PLML 22

CHAPTER 22…

The carriage arrived at the capital of Seronia.

“Wow…!”

Colorful rooftops above white brick walls. A grand fountain spraying water with a magnificent statue in the center.

People in unique clothing bustled about. Street vendors waved vibrant balloons, trying their best to catch the attention of children.

Jeyna’s eyes sparkled as she looked around in awe at the vibrant atmosphere of the streets.

“Theo, let’s go over there! I think they’re doing some kind of performance!”

Jeyna tugged at Theoris’s hand.

Though Theoris usually disliked crowds, this time he followed her without complaint. If it meant lifting Jeyna’s spirits, he was willing to do this much without question.

In the crowd, a man was juggling what looked like balls of fire in his hands. The flames, no bigger than his palms, transformed into pillars of fire, then shrank again.

Jeyna was amazed that the man didn’t seem to feel any heat despite holding fire.

After watching the performance, Jeyna wandered from one street stall to another.

“Theo, this is a strawberry that tastes like banana!”

“Wow, cotton candy! Theo, let’s buy one of those.”

“Look at this! It’s a magic candy that makes you tell the truth when you eat it.”

“Oh, they’ve got chicken skewers over there!”

Jeyna dragged Theoris all over the plaza. By the end, Theoris’s hands were full of various trinkets and snacks.

With a cotton candy in one hand and a dolphin-shaped candy in the other, Theoris looked so comical that Jeyna burst out laughing. But Theoris didn’t look the least bit annoyed. On the contrary, he smiled gently, clearly happy to see Jeyna laughing.

“Haha, sorry. You just look so cute right now, Theo…”

“I’m glad you seem to be feeling better.”

‘Ah… he was worried about me.’

Jeyna felt deeply grateful for Theoris’s thoughtfulness.

“Well, since we’ve seen the whole street, we should start heading to the palace…”

As she spoke, chewing on jelly supposedly made from dragon scales, a purple tent caught her eye. A crescent moon ornament hung at its peak.

‘Is it a fortune-telling tent?’

Jeyna loved getting her fortune told or having tarot readings.

“Let’s go check that out, Theo.”

She pulled Theoris into the tent.

Inside, a woman wearing a black veil and a black robe embroidered with gold thread sat waiting.

‘No crystal ball? I thought in a magical world, the place would be filled with mystical stuff…’

The inside was plainer than Jeyna had expected, and she felt a twinge of disappointment—but it didn’t last long. She soon took a seat across from the fortune-teller.

The fortune-teller had a unique appearance. Dark hair with a subtle brown tint, and similarly warm brown eyes. Slightly yellow-toned skin, different from the locals.

‘She looks kind of East Asian.’

The fortune-teller spoke.

“You two seem like a lovely couple.”

“Huh? Oh, no. We’re married.”

“But you haven’t had a wedding yet, right?”

“No, we’re already married.”

The fortune-teller looked puzzled.

A fortune-teller who couldn’t even tell if someone was a couple or married? Jeyna was already skeptical.

The woman began to shuffle the cards with flair and laid them out smoothly on the spread cloth.

“Pick seven cards.”

“I haven’t even asked my question yet…”

“Just pick them.”

“…Okay.”

Jeyna hesitantly drew her cards, a bit thrown by the fortune-teller’s firm tone.

‘Don’t you usually ask the question before drawing tarot cards?’

She handed over the seven cards.

The fortune-teller placed the last card Jeyna picked in the center and arranged the rest around it in a circle. Her gaze sharpened as she looked at the cards.

“Husband, would you mind stepping outside for a moment?”

Theoris looked at Jeyna without responding.

Jeyna was taken aback by the sudden request.

“Why my husband all of a sudden?”

“I want to talk with you alone.”

‘What is this? Suspicious.’

Just as Jeyna was about to refuse, the fortune-teller added quickly,

“It’s awkward to say this stuff in front of your ridiculously handsome husband.”

‘Huh? Ridiculously handsome?’

Jeyna recalled when Theoris had once asked what “ridiculously handsome” meant. That wasn’t a phrase used in this world.

“Wait outside, Theo.”

As soon as she said it, Theoris stepped outside.

The moment he left, the fortune-teller’s casual expression returned.

“You’re a transmigrator, aren’t you?”

“Wait—so are you?”

“How old are you?”

When the fortune-teller asked her age, Jeyna knew.

‘She’s Korean.’

Only a Korean would get awkward about informal speech and immediately ask someone’s age.

Jeyna was also annoyed at being spoken to so casually. Honestly, the fortune-teller looked younger than her. With nothing to be ashamed of, she replied confidently,

“Twenty-five.”

“No, I mean before you came here.”

“I was in my late twenties in my past life too. What about you? You look like a minor.”

“I’m in my twenties too.”

“How old exactly?”

“…Whatever. Let’s move on.”

She tried to change the subject—clearly younger than Jeyna.

“If you’re younger than me, use honorifics.”

“We’re not that far apart in age. Don’t be such a boomer.”

“Keep it up and I’ll have my husband tear down your tent. I’m a grand duchess, you know? This shabby little tent wouldn’t stand a chance.”

Jeyna threatened her.

“Geez. Such a villainess.”

“I’m not a villainess—I’m the main character.”

“Yes, yes. I’ll use honorifics, unni.”

She reluctantly agreed. Though it felt forced, Jeyna was satisfied.

“So, back to what we were saying—are you a transmigrator too?”

The fortune-teller shook her head.

Her name was Yoo Ah-rin. In this world, she was known as Arin Yuria. She had been an ordinary university student until one day she woke up in this world. With no one she knew and nowhere to go, she chose to become a fortune-teller to survive.

Originally, she had learned tarot reading just for fun. But somehow, her readings always turned out accurate—especially in this world, where they were never wrong.

Apparently, she even developed a special ability: being able to read people’s energy or flow—hard to describe, but very real.

“So, your tarot says I’m not from this world?”

Jeyna asked. Arin nodded.

“What else did it say?”

Jeyna was intrigued. Anyone who could instantly tell she didn’t belong here had to be the real deal.

“Try not to get involved with the imperial family. If you do, you won’t be able to achieve what you want. I don’t know what your goal is, but it’s going to be a rough road.”

“You couldn’t even tell my husband was my husband, and your cards don’t seem very accurate.”

Arin looked annoyed.

“Hey, I’m usually right.”

“Whatever. Can you read relationship compatibility?”

“Of course. Call your husband back in.”

Jeyna called to Theoris, who had been waiting outside.

“All right, both of you, pick three cards each.”

They picked their cards. As Arin flipped them over, she smiled.

“You’re highly compatible. A match made in heaven.”

Theoris smiled with satisfaction.

“However, there will be many obstacles in your love. But if you keep trusting each other until the end, you’ll definitely have a happy ending.”

It sounded like something you’d hear at any street fortune-teller’s tent. Jeyna wasn’t impressed.

Theoris, however, listened intently.

Then Arin drew three final cards. Her expression darkened.

“Beware the golden lion who hides its claws.”

It was a cryptic message. Obviously metaphorical, but Jeyna couldn’t think of anyone it might refer to.

“Theo, do you know what that means?”

Theoris shook his head. But his eyes said otherwise—he did know what Arin meant by “the golden lion who hides its claws.”

‘I’ll come alone next time and talk to Arin.’

Jeyna paid the fee and headed toward the imperial palace with a growing sense of unease.

“Wow…”

Jeyna couldn’t stop looking around as she entered the palace.

It was the grandest and most splendid building she had ever seen.

The soft red carpet beneath her feet was spotless. Golden statues and window frames lined the halls. As she walked down the dazzling hallway, Jeyna carefully managed her expression.

She was a Grand Duchess now, after all—she didn’t want to look like a country bumpkin.

Walking close to Theoris’s side, she suddenly felt something strange.

‘Why is no one showing him respect?’

Though he had been exiled to the borderlands and stripped of power, Theoris was still a prince of the empire. Knights and maids should at least greet him—but no one did.

No, it wasn’t just that they didn’t show respect…

‘They’re acting like he’s invisible.’

Come to think of it, things had been off from the start.

They had been invited by the emperor, but not a single person had come to greet or escort them.

Theoris walked calmly, showing no discomfort. He opened doors himself and found his way without help. It was clear he was used to being treated like this.

They say indifference is worse than coldness. Theoris, always met with chilly stares, had now become someone who simply didn’t exist.

Jeyna stopped walking. Theoris looked at her as if to ask what was wrong.

‘Theo, maybe you’ve endured it until now—but I won’t.’

She wouldn’t stay silent in the face of injustice. She wouldn’t admit fault for something she hadn’t done. Even if it meant consequences, she would speak up.

That was who Jeyna was.

“You there. Come here a moment.”

“Y-Yes?”

A servant passing by looked startled. He glanced at Theoris and frowned, clearly annoyed as he turned to walk away.

“I told you to stop.”

Jeyna’s voice dropped low and firm. Her commanding tone made the servant reluctantly stand before her—still looking irritated.