Chapter 56: The Last Meeting with Elias

The morning sunlight streamed through the window, its golden rays spilling onto the bed. Elias's face appeared in Alia's mind—his deep, melancholic eyes that seemed to pierce into her thoughts. Her heart tightened inexplicably, a surge of complex emotions washing over her—guilt, sorrow, pain, and even a hint of regret.

Was it because of last night? She sighed softly, a wry smile tugging at her lips, as if mocking herself.

"Livia, you're truly sentimental—entangled with both brothers," she thought, pressing a hand against her chest as if to calm the unease within. This body still bore traces of Livia's affection for Elias, but those feelings didn't belong to her, Alia. They were remnants, left behind by Livia.

Yet, no matter how much she wanted to stay detached, she couldn't. Taking over Livia's identity meant inheriting her emotional entanglements.

"I should stay closer to Marcellus," Alia reassured herself, "Not just for appearances but also to gather more useful information."

Her brows unfurrow slightly at the thought, a glimmer of relief soothing her mind. The current situation was precarious; any entanglement with Elias could bring unnecessary complications and danger.

But deep down, she couldn't silence another thought. In her past life, the rift between Livia and Marcellus seemed intricately tied to Elias. But would that truly have led to Livia's death? The question lingered like a thorn in her heart, refusing to be ignored.

Clenching her jaw, she stared out the window, determination flickering in her gaze.

"No matter what, I have to meet Elias. I need to know the truth, even if this is the last time."

The warm morning sunlight spilled over the dining table, casting a gentle glow on Alia's face. Sitting at one end of the long table, she gracefully cut a piece of bread, spreading a thin layer of jam over it. The air was filled with the aroma of freshly baked bread, along with hints of fried eggs and smoked bacon.

Yet, her thoughts were far from the meal before her. Last night's memories suddenly surged back—Marcellus's firm yet gentle voice, his touch, his smoldering gaze, and the indescribable intimacy they had shared. Her cheeks flushed involuntarily, a faint smile tugging at her lips as she found herself laughing softly.

"What's so amusing? Smiling like that first thing in the morning?" Elise's curious, teasing voice pulled her back to reality.

Alia froze for a moment before pressing her lips together, attempting to compose herself. "It's nothing, just… something funny came to mind." She lowered her head, poking at her eggs with a fork to hide her embarrassment.

"Oh?" Elise arched a brow, clearly unconvinced. "What could be so funny that it makes you smile so sweetly?"

"Really, it's nothing." Alia forced a light laugh, glancing away as if dismissing the matter. Internally, she scolded herself for losing composure. To divert Elise's attention, she quickly shifted the topic, asking about the source of the coffee. Thankfully, Elise let the matter drop, though her gaze remained playful.

Once calm again, Alia began organizing her plans for the day. Initially, she had intended to use her network of informants to arrange a "coincidental" meeting with Elias. However, after yesterday's unexpected encounter at the construction site and Marcellus's mention of Elias's involvement in the city expansion project, it seemed unnecessary to go to such lengths.

"If he's involved, that simplifies things," she thought, a faint smile returning to her lips. But her expression quickly turned serious.

"I need to be careful. If Marcellus or Edgar's men discover my actions, it'll raise suspicions."

With that thought, she quickly formulated a plan. She would disguise herself to leave the estate unnoticed and use her informants to track Elias's movements, choosing the right moment to approach him near the city construction site.

Feeling more at ease, Alia set down her utensils, dabbing her lips lightly with a napkin before nodding to Elise.

"I'm done. I think I'll spend the day resting in my room. I need to catch up on sleep after yesterday's tiring schedule."

"Oh?" Elise gave her a knowing look, then burst into laughter. "Rest well, then."

"Don't overthink it," Alia replied, catching the mischievous glint in Elise's eyes. She knew Elise was assuming her exhaustion stemmed from last night's… activities.

"I meant because of all the errands yesterday—cooking, delivering meals, visiting the expansion site. It was a long day," Alia clarified.

"Mm-hmm, of course," Elise responded with a teasing tone, though her grin betrayed her disbelief.

"Honestly, you should rest too. Yesterday was tiring for you as well," Alia said, steering the conversation away.

"Thank you! If you need anything, just let me know," Elise replied, finally letting the matter drop as Alia rose to leave.

Back in her room, Alia locked the door behind her and changed into her familiar disguise—a tailored men's outfit that concealed her identity. Waiting for a moment when the guards' attention waned, she slipped out of the estate unnoticed.

Her heart raced as she stepped into the bustling streets.

"This might be my last time meeting with Elias secretly," she thought, steeling herself.

"And perhaps… to finally let go of the past."