A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 188

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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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I told her to get close to the Duke’s daughter of Sorpel somehow!
After finally arranging an opportunity for them to spend time together, I have no idea what she’s doing.
“Making such useless things.”
He had never approved of Jewela’s habit of touching scraps of fabric since childhood.
If it were merely embroidery as a hobby, he might have overlooked it, but she spent the entire day making doll clothes.
“Is bloodline truly inescapable?”
He had offered unlimited funds for gifts. She should have presented jewelry or ornaments instead, yet she squandered this golden opportunity with her own hands!
When he heard that Jewela’s thoughtless behavior might cause Camilla to misunderstand his eldest son Mantiz, his blood boiled with fury.
“Count Bakes?”
As he strode forward with the intention of properly scolding Jewela, he suddenly froze at the sound of a voice.
“It’s been a while.”
“The Duke’s daughter of Sorpel?”
Camilla’s sudden appearance widened his eyes. She smiled brightly and stepped closer to the Count.
“What brings you here…?”
“The gift that Count Bakes’ daughter gave me last time was so wonderful that I came to express my gratitude.”
“Is that so?”
Count Bakes’ mouth fell open in astonishment. She actually liked that doll?
His shock was brief, and he soon broke into a radiant smile, welcoming her warmly.
“How delightful! I’m so glad the gift pleased you. If you have time, would you care to join me for tea? I’ve just received some excellent tea.”
“If it’s no trouble.”
“Trouble, you say!”
The two of them headed straight to the Reception Room. His face, which had been twisted with anger moments before, now shone brilliantly.
“I wonder if there was anything lacking at our last gathering. My daughter has so many shortcomings.”
“Not at all. It was a wonderful time. And the gift was truly delightful.”
As Camilla conversed casually, her gaze drifted to Count Bakes’ neck. The red stone still hung there.
“By the way, I have something to give you.”
“For me?”
Camilla handed him a small box. As Count Bakes opened it with eager hands, his expression grew puzzled.
What she had given him was a ring. An unfamiliar silver mineral gleamed inside the box.
“It’s a sacred relic created through my prayers.”
“Is that so?”
At the mention of a sacred relic, he gasped in surprise and gazed at the ring with newfound reverence.
[A sacred relic, my foot.]
‘Hehehehe!’
Priest Ghost Arena, who had followed me as always, giggled mischievously.
It appeared to shimmer and was quite beautiful to look at, but it was merely a worthless mineral found near the mana stone we had discovered. A kind of residual ore, you might say, left behind after the highest-grade mana stone had drained all its energy.
It was a fact not yet properly known to the world, and since it sparkled nicely, I decided to put it to good use this time.
Since it was a fact not yet properly known to the world, and it sparkled quite beautifully, I decided to use it well for this purpose.
“The Lord has spoken to me. He said that whoever holds this sacred relic shall come to His side after death.”
At her words, Count Bakes drew a sharp breath, his eyes glistening with emotion.
What greater glory could there be for one who has believed in and followed the divine since childhood than to depart this life and join the deity in the afterlife?
He harbored not the slightest doubt, fully aware that she was already being treated as a saint within The Cult.
“However, there is a problem.”
“A problem? If there is anything troubling you, please speak freely.”
His demeanor and tone grew even more reverent, his gaze unwavering—as though he would comply with whatever she said.
“That necklace, specifically.”
“The necklace?”
Count Bakes’ hand naturally drifted toward the crimson stone hanging at his neck.
Camilla shook her head lightly, feigning regret.
“Unfortunately, that sacred relic and my divine power are incompatible.”
“What do you mean…?”
Her words made no sense to him. How could a sacred relic crafted by The Cult be incompatible with a saint’s divine power?
“I’m uncertain of the exact reason myself, but my divine power keeps shattering the relic.”
She paused briefly, then released a soft sigh.
“While you wear the sacred relic I’ve given you, you must keep that necklace at a distance. Otherwise, a conflict will arise.”
“But this relic is…”
It was a sacred relic he had obtained at great expense. He had pushed himself to purchase it, hoping it might alleviate a chronic ailment that had plagued him for years.
Indeed, after donning the necklace, he had begun to notice the pain gradually subsiding—not entirely, but noticeably.
Perhaps because he had witnessed its effects, he found himself hesitant to abandon it so readily.
Noticing his reluctance, Camilla cast her line once more.
“Your left knee troubles you greatly, doesn’t it?”
“…! How could you possibly know that!”
How would I know? Because someone here won’t stop talking about it.
[His knee is absolutely inflamed. He’s been using the wrong medicine for far too long, which only worsened the inflammation. What kind of quack has been treating him like this?]
Priest Ghost Arena, who had been meticulously examining Count Bakes’ body with her hands, clicked her tongue repeatedly.
[For inflammation like this—]
“There is a fruit called Lusberry that grows only in the Northern Region. If you obtain it and consume it twice daily, you will see considerable improvement.”
“Lusberry?”
“It is somewhat expensive, but not difficult to procure.”
“That is…”
“I am not forcing you. If you deem that sacred relic more precious, then so be it. Some value their present life over their life after death. Even if it means falling into damnation after you die.”
“D-damnation!”
Camilla reached to pick up the ring she had set down.
“No!”
Count Bakes hastily shook his head and immediately removed the sacred relic necklace he wore. Then he swiftly placed the ring Camilla had given him on his finger.
“It fits perfectly.”
…It seems a bit large, doesn’t it? Well, if he says it fits, then it must fit.
Next time, I should make them as necklaces rather than rings—easier for everyone to wear.
“I will treasure it dearly.”
“The blessing of the divine shall accompany you. The original sacred relic necklace is also quite precious, so please preserve it well. When the divine power of the sacred ring I’ve given you is exhausted, I shall inform you separately. At that time, you may resume wearing this necklace.”
“Is that so?”
Count Bakes grew even more delighted at the mention that the expensive sacred necklace could be worn again later.
‘Of course, I have no intention of ever saying such a thing.’
He was merely concerned that she might hand over or sell the necklace to someone else. If he said it could be used later, he would find a way to keep it in his possession.
Knock, knock.
The door opened and a figure stepped inside. It was Juella.
Having heard the news that Camilla had arrived, she entered with a somewhat bewildered expression, alternating her gaze between Count Bakes and Camilla.
“I came to visit.”
“Visit…!”
Juella, whose expression had been one of disbelief, quickly composed herself under Count Bakes’ gaze.
“Welcome.”
You really should take some acting lessons. That smile looks so unnatural.
“Then, would it be alright if I spent some time with my friend?”
“Of course.”
When Camilla referred to Juella as her friend, his smile deepened even further.
“Let’s go to your room.”
Camilla hurried out of the Reception Room with the bewildered Juella in tow. The two of them headed straight to Juella’s room.
“Oh.”
Upon entering the room, I couldn’t help but let out an exclamation of admiration. Dolls were scattered everywhere.
“What’s going on?”
“You’re not even going to ask me to sit?”
Juella frowned with displeasure. Now she was openly showing her disdain.
“Count Bakes! Juella won’t even offer tea or ask me to sit…!”
“Sit, sit!”
You should have done that from the start. I settled into a chair and looked around.
On the table lay an unfinished doll’s dress that appeared to have been made just moments ago. I picked it up.
“What are you doing? Give it here.”
Juella’s face flushed slightly as she snatched the doll’s dress from my hands.
I seemed like the type who would say the same thing Father would—that she was childish for playing with such things.
‘Sigh.’
Despite knowing that, she had gathered great courage this time. She wanted to tell people what she loved and what she was good at.
Father would surely be furious, but if even one person appreciated the dolls she had made with such care, it wouldn’t matter.
“Listen.”
When I spoke again, Juella unconsciously turned her head away, avoiding my gaze. She was probably expecting a lecture, wasn’t she?
“Let’s start a business together.”
“…What?”
But what I said next was quite unexpected.
“A business? With me?”
“Yes.”
“Well….”
Juella let out an involuntary laugh at the sudden remark.
“Are you making fun of me right now?”
She couldn’t fathom what kind of business Camilla suddenly wanted to conduct with her.
“This.”
Camilla reached out toward Juella, who was about to furrow her brow again.
“This?”
What she was pointing to was the doll’s outfit Juella had just been making.
“You want to sell dolls?”
She really was mocking her.
Juella exhaled a short sigh and pondered how to respond.
Still, Father had told me to build rapport—I shouldn’t resort to grabbing her hair and fighting like I used to, right?
“Not the doll. The outfit.”
“You want to sell doll clothes?”
“More precisely, I want to adapt that doll outfit so people can wear it, and then sell it.”
“…What?”
“I’m talking about selling clothes. Those doll outfits you designed.”
Watching Juella’s eyes widen, I surveyed Camilla’s Room once more. My instincts had never deceived me.
When I first saw the teddy bear she had given me, my initial thought was that despite being a mere stuffed animal, it possessed a remarkably dignified air.
A teddy bear with such soft, fluffy fur and tiny dot-like eyes, yet so composed.
What could be the reason?
The answer came swiftly—it stemmed from the outfit the bear was wearing.
“I like the clothes you made.”
After years in the entertainment industry, my eye for fashion had become exacting, almost impossibly refined—and these designs satisfied even that lofty standard. That alone spoke volumes about their commercial potential.
Since arriving here, I’d visited countless clothing shops, yet I hadn’t seen anything that surpassed the doll outfits Juella had created.
I’d stake my reputation on it—this will succeed.

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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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