I’m Trying to End This Possession Chapter 243

* * *

Viego personally dyed Dana’s hair blonde.

 

Most of the northern barbarians are either blonde or silver-haired. On top of that, they were generally fair-skinned with light pigmentation. Fortunately, both Viego and Dana had light coloring overall, so they blended in naturally with the barbarians.

 

After dyeing my hair blonde, we look like siblings… In fact, rumors had gradually begun spreading through the village that they were brother and sister who ran a sheep ranch.

 

They began gradually interacting with the village at the foot of the mountain. Dana sold wool and sheep’s milk, while Viego slaughtered sheep and sold the meat. But she felt extremely uncomfortable about that.

 

“Viego, do you really have to do that? Wouldn’t selling wool and milk be enough?”

 

Slaughtering sheep. It truly didn’t suit Viego. He looked like a shepherd from the scripture, like a handsome youth loved by the god in myth. Peacefully tending sheep suited him far better…

 

“Commoners live like this.” But Viego was surprisingly firm about it. “In countryside places like this, it’s normal for a ranch to handle slaughtering too. Not doing it would be strange.”

 

That was true. Still… After hesitating, Dana finally spoke honestly. “But Viego likes sheep.”

 

“What?”

 

“Lord Rodrigo said so. He said you loved sheep ever since you were little and always lived among them.”

 

“…”

 

“And that’s why you still don’t eat lamb.”

 

At that, Viego frowned, his golden brows knitting together. He muttered to himself, “He really said unnecessary things.” Then he added, “I did that on purpose.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Do you think my grandfather would ever imagine me living in barbarian lands, slaughtering sheep for a living?”

 

“…”

 

Rodrigo wouldn’t. Absolutely not. No one in the world could have predicted it.

 

“And now, none of that means anything to me. Don’t get sentimental over useless things.”

 

At Viego’s cold words, Dana lowered her head. She had nothing to say.

 

Was it her imagination? It sounded like he had given up everything he once liked just for her. She should have felt sad and sorry about it… But why do I feel like this? Her chest tightened, as if something were squeezing and twisting her heart.

 

A throbbing pain surged through her. Strangely, it was a sweet pain.

 

* * *

Time passed with Viego. Winter ended, and spring arrived.

 

I like Viego. Dana thought about it every day as time went by. I like Viego so much. That thought gradually expanded. I like Viego more than anyone else in this world. Uncontrollably, her mind began filling entirely with him. The only person who ever truly cared about me is Viego!

 

Demian and Rodrigo had only acted for their own desires. They had never once given her books like these.

 

For the first time in her life, Dana read books. The ones Viego had given her as gifts. Through reading, she accumulated knowledge, learned about the world, and came to understand people. And she realized how strange a woman she herself was. But the most shocking realization was this.

 

The worship rituals I participated in weren’t normal. For ten years, she had faithfully attended the Daiana Church’s ceremonies every week. Those moments consumed by heated lust and burning desire were not normal.

 

Desire was something meant to be restrained. It wasn’t something to release carelessly. But the corrupted urges built up over ten years of rituals couldn’t be cast off in an instant.

 

“Viego…”

 

On days when Viego was away, Dana sometimes lay on his bed, breathing in his scent. His scent made her whole body warm and sticky with heat. Viego was not only beautiful in appearance and voice. Even his natural scent was beautiful. It was like moonlight itself. Noble, quiet, and dignified, yet something she could never hold in her hands…

 

“Viego.”

 

I like you so much. I like you. I like you. I like you. Viego, I like you…

 

Soaked in his scent, Dana panted softly. If Viego knew what kind of woman she was, he would surely despise her. So I have to stop feeling this way.

 

It was true she liked Viego. I want to become like Viego. She liked his restraint, his controlled expression, his lips that rarely smiled, his reverent movements, his long beautiful fingers suited for musical instruments, his firm hands… How wonderful it would be if those hands touched her like this.

 

“Ah…”

 

Just imagining it. Even just imagining it felt unbearably good.

 

“Viego.”

 

I like you. I like you. I like you. I like you. I like you. I like you, I like you, I like you, I like you, I like you, I like you, I like you, I like you, I like you, I like you!

 

“Viego, Viego…” As she murmured his name like someone afflicted with an illness, Dana realized it again. She truly wasn’t normal. Her obsession and desire toward Viego had grown so immense that she felt like a monstrous creature.

 

If Viego found out, he would be horrified. He might abandon her and run away. That’s why she had to hide it well, conceal it.

 

“Fufu…” Burying her face in his pillow, Dana let out a small laugh, then suddenly burst into tears.

 

God, please remove these feelings from inside me. She wanted to become a woman Viego could like. Back before she was broken. A woman like the one Viego once remembered and praised…

 

* * *

It was the third season spent with Viego. At last, summer arrived.

 

“Miss Iva, could you bring more milk next time? There are so many people asking for it.”

 

“Ah, yes. I’ll try.”

 

“The sheep’s milk from Miss Iva’s ranch is really fresh! Is it because the pasture’s so good?”

 

Dana lived under the alias Iva. She was gradually beginning to interact with the villagers, work that Viego had originally handled alone.

 

“You need to learn how to do this too.”

 

Viego was preparing to leave her. Whenever he acted like that, Dana grew anxious.

 

I don’t want to be separated from Viego. That feeling was different from mere fear of loneliness.

 

“By the way, Miss Iva. About Mr. Edam…”

 

Edam was Viego’s alias.

 

“Does he have any intention of seeing a matchmaker?”

 

“…Pardon?”

 

“Oh dear, all my daughters are sick with lovesickness!”

 

“…”

 

“It’s not just mine. You know all the young women in the village wait desperately for the days Mr. Edam comes down!”

 

Dana bit her lip tightly. She knew. Could it be that Viego is seeing a woman in the village?

 

Not long ago, Viego had gone out late at night.

 

“Don’t wait up. Go to sleep.”

 

But Dana had waited. He returned only at dawn, and when he did, a strange soap scent lingered on him.

 

Did he wash somewhere outside? Why? Where had he gone at night, with whom, and what had he done?

 

“Viego, what exactly were you doing?”

 

Dana had once asked, unable to endure it any longer.

 

“You don’t need to know.”

 

His words left her speechless. I see. I don’t have the right to know.

 

“…I’m not sure either,” Dana answered honestly now. The moment she said it, she felt utterly miserable.

 

After finishing her conversation with the merchant woman, Dana left the shop gloomily. Then she saw Viego talking with another woman. A sharp surge of jealousy clawed at her heart. Was it her? Was she the one he met at dawn? Did he sleep with her? Was that why he washed?

 

At that moment, Viego noticed her, and their eyes met. Dana immediately turned around and ran with all her strength, as if fleeing. He’ll follow me, right? He’ll leave that woman and chase me, right? Panting heavily, she ran for a long time until she reached a deserted forest path. Only then did she turn back.

 

“…”

 

Viego was there, following her while maintaining almost the exact same distance from the beginning. Furrowing his brow, he asked, “What are you doing?”

 

He chased me. A base sense of satisfaction surged through her. But it quickly turned into sadness. Even though he could easily catch her, Viego never came closer than necessary. Someday, he would slowly grow distant and leave her forever.

 

It was just then. Drip. Drip. Raindrops began to fall. It seemed to be a sudden shower. Dana was quickly soaked through. Soon, the rain came down heavily, striking her head.

 

“Let’s go back.” Brushing aside his instantly soaked golden hair, Viego spoke. “Dana.”

 

“…”

 

“Hurry.”

 

Dana didn’t move. She didn’t even answer.

 

As if he had no choice, Viego finally approached and grabbed her slender arm. “Come.”

 

At that moment, her heart dropped. The place he touched, his grip… All her nerves gathered there. For some reason, that alone made her head go hazy with bliss.

 

Apparently intending to avoid the rain first, Viego led her beneath a large apple tree covered in blooming flowers. The moment they arrived, his hand released her arm without the slightest hesitation.

 

More. She wished he would touch her more. Ashamed and miserable for wanting that, Dana lowered her head. Her eyes quickly reddened. She felt like the most pathetic fool in the world.

 

“Why?” Viego let out a low sigh. “Why are you crying?”

 

Dana bit her lip tightly. Because you’re preparing to leave me. You’re my everything. I can’t live without you.

 

“Dana, tell me.”

 

After hesitating again and again, Dana slowly lifted her head and looked at him. “Can’t you live with me?”

 

Pitter-patter. Compared to the crashing sound of rain, her voice was painfully faint.

 

“Stay here with me, always, from now on…”

 

Words weren’t enough. They were far too insufficient. So in the end, Dana reached out. She stepped closer. Placing her fingertips on Viego’s arm, she leaned into him as if embracing him.

 

Thump. Thump. Wet fabric clung between them, and beneath that thin barrier, their skin burned hot where it touched. Her heart pounded wildly. Dana didn’t hide it. As if confessing, she pressed her chest firmly against him, letting him feel her heartbeat, and looked up at him with eyes full of deep longing. She was pleading desperately, begging earnestly.

 

“…”

 

Even at such a moment, Viego remained flawless. His face, looking down expressionlessly, resembled a statue carved from ivory, perfectly composed, without the slightest disturbance… No, it moved.

 

Just as she thought a crack had formed across that face, his hand suddenly seized the back of her head and pulled her closer.

 

“…!”

 

Hot lips and burning breath. That was all Dana could feel.