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 night was dark and quiet, like a thick, inky shadow. A woman dressed in black slipped silently through the shadows toward the castle ahead. The moonlight cast a faint glow on her slender figure, outlining her graceful shape even in the night. The castle was a classic piece of medieval European architecture, with tall, towering spires and thick stone walls that looked both grand and eerie. Alia smirked slightly, muttering to herself, “Doesn’t seem too hard. A place this big, and no guards in sight? This should be a piece of cake.”Even though she felt relaxed, Alia’s movements were precise and careful. She pulled out a detailed map of the castle from her bag, studying it in the dim light. With a confident nod, she silently slipped inside. Her eyes were sharp, quickly memorizing every hallway and corner. There were no guards, but infrared sensors were everywhere. Trained from a young age, Alia was more than used to these challenges. She moved skillfully, evading every sensor like a
“How…how can it be him…” Alia’s heart raced as she stared in disbelief. The gunshot from last night seemed to still echo in her ears, and the cold, unyielding face was vivid in her memory. Yet here was Marcellus, no longer ruthless and indifferent. His gaze was soft, almost tender, filled with a strange mix of love and unease, as if she were his most cherished treasure.“You… you…” Alia tried to speak, but her voice was hoarse. She forced herself to calm down, struggling to keep a steady expression. However, her wide eyes betrayed a sense of shock and fear she could not hide, and her trembling hands revealed the turmoil within her.Marcellus noticed her reaction, and with surprising gentleness, he lowered his head and held her hand firmly. “I know you’re still weak. Don’t worry. Whatever you want to say, you can tell me after you’ve rested.” His hand was warm and reassuring, conveying a comforting strength. But to Alia, this warmth only intensified her dread.Images from the night bef
Alia gracefully took a seat on the sofa across from him, masking her inner frustration with a gentle smile. Pretending to be a noble lady is truly exhausting. If I were in my original body, I could have leaped across the room in a few strides. Now, these legs are so weak, overly delicate. Despite her irritation, her face maintained an appearance of soft, elegant composure, her every gesture smooth and refined. She turned her head and softly instructed Elise, “Elise, could you bring some tea for Elias and me?”Elise nodded respectfully and left to prepare the tea.As soon as the door closed, Elias wasted no time. He stood up and sat down right next to Alia, startling her with his sudden closeness. She shifted a little away. Then, his deep, slightly teasing voice reached her ear, “Alia, are you feeling better? I was only away for a month at Marcellus’s command, and I return to find you gravely ill.”Alia stole a glance at Elias. He leaned casually against the sofa, his handsome features
Elise returned to the study with a tea tray, only to find that Elias was already gone. She blinked in mild confusion before setting the tea gently on the table in front of Alia. Alia, feeling a surge of anxiety, seized the opportunity to ask casually, “Elise, what kind of person is Elias? What’s your impression of him?”A shy blush appeared on Elise’s cheeks as she stammered, “Well… he’s very handsome… but, hmm, I guess he doesn’t get along very well with Master Marcellus.”Alia’s heart skipped a beat, and she continued to lead her gently, “Oh? Why do you say that?”Elise gave a small smile, as if hesitant to say too much but continued honestly, “Though he’s not involved in the family business like Master Marcellus, he’s often sent by him on these mysterious errands. Every time he returns, he looks exhausted. I’ve heard no one really knows what these tasks are about.”Elise glanced cautiously at Alia’s expression, then hesitated before adding, “Actually… you and Elias seem quite close
Time drifted by quietly, and dusk soon approached. Alia saw a young woman with a resemblance to herself entering the room. Her steps were light and graceful, and she greeted Alia with a warm smile, her voice sweet and gentle. “Sister, you look so well today! You’ve recovered faster than I imagined.” Alia nodded slightly, a polite smile gracing her lips as she replied, “Thank you for coming to keep me company. Let’s enjoy a good time together today.”This young beautiful woman was her younger sister, Lianna. She seemed demure and affectionate, chatting with Alia about recent events and family affairs, as though the two shared a close bond as always. It was clear Lianna had heard of Alia’s memory loss; she kept the conversation casual, asking about her sister’s health with a warm tone.However, Alia’s sharp eyes, trained from her days as a thief, detected something unusual. She noticed that Lianna’s gaze occasionally roamed around the room, as if waiting for someone to appear. When Alia
In the lavish dining hall, a long table was set with exquisite silverware. Marcellus sat at the head of the table, radiating an air of authority. To his right sat Elias, lounging casually, with a hint of a smile. Alia was seated to Marcellus’s left, with Lianna beside her, and directly across from Lianna was Adrian, who looked uneasy, his posture tense.Alia couldn’t help but sigh internally, thinking, “Rich people’s meals are such a hassle.” In her previous life, meals were simple and quick. Now, sitting in such a grand setting, she felt strangely out of place, but the food seems good.The table was laden with an array of delicacies. First, a creamy lobster bisque, with tender lobster meat perfectly infused with rich, buttery flavors, practically begged her to take another sip. Then came golden-brown lamb chops, exuding the earthy aroma of herbs, with juices oozing out at every cut. Alia couldn’t help but be impressed by the quality of the food.There were also colorful salads, artfu
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
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
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
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
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
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
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’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?
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