The Saintess Is Too Good at Lying - Chapter 33

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

The Saint Is Such a Good Liar! Episode 033
…3%? Not 0.3%?
Even after rubbing my eyes and looking again, it was still 3%. I felt bewildered by this unexpectedly high number.
And I hadn’t even filled the gauge limit yet.
‘Does this mean I can earn 4% today?’
I reflexively checked the gauge bar. 33.2%.
If that were the case, this was an opportunity to jump directly to 36%.
There was no reason to refuse. The conversation I’d had with Alfonso flew far away. Accept, accept!
‘Now I need to fill my dance card.’
It won’t be difficult. I approached the noblewoman managing the dance cards. She greeted me with a gentle smile.
“Welcome, Saint. Are you returning your dance card and heading to the Temple?”
“No. I want to fill this completely.”
“…Fill it, you say?”
The noblewoman’s expression shifted to bewilderment at my unexpected answer. I nodded with grim determination.
“All of it.”
“Ah, then… is there perhaps a particular partner you prefer?”
“No one in particular. Please accept anyone on a first-come, first-served basis.”
“…First-come, first-served? Are you serious?”
The noblewoman’s expression grew increasingly astonished, but I nodded firmly.
As long as I fill the gauge, that’s all that matters. Who my partner is makes no difference. Of course, I’d prefer to avoid Sergio if possible.
“Understood. Please wait a moment.”
Shortly after, the noblewoman’s servants began bustling about urgently. They must have been spreading the word that I was accepting dance requests.
Nora, who had been watching, asked with a troubled expression.
“You’re really going to dance with just anyone? Is this really acceptable…?”
“Anyone? One shouldn’t discriminate against people. Offering fair opportunities to all—isn’t that the true virtue of a Saint?”
“You’re truly admirable….”
Just as Nora applauded with admiring eyes, a flood of young noblemen suddenly lined up before me.
“Did I, did I make it in the first-come, first-served order?”
“As you can see, you arrived first.”
Of course. There could be no greater honor than dancing with a Saint and the King’s betrothed.
“Don’t push! I was here first!”
“I stepped forward half a pace earlier!”
…But I never expected it to be this intense.
Startled by the line that seemed to stretch endlessly in an instant, I glanced at Nora, and our eyes met with identical expressions of shock.
“After all, this is an opportunity that absolutely cannot be missed at tonight’s ball.”
In Lumiel’s case, her slots had been filled before the ball even began, and most of the popular young ladies had done the same.
So it was safe to say that everyone except a tiny handful of young noblemen had lined up to dance with me.
Faced with a crowd reminiscent of a bustling marketplace, Nora muttered in bewilderment.
“…You’ve become the flower of High Society, haven’t you?”
“That doesn’t happen just because you dance with ‘anyone,’ as you put it.”
The status of one’s dance partner, as written on the dance card, was also a crucial factor in determining who reigned as the flower of High Society.
“But visually speaking, you’re by far the most popular person here right now, Saint.”
I couldn’t deny the visual impact was undeniable.
Given the circumstances, naturally all eyes in the Ballroom were turning toward me.
“I never intended to draw this much attention.”
“Then you shouldn’t have decided to fill your dance card on a first-come, first-served basis. I doubt anyone but you would think that way.”
“I told you. I didn’t want to discriminate against people based on status or prestige. But….”
When there are this many people, things change, don’t they?
I decided to generously give opportunities to those waiting in line at the back as well.
“I never expected to receive this much attention from so many people. It’s quite overwhelming.”
I examined the expressions of the men standing in line. Those at the front wore faces brimming with anticipation and excitement.
Meanwhile, those at the back wore expressions of resignation, yet they lingered, clinging to the faint hope of “what if.”
No… no matter how merciful Justitia is as a saint, she couldn’t possibly dance with all these people.
“I set the first-come, first-served condition because I never anticipated so many would come. So I’d like to ask your understanding and propose changing the terms.”
At those words, the men looked at me with puzzled expressions. Some, thinking I would now discriminate by status, darkened their faces.
But I wasn’t the sort of person to discriminate based on status.
“I’ve heard that a severe drought is afflicting the Western Region. So… I’d like to fill my dance card in order of those who donate the most to help resolve the drought in the west.”
Money, if nothing else.
“Donations? But you clearly said at first that you’d do it on a first-come, first-served basis!”
The man standing tenth in line immediately protested. I responded with a gentle smile.
“Yes, I did so because I wanted to give everyone a fair opportunity.”
My gauge rose. I let my eyes grow slightly clouded as I continued.
“But so many have come….”
“Perhaps you find it painful to donate?”
At that moment, the man standing eleventh in line interjected with a mocking tone.
The tenth man immediately glared back with sharp, triangular eyes.
“What, what did you say?”
“If you have no intention of donating, step aside. Should the Saint dance with just anyone? Of course she should dance with those doing good deeds.”
Then a man from nearly the very back raised his hand and shouted.
“Where do I line up to make a donation?”
“Come over here….”
Nora raised her hand with a resigned expression. I’m sorry for suddenly giving you work….
So I stepped aside, and Nora began writing down the men’s names and donation amounts in her notebook.
Even though I announced that those not in the top ten would only be making donations, they all lined up anyway, since they didn’t know how much others were donating.
“Couldn’t you at least tell us who donated the most?”
“That would seem like I’m pitting you against each other. I can’t do that.”
Though someone asked discreetly, Nora shook her head firmly.
Though truthfully, this entire situation already looked like I was pitting them against each other….
Then someone stepped in front of me. Without even looking, I opened my mouth.
“The donations are over there on the side….”
“What on earth are you doing?”
A familiar voice called out sharply from nearby.
When I lifted my head, Alfonso stood before me with hardened eyes, having stepped closer without warning. Surprisingly, he was alone.
‘Where did he leave Lumiel?’
As I glanced around, his brow furrowed deeper.
“You’re ignoring me right in front of my face?”
I couldn’t fathom why he thought I shouldn’t ignore him.
“Why are you angry?”
“You said you wouldn’t dance.”
Alfonso stepped closer, his voice a low growl.
“You said you wouldn’t dance with other men.”
“Oh, I changed my mind.”
I shrugged my shoulders.
“Wouldn’t it be disrespectful to the Royal Family who hosted this ball to deliberately become a wallflower?”
“Have you forgotten who the master of that Royal Family is?”
“The one overseeing this ball is the Countess Conti.”
When I replied smoothly, Alfonso’s expression became one of speechlessness.
It wasn’t so much that he couldn’t find a logical counterargument—he simply looked astounded.
“So that’s what it was, Justitia. You were still angry with me.”
Alfonso muttered to himself.
“You thought if you did this, you could make me angry, but if that’s the case…!”
“Why do you keep misunderstanding, Your Majesty?”
I laughed as though equally astounded and cut him off.
“Selling the dress you gifted me, changing my mind about dancing—it’s all for the sake of the people. Don’t you understand?”
You shouldn’t be like this, now that you’re king.
I added in the smallest voice, and Alfonso glared at me before speaking.
“Still, you didn’t need to sell your dance slot for donations. Doesn’t that feel insulting?”
“Not at all. I’m not selling my body.”
“Justitia!”
“Your Majesty.”
Unlike Alfonso, who burned alone with anger, I asked with perfect composure and a smile.
“I’m the only person you danced with without receiving a donation. Isn’t that enough for you?”
“…”
Unexpectedly, Alfonso fell silent at those words. I couldn’t tell what exactly had pleased him.
‘Is he happy about saving money?’
In any case, I turned away from Alfonso and went to Nora.
Thanks to Nora’s swift work, the line was shrinking rapidly.
“Are we all finished? Is there anything I can help with?”
“It’s fine. So far, the donations have been coming in steadily in this order.”
“Wow…”
I couldn’t close my mouth, not just at the donation amount listed at the very top, but at the endless pages that kept turning over.
“500,000 cal.”
Someone suddenly called out the amount.
But somehow, it was a voice I’d heard before….
“…Duke Sergio?”
Sergio, why are you making a donation?

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————