Chapter 168: Unexpected
"Agh..." Peri groaned as she turned her head, almost making Luna drop the cooling pad on her face.
"Don’t move," the silver-haired girl said firmly, gently placing the cloth on Peri’s hot forehead. "How does it feel now?"
Most of Peri’s wounds had already healed, leaving behind only faint marks, but the fever was still clinging to her.
She had returned last night, all wounded and being carried by Ava. The battle against Gerald went fiercer then Luna anticipated.
Being the training partner of the elf, Luna thought Peri would be able to take down Gerald easily.
But then she saw her injuries and Luna was reminded that she was no longer in the human realm where the biggest threat remained Elder-ranked dragons.
"It feels so stuffy," the elf complained. "If I could just get rid of this nose, everything would be fine."
You appreciate small things when they are not available. For example, her nose at the moment.
Luna giggled. "You really say the weirdest things. Anyway, rest for now—I’ll go get you some hot soup."
Peri only grunted, too tired to answer.
As Luna stepped out of the room, she came face-to-face with a familiar woman dressed in an unfamiliar uniform.
Her violet hair was tied in a high bun as the woman stood there without her usual pride and her eyes holding nothing but warmth.
"Here’s more cold water," Averis said, handing her the pot.
Averis was still around. Even though she had recovered, she had refused to leave with her grandfather—despite the old man’s constant urging. In fact, she had even blackmailed him into convincing Kaelith to let her work here... as a maid.
A princess who knew nothing about housework worked as a servant.
Luna wonders why...not. She very well knew her intentions.
"Hades is returning today," Averis nodded, her eyes brightening, but then Luna added, "Approach him and I will use my authority to remove you from this castle."
Averis narrowed her eyes, "But isn’t a maid’s duty to serve the Lord? I am merely doing my duty."
This was her way to grow closer to her Lord. No, not close yet but at least gain his forgiveness for what she has committed.
She wanted to send her attendant back with her grandpa but that woman refused to leave; resulting in the addition of two new servants to the castle.
"I don’t trust you, so keep yourself as far away from him as you can." Saying so, Luna stepped past the woman and headed toward the kitchen.
She didn’t hold any grudge against the woman, but she also didn’t want Hades’s mood ruined by seeing Averis here.
Heading to the kitchen, Luna found several maids already at work, preparing a feast.
"Quite the preparations..." she remarked, drawing the attention of a nearby maid.
The maid smiled warmly. "Lady Supreme told us to make everything the young Lord enjoys."
The whole castle seemed to have gotten colored in the shade of festivity. The young lord was returning after all.
The matriarch was as happy as Hades’s two mates and she wanted to do everything to welcome her son to his success.
Luna chuckled. "If there’s meat in the dishes, he’ll definitely like them."
She stepped forward, scooped some soup into a bowl, and carried it back to the room where Peri was chatting with Hades.
"Yes... I will. Mm-hmm," Peri was saying with a smile, her earlier grogginess completely gone.
When Luna stepped outside, the girl could barely open her eyes but now, she was fully awake, smiling and blushing.
Luna couldn’t help but mutter, "I bet you’re just pretending to be sick so he’ll spoil you."
Peri pouted. "How rude. I really am sick, you know." She crossed her arms and looked away.
Luna gave a helpless smile, sitting on the bed beside her. "Alright then. Have this soup and get better soon, so you can welcome him with me."
Peri nodded and pushed herself up against the headboard.
As Luna scooped a spoonful of soup, Peri’s voice dropped. "Hey... I was wondering something."
Luna’s brows lifted at the tone, but she didn’t interrupt.
Peri’s eyes lowered. "Have I been coming between you two lately?"
The question startled Luna. "Why would you say that?" She held the spoon to Peri’s lips.
Peri drank the soup before answering. "Well... Hades has been talking mostly to me these past two days. I thought... maybe you were upset about it."
Luna and Hades’s relationship goes back in time. They have always been close, and Peri suddenly appeared in their lives, pushing Hades to share his attention to her as well.
And recently, Peri was getting mostly all of his attention because of what happened with Gerald.
That’s why she has been feeling for some time now that maybe...she needs to reassess her boundaries.
Luna let out a soft sigh. "You’re a fool to think that bothers me." She fed her another spoonful and added gently, "Hades is worried about you. That’s why he’s been so focused on you. If it were me, he’d do the same."
Her voice softened even more. "We’re his wives, Peri. Some bickering is normal, but if we turn into rivals, always competing, the one who suffers most will be Hades."
Peri nodded slowly. She knew Luna was right. If rivalry grew between them, Hades would be forced into a corner where he could never be fair to either of them.
"Come on, now. Finish the soup and rest for the time being."
....
"Aren’t you a bit too excited?" Avalin asked in a flat tone, seeing the bundle of dresses her lady had on her bed.
Kaelith narrowed her eyes, "But my son is returning home after so long! Isn’t it justified for me to be excited?"
Avalin heaved a sigh, "Just one week, my lady. And why do you need to dress up? Isn’t it the young master’s wives job to take care of their appearance?"
Avalin crossed her arms on her bust, "You are so mean, Avy. Why can’t I dress beautifully for my son?"
Avalin stopped talking about that. Trying to bring rationality between the mother and her son was a futile venture.
Rather, she focused on something else, "I have gotten the report from the intercept point."
The casual demeanor of the redhead dropped as she hummed and urged Avalin to read the report.
Avaline unfolded the report and read it aloud,
[All forces were subdued at the intercept point. The Lord of White Flames was sent back due to lack of reinforcement. However, there are people who slipped past our hold and are advancing towards Aethernox. Please be wary.]
The report ended.
Kaelith heaved a sigh, "To drive away that guy...truly, they have done their work well."
Cravanvor might be the weakest Dragon King but he was quite stubborn and prideful like any other Dragon King.
And for him to back away, it indeed sounded a little...suspicious.
"Hey, have we located these troops who escaped Argon’s forces?" Kaelith asked with her brows elevated.
Avalin shook her head, "We just received the report about the runaway troops. However, I have sent people to search for them."
Kaelith hummed before moving toward her desk.
Looking at the map she noted that between the nearest town and the intercept town, there was a vast forest.
If those people are aiming to hide for the time being and wait for the flames of the battle to die, then they would be hiding in the forest.
Suddenly, something struck Kaelith, "Hey ...which route Hades has taken to return home?"
Avalin froze, her eyes widening slightly.
Kaelith growled before she jumped out of the window, her form shifting mid-air as everyone saw a flaming red dragon flying over their heads and advancing towards the forest.
’Please be safe, my child.’
°°°°°°°
Hades was anything but safe at the moment.
He was currently facing three beings, and one of them just tore a part of his stomach.
Hades stood while facing the trio, holding the left side of his stomach.
His blood had completely soaked his shirt, face pale and sweat trailing down his forehead.
They ambushed him out of nowhere, and the one in the middle was fast enough for Hades to not even trace when he moved and injured him.
"You have chosen a very unfortunate time to wander around, boy." Said the man with cloud white hair and round green eyes.
A grin stretched his lips as he said, "If I knew I would find you out here, I wouldn’t have brought my troops to get sacrificed."
Hades frowned, his breathing still uneven as he asked, "You...you are Cravanvor."
The man laughed, "For others, yeah. But for you, I am death."
Hades gritted his teeth. Who could have thought that he would come across a Dragon King here, and like this.
’This is going to be difficult...’
°°°°°°°°°
A/N:- Thanks for reading. If you have been enjoying the story so far, drop a comment.