The Saintess is Too Good at Lying! Chapter 9
* * *
After that, the volunteer work concluded quite uneventfully.
Lumiella didn’t pick any more fights with me and worked quietly.
Upon returning to the temple, Nora greeted me with an incredibly excited face.
“The dress sent by His Majesty has arrived!”
“A dress?”
“Yes, and every single one of them is a design that suits you perfectly, so I’ve been waiting anxiously for you to return!”
“But why did he suddenly send a dress?”
When I asked, bewildered, Nora looked at me with a slightly shocked expression.
“You didn't forget, did you?”
“Forget what?”
“Next week is the engagement anniversary for you and His Majesty the King!”
Ah, right.
I finally recalled the memory I had buried in a corner of my mind.
It was around this time of year.
“Who celebrates an engagement anniversary, let alone a marriage?”
“Pardon?”
Nora stared at me as if she doubted her own ears.
I shook my head, smiling as if to tell her to forget it.
Knowing he was the man who would eventually call off the engagement and send me to the guillotine, the whole thing felt even more dramatic and ridiculous.
“Now, Saintess. Let’s start with this pink dress...”
“That one looks fine. Let’s go with that.”
As I answered after a cursory glance, Nora asked with a flustered expression.
“You were never one to choose so casually, but... you seem so indifferent this year.”
“It’s because they’re all pretty. Don’t you think so, too?”
“Still, trying them on in person is a different story!”
“What is going on?”
Just then, a low voice made me flinch.
I turned my head to see Formoso entering.
Even if he is the Archbishop, he is far too bold about entering the room of a maiden of marriageable age.
“It is nothing, Archbishop.”
“I heard that His Majesty sent you dresses.”
Ah, I have a feeling this is going to become troublesome.
“The Saintess chose the pink one without even trying on a single piece.”
Nora, weren't we on the same side?
“My, my.”
Formoso clicked his tongue briefly, then asked with a sly smile.
“Wouldn't it be better to try them on, if only to show appreciation for His Majesty's sincerity? Though, I’m sure you are tired.”
“Well. I...”
“I shall watch.”
I was stunned for a moment by Formoso’s words before bursting into laughter.
“Is it appropriate for the Archbishop to concern himself with such trivial matters?”
“Trivial? This concerns the Saintess.”
With that, Formoso sat down in a chair I hadn't even offered him.
Nora’s eyes sparkled as if to say, “See?”, and she thrust the pink dress toward me.
“Haa...”
I decided to try on at least one for the sake of courtesy.
I needed to check the size anyway.
“Is it pretty?”
I stood before Formoso again and asked, as if to say, “Are you satisfied now?”
Instead of answering, Formoso did not take his eyes off me.
The silence felt burdensome, so I hurriedly broke it.
“I didn't just pick it at random.”
“Your eye for fashion is certainly remarkable, Saintess.”
Formoso nodded and asked,
“But wouldn't it be better to try on the others as well?”
“Isn't this pretty enough?”
“Still, there might be other, better options.”
“It’s fine. I plan to dispose of the remaining dresses I haven't worn and donate them.”
At those words, Formoso asked with a slightly taken-aback expression.
“The dresses sent by His Majesty?”
“Is that not allowed?”
“No, it’s not that...”
Formoso hesitated for a moment before continuing.
“It’s just that you seem to have changed. Didn't you used to keep the dresses His Majesty sent in your closet and wear them time and time again?”
To think he finally noticed I had changed.
And by the fact that I was getting rid of dresses given by an engaged partner whose heart had cooled.
He was quick-witted in such peculiar ways.
“Did something happen with His Majesty?”
“No, I just thought it was a waste.”
“I see...”
Formoso nodded with a strange expression, and I stared at him, signaling that it was time for him to leave.
Realizing belatedly that he had stayed too long, Formoso sighed.
“I have bothered you for too long when you are tired.”
“Not at all, Archbishop. Have a peaceful night.”
[Lie Gauge increased by 0.1%]
[Current Gauge: 2.0%]
Does even a polite greeting count as a lie?
Though, it is true that I hope he finds no peace.
Regardless, today’s results weren't bad.
It’s going to be a drought for the gauge until the engagement anniversary party next week.
I had to fill the daily limit on days when I had public activities.
“What will you do for the engagement anniversary gift?”
In the midst of this, Nora was still circling the same topic.
Every year, Justitia prepared gifts twice: for her fiancé’s birthday and their engagement anniversary.
“I’m not planning on preparing one this year.”
Nora’s eyes widened.
“Did you have a fight with His Majesty?”
“Do you think I’m in a position to have that kind of relationship with him? I’m just pressed for time.”
“You really have changed, Saintess. Originally, you would have stayed up all night preparing a gift...”
Why on earth would I stay up all night preparing a gift for a man like that?
I’d rather spend that time sleeping.
“I’m just afraid that if I push myself, I’ll end up giving him a pathetic gift. And what could be sadder than hurting His Majesty’s feelings because of that?”
[Today’s limit has been exceeded.]
I really shouldn't have made that “Duke's kindness” comment earlier.
I felt a deep sense of regret.
* * *
Time flowed sluggishly after that.
Surprisingly, I had absolutely no reason to lie while going back and forth between the temple and the slums, so I didn't even get to look at my Status Window for a week.
“Saintess, your expression looks strangely resolute today.”
I will fill that 1% today, no matter what.
“It’s just that I’m nervous about seeing His Majesty for the first time in a while.”
[Lie Gauge increased by 0.1%]
[Current Gauge: 2.1%]
A good start.
I couldn't hide my excited expression as I finished getting ready.
“Well, you are both busy with your own affairs. But for that, you chose your dress so quickly...”
“Let’s go, Nora. We’ll be late.”
Before the sharp-witted Nora could realize something was off, I took her and headed outside.
Cassandro, who had been checking the carriage, turned his head, and our eyes met.
Since this was the first time I had faced him while so dressed up, I gave a slightly embarrassed smile and greeted him.
“Hello, Sir Cassandro. How is it? Do I look alright today?”
“...”
“Sir?”
I felt a moment of confusion at his silent, steady gaze.
Just as I was about to ask if it looked bad—
“You are always beautiful.”
A response as exemplary as it was artificial reached my ears.
I was stunned for a moment before bursting into laughter.
“I wanted an honest answer.”
At my words, Cassandro’s eyes wavered.
I waved my hand as if to say, “Never mind.”
“Flattery is fine. I know perfectly well that you can’t lie.”
“It is not a lie...”
“Alright. Shall we depart?”
I laughed playfully and climbed into the carriage, and Cassandro, looking somehow restless, closed the carriage door with an uncomfortable expression.
Nora, who was beside me, chided me softly.
“You shouldn't tease the knight like that.”
“He was the one who teased me first. ‘You are always beautiful,’ he says. It’s so artificial.”
“But it’s not like it’s a lie.”
“My goodness, here is someone even worse.”
The atmosphere remained quite pleasant until we arrived at the royal palace.
“His Majesty will not be attending today’s party.”
That was until I heard the unexpected news.
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