CHAPTER 44….
Yankeller wanted to yell at her, but there were too many eyes watching.
Pretending to be unbothered, Angelus suppressed her anger and gracefully rose from her seat.
Every priest’s gaze followed her, but Yankeller didn’t even notice Angelus leaving.
I wonder if Everett is having a hard time because of Arcana. Fewer people must be looking for her now. She said she was living with just a maid in that mansion—did she get through the winter okay?
Yankeller’s mind was filled entirely with concern for Everett.
But Everett’s situation was nothing like what he imagined.
Contrary to expectations that her visitors would decrease, even more noblewomen and young ladies came to her tarot shop than before.
“Miss Naz, what if the Saint’s prophecy is right, and the thing I wish for never comes true?”
“Miss Naz, if my father finds out I spent so much money just to hear such a lousy prophecy… he’ll be furious. What should I do?”
Most of them came to Everett right after hearing the Saint’s prophecy.
Some burst into tears the moment they stepped through the door; others poured out complaints about wanting their money back.
The circumstances varied, but the conclusion was always the same:
An unrelentingly frightening and chilling prophecy.
Not a single person left the Saint feeling comforted or hopeful.
This is wrong. Tarot cards aren’t meant to be used like this.
Everett decided it was best to avoid the Saint as much as possible.
It wasn’t because Angelus was the heroine of this world.
Over a year in this place had changed Everett’s thinking a lot.
Yes, Angelus might be the heroine, but this wasn’t her world alone.
There were Marsha and Daisy, and many other people living their own lives with determination.
At some point, Everett began to wonder—
Couldn’t the Saint live her own life, and Everett hers?
If her plan with Harpa went smoothly, she could leave the capital and move north.
I built all this with my own two hands. I’m allowed to want this much, aren’t I?
Her original goal had been to leave before the Saint appeared and live quietly until the original story ended.
But as time went by, she started to feel that would be a waste.
Was it really best to do nothing and just wait for the ending?
Couldn’t she live her life here, too?
After confirming the rumors about the Saint were true, Everett made up her mind—
She would not meet the Saint.
But the more clients she saw, the angrier she became.
It wasn’t like the first time she read The Saint’s Arcana, when the bad card interpretations merely annoyed her.
Now, there were too many people getting hurt by the Saint’s prophecies.
I need to meet her in person and see just how bad she is. I can’t avoid this forever.
She already knew how much it cost to meet the Saint without delay.
Everett sent the temple far more than the usual amount her clients had paid.
When Daisy returned from delivering the donation, she said:
“Miss, they want you to come to the temple tomorrow to meet the Saint.”
Looks like they liked the size of the donation.
Everett gave a faint chuckle.
“They didn’t suggest meeting today?”
“Huh? How did you know? They said this afternoon would work too, but I told them no.”
Daisy tilted her head.
“I thought it was supposed to be really hard to meet the Saint… maybe the rumors are wrong?”
“Guess I’m just lucky.”
“You don’t think it’s because you gave a big donation… right?”
“Of course not.”
“Anyway, I hope she gives you an amazing prophecy for your birthday.”
“My birthday?”
“Yes, your twenty-first birthday is coming up. Don’t tell me you forgot? Isn’t that why you’re going to see her?”
“Ah, it’s my birthday already, huh.”
She had completely forgotten.
Trying to adapt to a strange world and a strange body, a year had slipped away without her noticing.
“Not a gift from Baron Gronji, but meeting the Saint with money I earned myself…”
Everett let out a short laugh.
The next day, Daisy was bustling about from early morning.
Whether it was excitement about meeting the Saint or anticipation for the prophecy, her face was glowing with smiles.
She dressed Everett with even more care than usual.
“I could’ve gone in something comfortable. Isn’t this too much?”
“They say the Saint is incredibly beautiful.”
“And?”
“We can’t be outshone in looks.”
“Hey, Daisy. You told me I was pretty. Are you saying I have to dress up this much or I’ll lose out?”
“Of course! You’re the most beautiful to me, Miss. But still… just in case.”
Daisy stuck her tongue out with a sheepish grin.
When they arrived at the temple at the appointed time, vagrants pretending to be commoners were still lined up.
An apprentice priest was waiting at the entrance for her.
“Welcome. This way, please…”
It was Daisy’s first time at the temple, and she was too busy looking around in awe to notice Everett’s soft smile.
“If you wait here, the Saint will come out shortly.”
Several nobles were already present.
“Will it be a long wait?”
The apprentice priest smiled with narrowed eyes.
“Of course not… Lady Everett Gronji is first.”
So I did give the biggest donation. Guess all that hard work earning money paid off.
Everett lifted her head.
The Saint’s chamber—
A place she had read about in the book and seen many times in dreams.
I’ve finally come here.
On either side of the moderately high dais were steps leading up.
In the center stood a large table of white-carved marble.
Just as in her dreams, there was no railing to prevent a fall.
“Miss, please sit here.”
Then came the low murmur: the Saint was arriving.
Wearing a pure white dress, Saint Angelus appeared.
The moment Everett first saw her, she unconsciously drew in a sharp breath.
Everything was as in her dreams, but Angelus was far more beautiful in person.
She really does have the perfect look for a Saint. Just standing there, she seems holy.
One young lady in the salon had once said her beauty was goddess-level.
I can see why Kyle and Yankeller fell for her at first sight.
Others, too, could not take their eyes off Angelus as she climbed the steps, murmuring in awe.
The priests attending her lifted their chins as if the admiration were directed at them.
Seated on the marble chair, Angelus clasped her hands in prayer.
The priests began to sing hymns of praise in deep, resonant voices.
Soon, the nobles knelt to join in prayer.
It was a solemn scene—
But Everett almost burst out laughing.
Is this what you have to do to be called a Saint? She should spend that time studying Arcana interpretation instead.
The prayer went on longer than she expected.
Standing stiffly, she began to feel the sharp glares of those around her, so she reluctantly bent one knee and knelt.
Feels like a well-rehearsed stage show.
When the priests’ singing faded, everyone slowly rose.
Some elderly women even wiped away tears of emotion.
“Lady Everett Gronji.”
A priest called her name.
“Yes, I’m here.”
She bowed her head slightly.
“You’re the one who requested an audience with the Saint today?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Please come up.”
After confirming, the priest turned, and Everett climbed the steps.
Standing opposite the Saint, she looked around—there was no chair for her.
A watching priest spoke sharply:
“Lady Gronji, kneel. The Saint is one we must look up to.”
The marble floor was not just cold—it was bone-chilling.
Even for Everett, that was one thing, but among the waiting were elderly women.
Are they insane? Kneeling to hear a prophecy?
She wanted to argue but only let out a faint sigh and knelt.
She straightened her back and rested her arms on the table, clasped together.
At least I can see the Arcana cards.
Then she sent Angelus a gaze full of reverence.
Perhaps pleased, Angelus smiled beautifully and spoke:
“Welcome, Lady Everett Gronji.”
In her dreams, Angelus’s voice had been slow and languid, like a lullaby.
But in reality, it wasn’t soft at all—rather, it was pitched high, with a faintly excited edge.
Everett could imagine how cutting it would sound if she truly lost her temper.
No wonder people cry so much after she bad-mouths them in that voice.
It was a voice that unsettled the listener.
“What would you like to know, my lady?”
Before coming, Everett had already drawn tarot cards for a planned question, intending to compare results—
But she asked something else instead.
“Saint, I want to marry into a very distinguished family. My dream is to live enjoying wealth and honor all my life. Can I live that way?”
It was the exact question her character had asked in the original story.
Pfft—
Angelus lowered her head with a short snort.
Only Everett, watching closely, could see the flippant expression on her face.
She’s nothing like I imagined.
Clearing her throat, Angelus drew out the Arcana deck.
“Let us ask Lady Anishu whether your wish will come true… or not.”
She split the Arcana into both hands and began shuffling with clumsy, careless movements.
Amateur.
To someone who didn’t know how to use Arcana, it might have seemed mystical.
But to Everett, it was the work of the clumsiest beginner.
“When I spread the Arcana, please choose four cards.”
