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Carl sat by the lake, drinking whiskey. His insides felt like they were being torn apart. His wife defended their daughter blindly, and their daughter had her head full of flowers.
Just a few days ago, he’d thought the world was sweet… but now he had crashed straight into the mud.At least Rumie is thriving.
Rumie had returned once again after a grand victory. Today, he was likely attending the imperial celebration of his triumph.
And then, there’s Dana.Carl sighed.
His niece, Dana, is the daughter of his deceased brother, Demian. That girl had tried to cover for Allice’s mistakes. Although, in doing so, Allice’s guilt had become even more apparent…
Dana probably didn’t expect that either.That good-hearted girl only wanted to clean up the mess Allice had made.
Now that Carl thought about it, Dana had always been like that. She always gave in to Allice’s whims and always gave up what Allice wanted…
Carl was startled. The woman she was just thinking about—Dana—was approaching him.
“Dana. What are you doing here…?”
“Just taking a walk.” Dana smiled, sitting next to him, and gently met his gaze. “Are you alright, Uncle?”
Her clear green eyes made Carl avoid her gaze, pretending to look at the lake. The innocence in her eyes stirred his guilt.
“I heard about it.” Dana suddenly grasped his hand. “That you’ve been temporarily stripped of your deputy head authority…”
“Haha, I’m fine. Thank you for worrying, Dana.”
Carl’s heart ached. His daughter was drowning in self-pity, and his wife kept saying foolish things. But here came his niece, offering comfort to him, who was eyeing her fortune…
Ignoring the burning sensation in his chest, Carl put on a cheerful smile. “Don’t worry. Anyway, it’s good to see you dressed properly tonight. Make sure to bundle up when going for a night walk, Dana.”
“Ah, I was a bit out of it that time.” Dana chuckled, pulling up her shawl. “Thank you for your concern. I’ll return the coat you gave me next time.”
Feeling unbearably awkward, Carl pulled his hand away. Dana let go with a hint of reluctance. As he adjusted the crooked deputy head ring on his finger, Carl cleared his throat.
“If there’s anything I can do to help, please let me know.”
At that moment, Carl was at a total loss for words. His mind went blank, and he just stared at Dana.
“Think of me when you’re in trouble, Uncle. Whatever it is, if I can help, I will.
Dana, this foolish girl. I’m targeting your wealth. Even at this moment, my intentions haven’t changed.
“…Alright.” Carl managed to smile. “Thank you, Dana.”
Carl swallowed a sigh.
So naive.Dana stifled a laugh.He completely trusts me.Given the image she had maintained, it would be hard for him to doubt.
As expected, the holy relic doesn’t come off easily.She had just experimented to see if the ring would come off, but it didn’t budge. Bound by ancient magic, or so they said—and it appeared to be true.
To obtain that holy relic, I must completely push him out of the deputy head position. Only then will they perform the unbinding ritual.
But for now, it was only a temporary suspension. Well, pushing him out in one go would’ve been too much. After all, Carl had served his role well so far.
Carl Windsor’s reputation was excellent. He had a powerful family by marriage, a distinguished son—and within the family, his standing was solid.
He was once a commander of the army.In the Windsor family, known for its military tradition, that record was a powerful credential. Though he had only served a few years, or so Dana heard.
Dana looked at Carl’s face. Carl Windsor. The esteemed deputy head, a caring father, and a loving husband.You’re going to lose it all.
Dana’s goal is to obtain the holy relic and leave this world. But… think of it as revenge. In truth, she despises Carl even more than Raios.
“Ah, Dana. Remember when we rowed that boat in the lake?” Carl pointed to the lake.
“Of course. I also remember when you fell in, Uncle.”
Right. While they were boating together, a gust of wind blew Dana’s hat into the lake. And Carl had jumped in to retrieve it.
“You didn’t need to go that far. It was just a hat.”
“But it was your favorite hat, Dana.”
It was. Because Raios had given it to her.
“Hahaha. I didn’t want to miss the chance to show off my swimming skills.”
Dana looked at him and smiled silently. But behind that smile, her heart was ablaze—fueled by a grudge carved into her bones.
Smiling at me as if you care while planning my death behind me.She could never forgive him.
Inside the prison transport carriage, Huan was consumed with rage.
Carl Windsor. I’ve respected you as my brother-in-law all this time!He had groveled, calling a man younger than him as ‘brother-in-law’ again and again. But look how he ended up now.He even threatened to kill me.
Carl had said at the last moment.
“I’ll kill you.”
The memory of it suddenly made fear rise in him.
Carl Windsor, usually a cheerful gentleman—but once a top soldier on the battlefield. He had become the youngest-ever army commander. Which meant—he was a seasoned killer.
Right. It’s better to hide in prison for now than face Carl.
The problem was his arm. Huan looked down at his right arm. Two bullets lodged in it. It was a nerve-heavy area, and the doctor had declared it a hopeless wound. They wanted to amputate it.
Viego Windsor, you f*cking b*sard. Did you have to go this far?!
Still, Huan didn’t give up. Persistence was his only strength. He would escape prison, no matter what. And somehow, he would seize Danae’s fortune. With his connections to black market dealers and barbarians, getting another love potion wouldn’t be hard!
Right. The barbarian shaman. I heard they can even create artificial humans.If they could make artificial humans, replacing one arm should be easy. Once he had Dana’s wealth, he’d build himself a prosthetic. Then everything would be fi—!
Thud. The carriage abruptly stopped. Huan was thrown against the opposite seat.
Furious, he thought they were mishandling the escort. As Huan was about to complain, a scream interrupted him.
Scream. Scream. Scream.Several people screamed simultaneously between the coachman and the guards. Terrified by the dreadful sound, Huan pressed himself against the carriage wall.
Someone’s attacking! Who? Robbers? Or maybe―
Suddenly, the screams outside ceased.Creek, the carriage door opened.
With a bloodstained grin, the attacker smiled. It was a familiar face.