Chapter 29
Episode 29
That night, Karl sat by the lakeside, staring silently at the surface of the water.
His chest felt tight with frustration.
His wife was blindly trying to shield their daughter, and his daughter’s head was filled with nothing but flowers and fantasies.
Until just a few days ago, he had thought the world was sweet… but in an instant, he had been shoved into the mud.
‘At least Lumie is doing well. That’s a relief.’
Lumie had returned after another great victory. Today, he was likely attending the triumphal ceremony hosted by the Imperial Family.
‘And more than anything, Dana.’
Karl let out a heavy sigh.
Dana.
The primary reason his heart felt so stifled wasn’t Sandra or Alice—it was Dana.
The girl had tried to cover for Alice’s faults.
Of course, in the process, Alice’s sins were only further exposed, but…
‘Dana couldn’t have known it would turn out like that.’
That kind-hearted child was simply trying to clean up the mess Alice had made.
Thinking back, it had always been that way.
She always indulged Alice’s tantrums and yielded everything Alice wanted…
It was then.
“Uncle?”
Karl jumped, startled.
The girl he had been thinking about—Dana—was approaching.
“Dana. What are you doing here…?”
“I was out for a walk.”
Dana smiled and sat down beside him. Then, she gently met his gaze.
“Are you alright, Uncle?”
Her eyes were a refreshing, clear light green.
Karl looked toward the lake, avoiding Dana’s eyes.
That gaze, like that of a gentle lamb, pricked at his conscience.
“I heard the news.”
Just then, Dana grabbed his hand firmly.
“That your authority as Vice Family Head has been temporarily revoked…”
“Haha, I’m fine. Thank you for worrying about me, Dana.”
Karl felt a bitter sting in his gut.
His own daughter was wallowing in self-pity, and his wife was spouting nonsense.
Yet here was Dana, coming to comfort him. How could she be so tender and kind?
Ignoring the burning sensation somewhere deep in his chest, Karl forced a cheerful laugh.
“Don’t you worry. By the way, you’re dressed properly today. You must dress warmly when you go for night walks, Dana.”
“Ah. I was a bit distracted back then.”
Dana let out a little giggle as she pulled her shawl up over her shoulders.
“Thank you for your concern. I’ll return the jacket you gave me last time soon.”
“Yes, yes.”
Overwhelmed by an unbearable awkwardness, Karl naturally pulled his hand away.
Dana let go of his hand, looking slightly disappointed.
Karl cleared his throat, adjusting the Vice Family Head’s ring that had slipped crooked.
“Uncle.”
“Yes?”
“If there is ever anything I can do to help, please tell me at any time.”
In that moment, Karl was completely lost for words. His mind went blank, and he could only stare at Dana vacantly.
“When things are hard for you, please think of me. Anytime, anything—if it’s something I can do, I’ll do it.”
Dana. You foolish girl.
I’m after your fortune.
I’m thinking of nothing but stealing your possessions.
Even at this very moment, my heart hasn’t changed.
“…I will.”
Karl managed to smile.
“I’ll do that. Thank you, Dana.”
How naive. Karl swallowed a sigh.
How naive. Dana swallowed a laugh.
‘He seems to believe me completely.’
Well, considering the persona I’ve maintained all this time, it would be hard for him to doubt me.
‘As expected, the Sacred Artifact won’t come off.’
I had just tested it just in case, but the ring remained stuck.
The rumors about it being bound by an ancient spell must be true.
‘To get that artifact, I have to make him step down from the position of Vice Family Head entirely. Only then will they perform the ceremony to unbind the ring.’
But this time, it ended with a mere temporary suspension.
Well, it was probably too much to hope to oust him in one go.
Regardless, Karl had performed his duties without mistake until now.
Karl Winzer’s reputation was quite good.
Setting aside his powerful in-laws and his brilliant son, his own standing within the family was considerable.
‘Because he’s a former Army Commander.’
In the Winzer family—a family of soldiers—that record was a massive advantage.
Though I heard he stepped down after only a few years.
Dana looked at Karl’s face.
The excellent Vice Family Head of the Winzer family, the doting father, and the devoted husband. Karl Winzer.
‘You’re going to lose all of that.’
My goal is to obtain the Sacred Artifact and leave this world, but well…
You can think of this as revenge.
In truth, I hate you as much as Raios—no, even more than him.
“Ah, Dana. Speaking of which, do you remember when we took a boat out on this lake?”
Karl pointed toward the lake.
“Of course. I even remember you falling in, Uncle.”
That’s right.
They had been boating together when a gust of wind blew her hat away.
Karl Winzer had plunged right in and swam to retrieve it.
“It was just a hat. You didn’t have to go that far, Uncle.”
“But it was a hat you cherished, wasn’t it?”
It was.
Because Raios had given it to me.
“Ahaha. It was the perfect chance to show off my swimming skills, and I didn’t want to miss it.”
Dana looked at his face and smiled silently.
But behind that smile, her heart was burning fiercely, fueled by a resentment carved into her very bones.
‘Look at him, smiling like he treasures me, even while he plans to kill me.’
I can never forgive you.
Inside the carriage transporting him to the tribunal prison.
Juan was gripped by a deep rage.
‘Karl Winzer. I followed you all this time like a loyal brother-in-law!’
He had flattered a man younger than himself, calling him “Brother-in-law” this and “Brother-in-law” that. And now, look at this mess.
‘Threatening to kill me!’
Karl had said it at the very last moment.
‘I will kill you myself.’
Recalling that threat, a fresh wave of fear washed over him.
Karl Winzer was usually a jovial gentleman—but he had once been the finest soldier on the battlefield. He had even risen to the rank of Army Commander at the youngest age in history.
That meant he was a seasoned killer.
‘Yes. It’s better to stay in prison for a while to avoid Karl.’
The problem was his arm.
Juan looked down at his right arm.
The arm that had taken two bullets in a row.
Because it was an area dense with nerves, the doctors had called it a horrific injury and given up on surgery. They said the arm had to be amputated.
‘Viego Winzer, you son of a bitch. Did you really have to go that far?!’
However, Juan did not give up.
Being persistent was his only strength.
He would escape from prison somehow.
And somehow, he would claim Danae’s fortune.
Since he had connections with black market dealers and savages, getting another Love Potion wouldn’t be difficult!
‘Yes. Those savage shamans… rumors say they even create homunculi.’
If they can make fake humans, they should be able to attach a single arm easily.
Once he claimed Danae’s fortune, he would have a prosthetic made. Then everything would be—!
“Gah!”
Thump. The carriage came to a violent halt. Juan tumbled onto the opposite seat.
‘Those bastards!’
Anger flared up. Those idiots were doing a terrible job of transporting him!
The moment he opened his lips to protest.
A scream rang out.
‘Wh-what is it?’
Screams. Screams. More screams.
The screams of the coachman and the guards, several of them crying out at once.
At those horrific sounds, Juan pressed himself flat against the carriage wall.
‘Someone’s attacking!’
Who? Bandits? Or, or—
In that instant, silence fell. The screaming outside stopped abruptly. Then, the carriage door swung wide open.
“…….”
A grin. The blood-soaked attacker smiled.
It was a familiar face.
