When the car came to a stop, Alia and Elise stepped out, taking in the sight before them. Alia was slightly surprised by what she saw.Adrian’s new home was located in the northern part of the city, far from the bustling downtown area. Although described as a “new home,” the house itself had a modest exterior. There were no lavish carvings or extravagant decorations, nor was there a prominent family crest on display. The structure, built with deep gray stone, exuded a clean and understated elegance, carrying a steady and composed aura.The yard wasn’t large, but it was impeccably maintained. The neatly trimmed lawn bordered a few evergreen trees, creating a natural perimeter. A gravel path led to the front door, where a few guards stood respectfully, bowing slightly in greeting to Alia.“At least my younger brother seems to have some sense. No unnecessary extravagance,” Alia thought, feeling a rare hint of appreciation for Adrian.Adrian personally came out to welcome them. Dressed in
Alia took a deep breath, her gaze shifting between Adrian and Elise. Her eyes carried a hint of weariness but also relief.Ensuring no attendants were nearby, she spoke softly:“Let me be straightforward. The two of you being together won’t be easy, but I’m in support of it.”Adrian and Elise exchanged a glance, clearly unprepared for Alia’s directness. Their expressions betrayed a mix of tension and unease.But Alia pressed on, her tone unusually serious:“Adrian, I trust your character. However, I must remind you that Elise is my ‘sister’—my family. Her happiness means more to me than anything. If you truly want to be with her, you must treat her well and ensure she never suffers any harm.”Her voice was firm, slow, and carried an unspoken pressure.“If you want to be with her, you’ll need to
In the living room, the atmosphere lightened significantly after Alia’s departure.Adrian looked at Elise, a warm smile spreading across his face. Taking her hand gently, he led her to the window, where sunlight poured through the glass, casting a soft glow over the young couple.“She really gave us her blessing,” Adrian said, his voice tinged with disbelief and excitement. “I thought she’d be more hesitant.”Elise gazed at him, shaking her head lightly. “Livia only wants me to be happy. She’s the type to have a tough exterior but a soft heart.”Adrian chuckled at her response, his eyes softening as he reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, his voice full of affection:“I know how much she cares for you, but from now on, you won’t have to let her worry anymore. That responsibility is mine to bear.”Elise let out a small laugh, tilting her head playfully. “Can you really handle it? You still act like a child sometimes.”Adrian feigned a dramatic sigh, pretending to be hur
The conversation in the grand hall ended quickly. Elias and Adrian made an excuse to leave, giving the space to Alia and Marcellus. The atmosphere instantly grew subtle. Sunlight streamed through the towering floor-to-ceiling windows, falling between them. Despite their close proximity, an invisible barrier seemed to stretch between them.Alia was about to speak when Marcellus suddenly approached her. Without warning, his hand gently cupped her cheek, and he leaned in, pressing his lips to hers.His actions were decisive, tinged with a hint of urgency, as if emotions pent up for too long were now spilling over. The warmth of his touch conveyed a tumult of feelings—possession, hesitation, and a faint trace of tenderness.Alia froze for a moment, her heartbeat accelerating rapidly. But she quickly regained her composure. She neither resisted nor pulled away, yet her response lacked enthusiasm. Her posture remained stiff, and though her lips parted slightly, she didn’t truly reciprocate,
The lights in the neighboring houses dimmed one by one. After a hearty dinner, Alia and her companions rose to leave. Elias watched them from the doorway, his eyes filled with reluctant longing, especially when his gaze lingered on Elise. His lips held a faint, bittersweet smile as he waved them off.“Go back inside; it’s already dark,” Alia called back, urging him gently, though she sighed inwardly. Young love… it’s always so complicated.Back at home, Marcellus wasted no time heading straight to the study.Alia lingered by the staircase, watching his familiar figure disappear behind the study door. Her lips curled into a self-deprecating smile. Of course, his mind is still preoccupied with the secrets buried in that room.In the study, Marcellus switched on the desk lamp, his gaze sweeping across the rows of books on the shelves. A vague unease prickled at him tonight, prompting his attention to shift to a concealed mechanism at the corner of the desk. He activated it with a soft to
The morning sunlight poured over the windowsill, the air still carrying the faint warmth of last night’s intimacy. Alia leaned against the bedroom doorframe, watching Marcellus adjust his coat, preparing to leave. His handsome face remained as striking as ever, his eyes filled with the same deep affection, as if their closeness the night before had brought them even nearer.“Will you be busy today?” Alia asked casually, her tone indifferent as though it was a routine inquiry. Yet only she knew the storm of emotions concealed within those words.“Yes, there’s still work to be done on the city expansion, and I need to keep collaborating with Edgar,” Marcellus replied, stepping closer. He bent down to press a gentle kiss on her forehead, his gaze profound yet tinged with a faint tenderness. “Rest well and don’t overthink. I’ll try to come back more often.”Alia said nothing as she watched him turn and leave. She didn’t call him back or say anything else. She stood there until his footste
Days passed, and Marcellus remained busy, never returning home. This gave Alia more time to solidify her resolve.During these days, she carefully reviewed all the clues in her mind, organizing her goals and plans. If answers wouldn’t come to her, she would have to uncover them herself.On a new morning, Alia sat in her bedroom with a map spread out before her. It marked the location Adrian had mentioned. Her fingers traced the marks on the map, a determined flame igniting in her eyes.“No more delays. It’s time to act.”Standing before the mirror, Alia deftly disguised herself. Taking advantage of the servants’ busy routines, she slipped out of the manor unnoticed. Familiar with every path in the estate, she climbed over the back wall, evaded the patrolling guards, and made her escape.Following the map’s directions, Alia eventually reached the place Adrian had mentioned. As she stood there, an inexplicable sensation stirred in her chest.She froze, instinctively placing a hand over
After listening to Red’s explanation, Alia gave a faint smile, a trace of sentiment rising in her heart.“No matter whether Elias belongs to the Marcellus family or not, his leadership is truly admirable. Perhaps he was born to be a leader,” she said, her gaze complex yet quickly masking her inner emotions. Her tone became calm again as she continued,“Indeed, he’s my friend.”Red nodded, his eyes showing a touch of curiosity as he looked at her. Alia seized the opportunity to add,“And I do have a new task for you all.”Red straightened up immediately, excitement flashing across his face.“Join the city expansion construction team and dig at the locations I’ve marked.”Red frowned, clearly puzzled by the task. Scratching his head, he asked,“The expansion team has high entry standards, doesn’t it? How could street folks like us possibly join, let alone dig wherever we want once we’re in?”Alia was prepared. She pulled out a letter from her coat and handed it to Red. The fine paper bo
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