“Against all diseases?”

Camilla’s brows pinched together immediately. What was this, some kind of miracle-heating-mat pitch? That sounded like something a pyramid-scheme hustler would say.

“I haven’t tried it myself, so I can’t be sure, but people who own it say their minor illnesses definitely decreased.”

“Really?”

“They say the people who’ve felt the effects treat the stone like a sacred treasure.”

“Huh.”

Camilla stared at the necklace in the box with fresh eyes.

It worked that well? Then why hadn’t she seen anyone around her wearing one? Was it harder to get than she thought?

“I heard the relic itself is expensive, but you also have to donate at least a certain amount to the temple before you’re even allowed to buy it.”

“Donate?”

“The required donation is pretty steep.”

“Hm.”

It sounded similar to the VIP system the Ghost Trading House had introduced. If you didn’t pay the set donation, you couldn’t even purchase it.

The ridiculous part was that the ones running that kind of system weren’t merchants, but priests serving Lord God.

So religion here isn’t any different.

The priests who preached that everyone was equal before Lord God, and that relieving the poor was the highest goal of their doctrine, were running sales like this.

Equal, my ass.

Weren’t they proving with their own hands that you could never ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) be equal in front of money? No matter where you went, money really was king.

“Well, I guess this is still pretty mild?”

If it truly had those effects on the body, it wasn’t something she had to condemn outright.

The temple needed money to function too, and if they were doing business with the holy power they possessed, what was there to curse them for?

Camilla closed the box with the necklace inside.

“You’re not going to wear it?”

“I’ll give it to Father.”

It was a gift received after donating under the Sorpel name, meaning her father’s. It felt wrong to just swallow it whole herself.

Not that Father, a Swordmaster, ever gets little nagging ailments in the first place.

It was the thought that mattered. The thought.

“I heard Consort Jabiela has one, too.”

“Really?”

Camilla looked at the box again.

If Chris was right, then it really was a trend. Even the Consort, arrogant as she was, owned a shabby-looking thing like that.

*****

“It’s been a while, Your Highness.”

After meeting Camilla, Daniel left the Ghost Trading House and headed next to the Imperial Palace.

Specifically, to the residence of Consort Jabiela, the mistress of the palace.

“So you finally show your face.”

Not a trace of her usual mild smile could be found on Consort Jabiela’s face. Instead, a venomous stare drove straight into Daniel.

“I can’t ignore other people’s eyes.”

But even at Consort Jabiela’s words, dripping with sarcasm, Daniel only wore a benevolent smile.

“You made a complete mess of the last job, and then you didn’t even contact me properly! Unless you’re insulting me, how could you do that!”

Resentment and anger poured out of Consort Jabiela’s face as she glared at Daniel.

“I also regret what happened last time.”

“Ha!”

She kept letting out incredulous scoffs, then twisted her face into something ugly.

“Regret? Did you just say you regret it?”

“Your Highness.”

“Do you think you can brush it off with that? Didn’t you boast you’d deal with Edsen for good at the hunting tournament!”

“I did.”

At the calm answer, Consort Jabiela actually lost her words. Watching him, she felt like an idiot for working herself up alone.

That last hunting tournament had been a stage, plain and simple, meant to deal with Crown Prince Edsen.

She was the one who ordered that stage, and the one who prepared all the schedules and arrangements was the very priest sitting in front of her now, Daniel.

A long time ago, he’d come to her in person. Saying he would become the Second Prince’s strength. Saying he would give her power to keep Edsen in check.

There had been no reason to refuse the order’s support.

But something feels off.

Daniel. It felt like there was some other force behind him.

Yet when she quietly investigated, there was no special movement at all on the order’s side.

So what is his relationship to the ones who made their move at the hunting tournament?

She couldn’t identify them, but she also couldn’t just let go. She wanted to use that immense force, somehow, as the power that would carry the Second Prince to the throne.

“Don’t be too disappointed, Your Highness. Opportunities always come again.”

Consort Jabiela, fists clenched as she glared at him, finally let out a pained sound and pressed her fingers to her forehead.

He was right. What would it change to argue and rage over something already past?

She still needed his help. If their relationship soured, she would be the only one who lost.

“Is there another way?”

“Who knows.”

“Haah.”

Facing Daniel’s faint smile, Consort Jabiela sighed. Then, as if venting her frustration, she roughly swept back the hair that had fallen forward.

In that moment, the necklace around her neck glittered into view.

“That necklace......”

Daniel’s gaze flashed as it fixed on it.

At that look, Consort Jabiela carefully touched it with her hand.

“The color changed on its own, not long ago.”

The stone that had originally been red had somehow dyed itself black.

“They said the color changes when the effect runs out, didn’t they?”

“They did.”

A long curve drew itself at the edge of Daniel’s mouth as he answered. His eyes still hadn’t left the necklace.

“It seems the time has come.”

“Time? What are you—?”

“When the necklace changes color, it means the time has come.”

Time to replace it.

“So you’re giving me a new necklace? It really is an item infused with holy power. When I wear it, my headaches lessen.”

Daniel nodded faintly.

“I’ll replace it soon.”

The smile with which he said it had grown even deeper.

*****

WUUUUNG—

“Huh?”

A vibration buzzed inside the drawer. She opened it quickly, and the communication orb was ringing insistently.

「I’ve arrived.」

It was Duke Kais Escra.

“Already?”

It hadn’t even been many days since he left here. Even considering he traveled by magic, it was too fast.

Had things really piled up that badly over there? He must have been moving without rest.

“Sounds like you arrived safely, at least.”

「Yeah.」

“Did you sleep at all on the way?”

At Camilla’s question, layered with a sigh, a small laugh came back.

「Were you worried?」

“...I’m hanging up.”

「Around the time I left, I heard that guy also set out for your side.」

“That guy?”

What was he talking about all of a sudden?

「If something comes up that needs handling, tell that guy. When it comes to getting things done, he’s reliable.」

“Who is it?”

「You can tell me directly, too.」

“No, I’m asking who that—”

「Rest.」

“Hey!”

The connection cut.

“The subject is missing! The subject!”

Who was “that guy” supposed to be!

Camilla couldn’t wipe the dumbfounded look off her face. She couldn’t tell whether she’d just had a conversation or listened to someone talk at her.

With a short sigh, Camilla set the orb down to the side.

“Still, that’s a relief.”

She’d felt uneasy because she couldn’t properly see him off, but hearing he arrived safely eased her, at least a little.

“Hmm?”

Her hand, about to put the communication orb back and close the drawer, stopped short.

“Oh, right.”

One item sitting alone in the drawer caught her eye.

“I put it in here and completely forgot about it.”

It was the box containing the holy relic necklace she’d received from Daniel.

Camilla opened the box and checked inside. The holy relic necklace lay there, just as it had been the first time, still glittering red.

“Hm.”

Camilla lifted the necklace. Back then, she’d planned to give it to the Duke of Sorpel right away, so she hadn’t cared much.

“It just looks like an ordinary stone.”

But after looking into it a bit, she found that this necklace was a bigger topic than she’d expected.

There were truly many people claiming their chronic illnesses had improved through this red stone. Like Chris had said, people were in an uproar because they couldn’t get one.

“I heard it even has a premium price tag.”

Under-the-table deals were happening in secret too. No matter the era, anything “good for your health” had incredible commercial value.

“Does it really work—!”

PZZZT!

And the moment Camilla tried to inspect the stone more closely, something strange happened.

“What’s wrong with you?”

A spark jumped, and the red stone shattered.

“What? Is it defective?”

Stunned for a moment, Camilla stared at the fragmented stone, her brows knitting tighter and tighter.

“Seriously.”

How was the temple making their products, exactly?

“A holy relic, my ass.”

And it wasn’t even cheap, she’d heard.

She got it for free, sure, but if someone paid a massive donation and the item price only to receive this, they’d be furious.

“But what was that just now?”

She replayed what happened. It felt hard to dismiss as “defective,” because the way it broke stuck in her mind.

“A spark flew out?”

Camilla’s gaze shifted to her right hand. The moment she held the necklace, she’d felt something odd.

Something warm and ticklish flowed out of her hand, like it wrapped around the space nearby.

But it had been so brief that she couldn’t be sure.

“What was that?”

BANG!

“Lady Camilla!”

Camilla couldn’t keep thinking. The door burst open without a knock and Dorman rushed inside.

“What is it?”

“A, a guest is here.”

“A guest?”

“Yes!”

“Who?”

At Dorman’s panicked, almost frightened look, Camilla tilted her head. Who had come that he was acting like this?

“You need to come out.”

“......?”

“Please!”

At his urging, Camilla put the shattered stone back into the box, set it aside, and left the room.

When she stepped into the reception room, Camilla’s eyes widened.

“Hi.”

A man who lifted a hand in greeting, smiling with his eyes curved prettily.

...Why are you here?

It was Jainer.