I’m Trying to End This Possession Chapter 159

* * *

Rumie had been waiting all along.

 

“Is it true, Rumie?”

 

His grandfather, Duke Rolland, came to visit him in prison, but Rumie was not waiting for him.

 

“Did you really do such a thing?”

 

“Yes.”

 

At that, Duke Rolland closed his mouth as if shocked. Rumie regretted having to cause his grandfather distress, but it couldn’t be helped.

 

Duke Rolland muttered with his hand covering his face. “Your fate has been decided.”

 

“Please tell me.”

 

“You’ll be stripped of your position as the commander of Macriro ship. And demoted from colonel to private.”

 

“Ah.”

 

Private. Rumie sincerely sighed. He leaned his head against the prison wall, exhaling a low sigh. “With the number of my medals of honor, to be a mere private, it’s dizzying. The thought of starting from the bottom makes me feel lost…”

 

“Are you joking!” Duke Rolland could not contain his anger and shouted. “This is as good as being ordered to retire!”

 

“…”

 

“Your military career is over the moment you disobeyed the law, especially an order from the future monarch.”

 

“…”

 

“Have you forgotten how you, an illegitimate child who doesn’t even know whose seed you came from, climbed to this position!”

 

How could he forget? Once, he was scorned as an illegitimate child born out of wedlock. But now, no one dared to mock him. The honor of a soldier that Rumie had built with his entire life became the armor that protected this existence.

 

Duke Rolland sighed. He never imagined that his grandson would willingly cast aside that shining honor. “It doesn’t matter how many medals of honor you have. There’s no future promotion for you. Who would need a soldier who doesn’t follow orders!”

 

“I understand. I’m sorry, Grandfather.” Rumie apologized calmly. “I’ve received much help from you but failed to meet your expectations.”

 

“Failed to meet expectations? No, it’s not just that. You’re my failure. You’ve disappointed me! A man once considered the next commander of the navy…” Duke Rolland swallowed his anger and glared at his grandson. After staring for a while, he asked bluntly. “You received a letter, didn’t you?”

 

“…”

 

“I heard your behavior became strange after receiving that letter.”

 

At those words, Rumie raised an eyebrow slightly. “Who did you hear that from?”

 

“It doesn’t matter. Who sent that letter?”

 

Rumie did not answer. However, Duke Rolland already knew.

 

“A woman, right?”

 

“…”

 

“Your lover?”

 

Lover? Rumie slowly shook his head. Far from his lover, she was another man’s fiancée.

 

“If not a lover, are you courting her on your own?”

 

Courting? That wasn’t it either. How could he court a woman destined to be the empress? Moreover, she had always regarded and followed him like a real brother. All he could do was secretly, without anyone knowing, without being caught by anyone, quietly and cautiously let his feelings burn inside him.

 

“Pitiful fool. You’ve thrown away your bright future for a woman you can neither formally date nor casually court?”

 

And it seemed the grandfather had figured out who she was. He cared for his grandson as much as he knew him well. Duke Rolland clicked his tongue.

 

“I’ve seen many like you. Men who lived diligently all their lives but ruined themselves in a moment over a woman.”

 

Rumie couldn’t bear to look at his grandfather and cast his eyes down.

 

“Pull yourself together, Rumie Windsor. If you don’t want to die as a miserable fool.” With those words, his grandfather left.

 

Many people visited after that, but the one Rumie was waiting for did not come. Still, Rumie waited.

 

How much time had passed? Bang! The bars seemed to break as they opened. Rumie looked at the man kicking open the prison door. Soon, he was grabbed by the collar and dragged away.

 

“You.”

 

It was Raios Geranze.

 

“It was you.”

 

Raios’s demeanor was ominous.

 

Rumie responded nonchalantly. “What do you mean?”

 

“You did it. It was you. You scum!”

 

The crown prince was completely enraged and lost his composure. There was only one reason for Raios to make such a fuss like now.

 

“Did you perhaps get your engagement annulled?”

 

Seeing the other’s face stiffen, Rumie was certain. Dana must have succeeded in breaking off the engagement.

 

Rumie smiled gently. “That’s quite unfortunate, Your Highness.”

 

Raios scrutinized Rumie with glaring eyes. Then, seemingly having reached a conclusion, he roughly grabbed Rumie’s collar. “Despicable. Don’t spout insincere words. How dare you covet the crown prince’s fiancée…”

 

However, perhaps too exhausted to even be angry, Raios closed his mouth and turned away. Rumie watched the closing bars with a calm gaze.

 

“You did it. It was you. You scum!”

 

What? What does Raios suspect him of doing?

 

The answer came quickly. Rumie knew about the engagement between the two. As the thought reached that point, realization finally dawned on him. Why did Dana suddenly act close to him? Why did she urgently call him again and again?

 

Ah, so that’s why. A dry laugh escaped him. Nevertheless, Rumie didn’t draw a conclusion. He just wanted to wait a little longer. Just a bit, just a bit more…

 

But, the person Rumie was waiting for never came. Even after a few days he was released from prison.

 

* * *

Rumie did not return to the Windsor’s mansion. Instead, he headed to the Rolland family, his other home. He went straight to his bedroom. After a long shower, he changed into fresh clothes and took a short nap. And that evening, he woke up to the sound of a servant’s knock.

 

“Lord Rumie. How should we prepare your meal?”

 

“No need.”

 

He had a brief dream in the meantime. Still immersed in the lingering feelings of the dream, Rumie asked. “Did someone come looking for me?”

 

“Yes? There were no visitors…”

 

“No letters too?”

 

“Yes. There isn’t one.”

 

“Go on then.”

 

After sending the servant away, Rumie stood by the window, looking outside. Before he knew it, the sky had darkened. He took out a cigarette case from his pocket, picked one, and lit it up. Slowly smoking, he reminisced about the dream he just had.

 

It was a few years ago when he regarded Dana as a cute younger sister. He had once gone on a picnic with Dana alone.

 

“Wow, this place is really beautiful.”

 

It was a flower field where white daisies fluttered in the spring breeze. There, he enjoyed some wine with Dana. And for a moment, they lay in the field, soaking up the sun… And he fell asleep unintentionally. Perhaps she lent her lap during that time.

 

When Rumie woke up, he found himself resting on Dana’s thighs. Unaware that he had fallen asleep, Rumie was slightly startled and looked up at Dana, completely defenseless. Dana, unaware that he had woken up, was humming a tune while gazing at the flower field. The dazzling sunlight shimmered like a halo above her head. And the gentle touch of her hand stroking his hair…

 

For some reason, Rumie was completely captivated at that moment. He silently gazed up at Dana. When Dana seemed about to lower her head, he quickly closed his eyelids. The sleep had fled, but he continued to pretend to sleep. He wished this moment would last forever.

 

Dana’s fingertips were as warm as the spring sun, and her humming was as sweet as the scent of flowers carried by the breeze…

 

What if she called his name with that voice? At that thought, Rumie squeezed his eyes shut even tighter in surprise. And he quickly realized. That this was impure. His feelings and impulses rising within him were wrong.

 

Love is often said to be beautiful, but that did not apply to him. His love was not beautiful at all. Instead, it was a monstrosity that needed to be hidden and concealed. So, he had to come to a conclusion.

 

Rumie stubbed out the cigarette in the ashtray. Then he turned around and walked out. He wanted to see it with his own eyes, whatever it was. He needed a reality to end it.

 

Rumie immediately mounted his horse and headed for Windsor’s mansion. For some reason, just like that day, like the day he had rushed madly after being enchanted by Dana’s letter, his chest tightened. His heart throbbed. Overcome with urgency, he scaled the mansion’s wall, sprinted across the garden, and climbed the building.

 

Knock, knock. And with a trembling breath, he knocked on Dana’s window. The window that hadn’t opened before. But this time, it creaked open at an angle. And finally, the face of the woman who had been tormenting him appeared.

 

“Brother Rumie.” She smiled brightly. “What brings you here so late?” With genuinely curious, clear eyes.

 

Rumie looked down at her and smiled. “You called me, Dana.”

 

“I did.”

 

“What did you want?” Rumie asked, sensing the end of their conversation.

 

Dana then lightly replied. “I had a problem, but it’s resolved now.”

 

“Resolved?”

 

“Yes. It’s all over now. So you don’t need to worry.”

 

That was the end. Without further words, Dana smiled. It was as gentle as the first moment he fell for her.

 

He looked at her quietly, then softly asked. “Dana.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“Did you spend time with another man while I was in prison?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Did you sleep with that guy?”

 

“Yes,” Dana answered simply, as if there was no reason or need to hide anything from him. “I’m sorry if you were waiting for me. My affairs were urgent, so I had no choice. I should have sought you out sooner, but I was overwhelmed with many things.”

 

How innocent her face was. It was hard to believe she was the woman who had shattered his life. But it was an appropriate end.

 

Rumie thought this was a sufficient conclusion. He did not blame Dana. It was his choice, so there was no reason to blame. After all, he had long suspected that the letter was either Dana’s cruel joke or a means to use him. A shameful fantasy he had indulged in alone.

 

That was to be the end of this long and gloomy desire. Really, sincerely, that was his intention, but…

 

“If it’s alright with you, I’d like to offer you financial compensation.”

 

At those words.

 

“I’ll compensate you as much as you wish.”

 

Rumie’s thoughts changed. No, his feelings… changed.

 

“…Compensate?”

 

That affection turned into something completely different, something dark, dirty, and violent, changing rapidly within him.

 

“You want to compensate me with money.” He asked in a low voice.

 

Dana nodded. “Yes. That’s all I have to offer.”

 

“Ah. I see.”

 

Rumie tried to laugh, but he wasn’t sure if he did. The fever rose, and soon his head throbbed. Not just his head, but his throat and chest, all of it.

 

“I need a different kind of compensation.”

 

“…What?”

 

“You have more to offer than just money, don’t you?”

 

Rumie forcefully opened the window. Pushed by his force, Dana stepped back, and he stepped into the bedroom without hesitation.

 

“Brother, what are you—”

 

“My name.”

 

Thud. Rumie closed the window with a smile.

 

“You should call me by my name, Dana.”

 

* * *

A few days later, Rumie left the Windsor family register and transferred to Rolland. It was the day Carl Windsor was stripped of his position as the deputy head.