CHAPTER 63: A NEW PLAN

When Lilith finished eating, she went back to sleep and woke up a few hours later feeling fully refreshed. Tired of remaining in bed and confined to her chambers, she decided it was time to step outside. The prince hadn’t come to see her perhaps he was busy or had gone out but either way, she needed some air.

She stood in front of the mirror, adjusting her hair to make sure she looked somewhat presentable, though she still appeared pale and a little unwell.

Opening the door, she stepped out into the hallway. Seeing no one in sight, she made her way downstairs and out through the main entrance only to run into Kathryn. Her mood instantly soured.

Kathryn smiled brightly and approached her. "Lilith! I was praying for your safety all night. Thank the gods you are back and unharmed." She wrapped her arms around Lilith in a brief embrace. Lilith stiffened at the contact, but Kathryn quickly pulled away, her smile still fixed in place.

Lilith blinked several times before managing a small smile in return. "Thank you very much," she said, unsure how to continue the awkward exchange. She still could not understand why Kathryn was suddenly being friendly.

She had only been missing since the previous day, how did Kathryn even know?

"How did you find out I was kidnapped?" she asked, narrowing her eyes at the woman in front of her.

Kathryn chuckled lightly. "Oh, I’m certain everyone in the palace knows by now. News travels fast around here."

Lilith nodded in acknowledgment. "Please excuse me, I am heading to the kitchen."

"Of course, no problem at all. I’m on my way to see a friend who just returned from a long journey," Kathryn replied, adjusting the shawl over her shoulders.

"Very well then. Goodbye." Lilith offered a polite bow before walking away, her brows furrowed in confusion over why Kathryn had felt the need to share that detail.

Meanwhile, Kathryn watched Lilith disappear into the distance before turning in the opposite direction. A carriage was parked nearby. As she approached, its door swung open, revealing a man with bright hazel eyes, short curly brown hair, and a cigar pipe resting at the corner of his lips.

Kathryn climbed into the carriage and closed the door behind her.

Meanwhile, Lilith walked around the castle to the area where the laundry was done. A few girls who were washing clothes paused when they saw her, their eyes widening in surprise. Noticing their stares, Lilith offered them a warm smile, one they quickly returned.

She moved on, heading toward the kitchen, and pushed the door open. Six pairs of eyes turned to her in shock, as if they couldn’t believe she was actually standing there.

Suddenly, arms wrapped tightly around her neck, Fiona had rushed over and pulled her into a hug. "Oh, I’m so happy to see you. I could hardly sleep last night thinking about what happened to you."

Lilith hugged her back gently. "I’m fine. Everything’s fine. I’m unharmed," she assured her.

Fiona finally pulled away, wiping tears from her eyes. "I’m so happy to hear that. What happened? You disappeared before I even got back."

"Let the girl breathe, Fiona. She just returned," Thalia said as she stepped forward and gave Lilith a brief but heartfelt hug.

One of the other maids and the cook followed, each embracing her and expressing their relief that she was alive and back at the palace safely. The last person to hug her was the gardener, Eldric. His hug lingered a little longer than the others, and when he finally pulled back, he told her how truly relieved he was to see her well.

Lilith was overwhelmed with emotion. She could feel how much these people cared. Coming from a place where no one ever bothered to notice her, it felt incredibly heartwarming to receive this kind of affection from people she had only known for three months.

She smiled as she sat between them, enjoying their lively conversation and the playful bickering among them. The ball was scheduled for the following evening, and they were all excited about it, unable to stop talking about the upcoming event.

~~~

Azazel sat with his legs spread, his head resting on one arm, looking utterly bored.

"Master Azazel, what do we do now that the girl has returned?" his Moggly asked, perched on the table across from him.

"That fool was supposed to keep her a little longer, but I shouldn’t have expected much from a pathetic human," Azazel said with a sigh.

"Perhaps there’s another way to make him lose control of his hold on his demon," the Moggly suggested.

Azazel raised an eyebrow. "Out with it. What do you have in mind?"

"Perhaps... if we can make him fall in love with the witch," the Moggly said, pausing for effect. "Hades has kept his demon in check by feeding it just enough to keep it quiet. But love, love demands more. It demands vulnerability, compassion, kindness and affection. If he falls, truly falls, the demon’s whispers will grow louder, clawing for dominance. And when the demon finally breaks free and takes over, the girl will be useless. The seal of the curse will become irreversible."

Azazel narrowed his eyes, fingers tapping against the armrest. "Hades knows this. He won’t let himself fall that far."

"I disagree," the Moggly said confidently. "You—full-blooded high demon—fell for Mistress Celeste. Why wouldn’t Hades? One can not control the hands of love. The witch is alluring, powerful, and dangerously beautiful. Even the strongest walls can crumble under the right touch."

"Hmm..." Azazel murmured, lost in thought.

Just then, the chamber doors burst open with a violent crack, slamming against the walls. Hades stormed in. Without a word, he hurled something across the floor. It landed with a sickening thud—the severed head of Leonidas—rolling until it stopped at the foot of the king, blood trailing behind it.

Azazel straightened, a slow smirk forming on his face. "Well... looks like someone’s in an awful mood."