A fortune-telling princess Chapter 192

It was a small vial filled with a clear liquid. As soon as Daniel saw it, the smile faded from his face.

“Do you know what this is?”

“…I’m not sure.”

His answer came a beat too late.

“This is the liquid used by Viscount Orléans recently.”

The same liquid that turned a human body into stone. The reason Jayner brought it here and placed it in front of Daniel was simple.

“If someone devoted to the Divine gave this to another and incited them to commit such a crime… then even being branded a heretic wouldn’t be unfair, don’t you think?”

Jayner watched Daniel’s expression briefly before continuing, his tone unhurried.

“I heard you were the one who gave this to Viscount Orléans, High Priest Daniel.”

“There seems to be a serious misunderstanding.”

“A misunderstanding, huh.”

Jayner’s lips curled into a smile again—but this time, there was nothing kind or courteous about it.

“Is suggesting to the pope that indulgences be sold also a misunderstanding?”

“…Indulgences? What are those?”

Daniel paused, only slightly, then tilted his head as if he had no idea what Jayner was talking about.

“Our temple sells such things, you say?”

“The more I get to know you, the more interesting you become.”

Jayner let out a short laugh, as if he’d expected this exact response. He continued speaking in the same indifferent tone.

“I tend to like interesting people. I was going to let it slide if I could help it.”

It had all started with that liquid used by Viscount Orléans.

At first, it was just personal curiosity. How had someone like him obtained a substance not commonly known?

In previous lives, Jayner—no, the leader of Kahn—had never crossed paths with Orléans. He’d never taken contracts involving grieving parents who had lost children.

They just didn’t sound interesting.

Maybe he’d passed such requests on to his subordinates a few times, though he couldn’t remember clearly.

‘So why did I take this case in this life?’

Because Camilla had a soft spot for kids.

He thought that maybe if he wiped out the guy killing children and rescued the ones still alive, she might praise him for once.

Anyway, while tracking Orléans’ trail, Jayner ended up discovering something unexpected.

High Priest Daniel.

It turned out to be one of the most entertaining investigations he’d done in a long time. The more he dug, the more things came pouring out. The man was like a fountain of secrets.

“You seem to be acquainted with Empress Javiela, too.”

He was genuinely shocked to learn that Daniel’s influence extended all the way to the imperial court.

When he discovered how deeply involved Daniel was in everything Javiela had been plotting, Jayner began to question just who this man really was.

What was he?

“I only visit Her Majesty to offer prayers when she’s weary. I’m afraid I don’t know what you mean by indulgences or that liquid.”

“Is that so?”

Again, Daniel spoke with the same unaffected tone, as if he truly didn’t understand the accusations. He even looked at Jayner with something like pity, as if saddened by the misunderstanding.

Jayner simply smiled again—this time, the friendly kind.

“But that wasn’t the end, was it?”

The holy relic. That red relic.

At Camilla’s request, Jayner had looked into the relics. And curiously enough, at the end of that path… stood Daniel.

Jayner didn’t know exactly what that relic was, but from Camilla’s reaction, it clearly wasn’t anything beneficial.

And the one who’d passed that dangerous item to the temple for distribution was none other than High Priest Daniel.

He had been clever—linking the relics, the liquid, and everything else to numerous parties, while keeping himself entirely in the background.

But no matter how carefully he hid, there was no escaping the eyes of Kahn once they started digging in earnest.

He’s not just some ordinary priest.

Unfortunately, that’s as far as Jayner got. That was why he had decided to visit Daniel in person, show his hand first, and see how the man reacted.

It was dangerous, yes—but Jayner had never been one to care about things like that.

And besides…

He had another reason for coming.

“I don’t care who you are or what you’re doing.”

In fact, if someone could throw a wrench into this endlessly repetitive life—give him something different—he’d be grateful.

Well, things are a bit different now, he thought.

Thanks to Camilla, his life lately hadn’t been boring at all.

“I don’t care who you kill or what you plan.”

He didn’t know what Daniel’s ultimate aim was, but if the priest’s actions interfered with certain other people Jayner found irritating, he’d even be willing to help.

But of course, she can never know.

Even though Camilla was the one who asked him to investigate, he hadn’t told her Daniel was behind the relic distribution. Frankly, he didn’t want to.

Something about this felt… dangerous.

It was instinct—the gut feeling of someone who had lived too many lives.

A foul stench clung to all of this. One so rancid it made him uneasy, even now.

He didn’t want her involved.

“But Camilla.”

“……”

“If you keep circling around her, that I won’t tolerate.”

Let’s keep the rot between us.

He’d come here not just to dig for intel, but to redirect Daniel’s attention away from her and toward himself.

“I repeat, Lord Jayner, you’re gravely mistaken.”

“Whether I am or not doesn’t matter to me.”

Jayner let out a final short laugh and stood up from his seat.

“Do you not understand plain speech?”

His voice dipped into a low, menacing tone.

“I said, I don’t care what you do—so long as you don’t lay a finger on her.”

“…I really don’t know what you mean.”

“Do you?” Jayner echoed, raising a brow.

Once again, Daniel was slow to react—but he didn’t lose his calm or his smile.

Jayner, too, reverted to the courteous, well-mannered persona he’d walked in with.

“Next time I visit, I’ll bring a donation for absolution.”

He even bowed slightly as he continued:

“I’ve got a lot to atone for, you see.”

His eyes curved into a beautifully pleasant crescent.

“If divine forgiveness really is for sale, I wouldn’t mind buying some. Are you sure you’re not selling?”

“……”

“I can pay any price you name. What a shame.”

“…I look forward to your next visit.”

Daniel returned the farewell as Jayner turned to leave. The young man offered a bright, beaming smile before vanishing from sight.

“……”

Once the door closed and Jayner’s presence had fully disappeared, Daniel’s expression grew icy cold.

“Jin.”

At his low murmur, a man who appeared to be in his early twenties materialized before him.

“Look into that man.”

The one called Jin gave a slight nod and vanished instantly.

Left alone again, Daniel stood still, staring at the place where Jayner had disappeared—silent, unmoving.

****

“You’re here?”

Camilla, busy working at the café, spotted the reaper Havel standing before her and cheerfully waved at him.

“Sit down. Want something to drink?”

So today, the café must be clean, huh? He’s not running around with a rag for once.

Camilla smiled slightly as she gestured for him to take a seat.

“…….”

But Havel kept his lips tightly pressed together, saying nothing. He merely stared at her with clear disapproval.

What’s with that look of his.

His eyes were colder than usual, and Camilla clicked her tongue inwardly. She had heard he’d fought with Dormann—maybe it was true after all?

But why does it feel like he’s mad at me?

What did I even do? You’re the ones who fought.

“Why’d you two fight?”

“I really hate you.”

“Uh-huh. So why’d you fight?”

“I hate you so much!”

“Okay, I got it.”

Why is he so insistent? I don’t particularly like you either. You think this is the first time I’ve heard someone say that? Please.

I’ve lived my whole life being cursed out.

Even back in the entertainment industry, there were plenty of people who couldn’t stand her. What’s his deal?

You’re not even Arison, so don’t flatter yourself.

It’s not like hearing something like that from you would actually hurt—

…Wait. Why did Arison pop into my head just now?

Realizing where her thoughts had wandered, Camilla let out a hollow laugh.

“Just tell me why you called me here.”

She quickly composed her dazed expression at the sound of Havel’s voice again.

“For someone who says they hate me, you sure show up when I call.”

“…I’m leaving.”

“Okay, okay! Sit down, sit down!”

Right, no matter how mad he gets, he still comes if Dormann tells him to.

Camilla watched Havel subtly sneak glances toward the side as they spoke, and she shook her head lightly.

He’s like a baby duck imprinted on its mama.

Havel’s gaze kept drifting to where Dormann was helping out with the café’s service. If he’s gonna keep staring like that, why doesn’t he just go say hi already?

“Why’d you two fight, anyway?”

She asked again, more pointedly this time.

Dormann wouldn’t say anything—he just laughed it off.

No matter how she thought about it, she couldn’t come up with a single reason for them to fight.

If Dormann told Havel to die, he’d actually die. Not even as a joke—he’d do it instantly, without hesitation.

Look at him now.

He was still fidgeting, sneakily watching Dormann like a nervous wreck. How could a fight happen with that dynamic?

“Didn’t happen.”

“But Dormann said you fought.”

“Then we did.”

“You just said you didn’t!”

“Dormann-nim said we fought, right? Then that’s what happened.”

“…Right. Of course.”

Forget it. I give up.