A fortune-telling princess Chapter 182

She slowly raised her head to look at Empress Javiela—and standing right behind her was another Javiela.

Her soul.

‘It’s just like back then.’

Just like Rania and the water ghost child… Javiela’s spirit stood there, head lowered, lost and vacant.

The moment she saw it, goosebumps spread over Camilla’s entire body. She immediately understood what she was looking at.

It had been stolen. Her soul.

‘You’ve got to be kidding me.’

She had no idea how it happened. The last time they met, she’d seemed completely fine. So what changed so suddenly?

‘Ah!’

Something flashed through her mind.

A passing comment Chris had made on the day High Priest Daniel visited the trading company:

“I heard even Empress Javiela has one.”

It was about the red sacred relic necklace.

It was apparently in fashion lately, and Empress Javiela had been seen wearing it.

‘That’s it.’

It was that red relic.

Looking at the Empress now, laughing and chatting with the others, Camilla let out a hollow laugh.

“This is insane.”

Seeing the relic’s effects firsthand made her head swirl. Weren’t there tons of people in possession of those necklaces?

‘Which means…’

“Lady Camilla.”

As she sank deeper into thought, Empress Javiela approached her again with an overly friendly tone.

Feeling a chill at her feigned warmth, Camilla forced herself to smile brightly.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“There’s someone I’d like you to meet.”

“Meet… someone?”

All of a sudden? Who?

“Ah, perfect timing. He’s just arrived.”

Turning her head slowly at those words, Camilla found herself speechless. A young man in his early twenties approached, a faint smile on his lips.

“Mother.”

It was the Second Prince, Abihale—Empress Javiela’s own son.

His striking looks clearly came from his beautiful mother.

“Oh my.”

“Your Highness, Prince Abihale!”

“It’s been a while, Your Highness!”

The sudden appearance of the prince sent the noble ladies and young women into a flurry of greetings.

After briefly acknowledging them with a nod, he walked straight toward Camilla and the Empress.

“Mother.”

“Welcome, my son.”

Greeted warmly by his mother, he was promptly introduced to Camilla. Naturally, all eyes in the garden turned to the three of them.

“It’s been a while, Lady Camilla.”

“…Yes, it has.”

What on earth is this situation?

Camilla returned his greeting, trying to hide her discomfort as her thoughts swirled.

***

“Ugh.”

Camilla pressed her temples as if trying to push away a headache. Her expression had been clouded ever since returning from the palace.

On the table in front of her were two shattered necklaces.

One was the red sacred relic necklace she had received from High Priest Daniel. The other was the black one that had belonged to Viscount Orléans.

“Red stone and black stone, huh.”

They said once a sacred relic’s power ran out, the stone would turn black. That was when it needed to be replaced—according to the temple.

“But…”

Looking into it, no one had ever come to the temple to get a replacement. It wasn’t that the relics lasted unusually long either.

There were clearly those whose relics had turned black—but not a single person had come to acquire a new one.

“Same with Empress Javiela.”

According to her attendants, the sacred relic she had worn had also turned black. Not long after, she said she no longer needed it and ordered it thrown out.

And this was something she used to treasure deeply.

“So it really is that…”

When the red relic turns black—

“That’s when the soul is replaced.”

She didn’t know how the mechanism worked, but that seemed the only explanation.

First the Emperor, and now the Empress. What on earth was going on?

“At this rate, won’t everyone end up replaced?”

Chills.

It wasn’t even an exaggeration.

“Everyone wore them at the festival too.”

At the recent Festival of Abundance, nearly everyone she saw had been wearing one of those sacred necklaces.

“Hell…”

Where should she even begin fixing this?

Was this even something that could be fixed?

Honestly, she wasn’t even sure if she should get involved.

“I just want to ignore it.”

Seriously, with every fiber of her being, she wanted to ignore it. It screamed high-level danger from every angle.

It was like walking straight into flashing red lights and certain death.

“This is crazy.”

But when things kept happening right before her eyes, how could she pretend not to see?

And she had received a relic herself. She’d barely escaped danger thanks to Havel covering her with blood, but who knew what kind of attack might come next?

“Even that tea party…”

What was the purpose behind it? Why had the Second Prince suddenly shown up?

It was obvious that Empress Javiela had orchestrated the meeting.

Throughout the tea, she’d gone out of her way to push Camilla and the prince to interact.

‘Why?’

If Javiela hadn’t been soul-swapped, Camilla might have thought it was just politics—trying to cozy up to the “Saintess” for her son’s future.

‘But that’s not it, is it?’

There was no way that was the only reason. Was she acting under orders from that strange organization?

“Agh, this is a headache.”

“Is something wrong?”

“Wah!”

Camilla flinched at the sudden voice.

“What the—when did you get here?”

“Just a moment ago.”

It was Dorman.

“So what’s going on? Something happen?”

“It’s—no, wait. Where have you been running off to all the time lately?”

She glanced out the window—it was already dark. She hadn’t seen him since morning. Did he just now come back?

“Where have you been?”

Dorman scratched his cheek awkwardly at her question.

“I’ve had some things to take care of lately.”

“What things?”

“Personal stuff.”

When he didn’t give a straight answer, Camilla narrowed her eyes.

“You didn’t cause any trouble again, did you?”

“No!”

“Really?”

“Do you think I only ever cause trouble?”

“Yes.”

“Wow, harsh! I’ve been busy lately because of someone, you know!”

“Because of who?”

“I’m not saying!”

What the heck?

As Dorman pouted and refused to explain, Camilla clicked her tongue. That wasn’t even the main issue right now!

“Get Havel for me.”

“Havel? Why?”

“I saw another person with a stolen soul.”

“Where?”

“At the palace.”

Even if not immediately, she thought it would be wise to learn the true name of the soul now occupying Empress Javiela’s body.

“…Uh-oh.”

“Hm?”

“He probably won’t come.”

“What?”

Dorman’s reaction was odd. He gave her a sheepish smile.

“Even if I ask, he won’t come.”

“Why not?”

“He’s kind of… mad at me right now.”

“What?”

Havel? Mad at you?

“Seriously?”

That was hard to believe. Havel, who’d fake his death for Dorman, was angry at him?

“Why? What happened?”

“Just… stuff. Haha…”

He tried to laugh it off.

“Did you two fight?”

Could they even have a fight? As Camilla’s curiosity grew, Dorman stood up.

“Want some tea?”

“Sure.”

Watching him prepare it, Camilla tilted her head. What was going on? He’d been out a lot lately too. Something was definitely up.

And his mood felt more subdued than usual.

“Here you go.”

He placed the teacup in front of her. But even after serving, he didn’t leave—he just stood there.

“What? Got something to say?”

“Hmm.”

Dorman trailed off, then sat across from her again. He looked at her quietly for a moment.

“How have you been lately?”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

“Why ask that all of a sudden?”

“Just curious.”

He smiled softly.

“You’ve gone through so much since coming here. I wondered if you’re still having a hard time adjusting.”

“That’s out of nowhere.”

“Haha.”

It had been eventful. She’d collapsed more times than she could count. But that wasn’t the important thing right now.

“Dorman.”

“Yes?”

“I won’t scold you.”

“Huh?”

“If you messed something up, just tell me. The sooner we fix it, the better.”

“I said I didn’t!”

“Really?”

“I’m just really asking because I was curious. Is life here still difficult for you?”

“Hmm…”

Was he being genuine? He did seem sincerely flustered.

Still not entirely convinced, Camilla answered lightly.

“Do I look like I’m doing well to you?”

“…Do you still want to return to your original world?”