Hades’ head throbbed.

It felt as if someone had struck the back of his head.

He was so dazed he couldn’t even respond as Persephone approached him.

“…No, I mean…”

Hades rubbed his cheek with a blank expression.

Seeing this, Persephone turned towards the pan.

“If Hades had been cold or harsh to me, would I have visited his office like that?”

“…”

“I did it because I knew everything.”

She poured the goat’s milk from the cup into the pan. After adjusting the soup’s consistency, she added a bit of cheese.

Regardless of what Hades thought, Persephone was sincere.

Of course, there were times when she had acted and lied to him, but at least in this moment, she was genuine.

Now the goddess of seeds trusted the lord of the underworld.

Hades, who had been staring at her dumbfounded, suddenly came to his senses.

‘Wait, then the reason she kept coming to my office…’

Was it because she believed that if she came first, Hades himself would come to see her in return?

‘Right, she could see me if she came to the office.’

It was a thunderbolt of realization, as if he had read Persephone’s mind exactly.

Hades’ Adam’s apple bobbed significantly.

…He felt a bit like dying.

No, not in the sense of feeling depressed or hopeless, but somehow his chest felt tight, his heart was racing painfully, and so…

“There, it’s done! Here, eat it with the bread!”

“…”

“Hades?”

And the moment Persephone called out to him.

Unable to bear the heat within him any longer, Hades quickly scanned his surroundings.

He spotted some butter still remaining in his field of vision.

Using telekinesis, he grabbed a chunk of butter and shoved it whole into his mouth. It was truly a rash action, like that of a madman.

“Ah!”

Persephone let out a startled cry.

Forgetting that she was addressing the king of the underworld, her hand shot out as if to check the mouth of a dog smacking its lips.

But Hades covered his chipmunk-like puffed cheeks, avoiding Persephone’s gesture.

He managed to swallow the butter in one go.

“Have you gone mad!”

Persephone clutched her temples.

“How could you eat all of that! I was going to use it in the cooking later!”

She had made it all herself anyway. She could just give him more money for goat’s milk.

“Doesn’t your stomach feel greasy?”

His stomach had felt bad even before eating the butter.

“Perhaps the butter was too delicious?”

…Well.

Rationalizing to himself, Hades silently picked up the soup bowl.

He gulped down the hot liquid in one go, then stuffed in the remaining bread chunks as he had the butter. Slowly, he rose from his seat.

Persephone watched with worried eyes, but he carefully melted and ate all the butter stuck in his mouth without spitting it out.

Hades gave a slight nod to Persephone.

“…Thank you for the meal.”

Then he pointed towards the opposite side of the kitchen, where his office was located.

“From now on, I’ll make sure to have a place for you in my office.”

Persephone, who had been blinking, smiled brightly.

It seemed his stomach would probably be churning until the next day.

* * *

The following afternoon.

“Hades’ birthday is on the longest day of the year?”

A somewhat high-pitched young man’s voice echoed through the cool air.

Persephone turned her attention to two men who had rarely shown themselves during mealtimes until now.

“How did you know that, Miss Persephone?”

Hermes, the messenger god.

“Now that I think about it, that’s right. Did the lord of the underworld tell you himself?”

And even Asclepius, the god of medicine.

While Hydra often took care of breakfast and Sisyphus ate snacks at regular intervals, these two, like Thanatos, visited her irregularly – and with rather low probability.

Today was one of those rare probability days when Hermes and Asclepius had stopped by Persephone’s room after she finished working in the fields.

Persephone, who had been talking about Hades, replied lightly.

“That’s right. Hades told me himself.”

“Why suddenly? Miss Persephone, you haven’t been in the underworld for long.”

“Originally, I asked Lady Hemera about his birthday.”

“You asked, and?”

“But Lady Hemera only knew it was early summer, not the exact date, so I just gave him a gift on the first day.”

Persephone took a spoonful of soup from her bowl and added,

“But he thanked me and then told me his birthday is on the longest day.”

“Ah, I see…”

Hermes nodded as if he understood the situation.

Just then, Persephone spoke up as if she had suddenly remembered something.

“Oh, and did you know Hades prefers flavorful food?”

“How did you find that out?”

“I had him try some last night.”

Hermes and Asclepius’ eyes widened simultaneously.

“Butter, soup with solidified goat’s milk, and bread spread with premium honey and cheese.”

“…”

“He really enjoyed it, you know?”

Asclepius stroked his long beard as if impressed, saying, “Hmm…”

He showed his curiosity by asking what butter was, which Persephone said she had made. It was fitting for a doctor who also emphasized dietary therapy.

“…”

It was around then that Hermes’ eyes, lost in thought, narrowed like needles.

The messenger god’s gaze lingered on the office upstairs, beyond the corridor.

* * *

“You really treasure that daffodil, don’t you?”

The sudden comment was heard just as Hades was fiddling with the daffodil leaves.

Hades’ eyes slowly rose like a full moon appearing. His pupils reflected a widely grinning Hermes.

Hermes, after bringing the dead souls to the underworld today, was slacking off to avoid returning to the surface again.

His whining was familiar, but Hermes was unusually reluctant to fly away today.

As if seizing the opportunity while both Thanatos and Hydra were out on fieldwork, the messenger god even went so far as to pull up a nearby chair and sit down.

“…Why are you making that face?”

Hades couldn’t help but chide him.

But was that rebuke the problem?

“Did something happen between you and Miss Persephone?”

Hermes crossed his legs and stared intently at the daffodil pot – or more precisely, at Hades’ face.

For a moment, his solar plexus tingled, perhaps due to the butter he ate yesterday.

However, Hades shook his head, trying not to answer too quickly.

“That’s impossible. There’s no problem.”

“That’s a relief. At least you won’t get scolded by Lady Demeter.”

Hermes nodded, lowering his eyes. His demeanor was unnaturally compliant.

Strange, this guy never lets go once he smells something interesting, Hades thought, and at that moment.

“Huh?”

Hermes looked at the window behind him and exclaimed in question. A broad smile spread across his face.

“Miss Persephone? What brings you here?”

As Hermes abruptly stood up and walked towards the window, Hades’ surprised head also turned quickly.

However…

‘…Damn it.’

There was no one there.

Cold sweat trickled down his spine.

It had been a mistake to turn his upper body, worried about potential danger, especially since Persephone had once been stuck to the window wall.

Hades slowly straightened his posture.

“Oh my…”

In his view, Hermes appeared with a shocked expression, covering his mouth. Blinking his eyes as if they might pop out, he pointed at Hades.

“Seriously?”

“No.”

“You’re serious, aren’t you?”

“I said no.”

“You’re really serious, right?”

“I said I’m not.”

A faint vein appeared on Hades’ forehead.

But who was Hermes? He was the god most adept at lies and trickery.

He sensed that Hades was ‘daring’ to make excuses to him.

“Hades, I’m sorry, but I’m really perceptive about these things. It’s useless to try and deny it.”

“Are you daring to threaten the lord of the underworld?”

Of course, Hades was desperate in his own way. He knew that Hermes was also skilled at spreading rumors.

Golden sparks flashed in his black irises. Hades spoke in a strong tone, as if driving in a nail.

“Mind your words. I simply can’t act my age in front of that child.”

“What’s with the sudden talk about acting your age?”

“…There were sufficient reasons for it. It’s a personal matter, so don’t ask for details.”

Hermes lowered his eyebrows as if pitying Hades’ desperation.

“Why don’t you just be honest?”

“About what, and how?”

Hermes lowered his lips and grabbed his throat.

“‘It’s embarrassing to be experiencing first love at this age.'”

A low, husky voice resembling that of the underworld king emanated from the messenger god’s vocal cords.

Hades’ breath stopped for a moment.

“‘I’d like to ask for your advice, if possible?'”

“…Hermes!”