37 - To Poison the Dragon

**Caelan**

I couldn’t stop the grin that spread across my face as I walked away from the cloaked figure. I had been wary at first, unsure of who this mysterious person was or what their true motives were.

But now, after hearing her proposal, after understanding the kind of power they could offer me, I felt a rush of excitement I hadn’t experienced in a long time.

This could be the turning point, the moment when everything finally fell into place.

I had always known that power didn’t come easily. It came with a price. And today, that price was steep. 

But for Lysandra—no, for the kingdom, for the throne—I was willing to pay it. The woman had promised to give me the poison that can help me neutralize the dragon, and her offer was too tempting to refuse. 

She had power, and didn't seem like she was human. At least not fully. If I could remove the dragon from the equation, nothing would stand between me and Lysandra. Nothing would stand between me and the rule of all the regions. 

As I walked through the winding streets of the city, my mind was already calculating the cost of what I had just agreed to. Four hundred thousand gold coins. 

A sum that seemed impossibly large, especially considering my family’s current financial state. 

My father’s debts were mounting, the estate was in disarray, and the once-thriving lands we ruled were slipping through our fingers. The thought of parting with that kind of money should have been enough to make me hesitate. But I didn’t. 

Not for this. Not when the endgame was within reach.

I pushed open the heavy door to my family’s estate and stepped inside. The air smelled of dust and neglect, the once-grand halls now a shadow of their former glory. 

I could feel the weight of my family’s decline pressing down on me with every step. 

The state of our finances had left a gaping hole in the estate’s management, and my mother—well, she was more concerned with keeping up appearances than actually fixing anything.

The weight of responsibility had fallen squarely on my shoulders, and the more I thought about it, the more I realized just how much was at stake.

Lysandra. The throne. Power. Everything I had worked for was within reach. And I would stop at nothing to claim it.

I moved through the house with purpose, heading straight for the vault where my family’s wealth was stored.

The lock was old, the metal worn from years of use, but it still held fast. I took a moment to collect myself, my mind racing with the plans I had in motion. 

This money would be the key to everything. Four hundred thousand gold coins. I had to get it, no matter what.

I was about to unlock the vault when I paused, my fingers hovering over the key. 

A wave of doubt washed over me, but it was quickly silenced by the thought of Lysandra. The image of her—her beauty, her strength, her kingdom—flashed in my mind. I couldn’t afford to hesitate now. Not when the opportunity was so close.

I couldn't deny that she was a sight for sore eyes, but her mannerisms were just too plain for me.

I turned the key and pushed open the heavy door. Inside, stacks of gold coins glimmered in the dim light. My heart raced as I moved to the center of the room, where the coins were piled high. Four hundred thousand. I would need to gather them quickly, but I had enough to cover the amount.

It would take time, but I was more than capable of getting the funds together. I had to. 

I stood there for a moment, staring at the gold, the weight of my decision settling over me. 

I had to keep telling myself that this was more than just money. This was power. This was the future I had been working toward, the future where I would rule, where Lysandra would be mine, and I would have the kingdom in my grasp. 

The sound of footsteps behind me broke my concentration. I turned to find my servant standing in the doorway, his face pale.

“Master Caelan,” he said, bowing his head. “Is everything... all right?”

I nodded, forcing a smile. “Everything is fine. I just have some business to attend to.”

He hesitated, then spoke again. “There are rumors, my lord. Rumors that your father’s debts are becoming too much to manage. That the estate... it may not be long before it’s taken from us.”

I felt my jaw tighten at the mention of my father’s failures. “Do not speak of such things,” I snapped, my voice low but sharp. “I will handle everything. You have nothing to worry about.”

He nodded quickly, but I could see the concern in his eyes. The same concern that had been growing among the servants and the staff for weeks. 

My family’s situation was dire, but they didn’t understand. They didn’t see the bigger picture. They didn’t see what I was working toward.

Of course. I didn't expect them to. 

As I gathered the gold coins, the weight of my choices settled in. Four hundred thousand. It was a lot of money, more than I had ever thought I would need to part with. 

But the cost didn’t matter. Not when the endgame was so close. If I could rid myself of the dragon and get Lysandra back, everything would fall into place. The regions would be mine. The throne would be mine. I would be the ruler of everything. 

The servant left me alone to finish my task, and I worked quickly, counting out the coins, gathering them into bags. My hands were steady, though my mind raced. 

Once I had the money, I would meet the cloaked figure at the designated location, close to my house, where we could finalize our agreement. I had to make sure everything was in place. I couldn’t afford to fail now. 

The figure had promised me help in neutralizing the dragon, and I would make sure to keep my end of the bargain. I would pay whatever price was necessary to make sure Drakar was out of the picture. 

And when that happened I even the king will bow to me as ask me for help.

The sound of the door opening again broke my thoughts. I turned to see my servant standing there, a worried look on his face.

“Master Caelan,” he said, his voice hesitant. “Are you sure about this? The gold... it’s a large sum. What if—”

“What if what?” I cut him off, my voice cold. “This is the price of power. If you can’t understand that, then you have no place here.”

He flinched, but he didn’t argue. He knew better than to question me.

With the gold in hand, I made my way toward the meeting spot, my heart pounding with anticipation. The streets were quieter now, the sun sinking low in the sky, casting long shadows across the cobblestones. The city was beginning to settle into the evening, but my mind was racing with thoughts of what lay ahead. 

I had done it. I had secured the funds. I had made the deal. And soon, I would have everything I wanted. 

When I reached the meeting spot, the cloaked figure was already waiting for me. Their silhouette was barely visible in the dim light, but I could feel the power emanating from them.

I approached cautiously, the weight of the gold bags heavy in my hands.

“I have the money,” I said, my voice steady. “As promised.”

The figure didn’t speak at first, but I could sense the satisfaction in their silence. Finally, they nodded. “You’ve made the right choice, Caelan. Hand it over.”

I handed over the bags of gold, my heart racing as I watched them disappear into the folds of the figure’s cloak. 

“And what do I get in return?” I asked, my voice low.

The figure’s laugh was soft, almost melodic. “Here you go. Make sure it touches his heart.”

I stared at the small bottle of poison in my hand. I just spent four hundred thousand Gold coins for this!?

“Are you sure this will work?” I said, only to look up and see that she was gone.