ITETP Chapter 20

This feeling…

 

Dana’s body tingled, and she curled her toes. Something felt strange. The feeling—sweet, thrilling, dizzying—was just like when she first kissed Raios.

 

“I miss Huan.”

 

No, it was more than missing him. She wanted to embrace him, to kiss him. An overwhelming desire flooded her, washing away everything else.

 

Dana stood up abruptly. I must marry Huan now! She rushed through the garden quickly. Her thought was telling her to see him, embrace him, and kiss him right away!

 

“Dana!”

 

Suddenly, someone grabbed her arm. Dana looked up blankly. Tall, with bright platinum hair and a gentle face. This man… who was he?

 

“Dana? What’s wrong?”

 

She recognized his face. But, who was he again?

 

Ah, right. Danae’s uncle, Carl Windsor.

 

“Dana? Is something wrong?”

 

“Let me go. I’m busy.”

 

But Carl’s grip tightened.

 

“Dana, it’s not safe to wander around like this at night.”

 

“Let go!”

 

“Dana, I hate to say this, but tonight is a full moon. The light is especially bright. It’s not good to wander around in your nightgown. That’s why.”

 

“Let go! Let go! Let go!”

 

“Okay, okay. I’ll let you go. But first, get dressed properly.” With that, he effortlessly lifted her into his arms.

 

Frustrated, Dana grabbed his hair and pulled it.

 

“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. Dana struggled wildly in his arms.

 

“Huan!”

 

But the moment she cried out—

 

“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 away!”

 

“What’s your relationship with Huan?”

 

“We love each other. 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 troublesome, Dana.”

 

“Let go!”

 

“It seems my brother-in-law has seduced you. Well, I suppose a pure-hearted girl like you could be easily swayed.”

 

“Let me go!”

 

“Dana, that brat is after your fortune. He doesn’t love you.”

 

“Let go, let go, let go!”

 

The situation was getting out of hand, and Dana could feel it. Her thoughts were not connecting properly. Huan. Only a strong desire for that man surged. Even forming proper sentences was becoming difficult.

 

“Huan, Huan!”

 

It was as if she 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?”

 

Carl whispered sweetly as he pressed down the back of her neck. Did he strike a pressure point? Strength drained from her body, and darkness consumed her. Dana slowly lost consciousness in that man’s embrace.

 

“That scoundrel dared to eye your fortune,” muttering to himself, Carl carried Dana away.

 

Where was he taking her? She couldn’t know. Dana just sank deeper into the darkness.

 

“Oh, Rumie, you’re just in time.”

 

All her senses faded away.

 

“Father. Why is Dana…”

 

Huan. She had to see Huan.

 

“Rumie.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“We have to kill Huan.”

 

Huan, Huan…

 

…

 

“—Ah!”

 

Dana’s eyes opened. A wave of dizziness hit her, making her vision spin. She gasped for breath, blinking rapidly.

 

What was that? What just happened?

 

This is… my garden, isn’t it? Her personal garden, where she had tea earlier. Right in front of her was the table, and she was…

 

Huh?

 

Picking up a document that had fallen to the ground.

 

Dana was still in that position, frozen.

 

Uh?

 

What had happened? Why was she still in the garden? She remembered being in Carl’s arms just a moment ago.

 

At that moment, a maid entered the garden.

 

That’s when a maid entered the garden. “Milady, here’s your chamomile tea.”

 

What…?

 

Dana 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 was this…?

 

Ah. I see.

 

At that moment, realization dawned on her. Now, she understood. Dana looked down at her own hands. I saw the future.

 

* * *

Seeing memories imprinted into the land. Dana had experienced this once before. The past, present, and even a part of the future that the land had witnessed. She 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, Dana had never glimpsed 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, Dana walked the same path she had seen before. And then,

 

“Dana?”

 

She encountered Carl Windsor. A handsome man with radian platinum blond hair and a friendly expression bathed in moonlight. His outfit was the same as the one she had glimpsed.

 

“Dana, are you out for a night walk?” Carl approached with a warm smile.

 

Dana nearly stepped back from the goosebumps. How could she not? This man forcibly made me faint through force. And not only that—He had planned to kill Huan without hesitation.

 

Wasn’t he supposed to be a devoted husband? Yet he had been ready to murder his wife’s brother.

 

A shiver ran through her. Carl Windsor has always been kind and cheerful. But once again, his duality terrified her. Well, this man is planning to shorten my life, after all. While flashing the same beautiful, charming, gentle smile.

 

“Dana, you shouldn’t be wandering around dressed like this at night.”

 

Pretending to be concerned, deceiving her until the end. But deep down, he was plotting her demise.

 

Dana simply stared at him. Carl tilted his head curiously before taking off his coat and draping it over her shoulders.

 

“The night air is cold. What if you catch a cold?” His voice was warm, filled with concern. “If you’re going to continue your walk, at least wear a proper coat.”

 

Clutching his coat tightly, Dana managed to speak in a calm voice. “Yes. I was just about to head inside.”

 

Disgusting. She felt like throwing up.

 

“Thank you for your concern.”

 

You’re a devil, Carl Windsor.

 

“I see. That’s good. It’s late—go rest.”

 

“Goodnight, Uncle.” Dana smiled calmly and turned away. Then, as if remembering something, she stopped. “By the way, when is Brother Rumie expected to return?” She asked casually.

 

“Ah, actually, 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, Dana walked away. With each step, her certainty grew. Now I’m sure.

 

Everything had played out exactly as she had foreseen. When she touched the ground to pick up the document, she had glimpsed the future.

 

Huan, that b*stard…

 

A murderous intent surged within her.

 

That b*stard must have added something to the chamomile tea. In that glimpse of the future, after drinking the tea, strange symptoms appeared.

 

Dana had heard rumors that devil worshippers sold love potions—if taken in high doses, they could turn someone into an idiot. Huan definitely tried to use that on her.

 

That son of a b*tch.

 

Huan may have failed this time, but he’d surely try again. He would continue his efforts to turn Dana into a fool and steal her fortune. He might be a fool, but if he kept trying, one day, she might slip up and fall into his trap.

 

I need to eliminate Huan Rolland right now. Dana had been preparing to deal with him someday anyway. And now, the time had finally come to put carefully collected love letters from Huan to use.

 

“Lethe.”

 

Late at night, Dana summoned his secretary again. Then she handed over an envelope.

 

“Deliver this to Huan Rolland.”

 

“What is this?”

 

At that question, Dana smiled. “A reply.”