A fortune-telling princess

“I won’t ask.”

Petro took a step closer, speaking as though he already knew the reason Camilla had been avoiding him.

“I won’t ask, so don’t avoid me.”

He placed a hand over his chest, letting out a short sigh.

“It hurts here.”

Though his lips curved in their usual smile, his expression was pitifully forlorn.

“I’ll wait until you’re ready to tell me.”

“It’s not like I was avoiding you on purpose…”

Camilla felt relieved she didn’t need to come up with a lie, yet she couldn’t hide her confusion.

‘Why’s he acting so friendly?’

It was unsettling. Did he feel guilty about something he’d done to her? She cast him a subtle, suspicious glance.

“But what brings you two together?”

Camilla quickly changed the subject. She didn’t want to dwell on the hunting grounds incident any longer, and truthfully, she was curious.

These two, who were always bickering, walking together?

“It’s a coincidence.”

“Huh?”

“A coincidence. Do you think I’d willingly walk with this guy?”

“I was on my way to a swordsmanship lesson. Lately, Arsion’s been attending diligently—”

“I told you not to call me by name.”

“Then what should I call you? ‘This guy’? Sure.

has been diligently attending lessons lately.”

“Hey!”

“What’s your problem now,

?”

Swordsmanship lessons.

Watching the two bicker, Camilla suddenly remembered something important she’d completely overlooked.

‘What should I major in now?’

Having recently dropped out of the Swordsmanship Department, Camilla found herself plunged into a new dilemma.

****

“A club?”

“Yes!”

As Camilla struggled for days to decide on her new major, Laila approached her with a suggestion: join a club.

Clubs.

Apparently, many students, like Camilla, found that their initially chosen major didn’t suit them.

Clubs offered an alternative for those unsure about switching to another department.

The academy had a wide variety of clubs, and even students with majors could join freely.

However, while students with majors participated in clubs at their leisure, those who opted out of departmental studies had to document their club activities to fulfill attendance requirements.

By meeting these activity hours, their participation was recognized as equivalent to coursework.

“A club, huh.”

It wasn’t a bad idea. Camilla, with no particular department catching her eye, found herself intrigued.

“Why not join our club?”

“You’re in a club?”

“Yes!”

Laila’s eyes sparkled when Camilla showed interest.

“It’s a great club! Really rewarding and fun! You get to meet kids and sometimes spend time with seniors, too.”

“What kind of club is it?”

“A volunteer club!”

“A… what?”

“A volunteer club!”

“…….”

Maybe Ancient Languages would be better. Or perhaps the Mathematics Department?

Camilla promptly lost interest in the club and returned her attention to the course catalog in her hands.

“Our club’s really wonderful!”

“No, thanks.”

Volunteer work? She was too busy taking care of herself as it was.

“The kids are super adorable and sweet! They love it when we visit!”

“I don’t like kids.”

“The elderly treat us like their own grandchildren!”

“I don’t need new family members.”

Yes, Ancient Languages sounded like a relaxed option…

“We even put on plays sometimes!”

“Plays?”

Camilla’s hand, flipping through the catalog, froze.

“Yes! The kids and seniors love it when we perform plays for them.”

“Hmm.”

She felt a twinge of interest.

‘I used to act in plays.’

The stage had a different charm compared to screen acting. The techniques were distinct, but she had loved the thrill of performing live. Whenever she could, she’d seek out a stage to immerse herself in the craft.

“We’re visiting the kids today—want to come along?”

“Today?”

“Yes! You don’t have to join right away; just come for a visit! How about it?”

“A visit, huh…”

“Come with us! Please?”

“…Well, just to observe.”

“Great decision!”

****

“Wow!”

“Big sister!”

“Big brother!”

“Come on in!”

The moment they entered the orphanage, a crowd of people rushed to greet the club members at the entrance.

“Luni, how’ve you been?”

“Good!”

“Mei, you’ve grown taller since last time!”

“Hehe.”

The kids adored Laila the most.

She greeted each child by name, exuding warmth and care that made her seem like the quintessential kind older sister or neighbor.

“There are so many children here.”

Watching the scene, Camilla turned to see someone approach her.

The one smiling warmly back at her was Petro.

“You’re in a club?”

It was rare for students with majors to actively participate in club activities. Most viewed clubs as unnecessary unless they were passionate about a particular cause.

Petro, however, responded earnestly.

“I recently learned about the volunteer club and decided to join.”

Fair enough. That seemed just like Petro.

Both he and Laila embodied the essence of ‘volunteering.’

‘Come to think of it, he was always like this.’

In her past life, Petro had also joined Laila’s club, hoping to win her favor. Watching him had stoked Camilla’s jealousy.

‘Though Laila always avoided and ignored him back then…’

Her rejection had infuriated Camilla, who despised seeing Laila push away someone she liked.

‘Still, it’s not unfamiliar behavior.’

Could Petro finally be showing interest in Laila again? Camilla glanced at him with newfound curiosity.

Petro’s eyes softened further under her gaze.

“You really are close to Lady Laila. I didn’t expect to see you here so soon.”

What’s that supposed to mean? Was he mocking her? Did she seem out of place here?

“Are you joining this club, too?”

“No.”

“No?”

Camilla shook her head slightly, and the smile on Petro’s lips faltered for a moment.

“I’m just here to observe today.”

“Ah, just observing.”

But her next words brought his smile back.

“So, there’s still hope.”

Hope? What hope?

Though perplexed by his words, Camilla said nothing, watching as he resumed smiling brightly.

Meanwhile, the club members began distributing snacks to the children in various areas.

“Wow!”

“I want that one!”

“Me too!”

The kids eagerly lined up to get their favorite treats.

Laila handed out colorful cupcakes she had clearly baked herself, while Petro gave out beautifully wrapped candies in generous handfuls.

“Can I have some candy?”

A little boy, no older than four, toddled up to Petro and held out both hands eagerly.

The boy’s cuteness prompted Petro to kneel to his level.

“What’s your name?”

“Rio!”

“Okay, Rio. How many candies do you want?”

“Five!”

Rio spread his hands wide, proudly declaring his number. Petro chuckled and gently patted his head, placing exactly five candies in the boy’s hands.

“…….”

“……?”

But Rio didn’t leave. He stared at the candies in his hands, then at Petro, back and forth.

“Uh….”

“……?”

“Uh… Uwaaahhh!”

“……!”

The boy suddenly burst into tears, leaving Petro flustered. He quickly knelt again, worried he’d done something wrong.

“Rio, why? What’s wrong?”

“F-five… waaahhh!”

The boy cried even louder, leaving Petro utterly confused. He had given the boy exactly what he asked for—why was he crying?

At that moment, someone scooped up a handful of candies and piled them into Rio’s hands until they overflowed.

“Now it’s five, right?”

It was Camilla.

“Yeah!”

The boy nodded vigorously, his tear-streaked face lighting up as he looked at Petro with a mix of pity and exasperation, as if wondering why this clueless big brother didn’t understand him.

“But…”

Camilla’s explanation came with a wry smile as she glanced at Petro’s bewildered expression.

“At his age, five is the biggest number they know.”

“Excuse me?”

“The largest number they understand is five. When they say five, they mean ‘a lot.’”

By giving him only five small candies, Petro had unwittingly caused the boy to feel shortchanged compared to others, who had received overflowing handfuls.

“Ah, I see.”

Petro let out a helpless laugh as he watched Rio happily dart off to collect more snacks.

“You know a lot about children.”

He turned back to Camilla with a curious look.

“It’s just… well…”

She hesitated, glancing away.

She had learned these things during her time in an orphanage.

As Sia, after her mother’s death and her father’s imprisonment, she had been left in the care of an orphanage.

Naturally, no one wanted to adopt her.

Families who had shown interest from her picture would meet her in person, only to shake their heads and walk away.

They claimed she didn’t feel right.