Alia gracefully took a seat on the sofa across from him, masking her inner frustration with a gentle smile. Pretending to be a noble lady is truly exhausting. If I were in my original body, I could have leaped across the room in a few strides. Now, these legs are so weak, overly delicate. Despite her irritation, her face maintained an appearance of soft, elegant composure, her every gesture smooth and refined. She turned her head and softly instructed Elise, "Elise, could you bring some tea for Elias and me?"
Elise nodded respectfully and left to prepare the tea.
As soon as the door closed, Elias wasted no time. He stood up and sat down right next to Alia, startling her with his sudden closeness. She shifted a little away. Then, his deep, slightly teasing voice reached her ear, "Alia, are you feeling better? I was only away for a month at Marcellus's command, and I return to find you gravely ill."
Alia stole a glance at Elias. He leaned casually against the sofa, his handsome features softened by a trace of charm, his eyes glimmering with faint amusement, as if entertained by her reaction. Alia's mind sounded an alarm, but outwardly she remained calm, shifting her gaze away with forced indifference and looking out the window as she replied, "I'm alright. I got through it, but it'll take a few more days to fully recover."
As Alia puzzled over why Elias would be so bold as to sit so closely, she suddenly felt a warm hand on her shoulder, followed by another resting on her thigh, his fingers brushing gently against her skin. His low, ambiguous voice murmured beside her ear, "My dear, what's wrong? It's my fault. I shouldn't have left you alone for so long, making you suffer."
The unexpected intimacy sent Alia's heart racing, nearly drawing a gasp from her lips. If she'd been in her original strong body, she would have slapped him across the face and kicked him back into place. But in this fragile, powerless body, her arm even trembled slightly. She took a deep breath, fighting her panic as she carefully pulled away from his touch and slid to the far end of the sofa. Her eyes burned with restrained anger and a clear sense of caution as she said coldly, "Elias, please respect yourself. I am your sister-in-law!"
Though her voice quivered, every word struck with firm conviction. Elias paused, surprised at her strong reaction. A hint of raw pain flashed across his face, replacing the earlier teasing expression with an unexpected, deep sadness. He stared into Alia's eyes, speaking slowly, "Elise told me that you seemed to have some memory loss after waking. But… have you really forgotten even me?" His voice grew quieter, tinged with a desperate plea. "Do you truly not remember the feelings we shared? The promises we made?"
Alia felt a wave of confusion and shock. She reflexively drew back, trying to keep her composure even as her mind churned. Feelings with Elias? Promises? She distinctly remembered — or rather, Livia remembered — that Marcellus was her husband, and Elias was merely her brother-in-law. Yet, judging from Elias's expression, there seemed to be some kind of… affair between them.
To avoid revealing her confusion, Alia feigned a moment's silence, her brow furrowing as if in thought. She shook her head slightly, replying softly, "Elias, I… I really don't remember. The doctor mentioned some memory fog after I woke up. Besides, how can I be sure you're not lying to me? After all, you're only my husband's brother."
At her words, a flash of emotion crossed Elias's eyes. He looked down, sighing deeply as he absently stroked the armrest of the sofa, his expression laced with a mix of regret and something more complex. Alia observed him quietly, both tense and curious, wondering just what kind of person Livia had been, and what hidden past lay between her and Elias.
After a long silence, Elias finally looked up, gazing at her with a blend of warmth and sorrow in his eyes. "No matter what, your body didn't resist me. Didn't you notice that you weren't repulsed when I firstly touched you? Isn't that proof enough? I'll give you time… for the memories to come back."
His words held a deep implication, as if there was something he was deliberately withholding. Alia's heart sank. It's true, I didn't instinctively reject Elias just now… But that doesn't necessarily prove anything. However, one thing was becoming increasingly clear: the relationships in this family were far more complex than she had imagined.
Elias rose to his feet, his voice calm and resolute as he declared, "Regardless, I love you, and Marcellus doesn't deserve you. I'll honor our promise. Once everything is done, we'll be free." With a determined expression, he turned and walked out, leaving Alia alone on the sofa, her mind whirling in confusion.
Alia stared blankly at the door. Elias's words echoed in her mind, deepening her sense of unease. 'Once everything is done'? What on earth does he mean? Is this the real reason Marcellus later killed Livia? Or was it the secret relationship between Livia and Elias that drove him to violence?
A sense of foreboding weighed on her. Just what was Marcellus's motive for killing his wife? And what was this 'promise' Elias spoke of?
Determined to uncover the truth, Alia took a deep breath, vowing to dig into these mysteries and unravel the secrets hidden in this complicated web of family ties. For now, though, she would have to remain vigilant, proceeding with caution to avoid drawing any unnecessary suspicion in this intricate household.