Chapter 16: The Fortune Teller Woman

I ran out of the bedroom, finished getting dressed, and headed for Shena's place where breakfast was being prepared. Then, Master Ludvik had left the mansion early, saying, "I will be late again tonight, but I will come.

'Alyce-sama, I was surprised this morning. Your lordship is such a beautiful woman.

Do you think so too, Shena?"　Apparently, once the black haze was dispelled, her true face appeared. Maybe it was the haze that made her seem so frightening. Maybe it was a curse or something. ..."

 I had no idea that this mysterious power could break the curse. I thought the black haze was just fatigue.

 But I have never met anyone with as much black haze as Master Ludvik. So maybe it is simply that I had never met anyone who was cursed ... before.

 Shena is also pouting, perhaps remembering Master Ludvik's face. Yes, that face is too beautiful.

'I don't know what to do,... I'm not sure I can stay near him.

What are you saying?　'Alyce-sama's face is lovely enough, and she is the right person to stand next to.

I wonder if that's so. ...

Yes, she is!　

The lord is already in love with her, isn't he?

 Even if you say so, I am not so sure because I have been watching Sister Amife so closely. I don't have the sex appeal of my sister and I don't have the sexual skills to please a man.

I am not yet ready for the role of wife. You have not yet fulfilled the role of a wife, have you?

Because I got sleepy when I was out of my haze.

No, I didn't!

 Shena was angry, but when she woke up and saw such a beautiful man in front of her, it was no wonder that her heart stopped. She had been treating him normally so far, but that was because she couldn't see his face.

But there was a saying from my ... sister that you shouldn't serve him in the morning."

'I heard that newlyweds are supposed to fuck in the morning!　I'm an old ear!　I assure you!

"Fuck them?　Is that so?

 Shena seems to know a lot of things. She has been with me since I was in King's Landing, but since I came here, we are much closer.

So why didn't I just go to ...?

If she was really angry, she wouldn't have asked me to come back tonight. It's all right.

Well, that's all right.

 This morning I was so surprised that I ran away, but now that I'm married, I have to be prepared for anything. Even if it's just that I have a childish appearance, I might not be able to get an erection ... if I'm taken aback.

 I made a fist and clenched it, thinking that tonight was the night I would not sleep.

 ◆◆◆

 In the afternoon, Shena comes into the room out of breath. I slammed shut the book I was reading on the history of the frontier counties and tilted my head.

What's the matter, in such a hurry?

Alicia, a very good fortune teller has come to see you!　This is a good opportunity for you to see him!

"The ... fortune teller?"

 According to Shena, a fortune teller of the stream came to the castle and guessed everything. It seems that the female servants in the castle have gathered to have their fortunes told.

But I wonder if they are really right.

But I wonder if it really works.

Is that what it's all about?

Yes, let's go!

 With Shena leading the way, I left the mansion and came to a pavilion in the vast garden. I had never been this far before.

 There were about ten women gathered there, apparently having their fortunes read during a break. I could hear their excited voices.

 The fortune teller was dressed in bright red and wore golden ornaments around her neck, in her hair, and on her wrists. Not only her clothes, but also her lips were dyed bright red, creating a bewitching atmosphere.

'Are you the fortune teller I've heard so much about?

'Well, well, ... you must be the wife of the lord's wife.

'Well, you know me.

 She has black-colored eyes, long eyelashes and well-defined eyebrows. The fragrance is also unique and smells like perfumed wood.

 But I, who see things a little differently than ... people, find her center to be darkened to a dreadful black. I am frightened and remove my gaze.

'Yes. Would you like a reading, if you don't mind?

'I'm ... no, I don't want one.'

 For some reason, I have an ominous feeling. She is very beautiful, but her face looks like a mask. I was about to stop approaching her when I heard her voice.

"Are you the fortune teller who came in unannounced?"

Ludvik-sama?"

 The one who came with the clacking of his shoes was the lord, Ludvik-sama. The man was Zephir, who was standing beside him, lifting his glasses with a snap.

What is the purpose of this dubious fortune-telling?

'Well, if you put it that way,... oh, my lord's curse has been lifted.

 The fortune teller's eyes narrowed as soon as she saw him. He put his hand to his chin and looked at him curiously.

'You, how did you know about the curse ...!

No, it just felt that way to me. No, it's more than that, please give me your hand."

 Ludvik-sama made eye contact with the fortune teller, and her shoulders shook with a twitch. And the moment he lifted his arm at her behest, his face instantly changed when the fortune teller held his hand.

 With eyes that seemed to be melting, Master Ludvik murmured, "How beautiful you are.

I wish I could spend this evening with you.

'Well, you mustn't make such jokes in front of your wife.

 He looked at her with eyes full of heat, as if he had never looked at me before. When they were together, they were as beautiful as a picture, and they fit together so well.

 I hold my breath and stare at them as I see them so close together.

 The fortune teller woman didn't care about me and made a gesture as if she was going to put her lips on Master Ludvik's hand as she brought it close to her face.

No!"

 I see a black haze emerge from her mouth, and I slap Master Ludvik's hand away from the fortune teller with a bang. The sound was louder than I had expected, and I was stunned as I slapped her.

'Oh ... I ... am sorry.'

 It's disgusting to slap Ludwig-sama's hand just because you didn't like it.

"Hiccup!"

 A black mist is trying to enter Ludvik-sama's body. I knew this was not a good idea, so I slapped his chest again and again with all my might.

 Then the haze quickly dissipates, but Master Ludvik looks down at me with a surprised face.

'Oh, um, ... this is, uh...'

 He looked as if a possession had fallen from his mind and he had come to his senses, and he wondered what I was doing.

'What was Aliche doing?

'Well, that's ...

 I was about to tell him that I wanted to shake off the black haze, when the fortune teller clicked his tongue.

'Oh, so ... it's you. That's why the curse was lifted."

 He mumbles quietly and turns his glaring gaze on me for a moment. I looked directly at him and a cold shiver ran up my spine.

 Then, perhaps sensing my unusual behavior, Ludvik-sama, who was standing nearby, raised his voice.

Zephir!

Ha!

Take this woman out of the castle. I forbid fortune tellers to enter or leave the castle without my permission. Make this known.

Yes, sir.

 This time, Zephir took hold of the fortuneteller's arm and helped her to her feet. As he was about to pull away, she smiled at him, the corners of her mouth turning up in a beautiful smile.

I will see you again," she said.

 I didn't know whether it was directed at me or at Ludvik-sama. But I felt like a prey to be targeted.

'Master Ludovic, ....'

 I looked up at him with my eyebrows lowered, and his face, as beautiful as it had been in the morning, turned to me.

I looked up at him and saw his face, still as beautiful as it had been in the morning.　Alice."

 A large hand, usually holding a sword, lifts my chin. Our gazes entwined, and Master Ludvik's eyes shook as if we were in a private space.

 As our faces gradually came closer and closer to each other, ...

 One of the women around me falls down with a flop. Suddenly, the women shouted in a strange voice.

'Oh my God, are you all right?'

 I shook off Master Ludvik's hand and approached her to check on her, and for some reason she muttered, "Too precious.

Eh?"

 Suddenly, my body froze. It seems that the curse had been lifted and Ludwig-sama's countenance was so dazzling that I had fainted.

 Unlike me, who was in a panic, Master Ludwig immediately called for his guards.

 After that, I was in such a hurry to take her to the infirmary that I missed the timing to talk to Master Ludwig. I wanted to explain why I beat his chest, or why that woman was suspicious, but ...

 -oh, he almost kissed me that time, didn't he?

 I don't know why I got in that mood, but just remembering it makes my face turn red.

 But on the other hand, I remember that Master Ludvik had told the fortune teller woman that he wanted to spend time with her tonight. When I recall his prodigal eyes at that time, it hurts as if my heart is being squeezed.

 --After all, that was ...

 Mr. Ludwig is now a respectable adult man of 30 years old. And he is also a handsome man with such a beautiful face. He must have experienced many things in his life.

 I keep thinking about him, even though I'm still puzzled. And before I knew it, it was late at night.

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