Chapter 78: Kidnapped!

Alia regained consciousness in a haze, her thoughts gradually sharpening. A faint pain throbbed in her head as the sound of dripping water and distant echoing footsteps reached her ears. It felt like she was in a small, enclosed space.

She tried to open her eyes but found her vision blocked by heavy fabric. Instinctively, she moved her wrists, only to discover they were bound tightly with coarse rope. Her ankles were similarly restrained, leaving no room for movement, and her body was secured to a heavy chair, rendering her completely immobile.

"I've been kidnapped," she concluded swiftly, though her heart remained calm.

Taking a deep breath, Alia forced herself to focus. As a former top-tier thief, she had faced situations like this often in her previous life. Escaping wasn't new to her, though this was her first time encountering such danger as Livia. She immediately began analyzing the situation.

"This isn't a simple robbery, nor does it seem to be about money or… anything worse." She assessed her condition carefully. Her clothing was slightly wrinkled but intact, with no signs of rough treatment. It was evident that whoever moved her had handled her with care.

She subtly tested her arm, feeling the hidden dagger still safely tucked in her sleeve. Apparently, her captors hadn't searched her.

"If they were ordinary kidnappers, the first thing they'd do is check me for weapons. This means they know who I am and are cautious, or they think I'm just a harmless woman."

A faint smirk played on her lips. Such underestimation could be her greatest advantage.

Quickly, she pieced together the situation:

"If this wasn't random, what's their goal?" She ruled out robbery and dismissed any personal violation as unlikely.

Two names flashed through her mind: Marcellus and Edgar. Both her husband and father were influential enough to attract enemies. Using her as leverage against them made sense.

And then it struck her.

"The Holy Grail." Her heart sank. This was likely their true objective.

Leaning back in the chair, Alia took a steadying breath, forcing herself to stay calm. Not only did she need clear judgment, but she also needed sharp reasoning to navigate her way out.

She starts to feel herself, she still has dagger, her captors had left her in her male disguise, the one she had been wearing when ambushed. This led to a troubling thought:

"How did they know I'm Livia? I was dressed as a man. Was this deliberate or just coincidence?"

"If they don't know my identity, then this could be a random kidnapping," she reasoned, though quickly dismissed the idea. Who randomly abducts a man dressed like her in the dead of night?

"But if they do know…" The possibility sent a chill down her spine.

If her captors knew she was Livia, then everything about this situation would need reevaluation. Most concerning was the potential identity of the kidnappers. Did someone intentionally target her, or had the argument at Elias's house been overheard, leading to this hasty plan?

A more unsettling thought crept in:

"Could this have been orchestrated by Marcellus himself?"

Elias's warning echoed in her mind:

"He's playing a role. He might just want to trick you into coming back to help him find the 'Holy Grail.'"

If this kidnapping was Marcellus's doing, then he truly felt nothing for her, as Elias had claimed. The mere thought of such betrayal stung deeply.

"Maybe he never intended for me to return to the castle," Alia thought bitterly. "Perhaps this was his plan all along, to keep me trapped here."

Another possibility gave her pause.

"Could another faction be involved?"

If not Marcellus, then someone else might have acted on the information leaked during her argument with Elias and Marcellus.

She shook her head, pushing aside these speculations. No matter who was behind this, her priority was to remain calm, observe her surroundings, and wait for an opportunity to act.

Carefully, she adjusted her posture, letting her weight press fully against the ropes as though she were still unconscious. Testing the tension of her restraints, she noted the slight give in the knot binding her wrists.

At the same time, she listened closely, straining to pick up any sounds or movements that might give away her captors.

"I need to gather information, figure out who they are, and wait for a chance to escape," she resolved.

This was her plan, her only strategy for now. Deep down, she knew that the truth behind this abduction might complicate things further. But whatever the outcome, she was ready to face it.

Silently, she vowed to herself:

"Whoever they are, whatever their goal, I will find a way out of this."