The Swindler and the False God - Chapter 7

Chapter 7

On the third day, the black-market boss sent me one of my brother’s fingers.

It was wrapped in white cloth.

The blood had already dried.

The nun screamed when she saw it.

I stood where I was, unable to hear a thing.

There was also a note inside the white cloth.

[Midnight tonight. The sacred relic key.]

[Otherwise, next time, it will be his eyes.]

Xize took the note.

I snatched it back.

“Don’t look.”

He looked at me.

“Who is Noan?”

I said nothing.

“Your brother?”

I laughed.

“Aren’t you so good at investigating, Lord Saint?”

“Miya.”

“Don’t call me that.”

I stepped back.

“Didn’t you want to know why I stole the sacred relic? Now you know.”

His voice was very steady.

“I can help you.”

“Help me?”

I lifted my head and looked at him.

“Can you give me the key?”

He fell silent.

I laughed out loud.

“See?”

“There are limits to your help.”

“I understand.”

I clenched the white cloth in my hand, blood staining my palm.

“But my brother doesn’t have time to wait for you to negotiate with your limits.”

Xize said, “The sacred relic cannot leave the White Tower.”

“So my brother deserves to die?”

He didn’t answer.

All at once, I hated him.

Hated how he stood in such a clean place, where even pain had to pass through doctrine first.

I turned to leave.

Xize caught my wrist.

“Where are you going?”

“To steal the key.”

“You won’t be able to.”

“Then I’ll lie.”

“To whom?”

I looked at him.

“You.”

His fingers tightened.

I rose onto my toes and brushed the corner of his mouth, very lightly.

It wasn’t a kiss.

It was more like pressing a blade against him.

“Lord Saint.”

I spoke softly.

“Don’t lock your door tonight.”

Xize’s eyes went completely dark.

It wasn’t as simple as desire.

There was anger too.

And pain.

“Must you do this?”

“This is all I know how to do.”

I broke free of his hand.

“You should have known that from the very first day.”

At midnight, I went to Xize’s room.

The door wasn’t locked.

When I pushed it open and went in, he was sitting by the window. The black key lay on the table.

Moonlight fell over the sapphire, cold as an eye.

I shut the door.

“How generous of you.”

Xize looked at me.

“How are you planning to lie?”

I walked over.

Each step was very slow.

I had changed out of the gray dress and into the red one I’d worn when I first came here.

It had been washed, but it still carried a faint trace of that rainy night.

Xize’s gaze swept from the hem of my dress to my ankle.

The red cord was still there.

I had deliberately left it on.

“Do you like it?”

“No.”

“Then why are you looking?”

“Because it’s tied too tight.”

I laughed.

“You really do know how to ruin the mood.”

He stood.

“Sit down.”

“Ordering me around?”

“Your ankle is bleeding.”

I looked down.

The red cord had indeed rubbed the skin raw.

I hadn’t felt it.

Xize brought over a medicine kit.

I sat down in the chair and watched as he lowered himself to one knee.

The Saint knelt before me.

The image was far too dangerous.

So dangerous that, for a moment, I forgot what I had come here to do.

He reached out and touched the red cord.

“Can it be untied?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“The black market put it on me. There are poisoned needles inside.”

Xize’s eyes chilled.

He took out a silver knife and lowered his head to cut the cord.

The tip of the blade rested against my ankle.

Very cold.

But his breath was hot.

I looked down at him.

“Xize.”

“Don’t move.”

“You look like you’re serving a criminal right now.”

The tip of the knife stilled.

He lifted his eyes.

“You’re not a criminal.”

“I’ve tricked people to their deaths.”

“You have sinned.”

He cut through the red cord. A poisoned needle sprang out, only to be blocked by his silver knife.

With a soft clink, the needle fell to the floor.

He raised his hand and pressed a medicated cotton pad to my wound.

“But sin is not all you are.”

Suddenly, I couldn’t speak.

He bandaged my ankle for me, then rose to his feet.

We were very close.

The key was right there on the table.

All I had to do was reach out, and I could take it.

But Xize’s hand landed on the tabletop first, pinning the key beneath his palm.

“Want it?”

I looked at him.

“Yes.”

“Then take it.”

“You’ll stop me.”

“I will.”

“Then why tell me to take it?”

He lowered his head and leaned closer.

“Because I want to know whether you came here tonight to steal the key, or to push me until I lose control.”

My heartbeat stumbled.

“Is there a difference?”

“There is.”

His voice was close enough to brush against me.

“If you steal the key, I’ll arrest you.”

“If you push me to lose control, I’ll kiss you.”