The Saintess Is Too Good at Lying - Chapter 39

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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 039
I could say with certainty that neither I nor Lumiel had anticipated this situation. Her expression hardened in an instant.
“…Pardon?”
“I saw everything!”
Polia cried out with conviction.
“I saw the noblewoman pushing the Saint down the Staircase!”
What? She was helping me like this?
I was startled not only that Lumiel had chosen to push me rather than fall herself, but also that she’d moved so carelessly as to leave a witness.
What shocked me most was that someone had taken my side.
I’d always been too busy struggling alone against Lumiel’s schemes and machinations.
I stared at Polia with wide, bewildered eyes, unfamiliar with this feeling.
“Is that truly what you saw, Polia?”
Cassandro asked with a hardened expression. Polia nodded firmly.
“I came looking for the Saint and witnessed it. I can testify.”
“…What on earth are you talking about?”
Meanwhile, Lumiel quickly recovered and wore an expression of bewilderment. Her improvisational skills were indeed formidable.
“I pushed the Saint? Why would I? There’s no reason for that. Polia, are you certain you didn’t misunderstand what you saw?”
As Lumiel shot back with a baffled expression, Polia flinched.
It was simply too contrary to Lumiel’s established image.
Polia’s expression wavered with doubt as she turned to look at me.
“…Saint, please tell us the truth.”
Of course I should!
I was opening my mouth to support Polia when—
[I propose a lie]
[Accepting grants 10% gauge increase]
The gauge was enormous, but I dismissed it immediately.
Gauge or no gauge, what just happened was attempted murder. I needed to make an example of someone who pushes people down stairs…!
[Refusing incurs 10% gauge penalty]
This is insane. I nearly cursed aloud.
‘It’s never deducted gauge before!’
I was confused. Was there truly a reason to protect Lumiel to this extent?
‘Is the status window on Lumiel’s side?’
No, that couldn’t be. This system itself isn’t helping Lumiel right now, is it?
“Saint?”
…Was I overlooking something in my current agitation? I tried to think calmly about what would unfold.
‘If I say here that Polia is right…’
Lumiel would deny it stubbornly, just as she was doing now. And I would continue insisting that she pushed me.
‘There aren’t enough witnesses.’
The only third party was Polia. Moreover, the Polia Family was a cadet branch of the Cassini Family.
If the conflict dragged on, pressure might be brought to bear on Polia to recant her testimony.
‘Realistically, there’s no guarantee that Polia will continue to take my side.’
If she changes her story later, I’ll look like I tried to frame Lumiel all on my own.
And I did it by throwing myself down the Staircase no less. Betting on the truth was far too risky.
I took Polia’s hand. She met my gaze with a tense expression.
“There seems to be a misunderstanding. The Noblewoman didn’t do anything wrong.”
As I denied it, Polia’s eyes wavered.
Lumiel was the same. She hadn’t expected me to shield her like this.
‘If Lumiel had some connection to the status window, she probably wouldn’t have been this shocked.’
I looked at Lumiel steadily and continued speaking.
“I mistepped.”
[You have obtained an additional reward.]
[Current gauge: 46.7%]
Beyond the updated status window, I could see Polia looking uncomfortable. And there was more than one person I needed to convince.
“Is that truly the case?”
Cassandro asked in a low voice. When I turned to look at him, his face was frighteningly composed.
“Please tell me the truth, Saint. Did the Cassini Noblewoman truly have no involvement whatsoever in this matter?”
Answering such a question should have been easy.
I could simply say, “Yes, the Cassini Noblewoman did nothing wrong.”
Yet for some reason, it felt as difficult as swallowing a thorn. Perhaps it was because the one asking was Cassandro, who had always been almost excessively honest with me.
“…Yes.”
It seemed I had developed some sense of obligation to repay his honesty with my own. It was an inconvenient feeling.
Unable to muster the courage to lie while meeting his eyes, I lowered my gaze slightly before answering.
“It’s not the Cassini Noblewoman’s fault.”
“…”
Cassandro clearly didn’t believe me.
But since I insisted otherwise, he couldn’t press further, and frustration was evident on his face. That expression made my throat ache even more.
“I’ll have the Doctor brought here. Cassandro, I’m entrusting the Saint to you.”
Polia rose from her seat and disappeared. Nora came rushing toward me moments later.
“Saint!”
Nora’s face crumpled the moment she saw me, and she sank down.
“Good heavens, what on earth happened?”
“I’m sorry for startling you.”
“You shouldn’t apologize to me! Oh, this is dreadful…”
Nora looked at Cassandro and asked.
“What happened?”
“…”
Cassandro didn’t answer. He clearly still believed my explanation was a lie.
I sighed and opened my mouth.
“I mistepped on the Staircase and fell.”
At those words, Nora looked up at the Staircase, spotted Lumiel, and her eyes narrowed.
“Really? You fell down the stairs alone?”
“It has nothing to do with the Cassini Noblewoman.”
Nora didn’t look convinced either, but she didn’t press further.
I forced a smile to reassure them both.
“I’m fine. I protected my head when I fell. There’s no blood, see?”
“Yes. But that’s not all, is it?”
“What do you mean—ow!”
Cassandro, who had been holding me, suddenly pressed firmly on my leg.
I cried out at the sudden sharp pain, and Cassandro furrowed his brow as he murmured.
“It appears to be broken.”
Damn it. I was so focused on protecting my head.
“Still, at least my head is safe. A broken bone will heal with time.”
I spoke with a laugh as if joking, but neither of them relaxed. Then Lumiel approached.
“Saint, are you all right?”
Maintaining my composure became difficult as she asked after me with such a serious expression.
I gestured for her to come closer. Lumiel did so, her face etched with worry.
“Could you leave? Seeing your face makes it harder for me to lie.”
“….”
I whispered sharply, my voice meant only for her ears, and Lumiel withdrew without another word.
Her face had gone rigid with shock.
How absurd. And who was the one who pushed me down the stairs in the first place? Did she really think I was stupid enough to act like a saint even in this situation?
I smiled crookedly and spoke as if nothing were amiss.
“You seem quite startled, Noblewoman. Perhaps you should rest for a while.”
“Yes, seeing you fall right before my eyes… I was quite frightened. My heart is still… trembling.”
Lumiel replied smoothly and then excused herself. Nora clicked her tongue in exasperation.
“Look at her, acting like she’s the one suffering when there’s an injured person right here!”
“Calm yourself, Nora. Getting agitated might worsen the wound.”
“Saint, are you joking right now?”
As I laughed as if it were nothing, the Doctor arrived.
After examining my condition, he spoke with a grave expression.
“Fortunately, most of it is bruising, but it does appear your leg is broken.”
“I should be going now, Polia. You were quite frightened, weren’t you?”
“…Saint.”
Polia bit her lip firmly and grasped my hand tightly.
“I’ll come visit you.”
I smiled gratefully. Cassandro lifted me into his arms and left the Manor.
His jaw was clenched tight, and his lips were pressed firmly together. It was the typical expression of an angry man.
“Am I very heavy?”
I joked to lighten the mood, and Cassandro looked at me with his eyes narrowed.
As I reached toward his face with an embarrassed expression, he quickly brought it closer to me.
“Relax your expression. You’re really scaring me.”
As I gently traced the corner of Cassandro’s mouth, his rigid lips slowly softened. Though it seemed like he was forcing it.
“Are you angry with me?”
“How could that be possible?”
Cassandro answered immediately in a low voice.
“Even if doubt arises, it is my duty to trust the Saint.”
“You trust me, Sir Cassandro?”
“I do.”
Cassandro replied quietly.
“But that doesn’t mean I accept everything you say as truth.”
“So you’re saying you believe me even though it sounds like a lie? Thank you.”
I chuckled softly and murmured.
“You know. Right now, I’m not exactly such an unwaveringly good person.”
“You are good. Though I don’t know the circumstances.”
Then Cassandro suddenly threw a direct question at me.
“Was it the Cassini Noblewoman’s doing?”
“….”
Why did he keep asking questions that forced me to lie?
My heart grew uneasy, and I bit my lip firmly before meeting his gaze and answering.
“You don’t need to worry, Sir Cassandro. The Archbishop will fix it.”
As I changed the subject, Cassandro stared at me intently. I smiled and moved past the moment.
I truly hadn’t thought it through. He was a man who lavished his sacred power on even minor wounds, so I believed he would heal them cleanly if I showed him the injury.
Of course.
“I cannot use sacred power at this moment.”
I never imagined I’d be hit with such a blow to the back of my head like this.

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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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