The Saintess is Too Good at Lying! Chapter 45
“If you find it uncomfortable to see me, then I suppose that is the case. But you did say you were innocent.”
I laughed once more. If I kept this up, Lumiella would surely feel a subtle sense of stress.
“I cannot turn away a visitor. I am quite bored here myself. There is plenty of good tea, so please feel free to come by.”
“I would be grateful if you would welcome me.”
After exchanging a few more words, I personally went outside to see Clarissa off.
Clarissa insisted that I stay put, but I reassured her that I was fine in my wheelchair and followed her out.
“Take care on your way back, Lady.”
“I look forward to seeing you again, Saintess.”
That was when it happened. I saw Lumiella looking toward us from the bottom of the stairs.
Lumiella made eye contact with me and naturally walked up.
“I did not expect to see Lady Polia here. Did you come to see the Saintess?”
“Yes, Lady. I came to visit her.”
Clarissa looked at Lumiella as she approached, then suddenly grabbed her hand as if throwing a lasso.
It was a gesture that strangely reminded me of the time Lumiella had pushed me down the stairs.
Lumiella must have felt it too, as her hand flinched. Clarissa spoke to Lumiella with a worried expression.
“You have become even thinner since I last saw you. Please do not skip your meals, Lady.”
“...Thank you, Lady Polia.”
Lumiella offered a weak smile, and only then did Clarissa bow her head and head down the stairs.
She is no ordinary person, either. It is a great relief that someone like her is not my enemy.
“You seem to have become quite close with Lady Polia.”
Lumiella spoke up once Clarissa was completely out of earshot. I shrugged my shoulders in response.
“Thanks to you, Lady.”
“I am glad I could be of help.”
“You are always that kind of presence to me, Lady.”
Because you create opportunities for me to lie by making things difficult for me at every turn.
I had expected her to do the same after I entered this estate, but it had been quiet for a few days. I suppose it is right for me to make the first move.
“If there is anything you need or anything that makes you uncomfortable, please let me know at any time.”
Lumiella treated me with the utmost courtesy and kindness until the very end before disappearing.
When I returned to my room, my eyes suddenly fell on the jacket hanging by the bedside.
‘Ah, I need to return that.’
I was about to pick it up and head to Sergio’s office without much thought. Suddenly, a good idea occurred to me.
I toyed with the jacket for a moment, then ultimately set it back down and headed to Sergio’s office empty-handed.
“Is that the butler?”
When I knocked on the door, a slightly tired voice replied. As I opened the door and stepped inside, Sergio’s eyes widened, and he immediately rose from his seat.
“You are going out quite often. You could have just called for me. It is not good for your recovery.”
“Do not worry. I only came because I was already out seeing Lady Polia off.”
“Is there some business you have with me?”
“No, nothing like that.”
I shook my head with a smile.
“I just thought I would see your face, Brother. I feel like there might not be another time to see you so informally.”
“That is true.”
“Then I will be going now.”
At the news that I was leaving as soon as I arrived, Sergio replied with a puzzled expression.
“You just got here?”
“You look very busy.”
It was not an empty remark; the desk was piled high with documents.
If I left like this, the reason I came here would be lost, but at the same time, I wanted to go through with it. I was curious whether he would stop me or not.
“No, it is fine. I was just about to take a break.”
Sergio asked as he stood up from his seat.
“What kind of tea do you like?”
“Pardon?”
“The tea you like.”
I was momentarily bewildered, then asked for chamomile tea.
“Should I call for the Lady as well?”
I expected him to say yes, but Sergio hesitated unexpectedly.
As I watched him with curiosity, his follow-up was also unexpected.
“Did you not say you were uncomfortable?”
“Me?”
I let out a dry laugh and corrected him.
“I never said that. I only said that the Lady probably does not like me very much.”
“That is the same thing.”
“It is different. I do not dislike the Lady. In fact, I like her.”
As the gauge rose, Sergio stared at me silently before disappearing somewhere. Then, he surprised me by appearing with tea he had brewed himself.
‘I thought he would have a maid do it.’
I am enjoying the luxury that Justitia always craved. All because I acted a bit more shrewdly than that child.
With a bitter feeling, I stared at the teacup, and Sergio said a word.
“It should not be too hot.”
“I was just looking at it because it was fascinating.”
I voiced my question immediately.
“You have never done this for me before.”
“...Is that so.”
Sergio lifted his teacup with a calm expression.
“I treated you coldly over such trivial matters.”
Exactly. It was such a trivial matter. What this child had wanted from her brother.
“I will keep that in mind from now on.”
It is too late, Sergio. I suppressed the words I wanted to say and tilted the teacup.
“I appreciate the sentiment, but please always prioritize the Lady. That is what makes me feel at ease.”
“I did not expect to hear such words from you.”
Sergio muttered in a strange voice.
“I am already doing that.”
“Indeed, that is true. Seeing as you gave my childhood earrings to the Lady as well.”
When I mentioned the charity bazaar from a few months ago, Sergio looked momentarily flustered. I smiled faintly and said gently.
“It is fine. It was a cherished item, but I am sure someone who needs it is making good use of it now.”
“...That is.”
Sergio seemed to want to make some excuse, but in the end, he only moved his lips and could not continue.
I suppose whatever he said would eventually boil down to the fact that Lumiella wanted it.
“I am truly fine. It is only natural that the Lady is your priority, Brother.”
I pointed out the absolute truth, but Sergio bit his lip as if he had been insulted. It was while I was sipping my tea, watching him.
“I will buy you something even more precious.”
Sergio broke the silence in a low voice.
“Something more expensive and better. That one was too old, and childish to be wearing now...”
“Please do not. I would be happier if you donated that money instead.”
I set the teacup down and cut him off.
“It was not an item whose value was the issue. It was a memory that symbolized the time I spent here.”
“...”
“It is a pity that the Lady happened to dispose of it, but it was used for a good cause, so it is fine.”
I finished with a remark that would surely bother him, and Sergio looked even more uncomfortable. Yes, that is exactly what I intended.
“Then what is it that you want?”
“What I want?”
That would obviously be to return to my own home.
I suppressed the wish that Sergio could never grant and changed the subject.
“I do have one question.”
The real reason I came here.
“What kind of flowers do you like, Brother?”
Sergio stared at me silently for a moment before muttering.
“Delphiniums.”
“Those are flowers that bloom right now.”
That is perfect. As I smiled brightly, Sergio met my eyes and asked.
“Why do you suddenly ask such things?”
“I suddenly felt that I knew too little about you, Brother. Would it not be good if we got to know each other, even now?”
“...Yes.”
Sergio repeated quietly.
“I like delphiniums.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
I finished my tea and left the room. However, Cassandro’s expression looked somewhat uncomfortable.
“What is wrong, Sir? Are you angry because you waited so long?”
“How could I be? I am at your service.”
“You seem angry, though?”
“Absolutely not.”
“They say a strong denial is a strong affirmation.”
I teased Cassandro and headed to my room. But that night, something surprising happened.
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