A few days later, the hospital corridors still reeked of antiseptic—cold and acrid.
When the group pushed open the door and entered, they all froze at the sight of Marcellus lying in bed.
The once-ink-black hair, full of youthful luster, had turned entirely to a pale silver, as if a night of frost had swept through it. White strands fell by his temples, sharpening the lines of his face yet revealing an exhaustion that could not be concealed. The wrinkles were shallow, but at the corners of his eyes and between his brows, the faint marks looked like they had been forcibly pressed there by time itself.
Even Elias—who had always clashed with him—couldn't help but frown and ask,
"Marcellus… what happened to you?"
His voice carried undisguised surprise, tinged with something more complicated.
In the room, only Livia—or rather, Alia—knew the real reason. Her hand curled slightly, nails biting into her palm, the pain traveling along her nerves. But it was a pain she could not voice, so she let the ache settle heavily in her chest.
Marcellus merely lifted his gaze slowly, his voice low yet resolute.
"It's nothing. I just… finally figured something out. And I've decided on something."
He paused, a fleeting, unreadable glimmer flashing in his eyes.
"I'm fine now—better than ever. You don't need to worry about me."
Then, as if burying all emotion deep inside, he spoke again in an almost cold tone:
"Now—let's begin planning our next move."
All eyes turned to Livia. She showed no surprise at all, as if she had foreseen this change. And precisely because of that, her calm composure made it feel like she had some unspoken connection to whatever had happened. No one dared to ask.
Marcellus's gaze swept over everyone before he finally spoke:
"First—I owe you all an apology. A long time ago, I possessed a shard of the Grail. It was that shard… that caused Livia to fall into a coma and lose her memories."
He stopped briefly, his eyes heavy.
"My cooperation with Edgar was based on that. I hoped to gather all the shards and wish for Livia to regain her body and memories. But that shard disappeared mysteriously at some point—and now I don't know where it is."
The words hung in the air, freezing the atmosphere for a moment.
Elias's expression darkened instantly, his voice rising with restrained fury.
"So it really was you!"
His gaze cut into Marcellus like a blade.
"You're the one who caused Livia's coma!"
Livia's heart skipped. She felt a strange flicker of doubt.
Marcellus seemed to be telling the truth—but there was something fabricated, something concealed, woven into it. What was he hiding? And what was he trying to make them believe?
"Yes," Marcellus admitted flatly, his tone almost indifferent.
"That's why I've carried this guilt all along. And I suspect… it's closely tied to the Grail's influence. Now it seems that, apart from Livia and Adrian, anyone who comes into contact with the Grail will be corrupted to some degree. Perhaps it's because Livia once discovered the Grail—or maybe your family's bloodline has some natural resistance to it."
His voice was deep and firm, every word carrying an unshakable authority.
"So—from today onward, apart from Livia and Adrian, no one is to approach the chamber or the Grail shards."
At that moment, Livia looked at him.
She saw not only the pale, unfamiliar man before her—
but also the Marcellus from the past: calm, resolute, eyes sharp as blades.
The man who looked as if he would shield her from all danger.
It seemed he had come back—
And yet he now stood so far away she could no longer reach him.