I Became a Fortune Teller in the Game My Little Sister Made – Chapter 31

Five days after finishing the grueling first class.

Instructor Redfield didn’t change his words. He sent us five home, leaving only the ones who failed: the Hero and the Saint, and Crown Prince Kim Sung-il.

During this rare moment of free time, I found myself thinking about skills, upcoming events, and the looming Midterm Exam.

Not even a day went by. After preparing a ton of things, I had way too much time on my hands.

So, I thought of meeting Liu or the Crown Princess, but they only said they’d meet next time. The Arthur siblings were a bit awkward to approach from this side.

After loafing around for a day, I strolled through the Academy for the past few days.

“Honestly, I’m a bit flustered.”

“I understand.”

…Caught.

Before I knew it, I was half-dragged into a classroom in a building by Crown Prince Kim Sung-il and the students who enrolled at the Academy as his bodyguards.

I found myself sitting in a lavish chair that seemed out of place and glanced around.

‘There are six of them.’

Crown Prince Kim Sung-il sat opposite me, surrounded by six students standing guard.

Three burly boys, a rather cocky-looking guy with glasses, and two girls staring at me with strange expressions.

All these people were privileges of Crown Prince Kim Sung-il.

‘Honestly, I didn’t realize in the game… but being the heir of a superpower is something else.’

It didn’t even make sense for a crown prince destined for the throne to come to the Academy.

Yet here he was? Did my younger sister impulsively decide she wanted to pursue the prince?

As a result, the Academy allowed the prince’s aides to enroll as an exception for risk mitigation.

Of course, they were merely called students; they weren’t actually attending Romance Academy, but were just given a reason to follow the prince around.

But.

“First, thank you for finding this inconsequential fortuneteller.”

“No problem.”

“However, if I may ask… what about a love reading…?”

What the hell is this ridiculous love reading nonsense?

There weren’t any events like that for you, right? You were just a one-track, lovesick idiot staring only at the protagonist, right?

“Literally, that’s what it is.”

“…You really mean a love reading?”

“Yeah.”

No matter what I asked, the prince answered with curt, indifferent responses.

It didn’t irritate me since I knew it was an act.

‘Can’t you see your aides’ expressions!?’

Reject it. Reject it. Reject it.

Those standing behind you are shooting all kinds of looks at me! They’re pressing you to categorically reject me!

Sure, I’d be baffled too if the next emperor suddenly got love-struck and called a fortuneteller for a love reading.

But then why talk to me instead of the prince directly?

Aren’t these guys just strong on the outside and weak on the inside?

“Your Highness, may I have a word?”

“Go ahead.”

“Love readings are the most uncertain form of divination. People’s hearts are not easily discernible through readings, and even if they are, love can change in an instant.”

If someone came for a reading, they were almost always looking for one of three things.

The future, academics, love.

Love readings are popular like that, and in reality, they can be seen through various means: compatibility, fortune, birthdates, Tarot, physiognomy, and more.

However, the truth is love readings are the most nonsensical of all the divinations.

“Continue.”

“To peer into someone’s heart through readings is to disregard human relations, and attempting to tie people together undermines divine order. Even if one receives good results, it can change with just a slight alteration in circumstance.”

What? You received a good reading, confessed, and they accepted you?

Then they must have had feelings for you from the start. It wasn’t because of the reading.

What? You got a bad reading, so you didn’t confess?

What’s the difference from not reading at all?

That’s how readings work. If things go well, it’s thanks to the reading; if not, it’s your fault.

Thus, those who seek love readings are not really following the reading; they’re trying to gain a sort of ‘courage.’

They think, since the reading was good, it’s destined to work.

They gain courage from that reading to confess. Even if they get rejected, not many blame the reading for it. They never truly believed in the reading from the start.

But what if they get accepted? Ah, thanks to the reading, they’ll keep going back to that fortuneteller.

This is the way of scammers.

“Therefore, rather than seeking a love reading from me, I think it would be wiser to confess directly or build a relationship.”

“……….”

As I phrased it delicately, the aides regarded me with approving glances or nodded their heads.

No, you should be the ones advising him! Why are you making me do it?

Anyway, having said this much, he wouldn’t insist on going through with it…

“Still, I’ll ask you.”

“……….”

…Ugh, something feels off.

Despite politely refusing, he seems determined to push ahead, and so the aides’ expressions turn to one of confusion.

Right, Crown Prince Kim Sung-il isn’t like this. It’s odd that he even came to me in the first place.

He despises occupations like “Fortuneteller.”

He loathes jobs deemed useless for state management, like “Fortuneteller,” “Hero,” “Singer.”

Is he an efficiency freak? Whatever, he has his own staunch criteria.

But for him to seek a reading? Not via a summons, but coming directly?

‘Something feels off.’

Let’s think it over.

Crown Prince Kim Sung-il intentionally sought me out. In other words, he has something he wants to say or something he wants to hear from me.

He brought up the love reading as an excuse and is pushing it to the extreme.

Why? What connection is there between Crown Prince Kim Sung-il and me?

…Could it be?

“Well, if that’s how your Highness says it… would you mind stepping aside for a moment?”

“What? Hey, what’s that supposed to mean?”

“Love readings are quite sensitive. If too many people are close to the person receiving the reading, their love fortunes might mix…”

“Is that… really so?”

“Yes, I’m not asking you to leave the room entirely. Just stay pressed against the wall.”

“Hey, we’re assigned to guard you, your Highness. We can’t just follow such ridiculous requests…!”

Sure, it would be absurd to suddenly ask them to leave. But I felt just as absurd, you idiots.

And being close will mix our love fortunes? That’s obviously nonsense. Even someone clueless about readings would think that makes no sense.

But.

“Step back.”

“Y-Your Highness! If something happens to you…”

“Step back.”

“…Yes, understood.”

There we go. I expected them to help me.

Crown Prince’s command, plus my supposed reputation as a decent (albeit quirky) fortuneteller. Plus, they probably did background checks on me; they figured I have no grudges against the prince and as a non-combat job, I wouldn’t pose a threat either.

That’s enough to push the bodyguards towards the wall. If it had been to leave completely, they would’ve never complied, but sticking to the wall is no trouble.

“Now, let’s begin the love reading. First, I’ll draw a picture while I ask questions on this paper. Your Highness, please respond while following along with the drawing.”

“Alright.”

And this room is pretty spacious.

If we inch towards the wall, only our heads will barely be visible in the center of the room.

If I hunch a bit, even if the bodyguards are a combat job, it would be hard for them to see what’s written on the paper between us.

I leaned forward first, hiding the paper and began to move the pen.

“Shall I read compatibility with that person?”

[Could it be concerning the Crown Princess?]

“Yeah. It’d be great to check both compatibility and love fortunes.”

[Good thing I noticed quickly. Thanks.]

“Don’t mention it. Now, I’ll draw a picture of the woman, so could you please have a look?”

[Will this method be safe? Can we avoid the aides’ eyes?]

“It’s an interesting approach. I understand.”

[This should be fine.]

Sure enough.

From the way he’s trying to communicate yet staying so passive, it seems he has something secret to discuss.

If there had been no issue, he would have contacted me directly. The fact that he chose this means he wants to talk without his aides’ eyes on us.

The last connecting point between the prince and me is obviously Crown Princess Kim Eun-ha.

But why specifically approach me? What have I done to the princess?

‘Umm…’

I haven’t done anything.

Just breaking down walls, trading good deeds, making paths up mountains, and dealing with that insane knight year.

Not much to it. I guess I’ll find out when I talk.

“Could I know the name of the lady?”

[Can I ask what for?]

“I’m still not sure. I want to approach her slowly.”

[I’d like to ask you to be my messenger. There are too many eyes around me.]

“Well then, what about her appearance?”

[Is this a message for the Crown Princess?]

“That’s no trouble at all.”

[Alright.]

A message for the Crown Princess; there are too many eyes around.

…Starting to catch on.

“So, while thinking of that person, please write down her description.”

[What should I say?]

“Long hair, beautiful eyes, a prominent nose, red lips, big eyes, a lovely smile. A beautiful woman.”

[‘What I love and protect,’ that should suffice. No need to know more.]

“Got it.”

[Understood.]

Now I finally understand the situation.

The prince has something he secretly wants to convey to the princess, and given there are too many eyes on him, he wants to relay it through me.

There are other students he could use as intermediaries, but somehow, because I’m a citizen of the Unified Daehan Empire and showed a close proximity to the princess in the last class – plus, there’s a valid excuse of doing a love reading – I became a natural choice.

The unnecessary detail in the appearance description was a bit much, but whatever.

If I hadn’t picked up on it first, he might have chosen another way to contact me.

Anyway, if I say okay now and just convey this message, we’re done.

But.

“Okay, so could you draw a circle with that thought of hers in mind?”

[May I ask one thing?]

“Sure.”

[I’ll compensate you with money as reward.]

“Oh, once you’ve drawn the circle, could you also draw a triangle for me?”

[This is a different question.]

“Alright.”

[Since I’m the one requesting, I’m going to ask just one favor.]

Seems like I have to intervene here.

“You’ve drawn it now.”

[Who is it?]

“Right.”

[What does that mean?]

“…Um, it looks like a bit of a bad result came up.”

[Please tell me, who among the guards is trying to assassinate the Crown Princess?]

Snap.

The prince dropped his pen.

“…What?”

“It’s an unfortunate outcome, but I can help you a bit.”

Crack. Crack. Crack.

Dazed, the prince stood frozen while I crumpled the paper we used and shredded it violently.

The aides looked ready to rush in, startled by my sudden actions, but.

Among them, who would care more about the prince’s safety than the paper I wrote on with him?

“Bad outcomes should be torn up. It’s much better to shred it and pretend it never happened than to leave it as is and try again.”

“…You’re really going to help me?”

“Of course. I can’t let you go like this.”

Tear, tear, and tear again.

I crumpled it into a form where not even a letter could be deciphered and sprinkled it across the table.

The still-dazed yet flustered prince looked at me.

“Aren’t you supposed to be a fortuneteller? Surely you can help in situations like this.”

“…Hahaha, right.”

I hid my surprise and left only gratitude on my face.

That was an act. An act to deceive the watchful eyes over me… meaning an act to fool the bodyguards as well.

An act of gratitude towards a fortuneteller offering to help with a bad result reading.

Yet I saw through the prince’s true thoughts.

‘He suspects me.’

He might think he’s fallen into a trap.

What if one of the guards is a traitor, thus he was forced to choose a fortuneteller as a messenger, and then that fortuneteller knows about the assassination?

That’s undoubtedly worthy of suspicion. Even if it weren’t Liu, anyone would be skeptical.

‘But this is an opportunity.’

Gaining the trust of the prince and princess won’t be easy. Their character events are highly challenging and come into play at later points.

However, if I intervene during the ‘Crown Princess assassination attempt’ that I could only observe in the game…

“So, when shall we conduct the next reading?”

“…Tomorrow.”

“Understood. Please contact me with the specific time and place!”

Just one day until I meet him again. In that day, the prince will thoroughly investigate me.

But I’ve been thoroughly researched by Liu and Rain twice already, you know?

A real pro stands tall. You can try digging, but nothing will come up!

“Farewell.”

“…Yeah.”

Alright, then.

Shall I go meet the Crown Princess now?