One late afternoon, Alia disguised herself once again and discreetly left home, boarding a car heading toward Elias’s secret hideout. Earlier that morning, she had called Elias, informing him of an urgent matter. Elias provided her with this address. Before departing, she summoned Elise and whispered instructions, “If anything happens, call me immediately. If anyone asks, just say I went shopping.” Though puzzled, Elise nodded her agreement.When Alia arrived at the hideout, she cautiously scanned her surroundings to ensure she wasn’t being followed before pushing open the door. Elias was already waiting for her, his eyes filled with a hint of urgency, as if he sensed the significance of the news she bore.“What happened?” he asked first, his voice low and steady.Alia took a deep breath, calming her nerves before speaking. “I found the diary you mentioned, but there’s new danger involved.” She recounted the entire sequence of events, starting from Adrian sensing the calling, to Red l
Marcellus stood at the door, his gaze icy and his tone laced with deliberate mockery. “Elias, I’ve always known about this little hideout of yours, but I never pursued it. As your elder brother, I respected your privacy and let you keep your secrets. But today, it seems I was wrong.”He stepped forward slowly, his piercing eyes sweeping over Elias before his voice shifted, sharp with sarcasm. “I didn’t expect you to use this place for secret rendezvous. And with someone like this,” he said, his gaze falling on Livia. A cold smirk tugged at his lips. “A young man, no less. It seems, as your brother, this is the first time I’ve learned about your… preferences.”Elias’s face darkened instantly. He fought back his unease and was about to explain, but Marcellus raised a hand, silencing him.“Don’t rush to speak.” Marcellus’s gaze locked onto Livia, his smile chilling as it faded. “Let me get a better look at this… ‘young man.’”His eyes traveled over Livia with deliberate slowness, his voi
“Don’t listen to him! How could that be true? I loved you so much!” Marcellus’s voice trembled as if someone had struck the deepest wound in his heart. His body lurched forward before collapsing weakly to the ground. Pain and regret filled his eyes. “There was… a reason for it all.”Alia watched his disheveled state, her emotions in turmoil. She didn’t know what to believe. The man before her had once brought her boundless sweetness but also endless pain. Her mind swirled with questions, yet she didn’t know where to begin.“A reason?” Elias sneered, a trace of disdain flashing in his eyes. “Your so-called reason is treating her with cold indifference, trampling on her feelings, and even using the cruelest words to humiliate her?”“Enough, Elias!” Marcellus clenched his teeth, his hands tightening into fists as though struggling to control himself. “It wasn’t like that…”“Wasn’t it?” Elias refused to back down, his voice sharp with anger. “Then let me tell her what really happened.”El
Marcellus knelt on the floor, his chest heaving violently as though trapped in an invisible cage. He couldn’t refute Elias’s accusations or face Livia’s icy stare. The revelation that both Elias and Livia had read his diary shocked him, though part of him had expected it—Livia’s recent behavior had been far too unusual. Still, when he heard her cold and detached words, “Let’s get a divorce,” it felt like a lightning strike. His body jolted, and his gaze became unfocused.Alia took a deep breath, trying to steady her voice, but the tremor in her tone betrayed the pain buried deep within her heart.“Marcellus, I’ve been through so much over the years. Reading those diaries, seeing the truth… it made me realize our marriage was a mistake. I don’t want to be caught in this endless spiral anymore. Leaving is the best thing for both of us.”Her eyes held a mixture of cold determination and sorrow, as though she was suppressing an inner struggle. No matter who she truly was, one thing was cl
Marcellus stood motionless for a moment, his expression frozen in a mask of icy detachment. He glanced at Elias with a cold, restrained fury, as though suppressing a tempest within. His voice, low and steady, carried a chilling finality.“Elias, no matter what happens, you are still my brother. If Livia chooses to stay with you instead of returning home with me, take care of her. If you fail her, consider our ties severed.”Without waiting for a response, he turned and strode out, his black coat billowing in the night wind, a stark silhouette of unyielding resolve. His footsteps were measured but heavy, each step a reflection of the turmoil he held back. He didn’t glance back at the two left behind, his retreat a silent declaration of war.The room fell into an uneasy silence as Elias and Alia exchanged glances. The tension hung in the air like a palpable force. Breaking the stillness, Elias sighed deeply and spoke, his tone weary but resolute.“You should stay here for now,” he urged
Alia regained consciousness in a haze, her thoughts gradually sharpening. A faint pain throbbed in her head as the sound of dripping water and distant echoing footsteps reached her ears. It felt like she was in a small, enclosed space.She tried to open her eyes but found her vision blocked by heavy fabric. Instinctively, she moved her wrists, only to discover they were bound tightly with coarse rope. Her ankles were similarly restrained, leaving no room for movement, and her body was secured to a heavy chair, rendering her completely immobile.“I’ve been kidnapped,” she concluded swiftly, though her heart remained calm.Taking a deep breath, Alia forced herself to focus. As a former top-tier thief, she had faced situations like this often in her previous life. Escaping wasn’t new to her, though this was her first time encountering such danger as Livia. She immediately began analyzing the situation.“This isn’t a simple robbery, nor does it seem to be about money or… anything worse.”
Alia’s wrists tensed slightly as her fingers brushed against the rough rope binding her. The coarse hemp was frayed in places, but the knots themselves seemed less than professional—slightly loose at the joins. If she could free even one hand, the knife hidden in her sleeve might provide a swift escape.“They’re not seasoned kidnappers,” Alia calmly deduced. “Probably an inexperienced group acting out of urgency.”The surrounding silence was unsettling, broken only by occasional birdsong outside and the low whistle of wind through cracked window frames. Alia strained her ears and caught snippets of muffled conversation. Though the words were indistinct, the subdued and tense tones betrayed unease.“What are they afraid of?”This sense of uncertainty gave Alia a flicker of confidence. She shifted her weight subtly, testing the ropes. Though there was some give, it wasn’t enough for her to break free.Suddenly, the fabric covering her eyes was yanked away, and a harsh beam of light stru
Marcellus stumbled through the door of his study, his footsteps heavy and unsteady. The dim light of the overcast sky seeped in, casting long, oppressive shadows across the room. The desk was piled high with documents, but he couldn’t bring himself to even glance at them. Instead, he reached into the hidden compartment of a mechanism box and retrieved the object that haunted him—his diary. Its cover was worn from countless readings, the edges frayed by his desperate hands.He slowly sat down, opening the familiar pages. Each one was marked by the force of his pen, the pressure so intense it almost tore through the paper. These words, born of his anguish and struggles, seemed to shout accusations at him, a mirror of his own failings.As he flipped through the diary, he saw the very passages Livia had once read—his cruel words, written under the influence of the “curse,” and his later resolutions after coming to his senses. These pages bore the full weight of his regret, a testament to
Livia turned her head to look at Marcellus, and couldn’t help but sigh inwardly—he really was the kind of person who could never be ignored. She and Emma had come to their suspicions only after comparing their differing sources of information, cross-checking details, and reasoning things through again and again. That’s when they began to sense something strange about the whole situation, suspecting that someone else might be behind it all.But Marcellus had reached nearly the same conclusion entirely on his own, through nothing but personal observation and logical analysis—and his certainty even surpassed hers. That kind of insight and sharp instinct… truly impressive.Her gaze softened a little without her realizing it, though she quickly reined in her emotions and returned to her usual calm.At that moment, Elias spoke as well. His eyes narrowed slightly, and there was a cautious, skeptical tone in his voice. “I had my men re-examine the blast site. To be honest—if that explosion wa
“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