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Inside, it was much more spacious than it appeared from the outside, illuminated by a few dim lights. It seemed to have everything necessary despite its shabby exterior. Yet, there was no sign of anyone, making us wonder if anyone was even there.

“Eek!”

A startled voice escaped me. Something that looked like a blanket moved and a head emerged from behind a desk.

“Who’s there?”

The voice was that of a relatively young woman. I had expected an old crone, given her reputation, but perhaps that was a prejudice. She had tousled white hair that seemed either naturally that color or prematurely aged. Her face looked young, suggesting it was her natural hair color.

“Oh my.”

She opened her eyes wide as soon as she saw us.

“What brings such noble guests here? Sit down.”

She pointed to the chairs in front of the table. Her manner of speaking was quite rude, but it seemed she recognized we were nobles. Though the room was dim, our attire wasn’t hard to identify, so I decided not to judge too quickly.

“So, what did you come here to ask?”

The fortune teller looked at us sitting properly in the chairs with interest.

“Well…”

She focused on Alicia, who had started to speak. Then she let out a hum.

“Shall I guess what you came to ask?”

“Love fortune, right?”

“W-What?”

Alicia stammered, surprised. I was taken aback and looked at Alicia. What? Did she have someone she liked? Did she bring us here for that reason?

“It’s the perfect season for love to bloom. Your luck is good. That’s my specialty.”

“Alicia, who is it?”

“Well, it’s just…”

Alicia’s face suddenly turned red. Oh my, this is serious. I waited for her next words like a viewer eagerly awaiting the next episode of a soap opera.

“It’s just one-sided on my part…”

Alicia mumbled, looking down. I was shocked.

“A crush?!”

Someone could resist such an adorable Alicia?

“Is that so?”

The fortune teller’s voice, like a savior, broke the silence. We turned to her.

“Not a divine match, but it’s destined. One way or another, you’ll be entangled, for better or worse.”

“Now, this young lady is interesting.”

Her piercing eyes contrasted with her pale face as she turned to me.

“A complete chaos.”

C-Chaos… It did feel like my life was in turmoil. I steadied myself and asked the question that had been on my mind.

“Your fate is not clear. There are only two possibilities in such cases… imminent death.”

Thud. What was she saying? It felt like a bolt from the blue.

“Or a pioneer of destiny.”

“A p-pioneer?”

I echoed the word, which sounded like something out of a book.

“Exactly what it means. A fate not predetermined, but one you carve out yourself. In other words, your path is up to you. But don’t worry too much. The two brothers will protect you.”

“Huh? But I only have one brother.”

Cain. But I hadn’t seen him since arriving here. The fortune teller frowned as if I was speaking nonsense.

“Not your relatives. Your husband and his brother.”

What? I had a husband, but Roan didn’t have any siblings.

“My husband is an only child.”

“That can’t be right.”

Her expression and tone made it seem like I was lying. She genuinely believed what she was saying.

Maybe her reputed abilities were exaggerated. After all, I hadn’t come expecting serious insights. As long as it was entertaining, that was enough. Plus, I learned the surprising fact that Alicia had a crush.

We gave the fortune teller a generous payment and left the tent. I should have asked about Roan going to war. But since she didn’t seem to get everything right, it didn’t seem necessary.

‘Speaking of which.’

“Who is it, Alicia?”

“Huh?”

“The guy who makes your heart race.”

“Oh…”

Alicia’s cheeks turned as red as an apple again as she tried to steady her wandering gaze. I whispered devilishly.

“I won’t tell anyone. Really. Just tell me who it is, okay?”

I started coaxing Alicia, saying that I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night if I didn’t find out. I could see her lips quivering as she contemplated speaking. Finally, she made up her mind and spoke.

“Th-the Crown Prince.”

…What? Who did she say?

“Who?”

I asked again, unable to believe my ears.

“Th-the Crown Prince!”

The Crown Prince…

The Crown Prince…

Her words echoed in my mind. Cameron? Cameron, the narcissistic self-absorbed one? How did this happen? Besides, wasn’t Cameron supposed to be destined for Grace?

Alicia saw my shocked expression and misinterpreted it, her face turning pale.

“Are you disappointed because I ended up liking someone you used to like, Delis?”

Alicia looked like she was about to cry, completely convinced of her own reasoning.

“No! I never liked the Crown Prince! Phew…”

Okay. Calm down. Love isn’t a crime. Yes, yes.

“So, how did you come to like him? Because he’s handsome or because he’s rich?”

I listed the common reasons why someone might be popular.

“No…”

Alicia shook her head. She started explaining, her eyes taking on a distant look as she recalled the past.

“It goes back a bit.”

“Young lady, are you okay?”

That day, she had been heartbroken from being pushed into a relationship, only to hear that the person had a fiancée. The fiancée had tripped her at a tea party, causing her to fall and tear her dress. The weather was beautifully clear, which only made her feel worse and on the verge of tears.

She felt utterly alone in the world. Her family was in their estate outside the capital, and she had only recently debuted in the capital’s social scene, unlike her peers.

In the capital, she learned that it was far more painful to feel lonely in company than to be alone.

Afraid of the comments about her torn and dirty dress, she pulled her hat down low. She desperately wanted to leave unnoticed.

Just as she wished to escape, she bumped into someone and fell. She had been walking hurriedly without watching her step. The pain and the sorrow she had held back finally made her cry.

Through her tear-blurred vision, a rough yet sturdy hand reached out.

“Young lady, are you okay?”

In a daze, she took the hand and stood up, trying her best not to show her tears. She felt embarrassed to display such weakness in front of a stranger.

“Are you okay?”

It was a gentle voice. Hearing a kind voice for the first time that day, her tears wouldn’t stop.

Even through her tear-clouded eyes, she could see his radiant blond hair and well-shaped red lips. His lips parted again.

“Are you crying? Oh dear. Did it hurt a lot?”

She shook her head vigorously. It wasn’t the pain that made her cry. He handed her a white handkerchief from somewhere.

“Then what happened?”

He seemed genuinely concerned about a stranger like her. She felt grateful but was too embarrassed by her appearance and the tears to do anything but bow and run away.

She thought that would be the last time.

Despite the continued harassment from Count Devon’s daughter, she felt less burdened. Remembering that kind voice strangely gave her strength. She wished to see him again, even if only from afar.

She met him again at a banquet. It was impossible not to recognize him. Not just her, but anyone would know who he was. When she realized he was the only Crown Prince of the empire, she felt an inexplicable sense of despair.

Since then, Alicia stopped thinking about him. The person she desperately wanted to meet again was someone she couldn’t even dream of approaching. He probably wouldn’t remember her face.

“And I thought I was right. When we met at the riding ground, he spoke to me as if he had never seen me before.”

TL NOTE: More advanced chapter of this story is already up on the site. Visit dusk blossoms for more advanced chapters and stories