The night was deep and quiet. Outside the hospital, the streetlights cast a cold glow, stretching the shadows of Livia and Elias into elongated silhouettes.
Elias quickened his pace to catch up with Livia, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness. "You should stop worrying about him. He's always been like this—bottling everything up, never saying a word. It's frustrating."
Livia halted and cast Elias a long, measured glance before shaking her head slightly. Her voice was calm and subdued. "That's not the real reason he's hiding things." She sighed, a faint, unreadable smile playing at her lips. "But for now, I'll believe he has his own concerns. Let's not dwell on him—we have more pressing matters to handle."
With that, she turned decisively toward the hospital exit. "Let's go back to the castle. It's time we took a look at those classified documents on the expansion project."
Elias raised an eyebrow before a slight smile tugged at his lips, and he followed.
—
The moment they stepped out of the hospital doors, an eerie sensation of being watched crept over them.
Livia's steps faltered briefly as her eyes flicked toward the shadows lining the street. Elias, too, subtly tapped his fingers against the holster at his waist. No words were exchanged, yet their awareness was mutual.
They were being watched.
Or worse—followed.
Yet, neither showed a hint of alarm. Instead, they exchanged a knowing smile.
Livia tilted her head slightly, the edges of her black cloak lifting with the breeze. She murmured, "That was fast."
Elias scoffed, his lips curling into a careless smirk. "They underestimate us."
In the next instant, their pace shifted. Without warning, their coordinated steps seemed to stutter—just for a split second—before their figures flickered like shadows, slipping seamlessly into a side alley by the hospital.
The hidden figures in the darkness hesitated for a beat before surging forward in pursuit. Yet, as they rounded the street corner, all they found was emptiness. The only sound left behind was the whisper of the night breeze.
—
A short while later, a black car silently merged into the night traffic.
Elias, in the driver's seat, rested one hand on the steering wheel, his gaze sharp and focused. "Just as we thought. Someone's keeping a close eye on Marcellus's every move."
In the passenger seat, Livia absentmindedly traced her fingers along the edge of the window. Her voice was indifferent. "Who do you think sent them? Edgar? Eryx? Or… someone else?"
She tossed the names out carelessly, but her keen eyes didn't miss the subtle shift in Elias's expression.
Sure enough, he frowned slightly, a contemplative look flashing through his eyes. After a moment, he muttered, "I didn't suspect him before." His fingers tapped lightly against the steering wheel, his tone laced with complexity. "Eryx has always been a dedicated general. He's contributed significantly to the city's development. Honestly, it's hard to associate him with any sort of conspiracy."
"But…" Elias narrowed his eyes at the road ahead. "Lately, his presence has been… overwhelming."
Livia remained silent, the corner of her lips curving ever so slightly.
Elias continued, "He was assigned as the second-in-command for the expansion project. Then, Marcellus was attacked. When you went to Edgar to request the lead position, Edgar used Eryx as a counterweight against you."
He scoffed, as if the puzzle pieces were finally clicking into place. "And then there's General Allen… You know, he's a legendary figure. Uncompromisingly righteous."
Livia nodded. No, she didn't know.
She was Alia, and the military was a blind spot in her knowledge.
Another note to make—perhaps she could ask Emma for details about Allen.
Elias, oblivious to her internal thoughts, went on. "Even Allen warned you to be cautious of Eryx. I didn't think much of it at first, but with everything lining up like this… I can't ignore it anymore."
A brief silence settled inside the car.
Livia knew Elias had finally taken that step—without needing her nudges, he had connected Eryx to the tangled web of deception.
She smiled slightly, about to speak—
But then Elias suddenly added, "And besides…"
He paused, turning to look at Livia, his gaze piercing and searching. "I can't shake the feeling that you've been subtly leading us to suspect Eryx all along."
Livia blinked, her expression unchanged, her voice carrying a playful lilt. "Oh? Have I?"
Elias held her gaze, his tone slow and measured. "I don't know why I feel this way, but… maybe you'd like to explain it to me?"
The air inside the car grew still.
Livia leaned back against the seat, her lips curling into an enigmatic smile. She watched the city lights blur past the window, but she didn't answer immediately.
Elias didn't press her. He simply waited.
In the depths of the night, it felt as if they had lifted a single corner of the veil shrouding the truth.
But the real answers still lay hidden—buried deep within the darkness.