Chapter 141: Your Bride
"Mm..." Hades frowned in his sleep, his chest tightening.
His left arm felt numb. Slowly, his eyes cracked open—only to find both his mates lying against him, fast asleep, their faces serene.
Just the sight of them brightened his morning.
Carefully, he slipped his arm free and rested their heads on a pillow. For a moment, he simply sat there, collecting his thoughts.
Sunlight streamed faintly through the parted curtains, yet none of them had stirred until now.
"I can’t remember the last time I slept this deeply."
In the past, sleep had never been true rest. Even with his eyes closed, his instincts stayed sharp, honed by years of survival. Leniency in his line of work had always meant death.
But last night... last night was different. He had fallen into darkness without resistance, dreamless, and now woke up recharged, his body light.
"Mmm..." Stretching, he rose from the bed.
He draped a spare sheet over his still-naked mates, then dressed himself. Grabbing a glass of water, he stepped outside.
"Good morning, my lord."
Hades nearly flinched, choking on his sip of water. A familiar maid was standing right there.
"Marilyn... God, why are you lurking like that?" he muttered, lowering the glass.
"I was waiting for you," she replied evenly, her gaze fixed on him.
Hades frowned. "If someone can really attack me here, with my mother around, then I’m already doomed, aren’t I?"
Marilyn dipped her head. "I apologize for—"
Thak.
Hades gently chopped his hand on her head, cutting her off.
Her eyes widened as he said, "Relax around me a little. If you do, I won’t mind having you around."
Marilyn lowered her head. "I understand, sir. This lowly one—"
Thak.
"You’re not learning," Hades sighed. "Start with my name. Call me Hades."
Her lips parted in disbelief. "For—"
Thak.
"I don’t want excuses," he said, shaking his head. "The only thing I want to hear from you is my name."
Cornered, Marilyn could only give in. "...Hades."
"Good," he nodded, satisfied. "Don’t worry, I will let Avalin know you called me that."
Her face turned pale. "Young Master?!"
Hades chuckled. "Relax, I’m joking."
Marilyn pouted, then dissolved into his shadow.
Unbothered, Hades continued toward the stairs, heading to the dining hall.
"Would you like breakfast, young master?" asked the same blue-haired maid who had guided them to the bath the day before. Her tone was polite, almost rehearsed.
"While I am hungry, I’d like to meet my mother first. Is she here?"
The maid’s lips curved into a fond smile. "Yes. She’s waiting to see you."
"Then lead me," Hades said, and the two began walking.
She guided him through the side of the central compound, down a long corridor, and then up a wide stairway after a sharp left turn. The climb felt endless—nearly fifty steps—before they finally reached a large door at the top.
"She is inside, young lord," the maid said softly, making it clear she could go no further.
Hades gave a short nod and knocked. "It’s me—"
Crack.
The door swung open, and a vibrant redhead burst out with a glowing smile. "Baby!"
Kaelith wrapped her arms around him, pulling his head tightly against her chest. "Mama missed you so much."
Flustered, Hades mumbled, "We just met yesterday..."
Kaelith drew back only enough to look at him. "Three days have passed, baby."
"...!" Hades froze. Three days?
No wonder his stomach felt like a hollow pit.
Kaelith drew him inside and told the quiet maid, "Bring some food."
The maid bowed briefly before slipping away.
Hades’s eyes wandered, and what greeted him was a beautiful sight.
Directly across from the door stood a neatly arranged table adorned with antiques, their polished surfaces gleaming in the dim light. Above it, wide windows opened to a view of the castle from high above.
The cloudy sky outside gave the scenery a soft, dreamlike quality.
"You like it here?" Kaelith asked, her lips curved in a warm smile.
"Yes... it’s breathtaking," Hades admitted.
Kaelith giggled, leaning closer. "I’ll have someone prepare your room upstairs... but if you’d rather, you can always sleep with mama too."
Hades gave a wry smile. "I’d rather not disturb the Matriarch."
Kaelith groaned dramatically. "Why must you treat me like an outsider?"
He chuckled softly, then shifted the subject. "So... how did it go? The hunt?" He vaguely remembered that being her reason for leaving so suddenly, three days ago.
Kaelith shrugged. "As always—boring, but satisfactory."
Hunting weaklings who stood no chance, much less victory, hardly stirred her blood. Still, she found satisfaction in removing any creature foolish enough to cast even a shadow of malice toward her child.
"Is it happening often? Are the people in danger?" Hades asked, pulling out a chair for his mother and for himself.
Kaelith sat gracefully and shook her head. "No, they aren’t. The people under my care live far from the border regions. To reach them, one would first have to declare war on me. And given the current state of things, I doubt anyone would dare... unless they’re given a solid reason."
"But they do have one now," Hades murmured, his gaze fixed on nothing in particular.
The other factions finally had a cause to rally against Kaelith. Their hatred, once aimed at Zerathos, had shifted to its new vessel—Hades.
Hatred was both simple and complicated. With a single shared target, it had the power to erase old grudges between rivals, binding them together so they could strike at a common enemy.
Kaelith heaved a sigh, "Dear, don’t overthink things. We live in a world where dying is easier than getting bread."
Hades’s shoulder sagged as he didn’t continue the topic any longer.
He was glad that his mother wasn’t lying about the situation. Her response pretty much defined the possible risk his presence could bring to this faction.
Kaelith, sensing his helplessness, hurriedly added, "But we have the support of one of the strongest Dragon King now."
Hades’s brows elevated, "Who exactly?"
Kaelith informed him, "The most ancient life form on this planet, Dragon King Argon Emberclad. He has agreed to form an alliance if..."
"If?" Hades asked, his brows elevating.
Kaelith didn’t dodge the topic since she knew she had to talk about it now, "He wants to marry his granddaughter to you."
"..."
That was quite unexpected. He never saw that coming.
With a grin, Kaelith further added, "And...guess what? Your possible bride is arriving tomorrow."
"...!!" He can’t have another girl appear beside him right after forming a blood bond with his mates.
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A/N:- Thanks for reading. Drop a comment.