CHAPTER 121: WEEPING

Like a little koala, Luna clung tightly to Hades as they sat together in the dining hall.

He had only just stepped out of his room after a bath when Luna rushed to him, her arms wrapping around him before he could even react.

"Why didn’t you ask her to let you meet us?" Luna’s voice carried a soft complaint, her shoulders trembling slightly.

She had never expected being apart from him would leave her so restless. Maybe it was the bond they shared, maybe it was her growing feelings, but even a few days apart had felt as unbearable as the long years she had once spent without him. Each minute broke her, each moment stretched into a painful yearning.

Hades gently caressed her back, his voice calm and soothing. "I needed to sort things out...find myself, Luna. That’s why I had to leave."

Just then, another voice cut in.

"It was because of me, wasn’t it?" Peri stood nearby, shoulders slumped. "Because I got scared that night... that’s why you decided to leave without meeting us."

Hades reached out, taking her hand with quiet reassurance. "That wasn’t the only reason, Peri. Yes, it hurt knowing I frightened the people I swore to protect. But more than that... I was terrified of myself."

Peri’s eyes lifted hesitantly to his. "Do you... need to leave again?"

Luna flinched. Pulling away from Hades, she shook her head hurriedly. "You can’t."

Hades smiled warmly at her. "Luna, did you forget why I came here? We’re not on vacation, remember?"

Luna’s lips pressed into a pout. "Then I’m coming with you!"

"Nope. You can’t."

Before Luna could protest further, Peri gave a startled yelp and jumped back.

At the head of the table—where no one had been a moment ago—sat a red-haired woman, casually chewing on a piece of fruit.

Her sharp gaze fell on Luna. "You’re too weak. You’ll only slow us down."

Luna twisted around on Hades’s lap to face her, defiant. "I won’t. I’ve always been with him—you can ask Hades!"

Kaelith’s eyes narrowed, her tone growing darker. "He’s only going to climb higher from here on. I can’t allow his focus to be wasted on someone who’ll hold him back. You’d be nothing but a burden—"

"Mother."

Hades’s voice cut through, deep and heavy.

In a colder tone, he added, "My mates will never be a burden to me. If anything... they are my strength."

Peri’s cheeks flushed at his words, while Luna giggled, rubbing her face against his chest with childlike affection.

"Sniff... sniff..."

The three of them stiffened.

Kaelith—Dragon King, feared and revered—was weeping.

"M-Mother," Hades stammered, flustered.

Wiping at her eyes, she muttered in a choked voice, "Why would you take your mates’ side instead of mine? Because I abandoned you for so many years, right? Of course, your mother is nothing but a nuisance to you."

Peri blinked in disbelief. A Dragon King, crying like a wronged child? That was the last thing she had ever imagined seeing in her life.

Hades hurried to comfort her. "It’s not like that, Mother. I only meant that Peri and Luna are both strong warriors."

Before Kaelith could respond, another figure appeared at her side. A black-haired woman with eyes like polished blue orbs stood gracefully, her calm gaze resting on Hades.

"Please excuse my lady, young master," she said softly. "She only forbids your mates from leaving the castle because she does not wish to see them risk their lives. That is all." With practiced care, the maid handed Kaelith a folded tissue.

Only then did Luna finally realize the true reason behind the restrictions.

Hades sighed. He never thought of them as burdens—but he couldn’t deny the truth either. The forest where he trained was unpredictable, dangerous, nothing like the missions the others had faced.

It was then that Peri spoke up, her voice clear and determined. "Then we’ll train too... so that we can stand beside him."

Her words drew everyone’s attention.

Kaelith sniffled, dabbing at her eyes. "I... also intended for that. But my baby... sniff..."

Hades let out another long breath, then turned apologetically toward Luna.

The silver-haired girl puffed her cheeks and then sighed, slipping off his lap with a little stomp.

Hades rose to his feet and crossed the room, stopping in front of his mother. He reached out, gently resting his hand atop her head.

In a quiet, softened tone, he said, "Forgive me for speaking that way, Mother. I didn’t realize you were only trying to protect them."

Kaelith looked up, her usually sharp eyes appeared round and adorable.

"...more." she softly said.

Hades’s brows elevated before he saw her bowing her head and turning still.

He helplessly smiled and softly patted her head more.

The other three women pretended they never saw a grown woman enjoying the pats of her son and giggling in happiness right after.

After some time, Kaelith got up and said, "Avelin will handle their training." Her usual demeanor had returned as she spoke with a serious expression, "Avelin, you know what you need to do."

The maid gave a brief bow, "Leave it to me, my lady."

Luna then hurriedly asked, "U-Um...how long would it take for us to become strong enough to accompany him?"

The maid responded without a moment of thought, "I would need to assess you two first but based on what I have seen so far, at least a year."

"...!" Luna’s eyes widened. O-One year?!

Was she that weak?

Peri frowned, "Won’t Hades become even stronger by then?" Looking at Kaelith, Peri said, "Is this also your way to ’protect us’."

Kaelith grinned, "Look at you girlie, always looking away when talking to my baby, and now showing displeasure when I am keeping you away from him."

Peri’s face brightened with a healthy blush upon hearing those words. More so, when she looked at Hades and found him warmly smiling at her.

"Y-You are misunderstanding something here. I-I am just stating facts. That’s right!"

Kaelith shook her head, her expression turning a little serious as she said, "Mating marks would affect you two. As my baby grows stronger, you two would as well...however, for that, you two need to take the blood oath."

Hades frowned, "...won’t that hurt them?"

Kaelith hummed, "Well, it would if you weren’t close to them. Less resistance, less pain."

Turning her gaze towards the two girls, Kaelith asked, "You two love my son, right?"

Luna nodded hurriedly, suddenly feeling as if the lady had switched to her mother-in-law mode.

However, Peri didn’t respond.

Kaelith’s brows elevated but then she turned towards Hades and said, "I have some work to finish...so we will leave in four days." Resting her hand on his shoulder, she added, "By then, I hope you have made your decision."

Hades glanced at Peri and found her looking back at him.

...this is going to be difficult.

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A/N:- Thanks for reading.