I Became a Fortune Teller in the Game My Little Sister Made – Chapter 82

Kite Blackwood. The one who is now engaged to Rain.

I remember his name the moment I hear it, but I never expected to find him staying at the same hotel.

He was one of the three who acted like thugs the last time they visited the fortune teller’s shop—a big, brooding student with a menacing face… or at least that’s what I thought.

He’s chattier than I expected.

“Ah, Lily-senpai… no, Lily-oneechan…!”

“Hmm.”

“How can I express this restless heart? I’ve lived in shame, but my feelings for you still burn brightly…!”

Um, wait.

Weren’t you supposed to be a quiet guy? That’s what Hwang Jin-woo and Sasaki Kaede said!

You always came to the fortune teller’s shop without a word, right?

“Wasn’t he originally a man of few words?”

“Oh, that’s a tradition of the Blackwood Family. We are to live in silence and abstinence until we become proper adults of the family.”

“And now you’re talking… why?”

“If I were to remain silent even in a situation like this, we’d be missing out on a solution. I desperately want to avoid this engagement…!”

So, tradition is tradition, and this is another matter.

Plus, it’s strange seeing a guy who looks like he could drown someone talk so much.

“Honestly, I was so worried that you’d spill this secret during the last fortune-telling… I consider Jin-woo and Sasaki to be true friends. Deceiving them like that didn’t sit well with me.”

“Ah.”

“You must have deliberately kept it from me out of consideration back then. I truly thank you.”

“Of course.”

Sorry, I had no idea…

I never heard anything about this in the game, I was just exchanging some pleasantries, but there’s apparently a backstory here.

Kite seriously thanked me with that fierce-looking face and took a sip of his tea.

“Truly, nobles are nobles.”

It has little meaning in modern times, but Kite, as a member of the Blackwood Family, exudes manners and dignity.

…Yet, there’s something odd about it.

“Kite, I hope you won’t mind me asking this.”

“Not at all.”

“I may lack knowledge, but I’ve never heard of the Blackwood Family. This is purely due to my ignorance, but compared to the Arthur Family, which is the best noble family in Europe…”

“Are you asking how we got engaged? That’s not an impertinent question. There’s no need to be overly courteous.”

Kite, having set down his teacup, smiled.

That tone is oddly familiar.

“The Arthur Family is the oldest and greatest noble house in Europe. I hear Lucas and Rain often hang out with them, so you likely know them well.”

“Correct.”

“In contrast, the Blackwood Family has history, but we’re a small nobility over in Denmark. We’re just barons, and we don’t have much land or wealth.”

“Hmm…”

“Thankfully, I was born with a job, but the fortunes of the Blackwood Family had already been in decline. My parents even suggested I become a live-in son-in-law.”

“…”

So, if you’re a live-in son-in-law, it means the Blackwood Family isn’t going to continue?

Certainly, that had to be a significant decision.

“But, a live-in son-in-law? Even if I’m young, I feel pride in being a man of the Blackwood Family. That’s why I enrolled at the Romance Academy, to follow Blackwood’s traditions and uphold and revive the family.”

“…Your parents must be proud.”

“I’m embarrassed to say, but yes.”

Parents who worry about their children, and children who care for their parents.

I felt a touch melancholic but shook it off to focus on what Kite was saying.

“By the way, if the engagement is with the Arthur Family… isn’t that essentially being a live-in son-in-law?”

“…That’s right. It’s structured so Rain comes into the Blackwood Family, but the difference in grandeur is immense. Within a few years of marriage, the Blackwood Family will practically be one of the Arthur’s cadet branches.”

“…”

“And that’s why the Arthur Family became a grande maison.”

Is it an expansion of influence through marriage?

It resembles the Habsburgs.

In Europe, there’s a custom called ‘noble intermarriage,’ which suggests that individuals of different ranks should not marry one another.

In other words, royals marry royals, and nobles marry nobles. It’s also frowned upon even among nobles to marry those of lower status.

But the Arthur Family disregards this and marries lower-ranked nobles, effectively turning those families into cadets or subordinate houses of the Arthur.

“The Arthur Family itself is small. It’s just that there are several other houses that bear the Arthur bloodline, which combined, make up the grande maison.”

“Hmm…”

Yeah, I get it now—how the Arthur Family expands its influence, and why Rain is engaged.

But why Blackwood in the end?

“Haha, Namgoong Min. I can guess what you’re thinking. You’re curious why among so many families in Europe, it’s particularly Blackwood.”

“Exactly. Do you know the reason?”

“…No, not at all.”

…You don’t know?

How does that make sense?

“The marriages of the Arthur Family are always sudden and unexpected. Sometimes they marry royals or grande maisons, while at other times, they marry minor nobles like me, or even commoners.”

“…”

“That’s why… Blackwood was merely notified about the engagement.”

“After all, no family would refuse.”

“Exactly. What noble in Europe would pass up the chance to join the Arthur Family? Especially when it’s a direct line, the only legitimate daughter. Simply put, it’s like winning the lottery.”

“…”

“My parents were overjoyed. They believe that if we’re part of the Arthur Family, Blackwood will rise too. I emotionally agree, but…”

…Something feels off.

Kite talks about how he’s trying to revive the declining Blackwood Family.

Yet, he also mentions rejecting the best opportunity to revive it, which is tied to Lily.

There’s a part that doesn’t fit, suggesting it’s not simply just about personal feelings.

‘Is it pride in wanting to raise the family without outside help? Or does he not want the family to be pushed around by the Arthur Family?’

I had some confidence in reading people’s psychology while playing as a fortuneteller, but… well, aside from love or friendship, that is.

I still lack enough information about Kite.

‘There’s definitely something going on here.’

The contradictions in his actions, the way he hides them, and his manners.

Something smells fishy.

The smell of kin.

“So, in a situation where you don’t know why the Arthur Family wants to marry Blackwood, you think we should break this engagement.”

“That’s right. Thus, I need help from a fortune-teller…”

“In the East, we have a practice called the I Ching, which reads the flow of destiny based on celestial movements, dates, and the twelve animals. According to it, today is a bad day. Even if we read the fortune, it doesn’t seem like it’ll yield good results.”

“…Uh, yes?”

“When is the engagement ceremony?”

“Um, ten days from now.”

“Then see you in a few days. As I mentioned, according to the geomancy and I Ching, today is not a favorable day, so I will find an auspicious date and inform you.”

“Ah, understood.”

“Have a good night.”

Turning the conversation professional to muddle through, I let a befuddled Kite out the door.

As soon as he left, I narrowed my eyes.

“Hmm, something smells rotten…”

Sudden engagement, an incongruous match, and the fact that even the match itself seems reluctant.

According to the information Kite provided, the engagement feels utterly unnatural.

Expanding influence through a marriage… but considering the direct heiress like Rain, it must be a valuable card for the Arthur Family.

And yet, they marry her off to a small family like Blackwood? Is it merely to integrate Blackwood into the Arthur Family?

‘This doesn’t add up.’

If they were to marry into another royal or grand family, I could understand, but this doesn’t seem to fit.

Kite and the other European nobles may treat marriage partners as half-random, but there are too many oddities from an outsider’s perspective.

But I can’t assert anything for certain.

“I need information.”

Not just about Kite, but a source who understands European noble society well.

Especially if they are familiar with the Arthur Family.

“…”

Beep, beep.

I pulled out my phone and dialed a number.

It’s late, but given the situation, it should be fine.

Maybe they expected me to call.

The ringing didn’t last long.

[…I knew you’d be calling.]

“Who else would I call in a situation like this if not you, Lucas?”

[That’s a bold thing to say, but I like it.]

“You know why I’m calling, right?”

[It’s obvious.]

The person I called is Lucas Arthur.

The heir of the Arthur Family, the successor, the second son.

My only friend with whom I could speak comfortably.

“What’s going on? Is it normal for an engagement to be decided this quickly?”

[That shouldn’t be the case. Marriages for the Arthur Family are a matter of influence and thus, a significant family affair. Even if it’s a cadet, there’s normally a meeting with the elders and retainers. Naturally, they’d inform the parties involved.]

“Rain seemed utterly clueless about it.”

[Yeah. This situation was decided by my father… the head of the family, unilaterally.]

“…What?”

[Under normal circumstances, even the head of the family cannot unilaterally decide the engagement partner of a direct heir as if it was nothing. But…]

“…What about within the family?”

[It’s chaotic, of course. On the surface, everyone pretends to accept it, but behind the scenes, intense discussions are taking place. Most of it is complaints directed towards my father, but he hasn’t responded.]

So, he unilaterally decided on a significant matter that should have involved a meeting?

And on top of that, it’s the head of the family stubbornly doing so while leaving the Arthur Family in turmoil.

“…What do you think? I don’t know much about the head of the family, but you should, right?”

[…Well, I’m not sure. Right now, my father isn’t meeting with anyone, including me or the elders. It’s also an issue that I can’t just barge into father’s room.]

“How frustrating. What if the engagement day comes and…”

[While there’s a lot of dissent, I believe the engagement will proceed as planned. There’s a possibility my father may step down from his position, but for now, Rain’s engagement will move forward.]

“Is there no way to stop this?”

[As of now, I’m also bound by the family. The Arthur family has its factions just like its structure. All I can do is try to calm them down for the time being.]

“…I see.”

Due to Hector’s unilateral actions, there’s a faction war going on within the family, the heir Lucas is trying to calm them down, and Rain, the bride-to-be, is still keeping quiet.

So, I’m the only one who can move here as an outsider?

“Lucas, could you invite me to your family estate?”

[That would be what I would want too. It’s fascinating how you think so quickly. What’s your plan?]

“The point is, this happened because your father hasn’t responded, right?”

[…Is that so?]

“Then, we’ll just get him out.”

[What?]

“Ah, it might be a bit disrespectful to the family, but is that alright? It’s for the one and only little sister and a friend, so it should be without issues, right?”

[…]

“Answer me.”

[…Alright, go ahead and try it out.]

“Yay!”

*

“What on earth are you planning…?”

Three days after my call with my friend, Namgoong Min.

Lucas sighed as he pondered the current frustrating state of affairs.

‘Father hasn’t stepped outside, and neither has Rain. The elders and the senior retainers are split in two and bickering…’

At this rate, not only would the head’s authority decline, but they would also have to relinquish certain privileges that were exclusive to the direct line in order to appease the angry retainers.

Marriage is of utmost importance to the Arthur Family.

The Arthur Family itself wouldn’t split in two, but the inside would definitely be tumultuous for a while.

‘…Is this Blackwood Family really that valuable?’

Lucas focused not on Kite Blackwood, the engaged party, but on the Blackwood Family itself.

In the end, marriage for the Arthur Family implies a means of expanding influence.

Was the Blackwood Family truly valuable enough for his father to create this turmoil?

‘There are no mines, no special crops, and no Gates. Their territories consist of a few rural towns, and their total wealth is at rock bottom, located in a secluded valley in Denmark.’

It’s not even worth Arthur reaching out for, much less handing over a direct heir.

They were merely a small, rural family that normally wouldn’t even register on his radar.

Why on earth was his father…?

Knock, knock.

“Second son, excuse me. I have urgent news!”

“Come in.”

I answered rather irritably due to the chaos in my head, and the butler with a finely groomed mustache approached and handed me a document.

The butler maintained a composed posture as he respectfully bowed to Lucas, who took the documents.

“What’s this?”

“…It’s the recent rumors circulating.”

“Rumors?”

You brought me rumors and called it urgent news?

The Arthur Family, with its size, must be plagued with all sorts of conspiracy theories and rumors, so this is surely nothing out of the ordinary.

The moment I considered the butler before me to be incompetent, Lucas glared at him.

To him, an ineffectual subordinate was nothing more than someone to be cast aside.

“Is that all—”

“Several rumors about Hector Arthur have been circulating since three days ago. While there have been rumors about the family itself before, it has never been this targeted towards the head of the family…”

“…Rumored?”

“Yes, please read.”

No way.

It can’t be.

“…Ha.”

＜Hector Arthur has over ten mistresses but has no illegitimate children. This is due to his becoming a eunuch or perhaps it’s simply that he’s so small that he merits being seen as one.＞

＜Hector Arthur’s name itself is ominous. Hector starts with the letter H, which is the eighth letter in the alphabet. Eight is two cubed, symbolizing the Illuminati with one eye and three vertices. He is part of the Illuminati.＞

＜Hector Arthur is a homosexual. Or not.＞

＜Hector Arthur has recently entered menopause, leading to an excessive secretion of female hormones, causing gynecomastia.＞

＜Hector Arthur will not step outside of his mansion for the next five days. All rumors directed at him are the truth.＞

Namgoong Min, you cheeky little rascal.

What the heck are you doing?