The room fell into silence. Marcellus' deep gaze locked onto her, his voice low yet resolute. "Livia, I feel like you've changed ever since your last coma."
Livia—no, Alia—startled awake.
A chill crept down her spine, and her fingers clenched unconsciously, trembling slightly at the tips.
She had almost grown accustomed to being Livia—accustomed to everything around her, to her role as Marcellus' wife, to being the object of Elias' affection, to being the key figure entangled in the Holy Grail's secret. Yet now, hearing Marcellus pierce through her pretense so directly, she suddenly realized—she had sunk too deep into this web of secrets and emotions.
She had told herself countless times that she was just Alia, just a petty thief, someone who didn't belong in this world. But every time she tried to distance herself, something unexpected would drag her back into this identity—forcing her to accept feelings and a fate that were never meant to be hers.
But this time… perhaps this was her chance to get the answer she truly wanted.
She didn't even notice the slight tremor in her own voice. "Then… do you think I've changed for the worse?"
Marcellus answered without hesitation. "Of course not."
His gaze was deep, unwavering. "No matter how you change, I will love you all the same."
Alia's heart clenched violently.
She stared at Marcellus, her breathing slightly erratic. But he continued, his voice steady, sincere.
"I loved the way you used to rely on me for everything. But I love you even more now—because you make your own choices, because you are strong and resolute."
His words struck her heart like a hammer.
A whirlwind of emotions surged within her.
Marcellus' love had never wavered. In fact, he didn't just love the Livia of the past—he loved her now, the Alia she had become.
Should she be happy? Relieved?
In the end, she had earned Marcellus' love. Even if she was no longer Livia, his feelings for her remained unchanged.
But at the same time, another emotion—one much more complex—rose like an unrelenting tide.
Did he love her? Or did he love this identity?
If one day, she told him the truth—that she was not Livia, but Alia—would he still love her then?
Her heart pounded wildly, thoughts spiraling in all directions. She was so lost in them that she didn't even notice Marcellus was still looking at her, waiting for her response.
Just then, an unmistakably sour voice cut through the air.
"Hey, you two, don't forget I'm still here."
Elias leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
His lips curved slightly in amusement, but his eyes held something else entirely—an emotion far more bitter. "Marcellus, our fight isn't over yet."
Alia snapped back to reality and turned to look at Elias, only to meet his gaze—one laced with unmistakable complexity.
His expression was difficult to decipher. He seemed to be teasing, maybe even mocking. But beneath it all… was a deep, inescapable helplessness.
He looked at her—Livia, no, Alia—his eyes flickering with an emotion he seemed to struggle to contain. Then, suddenly, all traces of jest vanished from his face.
With solemnity, he declared, "No matter what, I will protect you."
His voice was unwavering, filled with an undeniable certainty.
Alia's eyes widened slightly as she stared at him in surprise.
Elias, however, did not look away. He simply held her gaze, steady and firm.
He knew that in her heart, it was always Marcellus. But even so, he would stay by her side.
Not just because of his feelings for her—but because he refused to let her face the unknown dangers alone.
Marcellus narrowed his eyes, his expression unreadable. Then, in a voice neither light nor heavy, he said, "Elias, when did you become so noble?"
Elias raised an eyebrow and shrugged. "Do you think I want to be? Too bad—Livia's already made her choice. All I can do now is follow her."
Alia felt a wave of dizziness wash over her as she looked at the two men before her.
For the first time, she didn't know how to respond.
This was no longer just a battle over territory expansion. No longer just about the Holy Grail's secret.
This was about herself.
Who was she, really?
And where did she truly belong?