Seeing that Elise had finally calmed down, Alia let out a soft sigh. After a brief moment of thought, she said slowly, "You shouldn't return to the castle just yet. Stay here and wait for my message. But don't worry too much—since my father has already made his decision, he won't do anything to you. He has far more important matters to deal with. Now that he knows you've left, he won't be paying attention to you for the time being. Just rest here and recover. I'll keep you informed."
Her tone was steady and soothing, a rare trace of comfort in her words. "The most important thing right now is for me to see where Adrian stands. If he disappoints me and chooses his family and power over you, then you should stop thinking about him. I'll have Marcellus recognize you as his sister, and you won't have to be my little maid anymore. You'll be my sister instead—staying in the castle, living a good life, and one day marrying someone you truly like."
Elise was momentarily stunned, her eyes turning slightly red. In a soft voice, she murmured, "Livia, thank you… If Adrian doesn't choose me, I'll accept it. I just want him to be well… No matter what happens, I don't want you to be angry with him because of me. And I certainly don't want to affect the relationship between you two as siblings."
Alia looked at her helplessly, then reached out to ruffle her hair, her tone tinged with indulgent exasperation. "Sigh… People like you are just too easy to take advantage of. Stop worrying so much and get some proper sleep tonight."
Elise was caught off guard by the sudden gesture. Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she lowered her head, too embarrassed to meet Alia's gaze. She responded in a small, muffled voice, "Mm…"
Standing up, Alia adjusted her coat casually, her tone returning to its usual lightness. "Alright, we should get going. Be careful while you stay here—this time, no more 'bad signal' excuses." She deliberately dragged out the last part, her voice carrying a hint of teasing.
Elise's face turned even redder. Clearly, she had remembered the clumsy lies she had told earlier. With an embarrassed pout, she mumbled, "Got it…"
Alia's lips curled into a faint smile as she exchanged a glance with Emma. The two of them then turned and left, setting off toward the castle.
The night was deep, and their carriage sped down the narrow forest path. Upon entering the castle's outer perimeter, Alia gently tugged on Emma's sleeve, signaling her to slow down. The guards were patrolling the grounds strictly, but the two of them knew the castle's secret passages and blind spots well. Having already planned their route, they avoided the patrols and slipped through a concealed side entrance, returning to the castle unnoticed.
Just as Emma was about to step out of Alia's bedroom, she suddenly paused at the doorway. Looking back at Alia, a glimmer of curiosity flashed in her eyes. Then, in a seemingly casual manner, she asked, "If your brother really does choose his family and power, what will you do?"
Alia gazed silently out the window into the dark night. After a long pause, she finally spoke. "Then I'll do exactly as I said. Everyone has the right to make their own choices. I won't interfere—even if it's my brother or Elise. They have their own lives, their own decisions to make. I can help, but I won't try to control them." Her voice was calm, without a ripple of emotion.
Emma tilted her head slightly, studying her for a moment. A knowing smile played on her lips as she said softly, "You really don't seem like a noble lady… but you do remind me of your mother." With that, she turned and left without another word, gently closing the door behind her.
Alia stood frozen in place, Emma's words still echoing in her ears.
Like Celesta… But I am not her daughter.
So many people had praised and reminisced about Celesta, calling her gentle, intelligent, and courageous—one of the rare nobles with true dignity and strength of character. Hearing these words stirred a complicated emotion in Alia's heart—part happiness, part inexplicable sorrow.
In her past life, she had been an orphan, never truly understanding what it meant to have a family. If only she had known who her parents were… If only she could have been held in their arms like other children…
In this life, she had indeed been reborn as a noble lady, even gaining a mother who was revered by all. But Celesta was long gone, and her "father" treated her with nothing but cold indifference, as though she were nothing more than a stranger.
If she could truly choose, she would rather have been reborn as an ordinary person—with real, loving parents—rather than living under the title of a noble lady, burdened with a past that wasn't hers.
The night deepened, and in the quiet room, only the flickering candlelight reflected her silent expression.
That night, she said nothing.