Marcellus frowned slightly as he looked at the resolute Livia before him. He spoke slowly, his voice carrying a hint of concern. "But you have to convince your father."
Livia's status certainly gave her an advantage, but Edgar was not someone easily swayed. Moreover, he likely had his own considerations and plans.
Livia, however, did not hesitate. Her eyes were unwavering. "I will. I don't believe he would refuse."
Marcellus fell into brief contemplation, his tone becoming more serious. "You know what our goal is, don't you?"
He didn't say it outright, but Livia knew exactly what he was referring to—the Holy Grail. This coveted artifact was far more complex than it appeared, shrouded in secrets beyond imagination. More importantly, there was an unspoken scheme between Edgar and Marcellus, one they had no intention of revealing to outsiders.
Marcellus was always cautious. His words were both a test and a final reminder. He knew that both Livia and Elias were already aware of the Holy Grail's existence, but he was uncertain how much Livia truly knew—or what her real intentions were.
Meeting Marcellus' probing gaze, Livia did not flinch. Instead, she responded firmly, "I don't care what your goals are. Is there something so secret that Edgar's daughter and your wife cannot know?"
There was a hint of reproach and dissatisfaction in her voice, but she did not press the issue. Instead, she continued, "Besides, I will do everything within my power. As for the rest, I neither care nor wish to be involved."
She understood what Marcellus was worried about, but she chose not to expose it—because she knew far more than he thought.
Her decision to take over this plan was not just because she felt guilty about Marcellus' injuries.
She had many reasons.
First and foremost, she believed she bore some responsibility for Marcellus' current predicament. She had been kidnapped, and he had been attacked. This meant they had been on the defensive all along. Their enemies lurked in the shadows, ready to strike again at any moment. Marcellus and Edgar had yet to uncover their true identities, leaving them vulnerable.
But she knew. She knew better than anyone who their enemies were. Had she found a way to warn Marcellus sooner, today's tragedy might have been avoided.
Thus, she could not allow Edgar and Marcellus to remain deceived by Eryx. The suspicion surrounding him had grown too overwhelming to ignore. If she could take charge of the expansion project, she could use the opportunity to set a trap, corner Eryx, and expose his weaknesses—leaving him no place to hide.
And lastly—the most important reason—she wanted to uncover the true secret of the Holy Grail.
She did not believe that Marcellus and Edgar's efforts were solely for the city's expansion. In fact, she doubted that expansion was even their true objective. She refused to believe that the power struggle unfolding before her lacked a deeper purpose. She needed to rise above, to gain access to more intelligence, to force the hidden enemies into the light—and, above all, to ensure that she was the first to find the Holy Grail.
Her resolve had been set in stone.
Marcellus studied her, his expression subtly shifting. He had always known Livia was intelligent, but he hadn't expected her to be this determined, this relentless.
There was an unyielding fire in her gaze—one that left him momentarily speechless.
At last, he let out a quiet sigh and said, "Fine. I will support you from behind the scenes."
He had already realized that no matter what he said, Livia would not change her mind.
"Tomorrow, I will call Edgar and strongly recommend you as the primary leader of this plan," Marcellus said slowly, his voice laced with reluctant compromise.
But then, his tone sharpened as he added, "But if he refuses—"
Before he could finish, Livia cut him off without hesitation. "I will go to the governor's estate in person tomorrow."
Her voice was resolute, carrying an undeniable sense of authority.
"If he refuses, I will not leave."
She lifted her chin slightly, her gaze sharp with unwavering confidence. "I refuse to believe he would trust an outsider over his own daughter."
Marcellus was momentarily stunned as he looked at her, a complex mix of emotions surfacing in his heart.
The gentle and obedient princess of the past was gone.
In her place stood a strong, resolute, and fearless woman.
And for the first time, he realized that he might have truly underestimated her.