Chapter 82: I like them very mu..

[In truth… I’ve already told everything. But since Lillian said it’s all okay, don’t worry too much.]

Click

In the quiet of my bedroom, I bit my nails, recalling Arien’s words.

It was too late.

Arien had confessed everything to Lillian about what happened before.

On the surface, she seemed calm, but she admitted that she had fled because she couldn’t endure the criticism and scorn of others.

That alone would be fine, but Arien also spoke to Lillian about her relationship with me.

By now, Lillian likely suspects that I’m at least partly responsible for Arien’s betrayal.

“I should have kept his mouth shut sooner.”

I knew that Lillian would awaken as a Saintess someday.

But it was my fault for becoming complacent amidst the comforts of daily life.

Of course, there was some frustration, given how far off the original storyline this has gone.

The war ended five years earlier than it would have if I’d followed the shortest route, and Lillian’s personality has changed to a disturbingly strange degree.

But now that it’s already happened, I need to figure out how to handle it.

From the look in Lillian’s eyes last time, it didn’t seem like she was going to let me go easily.

…Should I kill her?

The thought came to mind suddenly.

Just because she awakened as a Saintess doesn’t make her invincible.

If I used an extremely lethal poison, even Lillian wouldn’t be able to avoid death.

In fact, in one of the bad endings in the game, Lillian drank poisoned liquor given to her by Mardian and died.

‘But it’s too risky.’

If I succeeded in poisoning her, I would be free from worrying about Lillian any longer. But if I failed, there would be irreversible consequences.

If the beloved Saintess of the empire died, the imperial family would hunt down the culprit with piercing eyes.

I might end up on the execution platform like Mardian in the game.

“…For now, let’s just watch the situation.”

Perhaps my mind had been clouded by excessive anxiety.

Maybe Lillian has no intention of seeking revenge, and I’m just the one getting anxious on my own.

But if it really becomes necessary…

I’ll simply escape when the time comes, so there’s no need to overthink it now.

‘For the time being, avoiding Lillian is the wisest choice.’

***

“Oh ho! You don’t know how much I’ve wanted to get closer to Lady Lillian!”

“Oh my, really?”

Under the chandelier hanging from the ceiling, laughter filled the upper hall of the ballroom, and the scent of sweet refreshments wafted through the golden decorations.

In the banquet hall, where soft music flowed, bright ladies gathered in groups, engaged in lively conversation, and a woman smiled radiantly among them.

Her aura was mysterious, and her noble beauty was flawless perfection itself.

Her luxurious white dress, matched with her radiant pink hair, looked priceless at a glance.

The savior, Lillian Endoria.

With a single smile, she captivated everyone around her.

‘…Why?’

Swallowing down the curse that almost escaped my lips, I forced a smile, maintaining a calm demeanor.

Given her reputation had soared to the sky after achieving the rank of viscount as a mere woman, it wasn’t surprising that Lillian would return to the social scene.

I expected that we’d cross paths at a banquet someday…

But why now, of all times?

Out of all the gatherings of nobles, why did she have to join the group I was in, grinning away?

“What was the atmosphere on the battlefield like? Is it true there was nowhere to bathe?”

At a young lady’s question, Lillian gave a faint smile, tucking a lock of her pink hair behind her ear.

“It’s not that there were no places to bathe… but there wasn’t any warm water. The facilities weren’t as nice as those in the empire.”

“Oh my, so you had to wash in cold water? How could anyone manage that?”

“Hehe, I got used to it soon enough.”

“And the meals? Is it true, as the rumors say, that it was just a piece of bread and a glass of water?”

“That’s not completely inaccurate.”

“Oh dear… To think you had to eat meals like those of commoners…”

The young ladies surrounding Lillian wore expressions of utter shock.

It seems everyone is curious about the unfamiliar place known as the battlefield.

Even Versha, who was stroking my head while seated on the sofa, kept her gaze fixed solely on Lillian.

“Truly… Lady Saint, you’ve been through so much. Thank you for returning safely from such a place.”

A young lady offered her flattery, her true feelings shamelessly hidden.

Just three years ago, these people looked down on Lillian, but now they all praised her without hesitation, treating her with reverence.

‘Disgusting.’

I couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh at the way their attitude had changed as quickly as flipping a hand.

Yet, Lillian didn’t mind at all and accepted them graciously.

She smiled kindly at those who once belittled her, even extending mercy to those who had insulted her.

Up until this point, she was no different from Lillian in the game…

So why do I feel so uneasy?

“I’ve always wanted to get closer to the lovely young ladies. I’m glad for this opportunity,” Lillian said with a bright smile.

Versha, who had been quietly observing from behind, took a sip of tea and then spoke.

“We are also delighted to have formed this bond with the Lady Saint. I hope we can leave the past behind and foster good relations in the future.”

“The past? Did something happen before?” Lillian responded with a cheerful smile.

At her witty humor, the young ladies widened their eyes in surprise, then slowly began to laugh one by one.

In the midst of this incredibly harmonious atmosphere, I clenched my fist in secret.

‘That fox woman…!’

Inside, I suppressed my deep resentment toward Lillian.

So naturally, Lillian had seamlessly integrated herself into Versha’s faction.

The interest of the young ladies, which should have been directed at me, was now entirely stolen by that wretched woman.

Instead of praying like a proper saintess, why is she stealing the attention of my patrons?

Is it not enough to have beauty, authority, and power—must she also take every connection to be satisfied?

She was insatiably greedy.

To get in here, I had to flatter several young ladies, while she claimed all their interest with a mere faint smile.

“Lady Blanc, are you alright?”

A voice tinged with genuine concern.

When I lifted my head, I found Lillian, who had been laughing brightly with the young ladies, looking at me.

“You don’t look well. Are you unwell by any chance?”

“…Ah.”

I quickly touched my lips to check if my smile had vanished from my face, but fortunately, my lips were still curled in a smile.

“I must have been lost in thought for a moment. I’m sorry if I worried you.”

“No, not at all. I was just explaining about the abilities I manifested in this recent battlefield.”

“Abilities?”

Abilities.

Come to think of it, there was talk about that too.

Lillian’s power is a divine force. It’s easy to think of it as a set of various skills the protagonist acquires as she grows.

In the beginning, it’s only the power to heal people, but by the late stages, she can also use divine power offensively.

“Yes, let me give you a brief demonstration.”

With her finger held upright, Lillian drew a small circle in the air. Then, a pure white light spread softly, forming a transparent barrier.

The young ladies nearby, with curious gazes, reached out to examine the softly glowing wall.

“Wow, Lady Saint, the light is beautiful. Is it safe?”

“It’s harmless. It’s simply a barrier.”

…A barrier?

The unexpected term left me momentarily dazed, blinking in surprise.

The barrier is supposed to be an ability available only in the later stages of the game, but you’re saying we can use it already?

“…What kind of power is this?”

A low, heavy voice slipped out without me realizing. Ever since the barrier was established, my insides felt uncomfortable, as though my entire body was wrapped in an unknown tension.

Whether it was due to indigestion or something else, one thing was certain: it didn’t seem wise to stay here for too long.

“This is the barrier that greatly contributed to ending the recent war.”

Lillian explained as she gracefully tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

“To put it simply, within this barrier, designated individuals cannot lie.”

At her words, one young lady’s eyes sparkled as she asked, “Really? What happens if someone tries to lie?”

“If you attempt to lie, you’ll feel pain as if your heart is about to burst. If you hesitate or avoid answering, the pain will gradually intensify, as if your whole body is engulfed in flames.”

Lillian’s calm, almost cruel explanation only seemed to pique the ladies’ curiosity further as they looked at her with fascination.

“Of course, I’ve moderated its power, so there won’t be any intense pain.”

Lillian approached the barrier with a gentle smile.

“Would you like to experience it firsthand? As long as you don’t lie, nothing will happen. And even if you feel something, it won’t be too painful, so there’s no need to worry.”

“Me! I’ll try!”

Encouraged by Lillian’s invitation, one lady, glancing around, bravely stepped into the barrier.

Though her face showed a hint of nervousness, she didn’t seem fearful.

“Hmm, what question should I ask?”

After a moment of pondering with her hand on her chin, Lillian beamed brightly and asked,

“Oh, do you currently have someone you’re interested in?”

“What? Ah, no! No, that’s not possible! – Ah?!”

The moment she denied it firmly, the lady’s expression twisted.

Her face gradually tensed, as though pressed by an overwhelming force. Beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, and her body began to tremble slightly.

Eventually, the truth burst out.

“Actually… yes, I do!”

As soon as she confessed, the transparent light of the barrier shimmered softly, illuminating the space as if welcoming her truth.

Lillian sighed lightly and gently supported the young lady with a kind smile.

“This is how it works. Are you alright? You didn’t feel too uncomfortable, did you?”

“Yes… it was a bit stifling, but bearable.”

“Haha, in reality, it’s much more painful. The more you lie, the more the pain intensifies.”

“That’s amazing!”

The young ladies became even more entranced by Lillian’s mysterious ability.

One by one, those intrigued stepped into Lillian’s barrier, and she demonstrated its effect by asking lighthearted, everyday questions.

The ladies’ faces lit up with excitement and wonder, like children witnessing magic for the first time as they encountered the sacred power.

Regardless, I continued to stare blankly at the barrier.

‘…Is this really okay?’

The fact that the war ended years ahead of the original timeline, that Lillian awakened as a saintess too early, and now even this barrier ability, which was supposed to appear much later…

Everything was diverging from my expectations.

“Would Lady Tina like to try as well?”

“…Pardon?”

Startled by Lillian’s sudden invitation, I flinched.

Lillian’s smile was directed at me, blooming brightly.

“There won’t be any severe pain inside the barrier, so don’t worry.”

Normally, I would’ve accepted her offer without hesitation, but for some reason, my feet wouldn’t move as easily today.

Perhaps it was the strange sense of distance I’d felt before.

“Ah, no. I’m not particularly interested.”

“Really? That’s a shame… I had prepared this power specifically to get closer to Lady Blanc…”

With a slightly saddened smile, Lillian lowered her gaze, and the surrounding young ladies began looking at her with concern.

“Come on, Tina, just try it once. After all, for someone like you who can’t lie, there shouldn’t be any problem.”

Versha smiled as she placed a hand on my shoulder.

Normally, I would have gladly granted her request, but stepping into that barrier made me hesitate.

The questions Lillian would ask other young ladies were trivial things, like what they had for dinner yesterday or if they’d put on a little weight. All things of little consequence.

But…

The one thing that lingered ominously was the rumor that you couldn’t lie inside the barrier.

“Ac-actually, I’m feeling a bit unwell…”

“Oh, then don’t worry! I’ll add a healing power to the barrier. Once you step inside, your health should improve right away.”

Seizing the moment of my hesitation, Lillian smiled brightly and quickly took hold of my hand.

“Wait, hold on.”

“It’s fine.”

She replied softly, gently pulling my arm.

I tried to resist, but perhaps because she had been to the battlefield, her strength was far beyond what I had imagined.

“What—what do you think you’re doing?!”

I shouted loudly, but Lillian only smiled faintly as she pulled me into the barrier.

“Let—let go!”

Startled by the sudden situation, I couldn’t keep my usual smile and raised my voice.

For a moment, silence fell around us.

The young ladies, who never expected me to shout like this, looked at me in surprise, and even Versha stared with wide eyes.

“N-no, I mean… You just grabbed me so suddenly… I was caught off guard…”

“Tina, you shouldn’t raise your voice at the Saint.”

At Versha’s sharp remark, I immediately closed my mouth.

I knew.

Unlike before, Lillian was now the most respected person here.

Her influence was far beyond that of even the esteemed Versha, to the point that it couldn’t be ignored.

Normally, I would have maintained my composure, but Lillian had suddenly grabbed me…!

“I… I’m sorry…”

But there was nothing I could do.

Lillian gave me a light pat on the back with a faint smile.

“It’s alright. I just want to get to know you better, that’s all.”

Her expression, devoid of any hostility, surprised me, as if the demeanor I’d seen before had been a lie.

Could it be… she really just wanted to be friends?

Knowing her personality, that would make sense.

With her lively and sociable nature, she was like a capybara who wanted to befriend everyone.

“Now then, Miss! Here’s my question.”

Lilllian clapped her hands, creating a cheerful sound.

With a bright smile, she leaned in close and opened her crimson lips.

“How much do you like the other young ladies, Miss Blanc?”

The question was unexpectedly mundane.

How many times had I heard this question before?

Like a pet owner checking their pet’s affection, the young ladies would ask me this every day.

And each time, I always gave the same answer.

This time was no different.

With a harmless expression.

With a gentle smile.

As always, I said what I always did.

With that gentle smile, I repeated the familiar words.

“Of course, I… like them very mu… Oh… ah?”

Thud—

“I… I mean, I like… them… like…”

Thud, thud—

My heart seized in intense pain.

My whole body froze.