The forest was eerily quiet, save for the crunch of leaves beneath Hades's boots. His crimson eyes scanned the shadows, every movement sharp, every sense on edge. He didn’t make mistakes—not in battle, not in life. That’s why the figure in front of him, completely out of place, had him gripping his sword tighter than ever.

A woman. Not just any woman—a noble, if the crest embroidered on her tattered cloak was anything to go by. Her dress, though stained with mud and torn at the hem, screamed elegance. She shouldn’t be here. She didn’t belong here. And yet, here she was, standing in the heart of the wild like she had every right to be.

Without hesitation, he drew his blade, the tip hovering dangerously close to her throat.

"Move an inch, and you’ll regret it." His voice was cold, calculated. A warning, not a threat.

To his surprise, she didn’t back away. She didn’t even flinch. Instead, she lifted her chin, meeting his gaze with a defiance that struck him like a blow to the chest.

His jaw tightened. "What is a princess doing out here? Did you lose your way to the nearest ball, or are you just that stupid?"

Her silence was unnerving. Her eyes—sharp, like she had seen things that would’ve broken most people—stayed locked on his. She wasn’t scared. She wasn’t groveling. She was just… standing there, daring him to make the next move.

Hades hated it. Or maybe he didn’t

He stepped closer, his towering frame casting a shadow over her smaller one. His blade didn’t waver. "This forest isn’t for the delicate. Monsters don’t care if you’re wearing silk."

Still, nothing. Just that infuriating, unshaken stare. A breeze drifted through the trees, carrying the faint scent of pine and frost. For the first time in years, Hades hesitated. There was something about her, something more than the crest she wore or the attitude she carried. She felt out of place and yet… perfectly at home.