Once again, she was reminded of who she used to be in her past life.
Back then, she hadn't met her master yet, didn't even have a name. She was just a shadow slipping through alleys and street corners, someone who could vanish at any moment. Every morning she woke up shivering from the biting cold, her stomach hollow and aching. Every night, she curled up behind broken crates or next to trash heaps, falling asleep to the sounds of crying and fighting on the outer edges of the city. There was never enough food, never enough warmth—no trust, no direction.
If she hadn't met her master that night, she might've quietly died in some nameless alley.
And now, the man before her was saying he wanted to build a new residential area—for people like she once was, people with nowhere to go.
If what he said was real, if this expansion project could truly take shape, it would mean that in the future, there would be fewer people like "Alia."
In that moment, something sparked inside her—Livia… no, Alia. It was like a match had been struck in her heart. The flame was small, but it burned steadily, chasing away a corner of the darkness that still lingered inside her.
She made a silent vow: no matter what Marcellus truly felt for her, no matter what purpose he had in mind, no matter how complicated the power struggles and hidden motives behind this were… she would make this happen.
She would help him. She would see it through.
She wanted to make sure that people with no names, no homes, no hope—could have a warm place to rest. Just like the one she once dreamed of.
Her eyes drifted to Marcellus without her realizing it, filled with a swirl of emotions she couldn't easily name. There was admiration, a deep sense of being moved, and something softer that she couldn't quite explain.
But her gaze made Marcellus visibly stiffen. It wasn't that he wasn't used to being looked at—it was just that he wasn't used to Livia looking at him like that.
He cleared his throat, twice, trying to break the heavy silence. "Ahem… Ahem."
Livia blinked and snapped out of it, realizing her own slip. Her cheeks flushed a deep pink, and she quickly looked away, trying to sound casual. "I didn't expect you to be… this kind. I thought you wouldn't care at all about whether those people lived or died."
Marcellus paused for a moment, then let out a small, wry smile and shook his head. "Everyone is born equal. I just happened to come from a wealthier family, that's all. I'm only doing what I can. And besides… Edgar and I started this because of the 'Holy Grail.' It's hard to say out loud, but it hardly deserves your praise."
He said this in a calm and measured tone, neither humble nor boastful. He sounded like someone who knew himself well—and meant what he said. Even Elias, standing quietly nearby, couldn't help but look at his brother again, a flicker of doubt forming in his heart.
So this was the same older brother everyone called cold and ruthless, someone who would do anything to reach his goal? Maybe… maybe the injury had stripped away some of his mask. Or maybe… this soft side had always been hidden deep within him.
"In any case, the basic groundwork and preparation for this can't be neglected," Marcellus continued, pausing slightly before adding with a trace of hesitation, "As for the Holy Grail…"
"Don't worry. We won't act rashly, and we'll make sure no other forces catch wind of it," Livia cut in, sensing his hesitation and picking up the thread without missing a beat—as if their thoughts were already in sync.
"Actually, it's not that I doubt your abilities," Marcellus said in a lower voice. "It's just that… I don't think you'll be able to find it."
Livia and Elias exchanged a look.
"Why?" Livia asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Because I suspect… the Holy Grail isn't fixed in one place," Marcellus said seriously. "I've had several moments where I felt I was incredibly close to it. But every time I got to the location, it was just… gone. It's like it disappears. I think it moves."
Elias's eyes widened. "What do you mean? Someone's moving it around? Or… it moves on its own? That's not possible!"
"Why not?" Marcellus replied calmly. "It's always been a mysterious object. It wouldn't be that strange if it could move on its own."
"…You're right." Livia frowned in thought. "It doesn't matter. We'll protect ourselves and keep looking. At the very least, we can try to figure out the pattern in how it moves."
Seeing how determined the two were, Marcellus didn't say anything more. He simply sighed and turned back to the desk, pulling out maps and documents again, going back to the unfinished handover.
The night had deepened. A soft wind whispered outside the window, and the room was filled with a quiet weariness shared by all three.
Finally, Marcellus closed the last file, rubbing at the corner of his eyes, which were sore and tired. "Alright, that's enough for now. You two should go get some rest."