Shattered Innocence: Transmigrated Into a Novel as an Extra

Chapter 519: Aeliana Thaddeus ?

The moment the name left Lucavion’s lips, Corvina stilled.

Aeliana.

Where had she heard that name before?

Why did it feel like something important, like a half-forgotten truth resting just beyond her grasp?

Her gaze flickered toward the woman—Aeliana—who met her stare without hesitation, her amber eyes sharp and unwavering.

And it was in that moment, as their eyes locked, that recognition struck like lightning.

Corvina inhaled sharply.

That name is not common.

Not here. Not anywhere.

And more importantly—

There was only one Aeliana who could make someone like Lucavion hold back.

Someone who had been sick.

Someone who had been reserved.

Someone who had barely ever been seen beyond the walls of nobility.

Aeliana Thaddeus.

The daughter of the Duke.

The girl who had been rescued.

And now—she was standing here, right in front of her.

Corvina’s fingers twitched against the desk as her mind raced.

But does that make sense?

The heir of House Thaddeus—Stormhaven’s fragile, sickly noble daughter—had supposedly been in the vicinity of the failed expedition, had been lost, and then recovered.

Aeliana Thaddeus.

The one who was too weak to leave her estate.

The one who wasn’t supposed to survive beyond her guarded walls.

The one the entire city whispered about.

And yet—

Here she stood.

Not frail.

Not pale.

Not weak.

She stood before Corvina, arms crossed, expression alive with irritation, very much not the image of a sickly noble heir.

’Am I mistaken?’

No.

She knows she isn’t mistaken.

Lucavion’s presence had already been enough to shake the foundation of the guild, but this—this was something else entirely.

Corvina’s mind reeled, piecing together the implications.

If she was rescued… then how?

Why her?

None of the other missing adventurers had returned. None.

So how did she survive?

Her gaze drifted between Lucavion and Aeliana, the tension in the air subtly shifting as she processed what this meant.

Lucavion knew.

She could see it in the way he stood, in the way he watched her reaction.

This is deliberate.

His silence wasn’t indifference.

It was intentional.

Corvina’s lips parted slightly, but she stopped herself from speaking too soon.

She needed to be careful.

Instead, she leaned back in her chair, her sharp gaze settling on Aeliana once more.

And then, in a carefully neutral voice, she asked—

Corvina cleared her throat softly, testing the waters with a measured tone. ”By Aeliana, do you mean… Lady Aeliana Thaddeus?”

Her words carried both deference and a carefully guarded curiosity. Even as Guildmaster, she knew better than to show overt disrespect to the Lady of the household upon whose lands so many relied. The formal address hung in the air, a delicate balance between protocol and genuine inquiry.

Lucavion’s lips curled into that familiar, roguish smirk. ”I knew you were sharp,” he teased, his voice a smooth blend of amusement and approval.

Corvina’s gaze flickered between the two figures. The way Lucavion’s smirk played upon his face confirmed her suspicions, yet left her with more questions than answers. How could this be? If it was truly Lady Aeliana Thaddeus—the very same girl once deemed fragile and unfit to venture beyond her gilded estate—how did she now stand here, defiant and very much alive?

’Wasn’t she supposed to be sick? Weak and withdrawn?’ Corvina wondered silently, her mind reeling with implications. The image of the delicate, ailing noble girl she had heard whispers about clashed violently with the commanding presence of the woman before her.

The tension in the room deepened, as if every eye could sense that this revelation carried weight far beyond mere titles. Corvina, ever the consummate professional, forced herself to maintain neutrality, though her thoughts swirled with disbelief and intrigue.

Corvina barely had time to fully process her thoughts before Aeliana spoke.

”You must be thinking about how I am here, even though I was supposed to be sick.”

The words were smooth, direct—devoid of hesitation.

Corvina’s lips parted slightly before pressing back together, her fingers curling just slightly against the desk. Sharp. This woman was sharp.

After a brief pause, she gave a single nod. ”I would be lying if I said it hadn’t crossed my mind.”

Aeliana’s expression shifted. Not mocking. Not defensive.

A smile.

”It is because I am cured now.”

Simple. Clean. An answer that left no room for doubt.

And yet, Corvina felt the weight behind it.

The revelation settled over the room like an invisible force, the pieces clicking into place in Corvina’s mind. Cured. The word carried more meaning than it should.

Aeliana Thaddeus—the sickly noble daughter, the fragile heir to one of the most powerful houses in Stormhaven—had been cured.

Corvina exhaled slowly through her nose. That explained everything.

The change in posture. The energy in her gaze. The way she stood with undeniable authority.

This was no longer the noble girl hidden behind estate walls.

This was someone who had tasted freedom.

Aeliana continued, her tone even. ”I understand that you have not gotten the news, as it was only just confirmed yesterday.”

Corvina narrowed her eyes slightly, absorbing the information. That made sense. House Thaddeus was powerful, and any news regarding its heir’s recovery would have been tightly controlled.

Corvina sighed, exhaling slowly as the realization settled in.

Everything made sense now.

The sudden recovery. The confidence. The authority.

Yet, one question still remained.

Why was she here?

Aeliana Thaddeus—heir to one of the most powerful houses in Stormhaven, a woman who had been confined to her estate for years—had walked into her guild with Lucavion at her side, completely at ease.

That was what Corvina didn’t understand.

She leaned forward slightly, her sharp gaze unwavering. ”I see. Your recovery explains many things, Lady Aeliana,” she said smoothly. ”But that still doesn’t answer one question.”

A pause.

”What brought you here?”

Aeliana didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she glanced to her side—toward Lucavion.

He blinked. ”Huh?”

Then, with all the elegance of a woman who knew she was about to cause trouble, Aeliana said, ”I am here to supervise him.”

A beat of silence.

Lucavion’s expression froze. ”…Heh?”

Corvina’s brows lifted slightly, the sheer unexpectedness of that answer catching her off guard.

Supervise?

Lady Aeliana Thaddeus—the daughter of the Duke—had come all the way here to supervise Lucavion?

Aeliana, ignoring Lucavion’s baffled reaction, continued smoothly, ”This man is a troublemaker.”

Lucavion let out a small noise of protest, but Aeliana carried on, unbothered. ”He has a habit of causing chaos wherever he goes, and someone needs to ensure that it does not escalate further.”

Corvina’s lips parted slightly before pressing back together.

She had expected a great many reasons for Lady Aeliana’s presence here. Political maneuvering. House Thaddeus asserting its influence over the guild. Perhaps even something related to the Duchy’s ongoing concerns over Lucavion’s identity.

But this?

This was…

Unexpected.

Corvina’s gaze drifted to Lucavion.

He was looking at Aeliana with a mixture of exasperation and disbelief, his arms crossed over his chest.

Then, in a completely helpless tone, he turned to Corvina.

”As you can see,” he said, gesturing toward Aeliana with a suffering sigh, ”I am currently being detained. Please help.”

Corvina blinked.

Then blinked again.

For a moment—just a brief moment—she was genuinely left speechless.

Lucavion. Detained.

By Aeliana Thaddeus.

She had thought she’d seen everything in her years as Guildmaster.

Apparently, she had been wrong.

-------------A/N------------

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