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
Adrian’s gaze sharpened, his brows furrowing. “Do you know who’s searching for the Holy Grail?”Livia shook her head slightly, her voice steady and calm. “I’m not sure. But whoever they are, they will strike again.”She paused for a moment, her expression turning complicated as she looked at Adrian. Then, with a soft sigh, she said apologetically, “I’m sorry for lying to you last time.”Adrian frowned. “What?”Livia met his gaze, a trace of guilt flickering in her eyes. “I thought I could keep this matter from involving you, so I lied.”Adrian and Elise exchanged a glance, clearly surprised that Livia would admit to lying and even apologize for it.“But… you already know that my last coma, and this time being kidnapped, were both because of the ‘Holy Grail,’” Livia continued, her voice low. “Anything related to it will bring danger and threats.”A chill ran through Adrian and Elise’s hearts, their expressions growing serious.So the danger she had been facing… was all because of this?
Just as the three of them were feeling disappointed by their fruitless search, a faint tapping sound echoed through the room.Adrian and Livia instinctively looked up, scanning their surroundings for the source of the noise. However, aside from themselves and the scattered debris on the floor, nothing in the room had changed.“What was that?” Adrian asked, his brows furrowing in alertness.Elise shrugged innocently, lifting her foot to lightly tap the pipe in the corner of the room. Tap.“It was me,” she said helplessly. “You two seemed lost in some kind of trance just now, and since I couldn’t help, I was just kicking the pipe out of boredom.”As soon as she spoke, Livia’s expression suddenly sharpened, as if she had realized something crucial.Without hesitation, she crouched down and moved closer to the pipe Elise had kicked. She even pressed herself almost flat against the ground, as if trying to perceive something more clearly.Sure enough, the mysterious calling sensation grew s
Adrian looked around the humble shelter, yet his gaze carried a hint of contentment and warmth. A soft smile appeared on his lips as he focused on Elise, his voice gentle and steady. “I think this place is perfect.”His tone was filled with tenderness, and his eyes reflected an undeniable attachment. It was as if this worn-down hideout had become warm and inviting simply because Elise was here.Elise was briefly startled but soon smiled as well. She, too, glanced around the modest little house. It was merely a temporary refuge, lacking even proper furniture, yet to her and Adrian, it had become their private sanctuary—a place that belonged only to the two of them.Adrian took her hand, fingers interlocking, his warmth slowly transferring to her palm. Elise lowered her gaze, gently tracing his fingers, a faint blush rising on her cheeks. Her eyes held a trace of shyness, but they couldn’t hide the happiness within.Livia, standing to the side, watched the lovestruck couple with an exag
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
“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
Emma’s expression froze slightly, a trace of complex emotions flickering in her eyes. She was not naive—she could sense the subtle probing in Livia’s question. Livia seemed to be using her mother’s story to test Emma’s feelings toward Celesta, to determine whether she could be trusted.It wasn’t a particularly clever tactic, but… after all, she was Celesta’s daughter.Emma’s lips curled into a faint smile, yet her gaze softened. She felt no guilt—because she had none to feel.She spoke slowly, her voice tinged with reminiscence. “Yes, your mother saved me out of kindness. But it wasn’t just about giving me food and clothes. She gave me direction, hope, at a time when I had nothing left.”She let out a quiet sigh, her gaze drifting as if piercing through the walls of the room, reaching back into a past filled with hardship and suffering.“Can you imagine?” she said softly, a hint of bitterness in her tone. “I was a street rat, a child with no home, no family, no one to rely on. I lived