A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 167

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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“A cure-all?”
Camilla’s brow furrowed immediately. This wasn’t even a sales pitch for jade—it sounded like something a multilevel marketing scheme would peddle.
“I haven’t tried it myself, so I can’t say for certain, but those who own one claim their minor ailments have definitely decreased.”
“Really?”
“Those who’ve experienced its effects treat this stone like a sacred treasure, I’m told.”
“Interesting.”
Camilla gazed at the necklace nestled in the box with renewed interest.
It’s that effective? Yet I haven’t seen anyone around me wearing one. Is it harder to obtain than I thought?
“Beyond the price of the sacred object itself, one must apparently make a donation to the Temple above a certain amount to purchase it.”
“A donation?”
“The required donation amount is quite substantial, I understand.”
“Hmm.”
It sounds similar to the VIP system the Ghost Merchant Guild implemented. So you can’t even purchase it without paying a certain donation amount?
What’s amusing is that those running this system aren’t merchants at all—they’re High Priests serving the divine.
‘This religion is no different.’
These High Priests preach that all are equal before the divine and that poor relief is the Church’s highest doctrine, yet here they are running this scheme.
‘Equality my foot.’
They’re demonstrating perfectly that true equality is impossible before money. Everywhere you go, money reigns supreme.
“Well, I suppose this is acceptable?”
If this truly had such effects on one’s health, there was nothing particularly wrong with it.
The Temple needs funds to operate, and if they’re conducting business using their own sacred power, what’s there to criticize?
Camilla closed the box containing the necklace.
“Won’t you wear it?”
“I’ll give it to Father.”
After all, it’s a gift received through a donation made under the name of the Sorpel Family—under Father’s name—so it wouldn’t feel right for me to simply keep it for myself.
‘Though Master Father doesn’t suffer from minor ailments in the first place.’
It’s the thought that counts, right? The thought.
“I hear Empress Javela possesses one as well.”
“She does?”
Camilla regarded the box containing the necklace with fresh curiosity.
If what Chris says is true, this really has become fashionable lately. Even the haughty Empress owns such an unassuming trinket, which speaks volumes.
* * *
“It has been some time since we last met, Your Majesty.”
After meeting with Camilla and leaving the Ghost Merchant Guild, High Priest Daniel’s next destination was the Imperial Palace.
More specifically, the quarters of Empress Javela, the mistress of the Palace.
“About time you showed your face.”
Not a trace of Empress Javela’s usual refined smile graced her features. Instead, a sharp, piercing gaze bore directly into Daniel’s face.
“I cannot ignore the eyes of others, Your Majesty.”
Yet despite the sarcasm dripping from Empress Javela’s words, Daniel merely offered a benevolent smile.
“You bungled the last matter so badly, and you don’t even contact me properly! How could you possibly show me such disrespect!”
Resentment and anger were laid bare across Empress Javela’s face as she regarded Daniel.
“I regret what happened last time as well.”
“Ha!”
She let out a series of bitter laughs as if utterly exasperated, then her expression twisted into something harsh and menacing.
“Regret? Did you just say regret?”
“Your Majesty.”
“Do you think you can brush this aside with mere words! You swore up and down that you would certainly eliminate Crown Prince Edsen at the Hunting Competition!”
“I did.”
His response was so composed that Empress Javela found herself at a loss for words. Watching him, she felt foolish for burning with anger alone.
The last Hunting Competition had been nothing more than a stage designed to eliminate Crown Prince Edsen.
She had orchestrated that stage, and it was High Priest Daniel, now sitting before her, who had prepared and arranged every detail.
Long ago, he had come to her directly, offering to become the strength behind the Second Prince, promising to give her the power to check Crown Prince Edsen.
There had been no reason to refuse when The Cult offered its support.
‘But something feels off.’
Behind Daniel, there seemed to be some other force at work.
Yet when she made discreet inquiries, The Cult showed no signs of any special activity.
‘What exactly is their relationship to those who caused the incident at the Hunting Competition?’
Though their identity remained unknown, she couldn’t afford to let go. She desperately wanted to harness this formidable power to secure the Second Prince’s path to the throne.
“Do not be too disappointed, Your Majesty. Opportunities come again.”
Empress Javela, who had been glaring at him with clenched fists, finally let out a groan and pressed her forehead with her hand.
As he said, there was no point in dwelling on and raging over what had already passed.
She needed his continued assistance, and if their relationship fractured, only she would lose.
“Is there another way?”
“I wonder.”
“Sigh.”
Empress Javela exhaled deeply as she faced Daniel, who wore a faint smile. Then, as if expressing her frustration, she roughly brushed back her falling hair.
In that moment, the necklace hanging around her neck glimmered into view.
“That necklace…”
Daniel’s eyes flashed as his gaze fixed upon it.
Empress Javela carefully touched it with her hand at the intensity of his gaze.
“Its color changed on its own not long ago.”
The stone that had initially been red had turned black.
“You said the color changes when its power is exhausted?”
“That’s correct.”
A smile stretched across Daniel’s lips as he spoke, his gaze still fixed upon the necklace.
“The time has come.”
“Time? What do you mean…?”
“When the necklace changes color, it means the time has come.”
Time to replace it…
“Are you saying you’ll give me a new necklace? Since it’s imbued with divine power, wearing it does seem to ease my headaches.”
Daniel gave a subtle nod.
“I’ll replace it for you shortly.”
His smile deepened as he spoke those words.
* * *
Bzzzz—
“Hm?”
A vibration resonated from inside the drawer. I hurriedly opened it to find the communication crystal humming insistently.
「I’ve arrived.」
It was Duke Escra.
“Already?”
It hadn’t been many days since he left this place. Even accounting for magical travel, his arrival was remarkably swift.
Had matters truly piled up so much on his end? He must have traveled without rest.
“I’m glad to hear you arrived safely.”
「Indeed.」
“Did you manage to sleep on the way?”
A small laugh came in response to Camilla’s concerned question.
「Are you worried about me?」
“…I’m hanging up now.”
「Around the time I departed, that fellow also headed in that direction.」
“That fellow?”
What on earth was he talking about?
「If anything needs handling, tell that fellow. He’s reliable when it comes to getting things done.」
“Who exactly is that?”
「You can tell me directly if you prefer.」
“No, but who exactly is—”
「Rest now.」
“Wait!”
The connection cut off immediately.
“You left out the subject! The subject!”
Who on earth was that fellow?
I couldn’t shake the bewildered expression from my face. I couldn’t tell if I’d just had a conversation or merely listened to him ramble on.
With a short sigh, I finally set the crystal down quietly on the side.
“Still, I’m relieved.”
I’d felt uneasy not being able to see him off properly, so hearing he’d arrived safely put my mind at ease.
“Hm?”
My hand froze as I was about to close the drawer after putting the communication crystal away.
“Oh, that’s right.”
An object sitting alone in the drawer caught my eye.
“I’ve completely forgotten about this.”
It was the box containing the sacred pendant I’d received from High Priest Daniel not long ago.
Camilla opened the box and checked its contents. The sacred necklace remained exactly as it had been when she first saw it, its red stone gleaming brilliantly in its place.
“Hmm.”
Camilla picked up the necklace. At the time, she had intended to give it directly to Duke Sorpel, so she hadn’t paid it much attention.
“To look at it, it’s just an ordinary stone.”
But when she made some inquiries recently, she discovered that this necklace had become far more talked about than she expected.
There were truly many people claiming that their chronic illnesses had improved through this red stone. Just as Chris had said, everyone was desperate to obtain one.
“I heard it even came with a premium price tag.”
Apparently, black market dealings were happening under the table as well. It seemed that across all eras, anything good for the body possessed tremendous commercial value.
“Does it really work that well…!”
Crack!
But the moment Camilla examined the stone more closely, something strange occurred.
“Why is it like this?”
A spark flew, and the red stone shattered completely.
“What? Is it defective?”
Caught off guard by the sudden event, Camilla stared at the fragments and furrowed her brow repeatedly.
“Seriously?”
How exactly did the Temple manufacture this item?
“And it’s supposed to be a sacred object!”
The price wasn’t even cheap, was it?
Of course, I received it for free, but if someone paid an enormous donation and the item’s price only to receive something like this, they’d be absolutely furious.
“But what was that just now?”
She recalled what had happened to her. The way the sacred object had shattered seemed too unusual to dismiss as a simple defect.
“There was a spark that flew out?”
Camilla’s gaze shifted to her right hand. The moment she had gripped the necklace, she had felt something strange.
A tingling yet warm sensation that seemed to flow from her hand and envelop her surroundings? But it had happened so fleetingly that she wasn’t certain.
“What was that?”
Bang!
“Lady Camilla!”
Camilla couldn’t continue her train of thought. The door burst open without a knock, and Dorman rushed inside.
“What’s the matter?”
“A, a visitor has arrived.”
“A visitor?”
“Yes!”
“Who?”
Seeing Dorman’s frightened expression, Camilla tilted her head curiously. Who could have arrived to make him act like this?
“You’ll need to come out and see for yourself.”
“…?”
“Quickly!”
Urged by his insistence, Camilla placed the broken stone back in the box and set it aside before leaving her room.
As she entered the Reception Room, Camilla’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Hello.”
A man waving cheerfully at me, his eyes crinkling into a warm smile.
‘…What are you doing here?’
It was Jainer.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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