The Saintess Is Too Good at Lying - Chapter 21

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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 021
“Of course, I’m not asking you to lead it—just to participate. It won’t be difficult.”
“But Your Majesty, I’m not even the Queen yet.”
I furrowed my brow and replied.
“Besides, I’m attending that ball as a debutante myself.”
“I know. But you’re the future Queen.”
“Me?”
I murmured with a freshly surprised expression.
“I had no idea.”
Alfonso looked at me as if wondering what the problem was now. I smiled brightly and pointed it out.
“You haven’t proposed to me yet.”
“Ah.”
He smiled without the slightest hint of embarrassment.
“Well, the timing isn’t right yet. It’s cold outside.”
Alfonso met my eyes and spoke in a gentle voice.
“Surely we can’t make a promise to share our eternity in such a barren season when the flowers haven’t even bloomed.”
Wow, he certainly knows how to talk. I let out a hollow laugh. Alfonso, who had been watching me intently, took a step back.
“Of course, I’m not forcing you. You don’t have to if you don’t want to.”
“Really?”
“Do you not want to?”
Of course I don’t. It’s just more tedious work.
Or is it? If social activities increase, I’d have more opportunities to lie, so maybe it’s good? I continued speaking while calculating in my head.
“I’m worried it might be a burden to Your Majesty. Of course, I’m ‘currently’ your fiancée, but I haven’t even had my coming-of-age ceremony yet. I’m not sure if the noblewomen will accept me.”
“Age means nothing before the position of Queen.”
Alfonso laughed as if it were an absurd concern.
“My Queen deserves their proper obedience. Should anyone dare to undermine your authority….”
“Can you punish them?”
“Of course.”
Alfonso gently raised his hand and tucked my fallen hair behind my ear.
“I told you. You are the future Queen.”
“Even if it’s the Cassini Noblewoman?”
At those words, Alfonso looked at me with an inscrutable gaze.
I met that gaze directly and smiled.
“I was joking. The Noblewoman would never do such a thing.”
“Right. It’s a meaningless worry, Justitia.”
Alfonso smiled with his characteristic eye-smile and toyed with my hair.
“Thank you for wrapping this matter up so well. I know you worked hard.”
“You’re too kind.”
“I believe this trial will make our bond even stronger. Just as the earth grows firmer after the rain.”
“Then I have nothing more to wish for.”
“But Justitia.”
Alfonso’s rambling, which had been flowing so prettily, suddenly stuttered.
“From now on, please be more careful.”
Huh?
“What should I be careful about, Your Majesty?”
“Entering someone’s bedroom without warning, for instance. As you know, we both have our privacy to consider—”
“Someone?”
Rarely interrupting him, I asked, and a flicker of bewilderment crossed Alfonso’s eyes.
Why? Does it seem strange to him that I’m the one cutting him off this time, not the other way around?
“Aren’t I soon to become Your Majesty’s queen? I wouldn’t mind if you visited my bedroom without warning.”
My gauge surged dramatically at such a high-level lie. Naturally, because I desperately wanted to refuse.
Apparently startled by my response, Alfonso regarded me with unfamiliar eyes and asked.
“You can make jokes like that?”
“Does it sound like a joke to you?”
“…No, what I meant was.”
Of course, that wasn’t the real point, but I ignored it and smiled sweetly.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be more careful from now on. But Your Majesty must help me too.”
“Help you with what?”
“If I happen to witness a scene like last time again.”
I held his gaze steadily as I finished speaking.
“I’m afraid my foolish misunderstanding might trouble Your Majesty once more.”
“Mm…”
Alfonso opened his mouth with a peculiar smile.
“That won’t happen again, Justitia. Last time was just an unfortunate mistake.”
His words sounded like he was saying he’d be even more careful from now on.
I gazed at Alfonso quietly, as if to expose what lay beneath his words. He, in turn, scrutinized my eyes as though searching for something.
A brief silence fell between us.
Belatedly, perhaps burdened by showing me the eyes of his lie, he blinked slowly and changed the subject.
“Do you believe me, Justitia?”
“Of course.”
“Good.”
Alfonso nodded as if that settled it.
“Then I should be going. I have quite a bit of work piled up.”
“Couldn’t you stay a little longer?”
I genuinely tried to keep him here. There was still 0.4% left of today’s quota.
I wanted to finish today’s task with just Alfonso. I didn’t want to unnecessarily see Formoso’s face as well.
“Sorry. I have an appointment.”
He said his work was piled up, but suddenly he’s talking about an appointment? Could it be with Lumiel?
As I stared at Alfonso without responding, thinking I’d accepted his excuse, a smile played at his lips.
“See you again, my love.”
Alfonso kissed the back of my hand before departing.
I pulled out a handkerchief I’d brought along and scrubbed the back of my hand vigorously the moment the door closed.
“How revolting.”
I muttered irritably, but my vision remained unchanged. As expected, lies told to no one held no power.
Well, regardless…
[Current Gauge: 27.6%]
One-third of 100% was within reach.
Achieving this in a single month meant I could escape this wretched world in at least two months, or at most four.
‘It seems today’s gauge is complete, so I should rest for a while…’
I was contemplating how to spend the remainder of the day when it happened.
Heavy footsteps approached, and someone entered with a firm knock.
“Welcome, Nora… huh?”
I’d assumed it was Nora, but faced with an unexpected visitor, I was momentarily dazed before smiling.
“It’s been a while, Lord Cassandro.”
With my outings becoming less frequent, I’d had almost no occasion to see him. Yet the face I encountered after so long looked decidedly troubled.
He regarded me with a grave expression, and I asked in bewilderment.
“What’s wrong?”
“…Are you well?”
“I’m sorry? What do you mean all of a sudden?”
“I saw His Majesty leaving just now.”
“Why would that… Is His Majesty a plague victim or something?”
At my confused question, Cassandro’s expression became as though he’d been struck.
“…That’s not it, but.”
Cassandro seemed to have something to say, but he hesitated and ultimately fell silent.
I waited patiently for his next words, but he simply lowered his head and ended the conversation there.
“Forgive me. I was merely concerned and came to check on you.”
“Why? Were you worried His Majesty might be a plague victim?”
I offered the same jest and laughed merrily, but my companion showed no reaction whatsoever. Well, jokes aren’t funny the second time around, are they?
‘Is he worried I might be gaslit?’
Then again, the King’s eloquence was quite refined.
Moreover, someone as principled as Cassandro might struggle to understand Justitia’s decision.
He probably wouldn’t even comprehend the concept of being captivated by beauty.
“Don’t worry. I’m not a child.”
“…A proposal…”
Cassandro asked carefully.
“Have you received one?”
“Well…”
I never expected such a question, and certainly not from Cassandro of all people.
Caught off guard, I couldn’t answer immediately, and Cassandro seemed to regain his senses belatedly at my reaction.
“Forgive me. That was an impertinent question.”
“No, Your Grace. It’s only natural to be curious. I’m sure society would wonder as well.”
I hesitated before answering the question. Was I actually embarrassed by this situation, unlike myself?
“I haven’t received one. The weather’s been too cold, so it seems inappropriate to propose just yet.”
Cassandro said nothing in response to my answer. Instead, his eyes shifted through a kaleidoscope of expressions. It was as though every curse his eyes could convey, he was conveying.
Laughter escaped me unbidden at his complete lack of artifice. The initial distrust and calculating intent I’d harbored were becoming increasingly meaningless.
Cassandro seemed utterly incapable of lying to anyone or wearing a mask—entirely unlike certain others I’d observed earlier.
As a spy, he was an utter failure. And precisely because of that, I found myself growing more comfortable in his presence.
“Your Grace, you really can’t hide your expressions.”
“…My apologies.”
Perhaps embarrassed by my observation, he quickly averted his gaze downward.
“Why apologize? It was rather pleasant to see.”
“…”
No response came. Taciturn and sincere.
No matter how I looked at it, his temperament resembled Justitia’s. Perhaps that’s why I felt so little wariness around him.
“It’s been so long since we’ve met. Would you like to take a walk? I have nothing to do now anyway.”
He seemed slightly taken aback by my words, but soon nodded in agreement.
“Ah, if you’re busy…”
“I’m not busy.”
Wait, I hadn’t even finished speaking yet.
His hurried response—as though seizing a first-come, first-served opportunity—was so unlike him that I regarded him with a slightly bewildered expression.

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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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