A fortune-telling princess Chapter 177

“Yes, a revelation.”

But Camilla spoke of it so lightly, as if it was nothing of significance.

“It was the revelation that led me to visit the children that day.”

“…What kind of…”

Indeed, her sudden visit to the temple that day had been completely unexpected.

Had she already received divine guidance back then?

As she felt every eye in the room fixate on her, Camilla pressed her lips together for a moment.

Then, she slowly shifted her gaze, staring at each person in turn.

“The ones who tarnish the name of God.”

“…!”

Her expression changed in an instant.

The gentle smile she had worn vanished, replaced by a cold, merciless mask.

The temple officials, caught off guard by the sudden shift in atmosphere, tensed in confusion.

Inside, Camilla smirked.

‘This is nothing.’

She hadn’t earned the nickname “Grand Actress” for nothing.

Her whole life had been a performance—crying one moment, laughing the next, shifting between emotions seamlessly for the sake of survival.

Finding and donning the appropriate mask for any given situation was second nature to her.

‘And the mask I need now is…’

She once played the role of a judge in a performance.

Yes, a judge.

And this expression—stern, commanding, and unyielding—was perfect for dealing with criminals.

“The punishment of such individuals has been entrusted to me.”

“W-What are you saying?”

“Punishment…?”

“Tarnishing God’s name? Who do you mean?”

As the gathered clergy members stiffened, Camilla’s gaze subtly flickered toward a certain spot in the room.

There, clicking her tongue in frustration, stood the priest’s ghost—Arena Aguilas.

[Who else? It’s them, of course.]

Her fiery eyes blazed with fury.

[These wretched bastards.]

Had she still been alive, she looked like she would have strangled them on the spot.

Camilla met her gaze for a moment before speaking again.

“God has spoken to me.”

[You rotten little…]

“He said that there are those who use His name for vile acts.”

Then, after a brief pause, she looked directly at one of the priests.

“For example… embezzling the donations of the faithful.”

Flinch!

One of the high-ranking priests visibly froze, his expression stiffening.

Oh? Feeling guilty, are we?

Why did you keep skimming half of the donations meant for the orphanages?

[And that one over there…]

“And child abuse.”

“Hrk!”

Another high-ranking priest widened his eyes in alarm.

Why? You, too?

This man had kidnapped children under the excuse that they were possessed by demons and subjected them to horrific violence.

[This guy is utterly deranged. If he’s in a bad mood, he takes it out on the kids. He’s worse than an animal.]

Are children your personal punching bags, you lunatic?

[And now for the worst one. This bastard right here.]

“And…”

Camilla let her words hang in the air before turning her gaze to Cardinal Stela.

Stela, who had been preparing to say something, visibly flinched even though she hadn’t yet accused him of anything.

“I’ve heard that someone has been… violating young priests.”

“Hah!”

“W-What?!”

Gasps echoed through the room.

Even Stela himself stiffened, his complexion rapidly turning pale.

It was clear he was desperately trying to maintain his composure.

[That bastard has been preying on young priests…]

His targets were the newly ordained priests—young and eager, overwhelmed with joy at their newfound divine calling.

Under the guise of “guiding them on the righteous path,” he had lured them in, twisting their faith for his own vile purposes.

Four of his victims had ultimately taken their own lives, unable to bear the shame and fear.

And the most absurd part?

The one who had expressed the greatest outrage at their deaths—

—had been Cardinal Stela himself.

“Suicide is an act that defies God’s will! These are souls abandoned by Him! Remove their filthy corpses from the temple immediately!”

The bodies of the young priests were never given a proper burial.

‘You son of a bitch.’

I will never let this slide.

‘I’ll let you live.’

But I will make sure you experience suffering far worse than death. Just you wait.

“What nonsense are you speaking?!”

At last, the Pope lost his composure and raised his voice.

No matter how much she was being heralded as a saintess, how could she utter such outrageous claims?

“There are no such people within our church—!”

“One last thing.”

Camilla’s sharp gaze landed directly on the Pope.

“Divine Indulgence.”

“…!”

“The ones who sold God’s name for money.”

At the mention of indulgences, the Pope’s expression wavered for the first time.

Though he struggled to maintain his composure, it was clear that it wasn’t easy.

Camilla’s eyes swept over the seated individuals—no, the criminals—one by one.

Not a single one of them could meet her gaze.

They flinched like scolded children, scrambling to avoid her piercing stare.

Now then—shall I pass judgment?

“God has spoken.”

The air in the room froze.

No one dared to breathe.

“He commands that every single one of these sinners be captured and burned alive—to atone for their sins in the flames.”

Having delivered her verdict, Camilla threw off the mask of the judge and smiled sweetly.

Then, she tilted her head playfully and asked one last question.

“So… do I really need to accept the title of Saintess?”

Silence.