CHAPTER 65………….
Even though Yankeller kept drinking water, his thirst only seemed to grow worse.
While he sat in restless anxiety, Everett was already thinking about how she might use the knowledge of magical tool-making.
‘If I learn little by little whenever I have time, I could use it after moving north. Up there, they’ll have far fewer chances to see magical tools than in the capital.’
She even thought it might be good to open magical tool chain shops across the continent together with Pan.
Her eyes sparkled at the idea of a new business.
“Yes, I’d like that. I’ll learn. I look forward to your guidance, Sir Yankeller.”
Yankeller’s face blossomed into a bright smile, like spring flowers.
As the imperial banquet drew closer, more noble ladies and young women visited the tarot shop.
Their questions were varied—how to catch Kyle’s eye, which color of dress would bring them luck, and so on.
It was natural that they clung to divination like grasping at straws, but most of it was trivial worries and complaints.
In the past, Everett would have let such grumbling slip past her ears.
Now, however, she listened carefully—even the smallest sigh could hold valuable information that might help her secure the northern domain.
“Young lady, aren’t you pushing yourself too hard these days? You’re practically living at the shop. Aunt Masha is really worried.”
Daisy set down a soup full of nourishing ingredients she had prepared.
“How could I feel tired when you make such healthy food for me?”
“That’s only because you won’t rest even when I tell you to. Why are you taking on so many consultations?”
Worry filled Daisy’s eyes.
“Once the banquet ends, it’ll be quiet again, as if nothing happened.”
“But the banquet is still a week away. That means you’ll be this busy for another whole week?”
“Daisy, today’s soup tastes richer than usual. Thank you.”
When Everett deliberately changed the subject, Daisy pouted, looking ready to cry from frustration.
She couldn’t understand. Everett had always been busy, but never to this extent.
Why had she suddenly become a workaholic? Daisy had no idea, and it left her feeling helpless.
Everett let out a faint sigh at her expression.
“Daisy, this is still a secret…”
She had meant to wait until things were more certain, but looking at Daisy, she thought it better to share a little now.
“Once everything is settled, I’m thinking of moving north to live.”
“What? The north?”
“Yes, perhaps near Olbreno… though it isn’t decided yet.”
Daisy’s eyes went wide.
“You’ve heard too, haven’t you? The north isn’t a good place to live. If you don’t want to, there’s no need to go…”
“I’m fine with it. If it’s where you go, I’d follow even beyond the northern mountains. I’ve never been there, but I’m sure it will be fine.”
“Think carefully, Daisy. The north is bitterly cold, and monsters often cross the mountains.”
Everett was grateful for her loyalty, but the north was not an easy place to live.
Daisy shook her head firmly.
“Precisely because it’s cold and dangerous, I have to be by your side. And Lord Olbreno said the north is famous for its textiles, since it’s so cold.”
Everett smiled faintly at her eager face.
“Do you remember the clothes the lord wore when he first came? Those were made of cloth woven there.”
Since Daisy loved clothes and jewelry, Everett had entrusted her with managing the jewelry shop.
Thanks to her good eye, the shop had become popular in the plaza, bringing in decent income.
“In the north, you could even learn to weave fabric yourself.”
Daisy beamed.
“And Lord Olbreno also said that thanks to His Excellency, the monsters will soon be gone.”
“Gone?”
“Yes, he said someday they won’t be able to cross the northern mountains at all.”
“I see… that would be wonderful.”
“So that’s why you’re working so hard, preparing for when you move north?”
“That’s right. Who knows how much money it will take.”
“Well, money is always better the more you have.”
Daisy echoed Everett’s favorite saying with a grin.
“I’ll work even harder at running the jewelry shop. It’s only a small amount compared to what you earn, but it’ll help a little, won’t it?”
“A little? It’s a very big help.”
Excited, Daisy left the room.
Everett opened the window wide, letting the warm spring breeze drift into the tarot shop.
“So, spring has come.”
Though her gestures were calm as she gazed outside, her face was clouded with worry.
“Phew…”
Exhaling a long breath, Everett began preparing for her next visitor.
It was time for the unusual, extravagant client who had booked the entire afternoon.
Knock, knock.
Right at two o’clock, as if she had been waiting outside, came the knock on the door.
“Your guest has arrived,” Daisy called in a tone more careful than usual.
“Yes, please come in.”
The door opened, and a strong wave of perfume flooded the shop.
A woman stepped in, wearing a fancy hat with long lace.
She clearly tried to conceal her face, but the platinum hair falling to her waist revealed her identity instantly.
“With a gloomy place like this, can you even give proper divinations?”
To Angelus, her vision half-covered by hat and lace, the interior seemed even darker.
“No wonder you’re a popular fortune-teller—you certainly have strange taste.”
‘Saintess Angelus…’
Her biting remarks didn’t stop until she sat down opposite Everett.
“Welcome, honored guest.”
Everett did not rise, only gave a small nod.
Her upright posture, radiating dignity, made one of Angelus’s brows twitch upward.
“Honored guest…”
Everett sometimes asked a client’s name, and sometimes not at all.
Angelus likely hadn’t booked the appointment herself, and any name given would almost certainly be false.
With her pride, Angelus always needed to be the center of attention—addressed by name.
Everett, well aware of this, deliberately refrained from asking.
“What question brings you here today?”
Her tone was flat, businesslike.
“‘Honored guest?’”
As expected, Angelus bristled at being addressed so impersonally.
“Yes, honored guest. Please tell me what you wish to know.”
“Ha!”
Angelus scoffed loudly, slamming her gloves onto the table in challenge.
“Isn’t asking a name the first step?”
“Is there really a need to?”
“Of course! You must ask and know it properly. I am not one of those trivial clients you usually see.”
“Ah, I see.”
Everett’s calm response only irritated Angelus further.
She ripped off her cumbersome hat with a sharp breath.
“My name is Angelus Cortada. Say it properly, fortune-teller.”
“Understood, Lady Angelus Cortada.”
Everett rose and gave a slight curtsy in greeting.
Her behavior was impeccable, yet Angelus still felt strangely unsettled.
‘If I look into the Cortada family, I can learn more about her.’
As Everett sat back down and drew her tarot deck, Angelus’s gaze grew piercing.
“You really do look so much alike.”
The muttered words were quiet, but clear enough for Everett to hear.
‘So she really came to Lady Sharlotte’s gathering to learn about the cards.’
As the Saintess, she couldn’t reveal her face among nobles.
And back then, Everett had far fewer clients—making it nearly impossible to get an appointment.
‘Then today, I’ll show her properly.’
Everett asked,
“Lady Angelus, what is it you wish to know?”
“I’m about to get married.”
‘Married?’
A completely unexpected question.
“Congratulations, Lady Angelus. Then your question is…”
“What else? I want to know if I’ll have a good marriage. Naturally, I will be very happy.”
The banquet had not yet taken place.
Nobles were pouring fortunes into their daughters’ dresses for the event.
If her marriage to Kyle were already decided, no one would ignore it.
‘Could it be someone else, not Kyle?’
Everett considered countless possibilities as she began shuffling the cards.
Her hands moved faster and more skillfully than usual, dazzling Angelus’s eyes.
“Was it always shuffled like that?”
Even knowing, it was a technique impossible to imitate in a short time.
Angelus, who quickly gave up on difficult efforts, lost her probing look and grew intrigued.
Everett spread the cards in a beautiful crescent.
“Lady Angelus, please draw… not three, but ten cards.”
Angelus’s hand froze above the deck.
“Ten? Why so many? Last time…”
She nearly blurted out, ‘Last time it was only one.’
Everett gave her habitual gentle smile.
“Because you are not a trivial client. For someone special, I use a special spread.”
The Celtic Cross—
the most well-known tarot spread, though Everett had never used it here.
With this world’s accuracy, even a few cards sufficed.
“A spread? What exactly is that?”
“It’s a way of arranging the cards for greater accuracy, interpreting their order and meanings together.”
A groan escaped Angelus’s lips.
