Alia held her breath, doing her best to minimize her presence. Her eyes were fixed on Eryx, as her heart pounded in her chest like a war drum. Each deliberate, steady step he took seemed to tread directly on her nerves, making her feel as if she could barely breathe.“No, I can’t let him find me.”Her mind raced. She could still feel Eryx’s sharp gaze sweeping through the study like a blade, ready to cut through any disguise or subtle movement.“The only reason he hasn’t caught me yet is because of the experience from my past life. If I hadn’t used my thief skills to lower my breathing to its absolute minimum, I’d have been discovered already. If he sees me, he’ll know I’m a ‘well-bred lady’ who somehow knows how to use advanced thief techniques. Everything will fall apart.”She couldn’t allow that to happen. It was clear that Eryx was no ordinary person. His keen awareness and precise movements marked him as a dangerous opponent. Alia knew her abilities, not yet fully recovered from
The next morning, sunlight streamed through the curtains, spilling into the room. Alia woke from a night of heightened vigilance, her mind still occupied by the events of the previous night. She slowly sat up in bed, massaging her temples as she took a deep breath. The discovery she had made only heightened her sense of danger—whoever the man connected to her mentor was, he had come with a purpose. She was almost certain that purpose was the Holy Grail.“If he dared to come once, he might come again. I can’t let this happen again,” Alia muttered, her gaze steeling with resolve.She quickly washed up, got dressed, and, under the pretense of having nightmares, summoned the estate’s head of security. For a young noblewoman to request additional security wasn’t unusual, but the level of detail in her instructions was surprisingly professional.In the grand hall, Alia pointed to a map of the estate as she outlined her directives:“These areas, especially the balcony on the north side of th
Though Marcellus was absent from the castle, Alia wasted no time. She understood that this world was filled with unknown challenges. Whether it was facing potential enemies or protecting herself, she needed to remain vigilant. She channeled her focus into rigorous training, aiming to unleash the potential and flexibility of this new body.In the early morning mist, Alia donned a lightweight training outfit and stood in the upgraded practice room she’d refurbished days prior. The room was spacious and bright, with a specially designed floor that absorbed shocks and facilitated agile movement. It had become her most frequented space of late.At first, her movements had been stiff; after all, this body was different from her original one. But through relentless practice, she gradually adapted to its unique traits. While it lacked raw strength, it boasted exceptional agility, with natural advantages in flexibility and speed.“One more time,” she murmured, taking a deep breath as she assum
Autumn deepened as sycamore trees lining the streets turned shades of gold and crimson. Fallen leaves scattered on the ground danced softly with the breeze. Though the sun shone brightly, the crisp air carried hints of the approaching chill. Central Plaza was bustling, its elegant fountain surrounded by lively cafes. People strolled or hurried along, wrapped in seasonal clothing, while the rose statue in the plaza’s center glimmered under the sunlight, adding a romantic warmth to the cool day.Alia walked gracefully, her burgundy heels clicking lightly against the pavement. Her emerald-green long-sleeved dress, tailored to accentuate her slender waist, swayed gently as she moved. Over it, she wore a beige trench coat, slightly open at the collar to reveal a delicate necklace, lending her an air of understated elegance. A light breeze swept by, prompting her to pull the coat closer as she quickened her pace toward the meeting spot.On the other side of the plaza, Lianna arrived in a pa
Alia moved forward until she reached a rundown area on the outskirts of the city. The buildings here were dilapidated, with crumbling brick walls and pothole-ridden streets littered with debris. Despite the dismal scene, Alia felt an odd sense of familiarity. This was where she had often spent time in her previous life—before she followed her master, she had roamed these streets with a group of young misfits, sharing a rebellious chapter of her life.Her gaze landed on a corner where several young men and women lounged on a battered bench, chatting lazily. Their tattered clothes and carefree expressions carried a touch of defiance, but there was a spark of liveliness in their eyes. Alia recognized them—they were her old companions, her former partners-in-crime. Yet, it was evident they no longer knew her as she was now.Alia initially planned to greet them directly, but she halted mid-step. “They don’t know the person I am now, and I am no longer who I was then.” She sighed quietly, a
Thinking of her master, Alia’s expression turned slightly serious. She glanced at her watch. It was still early, and the sky hadn’t completely darkened. Resolving to use this opportunity, she decided to investigate Eryx’s house. Perhaps it would yield some clues about him.Before leaving, she set the next meeting place with the gang of street thugs, her tone calm yet unyielding. “I’ll come back from time to time to see if you have new information. Right here. The more you have, the better the rewards. But don’t waste my time.” They quickly nodded in agreement.Turning to Red, Alia asked, “Do you know where The General of the Second Army Group Eryx lives?”Red hesitated briefly but wisely refrained from asking why Alia wanted to know. Instead, he directly pointed her in the right direction.“The place isn’t heavily guarded,” Red cautioned, “but there are patrolling soldiers nearby. If you’re just observing from outside, it shouldn’t be a problem.”Alia glanced at Red, choosing not to e
After washing up, Alia lay down in her soft bed, wearing loose sleepwear. Although her body was weary, her thoughts churned like restless waves, refusing to calm. Closing her eyes, she recalled the day’s events, a faint smile curling her lips. Spending time with Lianna, eating and shopping, had provided a rare moment of relaxation, allowing her to briefly cast off the heavy burden on her shoulders and feel like an ordinary person again. Meeting her past life’s companions stirred a sense of nostalgia, even if they no longer recognized her. Moreover, discovering Eryx’s house and uncovering a long-hidden secret had made the day undeniably fruitful.Yet, as she reflected on concealing her identity from those companions, a vague unease took hold. She opened her eyes abruptly, staring at the ceiling as a deliberately ignored question surfaced in her mind: in this timeline, where was the “Alia” who belonged to this reality?A wave of icy terror crashed over her, paralyzing her limbs. Cold sw
Several quiet days passed, and life in the castle remained as tranquil as ever. However, Alia’s mind was already brewing her next course of action. During these days, Marcellus was often busy, and their encounters were few and fleeting. Each time she saw him, it was only briefly before he hurried off again. From an offhand remark by Elise, she learned that Marcellus was spending most of his time at Edgar’s estate, discussing the city expansion plans with several key figures.This piece of information stirred Alia’s thoughts into motion. Her father’s estate was not only a repository of secrets but also a crucial target for gathering information. Rather than recklessly sneaking in, it would be wiser to approach in a seemingly harmless way. An idea struck her: she could personally prepare a delicious meal and deliver it to her father’s estate. On the surface, it would appear as a thoughtful gesture for Marcellus, but it would also provide her an opportunity to gather information.Yet as
“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