At noon, Marcellus had just hung up the phone, his expression shifting subtly under the play of light and shadow. On the other end of the line was Mark, delivering the latest intel:
"Over the past few days, Eryx's presence near the castle has noticeably decreased. It's like they suddenly pulled back most of their forces. I suspect their attention has shifted elsewhere."
Marcellus fell silent, his thoughts heavy. Eryx's behavior was becoming increasingly strange.
Meanwhile, not far from the castle, deep within a dimly lit chamber, Eryx stood in a room shrouded by thick curtains that blocked all daylight. The flickering candlelight cast shifting shadows across his face. In front of him stood the ever-mysterious man with the obscured face.
Eryx casually tossed a dossier onto the table, a trace of mockery tugging at the corner of his lips. "Looks like they finally noticed the little 'tail' we left dangling. Unfortunately… that's exactly what I wanted them to see."
The veiled man chuckled darkly. "You sure they'll take the bait?"
Eryx narrowed his eyes slightly. "As long as they still want that thing, she'll come digging until she uncovers the whole truth."
He stepped to the window, lifting a corner of the curtain to peer toward the distant castle. "And our real formation… has never been deployed at the front."
——
By evening, Livia and Elias arrived at the hospital. Marcellus was already sitting up—his injuries gradually healing over the past few days, his complexion notably improved. When Livia entered the room, a gentle smile played on her lips, and she carried a thermos of freshly prepared soup.
Elias, stepping through the doorway, paused at the scene before him. Livia sat beside Marcellus, carefully pulling a blanket over his shoulders, her movements so tender they hardly seemed like hers. From the corner of his eye, Elias caught the way they exchanged a quiet smile—silent understanding and unspoken feelings flowing between them like an invisible current.
The air suddenly felt stifling.
"Ahem," Elias coughed softly, trying to break the tension. But before he could speak further, Livia handed him a bowl of soup without even glancing his way. "You should have some too. Don't just stand there."
Marcellus raised a brow and shot Elias a look filled with amused implication.
Elias clenched his jaw, muttering as he took the bowl, "Can't you two at least try to avoid being so obvious?"
"Obvious about what?" Livia blinked innocently.
"…" Elias said nothing more. He just stared at the hand Marcellus held in his, a flicker of bitterness flashing in his eyes.
The mood soon shifted back to business. The three sat down, spreading out maps and intelligence reports.
"We need to start considering a proactive strike," Marcellus said calmly. "Staying on the defensive isn't going to help us much longer."
"But we still don't know if Eryx is acting alone… or if there's another force involved," Elias said.
Livia thought for a moment before looking up at the two men. "I'll lead the first probing operation. Minimal personnel—clean, covert, and no sudden moves."
Both men turned to her at once.
Marcellus spoke first. "You're really going to take part personally? It's too risky."
"I've got my own people. I won't drag anyone in too deep." Her tone was resolute, leaving no room for doubt. "And… I probably won't be able to come to the hospital every day from now on. I'll need to stay mobile and may go without sleep for days."
Marcellus faltered for a second, then offered a supportive smile. "I understand. You're doing what you have to. I shouldn't complain."
But behind that smile was a quiet sense of loss.
Livia gently squeezed his hand. Her voice softened. "When it's over, I'll make it up to you."
By the time she left the hospital, night had fallen. The light at the entrance cast her slim, determined silhouette onto the ground.
Elias hurried out after her.
"You're not seriously going yourself, are you?" he asked in a low voice the moment he caught up. "I know you, Livia. Marcellus might not grasp your true strength, but I do. When you say you're sending people—you mean you're going."
Livia stopped and turned to face him, her expression steady. "Precisely because you know me, I won't bother lying."
"Are you insane? This isn't a risk you should be taking!"
"Who can you truly trust right now? Aside from you, me, and Marcellus." Her gaze was sharp, resolute. "Our biggest fear is betrayal. But I won't betray myself. You're right—I'm the commander. If things go wrong, I can get out. If necessary, I can reveal my identity. Eryx won't act rashly."
"You're overconfident." Elias's voice cracked with tension. "You realize if something happens to you, we lose everything?"
"Which is exactly why I won't let anything happen." She stepped closer, voice dropping to a whisper. "Besides… I'm not going alone. Someone my mother left me—she's always been with me. She's coming too. You know her loyalty. You know what she's capable of."
Elias fell silent.
After a long pause, his shoulders trembled slightly before he exhaled.
"…Fine. But listen—this is just reconnaissance. Don't go too deep. The moment you confirm Eryx's main force hasn't moved, you pull back immediately."
He hesitated, then added with a voice low and raw, barely holding back the emotion, "If something does go wrong… I'll give everything I have to bring you back."
His words cut into Livia's heart like a dull blade.
She looked at him. For a moment, her eyes glimmered, her throat tightening. But she said nothing—only lifted her hand and placed it gently on his shoulder.
"Thank you, Elias."
Then she turned and walked into the night, her silhouette steady and solitary under the streetlights.
Elias stood where she left him, unmoving for a long time. He watched her figure vanish down the corridor—his eyes full of silent longing and an ache that could never be spoken.
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