I’m Trying to End This Possession Chapter 96

* * *

After putting Ignis in prison, Dana was able to enjoy a brief period of peace. It’s done. Now, all I have to do is wait.

 

News had arrived that the emperor was returning to the capital. He had finally confirmed the authenticity of the scripture. He would likely arrive within three weeks at the latest. Once that happened, she would be able to push through the annulment of her engagement to Raios.

 

Not only that, but Carl’s matters were also progressing smoothly. Carl has outright bought the entire Kaltusa territory. He was even receiving investments from numerous nobles.

 

The Retillan mine was a hot topic, and the Windsor railways were even scheduled to be laid through the Kaltusa territory, where the mine was located. Naturally, many capitalists had taken an interest and were investing in the project. Thanks to that, Carl’s reputation, which had plummeted because of the moonlight flower incident, hadn’t only recovered its former standing but risen even higher.

 

Yeah. Keep climbing higher and higher, Carl Windsor. The higher he climbs, the steeper his fall will be.

 

All Dana had to do now was to wait… But how did Ignis escape from the prison? That man had escaped. She had definitely heard that his ankle had been completely ruined. How on earth had he managed to escape on his own? I heard he had suffered a permanent disability. And yet he had recovered so quickly all by himself, overpowered the guards single-handedly, and escaped.

 

According to the guard she had bribed, Ignis had been like a monster. A monster… No matter how much Dana thought about it, she couldn’t understand this bizarre phenomenon. And that wasn’t all. The message Ignis sent through the guard was even more absurd. To wait for him because he was coming to propose… He was planning to kill her. Dana was certain of it. Ignis wasn’t going to let her live.

 

Her anxiety was unbearable. Dana decided to send this young sculptor away. “I had a great time today. I’m sorry, but I’m rather busy, so I think we’ll have to leave it for another time.”

 

Bazellan Caravaggio, a sculptor she had met at a previous banquet. Today, he had been the one to request a meeting with her. She had let him in because she had previously made a big show of saying that she would invite him herself, but… Does he like me so much?

 

Caravaggio had been unable to take his eyes off her face. He even made a proposal. “Um, may I paint or sculpt you as my model, Lady?”

 

“No, there are plenty of other wonderful models besides me.” Of course, Dana had flatly refused.

 

“Ah… I see. If you ever change your mind, please let me know.” Caravaggio seemed deeply disappointed, but he obediently accepted her decision and left.

 

It was when Dana was on her way back after seeing off Bazellan Caravaggio.

 

“Dana.”

 

“Kya!” My goodness! Carl Windsor suddenly appeared, causing Dana to let out a brief scream. “Uncle?”

 

“Ahaha. What a coincidence to run into you.”

 

“Why do you have a leaf stuck in your hair?”

 

Dana reached toward Carl’s head. He hesitated for a moment before bending down to help her remove the leaf caught in his hair.

 

“By the way, who was that man? Have you perhaps found yourself a new lover?”

 

Just how long had he been watching? Though dumbfounded, Dana answered without hesitation. “Not my lover. He’s a famous sculptor, and we’re merely acquaintances.”

 

“Aah, I see. If you find someone you like, tell me first. A man should be judged by another man. Got it?” His smiling face looked so genuine.

 

How he pretends nothing is wrong. Even though he’s on edge at the mere thought of me getting a lover. He’s constantly worrying that I might get married and he would lose his place in the inheritance line… Ah, wait. Carl Windsor is extremely sensitive about my relationship with men. Hadn’t he killed Huan after discovering that Huan had tried to make me drink a love potion? If I took advantage of this, I might be able to solve a troublesome problem.

 

“Uncle.”

 

“Hmm?”

 

“There’s something I’d like to confess.”

 

Carl looked down at her intently. “What is it?” His expression was slightly tense.

 

“You’ll keep it a secret, right?”

 

“Of course, go ahead and tell me.”

 

“That, actually…”

 

“Yes, yes.”

 

“I liked Lord Ignis.”

 

“…”

 

Ignis de Windsor. Perhaps Carl could eliminate this ticking time bomb who would eventually come to kill her.

 

“In fact, I was planning to leave with Lord Ignis.” Dan sighed and immersed herself in the act. “Lord Ignis and I had mutual feelings for each other, but there were so many practical obstacles standing in our way.”

 

“…”

 

“But in the end, I got scared and changed my mind… so Lord Ignis tried to take me away by force.”

 

Tears came out of her remarkably easily. It was the acting skill that had fooled Ignis completely.

 

“What should I do? I already miss Lord Ignis, Uncle.”

 

“…”

 

What is this? Why so silent? She cautiously looked up, only to find Carl staring at her blankly, as though someone had slapped him across the face. Well, it was a shocking statement intended to surprise him.

 

Regardless, Dana continued. “Uncle, if I happen to meet him again, I think perhaps that time, I might want to go with him.” It was an utterly naive and childish thing to say. “Could you help me then?”

 

Those words were probably nothing short of a nightmare for Carl.

 

“Could you? Please, Uncle.”

 

Now, Carl’s face was devoid of any expression.

 

Looking at his utterly beached-white face, Dana let her eyes fill with tears. “I miss Lord Ignis so much… Sometimes I even regret not running away with him back then.”

 

The stage was set. Ignis would likely be eliminated by Carl soon, just as Huan had been. No matter how the guard described Ignis as a monster… In my eyes, Carl was just as monstrous. Hadn’t I already witnessed this man’s dual nature? Dana couldn’t even imagine Carl Windsor losing to anyone. At the very least, he would be able to prevent Ignis from approaching her.

 

“You’re not answering… I suppose it’s too much to ask, isn’t it?” Dana quietly took Carl’s hand. “I’m sorry. I got carried away by my emotions and spoke nonsense. Please pretend you never heard it.” While pretending to caress his hand, she felt the deputy head’s ring.

 

Carl then curled his fingers around hers and muttered. “You’re mistaken.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“You’re mistaken about your own feelings. It’s because you’re naive, Dana. You’re so naive… that you fell for that guy’s tricks.” His voice sounded as though he were trying to convince both her and himself. “Ignis never loved you. If he had truly loved you, he wouldn’t have treated you so carelessly.”

 

“…Do you think so?”

 

“Yes. You were deceived.” Carl’s expression was more serious than ever. “Dana, you know nothing about men. You really know nothing about how beastly men can be.”

 

“…”

 

“That guy was definitely after your body and your wealth. So you must keep your wits about you. Don’t let yourself be fooled, Dana. Understand?”

 

His passionate speech was truly something. It sounds like you’re describing yourself, Uncle. Dana swallowed those words and smiled sorrowfully. “Yes. I’ll keep that in mind.”

 

That’s when it happened.

 

“Milady!” A servant rushed over. With a deathly pale face, he spoke. “Milady. The imperial police are here.”

 

“Huh? For me?”

 

“Yes. They’re urgently requesting to see you…”

 

Dana tilted her head in confusion. Why would the imperial police suddenly be looking for me?

 

* * *

“Lady Danae Windsor. We kindly ask for your cooperation.” Shortly after, the police officer standing before her handed over an official document. It was a request for witness cooperation. “We ask for your cooperation in the investigation as a witness in this case.”

 

Before Dana could even reach out, someone snatched the document away. It was Carl. He tore open the envelope and took out the letter. After reading it, he immediately furrowed his brow. “A witness? What case are you summoning Dana as a witness for?”

 

What had this man followed me all the way here?

 

A moment later, Dana took the summons from Carl’s hand and read it herself. And there, she found a familiar name on the document.

 

“Have you heard about the recent murders of military academy cadets?”

 

Justin Lancaster.

 

Dana tensed up. An ominous premonition began to creep over her. Could they have discovered Justin was killed because of me?!

 

“After Cadet Justin Lancaster was murdered, three more cadets have been killed recently.”

 

“…Three more?”

 

Now that she thought about it, she had seen an article about that. Since the others had nothing to do with her, apart from Justin, she hadn’t paid much attention to it…

 

“But why are you calling me in as a witness?”

 

“We discovered something the murdered cadets all had in common, and that is…” The police officer hesitated before carefully explaining. “They were all in possession of nude paintings of Lady Danae Windsor.”

 

“What?!”

 

That shocked me!

 

Carl was the first to react in shock. His eyes widened as he grabbed the officer by the shoulders. Shaking him mercilessly, he stammered. “Da-Dana nude’s painting? Where?!”