The Saintess Is Too Good at Lying - Chapter 95

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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 Holy Maiden is Such a Liar! Episode 95
“Ah…….”
I froze for a moment before composing myself and offering a casual greeting.
“It’s been a while, Cassandro. How have you been?”
“Well, thank you.”
Cassandro answered curtly, then his eyes flicked to where Alfonso and I were holding hands.
Without thinking, I let go of Alfonso’s hand.
I felt Alfonso’s gaze narrow slightly as he looked at me.
……Why did I just do that? Before I could properly examine the creeping doubt, Alfonso spoke.
“If you require assistance, I shall accompany you.”
“That won’t be necessary, Cassandro.”
Alfonso stepped forward instead, positioning himself protectively between me and Cassandro as if shielding me from harm.
“The royal guard will see to Justitia’s safety and mine. I’m well aware of your martial prowess, of course, but perhaps you could use some rest after all this time. Or attend to other matters.”
“…….”
Cassandro fell silent for a moment, then bowed his head curtly and withdrew.
My eyes followed his retreating figure without my meaning to.
“Justitia.”
A slightly irritated voice reached me from beside.
“What are you looking at? Your betrothed is right here.”
With that, Alfonso reclaimed the hand I’d released moments before, lacing our fingers together firmly and leading me toward his carriage.
Inside the carriage heading toward the city district, I kept my gaze fixed on the window while turning over why I’d so abruptly let go of Alfonso’s hand.
‘……Because I don’t truly love Alfonso, that’s why I maintain this betrothal.’
My purpose is clear, and ironically, only Alfonso himself knows this fact.
Cassandro, like everyone else, must believe I genuinely love Alfonso.
Being the object of his misunderstanding felt strangely uncomfortable. Though I had rather enjoyed such misconceptions before.
‘Though I do like Cassandro.’
He’s a good person, and he saved my life back at the Demon Temple.
I want to treat him with the same sincerity I show Clarissa.
So just now, I felt caught out…….
“Justitia.”
A soft voice interrupted my thoughts then.
I turned to look at Alfonso. My eyes met his instantly—dark and unfathomable.
“What are you thinking?”
“I was wondering what sort of outing Your Majesty would enjoy today.”
It was a perfect lie—I wasn’t curious about that at all—yet the gauge didn’t rise.
Strange. Was the Status Window broken?
“Liar.”
Alfonso smiled, tugging up the corner of his mouth as he called me out.
“How did you get so good at it? Not a single blink.”
Could it be that Alfonso saw through my lie, so the gauge didn’t register?
But wait—the condition was only that I tell a lie. Did they also have to believe it? There was no such stipulation before!
‘This is going to make raising the gauge with Alfonso far more difficult.’
That was when I resolved to limit my time with him to only what was necessary for achieving my goal.
“Were you thinking about another man?”
Alfonso asked in a voice laced with barbs. At his sudden question, my brow furrowed involuntarily.
“……Another man? Out of nowhere?”
“You don’t like me right now.”
Alfonso pointed out this fact coldly before continuing.
“So doesn’t that mean you like another man instead?”
“Why do you see everything in such black and white? I might not like anyone at all.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
I answered with a frown, and Alfonso’s expression wavered with uncertainty. I studied him for a moment, then asked.
“Why? If I came to like another man, would you break off the engagement?”
“……No.”
Alfonso answered immediately, as if he’d heard something absurd. His quick reply caught me off guard.
“Since when did you think marriage was such a romantic affair? You’re not that kind of woman.”
With that, Alfonso leaned forward and took my hand in his, closing the distance between us.
“So don’t be foolish and get caught. Even if you do come to like another man.”
“…….”
“I don’t know what I’d do to that man.”
The chill in Alfonso’s gaze was sharp enough that I found myself wavering.
What is this—anyone watching would think he’s actually jealous.
‘He’s just got a pathetically strong pride, that’s all.’
Though in fairness, no one would be pleased to learn their betrothed fancied someone else.
“Then I suppose I’ve been rather merciful to the Cassini Noblewoman.”
I’d expected Alfonso to bristle when I brought up his past “mistake.”
Instead, he seemed oddly delighted.
What—is he insane? Or just shameless?
“Still bothered by all that?”
“Not particularly.”
Normally I would have asked back with wounded innocence, “How could I not be?” complete with a pitiful expression.
But now that he’d seen through my masks, I didn’t need to wear them anymore—which was oddly liberating.
“In the end, it was me you chose, wasn’t it?”
At my murmur, his eyes flashed. He suddenly interlaced his fingers with mine, which he’d been holding.
His slender fingers wedged firmly between mine, and with our palms pressed completely together, he answered.
“That’s right. I chose you.”
Alfonso murmured with a faint smile.
“My choices are always right.”
I, who knew what end he’d met after Justitia’s death, laughed openly.
Alfonso narrowed one eye at me, questioning.
“You don’t think so?”
“Don’t be overconfident.”
I warned him quietly.
“If you’re badly hurt because of it, what then? It worries me.”
“You mean that?”
“Husband and wife are in the same boat, aren’t they?”
I met his eyes and spoke.
“With me here, at least Your Majesty’s vessel won’t have the misfortune of burning in sulfurous flames. That should be a blessing.”
“Terrible thing to say. Fire frightens me most. I was burned playing with it when I was young.”
Alfonso shook his head with a grimace. If that were true, then his end before the Regression must have been far more gruesome than I’d imagined.
Then he bent toward me and asked.
“Want to see?”
“See what?”
Instead of answering, Alfonso released my hand and took off his jacket.
Then he suddenly began unbuttoning his shirt. The finely etched musculature of his abdomen came into view.
“What are you doing?”
I stared blankly at him as he showed me below his shoulder. There was indeed a burn scar.
“To show you this. Burned it when I was five. I’ve been afraid of fire since then.”
“I understand, but you didn’t need to undo your entire shirt, did you?”
Rolling up your sleeves would’ve sufficed, wouldn’t it? I looked at him incredulously, and Alfonso regarded me with an odd expression.
“You’ve really changed.”
“Have I?”
“The Saint Justitia I knew would’ve turned bright red and been utterly speechless.”
Alfonso suddenly rose from his seat and bent close to me. His shadow fell across my face.
“So it doesn’t matter to you whether a strange man is undressing or not?”
“It’s not that it doesn’t matter, but it’s not as though I’ve never seen it before.”
Alfonso’s eyes went wide. I realized belatedly how that could be misunderstood and added quickly.
“Don’t misinterpret. I saw the Cathedral knights removing their shirts during general training. By accident.”
“……Pretending to be innocent, are you? Just how many naked men have you seen?”
“Not naked. They were clearly wearing their lower halves.”
As we continued this pointless banter, Alfonso finished buttoning his shirt again. Then he murmured with a cryptic expression.
“I thought you’d be shocked.”
“You were hoping for a reaction, then.”
“Well, not so much that—more that I expected you to take more interest. I thought you’d look at me with pity and ask in detail how it happened.”
Alfonso stared at me intently, then asked.
“Doesn’t it repulse you? I’m not sure if you’ll be fine with blemishes on your husband’s body.”
“It’s hardly a major flaw.”
Besides, he wouldn’t really be my husband anyway.
When I replied offhandedly, Alfonso looked at me with an unreadable expression, then smiled.
“You needn’t worry—the bed is flawless.”
I was about to retort that flaws were the least of my concerns, but the sight of that infuriating smile sealed my lips shut.

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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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