"Haah~" Marilyn let out a soft sigh as she stepped out of the bath, steam gently rising from her skin.

A towel clung to her slender figure, her cheeks slightly flushed from the warmth. Her damp midnight hair stuck to her shoulders, and tiny drops shimmered on her forehead.

Anyone could tell—something about Marilyn had changed. Her face, her body, even the air around her felt different.

As she walked out, her gaze fell on the table. A plate of food waited for her, but it wasn't the meal that caught her eye—it was the letter lying beside it.

Her Lord's handwriting.

She had already read it several times, yet her heart urged her to read it again. Who could possibly stop her?

With a bright smile that could melt even the coldest heart, Marilyn picked up the parchment and hopped onto the bed. Curling her legs close, she began reading once more.

[First of all, I am sorry, Marilyn, that I wasn't there when you woke up. I feel so pathetic right now that I can't express it.]

She sighed softly, wishing she could comfort him—tell him she didn't mind, that his absence didn't hurt her as much as he feared.

But there would be time to talk about that later. For now, she wanted to feel the warmth in his words.

[You might have many insecurities about your place in my life, and you must be nervous about suddenly being given this role. I don't know exactly how you feel, but I want you to know—you don't need to worry about anything from my side.]

Her heart tightened at his reassurance.

[The moment I embraced you, I accepted you as my wife. I know we haven't known each other for long, and there may be things you're unhappy with… but if it's alright with you, let's try to make this relationship work.

–Hades.]

Marilyn hugged the letter to her chest and lay down on the bed. Her gaze drifted upward as her mind filled with thoughts of him.

She had followed Hades ever since the day he faced that Duke-ranked dragon and nearly lost his life.

After that battle, the matriarch had decided—it was too dangerous to leave him alone.

With dragons appearing more often in the human realm, his identity as the heir of the Aethernox family could've been exposed at any moment. That's why Marilyn stayed by his side ever since.

She had seen, up close, the kind of man she chose to serve.

Since childhood, she had grown up hearing the tales of the Chaos King—Zerathos. His ideals had shaped her beliefs, and that shared reverence for him created a quiet bond between her and Hades.

But the more time she spent with him, the more her admiration turned into something deeper.

She fell for him—not the heir, not the fighter—but the man behind all of it.

So when fate tied their souls together, she didn't feel regret. The mating bond had come unexpectedly, but not unwillingly.

'Haah… I should eat something and walk around a bit,' she thought. She'd done nothing but laze around since morning.

But just as she got up, a voice echoed gently in her mind.

[Marilyn.]

Her eyes widened. "My lord?" she whispered.

She wasn't shocked that she could hear him—their bond made that possible—but hearing his voice suddenly filled her with surprise.

[Can you hear me? Are you doing well, Marilyn?]

A bright smile curved her lips. "Yes, I woke up and took a bath," she replied softly. After a pause, her voice lowered with concern. "But… where are you?"

She longed to be beside him. Not just because of the bond, but because she was worried—worried for his safety.

[About that…] His voice hesitated, faintly trembling before the words came.

And when he spoke, he relayed something which she dreaded

[...I'm in trouble.]

"...!!"

…

Hades was being led into the capital of Torseque by the towering man who still hadn't bothered to introduce himself.

The air was heavy—thick with dread. Even without extending his senses, Hades could *feel* it—the lingering fear that clung to every stone and every breath of wind that passed through the city's narrow streets.

Not a single voice echoed. Not even a child's cry.

Every window was sealed shut, every curtain drawn tight as if the people inside feared that even a sliver of light might betray their presence. Doors were bolted, yet the faint trembling behind them spoke louder than words. It was as if the entire capital was holding its breath, waiting for this silent storm to pass away.

The streets were littered with remnants of struggle—broken spears, torn banners, and the faint metallic scent of blood that hadn't yet faded.

Every elven soldier was forced to their knees, their once-proud postures bent under the weight of humiliation. Their hands were clasped behind their heads, their foreheads pressed into the cold stone. Their armor was dented, their lips cracked, and their eyes… hollow.

They weren't dead, but they weren't alive either. The fire of resistance had already been extinguished—replaced by the dull emptiness of defeat.

Some soldiers trembled silently; others stared blankly at the ground, as if afraid that even raising their eyes would invite punishment. The faint groans of the injured mingled with the whistling wind, creating a haunting melody that spoke of helplessness.

Peri's hands balled into fists. Her teeth ground together, the bitterness in her chest almost choking her.

This wasn't just occupation—it was desecration.

Her people, the proud elves of Torseque, reduced to this pitiful state. The city that once echoed with laughter and song now reeked of fear and despair.

"I am surprised that the mighty King of Death, Lord Halcrest, has to surround the nation with a barrier. Does he fear my mother that much?" Hades asked nonchalantly.

In truth, he wanted to know about this dome surrounding the whole capital, which would surely become a problem for any backup to arrive here.

However, Dolton offered not a single word in response.

The redhead clicked his tongue before he glanced around.

Upon realising no dragon soldier was looking at him, Hades opened his hand and from his palm, a blot of blood fell to the ground.

It was thick as a worm and had no definite shape.

It didn't remain lifeless for long and since it didn't have any presence, no one including the dragon leading them sensed it.

Hades saw it wriggling on the ground and slowly moving away.

'I hope this helps…'

°°°°°°°°

A/N:- Thanks for reading. If you have been enjoying this story so far, please make sure to leave a review.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.