"I've taken photos of you during your matches before!" Matthew walked up cheerfully and gestured to his assistant, then led the two of them into the exclusive VIP photography studio. There, they had specialized stylists and makeup artists.This photography studio was a well-known establishment in Flinge, even attracting many celebrities who sought Matthew for photoshoots. Matthew was quite reputable in the industry. Whenever there wasn't a very famous star, he would hand the photography task to his assistant.Today, he was hands-on, setting up the scene, selecting outfits for both of them, considering the photography ambiance, and thoroughly enjoying himself."I particularly enjoy watching you throw punches!" Matthew grinned. "Your boxing technique is sharp and satisfying!"Morpheus recalled a time when he had faced off against a foreigner who was excessively arrogant before the match, boasting confidently, only to be soundly defeated in the ring by Morpheus.Patriotic souls like
Persephone followed Seamus, but her heart lingered in the car. She reluctantly glanced back. Morpheus was still standing there.She couldn't make out his face in the nighttime darkness, yet she felt his intense gaze following her.Her nose tingled, and she heard Seamus' voice again. "Miss, please hurry up!"She paused.Seamus, anxious and amused, remarked, "If it were still the old days, I'd gladly carry you on my back!""Okay, okay," Persephone grumbled. "Aren't I already walking..."Walking? Seamus couldn't help but chuckle. Persephone's feet felt glued to the ground, each step seeming like she was lifting a ton.He knew she still held thoughts for the man not far away. He sighed softly and patted her shoulder in a brotherly way. "Miss, time is really pressing... If you still want to see Mr. Orton after we get home, we can send someone—"Before Seamus could finish, a tremendous explosion echoed from the sea!It sounded like a roaring demon in the darkness. Persephone suddenl
Persephone looked up and nearly burst into tears. "Morpheus...""It's okay." Morpheus smiled, patting her head. "I'm here. Don't be afraid."Tears streamed down Persephone's face. She didn't know how she managed to stand up from that hard, tiny chair. Her whole being felt chaotic, yet she could keenly sense the person beside her, giving her strength and offering reassurance."She's my wife." Morpheus spoke slowly, his sharp gaze scanning everyone. "We finished dinner, went out for a stroll, happened to be at the dock, and unexpectedly encountered the ship explosion.""Is that true?" The officer remained skeptical.However, the officer who had just entered the room clearly had a higher rank than the one questioning Persephone. Despite his doubts, he didn't press further.The officer pondered for a moment, perhaps reluctant, then continued. "Sir, the person in the adjacent room...""His name is Seamus Rutherford, my wife's cousin." Morpheus' expression didn't change. "He's visitin
Morpheus held Persephone's small hand tightly all the way. The evening breeze carried a hint of moisture, shrouding her mind like a mist.Upon returning home, Morpheus dove straight into the kitchen.Persephone peeked, catching sight of his broad back and busy demeanor. A wave of complexity washed over her. She had cooled down by now, and the sequence of events threaded together like beads in her mind.Someone aimed to harm her, plotting her demise, with even those privy to her whereabouts beforehand tampering with the ship...And how could this person, unless intimately familiar with her, know so much?Persephone's heart skipped a beat. Suddenly, a fog clouded her vision, making it hard to discern her surroundings."Here, try this." Morpheus emerged from the kitchen in no time, presenting a small bowl of rose jelly.The jelly, sprinkled with raisins and crushed peanuts, revealed beautiful rose petals beneath its crystal-clear surface. She was surprised, meeting his gaze."I ha
Persephone's expression changed. She refrained from pressing for details, confident that Seamus would handle everything. What puzzled her was the supposed loyalty of the individuals meticulously chosen by the Hamertons and Thompsons.Yet, there was a traitor among them, targeting her life!Seamus said, gripping her arm, "Sephy, don't worry. I'll always protect you.""Sorry, overheard your conversation." Morpheus' brow furrowed, his gaze heavy on Seamus. "Who do you mean by 'a mole'?""This is our business." Seamus avoided disclosing too much. "Mr. Orton, it's better not to ask. But... Sephy might need to trouble you for a while longer.""Continue staying with me?""Yes." Seamus held his gaze.At this point, he no longer harbored the initial distrust toward Morpheus. He sensed Morpheus genuinely cared for Persephone, providing reassurance.For now, he couldn't stay by Persephone's side. With the traitor identified, he had to handle it. This person had no vendetta against the Ham
Nobody paid Wynn any mind, but he didn't mind. He continued to speak with a smile. "I heard some noise last night and knew it was you guys returning... So, I bought some food this morning. Sephy, don't you like this kind of noodles?"He linked arms with Persephone and led her to the table."Did you… fight?" He chuckled. "No worries, let's fill our stomachs first. Then we'll have the energy to continue arguing with him!"Persephone was momentarily stunned before she couldn't hold back her laughter.Morpheus silently walked out, followed by the heavy sound of the door closing. Seamus glanced worriedly at Persephone but then received a call and had to leave.As Wynn watched Seamus leave in a hurry, his hand holding a sandwich and coffee suspended in the air awkwardly. He grimaced."Ah... Let's ignore them!" He sat down, coaxing Persephone, "Come, let me mix the noodles for you!""I'm not really hungry." Persephone looked at him.To outsiders, Wynn was a monster they couldn't under
"Wynn...""Morpheus has been kind to me, and I hope for his happiness." Wynn looked at her intently. "And you, you're the only girl in this world who has never looked down on me. I hope... you find even greater happiness than Morpheus."Persephone choked up, unsure of what to say. Wynn seemed to understand her thoughts. He patted her head, letting everything rest unspoken."I've never had a proper romantic relationship." He chuckled bitterly. "But I know love is a beautiful thing. Sephy, you can trust Morpheus."Persephone gazed into the distance thoughtfully. A mist hovered over the sea, shrouding her heart as if she could never see the future clearly.However, Wynn's words had an effect on her.After descending the mountain, she inexplicably found herself at the place where Morpheus practiced boxing.The entrance to the underground arena was tightly shut in broad daylight, guarded by people who were vigilant like watchdogs. In spite of this, they recognized her and knew she wa
"Wow!" Suddenly, a loud voice came from nearby.Morpheus' expression changed, and he instinctively shielded Persephone behind him."A really fine little beauty!" Louis Newnes walked over. "Morpheus, is this your girl?"Morpheus' gaze turned cold with a hint of a killing intent. He was preparing to personally escort Persephone out, but Louis intercepted them."With such a good-looking young lady, you're not even willing to share? We may be opponents in the ring, but aren't we brothers outside?"Morpheus snorted, spitting out two words sharply, "Fuck off!"Louis immediately turned fierce. A war between both men was imminent.Persephone gripped Morpheus' arm, carefully observing the arrogant man.He had golden hair, well-defined features, and was muscular like a Roman soldier. To Persephone, Morpheus was already strong, yet this foreigner seemed equally powerful.The two men faced each other like two lions, about to engage in a life-or-death struggle.Louis sneered, speaking cho
"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