Chapter 08
We finally gathered again when it was time for lunch.
“Did you have any trouble, Lumi?”
“No, Brother. Thank you so much for sending the supplies.”
“Since I heard you were going to volunteer for the first time, I couldn’t help but pay attention.”
Sergio gently smiled as he stroked Lumiella’s head, and the young ladies beside him gazed at the sight with envy.
Well, Sergio was probably the dream husband for ladies their age. They had no idea that he might actually be a cold-blooded man.
“Oh my, we’ve spent too much time here.”
Feeling uncomfortable, I decided to leave Sergio’s vicinity as quickly as possible.
“I’ll be going ahead. Take your time eating and come when you’re ready.”
After saying that, I headed back to the ward. The nurses looked surprised that I had returned so quickly.
“Everyone, go eat. I’ll stay here and keep watch.”
“Ah, thank you, Saintess.”
Everyone went outside, leaving me alone in the ward. I was checking on the sleeping children and reviewing my next schedule when—
“Did you avoid the meal because of me?”
An unfamiliar voice came from behind me.
I flinched and turned around. Sergio was leaning casually against the doorway. I narrowed my eyes and asked,
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, did you skip your meal and run here because you wanted to avoid me?”
“No.”
[Lie Gauge +0.2%]
[Current Gauge: 1.6%]
Being around this man really makes the gauge rise smoothly.
That was actually a good thing. After confirming that no one else was around, I turned to face Sergio.
“What reason would I have to feel uncomfortable around you, Duke? Unless, of course, you mean I’m uncomfortable with you treating me so casually like you do now.”
“You’re sulking.”
Sergio chuckled, and I was genuinely dumbfounded by his words.
“Do I have any reason to sulk at you, Duke?”
“Well, there are plenty.”
He tilted his head slightly and muttered,
“For one thing, you only sent the supplies under Lumiella’s name today.”
“Didn’t you hear everything? I’m not upset about it. Your real younger sister is the young lady, after all.”
I answered coldly.
“You’ve always said so, haven’t you? That you would never think of me as your younger sister.”
Whatever determination I had to simply smile kindly and lie to him had disappeared somewhere along the way. Sharp words kept slipping out.
“Then what did you mean when you said I was kind from the beginning?”
Sergio took a step toward me as he spoke. Meeting my eyes, he asked,
“Was that a lie?”
I thought for a moment before shaking my head. Sergio’s eyes wavered slightly.
“It’s true that you were kind from the beginning. That’s why Lumiella could never forget you either…”
“……”
“Isn’t that right?”
Sergio didn’t answer. At that moment, the status window appeared above him.
[Lie Gauge +0.3%]
[Current Gauge: 1.9%]
“…Indeed.”
Sergio muttered.
“It couldn’t have been a lie. You were always so frustratingly upright, stubborn, and obsessed with saying only what was right.”
“……”
For a moment, I was too dumbfounded to speak.
…Even though you knew that.
“Please believe me, Brother. I can’t lie… You know that better than anyone, Brother.”
“Who knows? Perhaps this time is an exception.”
He had scoffed and mocked me.
“Maybe everything you’ve shown us until now was a lie.”
He had condemned me.
“So I suppose you’ve decided to truly acknowledge Lumiella now.”
He hadn’t believed me even a little. I twisted my lips into a smile.
“I’ve always been that way.”
“……I see.”
He seemed strangely unconvinced. Wasn’t that a rather quick change of attitude for someone who had just said I couldn’t lie?
“I hope you’ll continue to treat Lumiella kindly.”
“Don’t worry, Duke. There’s no reason for me not to.”
I tried to suppress my resentment as I answered, but Sergio stared intently at me. Just as I was about to meet his gaze with a questioning look—
“…So.”
He took another step toward me and asked,
“Are you planning to keep calling me ‘Duke’?”
What was this about now?
I frowned at his sudden challenge.
“Is there another title I should use for you?”
I asked with genuine confusion. Instead of answering, Sergio simply stared at me for a moment before abruptly turning around and walking outside.
What? He leaves without even answering?
“Why do you think the Duke of Cassini suddenly acted like that?”
I asked Cassandro, who was probably watching me from somewhere while concealing his presence.
There was no answer.
“…Sir Cassandro?”
Feeling awkward, I turned around, wondering if he had gone to eat—
“Ah!”
A huge man suddenly appeared right in front of me.
I jumped in surprise and covered my mouth. Fortunately, the children were still sound asleep.
“You scared me. Don’t suddenly appear like that…”
“Did you not call for me?”
Well, yes, but I didn’t expect you to appear so suddenly…
“I will make my presence known before appearing next time.”
Cassandro politely bowed his head in apology. I cleared my throat and changed the subject.
“Anyway, what do you think the Duke of Cassini was thinking?”
“……”
Instead of answering, Cassandro’s expression became uncomfortable.
“Sir Cassandro?”
When I called his name in confusion, Cassandro looked reluctant before finally speaking.
“I do not know.”
…That sounds like a lie.
I narrowed my eyes and asked again.
“Are you sure?”
“Whatever the Duke wants is irrelevant. What matters is how the Saintess feels. Call him whatever you wish.”
He was avoiding my eyes, so he was definitely lying. But what he said also made sense, which left me confused.
…What exactly was he upset about?
“Did you eat lunch?”
“…Yes.”
“You really…”
I shook my head and muttered,
“You’re terrible at lying.”
“I thought the Saintess was in no position to say that about someone else.”
“I was?”
It sounded as though he meant that I wasn’t anymore.
“So you’re saying I’m not like that now?”
“…I do feel that you’ve changed somewhat.”
“Really? Do you mean I’ve gotten better at lying?”
Perhaps realizing that he had made a mistake, Cassandro’s face quickly turned red.
“That is not what I meant.”
“Then what did you mean?”
“…Rather.”
Cassandro seemed to choose his words carefully before speaking.
“You seem less hesitant to say things that differ from what you truly think.”
“We call that lying.”
“…I apologize.”
Cassandro quickly bowed his head.
But I didn’t find his words rude at all.
I was simply amazed. Along with Nora, he was the only person who had noticed that I had changed.
I hadn’t met the king yet, but honestly, I wasn’t expecting much.
“How did you notice?”
“You have never once felt any affection toward the Duke of Cassini.”
Cassandro pointed it out matter-of-factly.
“You usually avoided situations where you would have to say such things aloud.”
Hearing that even a third party had found Sergio cold-hearted, I let out a small laugh.
“I decided to try changing a little. Does it bother you?”
“I have never dared to consider whether I like or dislike anything about the Saintess.”
His answer was the very definition of loyalty, and I was impressed inwardly.
If Justitia had asked this man for help while she was alive, hmm… Since he was just as rigid, perhaps he wouldn’t have been much help either.
“Whatever path you choose to walk, my role is simply to protect the Saintess.”
But I liked this kind of blind support.
I smiled and replied,
“Keep protecting me, then. From now on, too.”
“……”
He stared at me for a moment before lowering his head slightly.
“…Yes.”
