"You didn’t have to escort us yourself, Pri Minister," Hades said as he and Luna followed the man down the long corridor toward the room they would be staying in for the night.
Originally, the plan was to leave the capital today and head straight to the county. By tomorrow night, they would have finished eting everyone they intended to and then reach Torseque, where they would reunite with Peri.
But unexpected circumstances had forced them to stay in the palace for now.
Phil glanced back at them with a small smile. "It’s nothing to worry about. I wanted to take a walk anyway." His tone was light, and he carried himself with an air of warmth that made him easy to talk to.
With his hands clasped neatly behind his back, Phil asked, "May I ask you sothing, Hades... about the late Prince?"
Hades paused mid-step, a faint stiffness in his shoulders, before answering, "Yes?"
"...Was he being manipulated to go after you?"
The question drew a faint frown on Hades’s face. Phil went on, his voice calm but heavy with thought. "We both know that whoever orchestrated these attacks—this isn’t random. It’s soone who holds a grudge against you. Perhaps that person simply used the late Prince as a tool for their own gain?"
Phil had not been as close to Cedric as Ross was, but he had still watched the young man grow up. He had held him as a baby, taught him as a boy, and watched him beco a man before he entered the academy.
Phil was more than just the Pri Minister—he was the King’s trusted friend. That bond explained the closeness he shared with the royal family.
Though he bore no hatred toward Hades for Cedric’s death, a heaviness lingered in his heart whenever the mory of the late Prince surfaced.
The response didn’t co from Hades. Instead, Luna spoke, her tone steady yet thoughtful.
"I can’t be certain whether soone was secretly fueling the flas, but Cedric already carried an imnse hatred toward Hades. I watched him closely, sir—that’s why I can say this with confidence."
Hades was everything Cedric longed to be.
He was strong, admired, and respected at the academy. Despite having no family support, he carved his own path and achieved what others could only dream of.
Cedric, even as a Prince, wanted the sa. He wished to stand out, to accomplish sothing that would let him wear the title of a Prince with pride.
At first, it was jealousy. Cedric envied Hades for his strength, his independence, and his achievents. But that jealousy soured into hatred the mont Rinne entered the academy.
For reasons Luna never fully understood, Cedric beca infatuated with her. And yet, her eyes had always been on Hades.
She did not bla herself for Cedric’s downfall, but she could not ignore the truth. Rinne had been one of the most significant sparks that fed the fire leading to his death.
Phil remained silent for a few monts before he sighed and said, "Thank you for letting know."
Not so long after, they ca to a stop before a room as the Pri Minister turned to look at them.
"I believe you two wish to stay in the sa room?"
Luna averted her gaze, her cheeks slightly warm as Hades nodded, "Yes. Thank you."
Phil smiled warmly as he rested his hand on their heads and said, "I bless you two to have a good life ahead."
Saying so, he walked away.
Hades looked at the man’s distancing back as he muttered, "And I used to think that high nobles are all pricks."
His conception was built like that because of Minister Ross and his own father. But his view changed today.
"Should we head in?" Luna asked.
Hades nodded as he saw his shadow shifting.
Heaving a sigh, he pushed open the door
He has been noticing that Maylie was...a little too cautious.
She checks every new place he visits and whenever sothing dangerous appears, her killing intent becos a little obvious.
By now, Luna had asked a few tis if there was soone following them; however, since he didn’t want to make her feel uncomfortable, he didn’t tell her about Maylie.
"It’s huge," Luna said as she looked around the room.
The chamber was wide and bright, with tall windows draped in heavy red curtains. Golden light spilled across the polished stone floor, where a thick carpet stretched from the door to the dais at the far end.
A wide bed stood at the heart of the chamber, its tall posts draped with fine silk curtains the color of wine.
Beside the bed stood a carved chest and a polished table where a silver goblet rested half full of wine.
A tall mirror frad in gold leaned against the wall, reflecting the warm glow of the torches.
Luna moved through the room, exploring the different corners.
"Waah ..." her eyes sparkled upon entering the bathroom. It was wide and had a big bathing pool at the center.
"Ah!" She suddenly had a thought.
Today...what if she invites Hades for a bath, and then she insists on washing his back? And then her hand accidentally goes low and low until,
"Kyaah! Too lewd!" Covering her face, Luna shook left and right.
"Luna?" Hades called out from the outside
"Yes! I am coming." She hurriedly walked out.
Hades was sitting near the window.
The breeze was making his crimson locks sway. Leaning against the fra, he looked at her with a warm smile.
*Ba* *dum*
’I am in love...’ Luna muttered under her breath, pressing her hand against her chest and feeling her heart beating restlessly.
"Is sothing bothering you, Luna?" Hades asked with a tilt of his head.
She hurriedly shook her head and approached him, "This is a nice place, no?"
Hades nodded, "Yes. And the scenery from here is quite magnificent too."
Luna peeked outside and found the whole capital was visible from the window.
She hurriedly checked and thankfully, the curtains on either side of the window were thick. So tonight, when he would climb the bed and embrace her...
"Luna?" Hades again called out, seeing her face turning red.
"Yes!" She responded, her back straight.
Hades asked, "Are you alright?"
She gave another nod, "Yes! I am all fit and fine."
Hades chuckled at her stiff response before he asked, "Want to go out tonight?"
Luna tilted her head, "But...aren’t we told to remain in the room and not wander in the market?"
Hades grinned, "We aren’t visiting the market tonight." With a dangerous glint erging in his eyes, he said, "We are going to murder soone."
°°°°°°°
A/N:- Thanks for reading.
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