Livia and Elise returned to the castle under the deep night sky, where the light cast uneven shadows on the stone walls. As soon as they stepped into the main hall, they saw Emma standing to the side, as if waiting for them.Emma’s gaze lingered on Livia for a moment before she smiled faintly. “You’re back.”Livia nodded without saying much, while Elise politely inclined her head in greeting.An unspoken tension hung in the air. Livia’s emotions were complicated—she had yet to fully trust Emma, and she knew Emma wasn’t being entirely honest with her either. She had planned to sort out her thoughts upon returning to the castle, but now she found herself too drained to dwell on it.Forcing a small, indifferent smile, she said, “Mm, things are fine on Adrian’s side… I’m a little tired and want to rest.”Emma, perceptive as always, caught the hint of distance in her tone. Her expression faltered slightly but, in the end, she didn’t press further. Instead, she simply nodded and said, “Then
Livia’s mind was in turmoil. She was still trying to figure out what Eryx’s sudden interference meant, whether Edgar’s arrangements were intentional or had hidden motives, and—most pressing of all—what Marcellus’s situation was at that moment…But Elias nonchalantly interrupted her thoughts. “Thinking about all that won’t change anything. Today, I’m taking you out—to eat, to have fun. Let’s take a break.”Livia looked up at him. His expression held an unusual seriousness, as if he had planned this all along. There was no urgency in his gaze, no command—only a quiet expectation, like he was waiting for her answer.She hesitated. It was true—these past few days, her mind had barely had a moment’s rest. Problems tangled together, suffocating her. Maybe, just maybe, taking a break would actually help her sort things out.In the end, she gave a slight nod.Seeing her agree, Elias’s lips curved into a relaxed smile. “Then let’s go. I’ve planned everything for today.”—As night fell, the to
The night sky was torn apart by a sudden explosion, its fiery glow illuminating the darkness. The shockwave rippled through the ground, shaking it ever so slightly. Livia’s heart clenched, her mind racing through countless possibilities, but the one that terrified her most—was Marcellus or Adrian caught in that explosion?Screams and frantic cries echoed through the streets as people fled in panic. The once-quiet night was shattered beyond repair. Livia instinctively moved toward the explosion, but Elias grabbed her wrist, his brows tightly furrowed.“Don’t be reckless. At least confirm the situation first.”Livia took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm. She quickly pulled out her phone and contacted Adrian.“Are you both okay?” Her voice carried a trace of urgency.A few seconds later, Adrian’s voice came through. “Elise and I are fine. The explosion happened far from us.”Livia let out a breath of relief, but her heart remained lodged in her throat. “What about Marcellus? W
Elias stood at the hospital room door, hesitating to step inside. Marcellus had fallen back into a deep sleep after his conversation with Livia.Through the narrow gap in the door, Elias could see Livia sitting beside Marcellus’s bed, her expression heavy with complex emotions. In her eyes, there was concern, heartache, and… perhaps even a deep affection she herself might not want to admit.Elias’s heart clenched.He didn’t want to acknowledge it, but the truth was undeniable—she had always loved Marcellus.He should have expected it. He should have realized it long ago. Yet just hours ago, he had still believed he had a chance. At the top of the Ferris wheel, when he held her hand, she hadn’t pulled away. He had even come so close… so close to kissing her.But then, the explosion shattered everything in an instant.A bitter thought crossed his mind—if that explosion had come just a few minutes later, would things have been different?But reality didn’t deal in “what-ifs.”His gaze fe
Elias was just about to step out of the hospital room when Marcellus’s deep voice sounded from behind him.“Don’t go.”Elias paused slightly and turned back. Marcellus’s expression had grown even more solemn, his gaze deep and intense, as if it could pull someone in. He glanced at Livia, then subtly gestured toward the door. Elias understood and casually locked it, ensuring that only the three of them remained inside.“This incident… there’s something off about it,” Marcellus said, his voice low, carrying a suppressed chill.Elias frowned, immediately catching the underlying meaning in his words. “You’re saying… this wasn’t an accident?”Livia’s heart clenched, and she unconsciously tightened her fists, her eyes filled with shock. “What? Not an accident?”She had assumed it was just a construction mishap. Given the scale of the expansion project, even a slight oversight could lead to danger. But if it wasn’t an accident… that meant someone had deliberately caused the explosion.Marcel
The atmosphere in the hospital room was heavy and tense. The dim lighting cast soft shadows, but it couldn’t dispel the suffocating pressure hanging in the air.Marcellus leaned against the hospital bed, his head lowered in deep thought. After a moment, he slowly spoke, “This is what I wanted to tell you—if the explosion was truly aimed at me, then the enemy, having gone to such lengths, wouldn’t have let me escape at the last moment.”His gaze darkened, as if playing out every possible scenario in his mind. “If this was an assassination attempt, they had the means to ensure I died beneath the rubble. But I survived, injured but alive. What does that mean?”He let out a quiet sigh, his eyes growing even more profound. “If this was really meant to kill me, then it’s highly possible… they spared me on purpose.”Livia’s breath hitched slightly, and she couldn’t help but ask, “Spared you? Why?”“It could be a warning,” Marcellus replied, his tone devoid of emotion, as if merely stating a
Elias looked at Livia, his gaze flickering slightly. He wanted to refute her, but her analysis was almost flawless. Indeed, if Livia took over, Eryx’s plans would be completely disrupted, and Marcellus wouldn’t truly lose his power.But…“Are you sure?” Marcellus finally spoke, his deep voice carrying a hint of complexity as he locked eyes with her. “Do you understand what this means?”Livia nodded without hesitation. “Of course, I do.”She took a deep breath, her tone softening slightly. “This isn’t just about your safety. It’s because…I don’t want Eryx to get his way.”Marcellus’s gaze darkened, a trace of unreadable emotion flashing in his eyes.For a moment, the air in the hospital room seemed to freeze.Marcellus stared at Livia in silence, struggling with something within himself. Then, he slowly spoke, his voice carrying an unusual trace of concern. “But what about your safety?”Unlike his usual composed self, there was a subtle, almost imperceptible worry in his voice. “If you
The room fell into silence. Marcellus’ deep gaze locked onto her, his voice low yet resolute. “Livia, I feel like you’ve changed ever since your last coma.”Livia—no, Alia—startled awake.A chill crept down her spine, and her fingers clenched unconsciously, trembling slightly at the tips.She had almost grown accustomed to being Livia—accustomed to everything around her, to her role as Marcellus’ wife, to being the object of Elias’ affection, to being the key figure entangled in the Holy Grail’s secret. Yet now, hearing Marcellus pierce through her pretense so directly, she suddenly realized—she had sunk too deep into this web of secrets and emotions.She had told herself countless times that she was just Alia, just a petty thief, someone who didn’t belong in this world. But every time she tried to distance herself, something unexpected would drag her back into this identity—forcing her to accept feelings and a fate that were never meant to be hers.But this time… perhaps this was 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