A fortune-telling princess Chapter 168

Chapter. Festival of Abundance

 

“…Jaynor?”

 

“Yeah, it’s been a while.”

 

A while? We saw each other just recently!

 

My mind went blank as I watched him greet me so nonchalantly.

 

Why is he sitting there? And so confidently?

 

“First time seeing me from over there?”

 

“Ah…!”

 

He’s not here as the owner of Kan.

 

I realized my mistake when he continued his greeting.

 

Only then did I somewhat understand the situation. He’s here as the eldest son of Duke Escra, isn’t he?

 

“My father told me to come.”

 

As expected, Jaynor mentioned Duke Escra.

 

“Tsk.”

 

At the mention of Duke Escra, Duke Sorpel, who was seated opposite to entertain the guest as the host, instinctively furrowed his brows.

 

He reminded himself once again how nothing about the man was to his liking.

 

“Could you be here to take my daughter away too?”

 

“I’ve only been instructed to protect my sister from close by.”

 

“Sister?”

 

“Oh, if that was offensive, I apologize.”

 

His polite words, accompanied by a somewhat pitiful smile, softened the cold expression on Duke Sorpel’s face slightly.

 

“Camilla is already like a precious sister to me. If I offended you, I apologize.”

 

But his expression hardened again with the next words. Was he not going to retract calling her his sister after all?

 

Still, he seemed much more polite than his father. That was somewhat pleasing.

 

‘Don’t be fooled!’

 

That’s all an act! Wow, I knew he had two faces, but to this extent? He might even cry like that.

 

‘He could be an actor.’

 

Watching Jaynor put on the most innocent expression, Camilla shook her head in disbelief.

 

“Are you planning to stay here?”

 

“Can’t I stay by my sister’s side?”

 

Jaynor put on a pitiable expression again.

 

“One was bad enough.”

 

Everyone present knew who “that one” referred to. Duke Sorpel clicked his tongue and stood up.

 

He gave a brief order to Luve, the butler standing beside him.

 

“Prepare a room.”

 

“Yes, my lord.”

 

Though he didn’t like it, he couldn’t just chase him away. After all, he was a guest who came for Camilla.

 

“Still, he seems better than the father.”

 

Father! Don’t be fooled!

 

“Thank you.”

 

Rising to his feet, Jaynor bowed deeply in a courteous manner, showing a bright smile.

 

“Would you wait here for a moment? We’ll prepare your room soon.”

 

“Please do.”

 

Luve left the drawing room immediately.

 

“What’s going on? What happened?”

 

Once the two had left, Camilla quickly asked.

 

“What are you doing here?”

 

First Duke Escra, and now this unexpected appearance! What are they playing at?

 

“Hm.”

 

As Jaynor sank into the chair with a lazy smile, Camilla let out a short sigh.

 

The courteous young noble was gone, replaced by the seductive smile of the leader of the assassination group Kan.

 

“I heard you caused quite a stir?”

 

“A stir? Who? Me?”

 

“In Jaybillon.”

 

“That was…”

 

“I didn’t expect you to handle it personally.”

 

Camilla shook her head again at him, who kept giggling as if amused. Her father should have seen this!

 

“You always exceed my expectations.”

 

“I had no choice.”

 

Duke Jaybillon seemed to be in agony whenever he saw her because he hadn’t decided what to do with the Guardian Sword. Too precious to give away, yet too honorable to not give.

 

‘What about my opinion? Why isn’t my opinion considered?’

 

Who’s consoling him? Why is he even agonizing over this?

 

No matter how much she told him it wasn’t needed, Duke Jaybillon wouldn’t listen.

 

“But really, why are you here?”

 

“Didn’t your father say anything?”

 

“About what?”

 

“He was very worried when he heard you got involved in such a dangerous situation right after returning to the empire.”

 

“Him?”

 

He didn’t show any sign of that? During my stay here, he never mentioned anything about Jaybillon…

 

‘Ah, so that’s why?’

 

There was that one time when Duke Jaybillon came to visit Duke Sorpel and they got into a petty argument.

 

From the moment Duke Jaybillon appeared, Duke Sorpel looked at him with disdain, which eventually led to a verbal spat.

 

‘Do you have something to say to me?’

 

‘I was wondering what kind of compensation you offered.’

 

‘Compensation?’

 

‘You had a child risk their life to help you. I wonder what compensation you gave. You didn’t just wipe your mouth clean, did you?’

 

‘Y-You, shameless?!’

 

Thanks to others intervening, it didn’t escalate into a bigger fight.

 

I glared at him, wondering why he was picking a fight for no reason, but was he actually still thinking about the Jaybillon incident?

 

“He wants me to stay by your side for peace of mind.”

 

Only then did Camilla realize who ‘that guy’ was that Jaynor had mentioned before leaving. The decision must have been made back then.

 

“So, you’re not just staying here for a while?”

 

“My father told me to stick close to you.”

 

“Ha.”

 

“Please take care of me.”

 

Camilla pressed her forehead to calm the throbbing pain.

 

His smirk was so irritating. Should she charge him a fortune for the stay?

 

“Anyway, I got a job offer in this area. Going back and forth with magic circles was getting tiring, so this is good.”

 

“A job?”

 

If it’s a job you take…

 

“Don’t worry. It’s not about killing innocent people.”

 

“Someone’s still going to die, right?”

 

Jaynor’s eyes crinkled at Camilla’s question.

 

“It’s about punishing some bad guys.”

 

“Don’t get caught.”

 

Camilla exhaled a short sigh. What would people say if they knew the leader of Kan was staying at a duke’s house?

 

‘It would be chaos, that’s for sure.’

 

She genuinely hoped he wouldn’t cause any trouble and would quietly return home.

 

‘Well, I guess not.’

 

Seeing his noble act earlier, he probably won’t be easily caught.

 

Just then, the room was ready.

 

“Long time no see.”

 

At Jaynor’s greeting, Dorman, who had been trying to stay out of sight in one corner, flinched.

 

“Help me with my luggage?”

 

“Yes!”

 

Seemingly aware of his own wrongdoing, Dorman scurried over to Jaynor at his command.

 

His movements were brisk. Watching this, Camilla shook her head slightly.

 

‘Better than getting assassinated, I suppose.’

 

She thought him quite commendable for at least knowing how precarious his situation was.

 

* * *

 

“Here?”

 

On the day of the Festival of Abundance, Camilla attended the ceremony with Chris.

 

However, she couldn’t help but be puzzled by where they were led.

 

“This isn’t a temple?”

 

Isn’t it usually held there?

 

She thought such ceremonies would take place in a solemn chapel, especially since it was at the temple.

 

But the ceremony was held in a vast garden behind the temple.

 

“Why here?”

 

Managed by the temple, the garden wasn’t flashy but was very neat and certainly grand.

 

Above all, with ancient trees lining the space, it felt like stepping into a dense forest.

 

“It’s because of that tree.”

 

“That tree?”

 

Chris pointed to a large tree standing among the others. It stood out even among the old trees.

 

“Isn’t that a dead tree?”

 

Large enough that several adults would need to stretch out their arms to encircle it, the tree had no leaves.

 

Unlike the trees around it with lush foliage, this one had only dry branches reaching skyward, making it all the more conspicuous.

 

“It’s the Tree of the Supreme Deity.”

 

“The Tree of the Supreme Deity?”

 

Why are names so grand these days?

 

‘The necklace sold at the temple promises eternal rest.’

 

Now even trees get the title of deity?

 

“At this rate, they’ll call every rock rolling on the road a divine relic.”

 

Camilla, like the original owner of her body, had no interest in temple matters, so she knew very little.

 

This was her first time being invited to or attending such a temple event, hearing about the ‘Tree of the Supreme Deity’.

 

“Welcome.”

 

Then, High Priest Daniel approached, greeting them warmly.

 

“Thank you for coming. I truly appreciate it.”

 

“The honor is mine for being invited.”

 

“I hope today will be meaningful for you.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

After exchanging formal greetings, Camilla’s gaze followed where everyone else was bowing.

 

It was the arrival of the pope, the central figure of the church.

 

‘Huh?’

 

Camilla was about to bow respectfully when…

 

‘What’s that?’

 

Her face contorted. A woman in pure white priestly robes, appearing to be in her early twenties, was walking beside the pope, clicking her tongue.

 

She was muttering something, but it was too far to hear clearly.

 

‘Isn’t that a bit much?’

 

Even ghosts should have some decency. It’s one thing to linger around, but to do so beside the pope in the temple?

 

‘Looks like she was a high-ranking priestess by her attire.’

 

What kind of priestess becomes a ghost and causes such a ruckus? Shouldn’t she have been judged and gone to heaven or hell by now?

 

“Your Holiness, a pleasure to see you.”

 

As the pope drew closer, the ghost priestess became more visible.

 

“Sigh.”

 

Camilla sighed involuntarily. But at that moment, the ghost priestess’s voice became clear.

 

[This child is doomed, doomed.]

 

Child? Did she just call the pope a child?

 

Camilla glanced at the pope’s face, who was in his sixties at least, being called a child.

 

Looking closer, she finally understood what the ghost priestess was glaring at disapprovingly.

 

‘That?’

 

Around the pope’s neck, there was a necklace with a red, shiny pendant.

 

It was the same relic necklace she had received.