The Saintess Is Too Good at Lying! Chapter 36
***
What is someone who should be at the temple doing here?
I was puzzled, but the question didn't last long.
The music hadn't ended yet, and I had a partner.
“Why are you doing that?”
“It's nothing.”
Cassandro, who was quick-witted, tried to turn his head.
I cupped his cheeks to hold his gaze and said,
“I'll tell you when the music ends.”
His steady gaze wavered slightly, and then Cassandro nodded.
He continued to dance the waltz faithfully, and when the dance ended and he let out a faint sigh, I told him.
“The Archbishop is here.”
Cassandro narrowed his brows and turned his head.
Formoso was approaching us with an expressionless face.
“Isn't that the Archbishop?”
“Indeed. What brings him here...”
The sudden appearance of the Archbishop caused the people around us to murmur in confusion.
He was even wearing his clerical robes, which made him stand out all the more.
“Archbishop, what brings you all the way here?”
“You were late returning home.”
“It isn't even midnight yet.”
Even Cinderella enjoyed the ball until midnight.
I retorted, feeling absurd, but Formoso’s attitude remained unchanged.
“You never miss evening prayers, so I was worried. I wondered if something had happened.”
“Sir Cassandro is with me, so what is there to worry about?”
I said it with a smile, but Formoso’s expression only darkened further.
Honestly, why do I have to engage in this kind of power struggle with this man?
“Let's go, Sir Cassandro.”
I brushed past Formoso and stepped outside.
Nora, who had been there the whole time, followed quietly.
“How did you know I was here?”
“I was about to come out with some snacks, but everyone was talking about the Saintess. After all, you were the center of attention.”
“It was just one waltz.”
“But you really looked like a painting. Sir Cassandro, you were so cool!”
Nora popped a snack she had brought into her mouth, chewed, and gave a thumbs up.
Cassandro just smiled awkwardly and didn't say much.
We took the repaired carriage back to the Grand Temple.
Formoso also got out of his carriage a moment later.
I spoke as if for him to hear.
“Let's go to the Main Hall, Nora.”
“Now? Are you going to pray?”
“The Archbishop came all this way to scold me for not praying. I must go and pray.”
“Saintess.”
Formoso countered with a stiff face.
“That is not it. I was purely worried...”
“You could have sent an attendant, yet you came yourself.”
I cut him off and said,
“I cannot even fathom the depth of that concern. You must have been quite worried.”
“...Yes.”
Formoso lowered his head and replied in a small voice.
“I was worried.”
“I know very well that you are a man who worries a lot, Archbishop.”
I said it with a faint smile, and Formoso’s eyes suddenly softened.
However, I scoffed at that sight and said,
“But, if you have any concern left over, please use it for the poor in the streets, not for me. Since I am under the escort of Sir Cassandro, it is excessive for you to worry any further, Archbishop.”
“Saintess.”
“Excuse me, then.”
I bowed my head and was about to head to the Main Hall when someone suddenly grabbed my wrist from behind.
I turned to see Formoso with an anxious expression, speaking urgently.
“It is late. Please, just rest for today.”
Actually, I wanted to do that too, but seeing Formoso’s restless face, I suddenly felt like acting like a contrarian.
I smiled brightly and shook off the hand he was holding.
“How could I do that, considering your sincerity, Archbishop?”
“Saintess.”
Formoso’s jaw tightened.
“I was thoughtless. I was just surprised because this is rare.”
It is so hard to get an apology out of him.
I stared at Formoso’s tense face for a moment and smiled.
“I was surprised too, so let's call it even.”
Only then was I able to return to my room.
Nora immediately helped me with my bath.
Soaking in the warm water seemed to wash away all my fatigue.
“Still, the harvest today was quite good...”
“It was! The donations collected today were a whopping 1.5 million Cal!”
I was talking about the gauge, but Nora, not knowing the situation, seemed to understand it as the donation amount.
“You were at the peak of popularity today. Everyone will think of you as the 'Flower of the Social Season'.”
“Isn't that a flower bought with money?”
“That's ridiculous. You didn't give it, you received it! You seemed even more popular because you received donations.”
That is true.
It was an idea I came up with on impulse because it was a waste that so many people had gathered, but since everyone was satisfied in the end, it was a good thing.
“Who decides the verdict?”
“The people.”
Nora said with sparkling eyes.
“Very soon, a great many invitations will arrive at the Grand Temple.”
---
Nora was right.
From the next day, an enormous amount of invitations to social gatherings arrived for me.
“I don't think I can go to all of these.”
“Of course. You must select which ones to attend.”
After saying that, Nora added as if she had almost forgotten.
“This isn't about discriminating against people. It's just that the Saintess's time and stamina are limited, so it can't be helped.”
“Yes, I know.”
It seemed the talk I gave at the ball had made quite an impression.
It was a flimsy excuse I made up on the spot, so it’s embarrassing...
“Hmm, for now, let's take this one out, and this one too...”
“Why?”
It was rare for Nora to remove invitations without asking for my opinion.
Nora hesitated for a moment and then said,
“These are gatherings you'd be better off not attending.”
“Is it because they aren't wholesome?”
“No, it's not that, but...”
Nora replied with an uncomfortable expression.
“They are places friendly to the Cassini family. I'm sure... Lady Cassini received the same invitations.”
Between Sergio and the rest, are they all trying to catch two rabbits at once?
There had been a bit of a commotion, but it ended as a mere happening, and since news spread that the two of us had cooperated in preparing for this Debutante Ball, it seemed everyone decided to act as if nothing had happened.
I gathered the invitations Nora had set aside and handed them back to her.
“Then I will definitely accept these invitations.”
Nora looked at me with a face that doubted her ears.
“There might still be people who misunderstand. That I am on bad terms with Lady Cassini.”
Nora looked at me with an expression that asked, 'Aren't you?'
I said with a smile,
“I want to clear up the misunderstanding.”
Honestly, having Lumiella around just gives me more opportunities to lie.
To me, she’s basically a honey pot.
“Saintess, you don't need to get along with everyone. Even the Varion Faith has people who dislike it.”
Nora lectured me with a serious expression.
I laughed out loud and said,
“I know, Nora. But I'll be honest. I don't dislike seeing Lady Cassini.”
Naturally, Nora didn't seem to believe me.
She just looked at me with pity, as if thinking,
'Our Saintess is just too kind for her own good...'
---
The first of the selected invitations was for a tea party held at the Polia Estate.
“I wonder if it's okay for the Flower of the Social Season to be this modest.”
My outfit was still just barely enough not to be rude, which drew Nora's complaints.
Still, at the end of the dressing process, Nora wore a satisfied smile.
“Well, any dress would be less flashy than our Saintess's face anyway.”
“Your flattery skills are getting better, Nora.”
“What? That's not flattery!”
Nora protested, feeling wronged, and followed me as I went outside.
Then, she pulled in Cassandro, who was waiting.
“I'm not the only one who thinks so, right? Sir Cassandro, don't you think there's no dress flashier than the Saintess's face?”
“Stop it, Nora.”
I caught Nora while laughing embarrassedly.
“Everyone will think so.”
“Your flattery skills are improving too, sir.”
“...It is not flattery.”
Cassandro’s expression looked quite wronged.
Soon, he thought deeply and asked,
“Then, were the kind words you said to me also flattery?”
“What? There's no way I would do that.”
“I don't know why you would think that would be the case.”
Because Cassandro said it so seriously, both Nora and I were left stunned.
Nora poked my side as if telling me to fix the situation quickly.
“Ah, I understand. I'll believe you.”
“Then I will also believe that what you said was sincere.”
“Yes, it wasn't flattery.”
I nodded, feeling bewildered.
I feel like I've been dragged into something, but a faint smile appeared on Cassandro’s lips.
Seeing that, I decided not to think about it too deeply.
0 Comments