Chapter 49
“What do you mean…”
Leonie couldn’t even finish her sentence.
She was completely frozen by the old woman’s words, covering her gaping mouth with both hands.
But the old woman continued in a calm, detached voice, as if Leonie’s emotions had nothing to do with her.
“These represent your emotions, and this one, the solution. In other words, one also reflects the future of the person you’re looking for.”
“……”
“Your heart is in deep turmoil. You’ve lost sleep worrying about the one you’re searching for.”
“My feelings don’t matter. That’s not important. The person I’m looking for, that is…”
“I’m sorry, but the future of the person you’re looking for is this color right now.”
The old woman tapped a black card on the table with her finger.
“No, no way. That can’t be.”
“I’ve looked into the hearts of people for a long time. But for two black cards to appear like this…”
“……”
“I’m sorry, but that’s all I can say.”
“That can’t be true.”
“There’s not a hint of life force in that person. Even the faintest trace, I would have noticed it. But I can’t see, hear, or feel anything.”
“No… That’s not possible.”
Leonie, her face gone pale, spoke again.
“If I tell you the name of the person I’m looking for, wouldn’t that make the reading more accurate? Maybe there was a mistake.”
Though Leonie pleaded earnestly, the old woman simply shook her head.
“Her name is Liberata Bernadette. Please, just look one more time.”
“I’m sorry, but you must accept the will of the heavens. The person you’re looking for is no longer in this world.”
As Leonie staggered, Louisa quickly supported her.
“Oh dear, milady!”
“No, it can’t be. There’s no way that could happen to Liberata.”
The old woman picked up the black card from the table and held it out to Leonie.
“Letting go of someone who has passed… is also for her sake. And for everyone’s sake… I hope you find peace too.”
Leonie had promised herself she wouldn’t cry no matter what.
But no matter how hard she clenched her fists or bit down on her lips, she couldn’t stop the sobs that spilled out.
“Milady…”
Louisa gently embraced Leonie.
As she wrapped her arms around her shoulders, Leonie began to tremble as if in a seizure.
“Oh, my poor lady…”
After crying for quite a while, Leonie wiped her face with a handkerchief.
Her heart was still in turmoil, but it was time to get up.
“I’m sorry.”
She apologized to the old woman, then spoke to Louisa.
“Give her what we prepared.”
“Yes, milady.”
Louisa placed a pouch full of gold coins on the table.
While Leonie stared ahead with teary eyes, the old woman reached out and pulled the pouch toward her.
What was that?
Just then, Leonie noticed something odd.
It didn’t seem right.
The old woman’s hands were far too smooth and pale for someone her age.
Her voice and mannerisms were definitely those of an old person… but how can her hands look like that?
Had she imagined it, since it passed by so quickly?
Still, Leonie wanted to check again.
Normally, she wouldn’t have cared about something like this—but this was about Liberata.
“Ah, excuse me. I think we may have miscounted the money. Could I check it again, just to be sure?”
Louisa looked at her quizzically. She was about to speak, but Leonie pressed gently on her knee under the table.
Catching on quickly, Louisa closed her mouth. The old woman placed the pouch back on the table.
“Sorry.”
Leonie opened the pouch and pretended to check the amount.
What is milady doing?
Louisa had prepared the payment, and Leonie didn’t even know how much the fortune-telling cost.
So why was she suddenly checking?
As Louisa’s confusion deepened, Leonie retied the pouch.
“It’s all there. Sorry about that.”
She placed the pouch back on the table. As the old woman nodded and reached for it—
Leonie suddenly stood and grabbed her wrist.
“…!”
The startled old woman tried to pull back, but Leonie didn’t let go.
“W-What are you doing?”
“You have very beautiful hands. What’s your secret?”
“W-What?”
The old woman repeated herself in a voice that seemed oddly distorted, then roughly pulled her hand back.
“A young lady of the count’s house is quite rude.”
“Apologies. I’m just really interested in skincare.”
“Hmph.”
The old woman sniffed, clearly uncomfortable.
At that moment, a memory of a long-ago conversation with Liberata flashed through Leonie’s mind.
<Well, after hearing different stories and sharing my own, I did feel a bit lighter.>
<Yeah.>
<But what they said wasn’t all true. Some parts were completely wrong.>
<Oh, I see.>
<It’s fine to check it out since they’re popular, but you don’t have to believe everything.>
<Liberata, you’re such a reassuring friend.>
Right. She had come here clinging to the tiniest shred of hope—but this woman’s words weren’t absolute truth.
There was no guarantee that everything she said was right.
Leonie swallowed dryly and tried to peer under the scarf that hid the old woman’s face.
Perhaps sensing her gaze, the old woman cleared her throat and turned her head slightly away.
Something’s not right. This is suspicious.
This time, Leonie began flipping over the cards spread before her on the table.
“M-Milady, what are you doing?!”
The old woman jumped up and flipped the cards back over.
“Just as I thought.”
Leonie glared coldly at her.
“They’re all black cards. What’s going on here?”
The old woman said nothing. She quickly gathered the overturned cards to her side and adjusted her thick robe.
“Is my friend still not in this world?”
“……”
“Cat got your tongue? Why don’t you repeat that precious fortune of yours!”
Leonie had probably never raised her voice this much in her life.
Her heart pounded furiously, and her whole body throbbed with adrenaline.
As her cold hands trembled, Louisa gripped them tightly, glaring at the old woman alongside her.
“You’ve seen the reading. Now leave.”
The old woman’s voice wavered. Leonie wanted to press further, but she held back.
Instead, she decided she would report this to the Grand Duke so no one else would be deceived.
She removed the knotted bracelet from her wrist and tossed it onto the table.
“I’ll be leaving this here. Goodbye.”
Even after leaving the hut, Leonie couldn’t calm her anger and stomped in frustration.
“Milady, please calm down.”
Louisa, worried for Leonie’s health, tried to soothe her.
“Did you ask for the money back because you noticed something suspicious?”
When Louisa asked, Leonie nodded.
“She’s a terrible person. Taking advantage of people’s desperation to make money.”
“What will you do now?”
“I’m going to tell His Grace the Grand Duke. She won’t be able to scam anyone again.”
Louisa patted Leonie’s back, trying to ease her agitation.
“Louisa, let’s walk for a bit. I need it.”
“Yes, of course.”
The two walked in silence for a while.
As she moved, the anger and heat that had risen to her head began to cool slowly.
“But milady.”
After some time, Louisa tilted her head and spoke.
“In that scammer’s hut just now…”
“Yeah?”
“I feel like I smelled something familiar. Didn’t you?”
“A scent?”
“Yes, but I can’t quite remember where I’ve smelled it before.”
“If you do remember, be sure to tell me.”
With that, Leonie headed toward Cygnus Castle, replaying the events in her mind.
