The Saintess Is Too Good at Lying - Chapter 101

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

The Saint is Too Good at Lying! Episode 101
“Justitia!”
“Justi!”
The moment Sergio and Alfonso’s voices rang out, they both rushed to steady me from either side. I sank down in a daze, muttering to myself.
“I can’t believe it. How could such a thing….”
“You should calm down first. What are you doing? Take the Saint to her room at once.”
Alfonso sent his attendants away while Sergio simply lifted me into his arms.
I stared at him in surprise. Alfonso looked equally taken aback.
“Where is your room?”
“Brother, I can walk there myself….”
“Don’t be stubborn. You look like you might collapse.”
Sergio glanced at Nora as if to tell her to lead the way, and she found herself taking the lead without much choice.
But a man blocked her path.
“I’ll do it, Cassini Prince.”
Alfonso spoke with a peculiar expression, looking at Sergio.
“But I’m her fiancé, after all.”
“This hardly seems the moment for such distinctions.”
“Why isn’t it the moment?”
Alfonso answered as if he didn’t understand, then looked at Sergio with an expression that demanded why he wasn’t handing me over already.
But Sergio, whom Alfonso apparently expected to yield without protest, stood his ground and faced him down.
My surprise passed quickly. I needed to choose whose side I was on.
‘Why even consider it? Sergio, obviously.’
What use was a man whose company did nothing to raise my Lie Gauge? I called out to Alfonso in a weak voice.
“Your Majesty.”
Alfonso smiled with arrogance, gave Sergio a dismissive glance, and drew closer to me.
I gestured for him to come nearer, then whispered.
“Is now really the time to look after me? As king, you need to restore order to this chaos.”
Alfonso’s brow furrowed—this wasn’t the answer he’d expected.
“…What are you talking about?”
“Polia has accused the Cassini Noblewoman of being a Demon Worshipper. The first Saint herself—a Cassini noblewoman. Don’t you see how unsettled this will make people?”
When I spoke coolly, Alfonso pressed his lips together and looked at me.
Do as I say.
I held his gaze with that meaning, and he let out a short sigh, muttering under his breath.
“Pretending to be thoughtful, how pretty of you….”
What a delicately spoken man. I’d almost narrowed my eyes when Sergio set his feet in motion again.
Without even waiting for Alfonso’s consent—an act that could have escalated things dangerously if Alfonso had taken offense.
“…Can we really just leave like this?”
“What does it matter? His Majesty was being unusually fussy anyway.”
Did he really not think his own behavior was fussy? I answered with genuine surprise.
“I never expected you to look after me like this, brother.”
“I’m starting to think I should say I’m being fussy too.”
“That can’t be true. I merely….”
Then I felt my gauge rise, and I stopped speaking without meaning to.
Choosing Sergio over Alfonso had clearly been an excellent decision.
“I’m just happy. I never once expected you to look after me like this, brother.”
At those words, Sergio’s footsteps halted abruptly.
He said nothing, his eyes growing complicated as he stared ahead. I wondered what he was thinking.
“Have I upset you?”
I asked carefully, and Sergio shook his head.
“No, no. It’s just….”
Sergio muttered as if unable to comprehend something.
“I don’t understand why I’ve been so harsh with you all this time. This dynamic between us is so much better.”
That was because I hadn’t actually been meekly playing the real Justitia all along.
‘You only started paying attention to Justitia once you saw signs that I was cutting ties with Cassini, didn’t you?’
In the larger scheme, Sergio was no different from Alfonso.
Why were humans so fundamentally selfish? They never appreciated devotion when it was offered from beside them.
“Perhaps because you’ve made a habit of saying you don’t really think of me as your sister.”
I pointed it out quietly, and Sergio flinched. I felt his arms tighten around me.
Had I hit a nerve? He seemed deeply tense.
“…That’s….”
“It’s all right, brother. I’m beginning to understand it too.”
I offered him a faint smile, meeting Sergio’s gaze.
“Before, I told you I wanted to become someone precious to you, and you said I already was. It seems that wasn’t entirely a lie after all.”
“…….”
“You’ve changed so much. In every way I’ve always hoped you would.”
Sergio’s eyes wavered, and then he turned away from me abruptly.
I’d only offered him a compliment, yet here he was, sulking like a bashful kitten.
He remained silent as he walked me to my room and laid me down on the bed.
I laughed without concern.
“I’m fine now, truly.”
“No, you need to rest. Your complexion is still pale.”
“I was frightened, I’ll admit. But you must be exhausted as well.”
I took Sergio’s hand and offered what comfort I could.
“The Cassini Noblewoman’s name will be cleared soon. Don’t forgive Polia—framing someone is one thing, but to accuse her of Demon Worship, that’s…….”
“It wasn’t a frame, though.”
Sergio cut me off, his words falling flat. His gaze pierced through me.
“You admitted it yourself, in front of all those people. That Lumiel pushed you down the Staircase back then.”
“……I know I was wrong. But…….”
“I’m not blaming you, Justitia.”
As I stammered, looking close to tears, Sergio gripped my shoulders and his brow furrowed.
“If what you’re saying is true, then Polia’s testimony…….”
“Brother.”
I hurried to cut him off, alarm flashing across my face.
“It can’t be true. Yes, the Noblewoman may have harbored resentment toward me, but how could that alone prove she practices Demon Worship? I—I…….”
Tears spilled from my eyes at last.
“I don’t want to believe it.”
“……Very well.”
Sergio placed his hand against my cheek and wiped away the fallen tears with his thumb.
“It won’t be true. The truth will come to light.”
“Yes, brother. Please don’t worry. They won’t be able to hunt down the Cassini Noblewoman like a witch.”
“That’s right.”
Sergio caressed my cheek slowly with his thumb, and silence settled between us for a moment.
He regarded me with eyes that seemed profoundly conflicted, then rose from his seat gradually.
“Rest now. This has been a shock for you as well.”
“……You too, brother. Take care on your way out.”
After Sergio left, Nora entered. A satisfied smile played at her lips. I couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity.
“Your expression today has been the finest I’ve seen all evening.”
“How could it not be? I’ve waited and waited for this long-buried truth to finally surface. Good heavens, has there ever been such a perfect exposure?”
Nora hummed with rapture before asking eagerly.
“When you told me to visit the Follia Mansion back then, you were anticipating something like this, weren’t you?”
I smiled and shook my head.
“Of course not. I’m hardly divine.”
“Come now, but…….”
“Guard your expression, Nora. Others might misunderstand. Surely the Cassini Noblewoman couldn’t actually be a Demon Worshipper, could she?”
[That is a lie.]
[Lie Gauge increased by 0.2%]
[Current gauge: 70.0%]
See? I knew I’d cross this threshold today.
In truth, even on my way to the Tea Party, I’d expected Lumiel to target me.
But what if—just what if—the one doing the targeting was actually someone from my own circle? Clarissa?
‘She must have believed I’d sacrifice Clarissa. After all, Clarissa isn’t actually a Demon Worshipper.’
Had I actively defended Clarissa then, Lumiel would have turned the accusation on me as well.
Because she’s the ‘real’ one—she might have hidden further evidence at the Follia Mansion, using her servant as an accomplice.
And if that happened, suspicion would naturally fall on me too, simply for growing close to Clarissa recently.
It would have looked far more convincing than her trying to pin it on me alone.
‘She’s a true demon, that one.’
Had I not sent Clarissa that letter, out of sheer caution—I couldn’t finish the thought. The mere consideration made me shudder, and a hollow laugh escaped me.

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