"Very well, Your Highness." Lilith gave another small bow before turning swiftly on her heel, eager to put distance between them.
She made her way down the stairs, her mind racing.
Fetching the water proved to be no easy task. The golden tub in his chamber was massive, and it took two full rounds of hauling steaming buckets before it was adequately filled. The heat of the water clashed against the cold dread in her veins as she worked, her fingers trembling slightly.
Once she was satisfied with the temperature, she wiped her damp hands on her dress and hesitated for only a moment before returning to his bedroom.
She stepped cautiously into his room, keeping her eyes lowered. "Your bath is ready, Your Highness."
Hades set down his glass with a soft clink, pushing himself up from his seat with slow, deliberate movements. As he approached, the air between them grew tense, charged with something she couldn't quite name.
Lilith forced herself to remain still, to not shrink under his gaze. But deep down, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was being drawn deeper into something she couldn't escape.
Hades strolled over to the tub, dipping a hand into the water before pulling it back with a look of mock horror. "Hot water? Are you trying to boil me alive, witch? I can't bathe in this. I prefer cold water," he drawled, his voice laced with amusement.
Lilith's brows knitted together, her jaw clenching slightly. He had watched her fetch the water without uttering a single word, yet now he acted as though she had committed some grievous crime. Suppressing her frustration, she forced a pleasant smile onto her lips. "Very well, Your Highness. I will prepare a cold bath."
Without another word, she turned on her heel and made her way back downstairs. By the time she had refilled the tub with cold water, sweat clung to her skin from the endless trips up and down the stairs. Taking a steadying breath, she straightened and addressed him again. "Your bath is ready, Your Highness."
Hades repeated the same action, dipping his fingers into the water before withdrawing them, this time shaking his head in exaggerated dismay. "I said cold, not freezing. Are you trying to turn me into ice, huh? Make it warm, so I do not freeze."
Lilith stared at him, utterly dumbfounded. A thousand retorts burned on her tongue, a million ways to express her disbelief at his absurd requests, but she knew better than to let a single one escape.
"Go along now, make haste," he added, waving her off with a smirk.
Lilith exhaled sharply through her nose, gripping the bucket handle so tightly her knuckles turned white. A scream clawed at her throat, begging to be released, but she swallowed it down, forcing another tight-lipped smile instead.
"Very well," she murmured, her voice strained with forced politeness. Turning briskly, she strode out of the room, silently contemplating how much trouble she would be in if she just accidentally tipped the next bucket of water over his smug head.
Hades watched her closely, his fingers idly twirling the glass cup before he brought it to his lips, taking a slow sip. The corner of his mouth lifted in amusement, his dark eyes gleaming with interest. If he hadn't been intrigued by her before, he certainly was now.
Lilith returned with two more buckets of water, pouring them into the tub without sparing him a glance. Her movements were quick and efficient, though the slight tremble in her grip betrayed her exhaustion. Still, she said nothing, merely wiped the sweat from her brow with the back of her sleeve before turning to face him.
"I am done, Your Highness," she ground out, her teeth clenched as though forcing the words through sheer willpower.
Hades sauntered over to the tub, dipping his fingers into the water once more before nodding in approval. "Better. That will be all," he said smoothly. "You should tidy up the bedroom while I have my bath." His fingers moved to the laces of his robe, untying them with deliberate ease.
Lilith stiffened. Without hesitation, she turned sharply on her heel and rushed out of the bathing chamber. She had no intention of lingering to witness whatever came next, especially not while she was on the verge of ripping his insufferable head off his shoulders.
Hades chuckled softly, shaking his head before shrugging off his robe and stepping into the bath. The warmth enveloped him, easing into his muscles as he leaned his head back against the edge of the tub. Truth be told, he didn't care whether the water was hot, cold, or warm, it made no difference to him. He had simply wanted to test her patience, and she had entertained him far more than he had expected.
Meanwhile, in the bedroom, Lilith busied herself with changing the beddings and neatly folding the prince's clothes into the dresser. She moved on to the table, gathering scattered papers and aligning them into neat stacks. As she picked up a book, a loose piece of parchment slipped from its pages, fluttering to the ground.
She crouched down to retrieve it, flipping it over, and froze. It was a painting. A delicate and striking portrait of a woman who bore an uncanny resemblance to the prince. But what stood out the most were her eyes, golden and piercing, as if they could see into one's very soul.
Lilith's breath hitched.
Before she could linger on the image, the sound of approaching footsteps jolted her back to the present. Quickly, she tucked the painting back into the book and slid it onto the shelf, her hands steady despite the sudden rush of unease creeping through her.