I’m Trying to End This Possession Chapter 161

“Uncle.” Viego interlocked his fingers, looking at Carl. “Since you’ve stripped off the deputy head position, you need to return the ring.”

 

“Ah, about that.” Carl leaned back in his chair with a grin. “That’s going to be a bit difficult, Viego.”

 

“…”

 

“I’ll be keeping the ring.”

 

Despite the shockingly brazen response, Viego wasn’t surprised. He simply looked at his uncle with a calm gaze. Carl Windsor was smiling gently, but…

 

“That should be fine, right?”

 

Carl wasn’t joking.

 

Viego tapped the armrest with his fingertips. Carl really seemed intent on not handing over the ring. Viego decided to test how far Carl’s intention went.

 

“That would be problematic.” So Viego refused. “The deputy head’s ring should belong to Danae Windsor.” He observed the other’s face calmly. “So I ask for your cooperation.”

 

“Ah…” Then Carl sighed as if it were a pity and smiled. “What to do.” Innocently, like a boy. “I don’t feel like cooperating.”

 

Carl, who had been leaning back, straightened up and leaned forward, closing the distance between their gazes. His face, which had been bathed in a stream of sunlight, was now shrouded in dark shadows.

 

“I don’t like that, Viego.”

 

Just like that, the green glow in his eyes changed. It was like a predator lying in wait.

 

“I could give Dana anything, but this ring is an exception,” Carl whispered as if sharing a playful secret. “So it’s best I keep it.”

 

“If I insist on retrieving it, what would you do?”

 

“Then you’ll have to forcibly take it from me.” Carl’s gentle voice almost sounded like a jest. “I’d probably try my best not to let it be taken.”

 

But Viego knew exactly what that sentence implied. He understood very well. The meaning of forcibly taking the ring from Carl Windsor.

 

“…”

 

Viego Windsor thought for a long time. Carl patiently waited for Viego’s decision. His nephew, known for his sharp wit and lack of emotion, what conclusion he would come to, Carl already knew.

 

After a moment, Viego spoke. “Keep the ring, Uncle.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

As if he expected it, Carl stood up lightly. Just before turning around, he asked, “Is Noah doing well in the sanctuary?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“I wonder if he’s grown much. I’d like to visit him.”

 

“Men of Windsor who have come of age are.” Viego cut off sharply. As if to say this was something he could never compromise on. “Forbidden from entering the sanctuary.”

 

“The sanctuary is a place filled with memories of my youth, and I really wanted to visit again.” Carl laughed heartily. “Not being able to enter as an adult, how romantic.” Truly romantic. He murmured with a smiling face.

 

* * *

Clang! The glass slipped from her grip and shattered. Yet, Dana did not notice she had dropped it.

 

“What?”

 

The words she had just heard were shockingly unexpected.

 

“They’re abolishing the tradition of passing down the deputy head’s ring?”

 

“Yes. His Grace has instructed me to convey this.”

 

From then on, she could not hear her secretary’s words. Only a ringing noise filled her ears. They’re abolishing that tradition? Suddenly? Why? Then what about me…

 

“Milady, and we’ve partially decrypted the sentences from the letter brought by the eagle last time.”

 

“Not now.” Dana cut off Lethe mid-sentence and dashed out of the room. Her head was spinning.

 

Why? Suddenly? Why?

 

Bang bang! Dana knocked on Viego’s office door. But no voice responded. Flustered, she opened the door.

 

Viego was not there. He had left his post again. After making such a radical announcement, he left on his own accord! A rage that felt like it would drive her mad surged within Dana.

 

This couldn’t be happening. How had she come this far, only for the holy relic to be taken from her? And yet, they were only offering her the position of the deputy head without the holy relic!

 

I don’t need the deputy head position…

 

Standing dazedly, trembling, Dana turned and ran with all her might. With each step, memories from a few days ago resurfaced.

 

“I can give you my finger, Dana.”

 

Carl’s face firmly refused her when she demanded the deputy lord’s ring.

 

“But the ring might be difficult.”

 

Carl was willing to grant anything else she requested, but that alone he would not give.

 

It must have been Carl who refused to return it. Viego, having calculated, would have chosen not to take the ring. He knew that avoiding conflict with Carl would benefit the Windsor family!

 

Carl Windsor, you despicable man. What was he thinking? When he refused last time, she thought it was to preserve his position as the deputy head. But that wasn’t it. Carl wanted the ring. He was willing to lose the deputy head position but not the ring. Why?

 

No way.

 

Dana’s steps halted abruptly. Just contemplating the possibility sent a chill through her mind.

 

Does he know? Does he know the ring is a holy relic? Then I—what should I do?

 

Lost in thought, Dana walked slowly. And finally, she stood before Carl’s bedroom door. The uncertainty made her feel as if she were engulfed in darkness. If he knew it was a holy relic and refused to give it to her, what should she do?

 

“Dana?”

 

Suddenly, the bedroom door opened.

 

“Why are you standing there? Come in.” Carl welcomed her with open arms.

 

Dana hadn’t even knocked yet…

 

“Come in quickly.”

 

Carl pulled her inside by the arm. Click. He closed the door with a grin.

 

“Did you come because you missed me? Were you worried about me?” Carl walked happily to the side table. “Want some tea? I was just brewing your favorite chamomile tea.”

 

For a moment, Dana wanted to slap him. To grab and shake him, screaming. To demand the ring. That it belonged to her.

 

“Uncle…”

 

Instead of exploding with that fierce, fiery desire, Dana barely swallowed it. She couldn’t. That man wouldn’t be swayed by mere threats.

 

“Why won’t you give me the ring?”

 

“Hmm?”

 

“I heard. They’re going to abolish the tradition of handing down the deputy lord’s ring…”

 

“Aah.” Carl smiled awkwardly. “Sorry. I can give you anything else, but this ring is difficult.”

 

“Uncle, do you dislike me?” Instead of screaming, Dana sobbed. Tears flowed down her cheeks. She knew very well that Carl Windsor was weak against such a sight. “Do you hate me for becoming the deputy head? Is that why you’re tormenting me like this?”

 

“How could that be? How much I—” Suddenly, Carl stopped talking and sighed deeply, then apologized with a look of pity. “I can’t give you this ring. I’m really sorry. Please forgive me.”

 

Gradually, certainty washed over Dana like a rising tide. If Carl Windsor thought this was just an ordinary ring, he wouldn’t have refused adamantly. The man who seemed willing to give her everything, even his own liver and gallbladder, wouldn’t be this firm. Therefore—He knows it’s a holy relic.

 

A massive shiver ran down Dana’s spine. He knows. It’s clear he knows.

 

“…Alright.”

 

Dana’s mind raced. Her most potent weapon, tears, had no effect on him. Then, there was only one option left. Something he valued as much as the holy relic. For instance—My wealth.

 

“Uncle.”

 

“Hmm?”

 

“If you give me the ring, I’ll give you everything I own. Whenever you want, on your terms.”

 

There’s no need for you to commit murder or go through complex inheritance procedures; legally.

 

“All my wealth, I’ll give it all to you.”

 

Of course, he might be planning to kill her in two months to inherit her wealth. But for him, legally inheriting it would be more convenient and less messy.

 

“So, will you give me the ring?”

 

Carl then looked at her quietly. His green eyes darkened infinitely. After observing her for a while, he slowly asked, “Why do you think I want your wealth?”

 

“In the current situation, you need it.”

 

After all, he was truly bankrupt.

 

“Uncle, don’t you need my wealth?”

 

If Carl insisted he didn’t need it and kept up the act, Dana would threaten to revoke his guardianship. Then, he wouldn’t inherit anything from her death.

 

Dana was threatening him to hand over the ring. Yes, it was a threat. It had come to this. For a man who wouldn’t respond to pleas, tears, or begging, only a blatant threat remained. It was a gamble, but at this point, she was at the edge of a cliff. There was no turning back. But Dana’s resolve quickly faded.

 

“Just one thing…”

 

The smile vanished from Carl’s face, and just that was enough to make Dana feel as if the air around him had completely changed from soft and clear to dark and heavy.

 

“There’s something I want.” Carl’s tone, his gaze, remained as heartbreakingly gentle and sweet as ever. “The map to Treasure Island, you have it in your safe, right?”

 

“…Yes.”

 

This was a well-known fact. Her father, Demian Windsor, had found Treasure Island. That he had passed the map to Dana Windsor was widely known.

 

“Dana, do you know that the treasure island is the sanctuary?”

 

Treasure Island is the sanctuary? Dana didn’t know. She had no memory of seeing the treasure in the sanctuary. Her memories from waking up there were too vague.

 

“I didn’t know.”

 

But what does that matter? Whether Treasure Island is the sanctuary or the sanctuary is Treasure Island, Dana had no interest in that.

 

“If you wish, I’ll give you the map… So.”

 

“Dana.” Carl took a step forward. He began to approach her. “There’s something you don’t know.”

 

His handsome face, devoid of a smile, was terrifying. Please, just smile.

 

“The ownership of the map can only be transferred through death.”

 

No, better not come any closer.

 

“Do you understand what that means?” But Carl neither smiled nor stopped. Finally, he reached her. “Even if you give me the map to the sanctuary, as long as you’re alive, it’s nothing but a piece of blank paper to me.”

 

Carl looked at her as if seeing her for the first time and raised his hand. He touched her cheek.

 

“Furthermore, only the owner of the map can penetrate the barrier to enter the sanctuary. Others can’t enter without the pope’s permission. Nothing can break the barrier.”

 

Ah… Was she crying again without realizing it? Dana hadn’t intended to shed any more tears. But his thumb carefully collected her tears as if they were jewels.

 

“So stop making such a frightening offer, okay?” Carl smiled.

 

Only then did Dana feel like she could breathe. The pressure that felt like someone was squeezing her finally disappeared. She felt even more alive as Carl turned away.

 

“Oh, but.” Carl stopped and looked back at her. “Now I understand.” He narrowed his eyes slightly, smiling. “I was actually a bit confused.”

 

“…What?”

 

“The reason you want to become the deputy head. I wasn’t sure what that reason was.”

 

“…”

 

“But seeing how much you want this ring, now I know for sure.” Carl smiled, his eyes crinkling softly. “To go back to being Yeon Dana, right?”

 

For a moment, her breath stopped. It felt like time itself had halted. In the frozen space-time, only Carl moved. He tilted his head, feigning disappointment.

 

“You promised not to leave, didn’t you?”

 

No. She never made such a promise. But all words churned in her throat. Only the most primal question surfaced.

 

Yeon Dana. She had never told Carl that name. No, she had never told anyone in this world…

 

“You’re trying to go back to being Yeon Dana, aren’t you?”

 

So, how did he know?