Chapter 49: Secrets and Truths

"Calling me?" Alia's heart sank sharply at the words. Her thoughts wandered far, and in that instant, she was almost certain of what Marcellus was referring to—the 'Holy Grail.'

The car continued forward, the scenery outside the window retreating in a blur. Marcellus's voice, tinged with nostalgia and a faint sigh, broke through the hum of the engine.

"Back then, Edgar thought the area near the graveyard was too challenging to develop—too remote, with little value. But you insisted there was 'something about the place,' something worth exploring. After some discussion, it was decided we'd symbolically turn some soil and plant greenery to improve the environment. However, it was explicitly agreed that the graveyard itself would remain untouched to avoid offending the departed."

He paused, his gaze clouded by a tinge of complexity. "But no one could have predicted what happened next. Just a few days later, the ground there began revealing treasures buried for centuries. At first, it was just a handful of gold and jewels—not an overwhelming amount—but as the excavation continued, more and more relics came to light. News spread like wildfire, and the entire city was abuzz.

"These treasures not only brought immense wealth but also elevated the city's significance in the empire's eyes. After offering most of the finds to the capital, we received more resources and support, propelling the city to unprecedented prosperity."

Alia listened intently, her hands clenching the fabric of her dress. She had heard fragments of these rumors from other sources and had her own suspicions, but hearing these details firsthand still sent shockwaves through her heart. She could hardly believe it—the origin of it all traced back to something she herself had initiated.

The Pandora's box of the past had been opened…by her own hands.

Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she kept her voice as calm as possible. "And then? This sounds like a tremendous success, but I sense there's more to the story. What happened?"

Marcellus hesitated. Bowing his head, he fell silent for a moment before continuing slowly.

"The discovery brought wealth and prestige, yes. My family and yours both rose to prominence, securing greater influence within the city. But the treasures also stirred greed in people's hearts."

Lifting his eyes to meet hers, his gaze carried an intricate mix of emotions.

"This expansion project? It's obvious your father and the other leading families hope to uncover more. Their expectations for you are high because, last time, it was you who—by some stroke of fortune—pointed them to that place. If more treasures can be found, they stand to gain even greater power and wealth."

Alia's heart sank further. She understood now that this was no simple city expansion, nor was it merely about greed for riches. While the other families might have such motives, her father and Marcellus were clearly after something much more significant.

He had yet to reveal the truth about the 'Holy Grail.' She was certain that discovering similar artifacts to the Grail was their ultimate goal. But she still didn't know: what exactly was the Grail? If it was merely an invaluable relic, why wasn't it offered to the empire? Why keep it hidden, unable to be converted into wealth or power? And if they already had the Grail, why search for more like it?

"And you?" she asked, her tone probing. "What do you think?"

Marcellus let out a faint, wry smile.

"I doubt we'll find anything this time. Last time felt like pure chance—your intuition, perhaps, was nothing more than coincidence. But I know your father is behind this. I didn't want you involved in the first place. This expansion project is complicated enough without adding you to the mix. But now that you've come on your own, I won't keep you in the dark.

"If you can help, great. If not, that's fine too. Honestly…" His voice lowered, as if speaking more to himself than to her. "Maybe it's better if we find nothing at all. At least then, you'd be spared from these shadows."

Clearly, Marcellus wasn't telling her everything. Though there were no blatant flaws in his story, his hesitation and occasional shifts in gaze betrayed his omission of the full truth.

Alia's fingers curled tighter, her nails digging into her palm with faint pain. The clues she had been piecing together slowly coalesced into a clearer picture: the last city expansion; the surge in influence for their two families; the discovery of the Holy Grail linked to her; her mother's mysterious involvement in sealing the excavation site; her mother's subsequent illness and untimely death; her father's coldness toward her ever since.

And now, another expansion had begun.

All threads led back to the same focal point: the 'Holy Grail.'

The weight of her suspicions pressed heavily on her chest. Though she had begun to piece together a narrative, many questions remained shrouded in thick fog.

The Grail was undoubtedly at the center of everything—her mother's death, Livia's comatose state, her own master's relationship with Eryx, even her inexplicable resurrection. Everything revolved around this mysterious artifact.

But with the limited information she had, unraveling this web seemed impossible. As the vehicle rolled on, a name surfaced in her mind—Elias.

Yes, he would be the key to her next move.

Elias's background and position ensured he was never a figure to be ignored. When the Grail was first uncovered, he had been roughly the same age as Livia at the time.

This raised questions: Had the young Elias known anything at the time? Or had he somehow become entangled in the aftermath, gaining access to hidden truths?

Memories of Elias flickered in her mind, prompting a frown. He always appeared in enigmatic ways—sometimes as a mere bystander, at other times seeming to know far more than he let on. His occasional cryptic remarks always lingered, leading her to wonder just how much he truly understood and what role he played in the storm surrounding the Grail.

The name echoed in her thoughts like a lock clicking into place.

"Elias…" her lips curving into a smile. "We'll be seeing each other very soon."