The Fortune-Teller Saintess - Chapter 105

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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“What is this about?”

The cardinals who had gone out of their way to call me away from my work were annoying, but I asked without showing it.

Among the cardinals, the one at the front named Kettel spoke as their representative.

“Holy Lady Ellia, we heard you involved the Mage Tower in this matter. Is that true?”

‘I knew this would happen.’

I tried not to, but my brow inevitably furrowed. I held back a sigh and nodded.

“It’s true. I officially requested cooperation from the Tower Master on behalf of the Temple.”

“Are you in your right mind? No matter how difficult the Temple’s situation is, how could you seek help from the Mage Tower…!”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“What did you say?”

I looked steadily at the wide-eyed cardinals and continued in a calm voice.

“The Mage Tower is an official institution just like the Temple. Institutions can request cooperation from each other. I know how you all view the Mage Tower, but are we really in a position to be picky right now?”

“…”

“Face reality. At this rate, the Temple will collapse.”

At my pointed remark, the cardinals collectively fell silent.

Just as I was about to turn away, thinking that was enough, Kettel’s low voice pierced my ears.

“…The Mage Tower is a heretical organization.”

‘There’s that again.’

I retorted with an exasperated expression.

“The heretic is Prophet Barion. Not the Mage Tower.”

“Holy Lady Ellia!”

“If you insist, let’s settle this here.”

Kettel looked at me as if asking what I meant.

I smiled and pulled out my tarot cards from my pocket. Then, shuffling the cards, I spoke to the group of cardinals watching me.

“Let’s ask the sacred relic whether the Mage Tower is a heretical organization or not.”

“…!”

“What’s wrong? Are you afraid your firmly held beliefs might crumble?”

Their faces hardened at my provocation.

With a slight laugh, I drew a card. Without flipping it, I asked them.

“The answer is in here. Well, will you check it?”

“…We will check.”

I looked steadily at Kettel’s solemn face before flipping the card. The cardinals who saw the card’s image froze completely.

The Lovers.

The card depicting two harmonious-looking figures clearly represented a good relationship to anyone who saw it.

The cardinals must have felt that too.

“The answer has been revealed.”

Then a third party’s voice interjected.

When I quickly turned my head, Hamel was walking toward us. Coming to our side, he looked at the card I had drawn and said calmly.

“The mages are not heretics but our other companions. That’s what this means, isn’t it, Holy Lady?”

“But Acting Cardinal Hamel, this doesn’t make sense. Holy Lady Ellia switching the cards is…”

“Cardinal Kettel.”

Hamel called Kettel in a stern voice.

When Kettel hesitated, Hamel looked at him with a sunken gaze.

“This card is a sacred relic. It’s the power God bestowed for humanity. Doubting the sacred relic is no different from doubting God.”

“…I misspoke. I apologize, Acting Cardinal.”

‘Unexpected. I didn’t know he had this side to him.’

I looked at Hamel with curious eyes. Perhaps sensing my gaze, Hamel turned to me and smiled.

I smiled back awkwardly while thinking to myself.

‘The former Holy Lady chose well in having him take on the Acting Cardinal role.’

“And from now on, everyone should show proper respect to Holy Lady Ellia.”

“Huh?”

A flustered sound escaped me without realizing it.

The other cardinals, including Kettel, seemed equally bewildered, all looking at Hamel with confused faces.

Hamel spoke firmly to them.

“Holy Lady Ellia holds a position equal to a Cardinal. I hear you all have been calling her ‘Holy Lady Ellia,’ subtly trying to place her on equal footing with yourselves… Please be mindful of your forms of address from now on.”

“…We will keep that in mind.”

The cardinals bowed their heads deeply with reddened faces.

Hamel glanced at them once and then led me away from the scene while I stood there with a dazed expression.

“Now, Holy Lady. Let’s go finish our work.”

“Uh…”

I glanced at the cardinals and lowered my voice to whisper to Hamel.

“You didn’t need to go that far…”

“No. It was absolutely necessary for the future as well.”

Hamel shook his head and spoke firmly.

“Please remember this too, Holy Lady. The position of Holy Lady must always be above the Temple.”

After pondering, I eventually nodded.

He was right. Until now, I had let them treat me somewhat dismissively because of memories of receiving teachings from them, but originally that shouldn’t have been the case.

Today’s incident was essentially caused by that. I should be careful from now on, I thought, expressing my gratitude to Hamel.

“Thank you, Acting Cardinal Hamel… no, Acting Cardinal Hamel.”

“Don’t mention it. But Holy Lady.”

Hamel, who had been smiling, suddenly looked at me with a serious expression.

“There’s something I need to discuss with you.”

“Cardinal Kettel, what should we do now?”

“Hmm…”

At one cardinal’s question, Kettel let out a thoughtful sound.

Then the cardinal who had asked added in a frustrated voice.

“At this rate, the cardinals’ authority will only decline. We must devise a plan!”

“You’re right.”

Kettel, who had agreed, slowly opened his closed eyes.

His gaze, filled with determination, gleamed sharply.

“After climbing to this position, we can’t let our authority fall like this.”

“Then…”

“It’s not a method I particularly want to use, but…”

Kettel, with hardened lips, continued in a rigid voice.

“For the balance of the Temple, we have no choice.”

***

‘I never thought I’d come here on my own feet.’

I swallowed a sigh while looking up at the palace before me.

Meanwhile, a man who appeared to be an attendant came out from inside and bowed his head toward me.

“Welcome, Holy Lady. He is waiting for you inside.”

“Please guide me.”

I entered the palace following the attendant’s guidance.

As I walked through the quiet corridor where no one spoke to me, the conversation I had with Hamel recently naturally came to mind.

‘People are gathering at the Temple thanks to your idea, Holy Lady. But this isn’t enough.’

Hamel shook his head and spoke coldly.

‘We need to restore the nobles’ trust.’

No matter how much ordinary citizens gathered and donated, they couldn’t match the donations of nobles.

To match the existing Temple’s finances, we ultimately needed to induce the nobles to donate again.

But restoring the trust of those in high positions was naturally more difficult.

To the troubled Hamel, I threw out a new alternative.

‘How about this?’

As I mentioned before, restoring the trust of those in high positions was naturally more difficult than ordinary citizens.

But what if someone higher than them helped the Temple?

And what if that person was usually full of trustworthiness and even devout?

‘Even the most stubborn nobles would have no choice but to be swayed.’

That’s why I came to the Imperial Palace.

Someone in a higher position than nobles, full of trust, and usually known for being devout… the key to restoring the nobles’ faith.

“Your Highness, the Holy Lady has arrived.”

To meet the Second Prince, Yuriel.

“Come in.”

A somewhat weak voice was heard and the attendant opened the door.

As I entered the guest room, I faced Yuriel and hesitated.

‘He doesn’t look well.’

It’s a bit awkward to say this, but usually Yuriel would smile brightly and welcome me like a puppy whenever he saw me.

But now, that same Yuriel was looking at me with a troubled expression.

With a face that had darkened considerably.

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