The Saintess Is Too Good at Lying - Chapter 53

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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 053
Formoso did not answer immediately. But from where I stood, it was clear he had been caught off guard, flustered by my accusation.
“Who would spread such falsehoods to you, Saint?”
Rather than answering my question, he redirected the conversation. I tilted my head curiously and pressed further.
“Does it matter who?”
“It seems there is someone around you clouding your judgment, Saint. I merely wished to point this out.”
“That’s not it. I simply heard it in passing….”
“It was Polia, wasn’t it?”
Formoso arrived at the answer with astonishing speed. That swiftness and precision sent a chill down my spine.
“She is the only person you’ve had relevant conversations with recently.”
“Archbishop.”
“How unsettling.”
Formoso crumpled the corners of his eyes as he muttered.
“The accident that befell you occurred at Follia Mansion. And now she plants baseless suspicions in your mind as well.”
Then, with a grave expression, he offered me counsel.
“Saint, I believe it would be wise to distance yourself from Polia. She does not strike me as a good person.”
“Perhaps. That could be true.”
I cut off Formoso’s attempt to redirect the conversation at its root.
“So why did you suddenly decide to observe a fast that wasn’t scheduled?”
“Saint.”
“Did you receive another divine revelation?”
When he couldn’t answer immediately, a faint smirk played at my lips. Formoso’s expression crumbled.
“Saint.”
“Yes, Archbishop?”
“Do you suspect me? That I hastily decided to fast because I was unwilling to perform sacred healing for you?”
When I didn’t respond, Formoso suddenly protested with an anguished expression.
“As you know, I have never spared my sacred power when it comes to you.”
“I know. You performed sacred healing even against my wishes.”
But why was this time different? What changed this time?
“Yet at the most crucial moment, when I needed you most, I was denied that healing….”
A thought struck me mid-sentence. What if I hadn’t received the sacred healing?
I would have been confined to the Temple for weeks. Unable to see anyone.
‘…Could he have been trying to restrain me?’
In that instant, my skin crawled with dread.
As I stared at Formoso with a vacant expression, he gazed into my eyes with an anguished look and spoke.
“I suddenly felt ashamed of my arrogance, Saint. I realized I had grown complacent and satisfied with my own faith. That is why I made this decision.”
….
“Do you still suspect me?”
Tears had already begun to glisten in Formoso’s eyes. At first glance, he looked genuinely wronged.
“…No.”
As I lowered my head, the gauge rose. Relief finally flooded Formoso’s expression.
“That couldn’t be. It was merely a passing curiosity.”
Even if my suspicions were correct, there was no benefit in revealing them now.
I needed to discover why Formoso was so intent on keeping me confined to the Grand Cathedral, and there was no reason to invite his scrutiny.
“Please don’t harbor ill will toward Polia. She meant no harm—those words simply slipped out while she was trying to share news of the Grand Cathedral with me.”
As I added this to prevent any harm from befalling Clarissa, Formoso nodded despite his somewhat uneasy expression.
“It seems you’ve grown quite close to Cassini Duke.”
Then he abruptly shifted the conversation in an unexpected direction.
“For a while you called him ‘Duke,’ but then you started calling him ‘brother’ again.”
“Ah.”
It was rather surprising that he’d noticed such a subtle distinction. Though, to be fair, Sergio had been remarkably oblivious.
“It’s only natural, living under the same roof as he does.”
“…So do I.”
Formoso bit his lip slightly as he spoke.
“Do I not?”
What was this comparison about?
“What do you mean?”
“Yet it feels as though you keep your distance from me. Like those baseless suspicions you harbored just now.”
“Perhaps it’s only natural to feel that way, given that you’re about to be married.”
As Formoso’s expression hardened at those words, I changed the subject.
“Archbishop, what would you think if my accident wasn’t truly an accident, but rather someone’s deliberate doing?”
“Who would dare harm the Saint?”
I gazed quietly at his fierce expression, as though he would rush out and mete out severe punishment that very moment, then shook my head.
“…I cannot tell you that.”
Rather than pressing me further, Formoso simply stared at me as if deep in thought. His piercing gaze made me tense for a moment.
“Could it be Cassini Noblewoman?”
After some time had passed, Formoso asked. I flinched slightly and nodded in affirmation.
‘Sharp instincts, indeed.’
Of the three men, he was the only one who had deduced the culprit without any clues. Looking back, Formoso had always been remarkably perceptive.
‘…Yet he suspected Justitia’s innocence?’
It was strange enough to give me pause.
No matter how unknowable the human heart might be, Justitia was genuinely transparent in her goodness.
“So it is true, then.”
“Archbishop, please keep this secret. I beg you.”
I pleaded with him. Since Formoso was still ostensibly on Justitia’s side, it was better that word of Lumiel being the culprit didn’t spread from his lips.
“Why do you wish to conceal the truth?”
“There’s no evidence anyway. No one would believe me.”
“How could that be, when the Saint herself speaks of it?”
Hearing such words from the man who had been most skeptical of me, I couldn’t help but smile wryly. Formoso seemed to interpret this as doubt.
“I understand. If that is your wish… but it would be wise to refrain from going out for some time.”
“Why is that?”
“The Cassini Noblewoman’s social engagements are frequent, so you’ll encounter her often. Besides, now that the debutante ball has concluded, there are no external obligations.”
What nonsense? I need to get out more to raise the gauge.
But I nodded with a composed expression.
“I’ll do that.”
The gauge rose by 0.1%. 49.9%. Ah, I wanted to fill it halfway as a homecoming gift to myself.
Just then, the carriage stopped in front of the Grand Cathedral. Formoso descended first and offered me his hand.
I gazed at him for a moment before accepting his escort and stepping down.
“Your Eminence.”
As I called out to him while walking toward the Temple Corridor, Formoso turned to face me.
“I’ve missed you.”
Formoso’s expression went blank. A status window materialized above his face.
[Lie Gauge increased by 0.1%]
[Current Gauge: 50.0%]
[Congratulations! Halfway to your goal remains.]
I broke into a radiant smile. Finally, halfway! If I play my cards right, I could return home in about two more months….
[As a reward for reaching 50% gauge, an additional ability is granted]
[Lie Detector]
[Once per day, you can determine whether the other person’s statement is a lie]
[By using 1% of your gauge, additional ability usage is possible]
A lie detector….
‘It looks useful, but will I ever need it?’
My goal is to raise the gauge by lying myself. Whether others lie or not doesn’t concern me….
‘No, wait. This means I could have figured out whether Formoso was lying in a situation like that.’
Right, there’s no such thing as a useless ability in this world. I’ll use it wisely, once a day.
‘There’s no way I’m paying real money for this. I never spent a single coin on games before.’
Anyway, I should test whether this ability actually works.
‘What would be good?’
It seemed the ability would only work if someone actually lied, but unfortunately, this was a temple where no one would have reason to lie.
‘This is tricky.’
If I’d known this ability would appear, I would have delayed bringing up the fasting prayer with Formoso.
‘Oh, now that I think about it, Nora once mentioned that some priest seemed to have taken a liking to a believer….’
What was that priest’s name again….
“Is something troubling you?”
Perhaps noticing my furrowed brow as I tried to remember, Cassandro asked. I spoke impulsively.
“Do you happen to have someone you like?”

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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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