Chapter 10

Chapter 10

After dawn, Sister Martha came to see me.

She had bruises on her face and walked unsteadily.

The guards wouldn’t let her in.

She placed a bowl of cold soup at the door and said, “For the witness.”

The guard inspected it before kicking it inside.

A small slip of paper was pressed under the bowl.

I finished the soup before peeling the paper off.

There was only one line written on it.

*The final trial has been moved up. Today at noon.*

I swallowed the paper.

The cold, hard slip scraped against my throat.

It hurt so much it made my eyes sting.

Before noon, the Dean came to see me personally.

He brought a testimony.

“Sign it.”

I glanced at it.

The testimony was beautifully written.

I admit to being manipulated by Lian.

I admit that the perjury three years ago was also instigated by him.

I admit that everything today regarding the red light, the Holy Ark, and the Underground Incinerator was a lie.

In exchange, the academy would acknowledge that I was coerced back then and pardon me.

They would even allow me to leave as a victim.

Very generous.

So generous it felt like a new execution.

The Dean said, “You don’t owe him.”

I said, “I know.”

“He used you.”

“I know that too.”

“Then what are you hesitating for?”

I looked up.

“I was wondering if you said the exact same thing to him three years ago.”

The Dean’s eyes grew cold.

“A smart person should choose survival.”

“I made that choice before.”

I picked up the pen.

The Dean watched me.

I signed my name at the end of the testimony.

Evelyn.

Then I tore the paper in half.

The guards rushed in and pinned my shoulders down.

I was forced to my knees.

The Dean looked down at me.

“Do you think this makes you brave?”

I gave a small smile.

“No.”

I said.

“It just makes me very late.”

The final trial was held in the Main Cathedral.

All students and faculty were summoned.

Lian was chained to the left side of the judgment stand.

He had changed out of his white robes.

He wore only a black prisoner’s uniform.

There were iron chains on his wrists.

When I walked in, he looked up at me.

It was a very brief glance.

But it almost made me stop in my tracks.

It was as if he wanted to confirm whether I was hurt.

And also like he wanted to curse at me for not leaving.

I smiled at him.

Very faintly.

Meaning, *shut up*.

He understood.

His expression worsened.

The Dean sat at the highest seat.

He said, “Today’s final trial will hear the case of Candidate Lian and the witness Evelyn jointly fabricating a Miracle, desecrating the Holy Ark, and disrupting the academy’s order.”

*Jointly.*

I repeated the word in my mind.

Three years ago, he pushed me away.

Three years later, the academy finally tied us together.

How ironic.

The Dean asked Lian, “Do you admit to manipulating Evelyn into committing perjury?”

Lian said, “I admit it.”

I snapped my head to look at him.

He didn’t look at me.

The Dean asked, “Do you admit that the red light, the Holy Ark, and the Underground Incinerator were all fabricated by you?”

Lian said, “I admit it.”

A commotion rippled through the gallery.

My fingers went cold.

He was going to shoulder all the blame alone again.

The Dean turned to me with satisfaction.

“Evelyn, do you admit to being manipulated by Lian?”

I looked at Lian.

He finally looked up.

His eyes were very cold.

That coldness wasn’t directed at me.

It was begging me to cooperate.

Begging me not to drag myself into this again this time.

I suddenly remembered the rain corridor from three years ago.

He had grabbed my hand and said, *I beg you.*

Back then, I lied for him.

Now, he was begging me with that exact same look.

I slowly opened my mouth.

“I do not admit it.”

Lian closed his eyes.

I continued, “I was not manipulated by him.”

The Dean frowned.

I raised my voice.

“I lied of my own free will.”