The Saintess Is Too Good at Lying - Chapter 44

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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 044
“Thank you. I was actually a bit cold.”
“I’ll escort you to your room.”
“Brother.”
As Lumiel approached with a casual greeting, Sergio flinched. I observed his reaction carefully.
If he had truly dismissed my words, he wouldn’t have reacted at all—but this didn’t feel like indifference.
“Lumiel, were you taking a stroll?”
“I was hoping to walk with you, but I heard you were already in the Garden, so I came here instead.”
Lumiel glanced at me, then broke into a radiant smile.
“I see you were with the Saint. I wanted to pay my respects, but I was afraid of disturbing your rest.”
“How considerate of you, Miss Polia.”
I smiled faintly while drawing my body inward slightly. I felt Sergio’s gaze upon me.
“I can return on my own, so please take a walk with Miss Polia instead, Brother.”
“What? But—”
“Please do, Brother. Miss Polia has only just arrived.”
I smiled as though it were truly no trouble and began moving my wheelchair alone, but Nora quickly rushed over and grasped it.
“Then I shall see you again.”
With a wistful expression, I lowered my head and turned the wheelchair, feeling Sergio’s gaze follow me.
He certainly does seem susceptible to fragility. Now I understand why Lumiel is so skilled at appearing pitiful and forlorn.
“Are you cold?”
Cassandro caught up with me and asked. I smiled and shook my head.
“You know I’m not.”
At those words, Cassandro suddenly removed his jacket. He took Sergio’s and draped his own around me instead.
“This one is a bit thinner.”
He explained expressionlessly. I was about to decline, but since he seemed to have put some thought into it, I didn’t refuse.
Besides, I was still embarrassed about my fake cough being discovered earlier.
“Is it that he’s perceptive, or is my brother simply dull?”
I asked uncertainly at their contrasting reactions, and Cassandro didn’t answer immediately.
“A good brother wouldn’t have left the Saint feeling lonely for so long.”
“That’s… did I make it that obvious?”
“…I’m simply rather perceptive.”
His answer came a beat too late. Sigh, Justitia. Why must I bear the embarrassment?
“Shall we not continue the walk?”
“I’ll come out again tomorrow anyway. You’ll accompany me, won’t you?”
“Of course.”
Good—tomorrow’s walk will be far more enjoyable.
* * *
It was several days later. As I gazed out the window as was my habit, I noticed a carriage approaching the Manor.
The carriage came to a stop, and a woman emerged from within. It was Polia.
Had she come to see Lumiel? I wondered—
“Lady Polia has come to visit the Saint. Shall I allow her entry?”
I nodded somewhat awkwardly. Given my guilty conscience(?), facing her wasn’t entirely comfortable.
“Your Holiness.”
Polia entered the room carrying a radiant bouquet of yellow roses. I smiled sheepishly and asked her.
“How did you know I was here?”
“I went to the Cathedral first, but they told me you were at the Cassini Mansion.”
“So you visited the Cathedral as well.”
I was somewhat surprised. A visit to the Cathedral alone would have been sufficient to show her sincerity.
If she hadn’t been genuinely concerned about me, there would have been no reason to come all this way.
The thought only deepened my regret. Even if it had been the best choice at the time.
“I heard the Archbishop has been observing a fast.”
“The timing was rather unfortunate.”
“It was, wasn’t it? He said he had no intention of fasting anytime soon, yet he suddenly began. I found it rather puzzling.”
At Polia’s casual remark, I unconsciously furrowed my brow.
“The Archbishop said that?”
“Oh, yes. Not long ago, I mentioned that I’d been feeling heavy lately and was considering a fast, and I asked when he was planning to begin his. That’s when he said he had no plans for the foreseeable future.”
Polia furrowed her brow as well, searching her memory.
“He said he had no plans whatsoever for the time being.”
“…Is that so?”
Now that I thought about it, something did seem odd. The Archbishop’s fasts were typically announced to the entire Cathedral beforehand.
‘This time, I received no advance notice about Formoso’s fast at all.’
As if it had been decided on impulse…
‘But why?’
What reason could he have for going to such lengths to treat me?
The man who usually grew so impatient about not being able to use his divine power on me.
‘Something feels off.’
I was already thinking I’d need to ask about this once I returned to the Cathedral.
“Oh, Your Holiness. This…”
The bouquet Polia carefully offered broke through my thoughts.
“It’s a gift. I thought you’d be bored staying in bed, so I prepared the brightest flowers I could find.”
“They’re so beautiful. Roses are still quite rare… Thank you.”
Then a brief silence fell between us.
I instinctively realized that Polia wanted to speak about what happened last time. And I could no longer avoid it.
“I was grateful back then. For standing up for me.”
Polia’s eyes wavered slightly. She hadn’t expected me to bring it up first.
“I only spoke what I witnessed. As I was taught, according to my conscience. But you said it wasn’t true…”
“It’s shameful, but at the time, I thought that was the best choice. For all of us.”
Polia’s expression grew firm, as if she finally understood.
“…So that was it. You didn’t want to cause discord.”
“That’s not entirely wrong, but… I couldn’t bear for you to suffer because of me.”
If I lied here, my gauge would rise, but I didn’t want that. It simply wouldn’t be right.
From the start, I had been willing to forgo the 10% gauge compensation even when I fell down the Staircase.
“The only witness is Miss Polia, and she’s a cadet branch of the Cassini Family. I can’t let her be resented by the family because of me. That would also harm Miss Polia’s reputation.”
“…To be honest, at first I didn’t understand why the Saint would do such a thing. But thinking it over carefully, I began to wonder if perhaps you were doing it to protect me.”
Polia murmured with a dazed expression.
“I thought no one would believe that the Cassini Noblewoman was involved in this matter, as you said. But… I really wanted to confirm whether my thoughts were correct.”
Polia’s expression was already convinced. She seemed quite moved, and I felt terribly embarrassed.
“I never thought you would think of me that way…”
“Don’t make that face. After all, as one who serves God, it’s shameful to encourage lies.”
“But it was a lie to protect someone weaker than you.”
Polia shook her head firmly, then her expression became confused as she asked.
“Why did the Noblewoman push the Saint down the Staircase? I’m telling you this now, but it was truly terrifying. I clearly saw her pushing with all her might.”
Polia seemed genuinely confused, but I remained unmoved.
She must have wanted the picture where I truthfully identified Lumiel as the culprit, then became suspected of framing the ‘real’ one.
But I couldn’t speak honestly. Polia didn’t seem like a bad person, but I couldn’t completely trust her either.
As the silence grew longer, she seemed to notice, observing me quietly before speaking.
“I want to be close friends with the Saint. You have no idea how happy I was when you came to my gathering. I was truly sorry that something unfortunate happened…”
Polia spoke with determination.
“If you ever need my help, please tell me anytime.”
“Thank you, Polia.”
“You can call me Clarissa.”
At her bashful addition, I found myself laughing despite myself.
But just as I was in no position to gain a lover here, I was equally unprepared to make a friend.
If I grew close to Clarissa, I would surely regret it deeply when I returned later.
“How long will you be staying at the Cassini Mansion?”
“Probably until my leg heals completely.”
“You should recover soon… I’ll visit often while you’re here.”
“Thank you. But I doubt the Cassini Noblewoman will be pleased.”
Clarissa smiled mysteriously.

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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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