Since When Did You Have The Illusion That You Don’t Have Magical Powers?!

Characters in this chapter:

Sapphiras Perfectio, 2nd son of the Earl of Aldridge

Percival Belisario, 3rd son of Margrave of Vanderwall on the Eastern Frontier

Adeline, Margravine of Vanderwall, Percival’s mother

Sandrion Timberlake, daughter of Earl Timberlake, Theodore’s fiancée

Cristella, Curtis’ fiancée

 

In the crowded street, I look for the place where the old nomad grandmother used to set up her shop. After all, there are so many temptations and distractions and I often lose my mind, so I couldn’t find it easily.

“……Ah, there she is!”

 

When I finally arrived at a familiar area, the old lady had opened her shop in the same place as before, as I had expected. The shop was still lined with the same old junk-like items that I don’t really understand.

“Oba1grandmother-san, long time no see!”

“Oya, you, the one from back then……”

“I thought maybe this time of year you’d have come back. I’m glad I found you. Here you go.”

I hand over a small leather bag containing the rest of the money for the War Maiden’s Oath to the grandmother. The grandmother looked a little surprised when she checked the contents of the pouch.

“……You could have repudiated the debt, but you’re honest, aren’t you?”

“Oba-san kept her promise, didn’t you? Then I have to keep my word too.”

I’m glad I completed the payment without incident. I can now greet the new year with peace of mind.

“I see, I see. Since you came all the way here to pay me, I’ll tell you your fortune. Here, hold out your hand.”

“Yes.”

When I obediently held out my right hand as I was told, the grandmother’s wrinkled and bony hand gripped mine tightly. Immediately, a warm and mysterious feeling flowed into me through the grandmother’s hand. I’ve heard that there are magicians among the nomads who are good at fortune-telling and casting spells, but is this grandmother really a spellcaster?　

“Oya oya, this is, this is……”

The grandmother, who had been holding my hand and closing her eyes still, exclaimed in admiration.

“You have unbelievable destiny Fortuna2umm, I googled, Fortuna is good luck in latin and also the goddess of good fortune in Roman religion according to Wikipedia……you’re going to have quite a tumultuous life from now on.”

This grandmother’s fortune-telling is real. I’m already living a tumultuous life. Or rather, I’m not going to be free from turmoil in the future. And it’s going to be quite a lot. I don’t mind it at all, because a life of turmoil is more interesting than a life of boredom. Besides, the goddess would probably be more pleased to see me in the middle of upheaval, going right and left, than in peace and quiet.

“……But you can rest assured. You have a rare kind of luck. Thanks to that luck, you will be able to survive any upheaval……And you have a very strong star by your side. It shines on you with a light as strong as the sun, but with a warmth that envelops you. I can also see some other stars surrounding you. All of them are shining down on you.”

A light as strong as the sun, you don’t mean a goddess, do you3Sigh, there’s no curing his density…? It was like she only gave me what I needed and threw the rest away, so I’m far from enveloped up in any way.

The grandmother opens her eyes and lets go of my hand. At the same time, the warm sensation that had been flowing into me suddenly left.

“Though I thought you had an unusual presence from the first time I saw you. I’ve never seen anyone with a destiny like yours before.”

That’s probably true too. I died once and was born again 150 years later with memories of my previous life. It’s quite a rare existence.

“Come and visit me again when you feel like it. If there is a connection, we’ll be able to meet like this. I’ll read your fortune at that time.”

“……Thank you. See you later, Oba-san.”

If I didn’t come back for too long, Percival might get worried, so I told the grandmother I was off and quickly returned to the castle. And then I had a hearty breakfast.

 

The afternoon was an outfit fitting, as Madam Adeline had told me yesterday.

The rest of the Belisario family, except for Percival and I, have already finished making their outfits for the party.

“Now it’s just you guys. Your measurements were taken when you came in the summer, so that’s how your outfits were prepared. It’s been quite a while since then, and you’re growing up. I’m sure there are a lot of minor alterations to be made……well then, come on. This way.”

Madam Adeline showed me to a room where a number of seamstresses were already waiting, and two black outfits were being fitted on a mannequin4the raws just said torso but I found that funny lol.

“What do you think? I think it’s very well done.”

Madam Adeline was in a good mood, but Percival and I looked at each other when we saw the outfits.

The larger of the two outfits had gold embroidered dragon wings running from the right shoulder down the left side of the body. In addition to gold thread, the part that corresponds to the skin of the dragon’s wing also uses dark blue and sky blue threads to create a fine ivy pattern. The wings are both powerful and delicate at the same time, showing the high skill of the embroiderer.

And the other, smaller one, was embroidered in exactly the same way as the larger costume, from left to right, so that when they stood side by side they formed twin wings. The height difference between Percival and I was also taken into account, so that the dragon’s wings do not look unnatural. The Vanderwall crest is of the dragon, which is probably why it was designed this way.

I don’t know, but I thought I saw Madam Adeline’s seriousness about the party in this outfit. It’s a big party that’s rarely held at Vanderwall, so it’s probably a different kind of enthusiasm. However, I feel like it’s a bit too much for clothing that expresses the closeness between friends.

“Come on, you two, show us your outfits together as soon as possible. Everyone, please.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

A total of six (!) seamstresses moved in unison to dress Percival and I.

“The measurements haven’t changed much since the last time. The sleeves also look good as they are.”

“But you have grown taller. It would be better if the trousers are a little longer.”

“Eh? Have I grown taller?”

“Yes, you’ve grown since we last measured you.”

Yay! Isn’t this a little closer to Percival?!

“Hey! Percival……”

“Percival-sama, you’ve grown taller again. The hem of your trousers are just barely there. Let’s give your sleeves a little more room too.”

……Well, that’s right. My line of sight hasn’t changed. No, rather, I felt that it was difficult to see Percival’s face unless I looked up a little more when I spoke to him. I didn’t dare to pay attention to it, though.

“……It was a momentary pleasure.”

“What’s the matter, Sapphiras?”

“No, it’s nothing……”

“?”

If there’s a third life, I’d like it to be blessed with height as well as magic and strong luck. Even in my last life, I was much taller than I am now, but I was still short compared to Byron and Evan. Maybe I’m under a curse that prevents me from being taller than my peers.

While I was distracted by the height issue and looking away, the outfits were steadily being finished.

“……It’s done. How do you like it, madam?”

Percival and I stand side by side in front of Madam Adeline.

“Yes, yes! It’s so wonderful!”

Madam Adeline looks very pleased. But isn’t this outfit a bit too flashy for me?

Percival is tall and his blonde hair looks great against the black costume. Compared to that, I’m small, so the embroidery occupies a large proportion of the outfit, and I feel that it looks even more flashy. I think I’m being worn by the clothes.

“Um……isn’t it a bit too flashy for me?”

“No, it’s not. Sapphiras has a very elegant appearance, so it’s nothing too flashy.”

“That’s right, Sapphiras-sama.”

“You both look very nice.”

Before I knew it, Sandrion-san and Cristella-san had gathered, and with Madam Adeline, the 3 of them were praising in unison so I couldn’t say anything more.

“Is Percival fine?”

“About what?”

“In matching outfits with me.”

“Does Sapphiras not like it?”

“I don’t dislike it. I just don’t think it’s right for me to wear such an amazing outfit……”

I feel that such luxurious clothes are out of proportion, and moreover, I’m sorry that I got the same outfit as Percival, the son of the Margrave family.

“I’m honoured to be able to wear the same outfit as Sapphiras, and I think it suits you well. Your black hair looks great against the gold embroidery.”

“Is that so?”

If Percival says so, oh well.

 

melon: This might as well be their engagement party.

1grandmother2umm, I googled, Fortuna is good luck in latin and also the goddess of good fortune in Roman religion according to Wikipedia3Sigh, there’s no curing his density…4the raws just said torso but I found that funny lol