Chapter 12: Who Hurt You?

Alia knew there were countless mysteries still shrouding her, but she also understood that her most urgent task was to regain the skills and abilities she possessed in her previous life. Resolutely, she set aside her tangled thoughts and focused on rebuilding her physical condition.

"Elise, help me buy some equipment," she ordered her maid decisively.

"Equipment?" Elise blinked in mild surprise. Though curious, she nodded and complied without hesitation.

When the shopping list was handed to her, Elise realized it was far from a typical list of gym equipment like dumbbells and barbells. Instead, it included items she had never encountered before: a balance beam reminiscent of a narrow log bridge, staggered obstacle boards, a climbing rope net, and multiple jump platforms. Bewildered, she didn't dare ask questions and simply followed Alia's instructions to gather everything.

A few days later.

Alia stood before the equipment, now delivered and neatly arranged, a faint glimmer of satisfaction in her eyes. To others, the collection might appear to be a simple obstacle course or even a playground for pets, but every piece had been meticulously designed by her, down to the exact angles and distances.

In her past life, Alia had earned the title of "genius thief" not through brute strength but because of her hawk-like sharp eyes, fluid movements, and innate agility. While her current body might not match her former peak, its natural physical potential was surprisingly good. With a structured training regimen, she was confident she could restore at least 80% of her former capabilities.

She directed the servants to arrange the equipment precisely as she envisioned. Each obstacle's height, distance, and angle were recalculated and fine-tuned.

"Just a little more to the left. Yes, now raise it slightly. Perfect." Alia carefully adjusted each piece, ensuring that every detail met her exacting standards.

Soon, the training ground was complete. To an outsider, it resembled an ordinary parkour course or perhaps an elaborate pet playground. But Alia knew its true purpose lay hidden in its subtleties.

The spacing between obstacles demanded precision and challenged one's judgment, explosiveness, and agility. The rope net's height exceeded what an average person could easily scale, training her ability to leap and grab hold of a support point quickly. Each jump platform was angled to test her balance and force her to adjust her landing posture optimally.

Standing at the center of the field, Alia exuded a quiet determination. She took a deep breath, a cold smile forming on her lips.

"This place is for real 'thieves' to shine."

From this day forward, she would dedicate herself to rigorous training, awakening the talents that had once made her invincible. Every piece of equipment represented a step toward reclaiming her past glory.

After the servants finished setting up and left, Elise lingered, staring at the peculiar "playground" with unconcealed curiosity. She couldn't resist asking, "My lady, what exactly is all this for?"

Alia smiled faintly and replied simply, "To train and for fun."

With that, she turned her gaze to the horizon, silently vowing:

No matter what happens, I will become strong enough to face all the unknowns ahead.

Alia was inspecting the final details of her training ground, immersed in thoughts of how best to rebuild her skills, when a familiar male voice interrupted her.

"What is this?"

She turned to see Elias approaching.

Though Alia had encountered Elias several times since her return, she was slowly learning to manage the conflicting emotions he evoked in her. That strange blend of familiarity and alienation still surged whenever she faced him, but she had trained herself to stay composed and not let him unsettle her so easily.

Elise, sensing the tension, gave a polite curtsy and quickly exited the courtyard, thoughtfully closing the doors behind her to leave them in quiet privacy.

"What are you doing here? Are you planning to apologize to Marcellus?" Alia's tone was cool, her gaze distant.

Elias smiled faintly and shook his head. His voice was sincere. "Apologize? To him? Never. If I were to apologize, it would only be to you. I shouldn't have dragged you into my quarrels with him."

As he spoke, his eyes swept across the training equipment, seemingly contemplating its purpose. He stepped closer and, after ensuring they were alone, lowered his voice. His tone became deeper, more serious. Gently, he took hold of her arm and leaned in, speaking softly near her ear.

"I'm sorry… but I can't stand how little he values you."

Alia stiffened, momentarily caught off guard. She quickly stepped back, shaking off his hand, her eyes now filled with wariness. "You're out of your mind. What are doing?! It's outside—aren't you afraid Marcellus will return?"

Elias smirked dismissively. "Afraid of him? Does he even care about you? Why should I be afraid?"

Alia took a deep breath, suppressing the emotions swirling inside her. She spoke firmly, her voice steady. "No matter what we were or what relationship we had before, I am now your brother's wife. I ask you to stop this behavior."

Her tone left no room for debate, but Elias didn't retreat. A flicker of pain crossed his face, quickly masked by his usual nonchalant demeanor. "Fine, I'll wait. Even if you never remember—or choose to forget—I believe you'll come to realize who truly loves you."

For a brief moment, Alia's heart trembled, a faint ache surfacing. She recognized it as the instinctive response of this body—Livia's feelings.

Forcing herself to remain calm, she turned away, determined to end the conversation. But just as she was about to leave, Elias's voice stopped her in her tracks. This time, it was lower, tinged with provocation and a hint of mystery.

"Don't you want to know… who hurt you?"