CHAPTER 139: TRASH BAG

Pulling off his clothes, Azazel stepped into the large tub filled with cold water. He leaned his head back, letting the chill wash over him, his hands resting on either side of the tub. Part of his upper body remained above the surface while his hair soaked beneath the water.

"Your Majesty, a visitor will be arriving soon," the moggly announced, shifting nervously beneath the couch. A small table stood in front of it, bearing a plate of half-eaten meat and a knife.

Azazel’s lips curled into a smile. "It’s been a while. I could use a few minutes of entertainment."

Just then, the door burst open. Heavy footsteps echoed through the room as Hades stormed toward the bath.

"Where the fuck is she?" Hades growled, his voice cold, his eyes burning with rage.

"You’ll have to be more specific, Hades," Azazel replied calmly, eyes still closed.

"I’m not in the mood for your games. Where the fuck is Lilith?"

Azazel opened his eyes and met his gaze. "How should I know where she is? I think you’re asking the wrong person."

"I’m not," Hades snapped. "You must know where she is."

"I don’t know where your little witch has gone," Azazel said with a shrug. "You’ve made quite a few enemies lately. You should be questioning them, not me. I have nothing to gain from taking her."

Hades’ eyes scanned the room until they landed on the couch. He marched over, crouched down, and reached beneath it. A squealing moggly tried to escape his grasp, but Hades yanked it out and slammed it against the wall, gripping it by the neck.

"If your master won’t talk, you will. Where the fuck is Lilith?"

The moggly squirmed, claws digging into Hades’ hand, but Hades didn’t flinch.

"I swear, I don’t know!" the moggly cried. "I haven’t seen her in days! I haven’t left this room in weeks. Please, you have to believe me!"

"You better not be lying."

"I...i would never dare lie to you, Your Highness!" it stammered.

Hades released the creature. It hit the ground with a thud and bolted back under the couch.

"You’ve grown bold, Hades," Azazel said, now out of the tub with a robe loosely wrapped around him. Water dripped from his body as he walked around the room. "Threatening my servant in my presence... I’m almost proud of your audacity."

"I truly hope you had nothing to do with her disappearance. Or else..."

"Or else what, Hades?" Azazel asked, brow arched, a smirk playing on his lips as he stepped in front of the prince. "What are you going to do?"

"Or else I’ll rip the skin off your face and force it down your moggly’s throat," Hades said through gritted teeth, eyes blazing.

Azazel’s smirk deepened. "You are—"

Before he could finish, Hades snatched the knife from the table and hurled it at him. The blade grazed Azazel’s left cheek, embedding itself in the wall behind him. A moment of deafening silence followed. Azazel touched the cut, watching as a drop of blood trickled down before the wound sealed itself instantly.

"I don’t make empty threats, Your Majesty," Hades said mockingly, circling Azazel before striding out of the room. His footsteps echoed as he left.

Azazel’s smirk faded into a full smile. "How interesting," he murmured, strolling over to the couch and sinking into it. He swung his legs over the table with a sigh.

~~~

A total of fifteen servants and guards stood in a line in the courtyard, their heads bowed low as they waited for Lucian and Viktor to arrive which they did shortly after. Viktor took charge of the questioning, while Lucian stood behind him, silently observing the entire interrogation and watching closely for inconsistencies or tells among them.

Some of the servants appeared nervous, stumbling over their words, while others spoke confidently. Most had only seen Lilith briefly, passing by in the halls, and the rest hadn’t seen her at all that day. The maids who had been in the laundry room with Lilith were the last to be questioned. They responded clearly and without hesitation.

However, Lucian’s attention was drawn to one particular maid. There was a coldness in her eyes that set her apart from the rest. Unlike the others, she lacked the natural softness and warmth typical of the palace maids. Even when she smiled, it didn’t reach her eyes.

Lucian stepped forward. "Hanna, how long have you been working as a maid?" he asked, his gaze fixed on her.

"A few years, my lord," she answered calmly. "I replaced my sister after she got married and moved away."

"You mentioned that you saw Lilith doing laundry and also saw her retrieving her clothes from the drying line?"

"Yes, my lord. I did," she replied evenly.

"Did you see her come back into the castle?"

"No, my lord. I had already gone to my room by then."

Lucian studied her for a moment before nodding. "Very well."

Soon after, the guards and servants were dismissed, leaving Lucian and Viktor alone in the courtyard.

"I don’t think they know anything about Lilith," Viktor said with a frustrated sigh.

"Let’s wait and see," Lucian replied. "I’ve asked a few people to keep a close eye on them. One of them is bound to slip up soon, I can feel it."

With that, the two men turned and made their way back toward the prince’s chambers.

~~~

Fiona sat in the kitchen, sulking, it was her turn to take out the trash, and she dreaded it. With a sigh, she climbed down from the chair and stretched her limbs. Just then, someone entered the kitchen and casually tossed a black plastic bag into the dustbin.

Fiona and Hanna exchanged brief smiles as the latter walked out. Though they lived in the same quarters, they weren’t exactly friends nor were they enemies. Just... indifferent acquaintances.

Fiona tied up the garbage bag and began dragging it out through the back door. It was too heavy to lift, so she hauled it along the ground with effort. When she finally managed to hoist it into the burning chamber, the bag tore, spilling some of its contents onto the floor.

Fiona nearly screamed in frustration. She let out a loud sigh and knelt to gather the scattered trash. As she picked up the black plastic bag Hanna had dropped earlier, something unusual caught her eye, a piece of fabric sticking out of it.

Curious, Fiona tore it open. Her hands flew to her mouth as she gasped, staring at a blood-stained scarf and some ripped papers. She stumbled backward, her eyes wide with shock as recognition set in, the scarf belonged to none other than Lilith.

"No..." she whispered in disbelief. Heart pounding, she turned and sprinted back into the building.

A few minutes later, she returned, dragging Thalia with her. Thalia’s eyes widened the moment she saw the bloodied scarf, her face paling with shock.