It was a long while before the tension in the room finally eased, and the three gradually returned to the main topic.
Livia sat up straight, her expression turning serious. She sighed softly before speaking to the two men. "This time, I was too reckless. I should have been more cautious… But at the time, it felt like something was pushing me forward. That obsession—it didn't even feel like something I could control."
She lifted her eyes to meet theirs, her voice filled with remorse. "I'm sorry. I not only put myself in danger, I almost… dragged you both into it as well."
Marcellus gently squeezed her hand, cutting her off. "You didn't do anything wrong. We all know the power hidden within that artifact isn't something we can fully control with reason. You just got… too close."
Elias nodded in agreement, his voice uncharacteristically gentle. "Sometimes, fate shoves people into position with a force that feels almost brutal. You merely took one step ahead of the rest."
Livia listened to their responses, feeling a bittersweet warmth welling in her chest. She knew the road ahead would be far more perilous than what they had faced. This brief moment of peace in their reunion was no more than a break before the coming storm.
But she also knew—at least for now—they were still together. And that was enough.
Marcellus leaned against the headboard. Though his face remained pale, the tension between his brows had relaxed somewhat. He said quietly, "I'm just glad you're safe. And the fact that you actually found a shard—that alone is monumental."
At the mention of the "shard," Livia's eyes widened. Her brow furrowed as she asked urgently, "Where is it… now?"
"Don't worry," Marcellus replied with a rare lightness in his voice. "Elias and I have placed it in the castle's vault. Aside from the two of us, the only other person who knows what it is… is that 'friend' you brought along."
A tightness flickered in Livia's chest. Her thoughts raced as she hesitated, unsure whether to fabricate a believable identity to cover for Emma's real background. But just as she was debating what to say, Marcellus raised a hand, making a small gesture for her to stop. His tone was gentle but firm.
"You don't need to tell me who she is. If you trust her, then I trust you—and her. Actually… I think I already have a good idea who she might be."
He smiled faintly, as though recalling some shadow from the past. "I knew your mother well. She wasn't the kind of person to entrust something so important to someone unworthy. If that person earned her trust, then she certainly won't let you down either."
Livia was momentarily stunned, her eyes glistening. She had prepared an entire speech in her mind, yet Marcellus had bypassed it entirely, offering her a quiet and profound trust.
"In any case," Marcellus continued, "only the three of us know what the shard really is, and for now, only Elias and I know where it's hidden. Once you're well enough to return to the castle, Elias will take you to see it."
Livia nodded, her gaze firming. She understood this wasn't just Marcellus being considerate—it was the silent passing of a responsibility.
After a brief pause, she began recounting what had happened to her in the cave. Naturally, she left out the truth about "that person's" identity—she didn't mention that he was her mentor in a past life. Instead, she described him as someone with a sinister appearance, an eerie presence, and a tone full of probing menace.
"He wasn't one of Eryx's men," Livia said, her brows drawn in thought. "They may be cooperating, but clearly there's no real trust between them. He felt more like… an entirely independent force, one hidden extremely deep."
Elias and Marcellus exchanged a glance, both of their expressions turning grave.
"Also…" Livia added, a glint of cunning flickering in her eyes, "I managed to stall him a bit, using the shard's aura. He almost believed my story. He still got away in the end, but at least I planted a seed of doubt."
Elias raised an eyebrow, nodding approvingly. "Well played, Livia. Not everyone can keep their head in a situation like that—much less turn it around."
"I admit," Marcellus said with rare praise, "you took a risk, but you handled it well."
Livia gave a modest smile, though she didn't dare grow complacent. She knew that while the mission had yielded results, it had also come with a cost. She lowered her voice and said, "We've been exposed… Once that man reports back, whether or not he believes me, Eryx will grow more cautious."
Elias's expression darkened, and he said slowly, "We're no longer hidden players in this game. From now on, we're direct competitors. Things are going to get much more complicated."
Livia bowed her head, her tone solemn as she spoke again. "I'm sorry… It's because of me that the plan was forced into the open."
Marcellus shook his head firmly. "This isn't about blame. The real question is—what do we do next?"