The Saintess Is Too Good at Lying - Chapter 32

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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 032
“Then why have you been avoiding me and going to pray all this time? Don’t deny it. You’ve been going to the Cathedral deliberately only when I’m not there.”
I was startled not only by the fact that he had noticed everything, but also by how Formoso seemed genuinely hurt by it.
“…Was I really so unpleasant to look at?”
I gazed at Formoso as he voiced his sorrow, then let out a soft laugh. His tense pupils flickered rapidly.
“Archbishop.”
I opened my mouth in a soothing tone.
“You’re overthinking this.”
Yet my expression was hardly reassuring. Oddly enough, Formoso seemed to believe me all the more because of it.
“True, you’ve always preferred to pray alone anyway.”
Formoso left, having doubted and convinced himself on his own. Nora, who had been watching him quietly, murmured.
“The Archbishop seems to have become rather… emotionally sensitive lately.”
It seemed she had wanted to say “emotional,” so I laughed silently.
Well, wasn’t that too generous a compliment for someone cold-blooded enough to send Justitia to the guillotine?

* * *
The next day, Nora sighed as she dressed me in a debutante ball gown.
“What am I supposed to do when even such a modest dress suits you so perfectly?”
She still seemed bothered by the fact that I was going to the debutante ball wearing nothing but an old dress without a single jewel.
‘Even so, my partner is the King—isn’t that excessive?’ The thought did cross my mind.
‘Still, it will be amusing to see Alfonso’s expression sour.’
Besides, the dress wasn’t so worn as to be unsightly. Nora had poured her heart and soul into mending it.
“You would have succeeded if you’d taken a job at a dressmaker’s.”
“Why do you keep trying to send me away somewhere else?”
Nora pouted and fastened a diamond necklace with a subtle shimmer around my neck.
“You’re too beautiful. Appearances are truly unimportant. Your character is more excellent than anyone’s.”
“Ha, thank you.”
I laughed off the flattery and stepped outside, where I immediately encountered Cassandro waiting ahead. His pupils dilated, and his lips pressed firmly shut.
“Oh, did I startle you by coming out so suddenly?”
“That’s hardly possible. The Commander rarely startles easily.”
The knight behind him answered with a grin.
“The Saint is simply so beautiful that he lost himself for a moment.”
“Sir Tyrel.”
Cassandro cautioned, and the knight whose name had been called closed his mouth with a playful expression.
“I thought all Holy Knights were supposed to be solemn.”
Finding it curious, I murmured, and Sir Tyrel shook his head with a smile.
“The Commander is simply excessively solemn.”
“Don’t you think the knight is excessively frivolous?”
Cassandro let out a short sigh, and I walked forward with a laugh.
But perhaps because I was wearing heels higher than usual, my gait felt slightly unsteady. If it weren’t for the dress code, I would have worn lower ones….
“Oh!”
My foot caught wrong on the step. My body lurched forward, but a firm grip immediately steadied me.
I turned in surprise and found Cassandro’s flustered expression.
He quickly composed himself, his gaze averted as he asked.
“Are you unharmed?”
“Yes, I’m fine. Thank you.”
I exhaled softly and laughed playfully before he could blame himself again.
“But why ask me that? Don’t you want to look at my face?”
“That’s not it….”
“Or perhaps I’m so beautiful that you lost yourself for a moment.”
At my teasing remark, Cassandro fell silent and looked away.
…What was I supposed to do now?
Because Sir Cassandro took my joke so seriously, I was the one who ended up looking foolish. Embarrassed, I quickened my pace ahead.
Upon arriving at the Royal Palace, the Ballroom was already teeming with guests. Yet the moment they spotted me, the crowd parted like the Red Sea itself.
“Saint, isn’t that dress the same one you wore at the Foundation Day celebration last year? The feeling seems remarkably similar.”
“Looking at the lace, I think you’re right. My goodness, despite the alterations, she’s wearing a secondhand dress.”
“How admirable. Yet she’s still so beautiful, isn’t she? If one doesn’t look closely, you wouldn’t even notice it’s an old dress.”
But what truly deserved admiration wasn’t this dress.
Unlike the other debutantes who filled their dance cards and danced constantly, I would dance only one song and become a wallflower.
“Oh, the Cassini Noblewoman has arrived.”
At the voice from behind, I turned to see Lumiel in an A-line dress studded with pearls and diamonds.
At a glance, one could tell it was an extravagantly expensive gown. A stark contrast to what Sergio had gifted me.
“The Cassini Noblewoman is truly beautiful today. Will she claim the title of High Society’s Flower this year?”
“But with the Saint present… I never imagined the two would be rivals.”
Rivals? I had no desire whatsoever to become the “Flower of High Society” who received the most dance requests that year.
Such trivial matters held no interest for me. Let Lumiel have it.
Then the entrance grew louder. Alfonso entered with his characteristic ingratiating smile.
While everyone bowed and rushed to offer compliments, Lumiel gazed at Alfonso with tender eyes.
Alfonso’s eyes softened in return at her gaze. They were truly performing a scene worthy of cinema.
As I observed their display with indifference, Alfonso suddenly turned and our eyes met. He immediately composed himself and headed straight toward me.
“My betrothed has arrived.”
With that, he subtly took my hand and led me toward the dance stage. The opening dance had to be between us, so there was no avoiding it.
Moments later, the first piece began with a cheerful melody. Since Alfonso danced quite well, I simply moved my feet and hands diligently while my mind wandered elsewhere.
“You misunderstood.”
Alfonso suddenly said something out of nowhere. When I turned to look at him, he added a meaningless clarification.
“What you saw earlier.”
“What exactly did I see?”
I actually had a good idea. He was referring to the subtle exchange of glances between Lumiel and himself earlier.
I seized the opportunity and smiled.
“I saw nothing at all, Your Majesty.”
The gauge climbing upward was juxtaposed with Alfonso’s peculiar expression. He muttered reluctantly.
“My fiancée seems to have definitely changed somewhat.”
“For the better or worse?”
“I can’t quite tell.”
“It must be for the better, Your Majesty.”
I replied with a smile.
“You told me to see nothing and hear nothing, didn’t you?”
“Are you slandering me, Justitia? When did I ever say such a thing?”
“You told me to pretend not to see the Cassini Noblewoman in Your Majesty’s Chamber.”
“That is—!”
Alfonso began to raise his voice but quickly clenched his teeth and composed himself.
“I thought that matter was already settled. Why bring it up again?”
“Your Majesty brought up the subject first.”
“You still harbor much discontent with me. Selling the dress I gifted you and arriving in such a shabby one—what rebellion is this?”
“Rebellion is too strong a word. Is it really so displeasing?”
The moment I asked, I turned at the waist and the dress skirt swirled gracefully.
Alfonso gazed at the sight intently, and our eyes met.
Unable to suppress my expression, I simply smiled, and suddenly Alfonso swallowed hard.
“…It’s not quite that bad.”
“Please view it favorably, Your Majesty. If it enriches one subject’s evening, how valuable would that be?”
“You’re back to your usual self again.”
Instead of responding, I chuckled softly as the music ended. As we exchanged parting courtesies, he asked.
“Which gentleman are you planning to dance with next? Your dance card was completely empty.”
“With Your Majesty present, how could I dance with another man?”
“…You won’t dance?”
Alfonso seemed somewhat confused by my answer.
Since remaining for many dances proved one’s popularity, it was customary for many women to dance with numerous men regardless of their betrothal status.
“Yes, unless you wish me to?”
I asked, gazing at him intently. Alfonso paused for a moment, then shook his head. I smiled broadly and spoke.
“I’m delighted by that answer.”
It meant I could remain a wallflower without consequence!
I released Alfonso’s hand and turned toward the Ballroom entrance. But in that moment—
[You have no further intention to dance?]
The status window rarely offered commentary. I hesitated for a moment, then nodded. Then—
[Fill your dance card completely. Gauge increases by 3% upon acceptance.]
[Additional rewards are not subject to daily limits.]
[Do you accept?]

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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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