Underworld.
In the quiet of Hades office, the scratching of a pen was the only sound.
Hades sat behind his dark stone desk, calmly working through a stack of scrolls and tablets.
His office was tidy, lit by the pale glow of blue-green flas from braziers along the walls.
Hera stood before him, hands clasped behind her back, her tone formal but steady as she reported. "The matter is resolved. Athena has been ordered to circle the world on foot as punishnt. Poseidon will repair all damages their fight has caused and remain in isolation after."
Hades set down his pen and looked up at her with unreadable onyx eyes. He gave a small nod. "You handled it well."
Hera allowed herself a faint smile. "Thank you."
For a mont, she simply stood there, her golden eyes watching him, silent.
She couldn’t help but think of the rumors circulating lately; that Aphrodite has captured the king’s heart.
She doesn’t know why her heart would feel like it was being squeezed and her stomach felt like it was turned upside down every ti she thought of Aphrodite and Hades.
That’s why, she watched. Observing him. Wanting to see if she can find out why.
The room was quiet except for the faint rustle of paper and the soft scratch of a pen gliding across the page.
He sat at his desk, posture straight but relaxed, bathed in the warm light of the braziers along the walls.
His sleeves were rolled up to his forearms, exposing the lines of lean muscle there, and a faint shadow of stubble marked his jaw.
Every little movent seed to hold her attention.
The way his hand moved smoothly as he wrote.
The slight furrow of his brows when he focused.
The subtle sigh he let out before flipping to the next sheet.
Even the way he reached for his cup of mint tea felt deliberate, unhurried. His fingers wrapped around the mug with quiet elegance, bringing it to his lips before setting it back down in the exact sa spot as if by habit.
There was no dramatic action here. No thrilling excitent. Just a man quietly working.
And yet...
Her chest tightened.
She watched his hair fall slightly over his eyes as he bent closer to the paper.
She watched the tendons on his hand shift as he adjusted his grip on the pen.
She watched his shoulders rise and fall with his calm breathing.
Sothing clicked inside her.
It wasn’t sudden, not really. More like a gentle realization that had been waiting for the right mont to be noticed.
Her lips curved faintly as she leaned her cheek into her palm.
’Ah, now I know why...’ she thought, warmth blooming in her chest, ’Thats right. I love this man. I don’t like it when he’s with another woman.’
The world outside felt distant, muted.
Right now, there was only him.
Hades tilted his head slightly. "Do you have more to report?"
"Not quite," Hera said, her voice softening. "I only wished to ask if you have any free ti."
Hades blinked once, then glanced at the pile of docunts on his desk. After a mont of thought, he said, "If nothing else happens, I will finish this week’s work tomorrow. That should leave at least half a day free."
Hera nodded slowly, pleased with the answer. "Then, would you accompany on my inspections tomorrow?"
One of Hades’ brows rose, but he gave a single nod. "Very well."
A genuine smile touched Hera’s lips. "Good. I will look forward to it."
She gave a graceful bow, her form regal even in the somber glow of his office, then turned and left the office, her steps echoing softly as the door closed behind her.
The room grew quiet again, leaving Hades alone with his papers
*
*
*
Hera returned to her temple in a swirl of divine light, humming under her breath. Her steps were light, her mood rare and bright.
Though she said that tomorrow was supposed to be an inspection, but in her heart, it was a date.
She entered her chamber and went straight to her mirror.
Her reflection shone back at her; golden eyes, silver hair tied into perfect twin tails, a face of regal beauty. She tilted her head slightly, smiling at herself.
’Yes. I’m beautiful.’
If she wanted, there was no man who could resist her.
While she was admiring herself, the door to her room suddenly slamd open.
"Hera! You’re finally here!"
Aphrodite strode inside without hesitation, her voice bright and intrusive.
Hera’s smile vanished. Her frown deepened, and she had to resist the urge to hurl the goddess back out of the room.
"Rude harlot, you dare burst in here without permission?" She said coldly, but still asked. "What do you need?"
"Watch this." Aphrodite said, brushing off the insult with a flick of her wrist. She walked up to the mirror and tapped its surface.
The glass rippled like water. The image shifted, revealing a mortal man in a quiet yard, passionately kissing a stone statue as his hands caressed it.
Hera’s expression turned to disgust. She looked at Aphrodite as if she had been presented with filth. "I have no interest in mortal perversions. This does not amuse . Do not try to infect with whatever turns you on, you dumb harlot."
Aphrodite shook her head, her golden hair swaying as she smiled knowingly. "No, Hera. This isn’t just a mortal’s strange desire. I can feel it, the love coming from him is divine in strength. This man has been praying to every night to give life to that statue, so that he may marry her."
Hera raised a brow, unimpressed. "Like I said. Strange perversion. I have no interest in whatever it is that turns you on."
"It’s not like that!" Aphrodite waved her hands, "His love is as great Orpheus, no, even more than that! I can feel it! It’s so divine!"
"More than Orpheus? Isn’t that just insane obsession? Who the hell would fall in love with a piece of stone?"
"Actually, it’s ivory. And his na is Pygmalion." Aphrodite said, almost fondly. "A brilliant sculptor. And he calls the statue Galatea, aning milk-white."
Hera folded her arms. "So?"
"I want to grant his wish," Aphrodite replied casually.
Hera tilted her head slightly. "Then do it. You are the goddess of love. No one is stopping you."
Aphrodite’s smile widened, playful but persistent. "I could, but to truly bring Galatea to life, she needs a soul. Without one, she’d just be a piece of at, or rather, a corpse."
Hera frowned, already sensing where this was going. "Then go to Lethe. She handles reincarnation, all souls are in her hand. Why are you bothering ?"
"Because Lethe only listens to Hades," Aphrodite said smoothly. "And I can’t exactly walk into her river to ask her for a soul, she’d refuse . But if we went together, we can convince her."
Hera hesitated. Her first instinct was to refuse. After all, she doesn’t want to get involved in whatever crazy thing that Aphrodite finds interesting.
But she rembered the last ti, how Aphrodite had helped her during the Orpheus incident, where with her help, they managed to convince Hades.
Hera sighed softly. "Very well. I will help you with this... once."
Aphrodite bead, clapping her hands together. "I knew you would agree. That’s why you’re my best friend."
Hera narrowed her eyes but couldn’t quite hide the faint smile tugging at her lips. "Don’t go that far. You’re lucky I am in a good mood."
Aphrodite arched a brow, curious. "You’re in a good mood. Why?"
Hera straightened her back proudly. "I have a date with Hades tomorrow."
Aphrodite blinked, then pouted, clearly unimpressed. "So it’s just a date? I thought sothing special happened. Like you finally lost your virginity or sothing."
Hera’s face hardened with disdain. "One must remain chaste until marriage. To lose your chastity before then is a grave sin."
Aphrodite only shrugged. She’s a virgin too, but the mont she get the chance, she’d sleep with Hades imdiately. She isn’t going to wait until marriage for that.
"I’ve had countless dates with him already," Aphrodite said with a little smirk. "You have no right to look so smug."
Hera’s lips curled into a cold smile. "I know. The entire Underworld talks about it."
Aphrodite’s smirk grew even more mischievous. "Hehe, just you wait. A few more dates and I’ll finally get into his pants."
Hera’s golden eyes narrowed, her voice sharp. "Harlot."
Aphrodite said nothing, only grinning wider at Hera’s glare.
Then she tapped the mirror once more, dismissing the image of Pygmalion and Galatea. "Anyway, let’s get going."
Hera exhaled through her nose but nodded.
With that, the two imdiately went to the River Lethe.
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