The Do-Over System:My Beloved is the Villain! - Chapter 59

Chapter 59: 02/05- Sick Lucian

Leona turned sharply at Kael’s words, her expression unreadable. The tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a blade, and all eyes were still on her, waiting for a response. Skye Drakonis stood before her, composed and confident, as if the failed assassination attempt was nothing more than an unfortunate misunderstanding.

“What is going on?” Kael demanded again, his voice laced with frustration. “We can’t trust him, Leona. He just tried to kill us!”

Leona remained silent for a moment, her gaze flickering between Skye and the others. She knew Kael was right—Skye had been the mastermind behind the attack, the one who orchestrated the poisoning, the deception, the chaos. And yet, here he was, proposing marriage as if the blood he had spilled could be so easily washed away.

“I haven’t forgotten what you’ve done,” she said finally, her voice steady but laced with warning. She took a step closer to him, searching his expression for any sign of deceit. “You say you want to wed me, Skye, but tell me—why should I believe a single word you say?”

Skye’s smirk didn’t falter, but there was something in his eyes—something that flickered between amusement and something deeper, something almost dangerous. “Because, my dearest Leona,” he purred, tilting his head slightly, “even devils can fall in love.”

Kael scoffed. “That’s the worst excuse I’ve ever heard.”

Skye chuckled, as if this entire situation was a game to him. “Perhaps. But I am not asking you to believe in me blindly,” he said, his gaze locking onto Leona’s. “I only ask that you hear me out before making your final judgment.”

Leona clenched her jaw. The room was filled with murmurs, with the weight of unspoken thoughts pressing down on her. The Light Council would never allow such a union. Ezra had already objected, his devotion to her and the temple unshaken. And yet… if there was even a chance that this proposal had another purpose, one beyond mere romance, she needed to understand it fully before dismissing it.

Her heart warred with her mind, but one truth remained clear—whether Skye’s intentions were genuine or another twisted scheme, she had no choice but to see this through to the end.

Lucian clutched his stomach, his face paling as the effects of the poison tore through his body. A wave of nausea hit him hard, and he barely managed to keep himself upright, his vision blurring at the edges. He had dealt with pain before, endured wounds in battle, but this was different. This was a sickening, twisting agony that made him want to double over and expel whatever was left in his stomach. He clenched his jaw, swallowing back the bile that threatened to rise.

Just as he was about to step forward in sheer frustration—partly to confront Skye and partly just to get out of this suffocating room—Aeliana’s hand shot out, gripping his arm firmly. “Lucian, no,” she hissed, her emerald eyes sharp with warning. “You’re in no condition to fight right now.”

Lucian groaned, his breath coming out in ragged gasps. “I don’t need to fight,” he muttered, though the way his legs wobbled beneath him said otherwise. “I just need to—”

“—collapse right into his hands if you keep this up,” Aeliana cut in, tightening her grip. “You’re poisoned, Lucian. This isn’t some duel where you can force your way through. You need to let me handle this.”

Despite the churning sickness inside him, Lucian forced himself to focus on her words. He hated this—hated feeling weak, hated being held back. But Aeliana was right. If he made a move now, Skye would win without even lifting a finger. He had already humiliated Lucian enough. His pride burned, but he wasn’t foolish enough to let it cloud his judgment.

Skye, meanwhile, remained composed, his golden eyes flickering with amusement as he observed them. “My, my,” he mused, tilting his head slightly. “You look absolutely dreadful, dear Dark Lord. A shame, really—I was hoping for more of a reaction. Perhaps I should’ve used a stronger dose?” His smirk widened at his own joke, and a few murmurs of unease rippled through the crowd.

Leona, standing firm in the center of the chaos, didn’t waver. She had seen enough. Raising a hand, she silenced the murmuring nobles and priests around them. “Enough,” she declared, her voice steady and commanding. “This is not a game, Skye. You nearly killed someone tonight.”

Skye chuckled, clearly unimpressed. “Oh, come now. He’s not dead yet, is he?” He turned his gaze back to Lucian, his smirk deepening. “In fact, he still looks like he has some fight left in him. Or perhaps not.”

Lucian’s hands curled into fists at his sides, his body tense despite his weakened state. Every fiber of his being screamed at him to strike Skye down where he stood, to wipe that insufferable smirk off his face. But he knew he couldn’t—not yet. Not like this.

Aeliana shifted slightly, moving just enough to position herself between Lucian and Skye. “You should leave,” she said, her voice cold as steel. “Before you make things worse for yourself.”

Skye let out an exaggerated sigh, shaking his head. “So hostile,” he mused. “Fine, I’ll take my leave for now. But don’t think this is over.” His eyes gleamed with something dangerous—something that promised he would return. With one last glance at Leona, he turned and disappeared into the crowd, his exit as smooth and effortless as his arrival had been.

Lucian finally let out a shaky breath, his body sagging slightly against Aeliana’s support. He hated this. Hated that Skye had gotten away so easily. But as much as he despised it, he knew this wasn’t the end. If anything, this was only the beginning.

Leona leaned in close to Aeliana, her voice barely above a whisper. “Listen, I have to find out what he’s up to,” she murmured, her fingers gripping Aeliana’s wrist. Her nails dug in slightly, betraying the tension coursing through her. She knew Skye Drakonis was a master manipulator—everything he did had a purpose, a hidden motive lurking beneath his every word and gesture. This proposal wasn’t just about her. It couldn’t be.

Aeliana’s emerald eyes flickered with concern as she glanced at Skye, who was still standing tall, exuding confidence, as if he knew something no one else did. The way he held himself, the way he smiled just so—it sent a chill down her spine. He was dangerous. That much was clear.

“Leona, this is madness,” Aeliana whispered back, her voice urgent but controlled. “You know he can’t be trusted. You’d be walking straight into his trap.”

Leona exhaled slowly, steadying herself. “I don’t have a choice, Aeliana,” she said, glancing around the room to ensure no one else was listening. “If I refuse outright, he’ll just try another way to get what he wants. And if we don’t understand what that is, we’ll always be at a disadvantage.”

Aeliana bit her lip, her fingers twitching as if resisting the urge to grab her sword right then and there. She knew Leona had a point, but it didn’t make this any easier to swallow. “Then let me help,” she insisted.

“You already are,” Leona assured her. “Just watch my back. If he slips up, if he reveals anything, I need you to catch it.”

Aeliana frowned, her instincts screaming that this was a bad idea. But Leona was determined—she always had been. No matter how much danger lurked behind Skye’s charming facade, Leona wouldn’t back down.

Straightening her posture, Leona turned back toward Skye, her expression unreadable. “Very well,” she said, her voice clear and unwavering. “I will hear you out, Skye Drakonis.”

A small smirk tugged at Skye’s lips, his golden eyes gleaming. “Wise choice, my dear oracle,” he said smoothly, offering his hand as if sealing a deal.

Leona hesitated for only a second before taking it. His palm was warm against hers, but beneath the polite grip, she could feel the underlying tension—Skye was just as much a predator as he was a suitor.

Lucian let out a slow breath, still feeling the poison burning in his veins. He clenched his fists, frustrated by his own weakness. “I’ll live,” he muttered, though his voice was hoarse.

Aeliana frowned, her concern evident. “Don’t be stubborn. The healer is on their way.” She guided him toward a nearby seat, keeping a steady hand on his arm. “You took the full hit of that poison, Lucian. You need to let them help you.”

Lucian exhaled sharply but didn’t argue. His pride was bruised, but he knew Aeliana was right. “Fine,” he conceded. “But after this, we need to talk about what just happened..”

Lucian was never the kind to ask for help nor did he have the option to decline the offer due to his state and of course, it won’t favor him in any way. As he sighed that the the once mighty Dark Lord is injected with an IV.

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