"Isn't it fun?" Xelrath asked, leaning lazily on the throne that once belonged to the Queen. His voice dripped with mockery. "Not a single soldier has been killed, and yet I sit here, crowned as the new king."

Beatrice, held down by two men, glared at him with hatred burning in her eyes. "Oh, really? That might've sounded grand," she hissed, "if you hadn't relied on your army's strength to do it."

Outside, Xelrath's forces filled the streets. His soldiers—Cravanvor's men—had taken control of the capital. They weren't killing, only suppressing. Not a single corpse littered the ground. It was a war won without blood, and that made it even more suffocating.

The elves had no chance. Outnumbered, surrounded by fire-breathing conquerors, their resistance had crumbled under sheer force.

"Beatrice… oh, Beatrice." Xelrath exhaled, smiling faintly. "How delusional can you be?" He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, voice calm but heavy with menace. "You're trying to provoke me, aren't you? But you already know what I'm capable of."

He gestured with a flick of his hand. The soldiers released her.

"I spared you," he said, standing. His tone was almost gentle—almost. "I protected you all this time because of Samarella. She was the reason your precious elves still lived as an independent race instead of bowing to their betters."

Placing a hand over his chest, he continued with false warmth, "You should have thanked me, worshiped me, offered yourself to me. But what did I receive in return for my mercy?"

His eyes darkened, his voice cracked with fury. "You betrayed me—for *him*."

The floor trembled under his roar. The windows shuddered. The air itself grew heavy as his anger spread like wildfire through the hall.

But Beatrice did not flinch. Not once. There was no fear, no regret in her eyes.

"He's not the monster you make him out to be," she said softly, a faint smile curving her bruised lips. "He's kind. He doesn't look down on others. He helps when he can… and he keeps his word. Something a certain man here seems to have forgotten how to do."

Xelrath sneered, pretending to be unfazed—but Beatrice saw it. The twitch in his jaw, the faint flicker in his eyes.

She chuckled under her breath. "Now I see it," she murmured. "You're not after him to protect anyone, are you?"

Her gaze rose to meet his. There was mockery there—mockery and pity.

"You're afraid of him."

For the first time, Xelrath's smirk faltered. His body went still. Beatrice's words struck deep, but she wasn't done.

"While you serve the Ruler of Death," she whispered, "he *is* the reincarnation of Lord Zerathos—the only being who ever stood above them all. The one who defied every Primordial even when his body could barely move. The one who never lost… not even in death."

"You bitch!" Xelrath roared. He grabbed her by the hair and slammed her face into the floor. Once. Twice. Again.

The sound echoed through the silent chamber—*thud*, *thud*, *thud*.

But even as blood streamed down her face, Beatrice laughed.

Her laughter was weak, broken, yet full of defiance. It filled the hall like a haunting melody—mocking him, scarring him deeper than any blade could.

*THUMP!*

He slammed her head one final time. This time, she didn't move. Her body went limp, her laughter fading into silence.

Xelrath panted, chest heaving. His hands were stained crimson. He pulled out a handkerchief, wiping the blood off with an unsteady hand.

"Has Dolton returned?" he asked coldly.

A soldier stepped forward. "No, my lord."

Xelrath smiled faintly—a cruel, tired smile. "That's a pity," he murmured, tossing the bloody cloth aside, "I'll hope Hades arrives soon… before his pretty mother-in-law bleeds out."

….

"You… come with me, or everyone here dies."

The voice came from a giant figure that even swallowed Raarka's shadow. It spoke without flinch. No bravado. No show. Just a cold, flat promise.

Hades watched him move. The way he cut through the crowd told Hades everything — this man could fight an army alone.

A Raarka soldier lunged, rage on his face. "You impudent—"

He never finished. A clean line ran through him, splitting him in two. Silence hit like a wall. Then the dull *thud* of two falling halves.

Hades' mouth fell open. He hadn't seen the move. There was no flourish, no wind. The soldier was simply gone, as if someone had erased him. Every head turned. Every breath stopped. Raarka's earlier warning suddenly had weight.

Raarka squinted, shoved his daughter behind him. "Who are you?" he demanded.

Dolton didn't bother to meet his gaze. "I'm here for him. Come with me."

Hades kept his voice steady. "Where would I be invited to?"

"Torseque," Dolton said. "The capital. Lord Xelrath holds it. The Queen has been taken."

Peri went pale. "W-what?"

Hades' brow tightened. "Why should I trust you?"

Dolton's face stiffened. He did not like questions. His orders were to take the target alive. He reached into his cloak and threw something at Hades.

Averis snapped forward and caught it. She turned it over once, then handed it to Hades.

It was a tiara made of dried flowers. Fragile flowers, clumsily arranged.

Hades frowned, and then felt something shift—mana rising close to him, a faint tremor of power.

Peri moved as if to rush him. "You bastard!" she screamed, but Hades caught her at the waist. His grip was firm, not cruel, but absolute. He would not let her run.

"What did you do to my mother?" Peri's voice broke. Her eyes burned with hate and fear all at once.

Dolton's frown deepened, he was inches away from executing the woman.

However, she was as much required.

That's why, he told them, "You and your mates are coming with me or Beatrice is going down with every single of her men."

Hades growled, "Only I will come, not my mates."

Dolton scoffed, "You believe I would let the two of them spy the new kingdom and relay the information to Patriarch Aethernox?"

Hades was confused as he narrowed his eyes.

What…in the world has they done to the capital of Torseque that they don't want anyone, especially his mother to know about the inside?

However, despite the confusion, he was about to deny the demand. He can't possibly risk his wives life—but then,

[Hades, accept his demand.]

Luna's voice echoed in his mind, baffling Hades as he asked.

[Luna?]

[Just trust me…and not like Peri is going to listen to you and stay here. And if you two are going, so will I.]

Hades gritted his teeth…this has turned even more complicated.

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