A Fortune-telling Princess - Chapter 192

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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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It was a small bottle containing a transparent liquid. As Daniel saw the bottle, the smile gradually faded from his face.
“Do you know what this is?”
“…I’m not sure.”
A delayed response escaped his lips.
“This is the liquid that Count Orleans used this time.”
The very liquid that had turned human bodies into stone statues.
Jainer had only one reason for producing this liquid before Daniel.
“If someone who follows a god—not even an ordinary person—gave such a liquid to another and caused them to commit a sin, wouldn’t it be fair to condemn them as heretics?”
After finishing those words, Jainer studied Daniel’s expression for a moment before continuing slowly.
“I heard that you, High Priest Daniel, gave this liquid to Count Orleans.”
“There seems to be a significant misunderstanding.”
“A misunderstanding.”
With a smile returning to his lips, Jainer’s face no longer held any trace of kindness or courtesy.
“And I believe it was you, High Priest Daniel, who first brought up the idea of selling indulgences. Is this also a misunderstanding?”
“…Indulgences? What is that?”
Though he hesitated for just a moment, Daniel tilted his head as if he had no idea what Jainer was talking about, his expression perfectly innocent.
“You’re saying the Temple is selling such things to people?”
“You’re becoming more and more interesting.”
Jainer let out a short laugh, and as if he had already anticipated Daniel’s response, he simply continued speaking calmly.
“I do enjoy interesting people, you see. I was willing to let this slide under normal circumstances.”
It had all started with this liquid that Count Orleans used.
It was merely personal curiosity. How had he learned of and obtained this liquid, one not widely known among ordinary people?
In my repeated lives, I had never once been entangled with Count Orleans. I had never accepted a commission from parents who had lost their children.
It simply didn’t seem interesting. After all, there were plenty of people in the world who kidnapped, murdered, and disposed of others. Why bother?
Though my memory was hazy, it seemed I had delegated it to my subordinates a few times.
‘But why did I take it on in this life?’
Camilla turned out to be unexpectedly soft when it came to children.
I wondered if she might praise me if I dealt with the one who killed children and rescued the living ones.
In any case, while pursuing Count Orleans’s trail, Jainer—or rather, the master of Khan—encountered an unexpected person.
High Priest Daniel.
For once, I conducted the investigation with genuine pleasure. The more I dug, the more new discoveries bubbled up like a spring, and my interest grew steadily.
“You seem to know Empress Javela as well.”
I was truly surprised to discover that his influence extended to the Imperial Palace.
When I learned that Daniel was deeply involved in everything Empress Javela had orchestrated, I questioned his identity once more.
What exactly does this man do?
“Empress Javela occasionally asks me to offer prayers when she is mentally and physically exhausted, so I visit her. I’m not sure what you mean by this liquid and indulgences.”
“Is that so?”
Once again, Daniel spoke calmly as if he truly understood nothing.
Rather, he looked at Jainer with pity, as if troubled by such a misunderstanding.
Seeing him like that, a warm, likable smile returned to Jainer’s lips.
“But that wasn’t the end of it.”
The sacred relic—that crimson sacred relic.
Camilla had asked me to investigate it, and remarkably, when I traced it to its source, High Priest Daniel was there too.
I didn’t know exactly what that relic was, but judging by Camilla’s reaction, it was clearly nothing beneficial.
The fact that Daniel was the one who had the Temple sell such an object kept me from suppressing my laughter for quite some time.
Of course, he had cleverly entangled himself with numerous others regarding the liquid used to create the statues and everything connected to the sacred relic, positioning himself firmly in the shadows.
But once Khan set his mind to investigating, it was impossible to completely evade his gaze.
‘He’s definitely not just a simple priest.’
Yet, much to my frustration, that was all I could uncover.
This was precisely why I had removed my mask and come to find Daniel directly, to provoke him.
‘It’s like I’m shrouded in fog.’
Jainer, who had been pursuing him, found himself unable to advance beyond a certain point, as if blocked by something.
I could sense there was definitely more behind it, yet it was almost miraculous how impossible it was to discover.
So in the end, I decided to provoke him directly.
If I revealed my identity first and pretended to know more than I did, he would surely react to something.
It might put me in danger, but I didn’t care. When had I ever concerned myself with such things?
‘And…’
There was one other reason I had come here.
“Regardless of who you are or what you do, I hardly care.”
Rather, if you could bring some extraordinary incident to this tedious life of mine, where I’ve repeated the same things endlessly, I’d be grateful.
‘Though, things are somewhat different now.’
These days, thanks to Camilla, I hardly have time to be bored.
“And I care even less about whoever dies by your hand.”
I didn’t know what High Priest Daniel’s purpose was, but if those he touched included people who had recently become an eyesore to me, I was even willing to lend my assistance.
‘Of course, she must never know.’
Despite Camilla having commissioned me, I hadn’t told her that Daniel was the one distributing the sacred relics.
Honestly, I didn’t want to tell her.
‘Because something smells very dangerous about this.’
This is the intuition of someone who has lived the same life for so long.
A very foul stench. An eerie, nauseating smell I’ve never encountered before.
That’s why I hope she stays out of this as much as possible.
“However, Camilla.”
“…”
“I won’t tolerate you lingering around her.”
Let’s keep the stench between ourselves.
Coming here was also meant to redirect his attention from her to myself, in addition to gathering information about him.
“I must say again, Prince Escra is greatly misunderstanding something.”
“Well, misunderstanding or not, I don’t care.”
Jainer let out a brief laugh and immediately rose from his seat.
“Don’t you understand what I’m saying?”
His voice dropped even lower.
“It doesn’t matter what you do. As long as you don’t touch her.”
“…I’m not sure what you mean.”
“Indeed. What could I possibly mean?”
Once again, High Priest Daniel’s response came a beat too late, yet he never let his composure or smile falter.
Watching him, Jainer too had already reverted to his initial courteous demeanor.
“Next time, I’ll visit with a donation for repentance.”
Jainer continued, offering a respectful bow.
“I have so much to repent for, you see.”
His eyes curved into a graceful smile.
“If divine forgiveness truly exists, I’d certainly be willing to purchase it—you’re really not selling?”
“….”
“The amount doesn’t matter. I can pay whatever you ask… it’s truly a shame.”
“…Perhaps we’ll meet again.”
Accepting Daniel’s farewell, Jainer departed with unhurried grace, flashing a radiant smile as he left.
“….”
As the door closed slowly and Jainer’s figure vanished completely, Daniel’s expression turned icy in an instant.
“Jin.”
A moment later, at his quiet call, a figure emerged. He appeared to be a man in his early twenties.
“Investigate that man.”
The man called Jin nodded lightly before vanishing in a flash.
Left alone once more, Daniel stared intently at the spot where Jainer had disappeared, remaining motionless for a long while.
* * *
“You came?”
Camilla, who had been working at the cafe, waved cheerfully at Reaper Habel, who now stood before her.
“Sit here. Can I get you something to drink?”
Is my cafe clean today? You’re not bringing a mop with you?
Camilla smiled faintly as she offered him a seat.
“….”
But Habel kept his mouth firmly shut, showing no reaction. He merely regarded Camilla with displeasure.
‘That look in his eyes.’
Seeing his expression colder than usual, I clicked my tongue softly. So he really did fight with Dorman?
‘But why does he seem angry at me?’
What did I do? They’re the ones who fought, not me.
“Why did you fight?”
“I really hate you.”
“Yeah, but why did you fight?”
“I hate you so much!”
“I get it already.”
Why emphasize it so much? I don’t particularly like you either. Do you think this is the first time I’m hearing this?
How ridiculous.
‘And whose fault is it that I’ve spent my whole life hearing nothing but curses?’
Even during my time in the entertainment industry, there were plenty of people who hated me—so why is this any different?
‘You’re not even Arsian.’
As if hearing such things would actually wound me….
‘Why did Arsian even come up just now?’
Camilla suddenly realized what she’d been thinking and let out a hollow laugh.
“Tell me why you called me.”
Then, hearing Habel’s voice again, she quickly composed the foolish expression that had crossed her face.
“You say you hate me, yet you still came when I called?”
“…I’m leaving.”
“Wait! Sit down, sit down!”
So no matter how much they fight, he comes whenever Dorman tells him to?
As Camilla spoke with him, she noticed his gaze kept drifting sideways, and she shook her head lightly.
‘He’s like a duckling imprinted on its mother.’
Where Habel’s eyes kept wandering was toward Dorman, who was helping with the serving. If that’s the case, why doesn’t he just go greet him?
“So why did you two fight?”
Camilla asked the same question again.
‘Even when I ask Dorman, he just laughs it off.’
No matter how much she thought about it, there was nothing between them that could have caused a fight.
If Dorman told him to die, he wouldn’t hesitate—he’d actually do it. Not even a second of doubt.
‘Look at him now.’
The way he keeps watching Dorman’s every move, completely at a loss. How could they possibly have fought?
“We never did.”
“But Dorman said you fought.”
“Yeah, we fought.”
“You just said you never fought!”
“Dorman said we did, so that’s how it is.”
“…Ah, okay.”
I should stop talking.

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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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