The Fortune-Teller Saintess - Chapter 57

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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 57

 

“Oh, Count Lucian? Did something good happen?”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“No, you suddenly smiled…”

 

Even Lucian, who was famous for being stoic, was showing such a smile. Well, I was happy to feast my eyes on it.

 

Lucian, who had been blinking at me, rubbed the corner of his mouth and asked back.

 

“Did I smile?”

 

“You don’t even know you smiled?”

 

His answer was so absurd that I couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh. Then I lightly tapped Lucian’s arm and grinned.

 

“Smile often. It looks good on you.”

 

“…”

 

Lucian, who had been looking down at me silently, suddenly nodded with a serious face.

 

“I’ll make an effort.”

 

“You don’t need to go as far as making an effort…”

 

“No. Because the Holy Lady likes it.”

 

“Huh?”

 

I widened my eyes at the unexpected words.

 

Even at my reaction, Lucian remained steadfast.

 

“Hehe.”

 

At that moment, Robelina let out a laugh while looking at us.

 

Feeling awkward for no reason, I asked Robelina with a sulky face.

 

“Robelina, why are you laughing?”

 

“Just because it looks nice.”

 

“…Ahem!”

 

In the end, I let out an awkward cough with an embarrassed face and turned my eyes elsewhere.

 

“It’s over there! Found it!”

 

“Huh?”

 

At the children’s voices, I turned my head to see a child holding something up high and waving it around.

 

It was identical to the herb sample the doctor had shown us at the apothecary.

 

“Oh! You found it!”

 

“There’s a lot here. Should we dig up all of them, Holy Lady?”

 

“Don’t dig up too many, let’s just take what we need.”

 

“Okay.”

 

Thanks to the children who had taken a liking to herb gathering, the pouch was filled in no time.

 

Since this was enough, I gathered the children together.

 

“Let’s head back now.”

 

“Huh? Sister, wait a moment.”

 

“What’s wrong? I’ll tell you in advance, we have enough herbs.”

 

“That’s not it!”

 

A child who had been looking around shouted with a distressed face.

 

“Cecil is missing!”

 

“What?”

 

There’s a missing child?

 

The moment I registered those words, my mind went blank.

 

‘Did he get lost while looking for herbs? How far did he go?’

 

This was a disaster. I should have stopped them when the children said they wanted to come along.

 

‘No, now isn’t the time to think about this.’

 

What was important now was finding the missing child. It would be terrible if a young child encountered a wild beast.

 

I quickly came to my senses and gave instructions to Robelina and Lucian.

 

“Robelina, you go down to the village first with the children. Count Lucian, please help me find the missing child…”

 

That’s when it happened.

 

“Are you perhaps looking for this little guy?”

 

“…!”

 

Shing-

 

By the time I turned my head, Lucian had already drawn his sword.

 

Following the tip of Lucian’s sword with my gaze, I saw a man wearing a hood with a young child.

 

“Cecil!”

 

“Big brother!”

 

At the cry from the child behind us, Cecil next to the man smiled brightly.

 

I glanced at Cecil, then asked the man warily.

 

“Did you bring the child back?”

 

“Well, you could say that.”

 

The man said, shrugging his shoulders.

 

At that moment, his hood swayed slightly, revealing the man’s lips.

 

Somehow I felt a sense of déjà vu. I was frowning and thinking about the identity of this strange feeling when Lucian spoke in a stern voice.

 

“Send the child over here.”

 

“Are you treating me like a kidnapper right now?”

 

“Aren’t you?”

 

“Of course…”

 

“He’s a kidnapper?! Cecil, come here! Run away quickly!”

 

The children, startled by Lucian’s words, interrupted the man and screamed.

 

Then the man shut his mouth tight. He seemed somewhat displeased.

 

‘Huh? Wait.’

 

At that moment, a certain person came to mind.

 

Just as I was about to open my mouth to confirm his identity, Cecil hugged the man’s long legs tightly and shouted.

 

“I don’t want to!”

 

“Ce, Cecil?”

 

“This big brother is handsome. I like him.”

 

Cecil giggled and looked up at the hooded man.

 

Then I could feel an awkward atmosphere settling among us.

 

“What on earth…”

 

“Count Lucian, wait a moment.”

 

“Holy Lady?”

 

Lucian looked at me with confusion.

 

I commanded him with my eyes to stay still, then slowly stepped forward and asked the man.

 

“Are you… Nein by any chance?”

 

At my question, the man hesitated, then raised his head and looked in my direction. Though I still couldn’t see his face because of the hood.

 

“…Ha.”

 

Following a hollow laugh, the man pushed his hood back. Then beautiful silver hair was revealed.

 

Beneath it, familiar purple eyes smiled.

 

“I even changed my voice to avoid being caught, how did you notice?”

 

“Haven’t I seen you once or twice?”

 

Relaxing my tension, I let out a sigh mixed with relief.

 

Then Lucian, who had sheathed his sword, approached my side.

 

He glared at Nein with displeasure and bluntly said.

 

“I didn’t expect to meet you again all the way out here. Did you follow us?”

 

“Anyone listening would think I’m a stalker. The one who followed would be the Holy Lady.”

 

“No, why are you dragging me into this when I was just minding my own business?”

 

When I interjected in bewilderment, Nein quickly turned his head and asked me.

 

“Why the hell is the Holy Lady here?”

 

“Me? I came here because I had business to take care of.”

 

“What business.”

 

“Well…”

 

I was about to respond reflexively when I suddenly thought better of it.

 

‘Do I really need to tell Nein about this?’

 

‘Why should I tell the Holy Lady about that?’

 

‘It’s related to the Mage Tower, so it’s my business. It has nothing to do with the Holy Lady, right?’

 

The words Nein had said to me came to mind.

 

When did he draw lines and push me away, and now suddenly he’s curious?

 

Feeling sulky, I spoke to Nein in a blunt tone.

 

“It’s none of your business anyway.”

 

At that, Nein’s brow furrowed.

 

Nein moved his lips a few times before spitting out words like a sneer.

 

“Right. It’s none of my business.”

 

“Exactly. So don’t be curious anymore.”

 

“…”

 

Nein’s face contorted as if he’d eaten something bitter. It was the first time I’d seen him look so displeased, so honestly I was a bit scared.

 

Robelina came to my rescue.

 

“Ria, we found Cecil too, so let’s head back to the village.”

 

“Oh, right. Cecil, let go of that brother and come here.”

 

I extended my hand to Cecil, who was still clinging to Nein’s side.

 

But Cecil shook his head and hid behind Nein’s legs.

 

“Nooooo.”

 

“Cecil?”

 

“I want to go with the handsome brother…”

 

…It seemed Cecil was quite taken with Nein’s appearance.

 

I was at a loss in this unexpected situation. Just pulling him away would probably make him burst into tears.

 

Nein also looked down at the child with an annoyed expression, finding Cecil bothersome. At least the good thing was that this crazy guy wouldn’t hurt a child.

 

As I was desperately trying to think of a solution, Cecil’s brother from behind stepped forward.

 

“Cecil! Don’t bother the Holy Lady and come here quickly.”

 

“Sob…”

 

At that moment, tears welled up in Cecil’s eyes.

 

He was truly on the verge of bursting into tears.

 

In my panic, I unconsciously grabbed Nein and said,

 

“B-brother will come with us too!”

 

“What?”

 

Nein looked at me with bewildered eyes.

 

I poked Nein’s side and pleaded with my eyes.

 

‘Please just play along!’

 

“…”

 

“You’ll come with us, right, handsome brother?”

 

I asked with a deliberately bright smile. Then Nein stared down at me intently.

 

As I was anxiously wondering what this unreadable guy would answer, Nein smiled unpleasantly and said,

 

“If the Holy Lady wants me to.”

 

…What was this. Even though things went as I wanted, why did I feel like I’d lost somehow.

 

My forced smile trembled.

 

Oblivious to my feelings, Cecil stopped crying and smiled brightly.

 

‘Right. As long as you’re happy.’

 

I let out a deep sigh.

 

Robelina and Lucian comforted me from both sides.

 

***

 

“So you know, I told those guys. Don’t bully my little sister!”

 

“Oh, you’re quite a cool kid, aren’t you?”

 

“Hehe.”

 

When Ellia praised him, the boy stuck right next to her scratched the back of his head shyly.

 

Nein, who had been yawning at the trivial conversation, stared intently at Ellia walking ahead.

 

A conversation that he would have ended with a single “So what” was being listened to by Ellia until the end without showing any sign of annoyance.

 

‘What a pointless thing to do.’

 

But why was it? Even though he thought it was pointless, strangely he didn’t feel like stopping that conversation.

 

It was because Ellia’s eyes were full of life as she dealt with the child.

 

He quite liked that sparkle. Enough to momentarily forget the unpleasant feeling she had given him with her words about it being none of his business.

 

‘Why is that.’

 

Why was he being swayed so much by that woman’s every action and word?

 

And.

 

‘Why don’t I dislike it.’

 

“Nein? What’s wrong?”

 

Perhaps sensing his gaze, Ellia turned around with a puzzled expression.

 

When Nein shook his head to indicate it was nothing, Ellia tilted her head in confusion then suddenly turned her attention to the child he was carrying.

 

“Isn’t the child heavy?”

 

“Not at all. Just bothersome.”

 

Nein let out a slight sigh looking at the child who had fallen asleep in his arms.

 

Since this little one named Cecil wouldn’t leave his side, the task of caring for the child fell entirely to Nein. Really, what a troublesome little thing.

 

Then Ellia, who had been staring at him, suddenly spoke up.

 

“Still, I’m glad you’re here.”

 

When Nein looked at her as if asking what she meant, Ellia smiled brightly and said,

 

“Thanks to you, we’re returning safely without losing anyone.”

 

“…”

 

Nein blinked and quietly gazed at Ellia’s smile.

 

That sparkling smile, as always. Whenever Ellia wore that smile, he would show one of two reactions.

 

Either turn his head away to avoid her eyes.

 

Or be captivated by the smile and have his gaze completely caught.

 

He couldn’t precisely define his feelings toward Ellia. But one thing was certain.

 

He was paying very close attention to Ellia.

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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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