Everyone Realized the Saint Was a Fake, but She Still Thought She Was Fooling Them - Chapter 24

Celeste couldn’t follow such an outrageous story and asked again.

“Huh? Leaving your body? What are you talking about?”

Lianna shrank back apologetically.

“I know it sounds strange. I can’t explain it myself, but when I’m asleep, I can stay conscious and leave my body. That’s the secret I was talking to Mesha about. When I leave my body, I don’t have a physical form, so no one can see me. I used this ability to eavesdrop on Lady Lucilda. Just to be clear, I didn’t mean to spy on her. I just happened to overhear something.”

“…”

Celeste’s eyes widened. She was too shocked to speak.

“So, I’m not on Lady Lucilda’s side. In fact, I overheard things she didn’t want anyone to hear. Wallace, Bartlett, and Lord Ernst don’t know about this. Only Mesha and you.”

Lianna explained.

“I see… So that’s why even Lord Ernst was confused,” Celeste muttered, finally able to speak.

“Yes. I couldn’t tell anyone about this ability. I’m sorry for keeping it a secret.”

Lianna apologized, and Celeste nodded, though she still looked unconvinced.

“I still can’t believe it. To be honest, it sounds like you’re just making this up to cover up your alliance with Lady Lucilda. But… I don’t think you’d come up with such a ridiculous story just to trick me.”

“Exactly! I’m not lying. Actually, I was afraid you’d find me creepy if I told you. You might think I’m not human… And, well, since I can see things without being noticed, I could also spy on your private life if I wanted to…”

Lianna spoke in a small voice.

“Yeah… That would be seriously disturbing.”

“Right?”

Lianna’s face darkened, and she lowered her gaze. She was prepared for the worst. Celeste might say, “I can’t stay with a monster like you. I wouldn’t feel safe knowing you could spy on my personal life.”

Celeste seemed to be thinking about it.

“…”

The two of them fell silent.

As the awkward silence dragged on, Mesha couldn’t hold back and spoke up.

“But, Lady Lianna would never use her ability on Lady Celeste.”

Lianna immediately looked up at her unexpected ally.

“Y-Yes! I would never use this ability on Celeste. Please don’t be afraid of me. I want us to stay friends.”

Celeste stared at Lianna with a serious expression. Then, she gave a small nod.

“Alright. If you say you won’t, I’ll believe you. You shared something you didn’t want to, and we’ve been friends for years.”

“Thank you, Celeste!”

Lianna’s eyes filled with happy tears.

At that moment, Celeste noticed something.

“Lianna, were you planning to use that ability tonight?”

“W-What? H-How did you know?”

Lianna flinched in surprise.

“You called for this maid, right? You said she’s the only one who knows about your ability. That means… you called her for a reason.”

Celeste’s sharp intuition left Lianna speechless.

“You’re amazing, Celeste. Yes, I was planning to use it.”

Celeste looked concerned.

“Where were you planning to go?”

“To Lady Yelena’s lover.”

Lianna answered.

Celeste was shocked.

“What? You know where he is?”

“Wallace told me today.”

Lianna replied, making Celeste frown.

“Wallace doesn’t know about your ability, right? And… isn’t he already handling Lady Yelena’s lover in his own way?”

Lianna understood Celeste’s point but spoke softly.

“I think so. But I might be able to gather information more efficiently.”

“Well, if you can sneak in without being noticed, that makes sense. Lady Yelena’s lover… He’s the one who stabbed Lord Ernst, right? Maybe you’ll find some evidence. But, I’ll ask again—are you sure this isn’t dangerous?”

Celeste sounded genuinely worried.

“My spirit will be fine. But my real body will be defenseless. That’s why Mesha will watch over me.”

“Alright. Then, I’ll stay with Mesha and keep watch too.”

Celeste thought for a moment before offering.

Lianna was surprised by her sudden proposal.

“Celeste!?”

“Let me do this. Like I said, my engagement with Lord Brode was broken. I want to know the truth, too. If I don’t, I’ll never find peace. How much was Lord Brode involved? What was he thinking? I can’t stop wondering about it.”

Celeste spoke sadly.

“I see… That makes sense. Then, can you and Mesha wait for me? I’ll tell my parents we’re having a sleepover.”

Touched by Celeste’s feelings, Lianna agreed. Celeste gave a small nod of thanks before asking for more details.

“So, where is Lady Yelena’s lover?”

“At the temple of Lady Lucilda’s chief patron priest.”

Lianna relayed what Wallace had told her. Celeste jumped up in shock.

“Lianna! Forget about Yelena’s lover for now—we should investigate Lady Lucilda’s patron priest instead!”

“Huh?”

Lianna stared at Celeste in surprise.

“The patron priest is Chris Wisledge. I remember him well. He was awful to me.”

Celeste said with a sour look.

“Awful?”

Lianna asked, even more surprised. Celeste nodded firmly.

“Yes! When I was arranging to have my wedding with Lord Brode at the central temple, Wisledge blocked it. He convinced the central temple not to allow it. And yet, they approve weddings for lower-ranked nobles! Wisledge isn’t even a central temple priest—he’s just from a regional temple in the southern city! Naturally, I complained to the central temple. They told me they were struggling to deal with him. Even though he’s just a local priest, he tries to control the central temple because of Lady Lucilda’s backing.”

“Why did he block your wedding?”

Lianna asked, feeling indignant. Celeste answered.

“He claimed that families who don’t fully support Lady Lucilda lack the faith to marry in the central temple. My father was furious, but my grandmother had connections with a high-ranking priest, so she tried to negotiate. Then, they told us, ‘Send the money to Wisledge, not the central temple,’ and ‘If you pay enough, we’ll reconsider.’ It was all about money. The central temple got mad at Wisledge, but the priest who protested against him was fired, supposedly by Lady Lucilda’s authority. It’s infuriating.”

Lianna listened in shock.

“So your wedding with Lord Brode was blocked for more than one reason.”

“Exactly. The temple played a role, too. My father even tried to bribe Lady Lucilda directly. When we next met, she looked so smug! She told me, ‘I’ll talk to Wisledge for you. The central temple does whatever I say.’ I was furious! She and Wisledge were the ones who blocked it in the first place!”

Celeste clenched her fists, still angry about it.

Lianna shook her head in disbelief.

“That’s so corrupt!”

“Right? Lady Lucilda is bad enough, but Wisledge is just as terrible. Investigating him might be the quickest way forward.”

Celeste suggested, and Lianna nodded.

“Thanks for the advice. I’ll do that.”