The Fortune-Teller Saintess - Chapter 52

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

The Fortune Teller Saint

 

Chapter 52

 

With the hunting competition ending early, we also headed back to the capital earlier than planned.

 

Since it ended early for unpleasant reasons, the ceremony that was scheduled after the hunting competition was also canceled.

 

When I heard this news from Cardinal Dail, my face broke into a bright smile.

 

“Yes! Early dismissal is the best!”

 

“Ria… You haven’t forgotten what happened at the hunting competition already, have you?”

 

Robelina asked with a sigh.

 

I quickly stuffed my belongings into my bag and answered with a beaming face.

 

“Of course I haven’t forgotten.”

 

“For someone who hasn’t forgotten, your expression is… Never mind.”

 

Robelina gave up on me again today.

 

After roughly packing all my things, I threw on the robe that was hanging in the wardrobe.

 

Robelina, who knew my plan, looked worried.

 

“Are you really okay going alone?”

 

“It’s fine, it’s fine. There are no monsters in the forest now, and Nein said he’d be waiting near the forest entrance. Besides, if too many people go, it’ll just draw more attention.”

 

I pulled the hood attached to the robe down to hide my face well and reassured Robelina.

 

On the day I saved Jacad, I had secretly promised to meet with Nein before leaving the forest.

 

Nein had told me to come to an empty cabin near the forest entrance, so now, when everyone was asleep, I planned to go there.

 

“Well then, I’ll be back.”

 

“When you come back, tell me what you talked about. Don’t hide it like before.”

 

Robelina added firmly.

 

Feeling guilty for no reason, I shrugged my shoulders and answered.

 

“I said I would.”

 

“Promise.”

 

“Robelina, you’re persistent.”

 

“Hmph.”

 

“…I’ll be back!”

 

I left the inn as if fleeing from Robelina’s stern gaze.

 

Perhaps because it was late, there was no one on the streets. That was fortunate for me.

 

Still, just in case, I moved only through the most deserted areas as I headed outside the village.

 

And the moment I stepped outside the village.

 

“Holy Lady?”

 

“…?!”

 

I was so startled that I almost turned around.

 

I stayed frozen in place and quickly racked my confused brain.

 

‘How did they recognize me? No, more importantly, how should I handle this situation…?’

 

“Holy Lady, I am Lucian, the Holy Knight Captain of the Temple.”

 

“Huh?”

 

I made what sounded like a stupid noise even to myself and whipped around.

 

Lucian was indeed standing behind me.

 

And in quite suspicious attire at that.

 

“…Count Lucian, unless my eyes are deceiving me, you’re also dressed like you’ve snuck out secretly…”

 

“I did sneak out.”

 

“But why?”

 

“You’re meeting that mage tonight, aren’t you, Holy Lady? As a knight of the Temple, I came out thinking to escort you.”

 

“Without even telling me?”

 

“Well, you wouldn’t have allowed it.”

 

I was so dumbfounded that I just gaped. Looking at it closely, Lucian seemed to have strangely learned how to deal with me lately.

 

‘Still, it would be reassuring to have Lucian come along. He’s not someone who would go around talking about it either.’

 

Having finished my deliberation, I nodded.

 

“Fine. Let’s go together.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Lucian gave a short answer and came to my side.

 

It wasn’t very far from the village to the northern forest where Nein was waiting. So I didn’t even have time to feel awkward with Lucian before we reached the vicinity of the forest.

 

Before entering the forest, I glanced up at Lucian.

 

“Did you have something to say?”

 

I had been stealing glances, but Lucian noticed my gaze and asked.

 

I flinched and answered with an embarrassed face.

 

“I was just looking.”

 

“I see.”

 

“…I’m telling you in advance, you can’t fight with Nein when we get there.”

 

“So that’s what you wanted to say.”

 

“Ahem!”

 

When he saw through my true intentions, a cough burst out involuntarily.

 

Lucian looked ahead with a stoic face and answered in an equally stoic voice.

 

“Since it’s the Holy Lady’s order, I’ll try to behave as much as possible, but I’m not sure if that mage will stay quiet.”

 

“Then I’ll step in and stop Nein.”

 

When I spoke resolutely, Lucian stared intently at my face.

 

“I’ve felt this several times, but it seems the Holy Lady is quite fond of that mage.”

 

“Well, if I didn’t like him, I wouldn’t have become friends with him.”

 

I answered honestly and fell into thought.

 

‘Being with him is tiring because I have to stop his impulsive actions, but strangely I can’t keep my distance. It’s kind of… fun too.’

 

I was chuckling when suddenly a thought made my face stiffen.

 

‘Why is it fun when I’m the only one getting played? Could this be that gaslighting I’ve only heard about?’

 

“I’m a bit envious.”

 

“What? Gaslighting?”

 

“Gaslighting…? What’s that?”

 

“…It’s nothing. But what are you envious of?”

 

When I asked with a curious face, Lucian, who had been silent for a moment, opened his mouth.

 

“Because I can’t become friends with the Holy Lady.”

 

“Count Lucian, do you want to be friends with me?”

 

“If I could, I would like to, but I can’t ignore the master-servant relationship…”

 

“What does that matter? Let’s do it, let’s be friends!”

 

I stopped walking and extended my hand to him.

 

“If Count Lucian becomes my friend, that would be great for me. Just as you’ve helped me, I’ll help with Count Lucian’s love life too!”

 

“Love life?”

 

“…I misspoke. Anyway, how about it? Being friends with me.”

 

When I asked after slipping in my true intentions, Lucian quietly looked down at my hand.

 

And silently took my hand.

 

I smiled brightly at our successful friendship and shook our clasped hands up and down.

 

Then, suddenly curious, I asked Lucian.

 

“But why did you want to be friends with me?”

 

It’s not like Nein where he wanted to be friends because teasing me seemed fun, right? That would be kind of a reality check.

 

Fortunately, Lucian’s answer was perfectly normal.

 

“I was moved by the Holy Lady’s determination to save His Highness the Crown Prince.”

 

“…That’s the reason?”

 

“Yes? That’s right.”

 

“That’s quite a grand reason. I thought you wanted to be friends because I was charming.”

 

When I playfully countered, an immediate response came.

 

“You’re charming.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“The way you try to save someone, and how you treat everyone equally regardless of who they are—I meant that you’re quite charming.”

 

After a moment of silence, Lucian added quietly.

 

“Perhaps I’ve been enchanted by that.”

 

“Enchanted…?”

 

“Ha, this is really ridiculous.”

 

Just then, Nein’s voice came from somewhere and my body was suddenly pulled backward.

 

Startled, I turned around to see Nein glaring at Lucian with an unpleasant expression.

 

“I told you to come alone, so why did you bring that guy?”

 

“I ran into him on the way!”

 

I shouted indignantly, but Nein didn’t listen.

 

He just continued glaring at Lucian, maintaining their tense standoff.

 

“Sigh, when are you two going to get along?”

 

“I’ll never get along with that guy.”

 

“Likewise.”

 

“Really… Oh.”

 

Then the scenery changed. More precisely, we had teleported somewhere.

 

This must be the cabin where Nein was staying, as Kail, who had been sitting nearby, jumped up in surprise when he saw us.

 

“Oh? You’re here?”

 

“Kail! Was everything alright?”

 

“Well… I guess you could call it alright, though I was stuck in this Empty Cabin with the Tower Master the whole time.”

 

“…That must have been difficult.”

 

When I offered my sympathy, Kail sniffled and quickly wiped his eyes.

 

Seeing this, Nein turned his gaze away from Lucian and whipped his head toward us.

 

“You should be grateful that I personally taught you magic, so what are you complaining about?”

 

“Nein, you personally taught magic?! Kail, are you alive?”

 

“Holy Lady.”

 

“Ahem. Sorry.”

 

Looking at Nein’s expression, it seemed I shouldn’t joke around anymore, so I immediately apologized.

 

Fortunately, Nein quickly calmed his anger. Well, maybe he was just holding it in… Anyway, he approached me and held something out.

 

“Take this.”

 

“What is this?”

 

What Nein handed me was a transparent gem with a green tint. It was bigger than my fist.

 

I was fiddling with it for a while because it was pretty when Nein’s answer pierced my ears.

 

“A heart.”

 

“…What?”

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