The Fortune-Teller Saintess - Chapter 32

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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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The Fortune Teller Saint

 

Chapter 32

 

Fortunately, before I could choose what to say, Arjes spoke first.

 

“Ah, please don’t misunderstand. I have no intention of blaming the Holy Lady. What happened earlier was due to my daughter Sierra’s recklessness.”

 

“Regardless of how it started, it’s true that I acted too emotionally. I apologize for humiliating your child in front of her parent.”

 

No matter how much I disliked Sierra, I wasn’t shameless enough to insult a child in front of their parent. If I had known Arjes was nearby, I would have just let it slide.

 

When I offered my sincere apology, Arjes smiled warmly with a kind expression.

 

“I accept the Holy Lady’s apology. And I also apologize to the Holy Lady on behalf of my daughter for what Sierra did.”

 

“I accept the Marquis’s apology.”

 

A pleasant atmosphere flowed between us for once.

 

Unlike my expectation that he would be similar to Sierra, Arjes seemed like quite a decent person.

 

‘Well, that’s probably why he consistently donates large sums to the Temple.’

 

My evaluation of the Evis Marquis family went up a little.

 

‘But if he didn’t intend to scold me, why did he call me over?’

 

When I asked out of curiosity, Arjes smiled even deeper than before and spoke.

 

“I heard that the Holy Lady will be participating in this spring’s Imperial Palace ball.”

 

“You must have heard when the commotion happened earlier.”

 

“No. I happened to hear it from the madam here. Since I’m an investor in this clothing store, I’m quite close with the madam.”

 

“Ah. An investor.”

 

I smiled while clicking my tongue inwardly.

 

‘No wonder Sierra was here.’

 

So her dad is an investor here.

 

I thought I should avoid this clothing store in the future as I responded to Arjes.

 

“Yes. His Highness the Crown Prince sent me an invitation, and I’ve been curious about Imperial Palace balls for a while, so I decided to participate.”

 

“If it’s alright with you, I’d like to pay for the Holy Lady’s and the Cardinal’s dresses.”

 

I widened my eyes in surprise at the unexpected proposal.

 

I’d be grateful if he did, but why would he?

 

“And there’s something I’d like to ask of the Holy Lady…”

 

‘Ah.’

 

So this is the main point.

 

When I gestured for him to continue, Arjes smiled and said,

 

“Could you perhaps look into my future? I have a business I want to pursue, and I’d like confirmation on whether it will go well.”

 

“Looking into the future… you mean using the Sacred Relic?”

 

Arjes smiled silently as if asking why I was asking something so obvious.

 

I also smiled broadly and answered.

 

“No.”

 

Reading tarot? That’s not difficult.

 

But I refused. It was because of the backlash I would receive later if I granted this request.

 

‘Once you grant this kind of request, there’s no end to it.’

 

If I granted Arjes’s request here, word might spread and other nobles might come looking for me with gold coins.

 

Gold coins? That’s nice. But if using the Sacred Relic becomes transactional like this, what about commoners who have no money?

 

Even though I had the attitude of ‘anyone can have the Saint title for all I care,’ I hadn’t forgotten the duty of the Saint and the Temple.

 

The Sacred Relic exists for people who need help.

 

I hadn’t forgotten this.

 

At my firm refusal, Arjes seemed a bit flustered. His smile disappeared and his eyes wavered.

 

“I’m truly sorry that I cannot grant the Marquis’s request. You don’t need to pay for our dresses either. I cannot dare accept such money.”

 

“…May I ask the reason for your refusal?”

 

“The Sacred Relic should be used for those who need help. I cannot use it for such personal matters.”

 

“I also need the Holy Lady’s help. And I heard that during the missionary event, you looked into the future for all the residents of Periden Village, didn’t you?”

 

The moment I heard those words, my evaluation of Arjes dropped significantly.

 

‘This wealthy man is eyeing the bowls of those who have nothing.’

 

I struggled to hide my contemptuous gaze and spoke as calmly as possible.

 

“To be precise, I didn’t look into the future but listened to their concerns. The purpose of the missionary event is to help those in difficulty. If you truly need help, please come find me at the next missionary event. I’ll listen to your concerns then.”

 

“Are you telling me to mix in with the villagers and receive help from the Sacred Relic?”

 

“Is there any reason why you shouldn’t?”

 

When I tilted my head with an innocent expression, Arjes let out a hollow laugh.

 

“…Of course not. I was just worried that the villagers might feel burdened by my presence.”

 

“Since the Marquis is someone who greatly helps the Temple, everyone will welcome you enthusiastically.”

 

Arjes’s mouth was smiling, but his eyes were slightly crinkled. I could clearly read his meaning: ‘You know that, yet you treat me like this?’

 

So I smiled and added,

 

“Because the Marquis is a good person who doesn’t harbor such wicked thoughts as donating to the Temple for your personal gain!”

 

“Ha, haha.”

 

Arjes’s laughter gradually became more strained.

 

Thinking I’d done enough, I quietly stood up. Then I politely clasped my hands and bowed to Arjes.

 

“It seems you’ve finished what you wanted to say, so I’ll take my leave now. May God’s blessing be upon your path, Marquis.”

 

“Please wait a moment, Holy Lady! There’s someone I’d very much like to introduce you to at the Imperial Palace spring ball. If it’s alright, I’d like to arrange a meeting.”

 

‘Someone he wants to introduce me to?’

 

It felt a bit uncomfortable, but it wasn’t a difficult request. It would also be awkward to refuse the Marquis’s request twice.

 

‘It’ll be inside the ballroom anyway, so if it gets too uncomfortable, I can just make an excuse and slip away.’

 

“Yes. Then let’s meet at the ball.”

 

When I accepted his request, Arjes’s face finally relaxed. He saw me off with the same kind smile as before.

 

I rode in the carriage with Robelina back to the Temple and quietly took out my tarot cards.

 

As I checked the cards one by one and sorted them into two piles, Robelina gave me a puzzled look.

 

“Ria? What are you doing?”

 

“Oh, I’m trying to check what kind of person the Evis Marquis is. For times like this, using court cards is… well, there’s a way.”

 

When the confusion on Robelina’s face didn’t disappear, I gave her an awkward smile.

 

Then I held the sorted cards and asked a question in my mind.

 

‘What kind of person is Arjes Evis?’

 

I drew a card. It was the ‘King of Pentacles’ card.

 

I covered the card again and thought.

 

‘Hmm. I should definitely slip away in the middle.’

 

When interpreting the King of Pentacles card as a person, it usually read as someone who pursues wealth and power.

 

I had seen Arjes as that kind of person too. But the reason I couldn’t just dismiss him as ‘just a money-loving uncle, let me grant his request since he’s trying so hard’ was something else.

 

The legs of the figure in the card that were only half-shown.

 

This meant he was hiding ulterior motives.

 

‘I don’t know what it is, but it probably isn’t good.’

 

“Ria, what’s wrong? Did the Sacred Relic convey something bad?”

 

When I quietly put the cards away, Robelina asked worriedly.

 

I looked at her with a serious expression and said,

 

“Lina, if I wink at you at the ball, you need to come get me. Got it?”

 

“What?”

 

“Like this, if I signal like this, you must come!”

 

I repeatedly winked one eye to demonstrate.

 

Robelina, who had been watching me quietly, suddenly asked with a serious expression,

 

“Ria, is your eye bothering you? Should we drink some holy water when we get back to the Temple?”

 

“…”

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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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