Just as Shirley teetered on the edge of losing her composure, she abruptly detected an imposing presence emanating from the girl before her. A chill ran down her spine, prompting an instinctive step backward.Persephone smiled, yet her eyes exuded an icy demeanor. She took a deliberate step forward and said, "My friend and I are heading to the shopping mall now. Do you still intend to stop us?"Shirley breathed heavily and glared at her fiercely."Also, there's something I'd like to make clear." Persephone displayed no hint of fear. "I don't know what issue you have with Wynn, but everyone has the right to live life on their terms. I respect his choices, and I'm willing to be his friend. That's none of your concern. I don't need you dictating my actions! If I catch you being rude to him again, I won't let you off easily!"Her assertiveness stunned Shirley.She had assumed the girl Kourtney had handed over to Morpheus to be weak, never expecting her to be quite resilient. Now infur
Wynn couldn't catch Persephone. As such, he could only accompany her into the shopping mall with his head held low. It marked the first time he saw her in a different light. Her eyes lit up as soon as she entered.Despite being nothing compared to Centrolis, the mall boasted a collection of global brands and luxury items. Its location at the border intersecting a couple of provinces made it unique. This made many limited edition collections available, and their prices were 1/3 cheaper than in Centrolis.Persephone felt like she was in heaven, behaving like a happy bird that had flown out of its cage.Wynn followed her, feeling uncomfortable as shop assistants looked at them with judgment. However, she indulged herself, oblivious to the stares."Sephy…" He said softly, "It's almost time. Let's go?""We're leaving now?" She was stunned. "We've just come in!"Wynn forced a smile. "I can't even afford a cotton pad here!"She pouted.However, she was familiar with these brands."I
There seemed to be a voice inside Persephone that said, "Don't do this. It's someone else's money."She recalled what Wynn had told her. Morpheus' life hung on the edge every day working at the underground arena. The slightest mistake could cost him his life.However, the audience watching the competitions were avid gamblers who cared little for the fighters' lives, deriving pleasure from the adrenaline of gambling.Her hands shook.She glimpsed Morpheus' blood-stained wrist wrap, a testament to the toll he paid for every cent earned. Yet, she...After some thought, she held onto the credit card."What's wrong?" Wynn asked softly."I-I'm sorry." She turned to face him. "I suddenly remembered that this is Morpheus' hard-earned money. Even though he gave me his card, I shouldn't spend it thoughtlessly. Also, taking credit for using his money to buy you things doesn't make sense…"She was sincere, "Wynn, can we buy these later? When I have the money, I—""Of course!" He smiled ha
Persephone stood in stunned silence as the voice echoed. A tall figure approached, his broad shoulders reaching out to grab her.Unintentionally, her gaze caught two shadows on the wall, merging into one, and she blushed.Morpheus swiftly took the credit card from her hand, slamming it onto the counter. "What are you buying?" he asked.Caught off guard, she stammered, "N-Nothing...""Buy anything you'd like," he commanded, his voice gentle despite his fierce appearance. "I have money. Let's see who dares to look down on you here!"A tickling sensation warmed Persephone's heart, an odd but pleasant feeling.Seeing that Morpheus was so muscular and fierce he could totally play a bandit in a movie, the shop assistant dared not offend him, even though she looked down on him."Alright, sir." She smiled, packing the items Persephone had chosen. "I'll ring up the bill."Morpheus remained silent, coldly staring.After paying, Persephone held his arm and playfully said, "Morpheus, she
"Is there something you'd like to tell me?" Morpheus asked."Umm…" Persephone pursed her lips. "Do you think I was being unreasonable at the store?""What?""The brand is known for its quality. Basically, nobody would get a refund," she said softly. "As soon as the manager finds out that someone requested a refund, the shop assistant will be questioned and might be fired.""What? You can't bear for that to happen to her?""No." She looked into his eyes. All the words were stuck in her throat—she had no idea how to say it.It was not that she couldn't bear to do it—she cared about what he thought.She was worried he might think she was being stubborn and stirring trouble.She was worried she might become an unreasonable and self-centered girl to him.Even she was shocked when that thought came up. Why did she care about that so much?"That's how the world is." Morpheus' voice was deep. "If we don't bully anyone, we can't just take it blindly when we're bullied. Is it fair if y
Persephone froze as she gazed at Morpheus.He bore numerous wounds, spanning from his neck down to the back of his feet. Positioned with his back to the bathroom door, he appeared to be tending to an injury on his back.Bruises, swelling, cuts…There were bruises and patches of dried blood, silently proclaiming to the world that he had endured a brutal and vicious battle.Yet, at the shopping mall, he had displayed nothing.It turned out he had been suppressing his pain.Persephone felt a jolt in her heart. Her hand, covering her mouth, slowly dropped."Aren't you... sleeping?" he asked."I woke up," she said softly. "Your wounds…""It's nothing."Morpheus seemed calm, but his heart was in turmoil. Grabbing his clothes quietly, he accidentally aggravated the wounds on his back in his haste.He bit his lip, striving to endure it."L-Let me tend to your wounds!" Persephone suddenly said.Morpheus was stunned—doubt flashed through his eyes.His reason urged him to keep his d
Persephone had never witnessed the cruelty of life, nor had she fathomed the extent to which it could push a person. While her brother, back in the Hamertons, had a boxing trainer to enhance his physique as a personal interest, Morpheus engaged in it for survival.The realization hit her, and a wave of sadness washed over Persephone, prompting tears to fall. She struggled to speak, her voice choked. "Who... was it... Who subjected you to such brutality... Does it... hurt?"Morpheus' heart tightened at her words. Slowly, he turned to face her, questioning if the glistening tears on her face were for him. Touched by the unspoken emotion, he refrained from expressing it overtly.After a prolonged silence, he handed her a bottle of ointment. In the darkness, his deep voice resonated. "I can't reach my back, indeed. Please apply this for me."Persephone was taken aback. Wiping away her tears, she accepted the bottle. As she ceased crying, he softened his demeanor.In the quiet house,
Morpheus battled insomnia that night, tossing and turning in a restless struggle. Despite his weariness, sleep eluded him, his mind consumed by thoughts of Persephone.Unable to divert his focus, he found himself immersed in memories of her. Yet, in the rare moments when her image faded, all that remained was the haunting specter of his life, besieged by bullets.The merciless brutality of the battlefield lingered in his thoughts—the shattered ruins, the blood-soaked drains.He curled into a ball and closed his eyes, a sharp pain radiating from the depths of his heart. Trembling and breathless, he grappled with the overwhelming anguish.Morpheus summoned his strength and compelled himself to sit up, seeking solace in the bathroom. Cold water cascaded over his wounds as he cleansed them repeatedly.Gazing into the mirror, he confronted his reflection, a visual narrative of scars, old and new. Perhaps, he mused, his involvement in the gritty underground arena served as a deliberate
"Only Morpheus and Sephy aren't like that. They respect and understand me. Sephy told me once, 'One's appearance doesn't indicate anything. A clean heart is what truly matters!'"Rebecca chuckled dismissively."You're a psychologist, yet you fail to grasp this," Wynn said coldly. "Actually, I pity you. You could have stepped out, yet you insist on dwelling on the trivialities."Morpheus has psychological barriers, a consequence of returning from the battlefield. No one has cured his PTSD except Sephy... It shows that a true psychologist is never just a title."What truly heals everything is love!"-One particular morning a year later, sunlight streamed through sheer cream curtains onto the floor.Persephone was sound asleep when she suddenly felt something pressing down on her... Then, Morpheus' strong arms wrapped around her slender waist. She drowsily opened her eyes to find him sealing her lips with heated kisses.Over the year, his kissing skills had improved, and Persepho
With Morpheus' involvement, the police didn't slack off and quickly found Rebecca.That day, Rebecca was preparing to escape from a small port. The boat she had found was an illegally operating one.As she was about to board, piercing sirens sounded nearby.The boat owner, enraged upon hearing the sirens, grabbed Rebecca by her hair and pushed her into the water.Rebecca screamed for help, but he roared, "I didn't expect you to be sent by the cops!""I'm not..." Rebecca choked on water. "Sir, let's leave now. Your boat is fast. As long as we reach the open sea, no one will catch you!""Dream on!" The boat owner wanted to strangle her. "Do you not understand? These sirens are from the royal guards! Who did you bitch provoke?"Rebecca was dumbfounded. Being a foreigner, she naturally didn't understand the local affairs in the Southeast Aciatic region.The police and royal guards quickly caught up, armed, and surrounded them.Rebecca turned pale and trembled all over, her gaze gr
"You had no choice on the battlefield."Persephone looked at him with her crystal eyes. There was a magical power in them. Even if a devil was tearing him apart, her eyes would always bring him back to light.She smiled and caressed his cheek. "Though you killed your father, you saved the country.""Do you really… think so?"She nodded. "You're not at fault. He was the one who made a mistake. You were just fulfilling your job as a general to protect the country."But I also understand that he's your father who brought you up, after all. You guys must have had happy days before that happened, right?"Morpheus held his head low in silence."You did well as the protector of the country," she said softly. "But as a son, you can secretly pay homage to him."Persephone held his hand. "Reconcile with your father, Morpheus. You'll also reconcile with yourself by doing that, okay?"He was stunned for a long time and felt a lump in his throat.-Morpheus stayed with Persephone in the
"No way!" Christopher smirked, glancing at Morpheus. "To him, you're his only princess! I just got lucky for the princess carry, thanks to you!""Yeah, at least you're self-aware!" Persephone nodded, rubbing her chin."We've known each other for so long! What kind of person do you think I am?" Christopher laughed. "I can be a bit shameless at times, but..."But upon learning that the one she loved was the unbeatable god of war, he willingly stepped back, offering his blessings with a smile."Okay, okay. You two stop crowding around me!" Christopher waved his hand. "Sephy needs more rest, and I'd like to get some more sleep, too! Once we heal, let's go out and have some fun together!""You're still thinking about fun?" Morpheus' deep voice intervened with a wry smile. "With the factory explosion incident, the royal family is furious and will thoroughly investigate it. Many people will probably be coming to talk to you both in the next few days. After all, you two are the most direc
"Let's get out first!""Hey, wait..." Persephone pointed to the other side.In moments of life and death, it wasn't appropriate to laugh, but Morpheus still chuckled. The young Prince Christopher was sprawled on the floor in a very ridiculous pose, and they almost forgot about him!"Don't worry," Morpheus whispered. "I won't let anything happen to him."He had Persephone cling to his back and then carried Christopher.Christopher was a tall fellow, so it took some effort to carry them both to a safe place.Fire trucks, ambulances, and police cars rushed in. Their sirens pierced the sky, startling a flock of birds.The fire was soon extinguished, and Persephone and Christopher received timely treatment. Luckily, their burns weren't too severe, and even more fortunately, their faces were unharmed.When Christopher woke up, he felt bandages wrapped around his head, and his skin had a burning sensation. His heart sank, and he was almost on the verge of tears."Tell me the truth! A
There was fire everywhere. Flames rushed toward Persephone like menacing dragons. Her consciousness grew increasingly blurred, but the searing pain coursing through her body became clearer. She struggled to get up, the agony almost unbearable.Despite several attempts, it was futile...Something was pinning her feet down, and stones kept falling on her. She couldn't even muster a shout.Many images flashed through her mind in that fleeting moment, each frame featuring Morpheus' face…She remembered the times they had spent together in Flinge, how he had initially distanced himself from her, then later had exerted every effort to protect her. She recalled how he would gently ruffle her hair and call her "silly goose"..."Morpheus, I'm afraid I might have to go first..."The fire grew fiercer, explosions resonated continuously, and she could no longer hold on.Christopher, who was nearby, wasn't any better.Amidst the roaring flames, he couldn't see anything clearly, only pulling
"No need, you can go back first." Morpheus glanced at him. "I'll wait here for her a little longer.""Prince Christopher wouldn't do anything to Ms. Hamerton...""Alfred, what are you thinking?" Morpheus couldn't help but chuckle. "I know exactly what Christopher is like, but I just want to wait here for Sephy. Christopher mentioned that she'd specifically designed these fireworks for me. Hah! I'm the useless one. I don't even dare to go inside and take a look.""Sir, don't say that.""If I wait here, will it count as accompanying her in her efforts?"Alfred nodded.Morpheus smiled and sent Alfred back. He continued waiting under the tree.The air in Southeast Aciatic was hot and humid. The shade of the banyan tree offered some relief, but it couldn't completely dispel the oppressive heat.Morpheus took a deep breath, about to move elsewhere, when he glimpsed a suspicious figure swiftly darting through the factory's side gate.The security at the side gate was lax, making it e
Christopher struggled to swallow the bite of the sandwich in his mouth for what seemed like ages. He gazed at Persephone, his mind wandering back…He didn't just know Morpheus. He had been close since childhood to the children of the two prominent military families in Southeast Aciatic.Compared to the Harrises, he preferred visiting the Ortons, especially when he got to spend time with Morpheus. He considered Morpheus a friend, a brother even, having engaged in countless mischief together, much to their parents' dismay.In his memory, Morpheus was someone who smiled a lot, radiating warmth and brightness like the Southeast Aciatic sun when he did.However, from the moment Kaiden betrayed the country, Morpheus never smiled again, gradually growing distant from Christopher as well.It wasn't until that evening at the gates of the palace that Christopher felt like it had been a lifetime."I... I don't know him." Christopher forced a smile. "Where would I have met your boyfriend!"
Morpheus wasn't just an ordinary person!Christopher wholeheartedly accepted his defeat to Morpheus."Then... I'd like to invite you to come over to my place for a while as a friend. That's fine, right?"-A few days later, Persephone finally ran into Christopher, who had been missing in action for days, in the classroom."Hey, you finally showed up!" She dashed over, plopping down in the seat beside him and handing him breakfast. "You haven't eaten, right? Let's eat together!"Usually, Christopher would readily accept, but he waved his hands now. "No, no, no!""What's wrong?" Persephone widened her eyes. "This breakfast isn't poisoned!"Christopher awkwardly smiled. "You have a boyfriend, so maybe... we should keep some distance."Persephone burst into laughter. Then she remarked, "Strange... Morpheus was right!""Uh, what?""My boyfriend!" She chuckled. "He made this breakfast. I asked if he could also make a portion for you, and he said sure, just worried you wouldn't tak