The Fortune-Teller Saintess - Chapter 95

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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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It wasn’t just me who received an invitation from Yuriel. Cardinal Barion had also received a birthday banquet invitation directly from Yuriel and decided to attend.

So I carefully suggested to him. Would he like to go to the clothing store together to get formal wear fitted?

Honestly, I thought he would refuse. But contrary to my expectations, Cardinal Barion readily accepted the proposal.

‘Sometimes things like this would be nice too. Since it’s Holy Lady Ellia’s request.’

That’s how I ended up paying for Cardinal Barion’s formal wear with my own money. It was also to repay the kindness I’d received from staying at the temple.

Cardinal Barion wore a cardinal’s stole over his white formal wear. Even though it wasn’t priest robes, it created a very sacred atmosphere.

Anyone could see he looked like ‘I am a cardinal.’

‘That might be better at the banquet hall.’

At least there wouldn’t be any awkward situations where people couldn’t recognize that he was a cardinal.

“Are you both ready?”

“Yes. We just finished.”

Cardinal Barion looked back and forth between Robelina and me, then smiled gently.

“You were both always pretty, but today is incomparable.”

“Hehe. Your Eminence looks very handsome today too.”

“Thanks to Holy Lady Ellia. But is it alright? The formal wear must have been quite expensive…”

“It’s fine! I’ve saved up quite a bit of money.”

When I spoke confidently, Cardinal Barion put down his worries and chuckled.

“That’s a relief.”

“Holy Lady.”

With a knock, Count Lucian, who had been waiting outside, entered the room.

He looked at me and stopped right there. Between his slowly blinking eyelids, his aquamarine-like eyes trembled finely.

“Count Lucian, how is it? The dress is pretty, right?”

“…Ah.”

At my question, Count Lucian belatedly let out an exclamation and nodded.

“Very… beautiful.”

“Hehe, thank you.”

When I smiled brightly, Count Lucian raised his hand to cover his mouth. Robelina and Cardinal Barion watched Count Lucian and laughed quietly.

While I tilted my head in confusion, Count Lucian lowered his hand and spoke with his usual stoic expression.

“It’s time to depart. The carriage is ready, so let’s go down.”

“Understood.”

“I hope you all have an enjoyable banquet.”

The clothing store attendants politely saw us off with those words.

‘An enjoyable banquet.’

I repeated their words and smiled awkwardly.

‘That seems unlikely though.’

This banquet would require focusing all my attention on carefully observing one person.

I swallowed those words and got into the carriage. Then I turned my gaze to the window and tried to suppress my tension.

Tonight, Arjes’s true identity would be revealed to the world.

***

Perhaps because it was my second banquet, I wasn’t particularly nervous even when entering the banquet hall.

Robelina and Cardinal Barion were the same. Since Robelina was also revisiting like me, it wasn’t strange that she was calm, but Cardinal Barion’s composure was somewhat unexpected.

‘Is that what experience brings?’

“Gasp, isn’t that the Cardinal? How is the Cardinal here…”

“It’s Prince Yuriel’s birthday banquet. Since he’s devout, the Cardinal must have come personally to congratulate him.”

I could hear whispers mixed with awe from around us.

Last time when I came alone as the Holy Lady, I drew attention, but this time with Cardinal Barion accompanying me, we truly became the center of attention at the banquet.

Cardinal Barion seemed relaxed thanks to his accumulated experience, but I couldn’t manage that and stuck close behind him.

“Cardinal Barion! Holy Lady!”

As if he had heard news of our arrival, Prince Yuriel approached with a welcoming face.

Because of this, the crowd that had been hovering around hoping to speak with us scattered instantly.

Yuriel paid them no mind and approached us with a bright smile.

“I was waiting for you. Thank you so much for coming to my birthday banquet today!”

“Haha, it’s Your Highness’s birthday banquet, so of course I had to attend.”

At Cardinal Barion’s words, Yuriel smiled with a joyful expression.

While the two were talking, I glanced around the surroundings.

I became a bit puzzled when I couldn’t see the person I naturally thought would be by Yuriel’s side.

‘Why don’t I see Arjes?’

“Holy Lady? Is there someone you’re looking for?”

Yuriel noticed me and asked with a puzzled expression.

I hesitated, then smiled as if it was nothing and answered casually.

“I don’t see Count Evis. Since he’s always been by Your Highness’s side, it’s strange not to see him today…”

“If you mean the Count, someone called for him earlier so he stepped away briefly. He’ll be coming this way soon.”

I felt relieved inside at those words. Arjes had to be at this banquet hall today for our plan to succeed.

‘Now that I’ve confirmed he’s at the banquet hall, it should be fine.’

“But it’s surprising. I didn’t expect you to be looking for the Count, Holy Lady.”

Yuriel tilted his head and made a sharp remark.

I maintained my smiling face and answered immediately without hesitation.

“He’s a VIP of our temple… I mean, he’s one of the people who regularly makes large donations. I wanted to at least greet him.”

“I see.”

Fortunately, Yuriel seemed convinced and nodded. I sighed with relief internally.

But tension came immediately.

“Oh, speaking of which, you both heard about it too, right? That… person called the Seer.”

It was because Yuriel had changed the topic to the Seer.

I almost hardened my expression without realizing it, but fortunately Cardinal Barion responded to Yuriel’s words before that happened.

“Yes. We heard.”

“Is the temple alright? This incident must be causing confusion.”

“Everyone seems conscious of it, but fortunately they’re going about their usual business.”

“That’s fortunate. I heard he’s a very wicked person. To commit such acts under the pretense of God’s will… He’s absolutely unforgivable.”

Yuriel said this while clenching his fist tightly. Seeing him quietly angry, I thought silently.

‘Seeing him speak like that, does Yuriel have no connection to the Seer?’

Of course, I couldn’t be sure. Perhaps it was all an act.

But at least to me, Yuriel’s anger seemed genuine.

“Yuriel.”

“Brother!”

When I heard a familiar voice and turned my head, I saw Jacad walking toward us.

Yuriel welcomed Jacad warmly. Jacad glanced at Yuriel, then turned his gaze toward us and spoke.

“It seems the temple has come to celebrate your birthday too.”

‘How brazen, when he knew all along.’

I laughed inwardly but didn’t show it outwardly.

I pretended to know nothing and slightly lifted the hem of my dress to show courtesy to that Crown Prince bastard.

“Holy Lady Ellia greets Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

“We greet Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

Robelina and Cardinal Barion also offered their greetings along with me.

Jacad nodded to acknowledge the greetings, then turned his gaze to Yuriel.

“Yuriel, sorry to interrupt your conversation, but I’d like to have a word with the Holy Lady for a moment.”

“Huh? Ah…”

It seemed like an unexpected request, as Yuriel looked at me with a flustered expression before hiding his disappointed look and speaking.

“I understand. Then I’ll stay here and talk with Cardinal Barion.”

“Thank you.”

Jacad gave me a look. It meant to follow him.

Robelina and I pretended not to know anything and followed him toward the balcony.

Once we were alone, Jacad changed his expression and turned sharply to look at Robelina and me.

“So, how was it?”

“Hmm.”

I met Robelina’s gaze. Robelina had a subtle expression, as if she was thinking something similar to me.

“His Highness the Second Prince didn’t seem to have any particular connection to the Seer. He only knew as much as others would know, and his anger seemed genuine too.”

“I see.”

Jacad responded calmly.

But facing him, I caught a glimpse of faint relief in Jacad’s eyes.

Though he had said we should suspect Yuriel too, it seemed he had secretly hoped his younger brother wasn’t connected to the Seer.

“Yes. Of course, I can’t be completely certain.”

“Did you meet Arjes Evis?”

“No. He stepped away briefly, so not yet.”

“He’s the one you should be more wary of than Yuriel. Even if you happen to encounter him, don’t probe too obviously.”

I nodded seriously at Jacad’s cautionary warning.

Then, with a thought that suddenly occurred to me, I asked carefully.

“Um… has there been any contact from Nein?”

“I finished communicating with him before entering the banquet hall. He said he had reached Evis Count’s mansion. By now, he should have arrived at the mansion with my subordinate.”

“Finally…”

I unconsciously swallowed hard.

Jacad also seemed lost in thought as he looked outside the Imperial Palace and muttered quietly.

“I hope they succeed.”

“I hope so too.”

“Your Majesty, Ellia.”

I turned my head at Robelina’s call.

Robelina, who had been standing by the balcony door watching the banquet hall, spoke with a tense expression.

“Evis Count has arrived.”

My expression reflexively hardened at those words.

When I looked at Jacad, he too had hardened his expression and was giving me a firm look. Seeing him reminded me once again of what we had to do.

Our task was to keep Arjes here until Nein discovered evidence of the Seer at Arjes’s mansion.

And the moment we received word that evidence had been found, we were to arrest Arjes.

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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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