I’m Trying to End This Possession Chapter 78

“Your jokes are still excessive, Ignis.”

 

“Well, I guess you’d prefer Danae, who acts exactly the way you want, more than a wife you got through a political marriage or a daughter you can’t even remember when you made. Isn’t that right?”

 

“Still as unruly as ever. Ignis, I suppose it’s because Father raised you with far too much freedom.”

 

“Raised me, my ass. F*ck. Don’t even mention that old devil.” Ignis snapped back sharply, but Carl merely responded with an amused smile. As if losing the will to continue when faced with that expression, Ignis scoffed and turned away. “Then both of you have a good night. Who knows, nightmares might come for you starting tomorrow.”

 

“…”

 

Saying goodnight in such an annoying way was quite a talent.

 

Watching Ignis walk away, Dana let out a sigh. Ignis has returned. But why…?

 

“Dana, are you okay?”

 

The moment Carl’s hand touched her, she forgot everything else.

 

“Does your head hurt?”

 

With superhuman concentration, Dana suppressed the memories that threatened to surge back up.

 

“How much did you hear?”

 

Those scenes from back then. Let’s not think about it.

 

“I’m fine, Uncle.”

 

If anything, she had to pretend to love him. Because the moment he noticed this fear, his suspicions would begin.

 

“If Ignis bothers you, tell me.” Carl sighed and cupped my cheek. “Understand? Don’t suffer alone. Okay?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Dana was so tense that her heart was pounding. Her concentration was slipping. The warmth pressing against her cheek, that grip felt too intense…. The grip of this murderer.

 

“Are you feeling okay?”

 

“Yes. Thanks to you. Thank you very much, Uncle.”

 

“There’s nothing to thank me for. If anything, I’m glad I can take care of you, Dana.” Carl looked at her as though she were utterly adorable. “I’ll be leaving for Kaltusa again tomorrow.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“I’ve decided to go see the Retillan mine we found with some people.”

 

“Ah…”

 

At those words, Dana barely managed to stop her lips from twisting. Right. Of course. If it’s you, that’s exactly what you would do.

 

“Don’t worry too much. I’ll be back soon. Okay?”

 

No. If possible, you should never have to come back at all.

 

“Dana.” Pinching her cheek, Carl let out a low chuckle. “I think I’ll be thinking about you a lot while I’m in Kaltusa. We have so many memories there, don’t we?”

 

“…Yes.”

 

“I keep remembering that time you thought I was asleep and tried to secretly pull out the cotton stuffing. How could you be so cute?”

 

Memories. Could that really be called memories? Dana simply smiled in silence.

 

“It’s late.” Carl left a goodnight kiss on her forehead. “Go inside and sleep. Have sweet dreams.”

 

Somehow, she felt she would be having nightmares tonight.

 

* * *

But the real nightmare came the next day.

 

[Marriage Proposal]

 

A marriage proposal from Ignis de Windsor arrived first thing in the morning.

 

Has he lost his mind? Dumbfounded, Dana read it. The contents were absurd as well.

 

[I propose marriage.

-Ignis]

 

That lunatic actually sent this and called it a proposal.

 

Why is he suddenly sending a proposal to me, a Windsor? He was the man who hated being a Windsor so much that he chose to sever ties with the family and run away. But now he wanted to return to Windsor after all?

 

“What should we do, Milady?”

 

She wanted to ignore it. But with Ignis’s personality, there’s no way he’d let it go if I did.

 

[I reject.

-Danae Windsor]

 

“Go deliver this.”

 

Dana desperately hoped that would be the end of it. What on earth is that madman thinking?

 

Of course, it didn’t end there.

 

What is this?

 

She knew this would happen. On her way back after the vassals’ meeting, she found her bedroom completely trashed.

 

“What happened here?”

 

The vanity mirror was shattered. The flower vase was broken. The furniture had been overturned. It looked as though someone had gone on a rampage. And in the middle of that chaotic room, Ignis de Windsor was sprawled across the bed.

 

“Ah, you’re here.”

 

“Did you do this, Lord Ignis?”

 

“Who else would have done this?” He grinned while smoking a cigarette rudely on her bed. “Hey, your bed smelled nice, you know?”

 

“…”

 

“So before I knew it, I ended up dirtying it a little. What a shame.”

 

Ah, that was my favorite bedsheet. I’ll just buy a new one and replace it. Getting angry because of someone like him would only be a loss for her. Dana replied indifferently. “Please get up. If you have something to say, say it quickly and leave.”

 

At that, Ignis sprang upright with the cigarette still hanging from his lips. Whoosh. Blowing cigarette smoke in her direction, he laughed. “Danae Windsor.”

 

“What?”

 

“Where is your brother, Viego Windsor?”

 

“He said he was leaving on a business trip last night. Why?”

 

“Well, I wanted to tell him I’m going to marry you, but he’s not here.” He shrugged. “I may dislike you, but I love your wealth. Passionately and intensely enough that it never leaves my mind, day and night.”

 

“I didn’t know you loved money, Lord Ignis. You abandoned wealth and glory when you left the Windsor family.”

 

“Ah, a young girl like you wouldn’t understand the complex reasons of adults.”

 

Something flared inside her. Both Carl and Ignis, why do they keep treating me like a child?

 

“Hey, Dana.”

 

“What?”

 

“You’re a good girl, right?”

 

“…”

 

What does he want to say?

 

Ignis got off the bed and walked over to her. Then he held out a box. “The fate of the Windsor family is in your hands.” Forcing the box into her hands, he roughly ruffled her hair. “Depending on how you handle things, I might destroy the Windsor family or save it.”

 

What kind of nonsense is that now? Letting out a deep sigh, Dana opened the box. Fine, let’s just take a look and kick him out already…

 

“…What is this?”

 

There was a book inside. A book she knew well. A very old book. With the title in ancient language and the distinctive emblem of the Sun God…

 

“Have you ever heard of the original scripture? Not a copy, but the real one.”

 

The real scripture. Something that looked like this.

 

“Ta-da. This is it.” Ignis spoke with a serious expression. “This is the original scripture.”

 

“…”

 

“What do you think? Surprising? Amazing, right?”

 

“…”