"Yes, I already planted the seeds of doubt. Now, it's a matter of whether we can use them to deceive Jim," Livia said calmly, her voice unwavering with a quiet determination.
"It's time I met Jim face to face."
The moment her words fell, Marcellus stood up abruptly, his tone uncharacteristically sharp:
"No. Absolutely not! It's too dangerous!"
He stared at her—not just with worry, but with fear and reluctance.
"You're talking about Jim. Based on everything we know about him, he's not just Eryx's subordinate—he's one of the most ruthless and alert men in this city. How could you possibly deceive him under his nose? Even if you succeed, what could you actually get from him? We don't even know for sure whether the well contains the Holy Grail."
Livia didn't answer immediately. She simply looked at him—eyes steady, unwavering.
"We can't afford to miss any more chances," she said slowly.
"Of course I'm not foolish enough to try to 'completely fool' him. I only need to distract him—just enough to divert his focus from our real operation. That's all."
"Besides, that document is far too important to be just some random artifact. The fragment we found—it's clearly been broken off from a larger whole. Only by piecing everything together can we uncover the true message. I'd wager the well either holds the main body of the Grail or points to the next key location."
Marcellus clenched his fists tightly, brows deeply furrowed.
"You make it sound easy, but you'd be throwing yourself into the abyss."
Seeing the pain in his eyes, Livia softened her voice:
"Then what if… it happens inside the castle?"
"Inside the castle?" Marcellus was momentarily stunned, staring at her in confusion.
Livia nodded.
"Yes. In the castle, I know every passage, every blind spot. I have the terrain advantage. We can set a trap—design a setup where Jim never comes into direct contact with me. Just a conversation, safely separated. I won't be in danger."
"More importantly, with your current health keeping you in the hospital, he's already used to your absence. And as 'Livia,' I'm still publicly managing the castle's daily affairs. Jim wouldn't find it strange for me to request a meeting."
Marcellus fell silent. He couldn't deny her reasoning. But in his heart, those memories—the fear, the panic when she had once been trapped—came flooding back, still vivid as if it were yesterday.
"But—" He opened his mouth, but the words wouldn't come.
"There's no turning back," Livia interrupted, her tone gentle but firm.
"If we don't take the initiative, we'll always be reacting passively. You think I'm not scared? But I can't keep watching us be forced to move one cautious step at a time."
She reached out, laying her hand gently over his, and smiled softly:
"Trust me. After last time—and what I now understand about Jim—I won't act recklessly again."
"You stay in the hospital. Don't show your face. Let Jim continue believing you're too sick to be involved. Elias will carry out our patrol plans, keeping the illusion alive that we're all busy with legitimate duties. That way, my request to meet with Jim alone won't look like a setup."
Marcellus gritted his teeth, on the verge of protesting, but she had already seen through him.
"You're not doubting me," Livia said gently.
"You're just scared to see me take another risk. But I'm no longer that girl who only knew how to cry alone in her room."
She withdrew her hand and stood.
"Just give me a little trust—even half a step of space. I'll walk more steadily than you imagine."
Her eyes were clear, shining like a lantern lit in the dark.
After a long pause, Marcellus finally nodded. His gaze still held anxiety, but mingled with it now were admiration and aching tenderness.
"You have to come back. Safe."
Livia beamed.
"Of course. I'm your wife—I'm not dying anytime soon."
Outside, the wind stirred the trees. Shadows danced across the windowpanes.
As night settled over the castle, a new scheme was quietly unfolding.