A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 173

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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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“So the Young Lord of House Sephira has graced us with his presence as well.”
Daniel recognized Arsian immediately. Given how striking his appearance was, it would have been impossible not to.
“And this gentleman is… Jainer of House Ersha, correct?”
What surprised me was that he’d identified Jainer’s status as well. I wondered how he could possibly know of a Gracia Empire nobleman.
“I once traveled to the Gracia Empire on missionary work many years ago. I had the fortune of glimpsing him from afar back then.”
Daniel answered the question forming in my mind.
“But what brings you here so suddenly?”
In response to his inquiry, I retrieved the shattered necklace I’d brought from home and laid it before him. It was the one Daniel had given me previously.
I couldn’t very well produce the necklace that Count Orleans possessed.
“This is…!”
Upon seeing the crimson stone—a sacred relic of The Cult—shattered to pieces, High Priest Daniel’s smile vanished for the first time.
“I’m terribly sorry. I’m afraid I accidentally destroyed it.”
“Accidentally?”
Daniel’s eyes widened slightly. He seemed to have countless questions, yet he quickly composed his expression and bowed his head.
“It appears the sacred relic I provided was defective. Allow me to present you with a new one.”
He summoned another priest to bring a replacement necklace. Before long, a new one lay before me.
“Do try it on.”
“Shall I?”
I smiled brightly and picked up the necklace with an innocent expression, knowing nothing of what was to come.
With my right hand, naturally.
Crack!
“…!”
“Oh my.”
As expected, the crimson stone shattered in my hand once more, accompanied by a small spark.
“Why does this keep happening?”
While I tilted my head in bewilderment, Daniel’s eyes widened in disbelief.
He hastily summoned yet another necklace, apparently unconcerned about the enormous donation required to purchase such items.
Crack!
“How strange.”
But the result was identical once again.
“It seems this necklace simply isn’t meant for me.”
“…That would appear to be the case.”
Hearing Daniel’s delayed response, I sighed with genuine disappointment.
Yet beneath my composed exterior, my trembling fingers had unconsciously grasped the hem of Arsian’s garment beside me. My hands were shaking.
‘This is insane!’
So this crimson stone really is connected to extracting souls!
‘Is this really happening?’
Are all these people at the Papal See involved in this? Does giving me this stone mean I’m a target too?
I gripped Arsian’s sleeve even tighter. If I didn’t hold onto something, my expression would crumble.
“….”
Arsian felt her subtle trembling as well. Yet he did not ask Camilla why she was shaking.
Nor did he direct any killing intent toward Daniel, who appeared to be the source of her tremors.
He simply maintained his initial resolute gaze, scrutinizing every movement and gesture of his counterpart without missing a single detail—as if to say he would tolerate no carelessness whatsoever.
“I shall have a new necklace crafted for you shortly and present it to you.”
“Then I am grateful indeed.”
Camilla rose from her seat without erasing the smile she had maintained throughout.
She faltered.
But her steps toward the exit came to an abrupt halt.
Now that she had confirmed everything, she wanted to leave this place immediately, yet her feet refused to move.
In the end, she turned back around to face High Priest Daniel once more.
“High Priest Daniel.”
“Yes, Lady Camilla.”
“If it’s not too much trouble, might I be permitted to meet those children?”
“The children?”
“The ones discovered at Count Orleans’s estate this time. I heard they are receiving treatment here.”
She could not help but be concerned.
Now that she knew the Temple was connected to those creatures—the ones who extracted souls—she needed to verify that the children were safe.
Were they receiving proper treatment? Were they truly being cared for?
‘These are the same people who sold indulgences.’
There was no telling. They might deliberately be neglecting the children out of fear that their crimes would be exposed.
Come to think of it, wasn’t it strange that they brought the children to the Papal See itself rather than an ordinary temple? From what I heard, neither the Pope nor the High Priests were directly using their sacred power to treat them?
“Hmm.”
At Camilla’s words, High Priest Daniel’s eyes showed surprise. Camilla continued with a faint smile playing at her lips.
“I wish to help if there is anything I can do. I intend to devote all the resources of our Trading Company and our house to finding a cure.”
“Is that so?”
A smile returned to Daniel’s lips.
“That would be most helpful indeed.”
“That is why I wished to see the children. If I observe their condition with my own eyes, it will aid our efforts.”
“Understood.”
High Priest Daniel personally guided Camilla to where the children were kept.
Since he knew well that no cure existed, there was nothing to hesitate about. Her seeing the children directly would not change the situation.
Besides, it was he himself who had secretly procured that liquid for Count Orleans. Therefore, he could not possibly be ignorant of the truth.
‘There is no antidote whatsoever.’
“We have arrived.”
“…!”
Upon entering the chamber where the children were, Camilla found herself unable to speak or move for a long moment.
All she could do was suppress the cry that threatened to burst from her lips.
The children had remained in this state all this time?
“Ugh… hnngh… uuugh….”
“Hnn… uuugh….”
The two children lay in the exact positions where they’d first been found, their voices a heartbreaking mixture of groans and sobs.
Even producing sound seemed to drain them; their cries were thin and mournful.
“Treatment….”
Camilla had been about to ask if there truly was no cure, but she swallowed the words.
Voicing such a question here, in front of the children, would only amplify their pain and despair.
Yet Daniel seemed to have already grasped what she wanted to ask, and he continued softly.
“They’re barely clinging to life through the sacred power we’re channeling into them.”
The children, whose organs were gradually hardening from the liquid Count Orleans had used, were sustained only by the faint sacred power the priests provided—barely breathing.
[Hey! Snap out of it!]
In that moment, a familiar voice reached Camilla’s ears. The Priest Ghost she’d seen before stood right beside the children, shouting urgently.
[Dying like this is too unfair! You have to cling to life!]
I couldn’t agree more. Dying this way is far too unjust—
[You damn fools! Use your sacred power properly right now! You’re just letting these children die!]
…Letting them die?
“Ha.”
Without thinking, Camilla turned her head and shot High Priest Daniel a look of disbelief.
Seeing his confused expression at her reaction, she quickly turned away again.
So my suspicion was right? These bastards have no intention of saving those children at all?
[If I could just use my power properly… damn it!]
The unexpected words made Camilla’s eyes widen.
What did you just say?
‘Power?’
Her own power? Suddenly, Camilla’s eyes gleamed with possibility.
She immediately moved closer to the Priest Ghost, pretending to examine the children.
After confirming she was far enough that High Priest Daniel couldn’t hear, she opened her mouth quietly.
“Can you really save these children?”
[…?]
At her soft question, the Priest Ghost frantically glanced around, thinking Camilla was speaking to someone else.
But when she realized Camilla’s gaze was fixed directly on her, her eyes widened like lanterns.
[Could it be that you can actually see me—]
“I can see you, so answer the question.”
Camilla cut off the predictable reaction mid-sentence and pressed for an answer. Could this ghost truly have a way to save the children?
The Priest Ghost, understanding Camilla’s intent, said nothing more.
Her gaze returned to the children.
[They respond to sacred power.]
“They respond, but it has no real effect.”
[I’m not talking about that pathetic sacred power they’re using.]
From the moment she called the Pope a child, I’d known she was no ordinary priest. What kind of sacred power did she possess?
‘Well, it doesn’t matter now.’
This wasn’t the time to question details. Camilla’s eyes grew heavy as she gazed upon the two children.
Watching the children, who looked as though they might stop breathing at any moment, my fists clenched involuntarily.
‘Rotten bastard.’
I found myself desperately wanting to hunt down the soul of Count Orleans—already dead and gone—and crush it beneath my heel.
“Come inside.”
[What?]
The Priest Ghost didn’t immediately grasp what Camilla meant by her sudden words. Seeing her brow furrow in confusion, Camilla spoke again.
“I’m offering you my body.”
[What do you—!]
Of course I understood. There was no guarantee her holy power would manifest through my body.
But with the children in this state, I couldn’t afford to think of anything else. If there was even a 1% chance, wasn’t it worth trying?
“Please, come inside.”
[….]
The Priest Ghost stared at me blankly for a moment, her mouth slightly agape, before she took a step closer.
* * *
“Lady Sorpel truly has a warm heart.”
As Camilla hovered ceaselessly around the children, unwilling to leave, a habitual smile settled on Daniel’s face.
Yet Arsian, listening quietly beside him, thought something entirely different.
‘What is this?’
He could see it clearly—Camilla conversing with what appeared to be a dead spirit wreathed in black smoke.
Uncertain of what was happening, he positioned himself to block others from approaching her.
No one dared pass through the ominous barrier he created to draw near to Camilla.
“We are deeply troubled as well, but there is no other—”
Daniel’s voice, speaking in a tone of lamentation, abruptly cut off. Shock flashed across his face in an instant.
The other priests waiting in the room felt the same.
“This, this is—!”
A brilliant radiance erupted.
An immense holy power flooded the room with luminous brilliance.
Those who beheld the one emanating this power gasped once more in astonishment.

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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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