Episode 15

“Hah……”

Leaning back against the closed door, Hestia exhaled deeply in frustration.

What are you doing to a child?

She couldn’t help but get excited.

On second thought, though…….

“There’s no way I have any of that left.”

Hestia buried her face in her hands.

After being alone for so long, she was overjoyed to find a new connection, even if it was just a dot.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t let her hidden emotions run wild.

“After I go to bed……. Yeah. I’ll be fine after I sleep.”

Hestia spoke the words like a mantra, then pushed herself up from her reclining position and walked to the table.

She slumped helplessly into the chair and collapsed onto the table like a doll with a broken thread.

“…….”

Yeah. After she slept, everything would be back to normal.

She didn’t know about anything else, but she knew she was……. because you’ve always been the same.

* * *

Only in the blue light of dawn did Hestia slowly lift her closed eyes.

“Same old, same old.”

She muttered the words that had become her habitual way of starting the day and pushed herself up from her prostrate position.

Thud, thud.

The blanket slipped off his body and fell to the floor.

“When again…….”

It was the new blanket she’d bought for Theo.

Hestia picked it up, twirled it, folded it neatly, and placed it on the table.

When I see him, I’ll have to apologize.

When she’d thought he was gone, the senseless loss had made her emotions so heightened that she’d reacted sharply to the slightest comment.

Hestia’s eyes took on a bittersweet glint.

She squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head,

“Let’s get on with the day.”

Hestia pushed herself up and stepped out.

Hiss.

She opened the door cautiously, not wanting to wake Theo.

Outside, she was bathed in a brilliant blue light.

She breathed in deeply, the cold, fresh air filling her lungs.

The corners of Hestia’s mouth curled upward at the sensation of clarity.

“Mr. El.”

Hiss.

The sound of Suri’s fierce cry roused the sleeping birds, sending them furiously into flight. The silence of the forest was disturbed.

Soon a huge black shadow loomed over Hestia’s head.

When El looked up and saw that she had no intention of coming down, Hestia nudged her.

“Just give me the basket of quilts, please.”

Hestia’s voice was tinged with irritation, but Elle’s eyes darted around the sky as if she hadn’t heard.

It was obvious what she wanted.

“Can’t you do it another time? If I do it first thing in the morning, I’ll have no energy for the rest of the day.”

Elle watched him stare at her, then turned away.

“Then I’ll call you later.

And with that, he flew higher and higher until he was just a dot.

“Oh, okay, here, here, here!”

Hestia threw one hand up in the air in frustration.

“You’re bothering me.

But despite her words, El quickly changed direction and descended. With the basket of quilts, of course.

The great wings flapped and the gusts of wind tore at Hestia’s dark hair and the hem of her dress.

The sound of the clashing winds echoed in the air.

Hestia hastily tamed her fluttering hair, not wanting to wake Theo.

“Can you please come down quietly?!”

She blurted out, for what seemed like the umpteenth time.

“There’s only so much you can ask of a human subject.

Elle’s eyes glowed fiercely, and soon a transparent light enveloped her.

When he reappeared, a small Suri, no bigger than his forearm, was perched on the handle of a quilted basket.

“This is not the way to honor my majesty, so let’s get this over with.

What’s the point of being so dignified when you’re the one holding out your hand to be fed?

Still, it was a much better attitude than it used to be.

Hestia sat down in front of the basket, her face full of energy, and placed her right hand on El’s head.

Soon, a warm glow emanated from their touch and enveloped Elle’s body. It was the color of transparent sunlight or brilliant moonlight.

But the peace was short-lived.

“Hestia, are you all right?”

Fuddum.

El flew up and disappeared at the sudden appearance of the voice.

“Theo?”

Hestia looked up at Theo, her eyes wide with a mixture of surprise and fear.

Had he seen her? How long had he been watching her? Should she leave now?

Hestia’s mind raced, but she could only gape at the sound of her own pounding heart.

“……Hestia.”

Theo stepped closer, his face stern.

“…….”

Hestia stood still, still staring at Theo.

What if……. If he sensed something was wrong, she’d have to run.

“Your complexion, it’s not good.”

Theo stepped in front of Hestia and bent down to meet her gaze.

Did she see it?

Did she, did she see?

“The quilt basket was…… heavy, wasn’t it? You should have called me for this.”

Leaving Hestia tense, Theo stood up, still holding the basket.

“I’ll put it away.”

He started to walk toward the house, then paused, adding.

“……your complexion, it’s really bad. Finish your walk and come in.”

With one last worry, Theo walked quickly and disappeared into the house.

“Hah…….”

Fluff.

Hestia slumped to the floor as the tension left her.

Her arms were numb from all the effort she’d put into her body. Her fisted hands were already damp with cold sweat.

“You didn’t see ……? Ha ha, I’ll have to be more careful, I’m too complacent for a kid.”

Letting out a short, tense breath, Hestia stood up, her body sagging like a soaked cotton ball, and headed for the garden. She needed time to calm her frightened mind.

Ping.

As if out of nowhere, Lu came over and rubbed Hestia’s face comfortingly.

“You’re only ever so affectionate at times like this.”

“Sorry, sis.

Lou flipped her ears back and looked up at Hestia, her eyes moist at the corners.

“You’re doing this because you know I’m vulnerable, right?”

At that, Hestia made a defeated puffing sound and stroked her soft silver fur.

“You have nothing to be sorry for, it was all my choice.”

Choosing to bring Theo here. Choosing to hide in a place like this. Deciding to stay in resonance with the spirits.

It was all her choice.

Except to live a life without regret.

After sitting on the rock and stroking Lu’s fur for a while, Hestia relaxed.

“Thank you, Lou. You made me feel so much better.”

The resonance with El had energized her, and her shaky mind was suddenly filled with a relaxed relief.

“Hehe. I did help, didn’t I?

Roo popped her head up from her burrow in Hestia’s arms, her bushy tail wagging wildly.

“Of course you did. You’re always so helpful to me.”

“Wow, I’m going to go tell Sister Finn!

Hestia smiled warmly at Roo’s adorable behavior and patted him on the head once more.

Then she pushed herself up from the rock and clapped her hands together as if she had made a decision.

“Okay, raspberry salad for breakfast!”

After picking raspberries until her fingertips were covered with publications, Hestia tucked the basket into her side and headed home.

“What’s up?”

Inside, Theo was busily setting the table with plates and forks.

Hestia quickly scanned his expression again but didn’t see anything out of the ordinary.

Phew. The last of her nervousness had finally subsided.

“Salad for breakfast, right?”

Theo set the last of his water on the table and shifted his gaze to Hestia.

“Huh? How did you know?”

Hestia asked, intrigued.

“I just kind of had a feeling.”

Theo could only chuckle.

“I thought you were stubborn, but you’re quick on your feet.”

Hestia made a face that hid her mischief, and then her dark eyes lit up.

“……I’m not sure if that’s a compliment or an insult, and I don’t think I’ve ever been all that stubborn.”

Theo shrugged a hint of disapproval in his voice.

“Oh, who was the one who insisted on sleeping on the floor?”

Hestia’s mischievous grin deepened as she set the basket down on the table.

“Some of you are quite stubborn, I suppose.”

Theo shook his head, unwilling to fall for the joke.

Hestia stared at him, then hesitantly opened her mouth.

“Um……. I’m sorry about yesterday.”

Hestia blurted out the words she’d been carefully mulling over.

“……?”

Theo’s eyes widened in surprise as he met Hestia’s steady gaze.

“Yesterday, at the end, I talked myself out of it.”

Hestia cleared her throat, embarrassed by the emotion in the apology she hadn’t realized she’d been giving for so long.

“Ah…….”

Theo looked confused for a moment, then blurted out.

“No, I insisted, don’t say that!”

Theo threw up his hands in embarrassment and quickly blushed.

The emotion conveyed by this apology was unfamiliar and embarrassing, and Theo seemed to find it unbearable.

“Hmph, hmph, I guess we’ll just have to settle for this.”

Hestia coughed unnecessarily in embarrassment and changed the subject.

“Let’s get breakfast!”

Hestia blurted out in a rush, then quickly turned her back and began preparing breakfast. She shrugged it off as just her mood and busied herself with getting ready.

“…….”

It was Theo, too.

He looked around for something to do, but all he could do was rearrange the dishes on the table.

If he didn’t do something, he felt like he was going to melt into a puddle of embarrassment and overwhelm.