𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐕𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐄 ➤ 𝒉𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒑𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆

xxii. a rivalry begins

Persephone couldn't be more elated than ever.

Indeed, it was better to confess your hidden feelings than to keep them hidden, especially to the king whom you have admired for over a month.

She was eagerly anticipating tomorrow's official announcement.

For the first time in her life, she felt free like a bird in the sky, free from Demeter's coddling.

She hummed contentedly as she prepared for bed, doing her best to keep her ecstasy at bay.

But then she heard a noise outside. Persephone initially dismissed it, believing that the servants were preparing something or conversing about important matters. Then there was a sudden frantic knock on her door.

Persephone, sensing the urgency, responded quickly, surprising herself a few seconds later.
Electra arrived first, followed by Charon and Thanatos, who brought an unconscious Hades into her chambers. Her eyes widened with worry.

"Oh my gods!" she exclaimed. "What happened?"

She led the group to her bed, where they carefully positioned the motionless king on the soft mattress. She dashed to his side, placing her trembling hands on his chest.

"Hades, wake up," she pleaded urgently, her voice full of concern. She tried shaking him awake but was unsuccessful. "Wake up, please."

"I knew it from the start." "We can not trust that vixen," she overheard Charon saying bitterly.

Persephone was not bothered because there would be time for questions later. She carefully supported Hades' neck with a few pillows before setting his head on them. Electra assisted in gently removing his shirt, and the housekeeper dabbed a wet cloth on his skin.

"By the love of Olympus, and I thought Minthe duping Lady Persephone into going to Tartarus was today's drama! That blasted nymph dared to do this to His Majesty!" Thanatos sputtered with equal rage.

Persephone turned around when she heard this. Thanatos squeaked, realizing his error.

"H-how did you know that Minthe led me — hold on, she's the reason Hades passed out?" Persephone spoke with disbelief.

Thanatos chuckled nervously, realizing what a terrible decision he had just made, as Charon slapped his face with his hand.

Persephone's gaze fell on Electra, who kept her arms crossed the entire time. Then, she suddenly caught her gaze. "What?" she asked.

"You know something," Persephone began.

Electra said nothing.

"Electra, out of all the servants, you're the one who can easily deduce a mystery and you're the one who knows him best. Please... tell me." She begged, her eyes drawn to the god whose mere presence made her heart skip a beat.

The housekeeper paused, then sighed. "Forgive me, my lady; I did not hear everything, but I saw enough to piece together what happened."

Electra recounted everything she had witnessed. As she headed to her rooms after a long day, she overheard a fierce argument between Hades and Minthe. The nymph compared him to his tyrannical father, Kronos. Unable to tolerate Minthe's abuse of the god she had spent so many years with and owed her life to, she rushed to defend him before further damage could occur.

Persephone found herself in complete disbelief at Electra's story. She couldn't believe that Minthe was capable of doing such horrid things.