In the middle of the booklet, several pages were crumpled from frequent flipping. Marginal notes and annotations crowded the sides—all unmistakably Liliana’s handwriting.
Skipping the complex ingredients and measurements, he went straight to the effects of the potion labeled “n-274.”
“……………………………………………………………………”
Nerlis fell speechless.
York, this time, was utterly stunned.
His mind went blank.
This formula—offered no breakthrough. The real clue must lie further ahead. Yet this irrelevant potion left him reeling.
Was this even possible?
Such a joke-like effect?
Was alchemy truly this absurd?
Or was it only because the Demon King created it?
In that instant, years of quiet confusion in York’s heart snapped into clarity.
Why?
Why was Liliana so effortlessly magnetic, always the center of attention? Why did everyone—from commoners to nobles, men and women alike—fall under her spell?
Why did her sister Nerlis, blessed with ethereal beauty far surpassing Liliana’s, radiating serene elegance like the epitome of grace… remain utterly ignored?
“A magic potion that steals ‘charm’…”
—
Prototype, code n-274; official name pending.
Transfers the allure—personality, looks, and other traits that draw others (colloquially “charm”)—from Subject A to Subject B.
Requires two potions: Reagent A and Reagent B.
Users must be same-sex and similar in age.
Dosage: 10–20 mg every three days. Subject A takes Reagent A; Subject B takes Reagent B.
Effects surface after roughly a month, varying per person.
Stabilizes around six months.
After stabilization, reduce to once weekly—but never skip doses.
Fully sets in three to four years.
Dosing can stop after full stabilization.
Charm stems from many things: personality, looks, voice, aura, actions, pheromones… If bundled into one concept—“the power to attract”—it becomes what we call “charm.”
Fairy tales often tell of wicked witches stealing a princess’s beauty, voice, or youth… only to be foiled by a prince.
This isn’t pure fiction. History records forbidden potions that stole appearances or voices—more than one kind.
If single traits like looks can be stolen… can a bundle like “charm” be taken too?
That fleeting thought likely drove the eccentric Healer Demon Lord to invent this. Since disciples or servants copied it secretly, he probably dismissed it as a whim.
He’d never imagine—or care—that four centuries later, a noble girl would use it to feed her vanity.
“““““……”””””
Silence swallowed the room.
Liliana’s face looked like a condemned prisoner’s on execution day.
“Wait. I need to sort this out… it’s too messy.”
York rubbed his temples. The sheer weight of it gave him a headache.
“So, Liliana—you’ve been brewing this from the book for years. Sneaking doses to your hated third sister. All this time… just to steal her ‘charm’ as a woman?”
“………………Yes.”
“And all these years, your soaring popularity—everyone adoring you, men and women alike… that was Nerlis’s stolen charm layered over your own?”
“……………………Yes.”
Liliana seemed to shrink smaller by the second.
“So Nerlis suffered cold neglect all this time. Ignored by everyone—even blood relatives. Unwanted. Unvalued. Alone… all because of you? You ruined your own sister for petty vanity! How did you even dose her?”
“Breakfast… I’d wake early… slip into the kitchen… servants never stopped me…”
“Tch… all this over nonsense…”
York trembled. He took deep breaths, forcing down the urge to hit her.
“I’ve ignored Nerlis too, so I’ve no right to judge. But honestly, Liliana—if I were her… I’d want you dead. I thought you were just spoiled but good at heart… how could you…”
“Sob…”
Stared at like trash, scolded with utter disgust, Liliana finally broke down. Sobs hitched in her throat, making her look pitiful.
“You… fine. Words won’t fix this. Only the victim gets to speak!”
York turned to Nerlis, who’d stood silently aside.
“You decide, Nerlis.”
“……”
“I… as your eldest brother, I owe you an apology. But first, only you—”
“—Hey. Are we done with irrelevant chatter?”
“Only you can punish Liliana, so… huh? What did you say?”
“I said,” Nerlis tilted her head under their stunned gazes, “we’re in a crisis, right? Finding the real clue matters more than stolen charm, doesn’t it?”
—
Things were still a mess.
And the topic had totally derailed.
Charm? I never cared. If Liliana wanted it, she could have it for free.
Honestly, I should thank her. Without her forbidden potion stealing my charm, I’d have been swarmed by hollow praise all these years. She’s been my human shield—I’m grateful.
First, calm Liliana down.
“I know this is heavy for both of you, Liliana, York. But we should focus on finding new clues. You handed over the booklet for that, right?”
“Uh…”
“Besides, Liliana—you did well this time.”
I forced a smile, twisting my face. She blinked, looking utterly bewildered. …Probably because the stolen charm faded these past days—I hadn’t been dosed during the chaos. My own allure was returning? What a shame.
Never mind. Comfort her first. Prevent rash moves.
“I… did well?”
“Yes. You shared this booklet because you found a clue about the killer inside, right?”
“Mm…”
“You suspected it early on. But handing it over would expose your years of drugging me. Everything you built would vanish—that’s why you hid it until now.”
“Yeah… that’s it…”
“But even so, you chose to help us catch the real culprit. You risked punishment, ruin… all for this, right?”
“Mm, I… wait, what?”
“You’ve done a huge service, Liliana. Sacrificing everything you built to help us—that’s actually pretty cool of you.”
“…Huh?” “What?” “Say what?”
York, Liliana, and Chloe blurted dumbly. Ignoring them, I pressed on.
“Stealing my charm sounds vile. But honestly? It’s not that grave.”
“Sob… huh… but I… I stole your charm! The praise, the worship I got… it was yours! Because of me… you were ignored, cold-shouldered… can you really accept that!?”
“Fleeting fame means nothing. Regret can wait. Right now, we have bigger things.”
Tears welled in her eyes. Shock remained, but the despair had lifted. She could talk now.
Time for the real point.
“Alright. You gave us this booklet because it holds a potion tied to the killer’s method. Which one?”
—
Damn.
Damn.
Damn, damn, damn, damn, damn!!!
His anxiety peaked. Damn Liliana—for actually exposing this!
Once the incident broke, she’d be the prime suspect with this booklet. He could’ve framed her… that’s why he left it untouched. Who’d have thought—
…No.
Calm down.
At this point, there’s nothing to fear.
If soft tactics fail…
Then it’s time for hard ones.
