"What are you doing?" Hades snapped, his tone sharp enough to cut. Cerdery turned at once, unfazed, giggling lightly as she paced closer to him with an ease that suggested familiarity rather than offense.
"Just an exchange of greetings," she replied, tilting her head. "You're becoming more impatient by the day, Hades."
He did not answer. In that brief silence, Eva felt it— his gaze locking onto hers across the space, steady and expectant, as though he were waiting for something she did not know how to give. The moment stretched uncomfortably before she finally looked away, fingers tightening around Lady Cerdery's hand as she allowed herself to be guided down the corridor. Their footsteps faded together until both figures disappeared at its end.
