The Saintess Is Too Good at Lying - Chapter 93

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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 Lies Too Well! Episode 93
“Who could possibly doubt your qualities? The terror of a few days ago was surely a stage that God Barion arranged to awaken us to your worth.”
Formoso spoke on, his gaze steady upon me.
“All of us here, myself included, hope for your return as a Saint.”
As if in answer, cries erupted from the worshippers in the prayer area.
“Please become our Saint again, Justitia!”
“Be the Saint of Scalia for us!”
I feigned uncertainty for a moment, then opened my mouth.
“Thank you for welcoming me back as a Saint, despite my shortcomings.”
Everyone looked at me with anticipation in their eyes.
“I’ve come to realize during this time how much I treasured my life as a Saint. To serve God Barion and dedicate myself to the world—truly, it is precious beyond measure.”
It wasn’t a lie, but neither was it entirely sincere, and yet the gauge didn’t rise. For some reason, that made me feel good about myself.
“If you still believe I have a purpose, I will return to the Grand Cathedral with gratitude in my heart.”
“Hooray!”
Nora cheered loudly, clapping her hands, and the other worshippers’ voices and applause followed in waves.
Among them, Formoso remained on his knees before me and pressed his lips to the back of my hand.
“I am delighted by your return, my Saint.”
Well. I’ll regret coming back before long, I’m sure of it.

* * *
“I’m so glad you’ve had a change of heart, Saint.”
After the service ended, Lumiel spoke to me with a look of relief.
In contrast, Sergio seemed far from pleased with the situation.
“Go wait in the carriage first, Lumiel.”
Lumiel complied without hesitation.
Once Sergio and I were alone, he opened his mouth with a quiet sigh.
“I never expected your mind to change.”
“You must be quite shocked.”
But I still couldn’t quite grasp why he seemed so displeased about this turn of events.
“Was it that you hoped Lumiel would become the Saint instead?”
“What?”
“Otherwise, I can’t understand why you’re upset.”
Sergio blinked, taken aback, then spoke.
“That’s not it. You’ve misunderstood. I’m just…….”
Just? And then silence stretched between us for a while. He seemed to be choosing his words carefully.
“I suppose I’ve grown fond of you. Even though you stayed only briefly, it became familiar.”
Fond of me?
“Why?”
For a moment I couldn’t maintain my composure, so I asked outright.
“When I first came to Cassini Mansion, I thought you wanted me to leave as soon as possible.”
“That was…….”
“We haven’t known each other that long.”
When I pointed out the reality, Sergio’s expression grew slightly uncomfortable.
“Let’s not dwell on the past.”
Well, it wasn’t really that long ago anyway.
“I’m not angry. But you…….”
Sergio trailed off uncertainly.
“If you leave, Lumiel will have to take on the role of mistress of the house again.”
What—so he was simply sad because there’d be no one to do the hard work anymore?
I couldn’t help but let out a bitter quip.
“I’m sorry for troubling your sister.”
“I wasn’t trying to blame you. There’s no need to be sarcastic about it.”
Sergio sighed and changed the subject.
“Have you given up on breaking the engagement with the King?”
“His Majesty won’t release me from it, I suspect.”
“Yes, I suppose that’s true.”
He fell silent for a moment, then continued.
“It’s just that I feel empty. The way you arrived in an instant and will disappear in an instant.”
That prophecy-like remark struck me.
If he already feels this emptiness, he shouldn’t. Soon you’ll disappear entirely before his eyes.
“You shouldn’t say that. Unless I were leaving for good, which I’m not.”
Besides, our bond isn’t deep enough for me to feel such emptiness yet. It’s still too soon.
I took his hand and made my request.
“Please visit the Cathedral often. If you invite me, I’ll come to the Cassini Mansion.”
“Do you mean that?”
“Of course. Didn’t I tell you? I want to become someone important to you.”
“I’ve said it before, but……”
Sergio’s lips twitched slightly as he answered.
“You already are.”
“I’m glad to hear you say that.”
“Saint.”
Just then, Formoso’s voice cut between us. He approached.
“Are you returning to the Cathedral right away?”
“Not just yet, Archbishop. I’ll go home first and have my things sent over.”
Sergio answered in my stead. Something about the word “home” seemed to catch Formoso’s eye, which flickered with a subtle shift.
“You must have quite a bit to collect, having gathered things while you were away from ‘home,’ as it were.”
“I’ll return as soon as my belongings are ready, Archbishop.”
“Do so.”
After parting from Formoso, we returned to the Cassini Mansion.
Though the men had spoken of luggage, there wasn’t much to pack, so it didn’t take long.
“I’ll miss you, Saint.”
“Take care, Justitia.”
A few days later, I set out for the Cathedral, exchanging farewells with Lumiel, whose eyes glistened with tender tears, and Sergio, whose goodbye was understated.
“So you’re back. I’d only just grown used to calling you ‘Miss.'”
“Call me whatever feels right.”
“I couldn’t do that. Since I haven’t been at the Cassini Mansion long, the old way will come back to my tongue soon enough.”
We exchanged such pleasantries as we traveled, and before long, the Cathedral came into view. Someone opened the carriage door from outside.
Formoso greeted me with a radiant smile.
“Welcome back, Saint.”
“Archbishop. I didn’t expect you to come out to meet me.”
“It’s only proper that I should greet someone as distinguished as yourself upon your return.”
Formoso extended his hand with bright eyes. I glanced at it, then took it and withdrew.
He unnecessarily insisted on escorting me to my room.
“You may carry on as you normally do. As for what happened during your absence, there’s nothing particularly——”
“Are you still planning to cover up the abduction at the Demon Temple?”
At my interruption, Formoso’s movements halted abruptly.
While Formoso had condemned the recent theater attack as a demonic act that challenged the authority of God Barion, he had treated it merely as an aberration by some demon worshippers and made no effort to escalate matters.
“I remain convinced that unnecessary confusion would result. But, Saint——”
Formoso ventured carefully forward.
“If you don’t mind, wouldn’t it be worth measuring your Holy Power again? It may sound indelicate, but from what I recall, your Holy Power wasn’t of a level to stop an explosion.”
“But Holy Power is inborn, isn’t it? I thought it was something fixed from birth and never changes.”
“There are always exceptions. Perhaps you are one of them.”
I had been curious about it myself, in truth. We turned our steps toward the Underground Holy Sanctuary of the Cathedral.
There stood a massive two-armed scale called the Scale of Sacred Light, a holy instrument used to measure the magnitude of one’s Holy Power.
Formoso released a white light onto the left pan, and the balanced scale tipped sharply to the left. He stepped aside to make room for me.
I released my white light onto the right pan, and something extraordinary happened.
The scale swayed back and forth, then gradually tilted completely to the right.
It meant my Holy Power was greater.
“How is this possible……”
Formoso murmured in bewilderment, then looked at me with an amused lilt to his voice.
“Did you receive a divine revelation while at the manor?”
I was just as surprised. Formoso had been the person with the strongest Holy Power in Scalia.
And I had surpassed him? I was merely capable of healing people’s ailments.
How did this suddenly happen?
“In any case, it’s a fortunate development. This too must be the providence of God Barion. It will further illuminate your return.”
Formoso seemed genuinely delighted. Well, it was good news, and there was no reason to pry deeper.
“Holy Power often passes through families, so parental influence may play a role.”
“I have almost no memories of my parents.”
“That matters little. They couldn’t have possessed Holy Power abilities anywhere close to yours.”
Formoso continued with a faint smile on his lips.
“If you were to bear a child later, I suspect they’d be born with tremendous Holy Power.”
“Surely not as much as your children, Archbishop.”
“I wonder. It does make one curious.”
Formoso was staring directly at me as he spoke.
Unable to grasp his meaning, I turned my gaze away—then understanding suddenly struck me.
Surely not….
‘Is he asking if I’m curious how powerful a child would be if the two of us—both high-level Holy Power users—had one together?’
Please tell me that isn’t what he meant.
Glancing back at Formoso, he was watching me with a faint, peculiar smile playing at the corners of his mouth, his gaze soft and warm.
Good God. Why on earth would I have a child with this madman?

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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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