Hades and Marilyn were getting attention from the locals—well, mostly Hades, given how his vibrant crimson hair stood out even in a bustling crowd. People paused mid-conversation the moment they noticed him. Some greeted him warmly, others bowed deeply, acknowledging the Prince of Aethernox with reverence that bordered on devotion.
Hades no longer needed to hide himself. The only people he ever feared being discovered by already knew he had arrived in the Dragon's Realm. So there was no point in masking his identity anymore.
Now, he walked proudly through the streets with his wife's hand resting lightly on his arm.
Marilyn, however, was visibly uneasy. For someone trained all her life to be a shadow—unseen, unnoticed, unheard—standing at the center of attention felt unnatural. The eyes tracking her, the whispers trailing behind them, the way strangers tried to catch even a glimpse of her face… it all felt overwhelming.
