Day by day, there was still no news of Adrian. The expansion plans had come to a complete halt, and an unspoken tension loomed over the entire castle. Even Edgar, who had remained patient, finally lost his composure and called in person.When Livia picked up the phone, Edgar’s deep voice carried a hint of impatience. “Livia, what the hell is going on?”She smiled slightly, her tone gentle. “Father, what are you referring to?”“Don’t play dumb with me.” Edgar let out a cold snort, his voice laced with irritation. “Do you know something? Adrian has completely disappeared these past few days. And Elise? She’s not in the castle either, is she?”Livia arched a delicate brow, a subtle smile lingering on her lips. “Father, are you implying something?”There was a brief silence before Edgar spoke again, his voice turning cold. “Did they elope?”Livia sighed softly and said slowly, “I truly don’t know what happened. But, Father, do you? What exactly drove Adrian to ‘run away’?”The other end o
The night remained deep and still. Outside the window, the wind stirred the curtains, bringing in a trace of cool air. Inside the room, the warmth from earlier lingered in the air. Livia sat at the edge of the bed, draping the silk robe that had fallen to the floor over her shoulders. The sash was loosely tied around her waist, concealing the faint flush on her skin. Her hair was slightly tousled, her gaze deep, and her lips bore the subtle swelling of lingering heat.She slowly rose to her feet, her bare feet sinking into the soft carpet as she walked toward the window. The night breeze brushed against her cheeks, dispelling the heat from her body and gradually restoring her clarity. Taking a deep breath, she turned to look at Marcellus on the bed.He was half-reclining against the headboard, his bare upper body bathed in the glow of candlelight. His muscles were well-defined, exuding quiet strength. His gaze was cast downward, as if he had already anticipated what was coming.As exp
The night was deep and dark. Edgar paced back and forth in his office, his brows tightly furrowed, frustration and contemplation flickering in his gaze.Days had passed. At first, he had thought Adrian was merely acting out of impulse, throwing a childish tantrum by running away from home. But now, there was still no sign of him. Meanwhile, Elise had already been officially accepted into the Marcellus family.To Edgar, this was nothing short of absurd.Finally unable to suppress his irritation, he picked up the phone and dialed Livia’s number.The call connected, and Livia’s voice came through, carrying a hint of lazy indifference. “Father, what is it?”Edgar’s tone was harsh as he got straight to the point. “This is ridiculous! What does Marcellus think he’s doing? What possible benefit does this bring to his family? Does he not even consider the consequences?”A soft scoff came from the other end of the line, followed by Livia’s amused yet cold voice. “Marcellus is not you. You don’
A few days later, at the Elias residence—The living room was brightly lit, the warm glow casting a soft radiance on everyone’s faces. The atmosphere was lighter than it had been in days.Seated around a long dining table, the group enjoyed a feast of fine wine and delicacies, their conversations flowing naturally.Lianna swirled a glass of red wine in her hand and smiled. “I can’t believe it actually worked.” Her tone was light, her eyes reflecting genuine joy. “Just a few days ago, I was still worried about what Adrian would do.”Beside her, Elias nodded gently. His voice was calm as he asked, “There were some bumps along the way, but the outcome isn’t bad.” He turned to Adrian. “How have you been these past few days?”Adrian glanced at Elise beside him, his gaze soft. “It’s been a little nerve-wracking, but getting through it with Elise by my side has been a kind of blessing.”Hearing his words, Elise’s cheeks flushed slightly. She lowered her head with a quiet smile.At that momen
The night was deep, and a gentle breeze swept across the balcony, lifting a strand of Livia’s slightly curled hair. She tilted her head slightly, gazing at Adrian with an unreadable smile in her eyes.“I know you want to investigate the truth,” Livia said softly, yet her tone carried an undeniable firmness. “But for now, no one except me can tell you.”Adrian was momentarily stunned, his brows knitting together. “Why? Last time, you told me to wait, and now again—”Livia shook her head gently, her voice calm yet laced with deeper meaning. “It’s not just the same reason as before. There’s more to it… But it’s not the right time yet. When the day comes, I will tell you.”Adrian studied her, as if trying to decipher something from her expression. But Livia remained composed, as though everything was under her control.After a brief silence, Adrian finally sighed and nodded. “Alright, I’ll trust you.”Livia let out a light laugh, her gaze sweeping over him. “You won’t regret this decision
After making all the necessary arrangements, Livia and Elise set off with a few guards to Adrian’s workplace. The morning sunlight filtered through the trees, casting dappled patterns on the car’s surface. A gentle breeze carried the crisp scent of dawn, adding a refreshing touch to the air.When they arrived, Adrian was engrossed in reviewing documents. He looked up in surprise upon seeing them, but his astonishment quickly gave way to delight.“What are you doing here?” he asked, striding toward them, his tone betraying his unconcealed joy.Elise smiled warmly. “We brought you breakfast. We figured you’d get too busy and forget to eat.”Adrian blinked before ruffling Elise’s hair in affectionate exasperation. “You two really…”He reached for Elise’s hand and held it gently, his gaze softening as he looked at her. Elise squeezed his fingers lightly, her cheeks tinged with a fain
Adrian furrowed his brows, his eyes filled with contemplation and doubt as he continued,“But unexpectedly, after Elise and I hid here for so many days, that strange feeling returned. And this time, it wasn’t just fleeting—it grew stronger and stronger… Yet, I still couldn’t find the source. I don’t know what’s affecting me.”He lifted his head, fixing his gaze on Livia, his voice deep and serious. “This is the second time I’ve experienced this. So, Livia—don’t you think it’s time you told me what’s really going on?”Livia looked at him, her eyes darkening slightly as she sighed inwardly. Seems her brother wasn’t foolish—he had long sensed something was wrong.She remained silent for a moment before finally speaking slowly, “…You’re not the only one who has felt this.”
The morning light was faint, and the castle air still carried the coolness of the night.Livia stood by the window, gazing into the distance, her mind replaying everything that had happened last night. Today, she planned to visit the place Adrian had mentioned. But how could she avoid everyone’s eyes, even Emma and Mark’s? She still had no answer. Perhaps she could only wait until nightfall and sneak out in secret.She withdrew her gaze, sighed softly, and walked out of her bedroom.It was still early. Before carrying out her plan, she wanted to check on Elise.Even though Elise had been acknowledged by Marcellus as his sister and was no longer a mere maid, Livia worried that she might struggle to adjust to this sudden change.She was no longer the unnoticed little maid of the castle but a recognized member of the Marcellus family.Livia turned down the corridor, heading toward Elise’s new bedroom, but unexpectedly stopped at the dining hall entrance.Her brows furrowed slightly as her
The two of them shared another round of playful banter, their laughter filling the cool morning air of the hospital room, carrying a gentle atmosphere that lingered with a tinge of reluctant tenderness. Livia gradually softened her smile, gently smoothing the stray strands of hair from her forehead, and then turned serious.“I have to go now. I’m visiting all the key sites today to inspect the work, and I have a meeting with all the main leaders in the evening.”Marcellus’s expression immediately stiffened, his gaze sharpening. “So that means… you’ll have to confront Eryx head-on?”Livia shook her head slightly, though her eyes remained steady and unwavering. “I’m not sure if I’ll run into him. According to your schedule from yesterday, today is the time for your routine meeting, and most people won’t expect me to join so soon. So, the attendance might be light. I want to use this opportunity to familiarize myself with the situation and see if there’s anyone worth gaining over to our
Morning sunlight streamed through the narrow gap in the curtains, casting scattered flecks of gold onto the crisp white sheets. Livia stirred, her lashes fluttering as she slowly opened her eyes. The warm light made her squint slightly, pulling her halfway out of sleep—but it wasn’t the sun that fully woke her.She felt it—a quiet, steady gaze resting on her.Turning her head, she met Marcellus’s eyes. He was already awake, watching her with a look that caught her off guard—soft, unwavering, and tinged with an intimacy she wasn’t yet used to.For a second, she panicked.She tried to sit up quickly, but her arm brushed against something warm and firm beneath the blanket—something that made her freeze mid-motion. A beat passed. Her cheeks flushed bright red. Before she could say a word, Marcellus gave her a familiar, slightly mischievous smile—the kind that made her heart skip and her patience thin.“You’re still misbehaving, even while recovering,” she muttered, giving him a glare that
Livia’s eyes lingered on Marcellus’s hand—still gently wrapped around hers, firm yet reassuring. Her heart skipped a beat. In the soft light, their shadows stretched along the wall beside the bed, wavering slightly as if echoing the tremble in her chest. She exhaled slowly, almost soundlessly, and stepped closer. Every movement she made was featherlight, like she feared even the quietest sound might shatter the fragile stillness between them.She loosened the outer robe draped over her shoulders and let it slide down, the fabric rustling faintly against her skin. One hand unfastened her sash with quiet precision. She moved slowly, with the care of someone unsure if they were allowed this moment. Her every motion—removing each layer, folding her clothes, placing them neatly on the bench beside the bed—carried a sense of reverence, as though this small act of undressing held weight beyond its simplicity.With a breath held, she lifted the blanket’s edge and eased herself into the bed. T
Time slipped by quietly, unnoticed. As the conversation between the two deepened, they grew more engrossed, the warm golden light in the hospital room spreading between them like a soft, tranquil embrace.Livia was leaning over the final map, her voice low and focused: “If we reroute through the East Corridor, would that—”She stopped mid-sentence.It suddenly dawned on her that Marcellus, propped against the headboard beside her, looked pale and exhausted. A sheen of sweat clung to his forehead. Though he was clearly forcing himself to stay alert for their discussion, his body had long reached its limit.She frowned slightly, frustrated with herself. Closing the file folder, she murmured, “…Sorry, I got too carried away. I forgot you’re still recovering. I should’ve let you rest earlier.”With that, she stood up and quietly walked over to the simple spare cot on the side of the room, ready to let the night pass in silence and pick up their unfinished plans tomorrow.But just as she l
Elias was just about to stand up, brushing down his cloak as he prepared to leave the room with Livia. But just as he moved, Livia’s voice rang out—soft, even-paced, but carrying a quiet firmness that left no room for doubt:“Tonight, I’ll stay with you.”The air seemed to freeze for a moment the instant those words left her lips. Elias and Marcellus turned to look at her almost simultaneously. Marcellus frowned, a flicker of surprise and instinctive concern in his eyes. Elias, meanwhile, froze in place, a look of stunned disbelief flashing across his face.Livia didn’t shy away from their gazes. She looked directly at Marcellus, her tone as calm and rational as ever. “There are still things I haven’t figured out. No matter how quickly you try to explain them verbally, it’s better for me to ask directly and clear everything up. Let’s settle the rest tonight—so there won’t be any loose ends in the handover.”“No,” Marcellus said at once, shaking his head, his expression unusually urgen
Once again, she was reminded of who she used to be in her past life.Back then, she hadn’t met her master yet, didn’t even have a name. She was just a shadow slipping through alleys and street corners, someone who could vanish at any moment. Every morning she woke up shivering from the biting cold, her stomach hollow and aching. Every night, she curled up behind broken crates or next to trash heaps, falling asleep to the sounds of crying and fighting on the outer edges of the city. There was never enough food, never enough warmth—no trust, no direction.If she hadn’t met her master that night, she might’ve quietly died in some nameless alley.And now, the man before her was saying he wanted to build a new residential area—for people like she once was, people with nowhere to go.If what he said was real, if this expansion project could truly take shape, it would mean that in the future, there would be fewer people like “Alia.”In that moment, something sparked inside her—Livia… no, Ali
For a moment, the air seemed to still.Elias froze, startled, while Livia’s eyes widened slightly—she hadn’t expected such a simple, almost tender reason from him.Marcellus lowered his head a little, spreading out a planning blueprint and pointing to a corner of the map where a future residential area would be built. “There’s no real war at the moment, but unrest is everywhere. There are more and more vagrants and homeless people. They’re being pushed to the very edges of the city walls, sleeping in tents and abandoned warehouses… with nowhere to hide when it rains.”His voice was soft but carried a weight that pressed deep into the heart, each word deliberate and steady.“There just aren’t enough places for people to live. I used to think it was just a problem of resource allocation, but later I realized—it’s actually a matter of choice. Whether or not we’re willing to take one more step, spend a bit more, to give them a place where they can find shelter from the wind and rain.”His
Livia turned her head to look at Marcellus, and couldn’t help but sigh inwardly—he really was the kind of person who could never be ignored. She and Emma had come to their suspicions only after comparing their differing sources of information, cross-checking details, and reasoning things through again and again. That’s when they began to sense something strange about the whole situation, suspecting that someone else might be behind it all.But Marcellus had reached nearly the same conclusion entirely on his own, through nothing but personal observation and logical analysis—and his certainty even surpassed hers. That kind of insight and sharp instinct… truly impressive.Her gaze softened a little without her realizing it, though she quickly reined in her emotions and returned to her usual calm.At that moment, Elias spoke as well. His eyes narrowed slightly, and there was a cautious, skeptical tone in his voice. “I had my men re-examine the blast site. To be honest—if that explosion wa
“Should we consider Eryx as our primary suspect?”To Livia’s surprise, Marcellus suddenly proposed this guess. His voice was low and firm, as if he had been thinking about this possibility for a long time.Livia was momentarily stunned, almost unable to react in time. Her eyes widened slightly, her mouth parted in surprise. “Primary suspect?” she repeated, her voice tinged with astonishment. She hadn’t expected Marcellus to directly label Eryx as their primary suspect.Marcellus nodded, a determined glint flickering in his eyes. He continued, “Yes, I now strongly suspect that everything, from your kidnapping to my attack, and even the hidden conspiracies behind it all, was orchestrated by Eryx. A long time ago, I noticed that he seemed to have some sort of collaboration with Edgar, and his obsession with the ‘Holy Grail’ far exceeds what would be considered normal. This makes me more certain that he is involved.” He paused, gazing deeply at Livia. “I’m sorry, Livia, I should have told