Chapter 61: The Grail That Affects the Mind

"Came to me?" Hearing Elias mention this part of the past again, Alia took a deep breath. She knew she couldn't avoid the truth any longer and decided to face it head-on. "Tell me more. What exactly happened?"

"Yes," Elias said, his gaze suddenly turning tender. He held Alia's hands tightly, his voice trembling slightly. "I love you. My feelings for you have always been genuine. For so many years, I kept them buried in my heart, never daring to hope you might feel the same. So when you came to me that day, seeking my help, do you have any idea how happy that made me?"

Alia froze, stunned by the intense emotion in Elias's words.

"I fell in love with you long ago," Elias continued, his eyes filled with bittersweet memories. "But I always held back because I knew your marriage to Marcellus was a contract, a transaction between families. At first, I even believed Marcellus truly cared for you. You seemed composed and rational, never revealing any feelings toward me beyond friendship."

He paused, his tone suddenly becoming more animated. "But then you sought me out, confiding in me about your suspicions that your mother's death was linked to Marcellus. You told me you wanted revenge. That moment was a mix of joy and pain for me. Joy because you finally trusted me, pain because I knew you still held feelings for him—it wasn't love for me that brought you to my side."

"Do you know what I felt?" Elias asked, his voice dropping to a softer pitch, his expression pained yet hopeful. "I didn't care if you love me or not. I just wanted to be with you. That day, I made up my mind. If you were willing, we could leave everything behind—Marcellus, this cursed family, the city itself. I was ready to take you somewhere far away, where no one would know us, to live a quiet life. You were all I needed."

Alia stared at him, overwhelmed, her mind a whirlwind of emotions. "And what happened then?"

Elias's gaze darkened, his voice tinged with regret. "You refused. You said Marcellus had to pay. You needed to uncover the truth behind your mother's death and expose his lies. But not long after, you suddenly fell into a coma."

Alia stiffened, her eyes widening. "Do you know what caused it?"

Elias inhaled deeply, his expression turning grim. "If my investigation is correct, it was Marcellus. He must have discovered something or thought you were planning to leave. He couldn't let you go, so he silenced you."

The words hit Alia like a dagger to her chest, the pain sharp and overwhelming. She lowered her head, her hands clenching into fists. "Do you have proof?"

"No direct proof," Elias admitted with a frustrated frown. "But I know him too well. He's the type to bide his time, acting only when the odds are in his favor. He's playing a game, and you're his pawn. That's why you must leave with me now, before it's too late."

Alia thought back to the nights she spent in Marcellus's arms, his seemingly genuine tenderness. Was it all a facade? Her chest tightened painfully as she met Elias's concerned gaze. Resolutely, she shook her head. "No. I need to confirm the truth for myself. I have to understand why he's keeping me here, why he refuses to let me go."

Elias's face twisted with anguish at her determination, but he sighed and relented. "Very well. Then there's something you must know. He's keeping you here because of the Grail."

"The Grail?" Alia's eyes widened in disbelief as she feigned ignorance. "What Grail?"

Elias let out a bitter laugh, his tone tinged with sarcasm. "So he's hidden it well from you. But I know. This is all tied to the family's darkest secret. You, Livia, are the key to find the Grail."

Without giving her a chance to respond, Elias began recounting the story. His version mirrored much of what Marcellus had told her but was far more detailed and unsettling.

"Years ago, guided by your instincts, your mother discovered a hidden ruin filled with treasures," Elias explained. "She sealed the site, bringing everything of value back to the family estate. Most of it was gold, jewels, sculptures, and ancient manuscripts. But among the relics, there was something different—something far more significant. The Grail."

Alia's heart skipped a beat at the mention of it. "The Grail? What makes it so special?"

Elias's eyes grew somber, his voice laced with unease. "The Grail radiates an aura of mystery that no one can ignore. It looks ordinary at first glance, adorned with a single ancient pattern, but the moment you approach it, you feel an inexplicable weight, like invisible hands squeezing your heart."

"What does it do?" Alia asked, her brow furrowing.

"No one knows its exact purpose," Elias admitted, his tone heavy with dread. "At least, no research or record has ever revealed its true power. But one thing is certain—anyone who comes into contact with it, whether briefly or for extended periods, experiences severe mental effects. Some suffer mood swings; others lose their sanity entirely."

"Mental effects…" Alia murmured, her mind racing.

Elias's expression grew darker. "Before you lost your memories, you suspected the Grail was responsible for your mother's death. That was the truth you were chasing, Livia. But…"

He trailed off, leaving the implication hanging. Alia didn't need him to finish. The puzzle pieces were beginning to fall into place, painting a horrifying picture.

Lifting her head, her voice steady but laced with determination, she asked, "Where is the Grail now?"