I'm Trying to End This Possession

I hurriedly went to the military academy, but…

 

“Cadet Justin? He’s not here. Seems he’s gone out without permission again.” The dorm supervisor clicked his tongue as if it were a common occurrence.

 

“Do you know where he might be?”

 

“I’m not sure… Are you okay? You’re all wet.”

 

“I’m fine. Just think, there must be somewhere he usually goes.” I gave the supervisor some gold coins.

 

He coughed and then said, “Cadet Justin often frequents the entertainment district on Rozat Street. You should check there.”

 

The entertainment district on Rozat Street? A place notorious for being low-grade and sordid, and a military cadet frequents there?

 

Let’s go there first. There was no time to lose. I headed straight for Rozat Street’s entertainment district. But at the entrance, I stopped.

 

This won’t do. I should have brought someone. Why did I come alone?  I had rushed out, fearing Justin might be killed at any moment.

 

If I entered that red-light street alone… I’d become a target.

 

Rozat Street was a haven for criminals. The smell of drugs already in the air and the greedy, menacing looks made me feel uneasy. Going in alone could put my life at risk… There was no choice.

 

No. There was a choice. Maybe a method that could work. Something I’d never tried before, but still…

 

Maybe it could work. I slowly kneeled on the ground and brought my trembling fingers to touch it.

 

The ability to read the memories engraved in the land. This power always surged over me like a tidal wave and then receded. But maybe, still, just a little. Some might remain, like the moisture left in the sand. So.

 

Show me.

 

I asked the ground.

 

Show me. Where is Justin Lancaster right now?

 

At that moment, I gasped and held my breath. All my energy seemed to drain away into a vortex. And I saw. I saw where Justin Lancaster was right now.

 

I jerked my hand away from the ground as if I’d had a seizure. And then, I collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut.  It wasn’t from shock. It was because all my strength had left my body. Was it because I had used this ability? I couldn’t even sit up anymore.

 

No.  I needed to get up.

 

I struggled, pressing my hands against the ground. Or did I not need to do this anymore? Because… Justin Lancaster was already dead.

 

What I saw in the garden today was Justin Lancaster being killed. It wasn’t a vision of the future. It was the past… Justin Lancaster was already dead.

 

“Hey, Lady.”

 

“Are you one of the girls working here?”

 

Someone nudged my shoulder. But I couldn’t respond. My head hurts. And my ears felt ringing.

 

“You’re a real beauty. How much are you? Huh?” A rough hand grabbed my wrist, trying to force me to stand.

 

Let go.

 

I didn’t even have the strength to say it, so I fumbled beneath my skirt. There was the gun Viego had given me. I intended to pull out the gun to threaten them.

 

“Ahhh!”

 

Crack. With a breaking sound, the man’s grip released.

 

“W-Who are you?! Argh!”

 

Pow. The sound of a punch landing. Screams. And the sound of someone running away hurriedly. All I could hear were the sounds.

 

Who is it? In an exhausted state, I lifted my head.

 

“Milady.”

 

My secretary was looking down at me, clearly annoyed.

 

“Why did you come to such a dangerous place alone?”

 

Ah, thank goodness. I felt complete relief at that moment. The person I trusted most in the world had appeared.

 

“The forest.”

 

But I was at my limit. It was because I had overused my power…

 

“Search the nearby forest. Justin Lancaster has been murdered…” After saying those words, I lost consciousness.

 

 

* * *

I was unconscious for two full days. When I woke up, the newspapers were plastered with the news of Justin’s murder.

 

[The Second Son of Lancaster Family Has Been Murdered]

 

I see. He’s dead. But before I could even process the shock, even more shocking follow-up articles followed.

 

[Shocking Report! The True Nature of Lancaster’s Second Son!]

 

[The Identity of the Imperial Army Cadet: A Key Figure in a Female Human Trafficking Organization]

 

The articles were utterly horrific.

 

[The Women Sold by Justin Lancaster]

 

[Was This Murder an Act of Justice?]

 

As I read, I felt my sorrow disappear. “No, what the hell…”

 

What a piece of trash. I thought he was an innocent boy, but he was the backing of a female human trafficking organization?

 

Well, the fact that he frequented Rozat Street, a place for criminals, wasn’t normal.  Frequenting such a place already indicated something was off.

 

Justin being such a disgusting criminal… You died well. B*stard.  Reading about Justin buying a seven-year-old girl, I cursed him.

 

Disgusting. I got love letters from such filth?! Good thing I didn’t accept his flowers back then.

 

But despite that, I couldn’t help feeling disturbed. Because Justin mentioned my name before he died.

 

He had begged not to be killed, saying he wouldn’t approach Danae. That was Justin’s last plea. In other words, he was killed because he had approached me.

 

What kind of madman would do such a thing? Amusingly, a face came to mind.

 

Raios.  He was insanely jealous. So jealous, which was terrifying at times. He once punched a nobleman who asked me for a dance, breaking his cheekbone. He had broken the fingers of someone who sent me a love letter. And he had a history of bursting the blood vessels of the man’s eyes who secretly watched me from behind.  

 

If it was that crazy Raios, it would be possible. But there’s no way Raios would do that now… Because our love was over. So, shouldn’t his obsession with me have disappeared?

 

Or maybe it’s just his nature.  He might be so possessive that he couldn’t tolerate anyone coveting what was his.

 

It was confusing. Knowing Justin wasn’t a good person, but still. That he was killed because of me…

 

I have to see Raios.

 

The first suspect in my mind was Raios. It intended to question him.

 

If it was indeed Raios… What should I do? Could I even punish him properly?

 

He’s a member of the imperial family. Even he would become the next emperor, the only heir to the throne.  The reality of Raios’s immense position in this world dawned on me again.

 

For now… let’s go to the imperial palace.

 

I had to find out if Raios really killed Justin Lancaster. And it wasn’t just that.  Anyway, I have to meet the emperor.

 

Today, I heard the emperor had returned. Coincidentally, Lethe had brought something to trade with the emperor.

 

Justin being killed was one thing. Even such a major event wouldn’t change my reality. I had things to do.

 

Yes, I have to meet the emperor soon.

 

To break off my engagement with Raios. I had another proposal to make to the emperor.

 

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