Ever since Hades had given me a fragment of his soul, something had changed.
I could feel his emotions and his warmth. Not only that, but his memories also drifted into my mind like lost pages of a book.
This book's pages turned one by one and described: his struggles to reach this throne; his own family calling him a monster; how, even though they cursed his name, he still protected them in the shadows; and the nightmare… the one where he destroyed everything by his own hand.
And when he cut his soul just to save me…
It tightened my chest.
He didn't do it for power.
He didn't do it for pride.
He gave up everything: his strength, his rule, his life, just for me.
For the first time in my long, lonely life…
…Someone had risked everything… even his own life for me.
——————Hades' Point of View———————
We rested in silence for a week, hidden in a quiet cave carved by the mountain winds.
When I finally opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was her—no longer trembling, no longer lost. Completely fine.
She noticed I was awake and rushed to my side, arms crossed, her expression… complicated.
"Why," she asked sharply, "did you do something so reckless?! Do you not care about yourself at all? Why did you risk your life, just for me?! I'm just a caretaker! I was meant to leave once you took the throne!"
I stared at her a moment… and smiled gently.
"Because… I see you as my closest and most precious one. The one I trust more than anyone."
She froze, and her eyes went wide.
Then she muttered under her breath, cheeks pink,
"Idiot."
I blinked.
And laughed loud and warm, breaking the heavy silence of the cave.
Hecate's hands trembled slightly as she looked at me. "Do you remember… once you said you were the solution to my problem?"
I nodded silently.
"Then tell me," she continued, "what problem were you talking about… and what is the solution?"
I took a deep breath. "I'll answer that, but first, you need to tell me the truth. Why are you so afraid of trusting others? Why do you carry this loneliness like a curse?"
Hecate lowered her head. Her hands clenched tightly. For a moment, she said nothing. Then, in a voice roughened by years of silence, she began:
"I am Hecate… daughter of Perses and Astraeus. I was born in the grand temple of the sky realm. But to my parents, I never existed."
"They ignored me. Left me to grow alone. Even the servants feared me because of my three-headed form, because of my unique arcane divinity. I was the first to ever hold that power."
She looked up, eyes distant with memory. "As I grew stronger—strong enough to rival even the cardinal titans—I wanted recognition. I wanted them to see me. If not love, then at least fear. So I made a deal with Cronus."
Her voice twisted bitterly.
"He said he'd give me a cardinal titan's seat if I helped him slay the monster haunting the sky realm. We fought together. We won. But instead of fulfilling his promise, he tricked me and gave me the cursed Gate Key of Tartarus. That key trapped me in the underworld as gatekeeper of Tartarus and caretaker of the realm."
She scoffed, then continued.
"I was foolish and trusted Cronus. But when he broke my hope and trust, in rage I attacked him. And that's when I earned the title of 'witch of the crossroad,' 'invisible in magic spell and range battle'… 'one who is exiled to the underworld.'"
Her gaze turned back to me, quietly intense. "I made my name in the world… but in a negative light."
I cleared my throat. "First of all… yes, Cronus betrayed you. He broke your trust. But that doesn't mean everyone will. For example, me—I will never break your trust."
Hecate narrowed her eyes. "Sometimes, Hades… when you say such foolish things with that serious face, I really feel like punching you."
I clicked my tongue and mumbled, "Okay, maybe it sounds foolish. But I'm not joking. I won't break your trust."
"Hades…"
"Your real problem isn't just betrayal. It's that you believe you're alone and misunderstand that your parents never cared."
She blinked. "What… do you mean?"
"Your parents were distant. But not absent. The truth is, they were too busy handling the collapsing sky realm after Uranus's fall and the monster's rampage. They protected you in secret or indirectly. Even when you were exiled to the underworld, they personally came to Lady Nyx and Lord Erebus, the very beings the universe fears to speak to, and your parents begged them to protect you."
Hecate's expression froze.
"Just think about it: despite holding the Tartarus Key, no demons or dukes ever attacked you. That's because the Primordials made it known that Hecate was under their protection."
Such truth was quite overwhelming for her, as she had believed otherwise for many centuries. Her mind did not accept it, but deep down she wanted it to be true.
"No… That's impossible… You're lying."
I silently summoned my Secret Divinity. With a wave of my hand, shimmering scenes played before her eyes: her parents watching her from afar, protecting her from the shadows, pleading with the Primordials to grant her sanctuary.
Hecate's knees gave out. Her eyes turned red.
"Don't hold it in," I whispered, kneeling beside her. "Cry. If you don't let it out now, you'll never be able to face them again. You'll carry the guilt forever."
She collapsed into my arms and sobbed, clutching me like a child who had finally come home. I gently patted her head, letting her grief pour out. Hours passed before her tears slowed.
"…Thank you, Hades," she whispered.
I gave a soft smile. "Well… now we have a new problem."
"What… problem?" She tilted her face.
I wiped sweat from my forehead. "…We're now bound by a soul bond."
"So?"
"So… we're connected by soul, divinity, emotions, fate…"
"…Okay. Then?"
I looked her dead in the eyes. "My foolish witch… we're married."
She blinked, still not registering it. "Okay. Married. That's al— wait, wait… WHAT?!"
"Yes," I said, scratching the back of my head. "We accidentally performed the Forbidden Cosmic Marriage ritual, one of the most sacred and forbidden rites in the universe. Almost no one dares to attempt it because of its harsh conditions. But we… somehow… did it."
Hecate's face turned bright red. Her mind went blank.
"I'm sorry, I should have asked before involving you in something like this. I'll try to find a way to undo it."
"No!"
Her sudden outburst startled me. Even she looked surprised by what she had just said.
She paused. Slowly, realisation crept over her face. Why did she say that?
---
She knew deep down… she didn't want to break the bond. Because she loved him, though she wouldn't admit it out loud.
"You don't have to apologise, and don't ever try to break this bond again. It's fate that ties us through such a sacred ritual. And besides… breaking it would bring terrible consequences."
"But… are you really okay with having me as your husband?"
She turned her face slightly, trying to stay composed.
"…I suppose. You fulfil my basic requirements."
She didn't say she loved him. She didn't need to. Not yet.
For now, she blamed fate. And took her time, to learn, to trust, and to love.
---
After a brief rest, Hades and Hecate returned to the grand throne room of the underworld. Shadows shifted and bowed in silent reverence as the dark monarch reclaimed his seat of power.
Hades settled onto his throne, the obsidian and bone creaking faintly beneath him.
But then, unexpectedly, Hecate knelt before him.
Head bowed. Voice steady. "I, Hecate, daughter of Perses and Astraeus, swear my loyalty to you, Hades, Lord of the Underworld."
Hades blinked. "What are you doing?"
She remained silent, her posture formal and unwavering.
He waved a hand lazily. "You don't have to do this. You're basically… my wife. Which also makes you queen of the underworld."
He instantly regretted those words.
Hecate's eyes lit up with a wicked gleam.
"Aha~, you're right, but don't you think we should hold a proper event?"
"…Event?"
"Our wedding ceremony. And…" she leaned in closer with a seductive smile, licking her own lips, "the wedding night."
"…Ceremony… night…" Hades repeated dumbly, already spiraling into a daydream.
In his mind:
They stood in a vast hall draped in black silk and glowing soul-lanterns. They exchanged rings beneath a moonless sky. Then a …kiss. Later, in the quiet of their chambers, he lifted Hecate in a princess carry, taking her toward the bed. Then…
He blushed hard.
A faint, dreamy smile crept onto his lips.
That's when Hecate leaned close to his ear and whispered with a smirk, "Pervert."
"Ahem!" Hades nearly choked on his own breath, snapping back to reality. "N-No! I was just… thinking about strategic matters."
She gave him a look.
"To be specific! With Noctandrath gone, the other demon lords sense the shift. Two dukes are down. That news will spread soon."
Hecate said nothing, but the smile on her lips deepened.
She was enjoying this, teasing him, watching him squirm.
Hades cleared his throat again and stood up. "Anyway! I should go. I'll… I'll be at the training ground."
Without waiting for her reply, he strode out of the throne room, a little annoyed but liking her new side and cheerful attitude more.
He chuckled softly to himself.