I Became a Fortune Teller in the Game My Little Sister Made – Chapter 32

Unlike a few days ago when I was turned down with a “let’s meet next time,” today’s encounter with the Crown Princess was not difficult at all.

Well, that’s because the Crown Prince must have given some hint in one way or another.

“…Welcome.”

Sure, I did receive a suspicious glare from the maidservant attending the Crown Princess as I entered.

It was the kind of look that said, “How dare you meet the Crown Princess without an appointment?”

“Do you want to take over this? I’m having a headache trying to figure out what to do next.”

“When you meet the Crown Princess, show proper etiquette. Let me tell you the formalities you must adhere to—”

Ah, it’s boring right from the start. But I listened just in case.

If I had been a foreigner, they wouldn’t have gone this far, but of all things, being from the Daehan Empire seems to make them a lot more talkative.

Enduring the breathless lecture on formalities, I finally arrived at the top floor of the residence.

“…Welcome, Namgoong Min.”

“Thank you for your hospitality, Crown Princess.”

The Crown Princess’s reaction, showing surprise at seeing me though I knew someone would come, greeted me warmly.

She waved away the maid who guided me here and gestured to the chair across from her.

“Please, sit down.”

“Yes.”

The room was far too grand for one person. The lavish decorations and luxurious furniture, along with the sparkling chandelier, were awe-inspiring.

The floor was carpeted with a high-quality rug, soft underfoot, and the chair I sat on was extraordinary—neither too soft nor too hard, quite a marvel.

This is royalty, I realized.

It was a room that made me keenly aware of the positions of Crown Princess Kim Eun-ha and Crown Prince Kim Sung-il.

“So, you have something you wish to tell me?”

“Yes. Didn’t I say during our last lesson that I would do a fortune reading for you?”

“…Indeed, you did.”

Even though I brought up the topic of an appointment we never made, the Crown Princess accepted it without a hint of concern and carried on the conversation naturally.

If I just mentioned the Crown Prince’s message and left, the bystanders might look at me strangely, so I figured I’d use the excuse of a fortune reading to speak with her.

“Are we using tarot for the reading?”

“That is my specialty, but this time, it’s facial readings.”

“Facial readings…?”

Facial readings, which involve interpreting fortunes based on someone’s appearance.

It’s mainly about observing the face, like I did with that uniquely shaped senior, primarily focusing on their features.

By looking closely at specific parts of the face, I divide it into three sections: upper, middle, and lower, to predict future fortunes.

Given that facial readings give the fortuneteller plenty to talk about, it’s indeed easy to convey information.

“Since the Crown Princess is busy, we can’t chat for long, right? Let’s just look into your eyes.”

“My eyes?”

“In facial readings, the eyes are the most important part. They say if the face is worth a thousand nyang, the eyes are worth nine hundred nyang.”

Honestly, even though I was going to read her face, that was still an excuse.

It would be better just to talk casually.

“The Crown Princess’s eyes… are like a phoenix.”

“A phoenix?”

“The best kind of eyes among all, even better than the so-called emperor’s dragon eyes. Wealth and luck will flow in effortlessly, and it’s the gaze of an ambitious person who gets everything they desire.”

“…Ambitious.”

“That’s right.”

She might not actually have phoenix-like eyes, but what I said wasn’t wrong either.

She truly is the type to achieve whatever she wants. No wonder she’s a behind-the-scenes figure in the royal family!

“Furthermore, these phoenix eyes are something I cherish and wish to protect. They are exceedingly rare.”

“………!”

The Crown Princess’s eyes widened as she listened to my fortune reading.

The phrasing, “the one I cherish and wish to protect,” was the message of the Crown Prince’s secret code.

In fact, this code isn’t complicated at all. It’s just that the Chinese characters have been translated into our language.

“Liking means 好 (hao), and protecting means 衛 (wei).”

Thus, taking the sounds of both characters gives us “Houi.” With “I” at the beginning, it becomes “my guarding,” referring to the Crown Prince’s protection.

“But how is this even a code…?”

Ji-su, was it too bothersome for you to come up with a code? Or was this your best shot?

Isn’t it a little too simple for a code used between a Crown Prince and a Crown Princess?

…But, as long as the message was conveyed well, there shouldn’t be a problem.

Anyway, I conveyed it fairly naturally, so if the Crown Princess just picks up on it without showing any sign…

“Indeed.”

“…Crown Princess?”

“Yes… I see now.”

…Uh, shouldn’t her reaction be a little more natural?

The Crown Prince’s “my protection” indicates that someone intending to assassinate the Crown Princess is hiding among his protectors.

And obviously, around the assassination target, the Crown Princess, there must be someone involved with the assassin.

Although it’s just the Crown Princess and me in this room now, there will be listening devices and cameras set up for her security.

But now, out of nowhere, while she was having her fortune read, the Crown Princess suddenly makes a serious remark like “So that’s what it is?”

Anyone witnessing that would clearly see it as suspicious behavior.

I need to somehow manage this…!

“Haha, Crown Princess, don’t think like that.”

“…Oh, really?”

“Your eyes being like phoenix eyes is not the sole reason for your current position, after all. Truthfully, as a fortuneteller, I find it a bit dubious to say this, but facial reading is just superstition. No need to worry.”

“………Ah.”

Finally regaining her senses, the Crown Princess stopped talking to herself and looked at me.

Yes, I’ve saved you. Remember not to throw a royal punch at me later, okay?

“You seem to believe in fortune-telling more than I expected.”

“…Yes. Yeah, I got so absorbed because it felt like such a spot-on prediction.”

It was a slightly awkward conclusion, but still better than her only muttering to herself earlier.

‘It’s about time to get up.’

Meetings with the Crown Princess aren’t meant to last long. Unlike someone like me, who has nothing to do, the Crown Princess has many responsibilities.

Even though I came here without an appointment, this amount of time is probably the limit.

“Crown Princess, I think it’s time for me to take my leave. I have other matters to attend to.”

“Is that so? Then it can’t be helped.”

There’s no work waiting for me. It’s just that I received a lecture on etiquette from the maid when I walked in.

How much easier it would be if we could just converse plainly like in the mountains? These pointless formalities are truly puzzling.

“I’ll see you in the next class, Crown Princess.”

“…Sure.”

Hmm? Was there an awkward pause there at the end?

No, she’s smiling and even waving her hand, so I must have misheard.

As I left the top floor, I received the same suspicious gaze from the maid, which made me feel a tinge of self-loathing for sending a message.

But stepping out of that dazzling space, I felt a sense of liberation.

‘So, shall I take a stroll?’

After all, until the day I meet the Crown Prince tomorrow, there’s nothing I can do.

The ‘assassination attempt on the Crown Princess’ event is something I can’t interfere with in the game either. Players find themselves caught up in events only after the assassination attempt has already occurred.

What’s more, even if I were to act right now, I have no way of entering the royal residence where the assassination is likely to take place.

Maybe I should just take a stroll and sort out my thoughts as I walk aimlessly…

“…Huh?”

…Was that all?

What’s going on?

“………….”

It was a strange feeling.

The back of my neck tingled, and I felt an uneasy itch, a chill running down my spine.

It felt as if someone was blatantly watching me.

Would this be how someone feels if they realize they’re being followed?

But.

‘I couldn’t possibly notice that someone is following me, could I?’

Whether it’s Rain’s tailing or the people who do background checks on me so well.

I can’t sense a follower like some cool protagonist from a game. It’s probably my dreadful physical aptitude that’s to blame.

Because of that, I feel even more uneasy.

With normal skills, I shouldn’t be able to find out I’m being followed. So then…

“……….”

I changed my pace.

From within the Academy to outside, from outside to the marketplace, from the marketplace to a back alley.

Reaching the darkest, most secluded spot I could find, only then did I truly sense a presence behind me.

“Who is it?”

“………….”

That was a pretty foolish question. Would they answer if I asked who they were?

Still, I needed to buy some time.

‘Is it Liu? Rain? Someone from the Crown Prince’s side? Or maybe from the Crown Princess’s side? Or possibly an assassin?’

So many potential suspects who could be following me!

I thought I was managing my relationships decently, but seeing it this way, I realize it’s a disaster!

This is why living without friends is a mistake…!

“Even if you’re going, at least let me know why I’m being targeted, so I can leave in peace.”

“……….”

If it were a normal follower, they wouldn’t show themselves like this.

This has to be someone trying to threaten me. So, my options are narrowing down.

‘Liu might have sent someone because of the suspicion from last time, while Rain might also want to test whether I’m truly strong.’

Liu and Rain are low probability, but it’s possible.

‘As for the Crown Prince? I thought he was just doing background checks, but could he go as far as kidnapping?’

The Crown Prince, too.

‘And the Crown Princess? Does she suspect me? After all, I hinted at knowing her secret last time, and since I played the role of the Crown Prince’s messenger, it wouldn’t be unreasonable for her to think I’m related to the royal family.’

The Crown Princess… possibly.

‘And assassins? That’s also possible. I managed to reassure the Crown Princess, but she still might want to get details from me by abducting me…!’

Assassins too…

What’s going on? All of them are possible suspects? My options aren’t decreasing at all!

The people I’ve been having fun with until now are all potential backstabbers!

‘…My life.’

If it weren’t for that mysterious stalker behind me, I would’ve almost shed a tear.

Still, since it’s my first time being followed, it’s only natural to feel suspicious. If I treat it seriously, perhaps we might become friends someday… maybe.

Seemingly sensing my oddly melancholic mood, the follower started to move.

I snapped back to reality at that sound of footsteps and racked my brain.

‘Is it safe to turn around now? Am I going to get stabbed as soon as I do?’

The only cards I have are <My Little Fortune Teller's Shop> and <Cleanliness>, <Observation>.

The combo of <My Little Fortune Teller's Shop> and <Cleanliness> is my only means, but that will only buy me time, it won’t truly incapacitate my opponent.

Even though it works against a Saint, that was due to his skill.

‘But I did learn judo in school. If I catch them off guard, I might be able to subdue them!’

Though not very skilled, I did attend a judo academy aiming to become a police officer.

With confidence, I awaited my chance. As my opponent came sufficiently close, I aimed for their foot──

“……….”

“Gah!”

──Only to be swiftly pinned to the ground before I could even lay a hand on them.

How come I couldn’t see their movements at all? Why is their strength so immense?

As I desperately tried to turn my head to catch a glimpse of my captor’s face,

“…What are you doing?”

“What do you mean by what? Naturally, I was trying to see your face… huh?”

Wait a minute.

I’ve heard that voice somewhere before?

“Who on earth are you…? You’re quite sharp, yet also remarkably clueless. You’re an enigma.”

“…Crown Princess?”

Why is she here?

Doesn’t she have all sorts of guards and maidservants following her when she exits her private quarters, so how is she alone right now?

“What on earth happened? Did you come here all alone?”

“Well, now that you mention it, I guess it’s proper to use honorifics.”

“Well, a malicious stalker and a highborn Crown Princess aren’t exactly the same, are they?”

“Given that you only noticed the presence after I had made it quite obvious, you are incredibly oblivious.”

Ah, so that’s what she meant by hinting.

I thought she was threatening me to stay in secluded places.

…But come to think of it, isn’t that basically the same?

“Let’s cut to the chase. I have something to say.”

“But first, could you please let me go? This is quite painful──”

“──What’s your relation to the assassins?”

“……….”

Yeah, I figured she would ask that.

As I suspected, the Crown Princess has ample reason to be suspicious of me right now.

An ordinary fortune-teller appears out of the blue, mentions a secret the Crown Princess has kept hidden away, and arrives as the Crown Prince’s messenger. It’s only logical for her to suspect me of being related to royal matters.

Naturally, asking about ‘assassins’ must be a way for her to probe and gain information.

In some sense, it’s somewhat of a self-inflicted predicament. I used risky information to catch her attention.

However, I didn’t just dive in thoughtlessly.

“If I tell you here, Crown Princess, will you believe me?”

“Excuse me?”

“Ultimately, you plan on calling the <Mediator>, right? I’ll answer all your questions thoroughly then.”

With that, the Crown Princess released her hold on me. My shoulder really hurts…

I lightly rotated my arms, getting up and dusting myself off, while facing the Crown Princess, who was looking at me with suspicion.

“So, for now, shall we join forces toward a common goal?”

“…Common goal?”

“What else could it be? To prevent the assassination of the Crown Princess and… capture the assassins.”

The ‘attempted assassination of the Crown Princess’ is the most significant event before the midterm exam for the first-year students.

The entire Romance Academy gets noisy, and players gather all sorts of clues to deduce the perpetrator.

“To be honest, it was boring.”

It was indeed fresh but not that enjoyable. The hints were too blatant, and the identity of the culprit was immediately clear.

Yet, the process was rather tedious and labor-intensive.

“…So what you’re saying is, do you know anything about the assassins?”

“Of course, I do.”

So let’s keep the information flowing smoothly.

“Alright then, start by telling me everything you know…”

“Who the assassins are, what their motives are, and who is pulling their strings.”

“………Excuse me?”

Here’s a question for you. What’s the fastest way to wrap up a detective segment?

“It’s all on the tip of my tongue, Crown Princess.”

Correct. If you know the culprit, you’ve cracked the case.

Isn’t it easy?