Livia gazed out of the car window, the city lights flickering in her pupils like ripples disturbing the uneasy waters of her heart. Elias's eyes remained fixed on her, his silence pressing down on her like an invisible weight.
As expected, she hadn't hidden it well enough… Livia sighed inwardly. She knew Elias was sharp—he wouldn't be easily fooled. Since he had already sensed something, there was no point in further concealment. Instead, she chose to reveal just enough of the truth.
She remained silent for a while before speaking slowly, "Everyone has their secrets, don't they?" Turning to meet Elias's gaze, her tone was calm yet carried a trace of solemnity. "But I won't lie to you—there is something wrong with Eryx."
Elias's eyes sharpened slightly, but he didn't interrupt.
Livia continued, "I know you sent Red to protect me." Her lips curved into a faint, teasing smile. "But as you've noticed, Marcellus isn't a threat to me right now. Or rather, in his current state, he doesn't have the ability to harm me."
Elias tapped his fingers lightly against the steering wheel, his brows furrowing. Clearly, Livia had voiced exactly what he had been thinking.
Seeing his reaction, Livia's expression turned serious again. "Since that's the case, why not send Red to keep an eye on Eryx instead? You might uncover something useful."
Elias studied her in silence for a long moment before letting out a low, resigned sigh. "Alright, I won't push you," he said, though his tone carried a hint of begrudging complaint. "At least you didn't lie to me—that makes me happy. But—" He paused, raising an eyebrow with a mildly exasperated look. "You're just like Marcellus with this cryptic way of talking."
Livia chuckled softly but soon suppressed her smile, exhaling lightly. Her expression grew solemn. "I'm sorry. It's not that I don't want to explain… I just don't know how." After a brief hesitation, she added, "But I can tell you a little more."
Elias stopped teasing and looked at her intently.
Adjusting her posture slightly, Livia's gaze deepened as she spoke in a measured tone. "For certain reasons, I once crossed paths with a particular group." She deliberately left out the finer details but revealed a crucial piece of information. "Through my investigation, I discovered they were soldiers—specifically, from the Second Legion. Eryx's men. But at the time, they were operating in secrecy, carrying out hidden activities. And I… happened to uncover it."
Elias's fingers stilled on the steering wheel, tightening slightly.
Livia took a deep breath before continuing, "At first, I didn't pay too much attention. But their insignia, the uniforms they wore… I remembered them." Her voice grew heavier, her eyes locking onto Elias's. "And the next time I saw that insignia was when I was kidnapped. The captors probably assumed I wouldn't recognize them. But they didn't realize—I had already identified who they were."
Silence fell over the car, thick and suffocating.
Elias's pupils contracted slightly before he abruptly sat up, his expression shifting from shock to growing fury.
"What?!"
His voice rose sharply, carrying a thread of urgency. "Why didn't you say anything earlier?"
Livia pressed her lips together without responding. Of course, she had her reasons—but they weren't something she could easily explain.
Elias's breaths grew heavy, his eyes stormy with restrained anger. His tone was firm, resolute. "I'm sending people to Eryx's estate right now—no, we're going together! Or—" His mind raced, his voice dropping into a dark, decisive whisper. "We go to Edgar. He needs to know about this."
His hand was already reaching for his phone, ready to issue the command. The air around him turned sharp, like a predator locking onto its prey.
Livia watched him, a ripple of emotion stirring in her chest.
She understood the weight of her words. Any rational person would approach such an accusation with skepticism, seeking verification before acting. But Elias—he hadn't hesitated for even a second. He believed her. Without doubt, without caution.
The unwavering trust in his eyes sent a warmth coursing through her, something almost unfamiliar.
Lowering her gaze, she ran her fingers lightly over the fabric of her lap, concealing the emotions in her eyes. She had endured countless betrayals and deceptions, yet at this moment, she felt the undeniable certainty—Elias's trust was real. It was fierce, unquestioning, and absolute.
Her eyes drifted back to him, softening unconsciously.
Elias, deep in thought, furrowed his brows, a sharp glint in his gaze. He had already made up his mind, his decisiveness stemming not only from logical deduction but also from the sheer trust he placed in her.
A gentle smile played on Livia's lips as she murmured, "Elias… thank you."
Elias blinked in slight surprise, turning to look at her with a raised brow. "Thank me? For what?"
Livia shook her head, offering no answer. She simply looked at him, her gaze warm and unwavering—like a quiet light melting away the cold.
Elias studied her for a moment before exhaling in feigned exasperation.
"You…" He sighed, then, almost without thinking, reached out and ruffled her hair. It was a casual, familiar gesture—part comfort, part indulgent fondness. "Stop saying thank you. It makes us sound like strangers."
Livia stiffened slightly, then let out a soft laugh, gently swatting his hand away. She shot him a half-hearted glare. "Don't treat me like a child."