Adrian paused for a moment, then lifted his gaze to Alia, his eyes burning with determination. "Of course, I care about family and power, but that's not what I truly seek." He clenched his fists, his voice carrying an unshakable resolve. "Livia, I heard what you told me before. I know that as long as I am strong enough, I can be with Elise. She has no noble background, no prestigious surname, but if I gain enough power, I can marry her, and no one will be able to object."
He took a deep breath, his tone unwavering. "To achieve this goal, I must become stronger. I must claim the right to speak for my family."
Alia's gaze flickered for a brief moment before the corners of her lips curved into a knowing smile, as if she had been waiting for this answer all along. She nodded slowly, satisfied.
Elias, standing nearby, raised an eyebrow in mild surprise. He had initially thought Adrian was just another noble shackled by the constraints of his upbringing, but it turned out his ambition was driven by love. He patted Adrian on the shoulder and smirked approvingly. "Not bad, kid. Finally starting to sound like a real man."
Meanwhile, in the back of the hall, Elise could no longer hold back her tears. Never had she imagined that everything Adrian was striving for was for her. She bit her lip, tears streaming down her face, her heart swelling with a mix of joy and guilt.
But Alia didn't allow the moment to linger in sentimentality for too long. Her expression grew serious once more as she fixed her gaze on Adrian. "Then tell me, if one day you had to choose between your family and Elise, which would it be?"
Adrian stiffened, clearly not expecting such a direct question.
He fell silent, his brows furrowing deeply. After a long moment, he finally spoke. "If I lose Elise, then family and power would mean nothing to me."
His voice was low, but resolute. "Yes, my family is important. Power is important. But if I reach the peak of power only to find myself alone—without her—then what's the point of it all?"
Elise couldn't hold back any longer. She covered her mouth with both hands, her tears blurring her vision. All this time, she had thought she was a burden to Adrian, a weight dragging him down. But now, she realized—he had never once seen her that way.
A faint sense of unease crept into Adrian's heart. He lifted his head, his sharp gaze locking onto Alia. "You didn't call me here just to talk about an expansion project, did you? What's really going on?"
His eyes swept around the hall, sensing something amiss. His expression shifted abruptly, and he bolted upright, scanning the room with urgency. "Elise is here, isn't she?!"
Alia didn't stop him. Instead, she curved her lips into a teasing smile and said softly, "Come out."
At her words, a slender figure stepped out from behind the hall's partition.
Elise's eyes were red and swollen from crying, tears still clinging to her cheeks. She looked fragile yet determined, standing there as if the entire world had melted away, leaving only her and Adrian.
Adrian's gaze instantly softened, filled with heartache, longing, and an overwhelming tenderness. Without hesitation, he stepped forward, his fingers trembling as they brushed against her damp cheeks. His voice was low, aching, yet resolute. "You… silly girl. Do you have any idea? The only one I want is you."
Elise's tears fell even harder. She shook her head desperately, choking out the words, "Adrian, I… I thought you wouldn't choose me…"
"What are you even thinking?" Adrian sighed softly, his eyes brimming with affection. He gently wiped away her tears. "From beginning to end, the only one I've ever wanted is you."
Elise's heart completely crumbled. Forgetting all hesitation, she stood on her tiptoes and, in a rare moment of boldness, threw her arms around Adrian and kissed him.
Adrian froze for a brief moment before instinctively pulling her closer, returning the kiss with a fervent intensity. His embrace spoke louder than words, as if to tell her—he would never let her go again.
Alia and Elias exchanged glances, one raising an eyebrow, the other chuckling softly. Without a word, they turned and quietly left the hall, leaving the lovers to their moment of solitude.