"TOOK YOU LONG enough! Who gets late on their own farewell party?!" As Hades arrived at the garden, he was greeted by his adoptive older sister with a loud voice. Eyes turned to him, all attention was on him. The knights, the maids, and other servants were present here in the garden just to make their young master's last day here in the Novak manor a happy one.
Hades wore a genuine smile as he let out a laugh. "I'm sorry, alright? Father and I had a short talk, he acted like a proper father for once." Hades joked, making the others laugh, Pearl included. All of them are aware about the Grand Duke's awkward record of being a father to both Pearl and Hades, and they, including the Grand Duchess, are used to helping him get better at it.
Pearl faced the servants and raised the cup of wine in her hands. "Now that the main character is here, let's enjoy ourselves until midnight!"
"Oooohhh!" They all cheered in response, making Hades laugh. Pearl pulled him to the tables and chairs that were set in the middle of the garden just for this night. Food and drinks were laid there, along with the plates, cups and tableware. Music, laughs, chatters and cheers filled the air, making the atmosphere warm and gentle.
On a certain veranda, which had a full view of the garden, stood the Grand Duchess, Dove. With a small gentle smile, she watched her children having some sibling fun along with the knights and servants. Soon, she felt a presence behind her, she faced that man. It was her ever-so-stern husband, Tanner.
"Have you talked to Hades?" Dove asked as she walked closer to him, inside to their chamber. And Tanner nodded back at his wife as he wraps his arms around her slim body. It was unbelievable that this woman, who's forty-one years of age and still this beautiful and breathtaking, is his wife.
"He laughed at me though." He says, and his wife chuckled at that. "It's unbelievable how shameless and bold he's become after all these years." Tanner continued, Dove placed a hand on his broad chest and leaned on him. Her expression became filled with worry as she sighs. Tanner noticed but decided to let it be.
"… Hades is a strong child, however I still can't help but worry for him. After all, he's facing them of all people." Dove mumbles her worries. In the past eight years, she treated him like her own son, and made sure that he feels that he is welcome in Novak. Dove made sure that she managed to fill his heart with enough care and love for the late Winchester Family.
And Tanner have seen all of that.
However… "Hades is more than the child you always take care of, my wife. He has become someone who can handle them on his own. Even his growth exceeded my expectations." Tanner stated, a certain man flashed in his mind… 'Senior Azul, I had never thought that your son would be more terrifying than you have ever been', he thought.
' "I'll make sure that they experience hell while they're still alive and breathing." '
Hades' chilling voice echoed in Tanner's ear. His expression has been engraved inside his mind, he can never forget that face… it almost felt like he met the devil himself. Tanner doesn't have the time to worry about him, no, he doesn't need to worry for that young man.
"… Hades has become someone even I don't want to make a foe of mine."
Time came and passed, the hour when the Novak siblings were planned to depart has come. The Grand Duke and the Grand Duchess, along with the knights and maids (sober or not), were gathered by the gate of the manor just to see them off. With simple words from them, the Princess' carriage which were surrounded by knights departed in a peaceful way.
As they moved, Pearl's eye watched her younger brother, who is looking down on the book placed on his lap, with the bright moonlight from the open carriage window as his only light. He loves reading, no matter what the book's about, and that widens his perspective of his surroundings. He is also someone who's good with his words and actions, no one can deny that. And the fact that he's also quite a looker only makes Pearl more frustrated.
Their relationship didn't start well, they were complete strangers after all. But the more they talked and interacted, the more they felt closer to being proper siblings. Through the years of getting closer to him, she grew the urge to stop her father from using Hades as an important piece for his plan. But even the Duke won't be able to stop, because the decision was Hades' choice to make.
And naturally, Hades didn't stop.
Pearl sighs, her body felt hot and rising. It must have been the drinks she had earlier. Hades looks up to her, their eyes met and he noticed how lost in thought she is. Without another word, he rose from his seat and sat next to his older sister. Pearl was confused for a second, but figured out his intention the next.
She leaned and rested her head on his shoulder, used her cloak as a blanket. But before she closed her eyes, her mouth spoke on its own.
"Aren't you nervous?" She asked him, but Hades did not respond, making her sigh once again. He knows how much she wanted to stop him, but he did not falter and only focused on his goal. "… if you ever feel lost, don't forget to visit me. If you're in trouble, ask for some help and I'll come as soon as possible."
If she can't stop him anymore, she has no other choice but to simply support and help him. Even if it means exposing their relation to the world, which could disrupt their whole plan, she doesn't care. To Pearl, Hades is her only younger brother, and he is someone who she treasures.
Hades somehow felt his lips curl up to a gentle smile. There was not a time that he thought that he'd be treating the Novak like a real family, the Winchester is where he truly belong. He guessed that the Novak just filled up the emptiness and longing in his heart these past few years before he even realized it.
Hades did not respond to his older sister, even when she finally entered her deep sleep.
'Help huh… I don't need it.'