𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐕𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐄 ➤ 𝒉𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒑𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆

viii. in the middle of the night

Throughout the rest of the night, all Hades could hear were the words echoing in his mind.

"You still despise him, then?"

"I wouldn't use the word 'despise', I think the correct word is 'dislike'. And yes, I still dislike him,"

He hadn't meant to overhear their conversation, but he did. He deeply regretted it. Hades had assumed they were making some progress, at least he did. He was supposed to bid goodnight to her, but now look what it led to.

Unrequited love.

He had jumped to the conclusion that maybe,
he wasn't really lucky when it came to love.

Eros and his arrows were definitely to blame for his feelings right now.

Maybe he should talk to Zeus?

No, no, that would be a bad idea.

Or was it time to return Persephone to Demeter?

A part of him wanted to. He was moved by Persephone's distress, not because she did not love him back.

But then another part of him was screaming
to keep her.

It was difficult to decide.

If he truly loved Persephone, why was it so painful?

***

It had been a week since the Underworld welcomed an unexpected visitor. Life in the realm and in the palace continued as it had before. Persephone seemed to be adjusting gradually, but she still struggled to fully embrace her new life.

Every day, she would wake up in her large bed, and be attended to, by her maids and lady-in-waiting. She was starting to rethink Hades' offer to tour her, but she recently noticed his quiet demeanor and decided it would probably be best to step back.

Aside from that, she was reconsidering her view of him. Especially that afternoon.

She and Electra watched him as he worked on his edicts in Judgement Tower. It was strange watching him work.

From the stories she heard as a child, he was strict, powerful, and even merciless to the odd criminal who passed through the gates.

But apparently, it was the opposite. He was stern-looking, but just as he sat on that ebony throne and spoke to every soul.

Not exactly the way Persephone grew up hearing.

"He... doesn't seem tyrannical like my mother always said," Persephone observed.

Electra chuckled. "As I told you, His Majesty is not as terrible as he appears. It's just that the mortals above paint him to be a terrifying and cruel leader. But he's not."

Persephone couldn't help but nod and continue to watch.

All she saw was a wise god carrying out his duties responsibly and faithfully, adhering to the fair rules of his kingdom. Seeing him in this light gave him a slight boost in her respect.

***

That night, Persephone couldn't sleep. She tossed and turned in her bed, even harshly pressing the pillow against her face, but to no avail. The sky outside was dark; it must have been midnight.