The Saintess Is Too Good at Lying - Chapter 29

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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 029
“Just eat some bread, I’m telling you. I guarantee it. People become more at ease.”
Besides, it’s not good for the body to avoid carbohydrates entirely. Cassandro didn’t seem to understand, though.
“Do you enjoy bread?”
“Of course. It’s delicious.”
“I’m not particularly fond of it.”
“Hmm, is it because only very healthy bread is served here?”
Since this was a Temple, the bread served was mostly plain varieties with nuts. Many people dislike that sort of thing.
“I really should bake you something delicious sometime. Fresh bread loaded with butter.”
“You can bake?”
“Of course.”
My hobby was baking, after all. I spoke with confidence.
“Do you have a favorite type of bread? Now that I think about it, I don’t even know what foods you prefer.”
“I eat most things without complaint.”
I could have guessed that without asking.
“I’m curious what you particularly enjoy.”
At this simple question, Cassandro fell silent for a long while, unable to answer.
As if he’d never had personal preferences in his entire life. Yet somehow that made him seem even more like a knight.
“Never mind. I’ll just make different varieties.”
Just as I was about to give up waiting for his answer, we arrived at the Cathedral.
It was empty, but I could hear organ music. The organist was practicing.
“Perfect timing. It would have been awkward to practice without music.”
Speaking in hushed tones, I led Cassandro to the Choir Loft tucked away in a corner of the Cathedral—a place where we could avoid prying eyes while still hearing the organ.
“Do you know how to dance?”
“I can dance most styles.”
At that, I looked at him with suspicious eyes. How would a holy knight know how to do such things?
“Did you learn in the Holy Kingdom?”
“I learned before going there.”
“Where were you before that?”
“….”
Cassandro didn’t answer.
It was the first time he’d so openly avoided answering, which surprised me a little, but I decided not to pry further if it was a matter of privacy.
I set his jacket aside and changed the subject.
“The ball dance sequence starts with a polka. Do you know it? The steps are fast, so it’s a bit difficult.”
“I can manage.”
Really? I was still skeptical when Cassandro stepped across from me.
“Forgive me.”
Cassandro stepped closer, his right hand taking my waist while his left hand grasped my right hand.
With the distance suddenly closed, the scent of grass intensified. The subtle fragrance of wood and earth followed beneath.
The moment I unconsciously held my breath, he whispered softly.
“Please hold my waist.”
My waist? Ah, right. I should hold his waist too. Without thinking, I grasped Cassandro’s waist.
I felt his firm body tense slightly under my touch. Even without exerting pressure, recalling the diet he’d mentioned earlier, it made sense that he’d be so toned.
For merely holding his waist, I felt oddly exhausted, as if I’d accomplished something monumental.
Before I knew it, a faint sigh escaped my lips, and I felt Cassandro’s body stiffen. I asked playfully.
“Are you nervous?”
“…No.”
“You can be honest with me.”
As I smiled and looked at Cassandro, his eyes flickered for a moment.
“You probably haven’t danced much since arriving here. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”
Cassandro didn’t answer. I’d hit the mark again. I smiled generously and spoke to him.
“It’s all right if you make mistakes. Don’t put so much pressure on yourself…”
Then the music changed. At the same moment, Cassandro smoothly moved his feet forward and back, catching the rhythm.
I was momentarily flustered watching him dance to the polka’s basic steps in an instant, then belatedly moved my body.
More precisely, Justitia’s body moved instinctively. It seemed that even with my soul changed, I hadn’t forgotten how to dance.
But more than that…
‘What? Why is he dancing so well?’
Polka was originally a fast-paced dance performed to lively music.
Dancing to the relatively slow organ pipe performance was itself a high-difficulty feat.
Yet Cassandro moved skillfully as if any music didn’t matter to him.
“…Why are you so good at this?”
“It seems I still remember what I learned before.”
“You have a good memory. You probably haven’t danced since becoming a Holy Knight.”
Moreover, this was a lively polka, not a slow waltz. I murmured in admiration.
“You’re good at anything that involves using your body, aren’t you?”
At those words, Cassandro’s lips curved upward slightly for the first time.
“It appears so.”
I continued moving my body in admiration.
Whether Justitia was naturally good at dancing or not, my body moved smoothly despite my concerns.
Now I understood why Nora had dismissed my worries about needing practice.
The only regret was that the Choir Loft was too narrow for such expansive movements.
As the dance progressed, our range of motion grew wider, and it became perilously close to hitting the wall.
Eventually, I miscalculated the movement radius and stepped wrong. It was difficult to turn my body, and I seemed certain to collide with the wall.
It was when I extended my arm slightly toward the wall to minimize the impact.
Something firm wrapped around my shoulders and pulled me back.
Before I could comprehend what was happening, a dull sound of collision had already echoed.
I breathed out softly and lifted my head.
Only then did I realize that Cassandro had pulled me into his embrace and hit the wall instead of me.
I froze for a moment, then slowly opened my mouth.
“…I’m sorry.”
For the first time, Cassandro’s face—which had maintained an impassive expression throughout—flickered with bewilderment.
“Why are you apologizing?”
“I mistepped. I should have been more careful…”
“It’s because the space is cramped. I believe I should be the one apologizing.”
This time, it was my turn to regard him with a baffled expression.
“Because I didn’t react quickly enough. Weren’t you startled?”
“You have a tendency to blame yourself excessively for everything.”
I let out a hollow laugh as I spoke.
“Thanks to you, I’m fine, but you look bruised. Are you sure you’re all right?”
“I’m perfectly fine.”
“Let me see.”
Unconvinced, I reached to roll up his sleeve, but Cassandro flinched and drew back slightly.
I belatedly realized how forward I’d been. At the same time, I became acutely aware of how close we were standing.
“Ah…”
The moment I caught a stronger whiff of Cassandro’s distinctive forest scent, I felt oddly embarrassed and withdrew my hand.
“I’m sorry.”
Cassandro’s eyes wavered again. Fearing I’d hear another apology, I hurried to continue.
“Anyway, thanks to you, I didn’t get hurt. I suppose we should end practice for today…”
“Your Holiness.”
Before I could finish, someone’s voice cut through the moment.
I startled and turned my head. Formoso was standing in the doorway, observing us—though I couldn’t say when he’d arrived.
“Archbishop.”
Formoso’s gaze fixed on Cassandro’s arm, which was wrapped around my shoulder.
Worried about any misunderstanding, I spoke with a faint smile, as if to explain.
“Thank you, Lord Cassandro. I forgot to say that.”
“I’m relieved you’re unharmed.”
Cassandro naturally withdrew his arm from around me and released the hand he’d been holding.
Formoso’s eyebrow twitched as he watched the gesture.
“What were you doing here?”
“Dance practice.”
At my answer, Formoso’s expression turned incredulous.
Yet he seemed to suppress whatever he wanted to say, instead speaking coldly to Cassandro.
“You may leave now. I shall attend to Her Holiness.”

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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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