The Dreamer's POV

The Lyma family members were sitting in their grand dining hall, enjoying a rare moment of tranquility amid their often chaotic lives.

Duke Damien was at the head of the table, with Duchess Annalise by his side and their five daughters spread around them.

The golden rays of the morning sun filtered through the tall windows, casting a warm, soft light over the entire hall.

"I've honestly missed this," Seraphina said, breaking the comfortable silence. Her eyes twinkled with genuine happiness as she savored a bite of her breakfast. "Just us, talking and having breakfast as a family."

The Duchess nodded, her eyes softening with agreement.

"It's a shame Theo isn't here with us," she added, a hint of concern lacing her words. She turned towards her husband, "Why did you allow him to go on such a dangerous mission, Damien?"

Duke Damien looked up from his plate, meeting his wife's gaze.

"The experience will toughen our son up," he explained, his voice confident. "Besides, I trust Drius and Luke to protect him."

He paused, a slight smile curving his lips.

"And as for Luke, I owe a lot to him," he continued, a glimmer of gratitude in his eyes. "I thought I'd never get to have such a good time with our family again, until he came along."

The rewards he would bestow upon that extraordinary young man, especially once he was done eliminating the Nine Headed Dragon Alliance, was still being calculated by Damien.

At this point, he had done more than enough to deserve tons of riches… and perhaps even an engagement to one of his daughters.

The room filled with warm laughter, a shared moment of happiness among them. Teases and small talk radiated across the room

They all indulged in their meal, basking in the rare, peaceful moment.

But… this moment of bliss was interrupted abruptly.

~RUMBLEEEEEE!~

A loud quake rattled the mansion, causing them all to stop eating.

Their eyes widened in shock as the silverware clinked and rattled, and the chandeliers above swung dangerously.

Then, they heard a deafening explosion from beyond their home, the sound echoing through the vast hall, the laughter replaced by a cold, chilling silence.

~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!!!~

"W-what's this? What's going on?!" Damien's worried voice echoed within the hall.

In the wake of the sudden explosion, the atmosphere within the dining room shifted dramatically.

The laughter that once filled the room was replaced with palpable anxiety.

The guards, who were once stationary and unflinching, now hurried into the room with haste, their faces masked with concern.

Maids skittered off, their previously calm composure shattered by the sudden crisis.
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Amidst the chaos, the butler, Oswald, appeared with a grave expression. His usual air of calm and composure was replaced by an intense look of urgency.

"My Lord," Oswald began, bowing slightly. His eyes were filled with an intensity that Duke Damien had rarely seen. "Something's wrong... The defenses of our Estate... they've been breached."

The Duke, his wife, and his daughters all stared at Oswald, shock and horror etched on their faces.

The joyous mood from a few moments ago felt like a distant memory now.

"The explosion just now originated from the city square," Oswald continued, his voice wavering slightly.

"This seems like an attack. Our enemies... they're assaulting the capital and our estate simultaneously."

The revelation struck the family like a bolt of lightning. They exchanged terrified glances, their minds struggling to grasp the sudden turn of events.

"Your Grace," Oswald pleaded, his gaze unwavering. "We must ensure your safety first. We need to get everyone to a safe location before we attempt to assess the situation."

"I... I understand," Duke Damien responded, a newfound determination replacing the initial shock.

His wife and daughters nodded, their expressions mirroring their father's resolve.

With Oswald leading the way, and a group of elite guards surrounding them, the Lyma family followed hastily.

Their breakfast was left abandoned on the table, a stark reminder of the joy that had been brutally interrupted. The once serene estate was now filled with chaos, but they didn't dare to look back, their only focus was their safety.

**********

As Oswald ushered the Lyma family through the labyrinthine hallways of their mansion, their steps echoed against the cold marble floor.

The elite guards surrounding them had their weapons drawn, eyes scanning the corridors, ready for any potential threats.

They took a less-traveled path, a backdoor entrance designed for discretion and emergency exits. It wound through the lesser-used portions of the mansion, out into the open air, and across the manicured landscape of the garden.

From there, a hidden passage would lead them to a shelter - a safe haven during times of crisis.

"Your Grace, my ladies," Oswald began, glancing over his shoulder. His voice was steady, aiming to instill some sense of calm amidst the chaos.

"I swear on my life, I will get you to safety."

The guards, too, echoed his sentiments. Their expressions were hardened and resolute, as they silently pledged their loyalty and determination.

But even with these words of reassurance, the underlying tension was unmistakable. The threat loomed too large, too real.

Just as they were about to cross into the safety of the garden, a figure suddenly emerged from the shadows.

"Halt!" Oswald ordered, his glare focused just up ahead… where someone now stood.

A man with tousled brown hair stood in their path, blocking their way to safety. A chilling grin spread across his face, a stark contrast to the terror gripping the family.

"Well, well, well," he drawled, the mirth in his voice making the situation all the more sinister. "I would have called this a surprise if it wasn't so obvious."

His presence was like a cold splash of water, dousing the hope they had clung onto.

The realization was sinking in: their path to safety was obstructed, and their enemy had them right where he wanted.

"Who are you?" Oswald asked, his gaze narrowed on the man who seemed as dangerous as he looked mysterious.

It somewhat reminded the old Butler of Luke.

"NPCs don't need to know." The young man grinned, an arrogant tone lacing his words.

A violent gleam shone in his eyes, and it seemed like he was resolute in killing everyone who stood in his path.

"You all just need to die."

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[A/N]

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