The words came out of nowhere, striking Alia’s heart like a gentle blow, sending a ripple of emotion through her that left her momentarily flustered. Years of training, however, allowed her to quickly compose herself. She lowered her gaze to hide her subtle reaction, feigning indifference as she replied lightly, “You go first. I’ll bathe later.” She deliberately added a touch of casualness to her tone to mask the tension she felt inside.Marcellus said nothing more but gave her a meaningful glance. His deep, penetrating eyes seemed to pierce through her pretense, seeking the emotions she had hidden. The intensity of his gaze made Alia feel as though needles pricked her back, her chest tightening under the pressure. Yet, she forced herself to remain calm, only relaxing when he turned and walked into the bathroom.The sound of running water came from behind the closed door. Alia stood frozen in place, her thoughts unexpectedly chaotic. It was only natural for her to share a room with Ma
Alia’s body went stiff. Her instincts screamed at her to resist, but her thoughts were a chaotic tangle, leaving her utterly clueless about what to do. In her previous life as a thief, she had navigated countless dangerous missions and lived a rough, unpolished life. She had even disguised herself as a man and shared rooms with other men. Yet, never before had she been so close to a man’s essence like this. The situation felt overwhelmingly intimate.What made it worse—or perhaps more perplexing—was that this man before her wasn’t just any man. He was stunningly handsome, exuding an innate masculinity that left her both unsettled and faintly spellbound.Her internal alarms blared, but her body refused to obey. Her hands clutched at the bedsheet, her chest heaving with rapid breaths. After all, the man leaning over her was, in name at least, her husband. His nearness, his intimacy—it could all be justified. If she rejected him now, wouldn’t it raise his suspicions? Would he think she w
At dawn, Alia rubbed her still-throbbing temples and slowly climbed out of bed. Memories from the previous night swirled in her mind like relentless waves, leaving her restless until morning. She forced herself to freshen up, trying to appear composed, then pushed open the door to her room.Standing outside was Elise, holding a neatly folded set of clothes and a steaming cup of tea. Her face carried the usual respectful smile, and it was clear she had been waiting for quite some time.“Good morning,” Elise greeted softly, stepping forward to hand Alia the tea. “Lord Marcellus left early this morning, saying he had important business to attend to. He mentioned he might not return until late tonight.”Alia nodded, her thoughts flickering briefly: So, Marcellus did sleep in the castle last night. But after everything that happened, I wonder if he’ll return tonight. At least I won’t have to worry about… intimacy for now.The memory of last night’s events brought a faint blush to her cheek
Alia knew there were countless mysteries still shrouding her, but she also understood that her most urgent task was to regain the skills and abilities she possessed in her previous life. Resolutely, she set aside her tangled thoughts and focused on rebuilding her physical condition.“Elise, help me buy some equipment,” she ordered her maid decisively.“Equipment?” Elise blinked in mild surprise. Though curious, she nodded and complied without hesitation.When the shopping list was handed to her, Elise realized it was far from a typical list of gym equipment like dumbbells and barbells. Instead, it included items she had never encountered before: a balance beam reminiscent of a narrow log bridge, staggered obstacle boards, a climbing rope net, and multiple jump platforms. Bewildered, she didn’t dare ask questions and simply followed Alia’s instructions to gather everything.A few days later.Alia stood before the equipment, now delivered and neatly arranged, a faint glimmer of satisfac
Alia halted, her gaze icy as she fixed her eyes on Elias.“What do you know?” Her voice was low and carried an unmistakable authority.Elias smirked faintly, a playful glint in his expression. He didn’t answer immediately; instead, he casually adjusted his cuffs, speaking in a slow, deliberate tone:“Let’s take our time, Livia. Truth is never something revealed all at once.”There was an enigmatic undercurrent in his words, as if he already knew everything yet was intentionally probing. His calm and collected demeanor only heightened Alia’s wariness. She took a deep breath, swiftly reining in her emotions.“What are you talking about?” Her tone turned steady, tinged with coldness and denial. “I was simply unwell—no one is out to harm me.”Elias chuckled softly at her response. His laughter carried no mockery, only a trace of pity. Taking a few measured steps closer, he lowered his voice and said:“Ah, you can fool others, but not me. We were so close once.” Leaning in slightly, he loc
“Do you have something you want to tell me?” Alia asked, her tone calm but probing, as if testing Elias’s true intentions.Elias fixed his gaze on her, his expression unwavering.“That depends on whether you’re willing to trust me. Perhaps I can help you uncover the truth.”His words carried a weight of intrigue, a mix of an extended hand and a veiled implication that he held crucial information. This made Alia more acutely aware that Elias was far more complex than he seemed. He was not merely a flirtatious, carefree nobleman—there was a depth to him, as well as a plan. Whatever their history as Livia and Elias, it had threads that extended far beyond mere private affection. Elias must have his own schemes and goals.This realization lit a fire within Alia. She knew she couldn’t fully trust him, but outright rejecting him might close a valuable lead. For now, she needed to tread carefully.“Even if that’s true, I’ve lost my memory, I don’t know what I am able to do.” Alia replied, fe
Marcellus stood at the entrance of the training ground, his dark robe draping to his ankles. The heavy fabric and meticulous tailoring accentuated his tall and commanding presence. Though his figure was cloaked in the shadow of the doorway, his imposing aura was impossible to ignore. His brow furrowed slightly, his gaze calm yet deep as a still pond, fixed intently on Alia as if attempting to decipher some hidden clue from her expression.Alia’s heart tightened but remained outwardly composed. As an experienced “thief,” lying had become second nature. She tilted her lips into a faint smile and spoke with deliberate calm:“Oh, I was just talking about Elise.” Her tone carried a hint of exasperation, her eyes even showing a trace of reproach. “She got curious about the equipment and couldn’t resist trying it out. She nearly fell, so I scolded her and told her not to touch anything. I sent her off to do something else, thinking she might have snuck back to bother me again.”Her words wer
Alia followed Marcellus, her hand in his, her mind occupied by the subtle differences between the brothers’ hands. Step by step, she allowed herself to be guided toward the study. The moment they crossed the door, her gaze was immediately drawn to the room before her.It was an opulent study, fitting for someone of Marcellus’s stature as the wealthiest man in the city. The space was vast, with a soaring ceiling adorned with intricate floral carvings. A massive crystal chandelier hung at its center, radiating brilliant light that reflected off the polished surfaces of the room. Dark oak bookshelves lined the walls, filled with heavy tomes whose embossed covers and gilded titles spoke of immense value.At the heart of the room stood a grand desk, its finely carved legs and intricate surface detailing a testament to exquisite craftsmanship. On it sat an antique globe and a gilded quill pen, its ink bottle emitting a faint, fresh scent as if waiting for its owner to write at any moment.N
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
Marcellus slowly straightened his body. His expression, usually tight and severe, had softened with a rare trace of honest fatigue. Looking at Livia, who stood by the bedside, his eyes held a hint of genuine apology.“I’m sorry, Livia. I shouldn’t have kept everything hidden from you,” he said in a low but serious voice. “I promise you—once we find the ‘Holy Grail,’ I’ll tell you everything. No more secrets. And then… I’ll give you back the freedom to choose.”As she listened, something inside Livia stirred, like a taut string gently plucked.She couldn’t tell whether this was a true apology or a calculated attempt to smooth things over. But seeing Marcellus lower his head first, dropping his usual cold and stubborn facade, something in her own resistance quietly cracked open.“Forget it…” she sighed, her tone still weary. “Let’s just focus on which tasks I need to take over. I might be your temporary replacement in name, but I can’t come running to you for every little thing. Looking
Livia looked at Emma with a gentle gaze. Though her tone was soft, it carried a subtle firmness that left no room for objection. “Thank you, Emma. Don’t worry. Right now, your safety is the most important thing. I believe in you—but not everyone in this world will be able to trust you like I do. For now, it’s best if you rest properly here in the castle.”Her voice dropped a little, laced with caution and vigilance. “We need to make sure your identity remains a secret—especially from those on Eryx’s side. Only step in when it’s absolutely necessary. Your presence will matter most when the time is right.”Emma raised an eyebrow, about to speak, but Livia continued before she could.“And there’s something more important… I need you to watch over the study for me.”Livia’s expression grew a touch more serious as her eyes flicked toward the far end of the corridor. Her voice lowered further. “Eryx once tried to sneak in. His target was that file. Now that Marcellus is injured, he might tr