The next day.
Lucian got out of bed, tidied himself up, and went out to beg for food.
Oh, no—he went out to earn money.
He was completely broke now. If he didn't go begging no, if he didn't earn money he'd starve to death in Fontaine.
He could always mooch als off Charlotte.
But he couldn't do that every day. He had to make his own money.
And Lucian's thod of earning money was simple: just two words 'fortune-telling.'
Near the marketplace, Lucian set up a small stall with nothing on it except a flag planted beside it.
The flag bore the words 'Fortune-Telling.'
Actually, in the bottom left corner of the flag, there were three more tiny, almost illegible words: 'No guarantees.'
As for Lucian himself, he sat on a small stool wearing sunglasses.
Stroking his nonexistent beard, he put on the airs of a mystic.
"Fortune-telling! Uncannily accurate fortune-telling!"
Lucian didn't actually know how to tell fortunes but it didn't matter whether he could or not.
Many people ca to ask about academics, love, or careers.
In truth, they were just feeling lost and needed soone to give them motivation to keep going.
If he encountered soone who genuinely needed help, Lucian could simply refuse their business.
He'd say, "The heavens' secrets cannot be revealed," and direct them to seek out a true expert.
Rather than calling himself a fortune-teller, Lucian was more like a motivational speaker.
Surprisingly, his little stall beca quite popular.
People lingered around it, coming and going, and the crowd of onlookers grew larger and larger.
Yet no one actually stepped forward to have their fortune told.
Most were just curious.
Fontaine had its own fortune-tellers, though they were called 'diviners' here.
They used crystal balls for their readings.
A Liyue-style fortune-teller like Lucian, who used nothing at all, was sothing they'd rarely seen.
That was why they were all gathered here, watching. For the ti being, the crowd didn't believe in Lucian's abilities, which was why no one stepped forward.
"Please don't crowd here."
"Maintain order, everyone."
Two voices rang out as two figures in Gardes uniforms began dispersing the crowd.
Lucian had set up his stall on a street near the marketplace, not inside the marketplace itself.
The traffic here was heavy, and the crowd had caused a blockage.
That was why the Gardes had shown up to clear the area.
"Mr. Lucian?"
Chenee recognized the 'culprit' behind the congestion.
"Hello, Miss Chenee," Lucian nodded.
"This is Mr. Lucian, a novelist who recently arrived in Fontaine. He's an... acquaintance of Miss Charlotte's."
Chenee introduced him to her senior, Frejus.
"This is my senior, Frejus. He's a genius, you know."
Huh? That introduction sounds familiar... Am I imagining things?
Lucian felt like this scene had happened just yesterday.
What is this, an endless August?
"Hello, hello," the two greeted each other, acknowledging the introduction.
After the introductions, Frejus went back to dispersing the crowd, while Chenee stayed to talk to Lucian.
"Even though we're acquaintances, you should apply for a permit before setting up a stall."
"You need to set up in a permitted area," Chenee said, massaging her temples.
Seeing that the 'offender' was soone she knew, she couldn't help but feel exasperated.
"My apologies, I wasn't aware," Lucian said regretfully.
He hadn't expected to cause trouble for an acquaintance on just his second day here.
"I know, and I'm not blaming you."
"But rules are rules, Mr. Lucian. This behavior warrants a fine."
Chenee adopted a strictly professional tone.
After all, as a mber of the Gardes, she couldn't show favoritism in public.
"A fine?!"
Lucian imdiately wilted like frostbitten eggplant.
Not only had he failed to earn money, but now he had to pay a fine? He really couldn't afford food now.
Gurgle~
Right on cue, Lucian's stomach growled loudly.
"Mr. Lucian, haven't you eaten breakfast?" Chenee asked.
"No, I just rented a place and have no money left for food," Lucian admitted honestly.
Chenee thought for a mont, then suddenly brightened.
Worried Frejus might overhear, she lowered her voice and asked:
"Just to confirm as a show of support do you think my senior has the ability to invent a breakfast-making machine?"
The question left Lucian baffled. What kind of fortune-telling request was this?
Still, business was business, so he had to oblige.
Lucian recalled Frejus's character setting.
This guy wasn't actually a genius he just pretended to be one.
His colleagues all saw through it.
The only reason he kept up the act was because Chenee still believed in him.
In reality, Chenee had long known he wasn't a genius but deliberately played along.
She'd even ask him slightly challenging questions, watch him flounder, then drop hints all for her own amusent.
The more Lucian recalled, the more he wanted to jump off a building.
Cutting off his thoughts, he answered:
"No, he can't invent it."
"Really? Hehe~" Chenee smirked slyly.
This aligned with her own guess.
She'd asked Lucian partly to confirm and partly to help him out.
"Senior Frejus, how about a bet?"
"Let's see if a genius like you can invent a breakfast-making machine."
"If you can't, then from now on, you'll have to personally make breakfast for ."
Frejus agreed. As a 'genius,' how could he admit defeat?
"?"
Bro, I'm literally starving here, and you're feeding dog food?
What good is dog food to ? Can it fill my stomach? I—
"Mr. Lucian, I'll use the fortune-telling fee to cover your fine, so you don't have to pay."
I—
...Thank you.
Good feed! I love this stuff.
You've got lowkey shipping you two now.
"Mr. Lucian, though you won't be fined, you'll still need to pack up soon. I'll help you apply for a stall permit, so you can set up again later."
"Got it," Lucian nodded. That was more than acceptable.
Not only was he spared the fine, but she was even helping him get a permit.
What a saint. May you two have a happy marriage and many children.
After Chenee and Frejus left, Lucian began packing up his things.
There wasn't much to pack just the flag, the folding stool he'd been sitting on, and a spare stool for custors.
Just then, a golden-haired girl appeared in front of him.
Her long blonde hair, paired with an intricately designed, luxurious dress and an exquisite hat,
along with the gem-and-ribbon-adorned parasol hanging from her wrist, made her the very picture of a lady.
At the sight of her, a na slipped from Lucian's lips.
"Navia?"
"Oh? What an impressive fortune-teller you even know my na."
Navia wore sunglasses, obscuring her eyes, but the upward curl of her lips suggested she was pleased.
Perhaps she was happy her reputation had spread even to outsiders.
"Huh? What na? I was asking, 'Who's there?'"
Lucian deliberately played dumb.
!
[Emotional Value Obtained: 100]
[Source: Navia]
[Content: How dare he use my na for a pun!]
Navia was furious.
She knew full well he'd just said her na, yet now he was feigning ignorance—
and even making a joke out of it! A pun, no less!
"Pfft—" Silver, who was behind Navia, couldn't hold back his laughter.
===✧✦✧===
Character Voice · Lucian: About Lucian - I
"Want to know about ? Sure, I'll tell you my true identity.
I'm not just so ordinary novelist, oh no—I'm actually a fortune-teller!"
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