NOVEL WEB Chapter 91: Son-in-law
Before leaving Torseque, Hades was given an emblem of the nation—something that would let him pass into Elven territory without any trouble.
He truly needed it, since he had no documents to prove his travel.
The very next morning, once he had fully recovered, they left Torseque behind.
Their next destination was a place known as Nowhere—a vast forest that stretched between two nations, infamous for being the home of many powerful monsters.
Before heading to the dragon realm, Hades also wanted to stop by the County and visit his mother. If he couldn't meet her in person, he at least wanted to send a letter—to her and to Thalia.
He didn't know how long he would be gone, or if he would ever return. That was why he wanted to leave behind a part of himself for the people he loved.
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"It's quite crowded here." Luna muttered as they reached the transportation depot at the border.
They were resting in an inn and decided to start their trip in the afternoon.
The place was swarming with people—families, merchants, and travelers—all hurriedly hiring carriages, rushing to leave the town as though some unseen danger loomed over them.
But Hades knew the real reason.
"It's the summit," he said quietly. "All the rulers of every nation are gathering in the Capital. The whole city will be glowing with celebration."
He had heard many people talking about it. Back at the academy, he and Graham had made so many plans on how they would sneak away to the Capital during the summit, just to enjoy the grand festival together.
"Hades?" Luna's voice was soft, careful—she had sensed the shift in his mood.
He didn't hide it. "I was just thinking about Graham. We wanted to see the Capital during the summit, to experience the festival."
Luna's heart sank.
Graham…he wasn't just a friend to Hades. Other than Kayla, he was the only one at the academy who stood close to him. They were like brothers—partners in every mischief and trouble.
She could only imagine how deep Hades's pain had been when Graham was taken from this world.
After a moment of silence, Luna spoke, "We can still go to the festival, if you want."
Hades's brows lifted in surprise. "But…do we really have the time?"
"Of course we do." Luna gave a small smile. "Granny's home is only half a day away from the Capital if we run at full speed. We can spend some time in the Capital first—enjoy the festival—and then head to the County."
Hades hummed, "Sounds possible. Well, not like even if we are late she would complain." Glancing at the ceiling, he asked, "Right Maylie?"
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"Haa…this feels great." Peri let out a soft sigh of relief as she stood on the terrace, breathing in the fresh air.
It felt like ages since she had last enjoyed the familiar scenery—the gentle warmth of sunlight brushing against her skin, the open sky stretching above her.
People often overlook small blessings, but once they're stripped away, they become treasures. Peri had only come to realize this recently.
Her mother stood beside her, firmly holding her hand so she wouldn't lose balance. Standing for long still wore Peri down, but today, she wanted to step outside—just a little.
"Mama…" Peri's voice carried a faint heaviness, "…the situation in Samaran…how is it now?"
She already knew things had been turning worse there, all because of the Goddess's wrath. The skies had grown harsh, rivers poisoned, landslides tearing the land apart—disasters piling one after another. A town that once thrived had turned unwelcoming even to its own people.
Beatrice didn't hide the truth. Peri wasn't a child anymore.
"Most of the residents have left the town," she said softly, "the situation has grown unbearable."
Peri's heart clenched. She understood how important that town was, how many lives revolved around it.
But then—
"Things have gotten better these past three days."
Peri blinked, her tired eyes lifting in surprise. "Hmm?"
"The weather has cleared. The sun shines again. The water's drinkable. And…no reports of landslides or other disasters."
A spark of hope lit up in Peri's gaze. "Then…that means everything was tied to the divine one?"
If so, then now that the Goddess was sealed within her…she could no longer unleash her wrath upon Samaran.
Beatrice smiled gently. "Even though things are returning to how they once were, it will take some time for the residents to come back. Still…it's far better than the path it was heading toward."
With a soft sigh, the Queen added, "Truly, Hades did us a favor we could never repay."
At that name, Peri's expression froze.
She turned her face away, her gaze falling to the people walking below.
The elder elf, sensing the shift in her daughter's mood, asked quietly, "You don't like him, Peri?"
Peri pressed her lips together. For a moment, she considered staying silent—but she had never hidden her heart from her mother.
"It's not that, Mama…" Her voice trembled slightly. "It's that I'm shocked by how much I'm drawn to him. I know it's because of the bond, but still… it unsettles me, how strongly I feel."
Her shoulders drooped, and with a defeated smile she whispered, "I can't believe I'm saying this…but I miss him already."
They had only shared minutes together. Before that, Peri hadn't even heard his name. He was no one—just a stranger.
And yet now…her thoughts circled back to him again and again.
She could feel him. His emotions brushed against her heart—bright, full of joy. He was happy. Excited.
And that made something twist inside her. Jealousy.
How could he feel such happiness when she wasn't beside him?
Her heart was in knots, a mess she couldn't untangle. For the first time in her life, Peri couldn't even understand herself.
Beatrice hugged her daughter from the side as she whispered, "Give yourself some time, Peri. You have gone through a lot. Don't make any hasty judgement and about Hades, then from what I have seen, he has all the qualities I wanted in my son-in-law."
Peri blushed, "Mama!"
Beatrice giggled at the blushing girl.
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A/N:- Thanks for reading.