Chapter 241: Chapter 85
Hades stood before the mirror, staring at his reflection with quiet disbelief.
His silver hair had been brushed and tied neatly behind him, a few loose strands falling gracefully around his sharp features.
His robe was black as the deepest void, embroidered with intricate golden patterns that shimmered faintly with divine energy, like starlight trapped in silk.
The weight of the fabric felt strange on him—it was heavy, regal, yet unfamiliar.
He adjusted the collar slightly, his purple eyes glowing faintly as he exhaled a slow breath.
He was getting married.
The thought still didn’t feel real. For countless millennia, he had ruled, judged, and endured, but marriage had always been something distant, something he believed was meant for others.
Yet here he was, wearing his finest robe, about to stand before eternity itself and vow his heart to three women who had, somehow, broken through the walls of his soul.
He allowed himself a faint smile.
"Never thought I’d see the day," he muttered quietly.
Behind him, a loud sniffle echoed.
"My Lord!" Thanatos cried dramatically, wiping his eyes with the edge of his cloak. "I can’t believe it! You’re really doing it! After all these eras of loneliness—our majestic, unshakable King is finally getting married!"
Hades sighed, turning his head slightly. "Thanatos, must you cry like a widow at a funeral? It’s a wedding, not an execution."
"I can’t help it!" Thanatos wailed, clutching his chest. "It’s beautiful! It’s—It’s history in the making!"
From the couch nearby, Hypnos lifted his head just enough to glance lazily at his twin brother.
His hair was in disarray, and his eyes were half-lidded as usual. "Thanatos, if you keep crying like that, you’ll flood the room before the ceremony even begins."
Thanatos spun toward him indignantly. "You heartless sleeper! Have you no emotions at all?"
"I do," Hypnos said with a yawn. "I’m just saving them for after the wedding... preferably after a good nap."
The room erupted in laughter.
Phlegethon crossed his arms proudly, his molten eyes glowing with warmth. His fiery aura dimmed slightly, as if out of respect for the occasion.
"You’ve got to admit, though," he said in a booming voice, "our King looks damn fine today. That’s a man ready to conquer not just realms, but hearts!"
Cocytus, ever calm and composed, let out a low chuckle. The icy river god’s voice was smooth and cool as mist. "Indeed. Who would’ve thought the cold King of the Dead could clean up this well? You might melt Aphrodite before the ceremony even starts."
Hades gave him a dry look through the mirror. "I’d rather not have her melt. It would complicate the ceremony."
Acheron, lounging in the corner with a goblet of wine in hand, barked out a laugh. "Hah! Tell me, my lord, you sure you don’t need a drink before tying the knot? Marrying three goddesses whose pride can reach the skies? Yeah, that’s hell you’re walking to."
Phlegethon nodded solemnly, raising an imaginary glass. "To bravery beyond death."
Thanatos immediately jumped in, pointing dramatically at Hades. "He doesn’t need need a drink—he’s our king! He is the man who stared down Titans and Primordials without flinching! Three wives are nothing compared to that!"
Hypnos smirked faintly from his couch. "You say that now. Wait until Hera starts giving him the look."
The entire room went silent for half a heartbeat. Then everyone burst out laughing again, even Hades couldn’t help the quiet smile that crept onto his lips.
Acheron slapped his knee, grinning. "Oh, that’s rich! I’d pay to see the King of the Underworld retreat before his wives!"
Phlegethon’s laughter boomed like thunder. "No retreat! He’ll just stand there with that same stoic face while the goddesses argue who gets to sit beside him first!"
Thanatos wiped his tears again, nodding fervently. "And he’ll say something like, ’You may decide among yourselves,’ before going back to paperwork!"
Even Hades chuckled this time, the sound low and rare. "You all seem far too eager to imagine my suffering."
Cocytus smirked, his icy aura rippling faintly. "We call it friendship, my King."
Hades turned to face them fully now. The faintest trace of warmth softened his usually impassive gaze. "Then I suppose I should be grateful for such loyal and honest friends."
Acheron raised his goblet, voice ringing with mirth. "To the King of the Dead—who’s about to find out that matrimony might be the one battle even he can’t win!"
Laughter filled the room once more, echoing off the marble walls and filling the usually somber palace with life and warmth.
And as Hades looked at them—his brothers in arms, his comrades, the few souls he trusted most—he realized something profound.
For the first time in his eternal existence, he didn’t feel like the ruler of the dead.
He felt alive.
"Hold still, my lord!" Thanatos whined, circling Hades like a tailor who’d taken his job far too seriously. "This fold—no, no, the collar needs to look regal, not murderous. You’re getting married, not sentencing someone to eternal damnation!"
Hades raised an eyebrow. "Thanatos, you’re not even a tailor. Why are you touching my robe?"
"Because I know more about dressing up than you my lord!" Thanatos declared dramatically. "I always dress up handsomely so that the souls I greet would pass on peacefully! Imagine if I actually dress up all doom and gloom, I’d probably scare them back to life."
That... actually make sense.
"Just don’t wrinkle the robe."
Hypnos, still half-asleep on the couch, muttered without opening his eyes, "Don’t worry my lord, just increase his workload if he messed up."
Thanatos turned toward him. "Don’t you have anything better to do than sleep?!"
"Not really," Hypnos replied, yawning. "Unlike you, I have faith that the ceremony won’t fall apart in flames."
Phlegethon leaned forward, grinning. "Not during the ceremony, but after? I don’t know. Sounds like a global emergency to me."
Acheron chuckled darkly. "If those three were to fight, the whole underworld would go on holiday just to hide."
"Oh please, even Olympus would probably decide to actually do their job in fear of being affected." Phlegethon said, flames flickering with amusement. "Hera’s as prideful as it could get. No way she will take a loss."
"And Hecate might not look like it, but she’s incredibly petty." Cocytus said evenly. "If she feels like she’s suffering a loss, she will get revenge."
Hades gave a long, patient sigh—the kind that spoke of eons of endurance. "You all, they are going to be your queens you know."
Thanatos smiled, "We know my lord. But for now, they are still our peers."
Acheron grinned. "Besides, we’re just having fun. There hasn’t been any weddings in underworld for like... I can’t even remember when."
Hypnos raised a lazy finger. "Technically, there was that one time Acheron tried to marry a river spirit."
"That doesn’t count!" Acheron barked. "She turned out to be a kelpie! She tried to drown me!"
"Romantic," Cocytus said flatly. "Truly, the foundation of all lasting relationships."
Thanatos was giggling uncontrollably now. "You should’ve known, Acheron—she was literally dripping the entire time."
"Shut up!"
Phlegethon slapped Acheron’s back so hard it echoed. "Don’t worry, brother! Lord Hades is the only one insane enough to marry three goddesses—your kelpie looks normal in comparison!"
Hades shot him a dry look. "I am reconsidering your invitation to the wedding."
Phlegethon grinned wider. "You wouldn’t dare. Who else will light the ceremonial flames? You want a wedding without my fire? Blasphemy."
"I can ask Hestia."
"... I’m so sorry, please don’t revoke my invitation."
Thanatos leaned closer, whispering to Cocytus. "Do you think he’ll wear the crown?"
Cocytus replied calmly, "He’d better. Our king must look as majestic as possible. This is his big day, we can’t have someone undermining his authority and prestige."
Acheron chuckled. "Hehe, he’d be so majestic the moment he opened his mouth to recite his oath, everyone would probably tremble in fear."
"Or awe," Thanatos added loyally.
"Or because Hera’s glaring at everyone again," Phlegethon said under his breath. "That woman got a mean glare I tell you."
Hades slowly turned toward them, his expression unreadable. "Do all of you plan to live long enough to attend the wedding? If so, do not let Hera or Hecate hear you say those."
Thanatos immediately saluted. "Eternal loyalty, my lord!"
Hypnos muttered from his couch, "We’re immortal. It’s not like dying’s a real threat down here."
"True," Hades said dryly. "But you’ve never been on the wrong side of Hera’s temper."
That made even Phlegethon pause, his fiery grin dimming slightly. "Okay, fair. I’ll behave."
Cocytus smirked. "A wise choice."
Acheron leaned forward with a mischievous glint. "So, Lord Hades... which of them kissed you first?"
The room went dead quiet.
Even Hypnos opened one eye. "Good question."
Thanatos gasped like a gossiping nymph. "Yes, my lord, for historical accuracy!"
Phlegethon’s grin reignited. "C’mon, tell us! It’s for morale!"
Hades crossed his arms. "You’re all awfully curious about your king’s private affairs."
"That’s because it’s you, my lord," Thanatos said passionately. "You never even smiled properly before! Then suddenly—bam! Three brides! We need details!"
Hades gave them a cool, unreadable look. Then, in his calm baritone voice, he said, "A gentleman never speaks of such matters."
Acheron leaned back, laughing. "Oh, that means it was Aphrodite, definitely."
Thanatos nodded, whispering to Hypnos, "He didn’t deny it!"
Phlegethon roared with laughter. "Our mighty King—slain not by blade, but by beauty!"
Cocytus chuckled softly. "May the Fates have mercy on him. He’ll need it."
Hades turned back to the mirror, suppressing the faintest smile.
As his subordinates laughed, teased, and argued behind him, the dark walls of the Underworld seemed almost... alive.
For once, there was warmth, laughter, and joy echoing through the halls of the dead.
And Hades—stoic, eternal, unshakable—allowed himself the smallest chuckle.
If he was going to be tormented for eternity by three goddesses, he might as well practice by surviving his friends.