Allen’s explanation was logical but full of self-justification: “As you said, I passed on your information because I was tempted by benefits and threatened at the same time. But I swear, I didn’t lie. I only reported who you met and what you did. Today, out of sheer curiosity about Livia’s true identity and who you were talking to, I took the risk of eavesdropping. When Lord Marcellus suddenly appeared, it made the meeting seem even more unusual. After all, you and Lord Marcellus rarely meet in public, let alone in your secret stronghold. So, I made up my mind to listen in and pass the information to the commander. As for the kidnapping today, I really don’t know anything. I only provided information—I wasn’t involved in anything afterward.”Allen looked utterly innocent, even pitiable, but his words failed to dispel the doubt in the room.At that moment, a thought struck Livia like lightning. Something must have happened recently to prompt Eryx to take action, and the most notable ev
The moment Allen’s words fell, the room was enveloped in a tense silence. Livia lowered her head, her mind racing to recall the name she’d just heard—Emma, the General of the Seventh Army Group.Who was Emma?Emma’s name resounded throughout the military like thunder. Though she came from humble beginnings, she quickly rose to prominence through extraordinary intellect and unmatched ability. Despite her youth, she earned the trust of her soldiers with her decisiveness and composure. At the same time, she became a figure of interest among the military elite. The Seventh Army Group under her command was renowned for its discipline and precision, and Emma’s talent for devising meticulous strategies led to several major victories. Within the ranks, she was privately hailed as a “rising star of the future.” However, her background remained shrouded in mystery—no one truly knew her origins. She seemed to have emerged from nowhere, an inexplicable yet dazzling force in the army.As Livia lis
The room was filled with a suffocating tension, broken only by the ticking of the clock on the wall. Before long, Edgar strode in with his usual commanding presence, prompting everyone inside to instinctively stand straighter.His gaze landed on Livia first. He scrutinized her carefully, ensuring she was unharmed. Aside from her slightly pale complexion, she appeared fine. Only then did he exhale an almost imperceptible sigh of relief. Yet, he betrayed no emotion as he turned his attention to Marcellus, his voice deep and heavy:“When I reached Emma’s residence, she was already gone.”“What?!” Marcellus’s face darkened instantly, his voice tinged with shock and fury. “So it really was Emma! I was still holding out hope it was a misunderstanding, or that Allen was lying again.”Edgar let out a cold snort, his brows furrowing as his anger simmered beneath the surface. “Hmph. You’ve really outdone yourselves—allowing someone to infiltrate your home without a clue. If my daughter hadn’t b
The room fell into a brief silence after Edgar left. His imposing presence and lingering anger seemed to hang in the air, refusing to dissipate. Alia lowered her gaze slightly, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the embroidery on her sleeve as though she was still processing everything that had just transpired.Elias stood to the side, his expression a mix of emotions as he watched her. After a moment, he let out a soft sigh and spoke in a low voice, “Livia, I wanted to stay here with you, but there’s something far more important I need to take care of.” His tone carried a hint of guilt and self-reproach. “This is entirely my fault. I have to return and reorganize my forces, conduct a thorough sweep to ensure there are no more spies among us. I won’t let you suffer any harm again.”As he spoke, his voice grew slightly firmer, his gaze shifting toward Marcellus. His eyes carried a sharp intensity, as though he wanted to say something threatening. Yet, recalling how Marcellus had risked
The morning sunlight streamed through the gap in the curtains, casting a soft halo that outlined Livia’s delicate features. She slowly opened her eyes, her long lashes quivering slightly, as if still immersed in the lingering emotions of the night before. Sitting up, the thin blanket slipped down, revealing her smooth, bare shoulders. The morning light caressed her skin, lending it a warm, luminous glow.Marcellus’s eyes opened, his gaze immediately drawn to her. A flicker of fascination crossed his deep-set eyes. Propping himself up, he watched her intently, his eyes tracing the curves of her back as though trying to etch this moment into his memory forever. Slowly, he reached out, wanting to pull her back into his embrace, to feel her warmth once more, to taste the sweetness that lingered between them.But just as his fingertips were about to touch her wrist, Livia suddenly spoke.“Can you really not tell me everything?”Her voice was soft, yet it carried a restrained sorrow, as if
Elias swiftly gathered his most trusted men—people who had fought alongside him through countless life-and-death situations. If an enemy still lurked among them, then there was nothing more he could do.In the dimly lit meeting room, candlelight flickered, casting shadows over the solemn and contemplative faces of those present. Elias’s gaze swept across the room, his expression cold and severe as he finally spoke—“You are the men I trust most. I do not doubt you.”“But we have a breach. My base was infiltrated. Today, it was Livia who was kidnapped. That is something I will never tolerate.”There was no rage in his voice—not even a hint of emotion. His tone was disturbingly calm, yet everyone instinctively tensed.“Our enemy is stronger and more cunning than we anticipated.” His sharp eyes scanned the room as he continued in a low, steady voice, “So, from this moment forward, I will restructure my forces.”He paused, his gaze as sharp as a blade, his tone unwavering—“Each of you wi
Inside Edgar’s dimly lit secret chamber, the air felt thick and suffocating, as if it had solidified under the weight of tension. The flickering candlelight cast erratic shadows across the heavy oak table at the center of the room.With a sharp crack, Edgar’s palm slammed against the tabletop, making the candleholder tremble. The flames flickered wildly, casting jagged silhouettes on the stone walls.“You’ve heard what happened, haven’t you?” His voice was low but brimming with restrained fury, his sharp gaze piercing through the stillness like a blade. “You’d better give me a damn good explanation.”Opposite him, a tall man in a dark coat stood with his hands calmly clasped behind his back, his expression indifferent. Edgar’s anger seemed to slide off him like raindrops off a stone.“I didn’t expect Emma to go that far,” he said, his tone smooth and unruffled, as though discussing an irrelevant matter. “I only shared information with her, knowing that she had a stronger motive to see
The scenery outside the car window grew increasingly desolate, with raindrops sliding down the glass like silent sighs. Eryx leaned against the seat, his long fingers tapping lightly on his knee as his deep gaze fixed on the distant horizon. The car slowed to a stop in front of a run-down little house. He didn’t get out immediately; instead, he scanned the surroundings to ensure there were no suspicious figures lurking nearby. Only then did he push open the door and stride steadily toward the entrance.He knocked lightly a few times, hearing faint footsteps inside before the room fell silent again. Waiting a few seconds and confirming there was still no one around, he pushed open the door and stepped into the hidden safehouse.The interior was dimly lit, with simple yet neatly arranged furniture. Eryx moved with practiced ease, lifting a corner of a worn-out rug to reveal a concealed hatch. He frowned slightly, knocking three times on the wooden panel and waiting for a response. Momen
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