Evangeline kept her head lowered as the carriage rolled through the dark road. The seat beneath her was soft, too fine for someone like her and she didn't know where to look.
Staring around Lord Hades's carriage felt rude, but looking at him felt dangerous. She'd already embarrassed herself once before—caught admiring him like a fool—and she wasn't going to let it happen again. So she kept her eyes on her shoes.
They were covered in mud, the leather cracked and dull, and guilt crept through her chest at the thought of dirtying his fine carpet. She tried to brush them clean, but it was no use without moving. So she quietly slid her feet under the seat, hoping he wouldn't notice.
But what she wasn't aware was how every single movement she did was under his eyes, noted by him diligently even to the point of knowing how shallow her breaths were.
"Now that I think about it," Hades said suddenly, his voice smooth and deep, "this is the second time you've entered my castle. Strange, isn't it, that I still don't know your name?"
Her head lifted at his words. He was smiling faintly, his eyes watching her with quiet interest.
"My fair lady?" he added.
"Ah—" She blinked, caught off guard. Her hands gripped the fabric of her dress to steady herself. "My name is Evangeline. Of the Crestmont family."
"Evangeline," he repeated slowly, almost as if he were tasting the name. His violet eyes narrowed a little, thoughtful.
Was there something wrong with her name? she wondered, but didn't dare ask.
Then he smiled again. "A lovely name."
When Hades spoke, his tone was calm and slow, the kind of voice that drew you in without you realizing it. It wasn't lazy—more like he meant every word he said, like he took his time to truly think of your words.
"What do you think of my castle?" he asked out of nowhere.
The question surprised her. What could she possibly say about such a place? The first time she had seen it, she could barely express—it was beautiful and grand beyond imagination. But that wasn't all. There had been something else about it.
"Comforting," she said at last. "I think your castle feels comforting. The walls... they feel very welcoming."
"Welcoming?" he repeated, chuckling softly. "That's not something I often hear. Those who had seen my castle always said that it hosted either skeletons or demons. Wonder which one of it is true."
His laugh made her lips twitch without thinking, and before she knew it, she was smiling too.
"May I ask something, Lord Hades?" she said, daring to meet his eyes.
His gaze turned to her instantly, deep and focused, as if her voice had drawn him in completely.
"Of course," he said gently. "You don't need to ask permission, Evangeline. I welcome your curiosity."
Those words were so gentle that Evangeline couldn't help the small smile that curved her lips.
"I was just wondering," she said, clasping her hands together, "you once said that you were also in my position... bothered by rumors that weren't exactly true. How did you learn to live with them?"
Hades's eyes softened as he chuckled quietly. "Do you want the correct answer, or my answer?"
She blinked in surprise. "Is there a difference?"
"Of course, Evangeline," he said, her name rolling off his tongue with deliberate care, "my answer isn't the moral one. I'm not quite the kind sort of man."
Her heart ached a little at that. Not kind? But no one else had shown her kindness when she'd been crying and humiliated— no one but him.
He leaned back slightly, his voice calm and even. "The correct answer," he began, "would be to stay strong, and prove the rumors false. But if the source of those whispers can't be silenced, then there's only one thing left to do."
"One thing?" she asked softly.
"To live with them," he said simply. "Trying to fix a ruined reputation is a waste of time. You might change the minds of a few, but those who have already decided to believe the worst of you will never let go of it. A cloth once stained in black ink will never return to its pure white, Evangeline. The next time a rumor spreads, people will remember only the stain."
Evangeline's green eyes widened. Her breath caught in her throat, and her heart felt heavy as his words sank in.
He watched her expression change— the sadness and the fear of having to go through worse as if she had seen Hell and didn't want to touch worse— and then, with a faint sigh, leaned forward.
"But words," he said softly, "are only words. You're the one who knows the truth. If you've done no wrong, then trust yourself. Don't let their lies turn you against yourself, Evangeline. You don't want to become your own enemy."
His words... was something Eva didn't know she needed.
Though it was small, her heart was comforted by the thought and she nodded.
"Then... what about your answer?" she asked quietly. She couldn't imagine Lord Hades ever breaking down over words. The idea of him crying, or even faltering, seemed impossible. He carried himself with such certainty, such quiet power, that defeat didn't seem to belong in his world.
"I simply accepted their rumors," he said, voice soft—but edged like a blade.
Evangeline looked up, startled by the cold calm in his tone. There was something dark under his smile, something that both frightened and fascinated her. And when he saw that flicker of fear in her eyes, he didn't retreat. He leaned into it, intrigued.
"They called me a killer. A curse-bringer," he said with a quiet laugh that wasn't quite amusement. "So I gave them what they wanted. I brought curses to their doors."
His words were smooth, almost musical, but they carried a dangerous truth beneath them.
"There are a few ways to deal with rumors, my dear," he continued, eyes steady on her. "First—you become what they claim you are. Make them fear you so deeply they'll never dare to speak again. Second—deal with the source directly. End them for good."
Evangeline didn't seem to grasp what he truly meant, not yet. She only frowned, lost in the weight of his voice.
"And third," he finished, "you live with it. And if it becomes too much to bear... you fight."
"Fight," she echoed softly, her fingers brushing her cheeks where the bruises still burned.
How could she fight? Fight the Seraph ladies who mocked her? Her own parents who looked at her with shame? Or did he mean something else—some battle inside herself?
Her hands trembled in her lap. She wanted to be strong, to fight—but she didn't know how much longer she could keep standing.
"I can't fight," she admitted softly. "I'm not as strong as you, milord."
"Then it's simple," Hades replied, his voice low with amusement. "Find someone who can fight for you." He gave a short, quiet laugh. "How unfortunate you aren't under my wings, Evangeline. If you were, I would have silenced those rumors myself."
Her breath caught. The way he said it—half jest, half promise—made her heart race. Under his wings. The words sounded both safe and dangerous.
She looked up, meeting his gaze. "Would you really do that?" she asked, voice barely above a whisper.
His eyes gleamed. "You doubt me? But first to test that you have to be mine."
The strange words he chose made her addicted. Eva didn't know how to respond but she could see that Hades seemed to be genuinely delighted by her reaction, genuinely seeming to enjoy the way she was tempted by his words.
Oh it was a joke, she thought in her head, thinking how silly she was to think that someone of his stature would want to do anything with her.
"We're here," he then noted, turning to the carriage window as one of his knight began to draw the door open. Stepping out first, Hades then extended his hand towards her, "How about to take your mind off your trouble, you enjoy the day around my castle. I have places that I think you would enjoy."