Persephone followed Catherine like a robot, trying to discern the exact nature of Catherine's personality.Suddenly, Catherine patted her shoulder. "Let's separate here, yeah?""What?""You'll buy vegetables over there." Catherine chuckled. "And I'll buy chicken here. You're not good at picking the right one, so let me do it!"Persephone agreed and went to the place she had been directed. Catherine would create a list before coming to the market. All Persephone had to do was buy everything on the list.These items were the vegetables and fruits that Seamus liked.Her status in the house seemed to have shifted with his.He felt more and more like the head of the house while she played the role of an obedient maid.Persephone bit her lip. Seamus appeared less tense lately. Today, he hadn't sent bodyguards to follow her.She knew he hadn't hired them for her safety but to keep an eye on her.She took a deep breath and felt like a rock pressed on her. She was getting closer to th
Persephone folded the note and noticed there were words on the back of it.[Your old friend is well.]Her heart skipped a beat. She was momentarily stunned before tearing and throwing away the note.'Old friend… Who could this be? Morpheus?'They had met only a few days ago and could easily stay in touch through their phones. No one needed to inform her of his well-being this way.So, who was this old friend?A thought flashed through her mind.At that moment, Catherine returned with cakes, searching for Persephone where she had been standing.Spotting her, Persephone adjusted herself and walked over slowly."Miss, the cakes you were craving for," Catherine said with a smile. "It's not a simple task. I had to queue! So you like their cakes?""Mm-hmm." Persephone forced a smile.She had consumed numerous cakes, even having the pastry master from the Eropah royalty make her afternoon tea in Hamertons.Basic cakes like these didn't interest her.However, these were the best o
"Miss, what's wrong?" Catherine smiled as she looked at Persephone, who was standing frozen in place. "Did I startle you?""I...""Miss, are you really feeling unwell?"Persephone didn't immediately grasp the situation. Catherine reached out to touch her forehead, and she instinctively flinched. However, when she met Catherine's eyes, she seemed to understand something."Miss is unwell!" Catherine immediately switched to a concerned expression, looking around and shouting, "This is bad! Miss is unwell!"Soon, the other two bodyguards emerged from a corner. Once they saw Persephone, they both avoided meeting her gaze and anxiously explained, "Seamus was worried about you... That's why he asked us to follow along."Miss, let us take the things!"Miss, are you really feeling unwell?""Why even ask?" Catherine immediately helped Persephone to a large tree, taking out a handkerchief to fan her. "She looks so pale, can't you see it? From what I see, she's just too tired."Persephone
Throughout the journey, Persephone's heart pounded, feeling like she had just woken from a dream. Yet, the dream was so vivid she couldn't help pinching her arm."If you're uncomfortable, you can still call me Granny Catherine, okay? I don't mind!" The girl laughed cheerfully, placing a hand on her shoulder.Persephone trembled slightly and gently pushed her away."Oh... sorry, sorry." The girl reined in her smile. "She warned me that you don't like people getting too close.""Who?" Persephone looked up abruptly, her heart skipping a beat.Besides her, who else could remember these small details...Persephone's vision suddenly blurred, and her nose felt tingly. Tears streamed uncontrollably down her face."Oh my, please don't cry!" The girl was startled, frantically apologizing. "It's my fault, my fault! How did I make you cry, I...""Is it her?" Persephone grabbed the girl's hand, her emotions rising. "Is it really her? Is she here?""Goodness!" The girl quickly covered Perse
This was Persephone's favorite color.She moved toward the person in front of the window as if in a dream.With each step, her heart felt like it was being stabbed. The carefree memories flashed in her mind. Her nose tingled, tears uncontrollably streaming down her face. Those delicate shoulders were ones she had seen countless times in her dreams."Greta..." she finally called out with a shaky voice. "Greta, is it really you?"The girl turned.Persephone stood frozen in place, stunned for a very long time.In her memory, Greta was still the 16-year-old girl who loved wearing white dresses, had long hair, and enjoyed running and laughing in the sunlight. Her canines would show adorably when she smiled.However, the woman before her had her hair styled in a bun. Her eyes were still beautiful, but they bore the marks of time.She gazed at Persephone as if with a thousand words, and her lips moved, but she made no sound."Greta!" Persephone shouted, running over to tightly embrac
"But Greta…" Persephone asked tearfully, "Why can't you speak anymore?"She didn't dare imagine what Greta had gone through all these years. The world-weariness in Greta's eyes made her seem so different from the innocent girl she once knew.Greta shook her head at Persephone, caressing her face and wiping away her tears.Greta: [You'll be okay. As long as I'm here, I won't let anything bad happen to you.]Persephone felt a sharp ache in her heart.At that moment, someone knocked on the door, making her alert.However, the person who entered was the one she had yearned for so much...Persephone froze as she saw the smile that usually appeared in her dreams right before her."Morpheus..."Morpheus didn't say anything. He just rushed over and hugged her tightly."Are you assured now?" Morpheus held her hand, smiling. "I'll make sure to safely escort you back home. This time, I'll accompany you home."-When Persephone returned to the apartment, it was already completely dark
Seamus was quiet for a moment. "I don't understand what you mean.""You said that you'd do anything for me.""This remains the same.""Does that include hurting me?"The air went unnervingly silent.Persephone could clearly see how Seamus' shoulders slouched and his back trembled slightly. Her heart jolted alongside.Even after learning what Seamus had done, Persephone still kept her hopes. He had grown up with her. Their relationship was different. Parting felt like piercing a capillary from the palm that caused pain to spread uncontrollably. Even with the blood stopped, the scar remained for life.Persephone said with a serious tone, "Seamus, I believe you won't harm me, right?""Of course not," Seamus replied. "Miss, don't overthink it. Get some rest.""When are we leaving here?""The day after tomorrow," he answered firmly.She hesitated before asking, "Are we really taking the bus? I heard... buses aren't safe.""Don't worry." Seamus turned around, giving her a slight
Persephone fell into silence.She didn't know but could guess a few things. Seamus' ambition wasn't to become the head steward of the Hamertons. His target was most likely her.It was just that he had countless opportunities to make a move on her from childhood to adulthood, and he hadn't done it, had he?"Think about it. What did Madame Bailey experience before?" Catherine looked at her with worry. "Stop trusting Seamus. He's a lunatic, a pervert!"The past two times he wanted to leave with you, something odd happened each time. Those weren't coincidences!"Persephone lowered her head in sorrow."For so many years, Seamus has been like family to me," she said softly after a while. "I really don't understand why..."Catherine patted her back, casting a sympathetic glance at her.It was just that Persephone didn't really not understand. She just didn't want to face this reality.Seamus had a humble background. He had always felt inferior. He was dedicated to protecting her but
"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