The Saintess Is Too Good at Lying - Chapter 37

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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 037
The carriage arrived at Follia Mansion.
As I stepped into the garden, where newly blooming dwarf roses, tulips, and irises flourished in abundance, an outdoor tea party was just beginning.
“Saint, welcome. What an honor to have the flower of High Society grace my tea party.”
Polia, the hostess, greeted me with a radiant smile. I genuinely felt embarrassed and shook my head.
“Please don’t say such things. The Cassini Noblewoman is here.”
“Ah, of course, many people wanted to secure a slot on her dance card this time.”
Polia said with a laugh.
“But everyone agrees the true star of the debutante ball was you, Saint. No one would deny it.”
Had I only filled the slots on a first-come, first-served basis, the impact would never have been this profound.
But because I had also accepted donations, the perception spread that many men were desperate to dance with me by any means necessary.
“Thanks to that, it helped resolve the drought in the Western Region, so we have much to be grateful for.”
“As compassionate as always. Come this way.”
As I moved toward the center of the garden with Polia, everyone began greeting me without exception.
‘Where is Lumiel?’
Even as I returned their greetings, my eyes constantly searched for Lumiel.
I didn’t want to ask first, as it might seem strange, so I simply waited for her to come into view.
“Oh, the Cassini Noblewoman has arrived!”
Does the protagonist always make a late entrance? I let out a quiet laugh and watched Lumiel, who had just spotted me and was approaching.
But there was something different about her appearance.
She wore a dress with an ankle-length hem that exposed her ankles, and something like a bandage was wrapped around one of them.
“My, what happened to your ankle?”
“Ah, well….”
Lumiel opened her mouth with an awkward smile in response to someone’s question.
“Actually, it’s because I fell during the debutante ball…. I injured my ankle, and my brother wrapped it for me, telling me to be careful.”
“My, how thoughtful of the Duke.”
“It seems the injury was more serious than it appeared at the time.”
“Yes, my foot twisted quite badly back then….”
Why was she saying such things? I wondered inwardly as I sipped my tea. It only made her look like she lacked dancing skill.
“I’m still not skilled at fast-tempo dances, and unfortunately such a dance came early in the program….”
…Ah?
At her cryptic remark, I looked at Lumiel, and she continued with a sorrowful expression.
“If we had started with slower pieces, I could have grasped the rhythm more easily.”
I didn’t choose the dances so carelessly, Lumiel. Would I really have made newly debuted young ladies perform difficult dances?
Regardless of tempo, they were all fundamentally basic dances. She should have practiced more.
Suddenly, a villainous line came to mind, and I nearly laughed despite myself.
Of course, the real Justitia would never respond in such a manner.
“Ah, I apologize. I thought that placing faster-tempo pieces early in the program would help invigorate the atmosphere of the ball….”
She would have explained honestly. And Lumiel was likely counting on this very point.
The Saint had deliberately placed fast-tempo dances early in the program to make the Cassini Saint, who was returning to High Society after so long, stumble.
…This kind of baseless rumor spreads so easily, doesn’t it? Several debutantes were already watching me closely.
Even though it appears my relationship with Lumiel has improved while we’ve been preparing for this debutante ball together.
‘Many people probably think it’s just surface-level.’
That’s simply how High Society works.
“Didn’t I tell you this, Noblewoman?”
I exhaled softly and opened my mouth. Everyone’s attention fixed on my words.
“I said it would be better to start with slower-paced pieces. You might find it difficult to dance fast-paced numbers right away.”
“…What?”
“But you were brave. You still wanted to challenge yourself. This is a badge of honor.”
Confusion flickered across everyone’s eyes, including Lumiel’s.
It made sense—my words sounded exactly as though Lumiel had been the one to request that fast-paced pieces be placed in the first half.
[Lie Gauge increased by 0.4%]
[Current Gauge: 36.4%]
That’s right. It was a lie.
The gauge shot up considerably—this must be quite a significant deception.
“What are you talking about?”
Lumiel naturally denied it, bewildered.
“The arrangement of dance pieces was entirely the Saint’s decision. I never even suggested anything.”
So that’s why she was so desperate to escape back then? Now that I understood her true feelings, a smile crossed my lips.
“Of course it was my decision. But you kept saying it, Noblewoman. You wanted the debutante ball to have a lively atmosphere.”
Before she could say “When did I,” I continued.
“Even though I expressed concern that fast dances might be difficult for those unfamiliar with them, you kept mentioning it in your letters… I thought you enjoyed fast-paced pieces.”
When I presented this “evidence,” Lumiel’s eyes grew uncertain. Her expression suggested she was questioning whether she’d actually written such things.
[Lie Gauge increased by 0.2%]
[Current Gauge: 36.6%]
She had written it—just not about song selection.
Lumiel had only sent me polite greetings, but in doing so, she’d repeatedly used the phrase “I hope the ball has as lively an atmosphere as the refreshment concept.”
No matter how hard one tries, filling a letter with substance is no easy task—so one ends up repeating the same things over and over. I’d kept those letters.
Everything else was fabrication. There was no other evidence. If Lumiel deliberately compared the letters, I might be caught.
“I… I don’t remember writing anything like that….”
“Go home and check your letters. Surely you didn’t throw them away?”
But Lumiel wouldn’t press the matter so meticulously. Such scrutiny would damage her reputation.
Lumiel pressed her lips firmly together. Amusingly, she looked utterly exasperated by the situation.
If you’re going to accuse someone else unfairly, you should be prepared to hear unfair accusations yourself.
“What does it matter anyway? Either way, you weren’t seriously injured….”
“That’s right. And honestly, I was glad the fast-paced pieces came first.”
“There are advantages and disadvantages to each. If I’d danced them later, my stamina might have been depleted, making it even more difficult.”
Since no serious incident had occurred, the debutantes who sensed the awkward atmosphere stepped in to smooth things over.
“No, it’s my fault for not thinking more carefully.”
But I had no intention of letting Lumiel end this confrontation she’d started so easily.
“I failed to consider that the Noblewoman hasn’t yet grown accustomed to balls. After all, there are numerous debutantes at the ball besides her.”
So the accusation Lumiel had originally intended to level against me was absurd.
Just because she lacked skill in dancing, was I supposed to arrange the entire musical program solely for her convenience? There was the atmosphere of the ball to consider, and numerous other debutantes as well.
“Not at all. When selecting the music, one must naturally consider the atmosphere of the ball and the many attendees.”
“That’s right. You made the correct decision.”
Fortunately, there were young ladies present who understood my position and agreed with me. Yet I still couldn’t bring myself to smile.
“But I’m afraid. I’m terrified that the Noblewoman might misunderstand because of this….”
“What misunderstanding….”
“That I harbored resentment toward her and deliberately placed the faster pieces at the beginning.”
The moment Lumiel voiced the exact accusation she had been trying to pin on me, the surrounding ladies gasped in shock.
“Absolutely not, Saint! The Noblewoman would never think such a thing!”
“That’s right. And the dances that came early weren’t even that difficult.”
“Saint.”
Then Lumiel, who had remained silent throughout, finally spoke.
Everyone turned to her with expressions of hope that she would gracefully resolve this situation.
“How could….”
Tears spilled from Lumiel’s glistening eyes.
“How could you think something so terrible?”

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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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