The moment Hades returned to the room, I realized that something was seriously wrong.

‘…Strange.’

A dark atmosphere enveloped Hades.

He looked at me with a clearly darkened face and swallowed his saliva.

“What happened?”

“Nothing special.”

The answer came immediately, but both Hades and I knew that it wasn’t true.

“Don’t lie.”

I said firmly, looking up at him.

“It feels like something unusual is going on; that’s the vibe I’m getting.”

As I firmly grabbed Hades’ hand and placed it on his chest, his body stiffened.

I chuckled.

Hades would eventually confess what was going on.

“So, spill it. What’s going on…”

“…”

Hades tightly sealed his lips. I patiently waited for him, holding back any urge to press an unprepared person for answers.

“I hope you won’t ask.”

“Hades!”

As if in defiance, Hades stood up, pressed my shoulders, and hesitated before sitting back down.

“Just, for now…”

Hades buried his head in my shoulder.

“I want to think about just you and me.”

I pondered. What could the meaning of this statement be?

‘Whatever it is, it must be something serious.’

Moreover, Hades used the phrase ‘for now.’ It implied that something serious would happen in the future.

‘I need to find out what it is.’

And I had the confidence to figure out what the truth was.

“Hades…”

I brushed off Hades’ shoulder. As my touch moved along his stiffened body, I felt him relax.

A few minutes passed after our lips met again.

Breathing heavily under Hades, I whispered in his ear.

“Hades… Whatever it is, I can help you, Hades.”

Hades raised his head.

“It’s not what you’re thinking.”

He pressed down on my stomach.

“So, for now, focus on me.”

I opened my eyes wide and looked at Hades. Right now, Hades was seeking comfort from me.

‘Asking won’t be of any help.’

I didn’t necessarily have to hear from Hades himself what was happening. But I wanted to hear it from him.

Tears welled up. Despite all that had happened, Hades still tried to hide the truth from me.

The reason was obvious.

Because he wanted to protect me.

Because he wanted to shield me from painful things.

But Hades might not know. That such protections made me the most miserable.

I wasn’t a child who had to live protected. I was no longer on a deadline, and I also possessed considerable power.

Certainly, compared to Hades, who possessed almost divine power, my power might be insignificant. However, it was not a negligible power.

‘Besides… If Hades is troubled to this extent, it’s not just an ordinary matter.’
I spoke again to Hades.

“Tell me what’s going on. Even if I can’t help, it’s okay. Sharing your concerns can be comforting in itself.”

“It just means there will be two people with concerns.”

As I continued to gaze at him, Hades turned his head away.

“Hades…”

“Angel.”

Hades hugged me tightly.

“I want to protect you. Really. So… wouldn’t you listen to me now?”

I closed my eyes. A tear rolled down.

Ah, we are still on parallel paths.

Hades, who only wants to protect, and me, who is protected but feels cramped.

Even while together, there was a feeling of being unable to be together.

“I will find out.”

“You’ll know soon.”

“When?”

“Tomorrow.”

I widened my eyes. Tomorrow? If something happens tomorrow…

“Is it related to the priests?”

“You’re clever.”

“Then…!”

I stopped talking. No way, no way.

‘That can’t be.’

Hades seemed to have acknowledged his new life quite well. Dyonovan was gradually being rebuilt too.

Old worries were disappearing one by one.

But…

“Please, tell me it’s not true.”

I grabbed Hades’ arms. Despite his strong muscles, my hands didn’t go in at all. But I exerted even more force, leaving imprints on Hades’ arms.

“Please, please… tell me it’s not true, Hades!”

“I don’t know what’s not true.”

Hades’ gaze went into empty space.

“They want to use the priests to escape from the Demon King, right?”

Why didn’t I realize this sooner?

Originally, it was Hades, not the doctors, who tried to gather the priests.

While persuading them one by one, I didn’t know the fact that I was unknowingly filling Hades’ leash.

“Did the priests say that? That it won’t be easy to escape from the Demon King, and something must be paid?”

“They speak as if they were there.”

There was no other way. I knew Léonel better than anyone in this world.

“This is not it.”

I shook my head.

“Hades, please… I beg you.”

“I won’t apologize.”

Finally, Hades looked straight into my eyes.

“Because it’s for you.”

“It’s an unwarranted favor I didn’t ask for!”

I screamed and pushed him away. Hades, who was sitting half on the bed, was pushed away without any resistance.

I gnashed my teeth.

That appearance was also a disguise.

With Hades’ strength, it should have been normal not to budge even if I pushed.

“What’s the price?”

Tears welled up. I thought it was finally over.

I thought I had finally found happiness… but it couldn’t be.

“I don’t know.”

Hades finally revealed the truth.

“They say they don’t know either. Whether it will be the body, life, memory…”

I bit my lip.