Chapter 231: Chapter 75
Demeter’s garden in the Underworld was in full bloom, an eternal oasis nurtured by divine hands.
Silver fruit trees swayed with no wind, luminous flowers opened and closed in rhythm with unseen tides, and vines heavy with golden grapes curled lazily across marble arches.
Hecate, Hera, Aphrodite, Campe, Eris, Demeter, Persephone, Styx, Lethe, and Medea sat in a wide circle on embroidered cushions around a low table brimming with delicacies—honeycakes, roasted pomegranates, ambrosial wine, and steaming cups of bitter Underworld tea.
Hecate, Hera, and Aphrodite were at the center of attention, their cheeks faintly flushed as they narrated the events of their date with Hades.
The others leaned forward with rapt faces, gasping and squealing in unison, their voices rising like a flock of birds.
"I still cannot believe you three managed to trap him like that." Styx said, clapping her hands so hard her cup nearly spilled. "The great lord of the Underworld, undone by his own women."
Lethe nodded dreamily, propping her chin on both hands. "I always thought Lord Hades was unshakable, and yet, here you are, making him fall apart like a mortal boy on his first tryst."
Keres leaned back with a sly grin. "And they say we are merciless. Hah. None can rival Hera’s patience, Hecate’s cunning, or Aphrodite’s... appetite."
"Appetite?" Hera arched a brow, adjusting the folds of her peplos with practiced dignity.
"Yes, yes!" Eris cut in, eyes glinting with mischief. "Do not pretend otherwise. You devoured him, all three of you! Don’t deny it."
"We absolutely did not!" Hera looked appalled, as if she could not believe that they would even think she would do that. "That kind of thin should be done after marriage!"
Hecate a sip of her tea, trying to hide her embarrassment.
"Forget these virgins, they’re a wimp." Aphrodite snorted, before smugly pointing at herself, "Unlike these two, I slept with Hades. And I completely dominated him! He was like a virgin getting toyed around by a mature woman!"
Of course she was lying. She was the one getting toyed around. But that doesn’t matter, no one knew anyway.
"Aaahh! Damn it! Damn it!" A scream echoed.
At that, every pair of eyes turned toward the youngest goddess here, who was sprawled on the grass, pounding the earth with both fists.
Her shrill wail split the serenity of the garden.
"No! It should’ve been me! Not her! Me!" Persephone screamed, voice cracking. "It’s not fair!"
"Persephone, my darling," Demeter said with a sigh, brushing stray petals from her daughter’s hair. "No need be that emotional. There are worse fates than not sharing a bed with your crush, you know."
Then, almost absently, she added, "I wonder when I shall marry. Perhaps I should just marry Hades myself, if only to stop our mother from worrying about me still being alone."
The entire group froze for a heartbeat.
Aphrodite’s eyes widened and then sparkled like twin sapphires. She slammed her cup down, spilling wine onto her bare thigh but not caring in the least.
"Yes! That’s a marvelous idea, Demeter! You should absolutely marry Hades. The more the merrier, I say!"
Hecate and Hera both snapped their heads toward her in perfect unison.
"Absolutely not," Hera declared, her voice ringing with queenly authority. "Three is already a strain. Four is chaos. No more."
Hecate folded her arms and added in her dark, measured tone, "If we allowed another, it would spiral out of control. I am already tolerating Aphrodite’s presence, and that is saying much."
"Excuse me?" Aphrodite scoffed, tossing her golden hair back. "You’re just jealous that he looks at me with more heat than he does at you when you whisper curses into the dark."
Hecate’s lips twitched as though she might smile, but her eyes were sharp. "Heat fades and fire burns out. But shadows? Darkness? They endure for eternity."
"Oh, cryptic as always," Aphrodite drawled.
Medea, who had been quietly sipping tea beside her mistress, nearly choked when Hecate suddenly turned to her.
"However, I worried about my disciple." Hecate said smoothly, "as I am to be betrothed with Hades, she will have to move out of my temple. Maybe I can help her find a man of her own."
Every head swiveled toward Medea.
"Wh-what?!" Medea stammered, nearly spilling her cup. Her face turned crimson as she waved her hands in panic. "No, no, no! Master, no need for a man. I can handle my own. Please."
Eris laughed until her sides hurt. "Oh, the little witch blushing like a maiden! But there is no need to find a man, she can be a dowry and be given to Hades."
"Lady Eris!"
"Careful," Styx teased, her voice as smooth as running water. "You might find Lord Hades at your door tomorrow, bearing chains of silver and asking for your hand."
Lethe smiled drowsily. "Wouldn’t that be romantic? Poor girl, stolen away by her master’s king, lost forever in the folds of time."
"Enough, enough," Medea groaned, hiding her face in her hands while her ears burned bright red.
Hecate furrowed her brows and thought about. Hmm, if it’s her apprentice, then, it’s probably okay.
Meanwhile, Persephone had gone from weeping to shrieking again.
"No! No more brides! No apprentices! No mothers! He is mine! Mine!" She pounded the earth so hard a shock of roots burst through the soil, scattering petals across everyone’s laps.
Demeter patted her daughter’s head as one might a stubborn mule. "Hush, Persephone. If you truly want him, then perhaps you should try seducing him. It worked with Aphrodite."
Aphrodite gave a thumbs up, "Works like a charm."
"That will not work," Hera interjected coldly. "We have already claimed him. The bond is sealed."
Aphrodite smirked, sipping her wine. "Ah, Hera, don’t sound so sure. Desire is like water. It seeps through cracks, no matter how tightly you seal the jar."
Keres leaned forward with a wicked grin. "Then perhaps we should make a wager. Will Hades stay faithful to the three, or will Persephone or Demeter—or even Medea—steal him away in time?"
The garden erupted with laughter, squeals, and heated jests, while Persephone’s tantrum grew louder, and Demeter’s eyes lingered on the thought longer than she dared admit.
The laughter had only just settled when Campe leaned back on her cushion, smirking like a cat with cream, finally deciding to join in on the conversation.
She swirled her cup of wine lazily and said, "All this talk about who belongs to whom is amusing... but tell me, when exactly will the four of you get married?"
The group erupted again.
"Married?" Hera sniffed, eyes narrowing. "I am marriage itself. Our bond is already sanctified."
"Oh, listen to her," Aphrodite cut in with a grin. "So proper, so pompous. But you still melt like wax when he whispers your name, don’t you?"
Hera glared at her.
Hecate tapped the table with her long nails, her expression calm but voice edged with mischief. "If a ceremony is demanded, then perhaps I shall write the vows in blood and starlight. No temple priest could rival my ritual."
"That’s not a wedding," Styx said dryly. "That’s a curse."
The circle burst into giggles again.
Aphrodite leaned forward, eyes sparkling. "Oh, but imagine the feast! I could arrange garlands, doves, silks, colors—oh, the spectacle of it! The whole Underworld would swoon."
Persephone, still sulking in the grass, sat up and snapped, "There will be no wedding until I can be with him! None! So you have to wait for me!"
"Unfortunately, you have no chance." Eris said with a wicked grin, "Lord Hades still treats you like a kid."
Persephone howled in fury and dropped back down, pounding the ground again.
Meanwhile, Demeter smiled faintly, sipping her wine. "If my daughter cannot be married with my brother, perhaps I shall take him instead. A wedding with me would at least be dignified."
"Absolutely not!" Hera and Hecate shouted at once, their voices overlapping.
Medea, trying to vanish into her cup, squeaked when Eris suddenly turned her grin on her. "And what about you, little witch? When will your wedding with Lord Hades be?"
"Wha—?!" Medea nearly choked on her tea again. "No! No! Stop saying such nonsense!"
"Oh, don’t be shy," Lethe said dreamily, eyes half-lidded. "I can already see it... Medea in a gown of twilight flame, Hades placing a crown of onyx on her head..."
Eris chuckled, "You keep telling us to shut up, but you never actually said that you will refuse Lord Hades."
Hera immediately snap her head towards her and Medea was quick to lower her head and shrink her neck.
"....I will hex all of you," Medea muttered into her sleeve, crimson from ear to ear.
"Ah, delightful," Aphrodite sighed happily, clapping her hands. "So many brides, so many possibilities. We’ll need an entirely new calendar just to schedule Hades’ weddings at this rate!"
The entire circle howled with laughter, while Hera’s dignity cracked at the corners, Hecate smirked in spite of herself, and Persephone rolled in the grass screaming that none of them deserved him.