The Saintess Is Too Good at Lying - Chapter 74

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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 074
Wait, where did you hear what I just said? Bewildered, I stared at him, and Sergio quickly retreated.
“I was joking. Seems like there isn’t one.”
“You don’t make jokes like that.”
“Exactly. It was a slip of the tongue. But just in case.”
“If such a man existed?”
As I played along with the jest, Sergio’s expression shifted as if struck. He fell silent for a long moment, contemplating this light question deeply.
“If he existed….”
Sergio drew out his words and murmured.
“He would be a man you truly loved.”
“I was joking. My brother said something like that, so I tried it too.”
I suppressed the smile at the corner of my lips and gazed at Sergio seriously.
“Can you persuade the King?”
Alfonso’s head spun briefly from the shock that Saint Justitia had lied.
Since Alfonso didn’t entirely lack feelings for Lumiel, once Sergio awakened him to reality, he would come to his senses.
“Well, I’ll try my best, but….”
His tone suggested uncertainty. Sergio pondered for a moment, then said something unexpected.
“What if you declared celibacy altogether?”
“Celibacy?”
“Even without being a priest or nun, if one’s faith is devout enough, such cases exist, I’ve heard.”
“Then I could never marry for the rest of my life.”
What if Justitia returned later and found someone she truly loved?
Of course, I could renounce it later, but I didn’t want to make Justitia look foolish.
“Well, marriage isn’t absolutely necessary for a woman. Especially not for a wealthy one.”
I was momentarily startled by such a rather radical statement in this place, but Sergio didn’t seem particularly troubled by it.
“I never expected you to say such a thing. I didn’t even know I was wealthy.”
“You have a stake in this family’s fortune. Once your livelihood is secured, do you need another reason to marry?”
Sergio gazed at me intently and spoke.
“Living here for the rest of your life wouldn’t be so bad.”
“I’ll have to decline. My future sister-in-law would absolutely hate that.”
As I shook my head with a smile, Sergio’s expression became peculiar.
“…Then you can leave when I marry. By then, I’ll have secured you a safe home to live in alone.”
“Still, declaring celibacy is a bit…. Rather, is there no possibility that my reproductive function has some problem?”
“You’ve forgotten. When the King became engaged to you, the first thing he did was a prenatal examination. You were in perfect health.”
Ah, this unnecessarily meticulous fellow.
“It seems you’ll have to endure staying in this house for the time being. There’s justification for it—if I say I respect your opinion, the King won’t be able to hold out long either.”
“Do you think so?”
“Of course. A king cannot live as a bachelor, even if a nobleman can.”
That’s true. If I insist on breaking the engagement, he’ll drag me away by force and stand me in the wedding hall. What can I do?
In the end, Alfonso will be the one cast out.
“In exchange, I have a request of my own.”
“Please, speak.”
“I’d like you to serve as the mistress of Cassini Mansion.”
My brow furrowed slightly at the unexpected proposal. Wasn’t that Lumiel’s role?
“As you know, Mother is absent, and the Butler has been fulfilling that duty for a long time now, but he’s grown old.”
“But there is the young lady, sir.”
“I can’t entrust such a weighty responsibility to someone who’s only just returned after less than a year.”
True enough—simply learning the refinements expected of a noblewoman would be more than enough to occupy her time. I nodded in agreement.
“Besides, Lumiel will soon become a Saint and depart for the Grand Cathedral. What do you say—can you do this?”
“I can. Let’s do it that way.”
“Good.”
Sergio appeared quite satisfied with this resolution. Watching him, I felt a flicker of bewilderment.
“You’re the one who said you wouldn’t acknowledge me as your sister.”
Sergio flinched, turning to look at me.
“It is rather surprising. This is a position of great importance—one that will eventually fall to your future wife.”
“….”
“I’m not being sarcastic.”
“I know.”
Rather than make excuses, Sergio spoke tersely.
“If you’re unwilling, I won’t force you.”
“Unwilling? I’ve already told you—I wish to be acknowledged as your sister.”
I offered a subtle smile, meeting Sergio’s gaze directly.
He held my eyes for a long moment, then turned away with a faint sigh.
I suppose I could interpret that as a signal that we should grow closer, couldn’t I?
* * *
A few days later, I attended Madame Belloran’s tea party alongside Clarissa.
“Is Saint Lumiel not coming today?”
Clarissa asked with confusion as she watched me descend from the carriage alone. I shrugged.
“She’s actually been unwell these past few days.”
“How strange. For the Saint, this should be wonderful news. Anyone hearing this might think she’d fallen ill from stress.”
“Surely not. She’s likely still recovering from the aftereffects of the carriage accident.”
I dismissed it casually and made my way toward the garden.
Since this was my first official appearance after stepping down as Saint, all eyes turned toward me the moment I arrived.
“Saint…!”
“I’m simply Justitia Cassini now. Thank you for the invitation, Madame Belloran.”
“The pleasure is mine. Please, enjoy yourself at your leisure.”
There was far too much to accomplish for that.
Lumiel wasn’t coming today either, and simply speaking of how much I cherished and loved her would consume enough time.
“From the beginning, I only intended to return this position to its rightful owner. I have no desire to claim what was never mine.”
“I never once believed I was a true Saint. The true one, chosen by God from the start, is Lumiel.”
“I cannot bear the anguish of wondering what misunderstanding I may have caused Lumiel….”
As I draped these words across my sorrowful expression, the gauge climbed steadily upward.
Ah, so today it won’t hit the daily limit after all. How disappointing.
[Additional Reward Available]
[Daily Gauge Limit Increased]
[Daily Gauge Limit temporarily raised from 1% to 2%]
“Oh my, Lady. Look over there.”
As I gazed at the status window that had suddenly materialized, Clarissa’s voice reached my ears.
I turned my head to see Lumiel stepping into the Garden.
I approached her like a predator that had spotted its prey.
“Saint.”
Calling out to Lumiel in a loud voice, she fixed me with a steady gaze. For just a moment, her expression turned cold.
“Are you feeling better now? You didn’t overexert yourself coming out here, did you?”
“I’m fine.”
Lumiel smiled. In the time I hadn’t seen her, she appeared to have grown thinner, emanating an even more pitiable aura.
“Saint, are you truly not returning to the Grand Cathedral?”
“That position is no longer mine. It belongs to Lumiel….”
“I have always believed that position was yours, Saint.”
Lumiel cut off my words and left a meaningful statement.
“You will soon come to know the truth.”
What did she mean? As I furrowed my brow, Lumiel smiled faintly and drove the nail deeper.
“Let me be clear—I have no ambition for the position of Saint. Until you return to it, Scalia will have no Saint.”
After saying that, Lumiel lowered her head and passed by me. I stood there dumbfounded before belatedly activating my lie detector.
The result was….

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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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