chapter 62
Loves and hates are like two sides of a coin—inseparable, yet never meeting. Tossing the coin is ordinary, and no one knows when love might turn to hate.
Initially, Persephone hated Hades. Their relationship began not with romance but more like a fairy tale of a princess and a bandit. The bandit kidnapped the princess to make her his wife. But unlike those tales, there was no prince strong enough to rescue Persephone. Thus, the innocent Persephone was forcibly married to Hades, filling her with deep-seated hate.
But now...
"Dear, you must smile, a smile that warms the heart," Persephone said, lifting the corners of Hades' mouth with her fingers. She was undoubtedly happy now.
The Underworld, once a place of lonely despair, where no flowers bloomed and Persephone shrank into corners, wanting to escape, had changed. She had grown accustomed to the Underworld, to walks by the Styx, to quarrels with the fierce Cerberus, and to Hades' clumsy affections.
"A ruler of the Underworld can't warm anyone's heart," Hades said aloofly, maintaining the smile Persephone helped him form.
"You two really get along," Cyd said, smiling, filled with admiration.
"We are the model couple," Persephone said proudly, wrapping her arm around Hades' shoulder. It was hard to believe she had once vowed to commit suicide if Hades ever touched her.
Hades blushed slightly, the redness in his face barely noticeable.
The Greek gods were notorious for their problematic relationships. Aphrodite, the goddess of love, and Ares, the god of war, were infamous for their affair behind Hephaestus' back, though they eventually got caught. Cyd was curious how Hephaestus coped.
"Right, your mother, Demeter, asked me to tell you something," Cyd said, glancing at Hades before speaking cautiously. "Should I say it now?"
"I should..." Hades started to leave but was stopped by Persephone.
"Dear, stay," Persephone said, slightly annoyed. "Because you hesitated, I can only stay in the Underworld for three months."
Cyd blinked. Wasn't Persephone supposed to hate the Underworld, according to Demeter? Their love seemed different from what he had been told.
"If Demeter heard this, she'd cry," Cyd thought.
"Fine," Hades sighed, seeing Persephone's determined look.
"What could Mother say besides those few things?" Persephone said indifferently, like a rebellious teenager fed up with her family's nagging.
"Perhaps there's a little more to it," Cyd said, his expression odd. He had been shocked when he first heard it but understood the sentiment.
"Talking, looking, breathing with you...what else could there be?" Persephone sighed.
Hades' expression turned solemn. Demeter's love must be immense for her to say such words.
Cyd sighed softly. "Sorry."
Persephone was stunned, her smile stiffening.
Hades looked away silently, as if anticipating this.
"Sorry I wasn't there when you needed me most. Sorry I couldn't save you. Sorry I was just a useless mother," Cyd said, channeling Demeter's feelings.
The white jade bracelet on Cyd's wrist, a gift from Demeter, glowed gently. Persephone's eyes widened, seeing her mother's form in the light, sobbing for her.
"I'm sorry...I shouldn't..." Persephone covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face.
"This is..." Cyd retrieved a seed from his pouch and tossed it into the air. "A gift of friendship."
The gentle light illuminated the palace, and the seed sprouted, roots intertwining, turning the gloomy palace into a garden.
Flowers bloomed...
Persephone stood in awe, the petals falling gently like her mother's hands.
In the flowering shrubs, she felt her mother's watchful presence, even in the Underworld.
Persephone stood and danced among the flowers as she did in the human world.
Hades watched, mesmerized. She was as beautiful as the first time he saw her, a moment that made him abandon his responsibilities.
Now, as she reached out to him, Hades thought staying in the Underworld was not so bad. Here was someone willing to reach out to him.
"We should leave," Cyd said, chuckling as he held Medusa.
"Blessing?" Medusa tilted her head.
"Now's not the time," Cyd replied, looking at Hades and Persephone. "Let's not disturb their happiness."
"But we're in the Underworld," Medusa said, tapping Cyd's head.
"No, this is their home," Cyd said, leading Medusa into the dark corridor.
Disturbing them now would be insensitive. With Hades' tender look, there would be no blessing today.
"I'm always worrying about others," Cyd said, putting a hand on the palace door.
"A person who likes to worry," Hades' voice echoed from the palace depths.
The palace door creaked open, and the bright sunlight made Cyd squint.
Sunlight?
"May you and I never meet again," Hades sighed, pushing Cyd gently.
"Leaving already?" Cerberus, laying at the Underworld entrance, asked before burying his head again.
"It seems your business here is never-ending," the boatman said, shivering and bowing humbly.
"Farewell," came Hades' blessing.
Cyd looked at the black crystal on his white jade bracelet.
The one named Cyd would have no connection to death.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone