"Should we consider Eryx as our primary suspect?"
To Livia's surprise, Marcellus suddenly proposed this guess. His voice was low and firm, as if he had been thinking about this possibility for a long time.
Livia was momentarily stunned, almost unable to react in time. Her eyes widened slightly, her mouth parted in surprise. "Primary suspect?" she repeated, her voice tinged with astonishment. She hadn't expected Marcellus to directly label Eryx as their primary suspect.
Marcellus nodded, a determined glint flickering in his eyes. He continued, "Yes, I now strongly suspect that everything, from your kidnapping to my attack, and even the hidden conspiracies behind it all, was orchestrated by Eryx. A long time ago, I noticed that he seemed to have some sort of collaboration with Edgar, and his obsession with the 'Holy Grail' far exceeds what would be considered normal. This makes me more certain that he is involved." He paused, gazing deeply at Livia. "I'm sorry, Livia, I should have told you this earlier. But it also involves your father, and I wasn't sure how to bring it up."
Livia listened quietly, her heart suddenly trembling. Marcellus's words revealed a secret he had kept from her, showing not only his concern for her safety but also bringing her father's name into the conversation. This man, it seemed, had truly changed. No longer the distant and imposing Marcellus, but someone who appeared more real and vulnerable. His eyes held a sincere apology, and that genuine emotion made Livia pause. She realized that the Marcellus before her now was no longer the cold, unfeeling representative of power; he was a man with flesh and blood.
For some reason, Livia felt a warm emotion rising within her heart, as though time had slowed at that very moment. She saw Marcellus's familiar face, now filled with apology and honesty. Perhaps, this was the truest side of him that she had seen. It even made her think that, in this moment, this Marcellus… was somewhat endearing.
An unknown feeling quietly blossomed in Livia's heart. She suddenly felt her cheeks flush, hastily lowering her head to avoid letting Marcellus see the subtle change on her face.
Elias noticed Livia's unusual reaction and gave her a puzzled glance, while Marcellus slightly tilted his head, seeming to notice her change as well. Livia quickly cleared her throat and regained her composure. "Ah, sorry, I just got distracted for a moment," she said, trying to adjust her mindset. She reminded herself that now was not the time to lose focus. "But honestly, Eryx is indeed very suspicious. Since you feel the same, let's make him our primary suspect."
She took a deep breath, suppressing the chaotic emotions inside her, and continued, "We can't let him keep hiding in the shadows."
Seeing Livia's decisive attitude, Marcellus seemed to relax a little. He exhaled in relief, and a faint smile appeared on his face. "Well, if that's the case, let's go with that." It seemed like a burden had been lifted from his shoulders. After all, this time, Livia hadn't criticized him, avoided the subject, or become distant. Instead, she had chosen to face it head-on. This response made him feel a long-awaited sense of ease.
Elias nodded in agreement. "Since you both think so, let's proceed in this direction." He said no more, clearly understanding the subtle atmosphere between Livia and Marcellus.
Livia gave Marcellus a deep glance. The emotions stirring in her heart hadn't fully dissipated, and in fact, they seemed to be growing stronger. Her gaze lingered on him for a few seconds, as if trying to read something from his face. Yet, in an instant, her thoughts were pulled back by reason. She knew now was not the time to analyze those emotions. She had to set aside her feelings and focus on the situation at hand. Livia sighed softly, taking another deep breath to calm her emotions. She turned her gaze toward the documents on the table, her voice once again calm and composed. "What we need to do next is gather more intelligence and confirm Eryx's true motives."
She paused for a moment, her brows furrowing slightly. With a thoughtful expression, she continued, "Also, I have this feeling… if it were just Eryx going against us, the situation wouldn't be this complicated." Her voice was low, her eyes flickering as though contemplating an unspoken suspicion. "Could there be a third-party force pulling the strings behind the scenes? Maybe I'm overthinking it, but the current situation is… rather puzzling."
Her tone was casual, as if she were just mentioning something offhand. But her words hung in the air, resonating in the room. Livia herself wasn't entirely sure whether she should voice this suspicion, but a quiet intuition told her that now might be the right moment to tell Marcellus.
Marcellus was silent for a moment, his eyes flashing with thought. Then, slowly, he raised his head and met Livia's gaze, a mix of agreement and surprise in his eyes. "No," he said, his tone more measured, "I think your suspicion makes a lot of sense." His voice was low, as though he was reflecting on past events. "These incidents always give me a sense of disconnect. Especially your kidnapping and my attack. The initial methods and the ultimate goal always seemed somewhat off, as if something wasn't clear from the start but gradually crept in. This makes me suspect that there might indeed be a third-party force stirring things up behind the scenes."
He paused, his eyes sharpening. "I always felt these events were connected in some way, but I never delved into the motives behind them. Now, looking back, there are definitely many details that don't add up."