The room fell into a brief silence after Edgar left. His imposing presence and lingering anger seemed to hang in the air, refusing to dissipate. Alia lowered her gaze slightly, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the embroidery on her sleeve as though she was still processing everything that had just transpired.Elias stood to the side, his expression a mix of emotions as he watched her. After a moment, he let out a soft sigh and spoke in a low voice, “Livia, I wanted to stay here with you, but there’s something far more important I need to take care of.” His tone carried a hint of guilt and self-reproach. “This is entirely my fault. I have to return and reorganize my forces, conduct a thorough sweep to ensure there are no more spies among us. I won’t let you suffer any harm again.”As he spoke, his voice grew slightly firmer, his gaze shifting toward Marcellus. His eyes carried a sharp intensity, as though he wanted to say something threatening. Yet, recalling how Marcellus had risked
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
“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
The room fell into a brief silence after Edgar left. His imposing presence and lingering anger seemed to hang in the air, refusing to dissipate. Alia lowered her gaze slightly, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the embroidery on her sleeve as though she was still processing everything that had just transpired.Elias stood to the side, his expression a mix of emotions as he watched her. After a moment, he let out a soft sigh and spoke in a low voice, “Livia, I wanted to stay here with you, but there’s something far more important I need to take care of.” His tone carried a hint of guilt and self-reproach. “This is entirely my fault. I have to return and reorganize my forces, conduct a thorough sweep to ensure there are no more spies among us. I won’t let you suffer any harm again.”As he spoke, his voice grew slightly firmer, his gaze shifting toward Marcellus. His eyes carried a sharp intensity, as though he wanted to say something threatening. Yet, recalling how Marcellus had risked