Eros’s Wedding – Aftermath (2)
After a short while, Selene changed the direction of her moon chariot.
The brief eclipse ended, and the sun revealed its true form once again.
“But wouldn’t that be hard on the goddess Selene?”
“She was compensated appropriately. Hephaestus crafted her so jewelry...”
When it cos to an ‘appropriate reward’ for a goddess on Olympus, it usually ans sothing crafted by Hephaestus.
Whenever the god of smithing puts even a little effort into it, he churns out jewelry comparable to the magical artifacts made by Lady Hecate...
“I heard Aglaia is pregnant with Hephaestus’s child.”
“It was a good decision to follow your advice, brother. Not only did it help their relationship, but it seems Aphrodite is more accepting of Psyche now, thanks to the divorce.”
So, you were thinking the sa as I was.
Aphrodite has certainly llowed out, likely because she finally got the divorce she had wanted so much from Hephaestus.
She had longed to be free to pursue love without the constraints of marriage...
Glancing over at Eros and Psyche, the stars of the wedding,
I saw Aphrodite sitting with her legs crossed, bossing Psyche around.
“Psyche, dear, co here and pour so nectar.”
“Yes, mother...”
“Mother? I don’t rember allowing soone who can’t even pour nectar properly to marry Eros.”
“Mother, please! I got married today...”
“Hmph!”
She’s llowed... right? Probably.
At least she’s not cursing or banishing her. It seems like she’s reluctantly accepting Psyche.
But where has Persephone gone? She was sticking close to just a mont ago, and now she’s disappeared again.
“You’re truly beautiful. Perhaps you’d care to spend so ti with ? I might not look like it, but I’m...”
“No! Get away from !”
A muscular young god, who looked about 20 by mortal standards, was hitting on Persephone.
I didn’t recognize him, so he must have been a recently born god.
Though Persephone, being Deter’s daughter, could handle herself,
I couldn’t allow any disruptions at a wedding that was supposed to be joyful...
I should go over there.
The young god tried to smile as he reached out to lightly grab Persephone’s wrist,
but she pulled away with a look of utter disgust—one I had never seen her make before.
“Why do you reject ? I am Priapus, the son of Dionysus, after all...”
“Hades!”
As I quietly approached from behind, Persephone’s face lit up when she saw .
Could it be that she wanted to play the damsel in distress, waiting for her prince to rescue her? No, surely not.
Naturally, the mont Priapus heard her say my na, he turned around, startled.
His eyes widened when he realized I had snuck up behind him.
“H-Hades...! Forgive ! This is my first ti attending an event on Olympus, and I didn’t recognize the goddess Persephone...”
“Silence. Did you say you’re the son of Dionysus?”
“Y-yes, sir!”
I had heard the na Priapus before.
He governs fertility and procreation, if I recall correctly.
“When courting soone, do you rely on your status and title?”
“Pardon?”
“If you act this way with another god, I can only imagine how you treat mortals... Listen carefully.”
“W-what do you an, my lord?”
“If even one mortal suffers because of your behavior, you will answer for it in the Underworld. Now, be gone.”
Priapus hurriedly bowed and retreated, but for so reason, his presence left with a sense of irritation.
Was it because I had grown so attached to Persephone? It bothered more than I expected.
“Hehe... Hades.”
“Next ti, just tell them your na. That would have been enough.”
“That didn’t occur to . Heehee.”
As Persephone linked her arm through mine, the irritation quickly faded.
Indeed, she truly was one of the most beautiful goddesses on Olympus.
“Why are you staring at like that?”
Her golden eyes and hair, so reminiscent of her father.
Her beauty, inherited from Deter, was enough to drive countless gods mad with desire.
It’s no wonder young gods who didn’t know her would blindly throw themselves at her.
Deter must constantly worry about her... Oh, speak of the devil, here she cos.
With a stern expression, Deter approached, casting a sharp glare in Priapus’s direction before speaking worriedly to Persephone.
“Persephone, as I’ve told you countless tis, don’t stray too far from Hades during gatherings like this...”
“Mother! You’re overprotective! I’m almost 300 years old!”
“Sigh... I can’t help it. So many goddesses have been taken advantage of by male gods, even with their powers.”
Deter’s concern was valid.
Despite their high status, there were still cases where goddesses had been deceived and hard.
Even Deter herself had been targeted by Poseidon not long ago, so as a mother, her worry was natural.
“Hades. Didn’t I ask you to take good care of my daughter? At events like this, you should...”
“Mom! Please, stop!!!”
So loud.
After Persephone’s outburst, Deter finally cald down and took a seat.
Persephone and I sat across from her, quietly sipping nectar.
After a few monts, Deter put down her golden cup and looked between and Persephone.
“It’s been quite so ti since my daughter went to live in the Underworld. Don’t you think it’s about ti you two got married?”
“M-mother...!”
“Of course, Persephone would be the queen of the Underworld, right?”
For soone who had once been furious about taking her daughter, she sure had changed her tune.
Was it the incident where Ares’s daughter was nearly assaulted by Poseidon’s son that made her so anxious?
“...I already have other goddesses in mind.”
“Who cares about that? You’ve been hanging around the goddess Styx ever since the Titanomachy.
And what’s the harm in gods having multiple wives? Just look at Zeus.”
I glanced over at Zeus.
“Haha! Ganyde, pour another cup of nectar!”
“Zeus, you...!”
“Leave us, Ganyde.”
I turned my attention back to Deter.
Zeus had been smiling at Ganyde, but the mont Hera’s icy glare pierced him, he quickly sent the boy away.
Seeing this, a crack appeared in Deter’s usually calm expression.
“...Anyway, you’re too rigid, Hades. That’s why... ahem.”
“I understand what you’re saying, but it’s difficult to give a clear answer...”
Just as I was about to say that it was hard to give a clear answer regarding Persephone,
I found myself lost in thought—sothing I had been putting off for a long ti. Do I care for Persephone?
It doesn’t bother to be seen as soone who has feelings for a goddess, even as the Lord of the Underworld.
I’ve always taken on the role of her protector, given her unmatched beauty and the attention she garners from other gods.
But... if I were to ask myself if I truly have feelings for her...
I looked at Persephone, who was sitting quietly, her hands clasped together, gazing at with a slightly anxious expression.
When our eyes t, she gave a shy smile, though the anxiety in her eyes remained.
What I felt at that mont was a sudden dislike.
I disliked seeing the anxiety in her eyes.
The worry that I might reject her.
That kind of emotion didn’t suit the vibrant goddess of spring.
“Hades...”
Even Deter, who had been urging for an answer, remained silent now, quietly eating her ambrosia as she waited for my response.
As I reflected on my ti with Persephone, I began to piece together my feelings.
When she first ca to the Underworld... when she offered to breathe life into the heroes’ training grounds for ...
Yes, Persephone was indeed beautiful.
Her actions were endearing, and I didn’t dislike being around her.
So, then...
I quietly reached under the table and gently took hold of Persephone’s soft hand.
It was a bit awkward, but... I couldn’t continue pretending not to notice her feelings.
Though marriage might still be a bit much for now, at the very least...
“Ah...!”
“There seems to be so misunderstanding, Deter.”
Maybe... I do have feelings for Persephone.
“I’ve never once said I disliked Kore.”
“...Hades. What did you just say?”
Deter, who had been eating ambrosia, stopped and stared at , wide-eyed.
Persephone, now snuggled closer to , radiated warmth, and seeing her flushed cheeks, I felt sothing stir within .
“Now that Eros’s wedding is coming to a close, I’ll be heading back.”
“...Alright.”
As we made our way down from Olympus, heading back to the Underworld,
I guided the chariot through the fierce winds, and Persephone, sitting behind , called out.
“Hades.”
“What is it?”
“Earlier... it was the first ti you called Kore.”
Had I?
“That’s your nickna, isn’t it?
I heard that everyone who’s close to you calls you that.”
“...Hehe.”
Persephone—no, Kore—wrapped her arms around my waist from behind.
And so, with the warmth of the goddess of spring enveloping , I quietly guided the chariot back to the Underworld.
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