“But don’t be discouraged. I’m not just here to watch—I’ll help you modify this place, and from now on, I’ll train with you.” Emma crossed her arms, a confident smile playing on her lips. “I don’t know how or why you started all this, but I’ll do my best to support you.”Alia gazed at her, a flicker of complex emotions passing through her eyes. Emma’s trust and support warmed her heart, yet she knew she couldn’t reveal too much. After a brief hesitation, she nodded. “Alright, let’s start now. I’m ready.”She understood that the mysteries surrounding her wouldn’t be solved overnight, but strengthening herself was always the right choice.Emma nodded in satisfaction. Scanning the layout of the training room, she suddenly became intrigued. “Run through your routine once. Let me see what level you’re at.”Alia smirked slightly. Without a word, she took a deep breath, tapped her toes lightly against the ground, and launched into motion.Her movements were swift and fluid, with barely any u
As Alia stepped out of the training hall, she instinctively glanced around, expecting to see Elise waiting for her as usual, holding a cup of warm tea. But today, Elise was nowhere to be found.Alia frowned slightly, recalling the past—no matter how late her training ended, Elise was always there, like a caring younger sister, ready with a fresh towel and warm tea. Yet today, she was absent.Turning to Emma, Alia lowered her voice and asked, “Have you seen the girl who’s always with me?”Emma raised an eyebrow, pondered for a moment, then shook her head. “No, I haven’t seen her at all today.”Alia’s frown deepened. She wasn’t upset about Elise not attending to her—after all, she had never treated Elise as a mere servant but as a sister. What she felt now was not displeasure but worry.Her first thought was that Elise might have gone to see Adrian, but she quickly dismissed the idea. Alia knew exactly how Elise felt about Adrian. Elise had never sought Adrian out on her own; it was alw
After a series of challenges, Emma and Alia successfully evaded the patrolling soldiers around the castle and silently slipped out. Under the night sky, the quiet country road slowly came into view under the glow of their car’s headlights. Although the darkness seemed to offer them some cover, both of them knew that this night would be anything but ordinary. Emma drove an old yet steady vehicle, speeding along the countryside road. The car’s stable hum and the occasional sounds of insects mixed to form a serene nighttime scene.Soon after, they arrived at Elise’s hometown. The car stopped by a quaint little bridge, where the moonlight bathed the river, creating a mirror-like surface that reflected the shadows of trees and a nearby cottage. This place had none of the bustle of the city or the excessive luxury of urban life. Instead, it exuded an ancient, tranquil feel. The air was filled with the earthy scent of soil and the fresh, green fragrance typical of the countryside. The houses
The soft glow of the room’s lights cast gentle shadows over the wooden furniture, while a faint scent of timber lingered in the air, bringing a sense of peace and comfort. Though the space was small, it was tidy and exuded a warmth that felt like home. On the table sat a basket of fresh groceries, suggesting that Elise had just returned from a trip outside. She hadn’t even had time to start cooking before Alia and Emma’s unexpected visit.After inviting them to sit, Elise’s calm demeanor did little to ease Alia’s furrowed brows. She locked eyes with Elise, her gaze sharp with lingering suspicion. Slowly, she spoke, her voice laced with a gravity that demanded answers.“Why haven’t you been answering my calls? And why did you suddenly leave without a word? What exactly happened?”Elise lowered her gaze, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her sleeve. After a moment of hesitation, she finally responded, her voice soft yet firm.“I’m sorry, Livia… The signal here isn’t great, s
A few minutes earlier, Emma and Livia had driven away. Emma, unable to hold back her curiosity, asked, “You don’t actually believe her, do you?”“Of course not,” Alia replied calmly. “Her parents traveling without informing her? That’s impossible. And if they had told her, why would she have returned? Naturally, she’s lying. But if I expose her directly, she’ll only spin more lies. I know her—if she truly intends to leave, she’ll do it tonight. Let’s drive away for a while, then secretly return to the village entrance. It’s the only road out. We’ll catch her there.”As expected, Alia’s plan worked. They ‘caught’ Elise.The night was deep, the countryside road silent. Only the wind rustled the treetops with a whispering sound. Emma and Alia stepped out of the car, walking unhurriedly toward Elise’s vehicle. The black silhouette of the car stood in the dim light, like a silent confrontation waiting to unfold.Elise sat frozen in the driver’s seat, her eyes flickering with unease as her
The letter was written on the finest parchment, the ink bold and unwavering, each stroke carrying an undeniable sense of authority. Though only a few lines long, it bore the heavy weight of the family name, making it difficult to breathe.Elise,I have watched you grow and know you to be a kind and sensible young woman. I am not unaware of your feelings for Adrian, nor have I ever doubted your character. If I were to entrust my son to you, I could rest assured.However, you must understand that Adrian carries the bloodline of this family. This is not a matter of personal bias but the unyielding rules of our lineage, a constraint upheld by the nobility for centuries. Your birth, ultimately, determines that you will never truly be a part of this world.Since Adrian has made his choice, I will not stand in his way. You may be together, and I will not interfere. However, from this moment on, Adrian will no longer be the heir to this family. He will lose the support of our house. His futur
Seeing that Elise had finally calmed down, Alia let out a soft sigh. After a brief moment of thought, she said slowly, “You shouldn’t return to the castle just yet. Stay here and wait for my message. But don’t worry too much—since my father has already made his decision, he won’t do anything to you. He has far more important matters to deal with. Now that he knows you’ve left, he won’t be paying attention to you for the time being. Just rest here and recover. I’ll keep you informed.”Her tone was steady and soothing, a rare trace of comfort in her words. “The most important thing right now is for me to see where Adrian stands. If he disappoints me and chooses his family and power over you, then you should stop thinking about him. I’ll have Marcellus recognize you as his sister, and you won’t have to be my little maid anymore. You’ll be my sister instead—staying in the castle, living a good life, and one day marrying someone you truly like.”Elise was momentarily stunned, her eyes turn
Early the next morning, Alia immediately called Adrian. Though she had teased Elise the previous night to ease her worries, she knew full well that if Adrian found out about Elise’s sudden disappearance, he might act recklessly in unpredictable ways.The call was answered quickly, and Adrian’s voice carried a hint of fatigue. “Sister? What’s the matter so early in the morning?”Leaning lazily against her chair, Alia spoke in a casual tone. “There’s something I want to discuss with you. Come to Elias’s house.”Adrian hesitated for a moment, his voice tinged with doubt. “Elias? Shouldn’t Marcellus be handling matters like these? And why not talk at the castle?”“Because I need to keep this from both Marcellus and Edgar,” Alia replied, her tone calm but leaving no room for refusal. “I’m making some adjustments and upgrades to the expansion plans in secret. When the time comes, you’ll surprise them both, which will boost your image and performance in front of them. Whether you come or not
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
“I’m not sure,” Emma said, her brows slightly furrowed. A shadow of memory passed through her eyes as she slowly shook her head. Her voice was low, but firm. “I first started having doubts after you were kidnapped.”Livia froze, then turned slightly toward Emma with a puzzled look. “Kidnapped? Why? Weren’t those people… with Eryx?”Her voice was tinged with confusion and a trace of instinctive denial—she remembered those people clearly wearing the uniforms of Eryx’s covert forces. If she hadn’t seen them before, she wouldn’t have been able to recognize them.Emma nodded, her voice calm but laced with a chilling edge. “Yes, on the surface they were. So when I got the message that you’d been kidnapped—and almost… killed,” she paused, her tone dropping lower, as if even the air grew heavy under the weight of those words, “I pointed a gun at him the moment I saw him.”She remembered that day clearly—inside a cabin only she and Eryx knew about. Her killing intent had been real. If Eryx had
“I’m not entirely sure about him either.”Livia lowered her gaze slightly, her fingertips unconsciously rubbing the fabric of her skirt. Yet her voice remained unexpectedly firm. “He has his own motives, but he never talks about them… Still, I believe he wouldn’t hurt me.”At that moment, a faint glimmer of defiance and trust shimmered in her eyes, unfiltered and honest—an expression of her understanding of Marcellus: complicated, yet unwaveringly loyal.Emma looked at her, silent for half a second, then suddenly smiled, her tone lightening a little.“Indeed, I can tell—he loves you. Of course he wouldn’t hurt you.”That unexpected tease stirred a ripple across the still surface of their conversation. Caught off guard, Livia blinked in surprise, her cheeks quickly tinged with pink. She bit her lower lip lightly and turned her face away, a bit embarrassed.“You’re teasing me again…”Emma chuckled, shaking her head as she continued flipping through the notebook and diagrams in her hand,
“No matter what, right now there are multiple forces vying for the ‘Holy Grail,’” Livia breathed in deeply, her voice mixed with alertness and concern. “What about General Allen? What are his intentions? What’s his connection to my mother? I know it was you who helped me find him, thank you.” Her tone was sincere, and there was a trace of gratitude in her eyes.Emma nodded gently, her expression serious as she answered, “I’m not very familiar with Allen, but your mother once told me that if one day she was gone or I was in trouble, I just needed to find Allen, mention her name, and he would certainly help.” She paused, her gaze softening with a touch of tenderness and respect. “He said that no matter what situation I was in, if Celesta’s name was mentioned, he would take action.”She sighed softly, seemingly still uneasy about the risks she took back then. “So, this time, I took the risk and went to find him, telling him about your situation. His response… truly lived up to your mothe
Hearing this, Alia felt the tension in her heart ease just a little. Her intuition told her that Emma was trustworthy. Her emotions toward her mother were sincere, and she bore no ill intentions toward Alia. Perhaps she had her own motives, but she would never harm her.If there was anyone in this world who truly cared about her mother’s life and death and was willing to seek the truth, Emma was undoubtedly one of them.Livia let out a slow breath, her gaze sharpening as she decided to press further.“Do you know the cause of my mother’s death?” She looked straight into Emma’s eyes, lowering her voice. “The outside world says it was due to exhaustion, but I don’t believe that.”As soon as she spoke, Emma’s expression changed dramatically. Her gaze turned sharp and cold, filled with deep scrutiny and wariness.“I don’t believe it either.” Her voice was low but carried an undeniable conviction. “I know better than anyone what kind of person your mother was. She wasn’t someone who would
As Livia was still lost in thought, Emma’s voice rang out again, carrying a faint smile yet laced with complex emotions. “Originally, your mother just wanted me to be a happy princess. If I had accepted that path back then, perhaps we would be sisters now…”Her gaze drifted slightly, as if recalling a distant time. “I remember back then, you were still very young, and Lianna hadn’t been born yet.”Livia’s heart stirred slightly as an image of her gentle yet resilient mother surfaced in her mind. She tried to imagine—if Emma had truly taken that path, what would their relationship have been like? Would they have been inseparable sisters, or perhaps a bond akin to mentor and student?But Emma merely let out a soft sigh and shook her head. “But I didn’t want that.”Her voice grew firm, and in her eyes, a sharp determination ignited. “I wanted to repay your mother. More than that, I wanted to prove myself. So, I chose another path—I joined the military.”She tilted her head slightly, a gl