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 some jewelry...”

When it comes to an ‘appropriate reward’ for a goddess on Olympus, it usually means something 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 same as I was.
Aphrodite has certainly mellowed 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, come here and pour me some nectar.”
“Yes, mother...”

“Mother? I don’t remember allowing someone who can’t even pour nectar properly to marry Eros.”

“Mother, please! I got married today...”

“Hmph!”

She’s mellowed... 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 me just a moment ago, and now she’s disappeared again.

“You’re truly beautiful. Perhaps you’d care to spend some time with me? I might not look like it, but I’m...”

“No! Get away from me!”

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 Demeter’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 me? I am Priapus, the son of Dionysus, after all...”

“Hades!”

As I quietly approached from behind, Persephone’s face lit up when she saw me.
Could it be that she wanted to play the damsel in distress, waiting for her prince to rescue her? No, surely not.

Naturally, the moment Priapus heard her say my name, he turned around, startled.
His eyes widened when he realized I had snuck up behind him.

“H-Hades...! Forgive me! This is my first time 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 name Priapus before.
He governs fertility and procreation, if I recall correctly.

“When courting someone, 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 mean, 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 some reason, his presence left me with a sense of irritation.
Was it because I had grown so attached to Persephone? It bothered me more than I expected.

“Hehe... Hades.”

“Next time, just tell them your name. That would have been enough.”

“That didn’t occur to me. 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 me like that?”

Her golden eyes and hair, so reminiscent of her father.
Her beauty, inherited from Demeter, 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.
Demeter must constantly worry about her... Oh, speak of the devil, here she comes.

With a stern expression, Demeter approached, casting a sharp glare in Priapus’s direction before speaking worriedly to Persephone.

“Persephone, as I’ve told you countless times, 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.”

Demeter’s concern was valid.
Despite their high status, there were still cases where goddesses had been deceived and harmed.
Even Demeter 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, Demeter finally calmed down and took a seat.
Persephone and I sat across from her, quietly sipping nectar.

After a few moments, Demeter put down her golden cup and looked between me and Persephone.

“It’s been quite some time since my daughter went to live in the Underworld. Don’t you think it’s about time you two got married?”

“M-mother...!”

“Of course, Persephone would be the queen of the Underworld, right?”

For someone who had once been furious about me 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! Ganymede, pour me another cup of nectar!”

“Zeus, you...!”

“Leave us, Ganymede.”

I turned my attention back to Demeter.

Zeus had been smiling at Ganymede, but the moment Hera’s icy glare pierced him, he quickly sent the boy away.
Seeing this, a crack appeared in Demeter’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—something I had been putting off for a long time. Do I care for Persephone?

It doesn’t bother me to be seen as someone 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 me with a slightly anxious expression.
When our eyes met, she gave me a shy smile, though the anxiety in her eyes remained.

What I felt at that moment 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 Demeter, who had been urging me for an answer, remained silent now, quietly eating her ambrosia as she waited for my response.

As I reflected on my time with Persephone, I began to piece together my feelings.
When she first came to the Underworld... when she offered to breathe life into the heroes’ training grounds for me...

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 some misunderstanding, Demeter.”

Maybe... I do have feelings for Persephone.

“I’ve never once said I disliked Kore.”

“...Hades. What did you just say?”

Demeter, who had been eating ambrosia, stopped and stared at me, wide-eyed.
Persephone, now snuggled closer to me, radiated warmth, and seeing her flushed cheeks, I felt something stir within me.

“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 me, called out.

“Hades.”

“What is it?”

“Earlier... it was the first time you called me Kore.”

Had I?

“That’s your nickname, 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 me, I quietly guided the chariot back to the Underworld.