Chapter 436: Chapter 435- Misfortune

Adrian didn’t know Annabelle believed in anything as whimsical as fortune-telling.

If anything, he had always imagined her to be far too practical, far too grounded in sharp logic and unshakeable discipline.

Yet the moment she paused in front of the crooked little shop with its dangling wind chimes and faint scent of incense, her curiosity flared like a spark catching on dry wood. And when she quietly murmured, “Let’s… just take a look,” he found himself unable to refuse her.

So he didn’t resist. He simply let her walk in first and followed behind, brushing aside a bead curtain that clinked softly like tiny bones tapping together.

Inside, the shop was dim, lit only by a single lantern and the glow of lavender-colored candles arranged in uneven clusters. An old lady, wrapped in a long robe that pooled on the floor like spilled ink, sat on the opposite side of a round wooden table. Her eyes were closed, her breathing steady — so steady that for a moment, Adrian wondered if she was even awake.

Annabelle and Adrian exchanged glances. She had that curious glint again, the one he rarely saw for these things. He opened his mouth, half ready to suggest they leave, but before either of them could speak, the woman’s voice cut through the silence, raspy and strangely commanding:

“Pay two gold coins and sit on that chair.”

Adrian blinked. “Two gold coins?” he muttered under his breath, giving a wry smile. That was enough to enjoy a lavish meal at a high-end eatery — multiple courses, even. For a few vague words from an old lady? Ridiculous.

But Annabelle only shrugged. “Since we already are here,” she said softly. The tone held something — not belief, not expectation… just curiosity. As if she wanted to test her luck or was it something else.

She placed the two golden coins on the table. They clinked faintly before rolling still. Then she sat.

Only then did the woman finally open her eyes.

Annabelle froze.

The old lady had no pupils, no iris — nothing but pale, milky white orbs staring straight at her. Not lifeless. No… disturbingly alive. And radiating subtle waves of mana. Potent mana.

Annabelle felt it immediately, something pressing at her senses, brushing along her aura. Adrian felt it too. He frowned, his instincts tensing.

The woman continued to stare — unblinking and focused on her — before she reached under the table and pulled out a deck of violet-shaded cards. She spread them across the wooden surface in a perfect arc.

“Choose three.”

Adrian nearly rolled his eyes. *Of course. Cards.* The classic trick of every fortune-teller who wanted to appear mysterious. He didn’t believe in this nonsense. But Annabelle, without hesitation, reached out. Two cards from the left. One from the right.

The woman flipped the first card.

One large eye surrounded by dozens of hands reaching toward it.

Her aged voice echoed softly, “A born leader. Many depend on you, even when you do not wish to guide them. You will always be looked up to — just do not let the weight of their expectations crush you. Continue to march forward.”

Adrian sighed. Naturally. The first-ranked Warden, the one the news couldn’t stop chasing — of course an old woman who had nothing better to do all day would know exactly who Annabelle was. She appeared in the news far too often for this to be coincidence. He wanted to scoff, but he stayed silent for Annabelle’s sake.

Then the woman flipped the second card.

A thorn-wrapped heart, bleeding slowly.

Her voice dropped lower. “Love will be difficult. You may gain the one you wish for… but he will not always stay beside you. You are destined to yearn for him — a longing that will never fully fade.”

Annabelle’s shoulders slowly fell. Her eyes trembled, lashes quivering. The words struck too close. Their relationship… or whatever complicated, tangled thing it currently was… was already weighing heavily on her. Adrian felt something tighten in his chest — frustration, helplessness, anger at how easily words could wound her.

He dragged a hand through his hair, jaw clenching.

The woman gave her no comfort. She simply flipped the third and final card.

A one-winged angel, crouched, its remaining wing broken at the tip. Behind it, countless hands stretched upward, pleading, begging, demanding.

The woman’s brows knit for the first time — genuine surprise, maybe even fear.

She slowly looked up at Annabelle.

“Girl…” she whispered, “you are destined to sacrifice. To protect others, you will be forced to let go. Something — or someone — you adore… may be taken from your hands.”

*CLANG!*

Adrian’s hand slammed against the table.

Both Annabelle and the fortune-teller flinched.

Adrian’s smile was stiff, forced between clenched teeth. “Forgive the rudeness, but we will be taking our leave now.”

He stood and immediately wrapped his fingers around Annabelle’s wrist — firm, but not hurting — pulling her gently yet urgently to her feet. She didn’t resist. She couldn’t. Her thoughts were too shaken, her heart too unsettled.

They turned to walk away.

Behind them, the older woman watched with unreadable eyes. When the bead curtain rattled as they left, she finally sighed, gathered the two gold coins, and shook her head.

As though she had seen something she wished she hadn’t.

….

As they made their way away from the shop, wandering aimlessly through the market, Adrian noticed Annabelle had fallen into a quiet, distant hush.

He sighed softly and slid his hand into hers, the sudden warmth making her jolt out of her daze just as he murmured,

“You took her words seriously?”

Annabelle looked up at him, her lashes trembling, eyes slightly moist. “Darling… I-I don’t know.”

Adrian’s chest tightened at the sight. He pulled her gently closer, their fingers intertwining with a familiar certainty as he told her, his voice low and meant only for her to listen,

“Annabelle… you are not going to make any sacrifices. Not again. You already endured enough in your last life. But I’m here now—and I’m not going anywhere.”

Annabelle’s gaze wavered, her eyes glistening as she whispered, “But Darling—”

“There are no buts, Bella.” His tone left no room for doubt. “I’m not going anywhere, and you are not alone in this. Whatever uncertainty you’re holding onto—let it go. And forget every word that woman said.”

Annabelle lowered her gaze, the frantic rhythm of her heartbeat beginning to ease, replaced by the quiet warmth of his presence.

Adrian let out a slow breath before saying, “Come, let’s sit somewhere.”

He guided her toward a well-known eatery nearby.

The place was alive—filled with laughter, clinking cups, the glow of warm lights, and the soft hum of people sharing small joys with friends and lovers.

In that busy, gentle chaos, no one paid attention to the pair who slipped quietly inside, moving toward a secluded corner.

A single candle flickered on their table, its soft amber glow casting warm shapes across their faces—just enough for the two of them to see each other clearly, and for the world beyond their small circle of light to blur into something distant and unimportant.

A server approached them with a bright, welcoming smile, the kind that instantly warmed the space around the table.

Adrian let his eyes drift to the wooden board hanging on the wall—the menu hand-painted in soft strokes.

“What do you want to eat?” he asked, then added casually, “They serve quite good stew here.”

Annabelle, her emotions finally settling into something gentler, didn’t make him wait.

“Then I’ll have that.”

She turned to the server—only for her lips to curl into a thin, wry smile when she caught the soft pink blooming across the girl’s cheeks. The server kept darting little glances at Adrian, unable to hide the budding crush.

*Thud.*

Annabelle’s palm hit the table with enough force to rattle the plates, the candle’s flame trembling as the server nearly jumped out of her skin.

With a voice sweet, calm, and absolutely territorial, the raven-haired woman said,

“Two stews, bread, and a dessert… the one you don’t like.”

The server blinked—confused at first, then flustered—before offering an embarrassed smile and hurriedly jotting down the order. She gave a quick bow and scurried away from the table, wisely deciding not to look at Adrian again.

Adrian chuckled at her reaction before he asked, “Have you received any news from Ruby?”

Annabelle nodded, a smile returning to her lips, “She is so excited about the winter vacations that I could practically see her jumping around whenever I read her letter.”

Adrian shook his head with a smile, “Well, I hope she doesn’t get bored during that time.”

Annabelle scoffed, “Darling, you and she would have the best time given you both enjoy discussing things about Runesmithing. It’s me and Ariana who might feel left out.”

Adrian rested his hand on hers before he responded, “Don’t worry, I have planned something special for you as well.”

Annabelle somehow felt her heart racing seeing those eyes.

Was it that…his perception towards her finally changing?

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A/N:- Thanks for reading. Please drop a comment to motivate me.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep