Chapter 5: The Family Banquet Begins

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 mentioned the guests attending the banquet, particularly Elias, a subtle hint of anticipation and a barely noticeable blush crept into Lianna’s eyes, sparking Alia’s suspicion.

“Could it be that this little girl has feelings for Elias?” Alia speculated to herself, sensing that her relationship with Lianna might not be as harmonious as it appeared. Despite Lianna’s caring demeanor, Alia could discern a trace of jealousy hidden in her gaze, a mixture of envy and discontent that didn’t escape her notice. It seemed that Elias’s presence was stirring up emotions in her younger sister as well, unsettling Alia further.

Just then, their younger brother, Adrian, entered the room. With delicate features and a gentle smile, he greeted Alia with a slight bow, appearing somewhat reserved. “Alia, I heard you weren’t feeling well recently. I’m glad to see you’re doing better.” His tone was sincere, his eyes filled with concern, yet his expression bore a slight hint of unease, as if he was avoiding something.

Alia noticed that when his gaze landed on Elise, who stood to the side, they both grew noticeably tense. Her brother quickly averted his eyes, while Elise lowered her head and subtly retreated, as if trying to avoid attention. This small interaction did not escape Alia’s keen observation. It seemed that her seemingly honest brother and Elise shared a secret of their own, keeping a careful distance from one another.

Alia couldn’t help but muse inwardly, Is this what it’s like to be in a rich and complex family? Everyone seems to carry their own secrets, and I am no exception. She shook her head slightly, a trace of helplessness surfacing in her heart. Yet, she realized that her past experience as a thief was proving useful here—she had an eagle-eyed ability to catch even the smallest emotional shifts in those around her, a talent her master had once described as “innate for a thief.” Thinking of her master, Alia felt a pang of nostalgia.

In her past life, after inheriting her master’s teachings, he had said to her, “You’re ready to go out on your own.” Then he quietly disappeared. From that day on, Alia had roamed the world with one wish in mind—to find her master and show him her growth. Yet, despite the years, she had never caught a trace of him. Now, reborn as a noblewoman, she wondered if her new identity and resources could help her find him. A sudden thought struck her: could her master also be coming here, perhaps drawn by the rumored “Holy Grail”?

As Alia’s mind drifted, the door opened once again, and Elias entered. His demeanor was as calm and confident as ever, his face holding a faint smile as he nodded in greeting to everyone present. His gaze passed over Alia with little expression, devoid of any unusual emotions. Alia’s tense nerves relaxed slightly, a quiet sigh of relief escaping her as everything about him appeared normal.

However, standing nearby, Lianna’s face lit up with an unmistakable glow the moment she saw Elias. She softly called out, “Elias!” then circled around him, like a bird hopping around a tree, engaging him in conversation and even clutching his arm with familiarity. The closeness between them made Alia pause.

What shocked her even more was the sudden surge of jealousy that washed over her as she watched Lianna’s affectionate behavior. The feeling hit her out of nowhere, as though it were triggered from the depths of her soul, a visceral reaction beyond her control. Taking a deep breath, Alia realized this wasn’t her own emotion—it was the influence of Livia’s body. Livia’s feelings for Elias were intense and layered, and though Alia tried to stay calm, the body she now inhabited seemed to respond with a possessiveness that she couldn’t entirely suppress.

Alia reminded herself sternly, I must not let the emotions of this body sway my judgment. Tonight, she had to stay sharp and clear-headed, navigating this banquet with caution to uncover the truth behind everything. Yet, with Elias’s detached demeanor and Lianna’s bright enthusiasm, the faint tinge of jealousy shadowing her thoughts warned her that the evening would require her utmost vigilance.

As evening deepened, the entire hall gradually brightened with soft lighting, and Marcellus’s imposing figure appeared at the entrance. His face, chiseled and severe, looked even more striking in the candlelight, casting deep shadows along his features. After a brief nod, he walked steadily toward the head of the table. During Alia’s recuperation, Marcellus had seemed busy, their encounters fleeting and sparse. Seeing him now, Alia still felt a slight unease, given her continued adaptation to the idea that this man was a murderer.

Marcellus surveyed the room, and once everyone had taken their seats, he cleared his throat, his voice cool and commanding as he swept his gaze over the gathering. “Now, let the family banquet begin.”