I’m Trying to End This Possession Chapter 233

* * *

A week later, the coronation was held. Amid the people’s thunderous cheers, Raios Geranze ascended the imperial throne. And something happened on the very day he became emperor.

 

“I annul my sister’s engagement.”

 

The first thing he did was break off Danae Geranze’s engagement. Duke Viego Windsor accepted this without protest, as if he never desired it enough to fight for it in the first place.

 

“What do you think you’re doing, Raios!” Former Emperor Wilhelm raged at his son’s unexpected actions. “To annul the engagement without even discussing it with me!”

 

“…”

 

“Raios, answer me! Raios!”

 

“…”

 

“Raios Geranze!”

 

Raios didn’t exchange a single word with the former emperor. It was as if he couldn’t even remember the bond of father and son they had built over a lifetime. And he sent him away to the sanctuary, practically driving his father out.

 

“Don’t you think His Majesty has seemed gloomier these days?”

 

“Yeah. He seems strangely down lately.”

 

And Raios’s once-radiant face grew darker by the day. He no longer attended prayers as diligently as before. Instead, he began showing up at parties. To be precise, at parties that Danae Geranze attended.

 

“Sister, it’s late.”

 

Danae, who was chatting with a nobleman on the terrace, frowned at Raios’s appearance.

 

“Please stand up now.”

 

“Raios, wait a second…”

 

“Come.” He grabbed Danae’s hand and led her out of the party.

 

This happened repeatedly. Every party Danae Geranze attended, Raios would show up to take her away.

 

The nobles whispered about the emperor’s behavior. They said that the pious emperor had finally had enough of his sister’s promiscuity and that he was now seriously controlling her private life. In some ways, they were right.

 

“Sister, how far do you have to go to be satisfied with tormenting me?” Raios could no longer bear to see Danae spending time with other men.

 

“Raios, I told you. We were just talking.”

 

But Raios didn’t believe her. He couldn’t believe her because he knew how promiscuous she had been until now. Letting out a deep sigh, he pleaded. “Please refrain from being alone with men in closed spaces.”

 

Danae’s eyebrows shot up at that. “Are you restricting my freedom now?”

 

“No, that’s not what I mean.”

 

“We were just talking for a bit. Do I even need your permission for that?”

 

“Sister, I just—”

 

“Why don’t you just lock me up then? Or put guards on me. What couldn’t the great emperor possibly do?”

 

“That’s not what I meant—”

 

“Why? Why not just do as you please, like that night?”

 

For a moment, Raios’s face went pale.

 

Danae shot back sharply, “Go on, do whatever you want like you did then. Isn’t that something you could do anytime if you wanted?”

 

“Sister, please, that’s not it.”

 

“Enough. Get your hand off me.”

 

“I—”

 

Danae shook off his hand forcefully and glared at him coldly. “I hate you.”

 

“…”

 

“I really hate you.”

 

Those harsh words made Raios gasp for breath. Then, as if collapsing, he rested his face on her shoulder, like a beast frightened by its master’s anger. “Please don’t be angry.”

 

“…”

 

“I was wrong.”

 

“…”

 

“My heart was in so much pain, that’s why I did it.”

 

“…”

 

After a while, Danae slowly stroked Raios’s golden hair. She couldn’t stand being pushed around by force, but when someone came to her so weakly, her heart softened. Gently, she comforted the emperor. “Believe me. Since that night, I haven’t gotten deeply involved with any other man.”

 

“…Really?”

 

“Yes. Really. I have no intention of doing so in the future, either.”

 

“Do you mean it?” His voice was so desperate as he asked.

 

“Yeah.” Danae replied kindly, even though she found it a little funny. “I mean it.”

 

But that was a lie.

 

* * *

“I’m sorry.”

 

The day he apologized, the same day he penetrated deep inside her, it was the day he fell into the realm of a beast rather than a man. Danae neither permitted nor refused him. She simply let herself be led without a word. Because she knew that would make that night a torment for Raios. And it would become her weapon.

 

That night, Danae realized something very clearly. That Raios loved her. It was a deep, genuine love, not just momentary lust.

 

I don’t hate Raios either. In truth, Danae had hated him. But ever since he acted like a weakling before her, her feelings changed. Yet, anxiety still lingered.

 

If Raios wished, he could trample her at any moment. He could force her to marry someone she didn’t want again, or, as she’d taunted, lock her up or assign a guard. That could happen whenever he wished, at any time.

 

Raios had the power to control her life. Danae feared and resented his power… But she still envied it. If I really had purification powers like Rodrigo said, would things have been different?

 

It was long ago, when the Daiana Church was still thriving. Rodrigo told her he’d give her the power to purify. He hadn’t yet completed it because he hadn’t secured the materials, but he promised that one day he’d give her that great power. If he did, no one would ever dare to treat her carelessly again.

 

Rodrigo said it was possible if we used the thing beneath the Ice Lake as material. Supposedly, there was a seven-headed serpent beneath the Ice Lake of the sanctuary. It was a transcendent being, almost like a god. If one used a fragment of that serpent as material, it could unleash tremendous power, not just the power of purification. He said I could even gain the power to read time.

 

To read time. Dana wasn’t sure what that meant, but it sounded like an incredible power. If only she could obtain a piece of that serpent as material. But it was said to be so strong that it couldn’t even be scratched. Even the Sun God Ramun could only trap the serpent under the Ice Lake and seal it with stone. Nothing could break it or split it apart.

 

But if it’s Raios… With Raios’s supernatural power, might it be possible?

 

The reason Wilhelm had treasured Raios like a jewel wasn’t just because he was his only son. It was because of Raios’s power. The power to destroy anything. Raios possessed that kind of power. He was truly invincible.

 

I’ve also heard he has another power too. Whether it was classified information or just a rumor, no one knew the details of his other power. But with that destructive ability, couldn’t he at least break off a piece of the serpent to experiment with?

 

It was one day when Danae was lost in such thoughts.

 

“Dana.”

 

Someone approached, disguised as a servant.

 

“You are…”

 

The servant peeled off a carefully fitted mask, revealing a handsome face with green eyes.

 

“It’s been a long time, Dana.”

 

It was Rodrigo, the former leader of the now-destroyed Daiana Church.

 

* * *

Rodrigo, who came to visit, had told her. That the surviving members of the Daiana Church were gathering in secret. They were still conducting experiments in hiding. He also said the time would come again, so she should wait.

 

So if I could just get the material under the Ice Lake… He could give her the power of purification.

 

With that power, Danae herself would become great. She wanted that power, no matter what it took.

 

* * *

“You know.” In the deep night, lying against Raios’s chest, Danae whispered. “Raios, there’s something I want.”

 

“What is it?” He stroked her snow-white hair as he asked. “Just tell me whatever it is.”

 

Raios looked to be in a good mood. Of course he would be. For the past several days, Danae had not left his bedroom.

 

“Really?”

 

“Yes. Whatever it is.”

 

“You promise?”

 

“Yes. But in exchange…” Raios paused. After hesitating, he continued. “If I give you what you want…” His hand, which had been enjoying her hair, slowed, a sign of tension. “Will you give me what I want, too?”

 

“What is it?”

 

“Please, don’t sleep with any other men.”

 

Danae quietly looked up at him.

 

“I’ll try even harder to treat you better.”

 

“…”

 

“So please.” His beautiful blue eyes looked at her with desperate tension.

 

Danae suppressed a sigh. So he knew. How long had he noticed? Maybe he never believed her from the start. But he’d always pretended not to notice. Because if he got angry at her, she’d get angry in return. He was afraid of her anger because he loved her.

 

At that moment, Danae found Raios unbearably endearing. For the first time, she felt a trembling in her heart, as if love were finally beginning.

 

“You’re not lacking in anything. It’s just… I’m the one with the problem.” She blurted out her true feelings without realizing it and was startled by herself. Danae hadn’t meant to be that honest.

 

That gave Raios a bit of courage, and he asked gently. “Then, will you promise me?”

 

Not wanting him to notice this soft, tender feeling, Danae deliberately smiled coyly. “Yeah. I promise.”

 

This time, it was the truth.

 

* * *

It was a few days later. Raios Geranze cut off a fragment of the serpent’s head at the Ice Lake. He wrapped it up prettily and gave it to Danae as a present.

 

“Thank you. I’m so happy!”

 

When Danae smiled and hugged him, Raios was delighted too. He didn’t even ask what she would use that horrible, hideous thing for.

 

“You’re the best, Raios.”

 

He feared the soft kisses that rained on his cheek would disappear.

 

“I love you, Raios.”

 

That’s why he didn’t ask. Whatever she used it for, as long as it meant he could keep her love, nothing else mattered.

 

“I love you, too.”

 

Raios couldn’t ask. And he didn’t want to.