The Saintess Is Too Good at Lying - Chapter 6

—————
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 006

* * *
Even after arriving at the Temple, I had no choice but to let Cassandro lift me effortlessly from the carriage by my waist without protest.
“I’ll summon a physician at once——”
“Cassandro.”
A familiar voice reached my ears from behind. My heart began to race.
The owner of that voice remained hidden behind Cassandro’s towering frame.
Yet I could not mistake it.
“Your Grace.”
Cassandro bowed his head slightly and stepped aside. Then a familiar face came into view.
Long hair the color of dark blood, skin pale as a vampire’s, eyes like gleaming silver blades.
Formoso. The Archbishop of Scalia, Justitia’s spiritual mentor. And——
The man who had forced a shameful confession upon an innocent girl merely to preserve his own life.
His serpentine appearance seemed far closer to a sinister demon than a man of the cloth. Even his slight smile, with lips curled upward, was nothing but hypocrisy to one who knew his true nature.
“Saint, your knee——”
Pure deception.
Watching Formoso’s expression harden rapidly, I found myself laughing without meaning to.
“It’s only a minor scrape. If you summon a physician——”
“No physician, however skilled, can examine the Saint’s bare legs.”
Formoso spoke with firm resolve.
“Come inside. I shall treat it myself.”
So it was acceptable for him to see them, then.
For a moment I was speechless, but I smiled obediently and nodded.
The moment we entered the room, Formoso had me sit in a chair. He removed my shoes himself and gently grasped my exposed ankle.
When he lifted his gaze slightly, his jawline appeared quite sharp. Soon his brow furrowed.
“How did this happen?”
“I fell… mm.”
I answered with a hint of fatigue in my voice. Formoso slowly traced my knee with his large thumb, then pressed down firmly.
The pain shot through me as his finger made complete contact with the wound. Simultaneously, a pure white light emanated from his thumb and vanished.
“Wow.”
I gasped in admiration at the sight of my knee, now perfectly healed.
Formoso laughed as if finding my reaction somewhat naive.
“You react as though witnessing divine power for the first time.”
“Well… it’s such a wondrous ability that I’m amazed each time I see it.”
“Are there any other injuries?”
“My wrist aches a bit. I think I sprained it.”
Formoso narrowed his brow slightly and grasped my wrist.
“You’ve been getting hurt quite frequently of late.”
He murmured softly as he slowly caressed the inside of my wrist.
Why drag this out? Just treat the wound already.
A faint ticklish sensation made me furrow my brow as I replied.
“Exactly. You think it’s strange too, don’t you, Archbishop?”
“Strange? Not particularly. These things happen sometimes.”
It was a rather dull answer, unlike someone else I knew, but truthfully, it was the typical response.
It was Cassandro who was unique in finding a connection to Lumiel in all this. Perhaps he was the only one.
“Ah!”
Lost in thought for a moment, a sudden, searing pain shot through my wrist.
I looked up in surprise to find Formoso staring at me with an expressionless face.
Does he hold a grudge against me? Why is he pressing so hard?
Soon after, a pure white light emanated from my wrist, and the pain vanished in an instant.
I exhaled softly and withdrew my hand from Formoso’s grasp.
“Thank you.”
“Think nothing of it.”
Formoso replied in a measured tone.
“In the future, should you sustain any injuries, please come to me. It would be improper for you to rely on physicians when you have divine power at your disposal.”
“I cannot simply use the Archbishop’s precious gift whenever I please.”
“This power was granted precisely to be used for someone as precious as the Saint. Please, do not hesitate.”
I regarded Formoso thoughtfully as he spoke. His words were likely sincere.
Unlike others, he had never once regarded Justitia as a ‘fake’.
He simply refused to believe in her innocence.
That meant he did not trust the morality of Justitia, who had devoted her entire life to serving as a saint.
The distrust of her spiritual mentor—the one who had guided and nurtured her throughout her religious practice—had devastated Justitia most of all.
“All life is precious.”
I smiled faintly, indirectly expressing my disagreement.
Separate from treating this man kindly, I had no desire to become entangled with him as I was with Lumiel.
“But what were you thinking about so intently?”
“Me?”
“Yes, just now.”
“…Just something.”
Merely a passing thought.
“I was thinking that thanks to you, Archbishop, I’ll be able to carry out tomorrow’s volunteer work without any problems.”
With a lie like this, all I need to do is raise my gauge.
“I see….”
“I see?”
“You remain consistent.”
Watching Formoso smile, I smiled in return. If he could misunderstand like that, I was grateful.

* * *
My days as a Saint were spent almost entirely on charitable work or prayer.
When the sun was high, I ventured into the Slums to volunteer, and mornings and evenings were devoted to the Prayer Room.
Many noblewomen wished to participate in the Saint’s virtuous endeavors. Today was one such day when I worked alongside several young ladies from noble families.
However, an unexpected figure had slipped into this familiar circle.
“…The Cassini Noblewoman came as well?”
She shouldn’t have been part of this social gathering, should she?
“At yesterday’s Bazaar, we spoke, and the Cassini Noblewoman expressed interest in joining our volunteer work after hearing about it. I thought having more hands would be helpful, so I invited her.”
“If my sudden arrival is inconvenient for you…”
“Oh, no. That couldn’t be further from the truth.”
As Lumiel looked uncertain with a fragile expression, I quickly shook my head.
“The Hospital is always short-staffed. Thank you so much for coming.”
I smiled brightly and distributed tasks among the young ladies—the usual work like kitchen duties or cleaning, tasks that wouldn’t require direct contact with patients and would allow the noblewomen to chat among themselves.
These were people with virtually no contact outside their own noble circles. It was better this way than risking complications by pairing them with sick children. That was Justitia’s judgment, and I fully agreed.
“Then everyone, as I explained…”
“Oh, wait a moment. Since the Cassini Noblewoman possesses divine power, wouldn’t it be better if she helped treat the children?”
At that moment, one of the young ladies raised her hand with a suggestion—the very one who had mentioned inviting Lumiel.
As all eyes turned toward Lumiel, she smiled with an embarrassed expression.
“Would you be willing to do that, Noblewoman?”
“If I’m treating children, I suppose my role would be more useful.”
With Lumiel’s agreement, I had no choice but to make rounds through the Ward alongside her.
Our patients were children who had shown no improvement despite their time at the Hospital, or those whose suffering could be alleviated through divine power.
“Wow, it doesn’t hurt anymore!”
“Is that so? That’s wonderful.”
I watched as Lumiel used her divine power to heal a child with severe stomach troubles. Just as I was thinking her ability manifestation wasn’t as poor as I’d expected—
“Are you a Saint too, older sister?”
The child asked with innocent eyes. Lumiel hesitated for a moment, then shook her head.
“No, I’m not a Saint.”
“Then how do you use divine power?”
Lumiel looked at me with a troubled expression, her eyes pleading for help on how to answer.
I felt a smirk rising within me. Why hesitate? Just tell the truth.
“She was actually the real Saint originally.”
I wanted to see myself say this directly. Here, in a place where young ladies were even cleaning the Ward.
I felt the gazes of the nearby noblewomen snap toward us in shock. But the highlight hadn’t arrived yet.
“She was the real Saint?”
The child’s eyes widened in confusion.
“Then that means the Saint is fake?”
I smiled at the question asked with pure curiosity and no malice whatsoever.
Beside me, Lumiel sat restlessly with her lips firmly sealed, and the young ladies watching were equally flustered.
Yes, with things like this happening constantly, how could Justitia possibly believe she was the real one?
“Am I a fake, then?”
Rather than answer, I posed a question in return, and the child fell silent for a moment before shaking their head.
“The Saint has been healing my friends for so much longer. The Saint is more real than anyone.”
…Dangerous. I nearly burst into laughter.
‘What a shame I couldn’t see Lumiel’s face more clearly.’
I bit the inside of my cheek hard to barely contain myself, then gently stroked the child’s head before moving toward another bed.

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