The Saintess Is Too Good at Lying! Episode 51
“Thank you for your help.”
After saying that to Cassandro, I felt a bit embarrassed and gave a dry cough. Cassandro thought for a moment before replying.
“I merely stated the facts.”
“……I know. But you kept your silence until the most opportune moment to speak up.”
Cassandro must have found out the same day Nora gained her certainty. Yet, he had never once let it show to me until now.
“I know that if it were you, you would have wanted to reveal the truth immediately.”
Cassandro was silent for a moment before opening his mouth.
“I did so because it seemed that you, Saintess, did not wish for it.”
I sighed the moment I heard that answer.
“I really am corrupting you, aren’t I?”
“That is not the case. Not unless I had intended to stay silent forever.”
Cassandro shook his head as he spoke.
“It is not as if I am unaware that the truth is not always welcomed.”
I narrowed my eyes and looked at him, finding the words out of character, and Cassandro gave a faint smile as he continued.
“I was simply acting in a way that would protect your well-being, so I hope you will not indulge in unnecessary self-reproach.”
“And what if a situation arises where you must lie in that process?”
Cassandro could not answer immediately to my impulsive question. I hurriedly smoothed things over.
“I’m joking. I would never make you do such a thing.”
Just as I could not lie to him, I was also uncomfortable with the idea of him having to lie.
To be precise, the latter was even more uncomfortable. It really felt like I was corrupting him.
“How much longer do you intend to stay here?”
“I should leave now. I’ve done everything I needed to do here.”
“Did you have this situation in mind from the very beginning?”
“Would you be disappointed if I said yes?”
“No.”
Cassandro replied calmly.
“You simply know how to place the truth upon the most brilliant stage.”
I couldn't help but laugh at the rather pleasant remark.
“That’s strange, why does it sound like flattery?”
“It is not flattery.”
“To my ears, it sounds sweet enough to be. With you saying that, I feel like I’ve become a completely innocent person?”
“You are always innocent.”
See? How is that not flattery? I shook my head with a wry smile on my lips.
“It’s a good thing you didn’t go into politics. I feel like you would have been a great sycophant.”
“I have never heard that before.”
“I suppose not. Since the Saintess you serve would be the one receiving such generous words.”
I shrugged my shoulders and said,
“Anyway, thank you. For the water you brought last night as well. I should head back, if only because I’m hungry.”
I immediately asked Nora to pack my things. Unexpectedly, Nora’s reaction was lukewarm.
“Are you really going back?”
“What is it? Did you want to stay here longer?”
“Well, the food was delicious, after all.”
“Goodness. Sir Cassandro, I think it would be best to have dinner outside before returning to the Main Hall.”
And so, I finished my sudden preparations to leave and stepped out of the room. I took a long look around the room where I had been staying for a while.
I felt a bit sorry, as I had actually lived quite well in the room where Justitia had spent her lonely days.
‘But I took care of all your precious things, didn’t I? Cut me some slack.’
And I hope the things I did here brought you some comfort. Though I will continue to do so in the future.
“I won’t be coming back.”
With that cold farewell, I left the room.
When I went down to the first floor and asked the butler for a carriage to return to the Main Hall…….
“Justitia.”
It wasn’t a carriage that appeared before me, but Sergio. He blocked my path with a stiff expression.
“You are still a patient. Where do you think you’re going?”
“I believe it is right for me to return now.”
I gave a faint smile with a sorrowful look in my eyes.
“I feel like staying here any longer will only cause more trouble.”
“What kind of trouble could you possibly……”
Sergio, who seemed about to raise his voice in disbelief, hesitated as if something occurred to him logically.
Because Lumiella had collapsed just a few days ago. It wasn’t my fault, of course. I said with a weak smile,
“Actually, I haven’t been able to see Lady Cassini since the day she collapsed. Please convey my well wishes for her recovery.”
“Justitia.”
Sergio sighed and swept his bangs back. It was a gesture he showed when he was quite distressed.
“You can stay here. It is you who shouldn’t be leaving in such a rush…… because of unnecessary thoughts.”
“…….”
“You know it’s my fault. I have no intention of denying that.”
“How could it be your fault, Brother?”
I shook my head and held Sergio’s hand tightly. Sergio stared at me, his body slightly rigid.
“You simply misunderstood, Brother. It was a matter that could easily lead to that. Though, of course, it would have been better if you had asked me first before that happened…….”
During our garden walk last time, I had clearly asked him.
Even if he heard bad things about me from others, I asked him not to believe them blindly and to ask me first.
Sergio had promised he would, but…….
‘In the end, he couldn’t keep that promise.’
Perhaps remembering that promise, Sergio’s expression darkened further. I added, pretending not to notice.
“The person who did such a thing is the one at fault.”
After that cryptic remark, a brief silence followed, and I called out to him in a whisper.
“Brother.”
Sergio looked at me.
“Are you still sincere when you say I am a Cassini?”
“Yes.”
“Then that is enough.”
I finally wore a satisfied smile. With a touch of melancholy, of course.
“Thank you for saying that. I will never do anything to bring harm to the Cassini family.”
I didn’t forget to drive the point home with a whisper, just in case the oblivious Sergio didn’t understand.
“I won’t tell anyone.”
It was the moment Sergio’s expression went blank upon hearing that.
“M-Master.”
The butler suddenly interrupted. Sergio’s expression sharpened rapidly.
“Butler, I am in the middle of a conversation with Justitia…….”
“I apologize, Master. But, well……”
The butler delivered the unexpected news with a troubled expression.
“T-The Archbishop has arrived.”
Sergio’s eyes twitched for a moment.
“Why is the Archbishop here?”
“Well, he said he came to fetch the Saintess…….”
Sergio let out a breath of disbelief. For the first time in a while, I felt the same way. When did I ever ask him to come fetch me?
“You stay here.”
Why should I? After all, watching a fight is the most entertaining thing of all.
I only had to glance at Cassandro once, and he took hold of my wheelchair and moved it.
To think he could understand my heart so well without me even saying a word. He really is incomparable to others.
“Who do you think will win?”
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t play dumb. Who do you think will win regarding my departure?”
“You were planning to return anyway, were you not?”
“Even so.”
“That is a strange question. Your departure is a matter for you, the Saintess, to decide yourself. It is not a matter for others to determine.”
Oh…… that’s true. But since Cassandro is a Holy Knight, I thought he would naturally say that Formoso would win.
“……Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I thought you would naturally be rooting for the Archbishop, Sir.”
“Why is that?”
“Because you are a Holy Knight of the Main Hall. Blood is thicker than water, after all.”
At those words, Cassandro’s expression turned strange.
“My affiliation is with the Holy Kingdom, not the Scalia Main Hall. And I have no particular person I am rooting for.”
“Is that so?”
“The only person I believe in and follow is you, Saintess.”
The words that suddenly struck home made me feel strange. The feeling was so odd that I intentionally teased him.
“I am affiliated with the Scalia Main Hall, you know? Just like the Archbishop.”
“But my mission is to protect the Saintess.”
“I truly envy the next Saintess you will serve. She will have such a loyal guard.”
As Cassandro said, the Holy Knight Commanders of each country belonged to the Holy Kingdom and moved their posts every five years.
This was to prevent the Holy Knights, the core of the Varion Faith’s military power, from forming collusive ties with the temples of specific countries.
How many years did Cassandro have left here again…….
“The Saintess is you, right now.”
When I was lost in my own thoughts, the words Cassandro tossed out struck home again. I laughed out loud.
“You are particularly good at saying pleasant things today, Sir. Thank you for saying that.”
Well, it doesn’t matter. As long as I am here, Cassandro’s Saintess will be me.
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