"I believe you, Cassidy. Perhaps you should show her that she is just a lying woman. Drink from the cup and prove her wrong."
Hades extended the goblet toward Cassidy, his expression unreadable. Her face went pale as paper, her wide eyes flickering between the prince's face and the cup in his hand.
"I... I don't think that's necessary, Your Highness. She—"
"Drink. From. The. Cup, Cassidy."
Hades cut her off, his voice dropping to a deadly whisper. The chill in his tone sent a shiver through the room, making even the onlookers uneasy. Cassidy visibly cowered, her hands trembling as she hesitantly accepted the goblet.
With painstaking slowness, she raised it to her lips, tilting it just enough to feign a sip. She swallowed nothing. Pulling the goblet away, she forced a weak smile. "I... see? There is no poison in the cup." Her voice cracked slightly, betraying her.
Hades remained silent for a moment before standing, his imposing presence commanding the attention of everyone in the room. He adjusted his gloves, a slow, amused smile curling on his lips.
"Cassidy, Cassidy," he murmured, shaking his head. "I did like you."
Without warning, his hand shot out, gripping her jaw in a vice-like hold as he forced her mouth open and poured a generous amount of the liquid down her throat. Cassidy choked, her body convulsing as she collapsed to the ground, clawing at her throat, coughing violently.
Cassidy crawled toward the prince, her hands clasped together in a desperate plea. "Please, Your Highness... help me. It was the devil, I would never willingly do anything to harm you. Forgive me, please... I don't want to die."
Blood began to drip from her nose, her breaths coming in ragged gasps.
Hades scoffed, tilting his head. "The devil? Careful, Cassidy. You wouldn't want my father to hear you say that."
"Please... please, I... don't want to die. Pl—please..."
Cassidy coughed violently, thick, blackened blood spilling from her lips. Red patches blossomed across her pale skin, veins darkening beneath the surface. Blood seeped from her eyes, ears, and mouth as her body convulsed uncontrollably. With one final, agonizing twitch, she fell still.
Hades let out an exasperated sigh, nudging the edge of his carpet with the toe of his boot. "Shame. I did like this carpet."
Then, as if nothing had happened, he turned his gaze to Lilith.
She stood rigid, her entire body locked in place, eyes glued to the lifeless body before her. The sight of Cassidy's grotesque death sent a wave of nausea rolling through her. She had never witnessed anything so horrific in her life, and she wished, desperately, that she could erase the image from her mind.
Her breath hitched when Hades took a step toward her. His piercing gaze held her in place, trapping her.
Lilith opened her mouth to speak, but no words came.
Then, with an air of absolute indifference, the prince lifted the goblet to his lips and drank.
'W-what just happened?' Lilith questioned herself. The prince was surely mad to drink the same poison that had just brutally killed someone minutes ago.
"Don't look so surprised, little witch," Hades said smoothly, his voice laced with amusement. "I knew it was poisoned the moment she handed it to me. I am very hard to kill." He flashed her a polite, almost charming smile. Then his expression darkened. "Now, tell me, who were the women who ordered Cassidy to poison me?"
Lilith lowered her head, her fingers twisting together. "I... I don't know them, Your Highness. I didn't see their faces. I'm sorry."
Hades exhaled sharply, his gaze piercing. "It is not wise to lie to me, witch. I assume you've already seen what happens to those who do."
Lilith swallowed hard. "I... I only saw their dresses," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Good girl," Hades murmured, his tone almost approving. "Now, point them out."
He gestured toward the crowd, where dozens of nobles and guests stood watching the spectacle unfold. All eyes were on Lilith now, their whispers buzzing.
She turned slowly, scanning the crowd until her gaze locked onto two women standing stiffly near the edge of the ballroom. They were frozen in place, their faces hidden beneath their masks, but their tense postures betrayed their fear.
"Ah," Lilith murmured, her heart pounding. She turned back, only to find that Hades was no longer standing beside her.
Her breath hitched.
Hades followed her gaze, his lips curling into a smirk. The moment the two women realized he had spotted them, they panicked, grabbing their skirts and bolting toward the exit in a desperate attempt to escape.
But before they could reach the doors, Hades was already there, blocking their path. With horror-stricken expressions, the two women stumbled backward, their eyes darting around in search of an escape. But there was none.
Hades lunged without warning, his fingers wrapping tightly around one woman's throat. She gasped, clawing at his hand, her nails digging into his skin in a desperate attempt to free herself. It was useless. His grip only tightened. Her legs kicked wildly, her heels slipping against the polished floor. A sickening crack echoed through the ballroom.
Her lifeless body crumpled to the ground.
The second woman collapsed to her knees, trembling as she stared at her fallen companion. Her lips quivered, her breath coming in shallow, panicked gasps. She looked up at Hades, her tear-streaked face contorted with terror.
"D-Do you not want to know who sent us?" she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. "I....I will tell you if you spare my life."
Hades tilted his head, considering her for only a second before smirking.
"Tsk. I really don't care who sent you. Let them keep sending fools like you," he mused, crouching before her. "I rather enjoy ending your pathetic lives. It's more fun."
He reached out, pressing his bare hand to her forehead.
A strangled gasp escaped her lips, her body seizing as black veins slithered up his arm, vanishing beneath his sleeve. Then, the screaming began, raw, piercing, and inhuman.
Steam curled from her skin, her body withering before their eyes. Her flesh shriveled, her muscles caving in, her eyes sinking into hollow sockets. The ballroom reeked of death as her body decayed in mere seconds, until nothing remained but a brittle skeleton.
Hades straightened, pulling on his gloves as if nothing had happened. He shoved his hands into his coat pockets, his gaze sweeping over the stunned room.
"Clean it up," he ordered coldly. The guards bowed and immediately moved to dispose of the remains.
Not a single guest dared to breathe too loudly. All eyes followed him as he strode back to his seat with effortless grace.
Then, he leaned back in his chair, his expression one of utter boredom. "Play the music."
At his command, the musicians hesitated only for a moment before picking up their instruments. A soft, elegant melody filled the air once more.
As if on cue, the nobles resumed their conversations, their laughter and chatter returning as though nothing had happened. The party continued.
As if two lives hadn't just been ended in mere moments.
This made Lilith think that this was not the first time something like this had happened. She also couldn't help but wonder what the prince truly was. He didn't look like a witch, yet he had reduced that woman to nothing but bones with just a touch.
"Tell me, what is your name?" Lucian's voice was softer than the prince's, almost kind.
"Lilith Sherburn, my lord," she replied hesitantly.
Lucian hummed in approval. "You have proven your loyalty to the prince. Shouldn't she be rewarded for such bravery?" He turned to Hades, an amused glint in his eyes.
Hades nodded. "My uncle is right. I shall reward you for your courage." He leaned forward slightly, his smirk deepening. "From today onward, you shall be my personal maid."
"What!?"
Both Kathryn and Lilith exclaimed at the same time.
Hades' smirk widened in amusement.