

“Pardon?”

“Does your club have room?”

Laila’s radiant smile was answer enough.

“Of course!”

Another member was secured.

****

“Hmm, this place is cleaner than I expected.”

[It may be a storage room, but it’s still part of the estate.]

Camilla had come to the storage room to organize unused items. From things she had used as a child to belongings of Ludville and Ravi, she intended to sort through them and donate what could be useful to the orphanage.

Though second-hand, everything was in pristine condition and of the highest quality. Leaving them to collect dust in the storage room seemed like a waste.

‘Money isn’t meant to be spent recklessly but saved wisely.’

Even in her past life as Isia, Camilla despised unnecessary expenses. She still winced at how much she had spent during her last visit to the orphanage.

Both Ludville and Rabi agreed readily when she mentioned her plans. Neither of them held much attachment to old possessions.

But…

Camilla had ignored Ravi’s strange gaze as usual.

[You could’ve assigned this task to others.]

Derin, the ghostly butler who had accompanied her, couldn’t hide his confusion.

[Sorting everything on your own will be exhausting.]

Normally, this would be a task for the maids or servants. Her insistence on doing it herself was baffling.

“I just wanted to take a look.”

[At what, exactly?]

“My old things.”

More specifically, the items from Camilla’s childhood—something she had no memory of.

She had witnessed countless events in Camilla’s life but never anything from her early years. She knew only scraps from what others mentioned: that Camilla’s family had been dirt poor and that her mother hadn’t cared for her much.

‘Maybe there’s a clue here.’

A diary, perhaps?

Yesterday’s conversation with Rabi had spurred her curiosity.

Camilla occasionally worried about her lack of memory from her early years. What if someone asked her about it?

While she could always chalk it up to typical childhood forgetfulness, Ravi’s comment had made her realize she needed to investigate.

[Over here are the things you used as a child.]

In one corner of the storage room were a few wooden boxes stacked neatly.

Camilla opened the top box. Inside were various items: clothing, toys, and, most notably, a shabby lion plushie.

“So, that’s it.”

It was unmistakably the cheap, worn toy Ravi had mentioned, standing out against the pristine condition of everything else.

“Ten years old, and they’re spotless.”

[Preservation magic was used on these boxes.]

“Preservation magic?”

[They were custom-made by the Magic Tower.]

“Wow.”

Even their storage boxes were enchanted. It was a testament to the Duke’s household.

[Are you donating everything here?]

“Yes.”

Camilla sorted through the items, separating what was appropriate to donate. She excluded anything overly extravagant or impractical for children.

‘No diary.’

Nothing resembling a journal turned up.

“Well, this isn’t bad.”

Satisfied with the growing pile of items to be donated, she moved on to Ludville and Ravi’s belongings.

“Oh?”

While sorting Ludville’s things, a glowing orb caught her attention.

“A memory crystal.”

[That’s…]

“What?”

[…Nothing.]

She picked up the orb, curiosity piqued. Why was it here?

“Oh…”

The crystal played a tender family memory. A beautiful woman appeared, and Camilla immediately recognized her.