The prince had dismissed her after breakfast, and Lilith couldn't have been happier to leave the presence of that disgusting man. She had her breakfast in the kitchen before taking a stroll toward the servants' quarters, hoping to see Leonidas again.
The gods were on her side because as soon as she stepped into the quarters, she almost ran into him. They both burst into laughter when they realized it was each other.
Leonidas pleaded with her to wait for him at the back of the quarters while he freshened up. He explained that he had been busy all morning and hadn't had time to do so.
Lilith made her way to the designated spot and sat on a wooden bench, admiring the trees as she waited. A few minutes later, Leonidas joined her, dressed in black trousers and a grey shirt, his hair still damp from the bath.
"Forgive the wetness of my hair," he said with a shy smile, rubbing his hands against the fabric of his trousers. "I couldn't dry it properly because I didn't want to keep you waiting too long."
"You were that eager to meet me?" Lilith asked, raising an eyebrow.
He chuckled. "Of course I was. I haven't stopped thinking about you, Lilith. And I can hardly believe that we're finally here together, just like I have always dreamed."
Leonidas took her hand in his, stroking her skin gently with his thumb. "I know I haven't said this before, but I like you. I like you a lot. And I hope we can take our relationship a step forward. Once we leave this place, I want to officially court you, Lilith. Will you let me?"
Lilith pressed her lips into a thin line, her gaze shifting away from him. She swallowed hard. "I… I can't answer you now. I need to think about it."
Leonidas frowned. "Why? Do you not feel the same way about me? Is there someone else? Are you in love with another man?"
"No—no, I'm not," she rushed to reassure him. "There's no one else, Leon. It's just… I want to take my time and truly understand what I want. For the first time in my life, I have the chance to taste freedom, and I want to enjoy it as much as possible before thinking about a partner or starting a family."
She turned to look him in the eyes, her voice soft but firm. "I—I hope you understand."
Sadness flashed across his face, dimming his usual brightness. "I understand, Lilith." He forced a smile, though it didn't reach his eyes. "You should know that I'll wait for you as long as you need me to."
But beneath the sadness, a flicker of something else lay hidden, something darker. Suppressed anger.
Lilith couldn't tell if Leonidas was angry because she had rejected his proposal or because he felt guilty for not helping her with her family. Either way, she returned his smile.
"We will leave tomorrow evening. I heard there will be a festival in town, and the prince will be attending. While he's away and everyone else is enjoying the festivities, we will sneak out and make our escape," he explained.
Lilith hesitated. "What if the prince asks me to accompany him to the festival? What happens then?"
"You must come up with something to keep you in the palace, perhaps a sudden illness or something like that," he suggested.
Lilith looked down at their intertwined fingers, doubt creeping into her mind. Lying to the prince was a dangerous game, and if he discovered what she was planning, the consequences would be far worse.
Leonidas cupped her cheek, tilting her face so she would look at him. "Please, Lilith, you have to do this for us. Tomorrow night is our only chance to escape, and we must take this opportunity."
She forced a small smile and nodded in agreement.
Leonidas leaned closer, pressing a lingering kiss to her cheek, just inches from her lips. His touch lingered longer than expected before he pulled away.
"Thank you. This is going to work, I promise," he said, his voice filled with determination. Then, as if catching himself, he stepped back, putting some distance between them. "It was lovely seeing you, Lilith. I will see you tomorrow evening."
"I will see you tomorrow evening," she echoed, watching as he strode away.
Letting out a breath, she turned and made her way back to the castle. But just as she stepped through the entrance, she had to abruptly step back as someone nearly bumped into her.
"Forgive me. Forgive me. Forgive me," Lord Keiser muttered repeatedly, bowing over and over as he stumbled away haggardly. Sweat covered his forehead and neck, and he looked heavily disoriented.
Lilith frowned. What could have happened to him? And where was his cousin? She wondered but decided not to dwell on it. Shaking off her curiosity, she continued her journey to her chambers.
~~~
Hades led the men to the spot he had promised to show them. "How do you find it? Beautiful, right?" he asked, turning to the two lords.
Keiser and Dain, however, did not look particularly pleased to be standing in the open space atop the tallest part of the castle. The strong wind whipped around them, forcing them to hold onto their hats to keep them from flying off.
"It is beautiful, Your Highness," Keiser said. The view of the land was breathtaking, something he might have enjoyed more if he weren't terrified of heights.
Hades shifted his attention to Dain. "What do you think about it?"
Dain, who appeared even more frightened than his cousin, swallowed hard. "It... it is beautiful, Your Highness," he stammered, attempting a weak smile.
Hades tilted his head. "Can you fly?"
Dain's brows furrowed in confusion. "W... what—?"
Before he could finish, Hades grabbed him by the collar and, with one swift motion, spun him around until he was dangling over the edge of the building. Dain let out a strangled gasp, his eyes wide with terror as he clung desperately to the prince's hand, gripping it for dear life.
Hades remained unfazed, adjusting the fabric of Dain's collar with his free hand. "Tell me, Dain," he said coolly. "How many times must you be warned to stop touching things that don't belong to you?" His voice was calm, but the deadly edge in it was unmistakable. "That woman you touched in that dining room belongs to me and me only. And yet, you put your filthy hands on her." His lips curled into a smirk. "I didn't like that."
"Please… please, Your Highness. I will never touch her again. I swear it! I'll cut off the hand I touched her with—just have mercy on me!" Dain pleaded, tears streaming down his face as he dangled over the edge.
Hades let out a sharp, cruel laugh. "Mercy? You mock me, Dain. I am the son of the devil, and you think I show mercy? How delusional." His fingers tightened in Dain's collar. "Tell me, Dain, how many women have you taken advantage of?"
"Please… please, forgi—"
"How. Many. Dain?" Hades' voice turned ice-cold, his eyes burning into the terrified lord. "If you make me ask again, I'll rip your fucking eyes out."
Dain swallowed hard. It was clear that the prince wasn't bluffing. If he had any hope of surviving, it was in his best interest to comply. "Fif… fifteen, Your Highness," he whispered, barely able to get the words out.
Hades' gaze slid to Keiser, who looked as pale as a ghost. The man was trembling, on his knees, gripping them tightly as if trying to keep himself from collapsing. "Were you aware of all fifteen?"
Keiser shook his head frantically. "No… no, I was only aware of five of them," he admitted, his voice cracking.
Hades hummed in thought, as if weighing the situation, his eyes moved back to Dain. "Hmm, you have been a very bad boy, Dain." He clicked his tongue. "And bad boys need to punished." His lips curled into a slow, wicked smile. "Have a nice trip to hell."
"Please—!" Dain's final plea was cut off by his own scream as Hades released his grip. The lord plummeted, his voice echoing through the air before being silenced by the inevitable impact below.
Hades scrunched his nose in mild disgust, peering over the edge. "Well, I guess he can't fly after all," he remarked, his tone laced with mock disappointment.
He turned to Keiser, whose body was drenched in sweat, tears streaking down his face. "Run along, Keiser."
The lord didn't hesitate. He bolted without looking back, his legs nearly giving out beneath him as he stumbled away in terror.