Livia sat on the soft couch in Adrian's office, her gaze resting on the neatly stacked technical drafts and progress reports beside her. She nodded slightly, seeming satisfied with her younger brother's efforts on the front lines.
"I can see that things are progressing well on your end," she said softly, her tone unusually relaxed.
Adrian set down the documents in his hands and gave a bashful smile. "We're just following the plan Marcellus laid out before. Everyone's doing their best."
Livia looked up at him, her eyes gentle but filled with unwavering resolve. "Starting today, I'll be taking over everything Marcellus was handling. He's already organized all the materials I need to know, and I'll familiarize myself with the pace as soon as possible. Don't worry—I won't be a burden to your team."
Her voice shifted slightly, and her expression grew more solemn. "This afternoon's regular meeting—I'll be attending as the lead of the expansion project. Starting today, I'm officially taking charge."
Adrian was momentarily stunned, the smile on his face fading slightly. "You're going to the meeting today? …Are you going alone?"
"Mm." Livia nodded calmly.
Though Adrian didn't know anything about Eryx or the power struggles beneath the surface, his long-standing sensitivity to his sister's moods stirred a quiet unease in his heart. "Can you really handle it alone? I know you're strong… but some of those people aren't easy to deal with. And your appearance at the meeting is kind of sudden."
Livia fell silent for a moment, her fingertips lightly brushing her knee.
She had debated whether to tell Adrian about Eryx—but in the end, she didn't. Not because she didn't trust him, but because she didn't want her brother, who was meant to grow, strive, and laugh under the sunlight, to be dragged too early into the mire of shadows. Especially since he was stationed at the very front line of the expansion, constantly interacting with people from Eryx's camp—if he knew too much, even the slightest flicker in his expression could give them away.
She wasn't willing to take that risk.
So Livia simply smiled faintly and replied in her usual tone, "There's no need to worry. Marcellus already filled me in on the situation. I know what I'm doing. What's most important now is that you stay focused on coordinating things on site. Leave the rest to me."
She paused, her gaze darkening slightly, though her voice remained gentle as she added, "But one thing I must remind you—anything related to the 'Grail' must never be shared with anyone. No exceptions, no matter who they are."
Adrian nodded immediately, his expression turning serious. "I understand. Neither Elise nor I have told anyone—and we won't."
"Good." Livia nodded, a small weight lifting from her heart.
"So, what's the agenda for the meeting?" she asked, her tone shifting back to business.
Adrian picked up his tablet, scrolling as he spoke. "Today's meeting is the monthly progress summary for the expansion project. It'll include several engineering managers, members of the resource coordination group, and a few financial officers. It'll be held in the main conference hall. The format is pretty standard: you'll open the meeting, then everyone reports in turn, and you'll give feedback or set the direction for the next phase."
He added seriously, "But not everyone shows up every time—especially the military reps. Eryx was only recently added as a delegate. But he rarely comes in person—usually sends his adjutant instead. So chances are, you won't see him today."
Livia nodded, her expression unreadable. She quietly took in the information without showing any visible reaction.
"Got it. You should get back to work—I know you've got several site reports to handle." She stood and adjusted her coat.
Adrian looked like he wanted to say something, but in the end, he only gave a soft "Mm," and said no more.
Just as Livia was about to leave, she paused and glanced back at him. That look was like a silent blessing from an older sister to her younger brother—and also like a barrier quietly rising, to shield him from the storm that was about to unfold.
Sunlight filtered through the curtains into the room. Her silhouette stretched across the floor—slim, but upright. It wasn't the posture of someone seeking shelter from the storm, but of someone walking into it.
She said nothing more, and turned to leave.