This feeling…
My body tingled, and I clutched my toes. I felt strange, like when I first kissed Raios. A sweet, euphoric, dizzying feeling.
“I miss Huan.”
No, it was more than missing him. I wanted to embrace him, to kiss him. An overwhelming desire flooded me. I had no other thoughts.
I stood up abruptly. I must marry Huan now! I rushed through the garden. I need to see him, embrace him, kiss him!
“Dana!”
Suddenly, someone grabbed my arm. I looked up blankly. Tall, with bright platinum hair and a gentle face. This man… who is he?
“Dana? What’s wrong?”
He looked familiar. Who is he?
Ah, right.
Danae’s uncle, Carl Windsor.
“Dana? What’s going on?”
“Let me go. I’m busy.”
Carl’s grip tightened. “Dana, it’s not safe to wander around like this at night.”
“Let go!”
“Dana, I’m sorry to say this, but tonight is a full moon. It’s particularly bright. It’s not good to wander around in your nightgown. Therefore.”
“Let go! Let go! Let go!”
“Okay, okay. I’ll let you go. But first, get dressed properly.”
Suddenly, the man picked me up. I, irritated, started pulling at the man’s hair.
“Hahaha. Our Dana has gotten much stronger, hasn’t she?”
“Let me go!”
“Hahaha. My niece is really strong, strong indeed.”
Unbothered by his hair being pulled, the man laughed heartily and strode forward. I struggled wildly in his arms.
“Huan!”
But as I shouted this,
“Huan, I must go to Lord Huan!”
The man’s steps halted. He tilted his head questioningly. “Why Huan?”
“I must marry him. So, let me go right now, right now!”
“And what’s your relationship with Huan?”
“We’re in love. He has proposed to me. I’m going to marry him!”
“Ah. Huan to you…”
The man let out a scoff. But his eyes weren’t laughing. Instead, they became sharp as daggers.
“That’s problematic, Danae.”
“Let go!”
“It seems my brother-in-law has seduced you. It’s understandable, given your innocence.”
“Let me go!”
“Dana, he’s after your fortune. He doesn’t love you.”
“Let go, let go, let go!”
The situation was getting out of hand, and I could feel it. My thoughts were not connecting. Huan. Only a strong desire for that man surged. Now, even forming proper sentences has become difficult.
“Huan, Huan!”
As if I had become a fool who knew nothing but that man.
“Poor Dana. How could you be so naive?”
“Huan! Huan!”
“Please forgive me. To protect you and your fortune, I have no choice.”
“Huan! Huan! Huan!”
“Yes, Huan. I can’t let my brother-in-law take your fortune, can I?”
The man soothingly gripped my nape tightly. Did he hit a vital spot? Strength drained from my body, and darkness approached. I slowly lost consciousness in the man’s embrace.
“That scoundrel dared to eye your fortune.”
Murmuring, the man walked on, carrying me. Where to? I couldn’t know. I just sank deeper into darkness.
“Oh, Rumie, you’re just in time.”
All senses faded away.
“Father. Why is Dana…”
Huan. I must meet Huan.
“Rumie.”
“Yes.”
“We must kill Huan.”
Huan, Huan…
…
“—Ah!”
I suddenly opened my eyes. A wave of dizziness overwhelmed me, making the world spin. I gasped for air, blinking rapidly.
What happened?
What just occurred?
This is… my garden, isn’t it? My personal garden, where I had tea earlier. Right in front of me was the table, and I was…
Huh?
Picking up a document that had fallen to the ground. Frozen in that very posture, completely stiff.
Uh?
What had happened?
Why was I still in the garden?
I remembered being in Carl’s arms just a moment ago.
That’s when a maid entered the garden. “Milady, here’s your chamomile tea.”
What…?
I stared blankly at the maid, who slowly approached and placed the chamomile tea in front of her. Tak.
At that moment, a scent brushed past her nose. The calm and serene fragrance of chamomile was exactly the same as before…
“The air is getting chilly. Shall I bring you a shawl?”
“…”
The silence stretched, and taking it as a refusal, the maid bowed politely.
“Then, I’ll take my leave.”
The same voice, the same tone, the same gesture as before. Everything was exactly the same as before.
What is this…?
Ah. I see.
At that moment, realization dawned on me. I understand now.
I looked down at her hand. I saw the future.
* * *
Seeing memories etched into the land. I had experienced this once before. The past, present, and even a part of the future that the land had witnessed. I had glimpsed it fleetingly. That’s how I knew where the holy relic was.
However, this ‘seeing’ ability had manifested only once before. It had flashed like lightning without warning and then disappeared. Since that day, I have never peeked into the land’s memories again.
Right, it wasn’t just a hallucination or a dream. I just saw the future. The future that would have happened if she had drank that chamomile tea.
Just in case, I walked the same path she had seen before. And then.
“Dana?”
I encountered Carl Windsor. A handsome man with radian platinum blond hair and a genial smile, bathed in moonlight. Exactly the same outfit as the future I had glimpsed.
“Dana, are you out for a night walk?” Carl approached with a warm smile.
I nearly recoiled from the chill. Why wouldn’t I? This man forcibly made me faint through force. And not just that. He plotted to kill Huan, his brother-in-law, without a hint of hesitation.
Wasn’t he a loving husband? But to so easily plan to kill the beloved brother of his wife, Sandra?
A shiver ran through me. Carl Windsor has always been kind and cheerful to me. But once again, I became afraid of his duality. Well, this man is planning to shorten my life, after all. While smiling so beautifully, so splendidly, so kindly.
“Dana. Wandering around in such attire at night isn’t good.”
Pretending to be concerned, deceiving me to the end. While planning to kill me.
Carl looked puzzled as I just stared, then he took off his coat and draped it over my shoulders.
“The night air is cold. What if you catch a cold?” He expressed his concern tenderly. “If you’re going to continue your walk, at least wear a proper coat.”
Clutching his coat tightly, I managed to speak in a steady voice. “Yes. I’m heading back to rest now.”
Disgusting. I feel like throwing up.
“Thank you for your concern.”
You’re a devil, Carl Windsor.
“Yes, that’s wise. It’s late. Go inside and get some rest.”
“Good night to you too, Uncle.”
I smiled calmly and turned away. Then, as if remembering something, I paused and asked. “By the way, when is Brother Rumie expected to return?” I asked casually.
“Ah, speaking of which, Rumie is on his way back now. He must have arrived at the mansion by now.”
“Really?”
“Yes. It seems he has achieved another great victory.”
“Brother Rumie is really remarkable.”
After this brief conversation, I walked away. With each step, my conviction grew. It’s confirmed now.
Everything unfolded exactly as before. When I touched the ground to pick up the document. That’s when I glimpsed the future.
Huan, that b*stard…
Anger surged within me. That b*stard must have added something to the chamomile tea.
After drinking the tea in the vision, strange symptoms appeared. Devil worshippers sell something like a love potion, and overdosing turns one into an idiot. He definitely put that in.
That son of a b*tch.
Huan may have failed this time, but he’ll surely try again. He’ll try to turn me into an idiot and steal my fortune. Though he’s a fool, if he keeps trying, he might catch me off guard someday.
I need to eliminate Huan Rolland right now. I had been preparing to do so someday anyway. Now it’s time to use the love letters from Huan I’ve been collecting.
“Lethe.”
Late at night, I called my secretary again. Then I handed over an envelope.
“Deliver this to Huan Rolland.”
“What is this?”
To that question, I smirked. “It’s a response.”
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