The Saintess Is Too Good at Lying - Chapter 14

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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 Good Liar! Episode 014
I returned to my room for an afternoon nap when I felt a gaze upon me.
I sensed the drowsiness slipping away as I slowly lifted my eyelids.
It was Formoso.
He sat right beside my bed, looking down at me.
“For… Archbishop, what are you doing here…?”
Sleep fled from me entirely. I pushed myself upright with a bewildered expression.
He seemed to realize I’d been about to call him by his name, his eyes widening in surprise—but that wasn’t the real issue.
How had this man entered my bedroom? Why hadn’t anyone stopped him?
“I was worried about you.”
He gazed at me with calm, sincere eyes.
“Your complexion looked poor earlier.”
“It’s still not particularly good. I think I need to rest today.”
“I could use my sacred power to….”
“Wouldn’t it be wasteful to spend your precious sacred power on relieving my fatigue?”
I’d hinted for him to leave, but he seemed not to understand—or rather, he was pretending not to.
“A little rest should help. I’ve been shaken by the sudden events of today.”
“Shaken, you say.”
“I never expected you to make such a declaration without any prior notice to me.”
“Without prior notice, you say? I gave you notice.”
Formoso replied with confusion.
“I clearly advised you to break off the engagement.”
“And I clearly answered that it was fine.”
I shot back, twisting my lips into a crooked smile.
“It seems you didn’t place much value on my response.”
“That’s not it. I merely….”
Formoso trailed off for a moment. It sounded like an affirmation to me.
“With the rumors spreading about the Saint and His Majesty’s relationship….”
“You couldn’t bear to see the Temple’s honor tarnished.”
“That’s not it.”
Formoso suddenly grew serious and denied it outright.
Really not?
Even as I narrowed my eyes at him, he bit his lip and continued with the same answer, as if speaking the truth.
“The Saint’s honor mattered more to me than the Temple’s. I couldn’t bear for the Saint to suffer merely because of a substitute engagement…!”
“You certainly think highly of my honor.”
Then why did you simply stand by when Justitia was falsely accused?
No matter what this man says, no matter how sincere it sounds, I will never fall for it. Because I know it’s all a lie.
“But I’m fine. I can’t abandon my happiness just because of others’ eyes, can I?”
“…Happiness?”
Formoso’s expression crumbled as if the heavens themselves had collapsed. I smiled broadly at the sight, nodding with genuine delight.
“What else could happiness be but the joy of being with the person you love?”
“…You truly intend to maintain your engagement with His Majesty?”
“To be honest, I’m rather worried. What if His Majesty decides to break off the engagement because of today’s incident?”
Ah, it’s a shame I can’t raise my affection gauge. I cast a slightly displeased glance at Formoso.
“I don’t want to resent the Archbishop over what happened today.”
Formoso’s expression shifted to one of shock.
“…Do you resent me?”
Of course not. What would I possibly resent you for? Besides, Formoso’s actions today were actually quite satisfying.
But separately, I was irritated that he acted on his own without my permission. I also didn’t want him mistaking my acceptance of today’s unilateral decision for genuine approval.
“You must have acted with my interests in mind, of course.”
I offered him a gentle smile despite my rigid expression.
“However, from now on, please consult with me thoroughly before taking such significant actions.”
“…Yes.”
Formoso finally bit his lip and lowered his head slightly. The gesture made him look unnecessarily pure.
“I apologize for that. But if that’s the case…”
Why is he dragging this out again?
“Then I bear responsibility for the Saint’s current condition all the more.”
He suddenly knelt before me with a solemn expression. His gaze, which had been looking up at me all along, finally lowered slightly for the first time.
He carefully reached out and touched the back of my hand.
I flinched in surprise and tried to pull away, but Formoso was faster. He grasped my hand gently and gazed at me intently.
“Since your health deteriorated today because of me, please allow me the opportunity to ease my guilt.”
Before I could even respond, white light burst forth from his hand. In an instant, a clear and refreshing energy flowed into my body like a waterfall.
My body felt noticeably lighter, but…
‘I haven’t even answered yet?’
There he goes again, acting on his own. I frowned sharply and pulled my hand away from him.
“You’re not listening to a word I say, Archbishop.”
“Saint.”
“Leave.”
My cold response made Formoso fidget.
Even so, his feet wouldn’t move, and I watched him in exasperation until he finally had no choice but to exit.
‘And he calls himself a servant of God, yet he’s so arrogant.’
I let out a hollow laugh, pressed my forehead with my hand, and lowered my head, when a thin slip came into view.
Only then did I belatedly realize. I had been conversing with Formoso this entire time wearing nothing but a thin slip.
Wow, I didn’t even notice because I kept my composure so well.
“Saint.”
Just then, Nora entered and asked with a worried expression.
“Are you feeling alright?”
“Why was the Archbishop in my room?”
My voice came out colder than intended. Nora flinched at the unusual tone and opened her mouth in flustered explanation.
“Well, I told him you were sleeping… but he insisted on checking on your condition and wouldn’t take no for an answer.”
Nora quickly bowed her head as I finished speaking. Noticing my expression had stiffened, she seemed to realize her mistake.
“I apologize. I should have tried to stop him, but the Archbishop….”
“It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”
As if it were easy to do that in front of Formoso, the Archbishop.
Since blaming her would be ridiculous, I quickly composed my expression.
“I was just startled. I thought you’d be there when I opened my eyes, but the Archbishop suddenly appeared instead.”
“I was waiting outside the door the whole time, but it was so quiet that I didn’t dare enter.”
“How long were you out there?”
“About ten minutes.”
What? So he’d been staring at me sleeping motionless for ten whole minutes? A strange chill ran down my spine, and I frowned.
“Would you like to have a meal? You haven’t eaten anything all day.”
“Yes.”
After finishing a simple dinner, I went for a walk. The sun was already setting.
‘Come to think of it, my gauge went up by 1% all at once today.’
Naturally, my thoughts drifted to the lie gauge.
‘I knew that the more severe the lie, the more the gauge rises.’
But it seems it can jump by 1% at once.
Well, I did say I loved Alfonso in such a public setting.
It appeared that the ripple effect of the lie also influenced the gauge.
‘This is rather amusing. It’s like playing a game.’
I especially enjoyed manipulating those arrogant men with my lies.
They would never suspect that Justitia was lying. After all, I was always a sincere and upright woman who spoke only the truth.
So what would their reaction be if this fake, who had always been so gentle and accommodating, revealed that she actually despised them?
The mere thought brought a smile to my lips.
‘I must do exactly that before I leave.’
It would be the perfect finale to this game. I could return to my original world with a sense of satisfaction.
When I return, will the real Justitia’s soul come back? Will the real Justitia regain consciousness then?
“Even if she’s kind and upright, a pushover so gentle that she’d be kind even to those who killed her….”
“Who speaks of such things?”
“You startled me!”
I cried out involuntarily at the sudden voice.
When I turned around, Cassandro stood there with an equally startled expression. Wait, shouldn’t I be the one who’s surprised?
“W-what brings you here, sir?”
“I apologize if I startled you.”
Then he silently extended his palm toward me.
I stared briefly at the lace resting on it before realizing it had come loose from my dress.
“Ah.”
I quickly took the lace from him.
“Thank you, sir. I hadn’t noticed at all.”
He bowed silently in response. Observing the taciturn man, I suddenly became curious.
What was this man thinking today? It seemed like he’d noticed that I shed fake tears again.
“Who is a fool?”
Unexpectedly, he broke the silence first. With a question I hadn’t anticipated.

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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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