The Dreamer's POV

Chapter 120: The Culprit

Dr. Alexander Wilhelm stood frozen in the grand chamber, his heart pounding in his chest like a frantic war drum.

His cover was blown. The facade he so painstakingly maintained was crumbling right before his eyes.

The boy before him, Luke, had spoken with such conviction, revealing the truth about the Duke's ailment and Alexander's role in it.

It was a truth he never expected would surface.

'Damn it… how did it come to this?'

He was an agent of the Nine-Headed Dragon Alliance, a shadowy organization whose influence extended far and wide.

His skills in alchemy and medicine were valued, and his adept ability to synthesize complex toxins was highly sought after.

One such creation was the poison that coursed through Duke Damien's veins, an insidious concoction designed to mimic the symptoms of a deadly curse while leaving no traceable elements.

It was a masterpiece of subterfuge and malevolence.

Eugene, the Duke's younger brother, had hired him to infiltrate the Lyma family.

With the Duke's health gradually declining under the influence of his poison, the position of the family physician became available.

Given his reputation and supposed medical abilities, he was the perfect candidate.

Plus, since he was actually the only one who could understand and slow down the effects of the poison, he was kept very close to the Duke.

Once in, he had complete access to monitor the Duke's health, carefully maintaining the illusion of his struggle against the "curse".

All the while, his true allegiance lay not with the ailing Duke but with the Nine-Headed Dragon Alliance.

Their plan was grand in scope: taking over the Lyma Family as their first major stronghold in the Southern Kingdom.

Eugene was to be their puppet, a figurehead Duke, while the real power would rest in the hands of the Alliance.

It was all proceeding perfectly, everything falling into place as they planned. But now, everything was spiraling out of control.

Alexander could barely comprehend what was happening as he looked around the room.

The faces that once regarded him with trust now held suspicion and fear.

He looked at Luke, his expression resolute and confident. He had single-handedly ripped Alexander's carefully woven lies apart, and the truth was a bitter pill to swallow.

'This can't be happening…'

His plan, his cover, his future, all of it, now lay in tatters at his feet. His heart pounded with an overwhelming sense of dread as he realized his scheme had been exposed.

'I can't go down like this. Not yet!'

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With a swift movement, born of desperation and fear, Alexander reached for the closest person that he could touch, and grabbed Seraphina.

A gleaming needle emerged from his sleeve, coated with the same deadly poison that was killing the Duke.

He held it to her neck, his voice trembling but firm as he issued his threat.

"One step closer, and she dies. This poison... it won't be a slow death like the Duke's. It will be quick and agonizing," he sneered, his eyes wild with panic.

The room fell silent, every eye trained on the doctor, and the hostage he held in his grip.

Protests rushed from Drius, and shrieks echoed from the lips of the other girls while Theo remained paralyzed in shock.

Tears fell from Seraphina's eyes, and despair seemed to pervade the entire room.

Well… almost the entire room.

"Really, now?" Dr. Alexander's eyes bulged as he heard the chilly sound of Luke's voice.

The smile that spread across Luke's face, however, was not one of fear. It was confident, almost amused.

"You've made the wrong choice, Doctor," he stated, his tone eerily calm.

In the blink of an eye, his figure blurred, disappearing from his initial position.

"W-wha—?!" Alexander's eyes widened in disbelief, but before he could comprehend what was happening, Luke was there in front of him.

His hand lashed out, striking Alexander with a force that sent the doctor flying backward, crashing into the wall with a bone-jarring impact.

"Ack!" The needle clattered harmlessly to the floor, Seraphina gasping in surprise as she was freed from his grip.

Alexander's world spun before his eyes as he slid to the ground, unconscious before his body even came to rest.

Luke stood over him, his gaze cold and unwavering as he looked down at the man who had thought he held all the cards.

'N-no… not like this…'

Instead, he had played right into Luke's hands.

*********

[00 Months: 12 Days: 17 Hours]

'What an idiot. He should have just pretended some more…' I thought to myself.

Well, even if he did, I would just use <Truthful Glare> to find out the truth from him. Either way, he was bound to lose.

Standing over the unconscious body of the doctor, I glanced at Drius.

His expression was still one of shock and disbelief, but there was an undercurrent of determination there.

"Drius," I said, my voice steady despite the chaos that had just occurred. "Make sure he doesn't get away."

Drius nodded, his gaze hardened as he moved to keep watch over Alexander.

Looking around the room, I saw the desperation and fear etched into every face.

The siblings - Seraphina, Theo, and the others - seemed on the verge of collapse, their world shattered by this revelation.

The Duchess herself looked like a ghost, her face pale and her eyes tear-streaked.

"Everyone," I began, my voice cutting through the tension like a knife. "Don't lose hope yet. You still have me."

Everyone looked at me, their eyes wide and filled with a glimmer of hope. I nodded firmly, meeting each of their gazes in turn.

"I will cure the Duke," I stated, the words echoing throughout the room as I approached the dying man's bed once more.

"No matter what it takes."

As my voice filled the room, a strange sense of calm washed over me. I wasn't going to let the Duke die, not if I could help it.

'Since it's poison, that's half the problem solved.'

The other half was how to cure it.

"Haa… to think I would be using 'that' now…" A smile formed on my face as I whispered.

This entire venture had better be worth it.

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[A/N]

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