The Saintess Is Too Good at Lying - Chapter 9

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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 009

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After that, the volunteer work concluded quite smoothly. Lumiel no longer picked fights with me and simply went about her tasks with quiet diligence.
Upon returning to the Temple, Nora greeted me with a face brimming with excitement.
“Your Majesty has sent you a dress!”
“A dress?”
“Yes, all of them are designed to suit you perfectly, and she’s been waiting so eagerly for your arrival!”
“But why would he suddenly send me dresses?”
As I asked in bewilderment, Nora looked at me with a somewhat shocked expression.
“You haven’t forgotten, have you?”
“Forgotten what?”
“Next week is the anniversary of your betrothal to His Majesty the King!”
Ah, that’s right. Only then did I recall the memory I had buried in a corner of my mind. It was around this time of year.
“It’s not even a wedding, yet he’s making a fuss over a betrothal anniversary.”
“Pardon?”
Nora looked at me with an expression of disbelief. I smiled dismissively and shook my head.
After all, knowing that this was the man who would announce the annulment and place me on the guillotine, it all felt unnecessarily theatrical and absurd.
“Well then, my lady. Shall we start with this pink dress…?”
“That one looks nice. Let’s go with that.”
When I answered carelessly, Nora asked with a bewildered expression.
“You’ve never been particularly meticulous about choosing before… but this year you seem awfully indifferent?”
“They’re all beautiful. Don’t you think so too?”
“Even so, trying them on is a completely different matter!”
“What is the matter?”
A low voice made me flinch. I turned my head to see Formoso entering.
Regardless of his position as Archbishop, he certainly has no qualms about visiting an unmarried woman’s chamber.
“It’s nothing of importance, Your Grace.”
“I heard that His Majesty sent you a dress.”
Ah, I had a premonition this would become troublesome.
“The lady chose the pink one without even trying on a single dress.”
Nora, weren’t you on my side?
“My, my.”
Formoso clicked his tongue briefly, then smiled at me with his eyes and asked.
“Wouldn’t it be fitting to try one on, considering His Majesty’s thoughtfulness? Of course, you must be tired.”
“Well, I…”
“I shall assist you.”
At Formoso’s words, I was momentarily dazed before bursting into laughter.
“Your Grace, surely you shouldn’t concern yourself with such trivial matters.”
“Trivial? But it concerns you, my lady.”
And with that, Formoso sat down in a chair he hadn’t even been offered.
Nora’s eyes gleamed as if to say “I told you so,” thrusting a pink dress toward me.
“Sigh….”
I decided to humor her and try on at least one dress. Besides, I needed to check the sizing anyway.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”
I stepped before Formoso again and asked him, as if to say we were done here.
Formoso didn’t answer; instead, his gaze remained fixed upon me.
That silence suddenly felt burdensome, so I hastened to break it.
“I didn’t choose it on a whim the moment I saw it.”
“Your discernment is truly remarkable, Your Grace.”
Formoso nodded before asking:
“But wouldn’t you like to try on something else as well?”
“Isn’t this one beautiful enough?”
“There may be other, better options to consider.”
“That’s quite all right. I plan to donate the remaining dresses I haven’t worn.”
At those words, Formoso asked with a slightly bewildered expression:
“You mean the dresses His Majesty sent?”
“Is that not acceptable?”
“No, that’s not it….”
Formoso hesitated briefly before continuing:
“You seem somewhat changed. Before, you would keep the dresses His Majesty sent stored in your wardrobe and never wear them.”
So he finally noticed I’d changed—and of all things, he noticed it through my willingness to dispose of dresses from my estranged betrothed.
His perceptiveness was oddly sharp in the strangest places.
“Has something happened between you and His Majesty?”
“No, I simply thought it wasteful.”
“I see….”
Formoso nodded with a peculiar expression, and I stared at him pointedly, as if to say he should leave.
Formoso belatedly realized he’d overstayed his welcome and sighed.
“I fear I’ve troubled you far too long, when you must be exhausted.”
“Not at all, Archbishop. May you have a peaceful night.”
[Lie Gauge increased by 0.1%]
[Current Gauge: 2.0%]
Even pleasantries count as lies, it seems. Though I certainly hope that man never knows peace.
In any case, today’s results weren’t bad. The gauge will likely remain dormant until next week’s engagement anniversary party.
I had to fill my daily quota on days with public appearances.
“What will you do about an engagement anniversary gift?”
Meanwhile, Nora continued circling the same topic. Justitia prepared gifts twice each year—on her betrothed’s birthday and their engagement anniversary.
“I’m not preparing anything this year.”
Nora’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Did you have a quarrel with His Majesty?”
“How could I possibly have that kind of relationship with him? I’m simply pressed for time.”
“Your Grace has truly changed. Ordinarily, you would have stayed up all night preparing a gift….”
Mad—staying up through the night to prepare a gift for such a man. I would rather spend those hours sleeping instead.
“I was afraid that if I overexerted myself, I might end up presenting something shabby. And if I were to wound His Majesty’s heart in the process, could there be anything more sorrowful than that?”
[Today’s limit has been exceeded.]
I should never have made that remark about the Duke’s kindness earlier. Profound regret washed over me.

* * *
Time drifted sluggishly onward after that.
Remarkably, there was no occasion for me to lie while traveling between the Temple and the Slums, so I hadn’t even glimpsed my status window for an entire week.
“Your Grace, your expression seems rather resolute today.”
No matter what happens today, I would fill that gauge to 1%.
“I’m simply nervous about seeing His Majesty after so long.”
[Lie Gauge increased by 0.1%]
[Current Gauge: 2.1%]
An excellent start. I couldn’t hide my elation as I completed my preparations.
“Come to think of it, both of them must be quite busy with their respective duties. Yet you chose your dress remarkably quickly….”
“Let’s go, Nora. We’ll be late.”
Before Nora could notice anything amiss with her keen eye, I ushered her outside.
Cassandro, who had been inspecting the carriage with his back to us, turned and our eyes met.
This was the first time I had faced him while so elaborately dressed, and I greeted him with a somewhat embarrassed smile.
“Good day, Sir Cassandro. How do I look today?”
“….”
“Sir?”
His gaze remained fixed upon me in silence, and for a moment I felt bewildered. Just as I was about to ask if something was amiss.
“You are always beautiful.”
A response so textbook-perfect it seemed almost artificial. I fell silent for an instant before bursting into laughter.
“I was hoping for an honest answer.”
At my words, Cassandro’s eyes wavered. I waved my hand dismissively.
“Flattery is fine. I already know you can’t lie.”
“It isn’t a lie….”
“Shall we depart?”
I climbed into the carriage with a playful laugh, while Cassandro seemed flustered before closing the door with an uncomfortable expression. Nora, sitting beside me, offered a gentle rebuke.
“It’s unlike you to tease the knight so.”
“He started it. ‘You are always beautiful’—how contrived.”
“But it’s not untrue, is it?”
“Goodness, we have another one here.”
The atmosphere remained quite pleasant until we arrived at the Royal Palace.
“His Majesty will not be attending today’s party, it seems.”
Until I heard this unexpected news.

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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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