The Saintess Is Too Good at Lying - Chapter 100

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Saint Is Such a Liar! Chapter 100
“Clarissa Polia, do you confess to the crime of worshipping demons in Scalia, where we honor the Barion God?”
“As I told the Public Security Office, that mask is not mine. The Cassini Noblewoman must have hidden it in my wardrobe.”
“Speak sense, Miss Polia. How could the Cassini Noblewoman possibly sneak into someone else’s room and hide that mask there?”
“If there’s a demon worshipper among the manor’s servants, it wouldn’t be difficult at all.”
Clarissa turned toward Lumiel in the pews with a look of disgust and pressed her point.
“I’d like to ask the Cassini Noblewoman something. After I refused her invitation to worship demons, you resort to such sordid tricks? Have you no shame?”
At Clarissa’s words, murmurs rippled through the chapel. Formoso let out a dry laugh and rebuked her.
“Watch your tongue, Miss Polia. The Cassini Noblewoman was the first chosen as the Saint of Scalia. Are you telling me such a person invited you to demon worship? Why would she?”
“Because the Noblewoman owes me a debt, sir.”
“What debt could she possibly owe you?”
“I saw her push someone down the staircase, and I covered it up for her.”
At those words, Formoso’s expression hardened.
“Who pushed whom down the stairs?”
“You must know, Archbishop. Wasn’t it the case that the Saint visited the Polia Mansion one day and returned without a broken leg?”
Clarissa continued with a bitter smile.
“The Saint is no fool—she wouldn’t simply miss a step at the top of the staircase. I saw it with my own eyes. The Noblewoman pushed the Saint down those stairs.”
“Miss Polia!”
I let out a sharp cry and rose from my seat.
“Stop. Please, stop talking, Miss.”
“Your Holiness, how much longer will you hide the truth? No matter how much you care for the Noblewoman, this approach won’t help her.”
“What are you all saying right now? Why are you making up stories that never happened?”
Lumiel interjected, her face drained of color. I swallowed hard and turned away from her, while Clarissa smiled and asked her question.
“Am I really fabricating? If the Saint hadn’t covered her head that day, she might have died. Yet the Noblewoman came to me afterward as if nothing had happened, thanked me, and offered to let me join a special society. Imagine my shock when I realized it was a society that worships demons!”
“If what you say is true, why didn’t you report it at the time?”
“Who would have believed me? Does anyone here believe me now?”
Clarissa’s words came in a torrent. The chapel fell silent. She gave a contemptuous snort.
“You see? There was a reason the Saint told me not to testify about what I saw. People wouldn’t have believed it anyway, and rumors would have spread that the Saint was slandering the Noblewoman out of jealousy.”
I said nothing, covering my face. I heard Lumiel’s sharp intake of breath beside me.
“But you yourself are making accusations against someone without evidence. I never realized you were capable of such cruelty.”
“No evidence? I told you—there’s a demon worshipper among the manor servants. She must be the one who planted the mask in my wardrobe.”
“My daughter speaks the truth.”
At that moment, the Polia Count, who had been silent all along, stood up.
“Archbishop, last night we caught a maid attempting to flee. When I asked her why, she bit through her own tongue.”
Gasps erupted from various corners of the chapel. Formoso furrowed his brow and objected.
“With all due respect, sir, we cannot rule out the possibility that you killed the maid and fabricated the evidence.”
“I understand. I know it’s a breach of propriety, but I’ve brought the body for that very reason. It’s impossible to force someone to bite through their own tongue by external force alone. Will you permit me to bring the corpse into this chapel?”
Formoso consented. Shortly after, a body wrapped in cloth was carried into the cathedral. The nobles grimaced with distaste as they regarded the shrouded form.
Formoso descended from the pulpit and examined the wrapped corpse. From where I stood, I could see the face.
But the cry came from elsewhere.
“Wait—that maid?”
It was Lady Viola. Her expression went blank, and she covered her mouth. Formoso turned to her.
“What is it, Lady Viola?”
“That maid…… she’s the one who spilled tea on me at a tea party at the Polia Mansion not long ago.”
“And she is also the maid who spilled tea on me in the past.”
I spoke in a resigned tone. Everyone’s eyes turned toward me.
“I found it strange. The first time could have been an accident, but to repeat the same mistake twice? A maid so clumsy in her service should never have remained in the Polia Mansion.”
“Your Holiness.”
Formoso asked, his brow furrowed.
“Is everything Miss Polia has said the truth?”
“…… I don’t know whether the Cassini Noblewoman truly invited Miss Polia to worship demons. That part, I cannot speak to. However.”
I turned to look at Sergio. As I gave him a distant gaze that seemed to say there was no helping it now, I saw his eyes waver.
“However…… ”
My voice trembled as I drew out the words. I swallowed and opened my mouth.
“It is true that the Cassini Noblewoman pushed me down the staircase and caused my injury.”
The pews erupted. Lumiel stared at me in disbelief.
“Your Holiness, how could you…… ”
“I’m sorry, Noblewoman.”
I covered my face with an expression of deep anguish. My voice came out strained as I spoke.
“Beyond this, I can no longer lie…… I cannot bear the guilt before the Barion God.”
“Your Highness!”
“I’ve already forgiven you for that. I don’t understand why you’re still acting this way toward me, but……”
I lowered the hand shielding my face and pressed her with an expression of shock.
“But Demon Worship? You truly engage in such a thing, Noblewoman? Please, tell me it isn’t so.”
“I don’t!”
Lumiel’s face flushed crimson, and she burst into tears like someone gravely wronged.
It was a sight that stirred one’s pity at a glance, yet I could not simply let the matter pass.
“How could you do this? Did the two of you conspire to fabricate something that never happened and slander me? Was I really so distasteful to you?”
“Compose yourself, Noblewoman Cassini.”
Formoso spoke with measured calm, bringing order to the situation.
“It seems this matter requires further investigation. I must ask that you, Duke Cassini, cooperate fully with the inquiry. Given the gravity of the accusation, it is all the more necessary to establish the truth beyond doubt.”
……
Sergio closed his eyes with a troubled expression. It seemed that many of the words I had spoken to him over time were flooding back.
“So be it.”
What had been mere ripples continued to strike against the solid dike, until meeting the onset of a tempest, they broke through entirely.
“Brother!”
Lumiel’s crying intensified.
“It wasn’t me, truly it wasn’t! I’m frightened……”
“Lumiel.”
Sergio gazed at his younger sister with conflicted eyes before he spoke.
“If you are innocent, you will be spared. No one can lay a false charge upon you. I give you my word.”
“Brother……”
“Archbishop, I trust that until guilt is proven, the Noblewoman will be afforded all the courtesy due to her station.”
“Of course.”
Formoso acquiesced readily, then nodded to the holy knights.
Presently, Lumiel was led away by the holy knights toward the pulpit.
I watched her go, my hand rising to shield my eyes in quiet anguish.
“The interrogation concludes for today. Should further developments emerge, they will be made known. All may return to their places.”
Yet even after the proceedings ended, the crowd remained frozen in shock, unable to move at once.
I gazed at Clarissa laughing in satisfaction and Lumiel with tears streaming down her face, and then, as the final act, felt my strength give way.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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