Rod, unable to contain his anger, stood. "Your Majesty, what are you saying?" he demanded. "After everything we have done, you want to cancel the plan?"
Rowan, equally outraged, added in a sharp tone, "Yes, Your Majesty. Our ambition was to become the overlords of the kingdoms. How can you suddenly call the plan off?"
The King of Hades glared at Rod and Rowan, his eyes cold and full of authority. The weight of his gaze was so powerful that both men trembled involuntarily, feeling the force behind it.
They both quickly bowed in submission. "Please forgive us, Your Majesty," Rod and Rowan said in unison, their pride momentarily forgotten in the face of the king's wrath.
The King gestured for them to sit. He took a deep breath before speaking again, his voice calculated but filled with a rare vulnerability.
"Rod, Rowan," he began, his tone softer, "I know you both have served me faithfully for many years, and you want nothing more than for this kingdom of ours to prosper."
He paused, his gaze piercing them both. "But some things are way beyond our capabilities."
Rod and Rowan listened intently, their expressions shifting as they tried to comprehend the king's words.
They could hear the reluctance in his voice, and it became clear that he hadn't suddenly canceled their ambition by choice; rather, he had no other option but to do so.
The King of Hades' voice grew colder as he continued, his words laced with a quiet bitterness.
"Castorgh, although he may be my child, he has always been ambitious and cunning. His betrayal was apparent the moment he took Apollo for himself."
He paused, his eyes darkening as if reliving the betrayal. "I had hoped that the blood between us was strong enough for him to not continue down the path of betrayal... but he did it anyway."
Rod and Rowan exchanged an understanding look. They knew Castorgh well enough to understand how he was.
His ambition had always been a double-edged sword, and this alliance was no mere political move. It was a declaration of his intent to break free from his father's shadow.
The king's voice was filled with an overwhelming anger. "His decision to form the alliance is both a threat and a show of his control over us. It's a message that he no longer needs us."
Rowan, still contemplating the king's words, asked, "But Your Majesty, would the other kingdoms truly trust the prince and respect the alliance?"
The King of Hades stood, and both Rod and Rowan immediately rose to their feet. Without saying another word, the king walked toward the large window, his gaze drifting outside.
After a moment of silence, the king finally spoke. "You know, Rowan," he began, turning his gaze toward the setting sun, "why do you think the weak stay weak?"
Rowan furrowed his brow, his mind working to grasp the king's intention. "Because they are weak-minded?" he answered.
The King of Hades nodded slowly. "You are half-right," he said, his tone growing deeper.
"Of course, they are weak-minded, but it's more than that. They prefer the company of others who are equally as weak-minded as them."
Rod and Rowan exchanged uncertain glances, both trying to understand the king's meaning.
The king's gaze never wavered. "They group together," he said. "They form alliances because they think they can sympathize with each other, because they feel connected. And that's all it is."
His voice rose in intensity, his anger becoming palpable. "It's nothing but a facade, a desperate attempt at survival that they all cling to."
He then turned toward Rowan with a smile, but it was cold, devoid of warmth.
"So, as long as I remain alive, as long as the crown remains on my head, this kingdom will never fall," he declared, his eyes piercing through Rowan.
Rod and Rowan stood frozen, their hearts pounding in their chests.
The King of Hades turned his gaze back to the world outside, as if looking beyond the kingdom itself.
"Whether it be another human or even a god," he muttered, almost to himself.
Goosebumps crawled down their spines as they felt the raw power in the king's presence. The certainty in his voice that nothing could truly threaten his reign, his confidence—everything was terrifying.
"Go and continue as if nothing has changed," the King of Hades commanded. "And I will make sure it remains unchanged."
Rod and Rowan exchanged knowing smiles, and their faces were bright with understanding. They both kneeled, their heads completely lowered to the ground in reverence.
"We are glad to be serving you, Your Majesty," they said in unison.
With that, they stood and exited the room. As the door shut behind them, they walked down the darkened hall.
Once outside, Rod broke the silence, "His Majesty is really something, isn't he?"
Rowan nodded, his mind still reeling from the king's words. "Yes," he replied, a shiver running down his spine.
"I had goosebumps all over me. The power in his voice...
Rod chuckled, though there was a hint of unease in his laughter. "It's a good thing we are on his side."
Rowan gave a dry laugh in return. "Yes, and I wouldn't want to be anyone else."
****
Back in present
Julian grinned, and his hands tightened around Eleanor's waist, pulling her closer.
"Forget about all those things," he murmured, his voice low and teasing. "Tell me, did you miss me?"
Eleanor smiled, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Umm, I think I did," she replied.
Julian's smile widened as he leaned in, planting a gentle kiss on her neck.
"So, you're uncertain?" He teased back.
His gaze shifted downward, noticing the bulge of her stomach. He gently caressed her abdomen and looked up at her. "Are you close?" he asked, his expression softening.
Eleanor smiled brightly, her hands resting on her belly. "Yes, I think in one or two months," she replied, her voice filled with joy and anticipation.
Julian leaned in, his lips finding hers in a kiss that was both tender and passionate. Eleanor wrapped her arms around him, pulling him closer as she deepened the kiss.
The world outside seemed to fade away, leaving only the warmth and connection between them.