A few weeks had passed, and Eliza found herself pacing her room, gritting her teeth in fury. No matter what she tried, Alaric remained an impenetrable enigma. Her attempts to pry into his room had been met with failure after failure, and the frustration was starting to eat at her.
"I can't believe he's being so stubborn," she muttered to herself. "It's like he knows every move I make before I even think of it."
Her mind flashed back to her latest attempt. She had paid the maids handsomely to retrieve some of the documents from Alaric's room, hoping to finally get a glimpse into whatever secret project he was working on. But the maids had returned empty-handed, their faces pale with fear.
"He confiscated the payment, my lady," one of them had whispered, trembling. "He said if we tried again, there would be consequences."
Eliza clenched her fists at the memory. "How dare he!" she spat. "Confiscating my money like he has any right!"
She collapsed onto her bed, staring up at the ceiling in frustration. "Why is he making this so difficult? What is he hiding that's so important?"
Despite her anger, a part of her couldn't help but admire his tenacity. Alaric was proving to be far more resourceful and resilient than she had given him credit for. It only made her more determined to uncover his secrets.
"But how?" she mused aloud. "If bribing the maids won't work, and I can't get into his room myself..."
Her thoughts trailed off as a new idea began to form. If she couldn't get to the documents directly, perhaps she could find another way to make Alaric reveal his secrets. She needed to think outside the box, to approach the problem from a different angle.
"I'll have to be smarter," she said, sitting up with a renewed sense of purpose. "If I can't get into his room, I'll have to make him bring the information to me."
Eliza began to formulate a new plan. It would take time and careful execution, but she was confident that she could outmaneuver her brother. After all, she had always prided herself on her intelligence and cunning.
"I just need to be patient," she reminded herself. "And when the time is right, I'll strike."
For now, she would bide her time, watching Alaric closely and waiting for the perfect opportunity to turn the tables. One way or another, she would uncover his secrets. And when she did, she would finally understand what drove him, what made him defy the family's expectations so boldly.
"And then," she whispered, a cold smile spreading across her face, "I'll make sure he regrets ever crossing me."
With that, Eliza settled into her bed, her mind racing with possibilities. The game was far from over, and she was determined to come out on top. She just needed to be smarter, more cunning, and more patient than she had ever been before. And in the end, she would get what she wanted. She always did.
Eliza spent the next few days observing Alaric more closely. She made a point of being in the same rooms he frequented, engaging in casual conversation with those who interacted with him. She needed to learn his habits, his routines, and most importantly, his weaknesses.
One evening, as she was lingering near the library, she overheard Alaric speaking with Geralt.
"I need you to ensure no one disturbs me tonight," Alaric was saying. "There are some critical experiments I need to complete."
Eliza's ears perked up. "Critical experiments?" she thought. "This could be my chance."
That night, as Alaric sequestered himself in his room, Eliza waited patiently. She needed to time this perfectly. If she approached too soon, she might be caught; too late, and she would miss her opportunity.
After what felt like an eternity, she heard the faint sounds of Alaric working. She crept silently to his door, pressing her ear against it to catch any snippets of his work.
"What exactly are you up to, brother?" she whispered to herself.
Suddenly, she heard a soft thud and a curse from inside the room. Alaric seemed frustrated, muttering under his breath about a miscalculation.
"This is it," she thought. "Time to act."
Feigning concern, she knocked softly on the door. "Alaric, are you alright in there?" she called out.
There was a pause, and then the door cracked open. Alaric's face appeared, clearly annoyed. "What do you want, Eliza?"
"I heard a noise and thought you might need help," she replied sweetly, trying to mask her true intentions.
Alaric narrowed his eyes but opened the door a bit wider. "I'm fine. Just a minor setback."
Eliza peered inside, trying to catch a glimpse of whatever he was working on. Papers were strewn about, and strange contraptions covered his desk.
"Are you sure you don't need any assistance?" she asked, stepping a bit closer.
Alaric sighed, clearly exasperated. "Eliza, I appreciate the concern, but I really need to focus. Please, just leave me be."
Recognizing she had pushed as far as she could for now, Eliza nodded. "Of course. Just let me know if you need anything."
As she walked away, she felt a mix of frustration and determination. She had gotten a glimpse, but it wasn't enough. She needed more.
"I'll have to change my approach," she thought. "But at least now I know he's working on something big."
Over the next few weeks, Eliza continued her subtle surveillance, picking up bits and pieces of information. She watched as Alaric meticulously guarded his work, rarely leaving his room for anything other than meals and essential duties. It was clear whatever he was doing was of great importance.
Meanwhile, Alaric remained oblivious to the depth of his sister's interest. His focus was entirely on perfecting his new creations and refining his skills. He had no time for family politics or the petty schemes of his siblings.
One evening, Eliza decided to employ a different tactic. She invited Alaric to a family dinner, something that hadn't happened in quite some time. She played the part of the concerned sister, expressing a desire to reconnect and put their differences aside.
To her surprise, Alaric accepted the invitation, albeit with a hint of skepticism. As they sat around the dinner table, Eliza made small talk, steering the conversation towards Alaric's interests.
"I've noticed you've been very busy lately," she said casually. "I hope it's something exciting."
Alaric looked up from his plate, studying her. "It's nothing you need to concern yourself with," he replied coolly.
Eliza smiled, undeterred. "Come now, we're family. Surely you can share a bit. You never know, maybe I could help."
Alaric's expression remained guarded. "I appreciate the offer, but it's quite technical. Besides, I prefer to work alone."
The dinner continued in a similar vein, with Eliza probing gently and Alaric deflecting her inquiries. By the end of the meal, Eliza felt no closer to uncovering his secrets, but she refused to give up.
As Alaric excused himself and headed back to his room, Eliza watched him go, her mind already formulating her next move.
"I'll get to the bottom of this, Alaric," she vowed silently. "One way or another, I'll find out what you're hiding."
Unbeknownst to her, Alaric was already two steps ahead. He had suspected his sister's interest from the start and had taken precautions to ensure his work remained secret. The real challenge for Eliza was just beginning, and Alaric was more than ready for the game she was playing.