I’m Trying to End This Possession Chapter 223

“The meat on your plate. That was Ren.”

 

What? Dana was so shocked that she almost dropped her glass.

 

Rodrigo smiled brightly. “Well, how was it, Viego? Was Ren delicious?”

 

Only after a few seconds did the meaning of his words seem to sink in. Viego hurriedly clamped a hand over his mouth. He looked as if he were about to retch.

 

“Hold it in,” Rodrigo ordered sharply, like a whip cracking. “If you vomit, I’ll slaughter another lamb and make you eat that instead.”

 

At those words, Viego’s hand trembled as he covered his mouth. His face turned deathly pale, but he endured.

 

Rodrigo smiled with satisfaction and began his speech. “Listen well. A beast is a beast. And you are a predator who eats beasts.”

 

“…”

 

“Do you understand? Do not give your heart to such weak things. Those emotions will eat away at you and make you weak.”

 

You vile b*stard… Dana bit the inside of her mouth. The scene before her was so cruel it made her stomach churn. Perhaps because of that, her head suddenly burned hot. Hot, then numb, then hot again.

 

When she came to her senses, Dana was already hurling her glass at Rodrigo. But Rodrigo quickly snatched the flying glass out of the air. A beat later, he realized it had been thrown by Dana and tilted his head.

 

“Huh?”

 

“Huh, my ass!” Dana flung the whiskey straight into his shameless face. Splash! His face was soaked with whiskey. “You, trash of a human being. You’re worse than vermin!”

 

“T-That’s…” Rodrigo’s lips trembled, as if shocked. “Why are you so angry?”

 

“Are you actually asking that, you piece of garbage?!”

 

Viego and even Demian stared at her blankly in shock.

 

Seeing Demian only made her fury burn hotter. Your son is being treated like this, and you just stand there watching? No, he even tried to abandon his son and run away on his own!

 

Rodrigo put on an aggrieved expression, as if he were deeply wronged. “I was merely trying to discipline my weak grandson.”

 

“You’re the one who needs discipline!”

 

Smack! Smack! Dana rushed at him and struck Rodrigo wildly with her hands.

 

Rodrigo curled up, covering his head. “Stop it, Dana! What if you hurt your hand! Use this instead!” In a panic, he tugged off the golden sash tied around his waist and handed it to her.

 

As if I wouldn’t! Dana lashed him mercilessly with the sash.

 

Rodrigo screamed as if it genuinely hurt. “Argh! Argh!”

 

Rage, no, resentment beyond rage dominated her mind because of this man. Everything is because of this man. He is the root of all evil. This man ruined Ignis’s life. Viego grew up cold-blooded because of this demon too. Because of this demon, Rodrigo Windsor!

 

“Your Holiness!”

 

Hearing the commotion, knights rushed in.

 

“What do you think you’re doing?!”

 

Rough hands forcibly grabbed Dana. She let out an involuntary groan at their strength.

 

“Release her!” Rodrigo shouted, eyes blazing. “If you leave even a single scratch on Dana, I will not forgive you!”

 

The knights, startled, released her at once. Dana was just as shocked.

 

Rodrigo barked, “Get out. At once!”

 

Only then, after seeing the banquet hall reduced to chaos Dana realized she was completely drunk. Tense as she had been, she’d drunk far too quickly. That was why she’d been unable to restrain her disgust and fury toward him. She should have endured it… No. Get a grip.

 

Dana steadied her breathing. When she finally regained her composure, only Rodrigo and she remained in the banquet hall. Rodrigo had dismissed everyone else.

 

“Dana.” He spoke gravely, his appearance utterly disheveled from being beaten. “You are beautiful.”

 

“What?”

 

“To rage so fiercely for my grandson. You are kind. And goodness is beautiful.”

 

What is he even saying…? Is he mocking me? But Rodrigo was solemn, almost reverent in his seriousness.

 

“You may remain that beautiful. But Viego, no, we must not.”

 

“What are you talking about?”

 

“There was a prophecy long ago,” Rodrigo spoke calmly, mentioning a prophecy that foretold the end of Ramun’s blessing and the beginning of rotting land. “Soon, the land will begin to rot. And the Windsor family has been preparing for that calamity for over two hundred years.”

 

Ah. So this is just his excuse. Dana scoffed sarcastically. “Well, who knows? Maybe the gods abandoned this world because they were angered by the experiments you people conducted.”

 

Silence fell. Rodrigo stared straight into her eyes without a word. Then he smiled and asked, “How do you know about our experiments? I haven’t told you yet.”

 

Ah. Right. What a mistake. Perhaps the alcohol hadn’t fully worn off yet. Still, Dana snapped back without changing her expression. “A red-haired child caused a scene this morning, didn’t he?”

 

Yes, Ignis had done that. Dana pretended she had guessed about the experiments from it and lashed out. “Do you think experiments involving children could possibly be normal? They must be immoral and inhumane. Isn’t that why God abandoned you, because you did such wicked experiments?”

 

Perhaps he couldn’t deny it. The suspicion faded from Rodrigo’s eyes. “Yes. That could be.” And he accepted it readily. “But does it matter which came first, the chicken or the egg? Whatever the cause, the Sun God has abandoned us.” Running his fingers through his disheveled hair, he continued, “There are already signs across the continent that the land is beginning to rot.”

 

“…”

 

“To prevent contamination, purification is necessary. And to create purification, all kinds of inhumane experiments are required.” He picked up the sash that had fallen to the floor and tied it back around his waist. “Someone must do it, even if it means staining their hands with blood.” He straightened his crumpled collar. “If that makes me evil, then evil is my destiny. I do not run from my destiny.”

 

By then, Dana was completely calm. The intoxication had fully faded. For the first time, she spoke to him sincerely. “But I’m here now, aren’t I? The experiment succeeded. Can’t you stop?”

 

“And what if you die one day? What if your power suddenly disappears? We must assume the worst. The experiments must continue.”

 

As expected, he was impossible to reason with. Of course he was. He had convictions, and he had devoted his entire life to them.

 

At that moment, Dana made a firm decision. I have to kill this man. While she was here, she must kill him and return. No matter what it takes, she would blow Rodrigo Windsor’s head to pieces.

 

I can do it. She had already killed him once by blowing Ignis’s head apart. There was no reason she couldn’t kill Rodrigo as well. Then, just maybe, the future would change. Ignis might still be alive. To make that happen…

 

“I see.”

 

Dana needed to lower his guard. She had to appear gentle and harmless, just as she had with Ignis.

 

“Do you understand, then?”

 

“I’m not sure. But tormenting Viego like that isn’t right.”

 

“Yes. You truly are kind.” Rodrigo smiled softly. Strangely enough, he seemed to genuinely like that about her.

 

“Dana. In a few days, on June 5th, there will be a very important ritual.” He abruptly changed the subject. “Two hundred years ago, a Windsor ancestor offered himself as a sacrifice and prayed for the continent’s peace. I intend to follow his will and offer one son of the Windsor family to Lady Daiana by casting him into the Ice Lake.”

 

“…”

 

“Demian, Carl, and Viego. I plan to offer one of the three as a sacrifice.”

 

What? Dana stared at him, her face blank. What did she just hear?

 

Rodrigo spoke calmly. “I would like you to choose. Which one should be offered as the sacrifice?”

 

Once again, Dana realized it clearly. This man is completely insane.

 

“I think Viego would be appropriate.” He chose his grandson without hesitation. “Demian is currently the duke of the Windsor family. There’s no one who could replace him immediately. Carl is only fourteen, too young.” He clicked his tongue. “Though Carl is a bit unstable mentally, his abilities are outstanding. But Viego…” He sighed, as if even thinking about it was frustrating. “He’s too weak.”

 

“…”

 

“If Viego does not personally hunt a lamb and place it on the dining table by tomorrow evening, I intend to offer him as the sacrifice. What do you think?” He wasn’t asking, but it wasn’t a question. Rodrigo had already decided.