Hades lounged on the couch of my office. Meanwhile, I sat on the adjacent armchair, her nose buried in a thick novel. The room was filled with the soothing hum of Hades’ game and the faint rustling of pages as Fertine turned them.

Hades glanced up from his game, his eyebrows raised in amusement. “Fertine, do you ever get tired of living in your own little bookish world?”

Fertine peeked over her book, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Oh, Hades, don’t you know? Books take me on grand adventures, introduce me to fascinating characters, and expand my horizons. I wouldn’t trade that for anything.”

Hades scoffed playfully. “Adventures? You...