I’m Trying to End This Possession Chapter 277

“Those two are simply a brother and sister with a close bond,” Anton answered calmly. “Rumie has always been exceptionally kind, hasn’t he? He’s merely taking extra care of his frail younger sister, who has lived far away all this time. And as for the divorce…” He let out a sigh and spoke firmly. “There will be absolutely no divorce.”

 

“Are you certain?” Ingria asked coldly. “This won’t cause the friendship between the Aren royal family and Rolland family to break down, right?”

 

At those words, Anton Roland’s jaw tightened. “Yes. It absolutely will not.”

 

Sandra could not believe her father’s reaction. Right now, he was speaking to Ingria as if he felt deeply apologetic, trying to placate her.

 

“Don’t doubt his relationship with Danaena, and don’t worry about divorce either.”

 

“Can I really, really believe that?”

 

“Yes. You may trust me.”

 

“Aah. What a relief.” The next moment, Ingria’s face melted into a gentle smile. “I got it. I’ll trust only you, Duke.”

 

“Yes, yes.”

 

“Thank you so much for indulging my complaints.”

 

“No. It’s only natural.”

 

Then Ingria looked at Sandra. The moment their eyes met, Sandra flinched.

 

“I’m sorry, Mother. I got too worked up.” Ingria smiled shyly. “When I lose my temper sometimes, I tend to throw tantrums at the people around me. Please forgive me with your generous understanding.”

 

Sandra now found Ingria terrifying. How could someone hide such violence beneath that facade?

 

“By the way, Duke, you are taking Danaena to Godom Island this time, correct?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Danaena should become the star of this ceremony. It certainly seems that Rumie is confused because of her.”

 

“…”

 

“Shouldn’t we remove any spark that could one day grow into a great fire?” With those words, Ingria politely bowed. “Then, I wish you both a pleasant evening.” Afterward, she lightly leaped over the guards’ corpses and left the room.

 

The door closed. Silence descended. Anton let out a deep sigh and spoke. “I’m sorry, Sandra. There are circumstances.”

 

“What… circumstances?” Only then did she realize that her split lips were dripping blood. Feeling as though she were possessed, Sandra muttered, “Father, do you really think this makes sense?”

 

“…I’m sorry.”

 

“Then please tell me. Why are you acting as though she has some kind of hold over you?”

 

At those words, Anton’s lips stiffened. For a brief instant, a fierce impulse flickered in his eyes. “A weakness that must never become known…”

 

A weakness that must never become known? Sandra listened closely, but her father said nothing further. No, he seemed to have changed his mind.

 

“It’s better if you don’t know.”

 

“Father!”

 

“But Ingria crossed the line.” Anton placed a hand on Sandra’s shoulder. Gripping it tightly, he spoke in a low voice. “Ingria dared to look down on the Rolland family. Now even Ingria’s father, King of Lucile Kingdom, would dare treat Rolland in such a manner…”

 

The moment Sandra sensed the anger in his voice, she finally felt relieved. Thank goodness. Father hasn’t gone mad. He’s angry about this situation.

 

“But there was no choice. We had to calm her down first. Ingria has been impossible to predict since childhood. When she gets angry, there’s no telling what she might do.” Anton patted Sandra’s back. “Think of it as a nightmare.” With those words, her father rose to his feet.

 

Sandra stared blankly at his unfamiliar back. A nightmare… If only it really had been.

 

* * *

It was the next day.

 

“A large-scale riot has broken out in the west!”

 

An urgent report arrived from Eldiva’s western guard unit.

 

“It looks like it may grow quite severe. It would be best to suppress it while it’s still in its early stages!”

 

Anton responded decisively. “Rumie, it would be best if you handled this. Organize the troops and lead them there.”

 

“Yes.” As though he had expected it, Rumie stood up without complaint.

 

Then Ingria spoke up worriedly. “Will that be alright? Rumie isn’t a soldier anymore…”

 

“Rumie is the future lord of Eldiva Island. A lord possesses military command authority, so there is no problem.”

 

“But I’m only worried that he might get hurt.”

 

As usual, Ingria appeared overflowing with affection for her husband. Yet for some reason, Sandra looked at her with fear in her eyes.

 

Something must have happened overnight.

 

Sandra’s face was swollen all over, as though someone had beaten her. But Dana soon lost interest. She was hardly in a position to worry about someone else’s circumstances. The previous night, she had been unable to sleep at all. She had endured until just before the hour of madness struck. Perhaps because of that, her head hurt.

 

“Then I shall be off.”

 

And Rumie completely ignored her. He now treated her as though she did not exist.

 

As soon as Rumie departed, Anton spoke. “Danaena, let us leave for Godom Island today. Once we perform the Spring Water Ritual, the island’s public sentiment should settle down.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Just as Dana finished preparing to depart, Demian approached her. “Dana. Must you really go?” When she looked at him silently, he lowered his head and muttered, “I’m not trying to control you. I’m simply worried about you. I just wish you would think it over one last time.”

 

This time, Dana followed Demian’s advice. She thought about it one more time, deeply, very deeply. “Yes.”

 

“…”

 

“I absolutely have to go.”

 

But her answer did not change. Because her body only had fifty-four days left to live.

 

* * *

It was the Spring Water Ritual, being held for the first time in a long time. Perhaps because of that, the ship heading toward Godom Island carried sightseers in addition to those directly involved.

 

“Wow, that’s amazing.”

 

“Then how about trying it like this?”

 

Are those twins Ingria’s younger siblings?

 

A boy and a girl who looked around fifteen or sixteen sat on the deck, chatting excitedly. But…

 

…What are they doing? No matter how Dana looked at it, they seemed to be dissecting a bird.

 

“Ah.”

 

At that moment, their eyes met. The twins exchanged glances and then approached Dana.

 

“You are Duke Rolland’s daughter, correct?”

 

They smiled brightly and greeted her cheerfully.

 

“Nice to meet you. I’m Lisa Aren, Sister Ingria’s younger sister!”

 

“My name is Ron Aren. I was born one minute after Lisa, so I’m the younger brother.”

 

Dana smiled and greeted them as well. “The pleasure is mine, Princess and Prince. I am Danaena Rolland.”

 

“Just call us by our names. We’ve heard so much about you from Sister Ingria that you already feel familiar!”

 

And then Dana became certain. She had not seen it wrong. At the spot where the twins had been playing lay a bird, horribly mangled.

 

“Would you like to come play with us too, Danaena?”

 

“No. Thank you for the invitation, but I’m feeling seasick…”

 

When children are very young, they can be so innocent that they do not even realize pulling a dragonfly’s wings off is cruel. But these two did not look that young.

 

“Guys, so this is where you were.”

 

“Sister!”

 

“Big Sis!”

 

At that moment, Ingria approached. Brushing back her hair blowing in the sea breeze, she smiled. “It seems you’ve already introduced yourselves, Danaena.”

 

“…”

 

Well, look at that. After running off in a panic because I caught you, you’re going to act shamelessly like this?

 

“Where is that man?”

 

“Huh? That man?”

 

“The man we met at the Somora Temple.”

 

“Aah, him.”

 

“…”

 

What?

 

“He came with me. He’s probably sleeping in my bedroom right now. Why? Would you like me to lend him to you?”

 

Lend him? At those vulgar words, Dana was left speechless.

 

“Ah, but his price is extremely high. There are countless people who want him, so he doesn’t even show his face to just anyone. Besides, you’d have to pay about the value of a castle for a single night…” Ingria slowly looked Dana up and down before smiling. “Wouldn’t the allowance you receive from Rumie be insufficient?”

 

“You’re not in your right mind.”

 

“I’m merely telling you that nothing will change because of a single act of infidelity. Danaena, ah, I suppose you wouldn’t know yet since you’re still unmarried. But when husband and wife work together, there is nothing they cannot overcome.” Ingria smiled as though she pitied her. “Besides, the relationship between the Rolland family and the Aren royal family is far stronger than you imagine.”

 

“…”

 

“Of course, Rumie may want a divorce. But Rumie is such a devoted grandson, isn’t he? If Duke Rolland opposes it, he’ll eventually give up.”

 

“…”

 

What Ingria was saying did not sound entirely unreasonable. It was true that Rumie respected Anton Rolland.

 

“Well, you don’t need to worry about what comes after that. Soon enough, you’ll have problems of your own to deal with.” After uttering those words, which sounded almost like a curse, Ingria turned away with the twins.

 

“Oh my, what have you two done?” Looking at the bird the twins had taken apart, Ingria said, “It’s more fun if you bend the wings the other way!” Laughing loudly, she joined them and began tearing the bird apart as well.