The next morning, soft sunlight filtered through the carved window panes and spilled gently into the room, painting Alia’s face with a golden warmth. Her brows furrowed slightly as she rubbed her sleepy eyes, consciousness slowly pulling her from slumber.Suddenly, as if recalling something, she abruptly flung back the blanket and looked down at herself—her bare skin exposed to the cool morning air. The realization struck her like a bolt of lightning, and her cheeks burned bright red. She turned her head quickly to the side, only to find the spot next to her empty. The pillow retained a faint trace of warmth, but the man who had been there was gone.With a soft “thud,” Alia flopped back onto the bed and curled herself tightly into the blanket, memories of last night flooding her mind—Marcellus’s deep voice, his tender and resolute gaze, the way he touched and held her… and those unspeakable moments she could barely fathom. Such intimacy was something entirely foreign to her. In her pa
The morning sunlight streamed through the window, its golden rays spilling onto the bed. Elias’s face appeared in Alia’s mind—his deep, melancholic eyes that seemed to pierce into her thoughts. Her heart tightened inexplicably, a surge of complex emotions washing over her—guilt, sorrow, pain, and even a hint of regret.Was it because of last night? She sighed softly, a wry smile tugging at her lips, as if mocking herself.“Livia, you’re truly sentimental—entangled with both brothers,” she thought, pressing a hand against her chest as if to calm the unease within. This body still bore traces of Livia’s affection for Elias, but those feelings didn’t belong to her, Alia. They were remnants, left behind by Livia.Yet, no matter how much she wanted to stay detached, she couldn’t. Taking over Livia’s identity meant inheriting her emotional entanglements.“I should stay closer to Marcellus,” Alia reassured herself, “Not just for appearances but also to gather more useful information.”Her br
Alia once again met with Red and his friends at the usual gathering spot. Summoning Red to her side, she handed him a gold coin.“You’re generous today,” Red said with a chuckle, eyeing the coin. “But I don’t have any updates yet. Elias is really hard to pin down. I can’t take this without doing anything.”Alia shook her head. “I already know where he is and what he’s up to. He’s involved in the city’s expansion project, and he’ll appear here.” She tapped a marked red circle on a map. “This coin is for the next part of your job—I want you to follow and keep an eye on him.”Red raised an eyebrow, letting out a low whistle. “Impressive. You hardly need us to find him. But tailing Elias won’t be easy. He’s odd—plus, he’s the second son of a powerful family. He’s bound to have guards.”“That’s exactly why I’m hiring you,” Alia replied coolly. Her tone left no room for argument. “You’re skilled at moving unnoticed. And don’t worry—I’ll be nearby. If anything goes wrong, I’ll step in. Unles
Alia stared at him in shock, her lips parted slightly, but no words came out. An orphan? She couldn’t help but reevaluate this man. She had never doubted him before, but now that Elias mentioned he was an orphan, she realized just how different he was from Marcellus—from his demeanor to his actions, from his personality to his habits. So, the root of it all lay here.Elias seemed to see through her surprise, a self-deprecating smile tugging at the corner of his lips.“Yes, Marcellus and I aren’t blood brothers. I was adopted by his father, Peter, and his mother, Emma, from this orphanage.”“Adopted?” Alia couldn’t help but press further. “But why did they adopt you?”Elias’s gaze deepened as if he were recalling long-buried memories. His voice was calm and low, yet tinged with a trace of bitterness.“Peter adopted me not out of kindness. He needed a child to serve a certain purpose, and I happened to be the one chosen.”Alia froze. She had never imagined that Elias’s existence had bee
Elias’s gaze turned hollow for a moment before he spoke with a faint, mocking smile. “Peter never really tried to hide it. From a young age, he told me not to entertain any fantasies—don’t expect to inherit anything. My life was meant for Marcellus’s sake. During every health check, all my data was meticulously recorded to ensure I remained in perfect condition, ready for emergencies.”Alia felt a dull ache in her chest, as if suffocated by Elias’s story. She took a deep breath, trying to dispel the heavy weight pressing down on her heart, but she couldn’t stop herself from asking, “Was there… another reason?”Elias lifted his head, his gaze growing colder and deeper. “Of course. Another reason was to protect Marcellus. Back then, heirs of noble families were frequently targeted—assassinated due to rivalries or disputes of interest. By making the public believe I was Marcellus’s brother, Peter created a diversion. At the very least, the world thought our family had two heirs.”“Two he
Elias sneered, a hint of self-mockery in his expression. “What, did you think I was just some useless playboy squandering the family’s wealth? Emma, Marcellus’ mother, treated me decently—or at least pretended to. And since they brought me out of the orphanage into this powerful family, I understood that I had to repay the favor. From a young age, I was sent to deal with unsavory characters in the streets, handling dirty work for the family.”His words carried both bitterness and an unyielding edge. “Eventually, I took control of the family’s underground network. Any threat or danger to the family? It was my job to resolve it. Do you think someone like me wouldn’t have built up my own resources and connections in such an environment? Naturally, I picked up skills that most people couldn’t even dream of, learning secrets that ordinary folks would never uncover.”Elias shifted the tone, his voice tinged with pride. “As for the diary—of course, I found it when he wasn’t around. He though
“Came to me?” Hearing Elias mention this part of the past again, Alia took a deep breath. She knew she couldn’t avoid the truth any longer and decided to face it head-on. “Tell me more. What exactly happened?”“Yes,” Elias said, his gaze suddenly turning tender. He held Alia’s hands tightly, his voice trembling slightly. “I love you. My feelings for you have always been genuine. For so many years, I kept them buried in my heart, never daring to hope you might feel the same. So when you came to me that day, seeking my help, do you have any idea how happy that made me?”Alia froze, stunned by the intense emotion in Elias’s words.“I fell in love with you long ago,” Elias continued, his eyes filled with bittersweet memories. “But I always held back because I knew your marriage to Marcellus was a contract, a transaction between families. At first, I even believed Marcellus truly cared for you. You seemed composed and rational, never revealing any feelings toward me beyond friendship.”He
Elias furrowed his brow, his voice low and tinged with helplessness. “I’m not entirely sure. Something happened back then, and the Grail vanished from everyone’s sight. I tried to investigate, but the trail went cold completely. What I do know is that Marcellus and Edgar haven’t given up looking for it. This city’s expansion project is just another of their tests. They’re hoping it will prompt you to sense the Grail’s presence again or lead to the discovery of a similar artifact.”“Sense it?” Alia’s eyes widened as she stared at Elias in disbelief. “If the Grail is so dangerous and ominous, why are they so obsessed with finding it? What are they planning to do?”Elias shook his head, his expression darkening with a trace of complexity. “I don’t know their exact motives. But there’s no doubt the Grail has some purpose we don’t yet understand. And you”—his gaze locked onto Alia’s—“are the key to their plans. Because you’ve sensed its presence before, they believe only you can find it ag
Alia inwardly rolled her eyes.Why was everyone speaking in riddles? They always stopped halfway, as if afraid of revealing too much and giving away the upper hand. But in the end, what truly mattered was never what the “Grail” could do, but rather—who would find it first and claim control over it.“You don’t seem surprised at all about the ‘Grail.’ Looks like someone has already told you about it.” Emma raised an eyebrow, choosing not to answer Alia’s question directly.Alia nodded calmly. “Elias once mentioned some things about the ‘Grail’ to me. I knew it was important, but I didn’t expect… that they would go to such lengths and pay such a heavy price for it.”She hadn’t stated it too definitively, but her words were enough to make Emma realize that she wasn’t entirely an outsider.Emma paused briefly, then let out a low chuckle. Her gaze darkened slightly, as if recalling something, and there was an almost imperceptible weariness in her tone. “Yes… everyone has gone mad, willing t
“Hiding myself? Something unexpected?”Alia knew very well that all of this was only because she had reincarnated into Livia’s body. Without this reincarnation, the original Livia might have indeed been nothing more than a noble lady sheltered too well—naïve, ignorant, and completely unaware of the intrigues of the world.She didn’t refute Emma’s speculation, nor did she offer any explanation. Instead, she simply looked at her in silence, waiting for her to continue.Seeing that Livia did not respond, Emma didn’t seem to mind. She continued speaking at her own pace, “It seems you don’t believe I was the one who ordered your kidnapping. Otherwise, you would be more flustered right now.”Alia finally spoke, her tone calm and unwavering. “Indeed. I know about your relationship with my mom. Ever since the kidnapping, I have been trying to figure out who was behind it. I don’t believe you are someone who would be ungrateful. Even if you were involved in the kidnapping, I don’t think you wo
Despite maintaining a calm facade, Alia’s heartbeat skipped a beat.She had deliberately refrained from using her true abilities to avoid exposing her identity, yet the person before her had still managed to suppress her movements with uncanny precision. That alone was enough to tell her that this was no ordinary assassin, but a highly trained expert. Alia clenched her teeth inwardly—given the current state of this body, even if she fought with all her might, she stood no chance.But she had no intention of giving up so easily.Slowly, she raised her hands, placing them obediently on her lap while discreetly glancing at the nearby desk. Fortunately, the handgun wasn’t too far from her seat. As long as she found the right opportunity, she might still have a chance to fight back.Yet, to her surprise, although the other person had immobilized her, there was no true killing intent. The dagger’s blade pressed against her neck, but without exerting force—it was merely a threat. And within
Deep in thought, Alia’s attention snapped to the sound of approaching footsteps outside. She instinctively lifted her head, her gaze sweeping toward the door. A soldier passed by in the corridor, his steps unnaturally light, barely making a sound. This detail made her frown—typically, a soldier’s boots would produce some noise against carpets or marble floors, yet this man moved with an almost deliberate silence, as if intentionally concealing his presence.Even more suspicious was the way he wore his military cap—pulled low over his face, casting heavy shadows under the flickering candlelight. It obscured his upper features, making it impossible to discern his expression. This was highly unusual among the disciplined castle guards. Under Marcellus’ strict training, every soldier was expected to maintain proper posture and bearing, and none would deliberately lower their gaze to hide their face.Alia’s instincts flared—something was off about this soldier. Her fingers unconsciously ti
The night was deep and heavy, and the castle’s lights cast flickering shadows over the tense, busy figures in the grand hall. Marcellus, his expression grim, rose to his feet and immediately summoned all the guards, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.“Gather everyone at once. Mark, begin screening the castle guards—I want absolute certainty of their loyalty.”Mark, the butler, understood the gravity of the situation and promptly carried out the order. He meticulously examined the guards’ backgrounds, past records, and recent movements, overlooking not even the slightest irregularity. Within the castle, the guards were questioned and screened one by one, and a stifling sense of pressure filled the air. Marcellus’s thoughts aligned with Elias’s—when facing an army head-on, numbers were secondary. The true priority was ensuring there were no traitors among them.Meanwhile, security outside the castle was also being reinforced. Upon learning of the situation, Edgar dispatched a con
The scenery outside the car window grew increasingly desolate, with raindrops sliding down the glass like silent sighs. Eryx leaned against the seat, his long fingers tapping lightly on his knee as his deep gaze fixed on the distant horizon. The car slowed to a stop in front of a run-down little house. He didn’t get out immediately; instead, he scanned the surroundings to ensure there were no suspicious figures lurking nearby. Only then did he push open the door and stride steadily toward the entrance.He knocked lightly a few times, hearing faint footsteps inside before the room fell silent again. Waiting a few seconds and confirming there was still no one around, he pushed open the door and stepped into the hidden safehouse.The interior was dimly lit, with simple yet neatly arranged furniture. Eryx moved with practiced ease, lifting a corner of a worn-out rug to reveal a concealed hatch. He frowned slightly, knocking three times on the wooden panel and waiting for a response. Momen
Inside Edgar’s dimly lit secret chamber, the air felt thick and suffocating, as if it had solidified under the weight of tension. The flickering candlelight cast erratic shadows across the heavy oak table at the center of the room.With a sharp crack, Edgar’s palm slammed against the tabletop, making the candleholder tremble. The flames flickered wildly, casting jagged silhouettes on the stone walls.“You’ve heard what happened, haven’t you?” His voice was low but brimming with restrained fury, his sharp gaze piercing through the stillness like a blade. “You’d better give me a damn good explanation.”Opposite him, a tall man in a dark coat stood with his hands calmly clasped behind his back, his expression indifferent. Edgar’s anger seemed to slide off him like raindrops off a stone.“I didn’t expect Emma to go that far,” he said, his tone smooth and unruffled, as though discussing an irrelevant matter. “I only shared information with her, knowing that she had a stronger motive to see
Elias swiftly gathered his most trusted men—people who had fought alongside him through countless life-and-death situations. If an enemy still lurked among them, then there was nothing more he could do.In the dimly lit meeting room, candlelight flickered, casting shadows over the solemn and contemplative faces of those present. Elias’s gaze swept across the room, his expression cold and severe as he finally spoke—“You are the men I trust most. I do not doubt you.”“But we have a breach. My base was infiltrated. Today, it was Livia who was kidnapped. That is something I will never tolerate.”There was no rage in his voice—not even a hint of emotion. His tone was disturbingly calm, yet everyone instinctively tensed.“Our enemy is stronger and more cunning than we anticipated.” His sharp eyes scanned the room as he continued in a low, steady voice, “So, from this moment forward, I will restructure my forces.”He paused, his gaze as sharp as a blade, his tone unwavering—“Each of you wi
The morning sunlight streamed through the gap in the curtains, casting a soft halo that outlined Livia’s delicate features. She slowly opened her eyes, her long lashes quivering slightly, as if still immersed in the lingering emotions of the night before. Sitting up, the thin blanket slipped down, revealing her smooth, bare shoulders. The morning light caressed her skin, lending it a warm, luminous glow.Marcellus’s eyes opened, his gaze immediately drawn to her. A flicker of fascination crossed his deep-set eyes. Propping himself up, he watched her intently, his eyes tracing the curves of her back as though trying to etch this moment into his memory forever. Slowly, he reached out, wanting to pull her back into his embrace, to feel her warmth once more, to taste the sweetness that lingered between them.But just as his fingertips were about to touch her wrist, Livia suddenly spoke.“Can you really not tell me everything?”Her voice was soft, yet it carried a restrained sorrow, as if