Chapter 4: Mother and Father

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. Whenever Master Marcellus is away, you two often spend time alone. I’ve seen you together in the garden or the study many times… though, to be honest, I didn’t overhear much since you’d often dismiss me from the room.”

At this, Alia felt an uncomfortable realization dawning. So “Livia” and Elias had been close—close enough that Elias’ affectionate words and actions earlier were no mere fabrication. It looked as though he hadn’t been lying.

Seemingly sensing Alia’s unease, Elise added in a reassuring tone, “Don’t worry. I am your loyal servant and wouldn’t breathe a word of what I see or hear.” She even gave a small, formal bow, as if promising her complete loyalty.

Alia sighed inwardly, feeling both exasperated and shocked. She could only muster a strained smile, struggling to keep her complex emotions from surfacing. This was all becoming too overwhelming! Not only did she have to handle Marcellus’ murderous intent, but now she also had to unravel the complicated ties between “Livia” and Elias. With all these mysteries and hidden truths piling up, Alia felt nearly suffocated by the weight of this tangled mess.

Over the next few days, as Alia’s body slowly recovered, she began to test her old skills in Livia’s body. She started with jogging and gentle stretching exercises, even trying a bit of stealth maneuvering whenever she was alone. She’d assumed Livia’s delicate physique would be unsuitable for such “nightly work,” but, to her surprise, she found that this body was quite adept. Although it lacked raw strength, it was remarkably agile, with quick reflexes and superb flexibility—almost as if it had been crafted for stealth and infiltration. This discovery thrilled her.

During casual conversations, she occasionally brought up the topic of exercise, hoping to gain insight into Livia’s past habits and background. Elise listened thoughtfully, recalling, “Actually, you used to enjoy working out before your marriage. You ran a lot, especially. But since coming here, you became too busy. Also, your mom was one of the city’s finest officers, so you must’ve inherited some of her athletic talents.”

At the mention of “mom,” Alia’s curiosity piqued. She gently pressed for more information and pieced together bits of Livia’s family history from Elise’s occasional comments. Livia’s mother, named Celesta, was a famed military officer and a legend in her own right. Known for her calm tactical mind and immense bravery, she had led the city’s elite troops and commanded great respect. Even after bearing Livia and a set of twin siblings, she continued serving in the military until her sudden death.

Alia sensed there was more to this than met the eye. Though rumors attributed Celesta’s death to weakness from repeated childbirth, Elise confided in Alia that Livia never believed this explanation. She had quietly investigated her mother’s passing, convinced there was a hidden truth, but found no concrete evidence. Elise murmured, “You admired her so much, and never believed she would succumb to frailty… though, eventually, you seemed to put it behind you.”

Alia felt a chill. Celesta’s untimely death, Livia’s suspicions—everything hinted at a buried secret. Perhaps the woman Alia now embodied wasn’t as fragile and naive as she seemed. Alia resolved that if she found the chance, she would continue looking into Celesta’s death. There could be far more concealed within this family than she’d initially assumed.

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Several mornings later, just as the sky lightened with dawn, Alia rose with purpose and decided to dress carefully. Today, Marcellus had arranged a family banquet to celebrate her recovery. The gathering would include her younger siblings and, of course, the Elias.

But as she sat before her vanity, she found herself at a loss. She was a thief by nature, accustomed to smudging her face with dirt to avoid notice and tying her hair back, ready to escape at a moment’s notice. Now, this colorful array of cosmetics before her felt baffling.

Tentatively, she applied a bit of powder to her face and tried shaping her brows. But her hands began to shake; the brow pencil slipped, and her lips ended up looking uneven, as if a child had drawn on her face. Staring at her messy reflection, she stifled a laugh—she might as well go without makeup at this rate.

Just then, Elise entered with a tray and gasped when she saw Alia’s chaotic makeup, covering her mouth to stifle a giggle. “My lady, what…? Here, allow me.” She set down the tray, took the brow pencil from Alia’s hand, and expertly cleaned up the makeup. With gentle, precise strokes, she applied powder, reshaped Alia’s brows, and added a soft lip color. Within moments, Alia’s face looked refreshed and elegant, as if she were a different person.

Looking in the mirror, Alia smiled in satisfaction. Who knew her maid was a makeup prodigy? She sneaked a glance at Elise and asked casually, “Did I used to do my own makeup?”

Elise chuckled, adjusting Alia’s hairpiece, and replied softly, “You were very good at it yourself, my lady. Since your marriage, though, you’ve left such things to me. But you never did a look quite so… unique as this.” She laughed softly, her tone playful but still respectful. “It seems your amnesia has even affected your daily habits.”

Alia laughed, feeling a growing warmth for her maid. Over the past few days, she’d come to see Elise not just as a servant but as a friend and confidante. Elise would sometimes make little jokes, yet always maintained a respectful demeanor, and Alia found comfort in her presence.

After a moment’s pause, Alia asked casually, “Will my father be attending today?”

Elise hesitated slightly, then shook her head. “The master has important matters to tend to, so he won’t be here. But he mentioned he would call for you in a few days.” Her tone was cautious, almost reverent, as if the “father” she spoke of commanded fear as much as respect.

A cold, stern image of “Father” surfaced in Alia’s mind, and she nodded thoughtfully. It seemed Livia’s relationship with him had been distant, if not strained. This “father” sounded less like a loving parent and more like a rigid authority figure. Alia made a mental note to be cautious when the time came to meet him—she would need to avoid any slip-ups.

But for now, her focus had to be on this family banquet.