The Saintess Is Too Good at Lying - Chapter 112
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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 Holy Maiden Is Such a Skilled Liar! Chapter 112
“Your Holiness?”
I’d been staring intently at my Status Window when Lina asked uncertainly from beside me. Right—I should dismiss her first.
“Oh, sorry. I just started thinking about Lumiel, and my heart grew heavy…….”
I dabbed at the corner of my eye with a handkerchief, and Lina’s expression softened with sympathy.
“Since the master is working hard on this, your name will surely be cleared soon. Please don’t be too upset.”
“Thank you, Lina.”
“You’re too kind to say so.”
The moment Lina stepped out, I turned my attention back to the Status Window. Another popup had appeared in the meantime.
[Would you like to check the Sacred Relic inventory?]
I tapped confirm, and a long list unfurled before me. I scrolled through it methodically, examining each entry.
The Potion of Truth that speaks only truth, the Martyr’s Medal that stops death, the Hourglass of Repentance that can rewind time…….
‘The Hourglass of Repentance? Could this be connected to Justitia’s reincarnation somehow?’
Curious, I tapped on it—and my hopes deflated instantly. The reincarnation allowed a maximum of six hours.
‘Oh, there’s Transformation Candy too.’
Next to the Sacred Relic’s name it said “5% Gauge deduction.” The same held true for the others. Nothing was free, then.
‘Last time, did they give me advance access to this feature? Well, I suppose I should be grateful for that.’
The gauge deduction varied by relic, and some were terrifyingly expensive—up to a whopping 100%.
If I’d bought everything on impulse, I would’ve drained every gauge I’d accumulated and plunged into debt besides.
Surely they weren’t trying to turn me into a debtor and chain me to this world indefinitely?
‘I absolutely won’t buy anything.’
Just window shopping, I told myself firmly, as I scrolled through the endless list.
“……This is hopeless.”
Before I knew it, the sun was peeking over the window’s edge.
I’d stayed up all night without realizing it.
As fatigue washed over me belatedly, one item on the list caught my eye.
[Fatigue Recovery Potion – Recommended for you, who has gone without sleep. Your body will feel as refreshed as after 14 hours of deep rest.]
……Should I buy one?
My entire body felt heavy, and for a moment temptation flickered—but I quickly shook my head.
I can’t fall for such insidious advertising! I need to stay sharp. I have to conserve my gauge.
“Your Holiness, you look terribly pale.”
I’d barely managed to sit up when Nora took one look at my face and grew deeply concerned.
“Wouldn’t it be wise to rest today? You haven’t missed a single day in the Slums since you arrived. I worry you’re pushing yourself too hard.”
“It’s nothing. I’m fine. I’m perfectly all right.”
“If Cassandro had seen your face just now, he’d certainly have insisted you rest.”
“Why bring up someone who isn’t here?”
“Then allow me to say it on his behalf. I think it would be wise for you to rest today.”
Even Leone, the Vice Commander of the Holy Knight Order, chimed in from beside me, speaking earnestly.
“If you overexert yourself while still suffering from travel fatigue, you’ll surely fall ill.”
“Sigh……Well, I suppose there’s no help for it. All right.”
I’m truly grateful you said that, Leone.
I glanced sideways at the gauge display, which had ticked up by 0.1%.
The nature of being Justitia meant that even resting was difficult—I had to at least pretend to listen when people urged me to take it easy.
Of course, I had no real intention of resting. Since I’d unexpectedly ended up staying at the estate during daylight, there were things I needed to do.
“My, Your Holiness. Your complexion has suffered considerably.”
Such as, for instance, encountering Birelli in the corridor while I was wandering about.
“Shouldn’t you be resting today? Your color is not good.”
Since I’d avoided contact with him for several days and only gone about my charitable work, it seemed his guard had loosened slightly.
I smiled awkwardly and spoke.
“Everyone around me has been so insistent about it anyway. Today I’ve shamefully decided to yield to their wishes.”
“There’s no shame in it. A person must rest sometimes, or they’ll fall ill.”
“But staying quiet within the estate isn’t to my taste, I’m afraid.”
“Well then, how about you dine with me today? I can also show you around Birelli Estate.”
“You personally, my lord?”
“After all, you are my guest, and I fear I’ve been neglectful of proper hospitality, leaving you to your own devices all this time.”
Truth be told, it was better he stay glued to my side and keep watch rather than let me roam freely, poking into everything.
“I’d feel terribly guilty imposing so much…….”
“Not at all. Come now—it’s nearly noon. This way, if you please.”
I rose and made my way to the Dining Hall alongside Birelli, where we took our seats across from each other.
The table was quite large, and he graciously yielded the place of honor to me, taking the opposite side willingly.
As a result, the distance between us had grown considerably—enough that I couldn’t read his expression clearly.
Despite this being lunch and not dinner, the spread was extravagant. So much so that one would never believe Birelli Estate was facing a poor harvest this year.
‘I thought Lina was lying when she mentioned it in passing. But here he is, eating lavishly while the domain’s people are starving.’
Of course, I showed no sign of displeasure on the surface and merely praised his hospitality.
“Such lavish hospitality. I hardly know where to put myself.”
“Please, don’t hold back. I’m just taking the opportunity to enjoy good food myself, ha ha.”
Birelli was altogether a cheerful man, and sometimes that gave him an almost frivolous air.
I steered his conversation toward something more serious.
“Actually, my brother mentioned that you’ve been taking care of the Cassini Noblewoman.”
“Ah, so you’ve heard.”
Birelli answered casually.
“I have evidence to prove the noblewoman’s innocence. I intend to gather it all and submit it to the Cathedral soon.”
“Were there any servants close to the noblewoman? It would be helpful if they could testify as well.”
“Of course. Would you like to meet them if you wish?”
“That’s not necessary. I simply hope that Lumiel’s name will be cleared.”
Every question was answered without hesitation, as though he’d prepared thoroughly for all of this.
‘That alone doesn’t prove Lumiel actually stayed at Birelli Estate.’
I pressed the viscount, who was beginning to show caution, shifting the conversation.
“By the way, I noticed you keep a dog loose in the garden. Have you had him for long?”
“Ah, yes. He’s already twenty years old this year.”
Pride lit up his face. I smiled brightly and praised him for it.
“Lumiel must have had a wonderful time here at the estate. She loves dogs, after all.”
“Yes, she was very fond of Lupo. She was always insisting on feeding him herself.”
I activated the Lie Detector.
[That is a lie.]
I wasn’t surprised.
Lumiel is afraid of dogs.
“When Lumiel was staying here, was that dog already around? It must have been difficult for her. She must have been terrified.”
It was something Nora had said when we first arrived at Birelli Estate, after seeing the fierce dog running loose in the garden without a leash.
When I asked what she meant, Nora explained with hand gestures as if I’d forgotten.
“The Cassini Noblewoman was bitten by a dog when she was young, you know. That’s why even when her father had the opportunity to keep a puppy, he forbade it because the noblewoman would be frightened when she returned. He said she’d be scared.”
So that’s what she’d said. Though I don’t remember it well.
‘Lumiel never showed any sign of it, so I didn’t know.’
Since Scalia’s high society preferred cats to dogs, Lumiel had never needed to encounter one anyway.
It was information one could only know if they’d watched Lumiel closely from childhood—something impossible otherwise.
The question was whether Lumiel had truly suffered abuse here, or whether she and Birelli had conspired to orchestrate all of this.
The former seemed more plausible, certainly. But knowing that Lumiel was a Demon Worshipper, I couldn’t rule out the latter.
‘Birelli’s appearance and his mention of Lumiel’s harsh days as a mistreated maid—it could all have been orchestrated.’
If a close servant revealed Lumiel’s unfortunate past, sympathy would gather around her. It would easily obscure the suspicions surrounding her.
But why would he go to such lengths to save Lumiel from this crisis?
‘Wait.’
What if Lumiel’s sudden return was to spread the Demon Cult throughout Scalia?
Indeed, after Justitia died, she vanished as though her purpose had been accomplished.
‘If that’s the case, there’s a final boss using Lumiel to spread the Demon Cult.’
He would have taken Lumiel in, turned her into a Demon Worshipper, and orchestrated all of this.
To verify this hypothesis, I first needed to determine whether the viscount himself was a Demon Worshipper.
I hardened my expression and spoke.
“You’ve been lying to me.”
“What? What do you mean…?”
“Lumiel is afraid of dogs. She was nearly bitten by one when she was a child.”
Birelli’s previously composed expression froze.
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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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