The night had fallen, draping the castle in an air of solemn mystery. The carriage wheels rolled over the gravel path, producing a soft, crisp sound that stood out in the evening's stillness. Livia gazed out the window, her thoughts lingering on the conversation she had just had.
She knew her words were like a stone cast into deep water—ripples spreading in unpredictable directions. She had never been one to trust easily, yet Elias… He was too resolute, believing in her judgment even more than she did herself.
Turning to look at him, she found Elias focused on the road ahead, his hands gripping the wheel steadily, his mind seemingly elsewhere. Eventually, she broke the silence, reminding him solemnly, "Elias, I don't have any solid evidence—no tangible proof. If we accuse Eryx like this, no one will believe us. Besides, how can you be sure Edgar isn't involved?"
Elias snapped out of his thoughts, his expression turning sharp with frustration and anger. "But you're his daughter! And Eryx—he tried to kill you!"
Livia let out a quiet sigh, shaking her head. "And yet, I'm still alive, aren't I? I don't know all the details, but we can't afford to alert him prematurely. You know as well as I do that this matter is far-reaching. And Eryx…" She paused, her gaze darkening. "He is a part of this tangled web—perhaps even the most critical piece."
Elias turned to look at her, silent for a few moments before a smirk slowly formed on his lips. His voice carried a hint of satisfaction. "You haven't told Marcellus, have you? That means you trust me more."
Livia blinked, then chuckled. "That's what you're concerned about?"
Elias huffed lightly, feigning nonchalance, but the trace of contentment in his tone was undeniable. "Of course."
Livia couldn't help but laugh at his demeanor, her gaze softening for a moment before she quickly returned to a serious tone. "For now, let's keep this between us."
Elias didn't argue. He nodded. "Understood. I'll have Red keep an eye on Eryx's movements and place a few trusted men around his usual routes. We need to see what he's up to. But we can't get too close—he isn't just any ordinary soldier."
Livia nodded, though a lingering unease remained. As the castle's silhouette became clearer against the night sky, her fingers unconsciously curled. She knew they were stepping deeper into a larger game—one where every move had to be carefully calculated.
The night was heavy with silence as Livia and Elias arrived at the castle. They stepped out of the car, their strides purposeful as they crossed the long corridor. The faint scent of old books and ink lingered in the air as they pushed open the heavy doors to the study.
Inside, towering bookshelves stretched to the ceiling, and the wooden desk was cluttered with documents and manuscripts. The fire crackled in the hearth, casting a warm golden glow across the room. But they were here for one thing—the document.
Elias moved to a hidden compartment they both knew well. He retrieved a worn diary, and Livia's expression turned complicated at the sight of it, unwilling to flip through its pages again. Sensing her reluctance, Elias didn't hesitate. Instead, he pressed further on the hidden compartment, triggering a concealed mechanism.
A small, inconspicuous box rose from the side. Opening it, they found an envelope sealed with wax—bearing none other than Marcellus's family crest.
Elias tore it open, unfolding the document on the desk. The moment their eyes landed on it, they realized it wasn't just any plan.
It was a map.
The map detailed key locations in an expansion plan, but what stood out were the red markings scattered across it. Each mark was accompanied by a small chalice symbol—signifying potential locations of the "Holy Grail."
"This is… too many." Elias frowned, his fingers tracing the markings as his expression darkened. "And how did Marcellus come up with these locations? What exactly does he mean by 'already checked'? Is it possible he didn't conduct a thorough search of every single one?"
Livia studied the map closely, her fingers pausing over a few particularly hidden spots. She nodded thoughtfully. "I agree. If something is meant to be truly well-concealed, Marcellus wouldn't have been able to inspect every detail. We need to narrow it down—to find the areas most worth investigating."
Just then, a thought struck her. Recalling the information she had previously obtained from Adrian, she quickly explained their earlier suspicions to Elias before adding, "If we overlay this map with the waterway distribution map, the overlapping locations could be our priority targets."
Elias's eyes lit up with realization, a rare smile tugging at his lips. "Finally, we have a direction."
He exhaled, some of the weight on his mind lifting. Watching Livia's focused profile, he found his admiration for her deepening—alongside another emotion he couldn't quite put into words.
Livia rolled up the map and turned to him. "Thank you for today. You must be exhausted. Get some rest."
Elias hesitated for a brief moment before his gaze softened. His voice, quiet yet unwavering, carried an unspoken promise. "Livia, no matter what happens—no matter what anyone else does—I will always stand by you."
Livia's heart trembled slightly. She couldn't bring herself to meet his intense gaze, so she simply nodded, answering in a hushed voice, "…Alright."
Elias didn't press further. He knew he had already gained enough tonight and shouldn't expect more. After one last deep look at her, he turned and left the study, disappearing into the night.
Livia watched his retreating figure, emotions tangled within her. It wasn't until a faint night breeze swept in through the window that she pulled herself back to reality, regaining her composure and focusing once more on the path ahead.