The Saintess Is Too Good at Lying - Chapter 68

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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 068
“You cannot leave.”
Formoso, sensing my intentions, had assigned a Holy Knight to prevent my departure. Whenever I stepped out of my room, he would follow close behind.
I asked in bewilderment.
“Is this the Archbishop’s order?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Where is Commander Cassandro?”
“The Commander is away on a brief business trip.”
A business trip at a time like this.
The timing was far too convenient, and I let out a hollow laugh. Why was he so determined to keep me confined?
‘Last time too, he hastily decided on a fasting prayer to keep me locked in the Cathedral.’
I couldn’t fathom his true intentions. But one thing was certain.
Formoso wanted Justitia to remain isolated within the Cathedral, meeting no one.
“If you wish to go out, you need only request permission from the Archbishop.”
Was there any real need for that? Besides, now wasn’t when I most needed to leave. It might only raise suspicion.
“It’s fine.”
I smiled gently and shook my head.
* * *
Formoso had been enjoying peaceful days for the first time in a while. Justitia lived as she always did, confined within the Temple. She was always within his sight.
Throughout that spring, she had wandered outside the Temple, causing him great anxiety. Now, at last, everything felt as though it had returned to normal. He wished to maintain this state of affairs.
“I have come to see Justitia.”
“It is the Saint, Your Grace.”
One day, Sergio Cassini arrived seeking to see Justitia.
Even though she had become a Saint, Sergio still treated her with casual familiarity, as though she were his younger sister.
He had endured this behavior until now, but on this particular day, it grated on him especially. Perhaps it was the sense of triumph that he no longer had reason to tolerate it.
“I would prefer you address her with proper respect from now on.”
Sergio made no attempt to hide his bewilderment before speaking again.
“I have come to see the Saint Justitia Cassini, Archbishop.”
“That is not possible. The Saint is currently in seclusion.”
“Why is that? Surely there are matters we must discuss.”
“If you intend to intimidate the Saint, I suggest you abandon the notion. She is a cherished figure of the Cathedral.”
Sergio’s bewilderment deepened.
“Intimidate? That is an overstatement. I merely wish to have a conversation regarding this matter.”
“Should you wish to convey something, I shall relay it to her.”
As Formoso blocked him without the slightest opening, Sergio narrowed his brow in response.
“The Saint surely wishes to see me. Can you truly act against her wishes in this manner?”
“You speak as though you are quite close to the Saint.”
Formoso replied with a slight laugh.
“Have you not been a rather cold older brother all this time?”
“It seems the Archbishop has no standing to meddle in family matters.”
“She has now entrusted herself to the Temple. As her servant, I have every right to protect her.”
Formoso spoke with cold precision.
“Even a heartless brother who prioritizes his own sister is no exception to that principle.”
“Archbishop.”
“Please withdraw. The Saint is fulfilling her responsibility for this incident through her seclusion. If she were to meet with the Duke, it would only cause her further suffering.”
“….”
“You know as well as I do. She is a good person.”
At those words, Sergio flinched and bit his lip hard. His retreating posture was satisfying, yet somehow it also felt distasteful.
As if Formoso genuinely cared for Justitia. Yet I knew better than anyone how coldly he had treated the Saint until now.
The troublesome visitors were far from finished.
“His Majesty the King has arrived.”
After sending Sergio away, Alfonso came calling. He was even more irritating than Sergio.
“I came to see Jus, but they said I need the Archbishop’s permission.”
Both of them—how dare they address the Saint so casually by her name.
“Your Majesty?”
“The Saint is currently in seclusion.”
“I know. I regret what happened, but it wasn’t her fault.”
“Not everyone will see it that way.”
Now that it was known the criminal had been Justitia’s follower, and with her in seclusion, a peculiar atmosphere had taken root.
Everyone wondered if perhaps Justitia had orchestrated it, and Lumiel’s behavior only deepened that unease.
“I understand the Saint’s feelings. Anyone would be angry if they thought someone was trying to steal their position….”
“What fault could the Saint possibly have? Lately, I’ve been regretting that I returned so thoughtlessly.”
“Could it be that my very existence is causing discord? These days, I’m seriously considering whether I should return to Cassini Territory.”
When Formoso heard this account, he realized Lumiel was far from ordinary.
She was subtly directing suspicion toward Justitia.
‘Was she always like this?’
In childhood, the three of them often played together—Formoso, Lumiel, and Alfonso.
Back then, Lumiel had been bright and innocent.
She seemed like someone who knew nothing of lies or schemes, completely different from who she was now.
‘She definitely repelled the holy power, though.’
If the Saint felt the same way, we couldn’t entirely rule out heresy, but the probability of a holy power user being a heretic was low, and it was difficult to accept logically.
There might be other possibilities, but….
‘Well, it’s none of my concern.’
Regardless, the Saint is Justitia now, and that fact will not change.
For the devout Saint, that position is her sole reason for existence. She would never relinquish it.
‘So there’s no benefit in stirring things up. Even if I told the Saint, she would only venture out more than she does now.’
My childhood friend had disappeared, and I suffered greatly for a time. But God had not abandoned me. He sent Justitia to me.
“For now, I will keep quiet and wait for this trial to pass.”
“But what if she can’t recover from this? There are those who suspect Jus.”
Alfonso expressed his concern.
“Shouldn’t she be actively asserting her innocence instead?”
What a ridiculous child. Since when has he cared so much about Justitia?
“Well, I’m more concerned about Your Majesty.”
“Me?”
Alfonso’s expression turned bewildered. Formoso nodded in agreement.
“The future queen consort is already embroiled in scandal.”
“Ah.”
“The Cassini Noblewoman must be troubled as well, wouldn’t you say?”
Formoso asked with subtle intent. Alfonso turned back to him with a puzzled look.
“What?”
“The queen consort.”
Formoso replied calmly.
“You were deliberating over who to make queen consort, weren’t you?”
Alfonso’s expression became oddly complex. He countered a beat too late.
“Archbishop, when did we discuss that?”
“There’s no need to hide your true feelings from me. Who would I tell?”
“Is this suddenly confession time? Well… I suppose I can’t deny it then.”
Alfonso suddenly posed an unexpected question.
“How much do you know about Justitia?”
It was absurd to hear such a thing from her fiancé, who had always treated the Saint with indifference.
“Better than Your Majesty, I’d say.”
“No, Archbishop, you don’t know.”
Alfonso immediately countered and laughed.
“You don’t know her true nature. Only I know it, probably.”
“You speak as though the Saint were an evil person.”
“Perhaps. If she toyed with people’s hearts, then yes, that’s evil.”
Toying with people’s hearts.
That description didn’t suit Justitia at all, and besides, the two of them weren’t close enough for him to say such things.
Formoso let out a derisive chuckle and asked.
“Could that be you, Your Majesty? I understood you were never sincere with the Saint, given how you speak.”
“Did you come here intending to criticize me? You seemed in good spirits—was I mistaken?”
Alfonso grumbled and shrugged.
“Well, if Justitia chose seclusion, she must have her reasons. She’s a cunning woman, after all.”
“Your Majesty, please refrain from insulting the Saint.”
“It’s a compliment, as far as I’m concerned.”
Alfonso rubbed the bridge of his nose and changed the subject.
“In any case, the proposal has already been made—backing out is impossible now. The wedding preparations are already underway.”
“Even though grounds for disqualification have emerged?”
“What is this, again?”
In an instant, Alfonso’s eyes grew sharp.
“Do you want me to break my engagement with Justitia? You keep pushing me in that direction?”

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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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