The Swindler and the False God - Chapter 11

Chapter 11

The White Tower collapsed.

Not physically.

After the shrine was opened, every ledger inside was made public.

Nobles buying slots for absolution.

The White Tower fabricating miracles.

Monks reselling holy medicine.

And the cause of death of the previous “female swindler who stole the sacred relic.”

She hadn’t been executed.

After discovering the ledgers, she had been silenced.

The day Xize handed over the evidence, he put his white robe back on.

He just didn’t wear his gloves anymore.

Someone asked if he was still worthy of being the Saint.

He said, “I’m not.”

The crowd erupted.

He stood before the gates of the White Tower, far too calm.

“So from this day on, the White Tower will no longer have a Saint.”

I stood outside the crowd, holding Noan’s hand.

Noan asked quietly, “Sis, does that mean he doesn’t have to work anymore?”

“More or less.”

“Then what will he eat from now on?”

I fell silent.

That was a good question.

Xize walked through the crowd toward me.

In his hand was that black key.

“The shrine has been opened. The key is useless now.”

I asked, “You’re giving it to me?”

“Mm.”

“Why?”

“Didn’t you always want it?”

I took the key.

The sapphire didn’t look so cold under the sunlight anymore.

I said, “It won’t sell for five thousand gold coins now.”

“I know.”

“Then what am I supposed to do with it?”

Xize looked at me.

“Let it remind you that I’m the one you tricked down from the altar.”

I laughed.

“Lord Saint, you’re pretty good at playing the victim.”

“I’m not the Saint anymore.”

“Then what are you?”

He glanced at Noan.

Very tactfully, Noan turned around.

He even covered his ears.

Xize stepped closer.

“Last night, you said I wanted you.”

My heart gave a violent thump.

“Are you digging up old debts?”

“Mm.”

“And then?”

He lowered his head, his voice dropping very low.

“Can I ask now?”

“Ask what?”

“Can you afford to deceive me?”

Sunlight fell into his eyes.

They no longer looked like a divine statue’s.

They were like ash left after a fire, with embers still buried underneath.

I wound the key around my finger.

“Xize.”

“Mm.”

“Do you know what a swindler fears most?”

“What?”

“Someone who knows it’s all fake and is still willing to follow her.”

He looked at me.

“Then are you afraid now?”

I rose onto my toes and hooked my fingers in his collar.

“I am.”

“Will you still go?”

“I will.”

Before I kissed him, I heard Noan whisper from beside us, “I really did cover my ears.”

I nearly burst out laughing.

Xize smiled too.

Just faintly.

It was the first time I had ever seen him smile like that.

Like the last layer of snow on the White Tower had finally fallen to earth.

Later, we opened a little theater in the South Market.

We didn’t perform miracles.

We dismantled them.

Anyone whose family had been tricked by a false saint, anyone swindled by a black market sorcerer, could come to us.

Noan was in charge of picking locks.

I was in charge of conning people.

Xize was in charge of bringing back the people who’d been conned.

When someone asked if he used to be the Saint, he would say no.

I asked him why he lied.

He said, “The Saint is already dead.”

“Then who are you?”

He was wiping that short blade. At my question, he looked up.

“The man you seduced into breaking his vows.”

I choked on my water.

“Who taught you to say that?”

“You.”

“When did I ever teach you something like that?”

“You teach me every day.”

He set down the short blade and walked up to me.

In the daytime, he was still restrained.

But once the lamps went dark at night, that restraint became especially dangerous.

Like a taut string-one you knew would snap, yet still made you want to reach out and pluck it.

He lowered his head and looked at me.

“Are we having another lesson tonight?”

I raised my hand and pressed my fingertips against his chest.

His heartbeat there was steady.

But I knew there was fire beneath that steadiness.

“We are,” I said.

“But Lord Saint, you have to pay tuition first today.”

He took my hand and bowed his head to kiss my knuckles.

“I don’t have a sacred relic anymore.”

“Then pay with yourself.”

Xize looked at me, his gaze darkening.

“Miya.”

“Mm?”

“This time, I won’t pray.”

(The End)