[Actually… I already said everything. Still, since Lilian said it’s all fine, don’t worry too much.]
The silence in my bedroom was overwhelming. I gnawed on my nails while recalling Arien’s words.
It was too late.
Arien had spilled everything to Lilian.
On the surface, she seemed calm, but she confessed that she fled because she couldn’t bear the blame and disdain of others.
That alone wouldn’t have mattered, but Arien had also mentioned my relationship with her to Lilian.
Lilian would probably guess that I was at least half the cause of Arien’s betrayal.
“I should have sealed her lips earlier.”
I knew that Lilian would someday awaken as a Saint.
However, I had let my guard down in the complacency of my daily life.
Of course, I felt some injustice because the route had deviated to a level that destroyed the original story.
Like how the war ended five years earlier than it should have, or how Lilian’s personality had bizarrely changed.
But now that the situation had unfolded, it would be best to find a way to cope.
From the look in Lilian’s eyes, it felt like she wouldn’t simply let me be.
“…Should I kill her?”
It was a thought that suddenly popped into my mind.
Just because she had awakened as a Saint did not make her invincible.
If I were to use an extremely lethal poison, even Lilian wouldn’t be able to avoid death.
In fact, in one of the bad endings in the game, Lilian had once drank poisoned wine handed to her by Mardian and met her end.
“But it’s too risky.”
If I succeeded in poisoning her, I could surely rid myself of my worries about Lilian. But if I failed, the consequences would be irreversible.
If the death of the Saint, whose name was echoed throughout the Empire, occurred, even the Imperial Family would surely sharpen their eyes to catch the culprit.
At that point, I might end up like Mardian in the game, facing execution.
“…Let’s observe the situation for now.”
Perhaps it was just excessive anxiety clouding my judgment.
Lilian might not even be thinking of vengeance; it could just be me who was feeling anxious.
But if it truly comes to that…
Then I could just run away, so for now, let’s not worry too much.
‘For the time being, avoiding Lilian would be the best course of action.’
—
“Hoho! You have no idea how much I wanted to befriend Lady Lilian!”
“Oh my, really?”
Under the chandelier hanging from the ceiling, laughter filled the upper levels of the banquet hall, with the scent of sweet delicacies wafting among the golden decorations.
The hall of the banquet flowed with soft music.
In this lively place where bright young ladies gathered in clusters to engage in spirited conversation, one woman wore a radiant smile.
Her presence was enchanting, and her noble beauty was nothing short of flawless perfection.
The pure white dress that matched her brilliant pink hair looked so exquisite that it could hardly be valued.
The Savior, Lilian Eldoria.
With a single smile, she captured the attention of everyone around her.
‘…Why though?’
I swallowed a curse that almost slipped out and smiled awkwardly, maintaining my composure.
Having gained my position through guile, and now that her reputation had soared to the heavens, I expected Lilian would eventually step back into High Society.
So I had anticipated we might run into each other at a banquet…
But why, of all times and places.
Out of all the nobles, why was she here laughing in my gathering?
“What was the mood like on the battlefield? Was there really no place to wash?”
In response to one young lady’s question, Lilian smiled slightly and tucked her pink hair behind her ear.
“There are places to wash, but… warm water wasn’t available. It wasn’t as well-equipped as the Empire.”
“My goodness, so you bathed with cold water? How could that be?”
“Haha, but I got used to it quickly.”
“And what about food? Is it true you only got a piece of bread and a glass of water?”
“Well, that’s not entirely incorrect.”
“Oh my… meals fit for commoners…”
The young ladies surrounding Lilian had shocked expressions on their faces.
It seemed they were all curious about the unfamiliar battlefield.
Even Versha, who was petting my head on the sofa, had her gaze fixated solely on Lilian.
“Really… Thank you for returning safely from such hardships, Saint.”
One young lady boldly masked her true feelings and spoke sweet words.
Just three years ago, those who despised Lilian were now all praising her to the skies.
‘Disgusting.’
Their attitudes had changed as if flipping a palm, and I couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.
But Lilian seemed entirely unbothered, graciously welcoming them.
She smiled kindly at those who had once belittled her, even showing tolerance towards those who had insulted her.
Up to this point, she was no different from the Lilian in the game…
So why did I have this unsettling feeling?
“I can’t express how much I wanted to get closer to ladies like you. I’m so glad this opportunity came!”
Lilian said with a bright smile.
From behind, Versha, who quietly observed the scene, took a sip of tea and spoke.
“We’re also pleased to have this connection with you, Saint. I hope we can forget the past and build a good relationship moving forward.”
“Past events? What happened back then?”
Lilian answered with a playful smile.
The cleverness in her humor caused the young ladies’ eyes to widen in surprise, before they began to chuckle one by one.
In this atmosphere filled with glee, I secretly clenched my fist.
‘That sly fox…!’
Internally, I suppressed a deep grudge against Lilian.
So naturally, Lilian instantly blended into Versha’s faction.
She had completely stolen the attention of the young ladies that should have been directed towards me.
A Saint should be at prayer; why was she stealing the interest of my patrons?
Do I need to have looks, authority, power, and now connections to obtain my rightful share?
It was simply insatiable greed.
I had to flatter several young ladies just to get into this place, yet that darn woman took all their attention with just a gentle smile.
“Lady Blanc, are you alright?”
A genuinely concerned voice reached me.
When I looked up, there was Lilian, who had just been laughing it up with the young ladies, staring right at me.
“You don’t look well. Are you unwell, perhaps?”
“…Ah.”
I subtly touched my mouth to see if my smile had disappeared from my expression, but fortunately, my lips were still curved in a grin.
“I must have been lost in thought for a moment. I apologize if I worried you.”
“No, not at all. Actually, I was just discussing the abilities I manifested on the battlefield.”
“Abilities?”
Abilities.
Now that I think about it, that discussion was brought up too.
Lilian’s ability is based on divine power. It’s easy to understand if you think about it as the various skills the protagonist gains as they grow.
In the early stages, it’s simply a healing ability, but by the end, it can also be used for offensive means through divine power.
“Yes, to give you a quick demonstration.”
Lilian drew a small circle in the air with her outstretched finger. A soft white light spread out delicately, forming a transparent barrier.
The young ladies next to her reached out eagerly to examine the gently shimmering wall.
“Wow, the light is beautiful, Saint. Is it dangerous at all?”
“It won’t harm you; it’s just a simple barrier.”
…A barrier?
I blinked, momentarily dazed by the unexpected word.
I thought barriers were abilities obtained only in the later stages of the game, but she could use one already?
“…What kind of ability is that?”
I couldn’t help but let slip a voice that was lower and heavier than usual. Ever since the barrier was erected, an uneasy feeling had enveloped me, as if my entire body was wrapped in inexplicable tension.
Whether it was a stomach ache or something else, one thing was sure: staying here any longer would not turn out well.
“It’s a barrier that greatly contributed to ending this war.”
Lilian continued explaining as she nonchalantly pushed back her hair behind her ear.
“To put it simply, within this barrier, designated individuals cannot speak falsehoods.”
At Lilian’s words, one young lady’s eyes sparkled as she asked.
“Really? What happens if someone tries to lie?”
“If someone attempts to lie, they will feel pain as if their heart is bursting. If they avoid the answer or hesitate, the pain will gradually intensify like being engulfed in flames.”
With her dispassionate yet horrifying explanation, the young ladies looked at her with even more curious eyes.
“Of course, right now, I can suppress the pain, so it won’t be severe.”
Lilian approached the barrier, smiling gently.
“Would you like to experience it for yourself? So long as you don’t lie, nothing will happen. Even if you feel something, it won’t be too painful, so don’t worry.”
“Me! I’ll give it a try!”
Encouraged by Lilian’s gentle invitation, one young lady finally gathered her courage to step into the barrier.
Her face showed slight tension, but she didn’t seem afraid.
“Um, what should I ask?”
Lilian put her hand to her chin, pondering briefly before brightly asking.
“Oh, do you have someone you like lately?”
“Yes? Ah, no! No way that could be true!—Eek?!”
The moment she emphatically denied it, the young lady’s face twisted in distress.
As if pressed by some irresistible force, her expression gradually became filled with tension. Sweat started to bead on her forehead, and as her body began to quake…
The truth finally burst out.
“Th-There is someone…!”
As she confessed, the barrier’s transparent light sparkled and illuminated the space as if welcoming the truth.
Lilian let out a light sigh, carefully supporting the young lady, and smiled warmly.
“This is how it works. Are you alright? You weren’t uncomfortable at all, were you?”
“Yes… it was a bit constricting, but I could bear it.”
“Hehe, the actual experience is much more painful. The more you lie, the more the pain increases.”
“That’s really wonderful!”
After that, the young ladies began to become enchanted by Lilian’s mysterious ability.
One by one, their curiosity piqued, they entered the barrier, and Lilian demonstrated the effects of the barrier with simple, light-hearted questions.
The faces of the young ladies encountering divine power shone with excitement and thrill, much like a child watching magic for the first time.
Regardless of that, I continued to stare blankly at the barrier.
‘…Is this really okay?’
The war ending years earlier than in the original story, Lilian awakening as a Saint at such an early stage, and even her ability to use a barrier that was supposed to appear only later…
Everything was exceeding my expectations.
“Lady Tina, would you like to give it a try too?”
“…Huh?”
I flinched at Lilian’s sudden proposal, my body trembling.
Lilian’s beaming smile was directed at me.
“In the barrier, there won’t be any extreme pain, so don’t worry.”
Normally, I would have accepted her proposal without hesitation, but for some reason, my feet were reluctant to move today.
Was it because of that strange sense of distance I had felt before?
“Uh, no thanks. I don’t have much interest.”
“Really? That’s too bad… I prepared this ability just to get closer to you, Lady Blanc…”
As Lilian let out a slightly sad smile and lowered her gaze, the young ladies surrounding her began to look at her with increasing concern.
“You should try it at least once, Tina. Anyway, there’s nothing problematic for someone like you who can’t lie.”
Versha smiled as she placed her hand on my shoulder.
Normally, I would have willingly obliged her request, but I was thoroughly unwilling to step into that barrier.
The questions Lilian had thrown to the other young ladies were merely trivial, like what had been for dinner yesterday or whether they had packed on a few pounds…
Yet that single phrase that you can’t lie in the barrier felt somehow ominous.
“Uh, I’m actually feeling a bit unwell…”
“Oh, in that case, don’t worry! I’ll also include healing power within the barrier. Once you step in, you’ll soon feel better.”
Taking advantage of my momentary surprise, Lilian approached with a radiant smile and grabbed my hand.
“Wait, just a minute.”
“It’s fine.”
Her gentle voice replied as she lightly tugged on my arm.
I tried to resist, but thanks to her experience in battle, her strength far exceeded what I could have imagined.
“What on earth—!!”
I shouted loudly, but even so, Lilian calmly pulled me into the barrier with a gentle smile.
“Let go of me!”
Flustered by the forceful situation, I couldn’t maintain my usual smile and raised my voice instead.
For a moment, the surroundings went eerily silent.
The young ladies, who had never expected me to raise my voice, stared at me in shock, and even Versha looked surprised with wide eyes.
“Uh, no, I mean… it’s just that you suddenly grabbed me and I—”
“Tina, you shouldn’t yell at the Saint like that.”
At Versha’s sharp admonition, I immediately shut my mouth.
I knew.
Unlike before, the highest-profile person here is Lilian.
Her influence was far too significant to compare even to the esteemed Versha.
Normally, I would have exercised good judgment, but, with Lilian suddenly pulling me…
“I-I’m sorry…”
But there was nothing I could do.
Lilian smiled gently and briefly patted my back.
“It’s alright; I just want to get closer to you, Lady.”
The image I had seen earlier felt like a lie; her expression held no trace of hostility, leaving me bewildered.
Really… was she acting this way just to befriend me?
If it were Lilian’s character, maybe that would make sense.
With her lively personality and sociability, she’s like a capybara wanting to befriend everyone.
“Alright, then, Lady! I’ll ask you a question.”
Lilian clapped her hands, producing a cheerful sound.
With a radiant smile, she leaned in close, her crimson lips parting.
“How fond are you of the other young ladies, Lady Blanc?”
Surprisingly, the question felt pointless.
How many times had I been asked this question until now?
Like an owner confirming affection from a pet, the young ladies asked me day in and day out.
Every time, I always gave the same answer.
And this time was no different.
With an innocent mask on my face.
With a bashful smile.
Just as always, I spoke the same words I always had.
With an unyielding bashful smile, I repeated those ever-consistent words.
“Of course, I like them very much… Ah, um…?”
Thump—
“Like…uh, I mean… I like—.”
Thump-thump—
With an intense pain tightening around my heart.
My body froze completely.
