(Hestia POV – Changing Room)
I step inside the small changing room, the wooden door clicking shut behind me. My heart pounds like a war drum as I gently place the box down on the bench. The cool air inside brushes against my cheeks, already flushed from a confusing mix of excitement and suspicion.
'He wouldn't really put underwear in here… right?' I ask myself, palms resting nervously on the lid. 'He's a tease, not a pervert.'
A moment passes then, with a soft exhale, I lift the lid.
The moment the box opens, my breath catches.
"It's… beautiful." I whisper, my eyes widening slightly in excitement.
Laid neatly inside is a dress so pristine, so carefully folded, it looks like it was plucked straight from a tailor's most glorious dream. I lift it slowly, as if it might dissolve at any moment.
The fabric is impossibly soft—nothing else I've seen even comes close. It's feather-light despite its size, and it shimmers faintly under the light. The base color is snow white, with intricate blue floral patterns embroidered across the dress, beautifully curling around like luscious vines. The bodice is simple but elegant, with delicate spaghetti straps and a flowing, fluttery skirt that would fall just above the knees. Not too long. Not too short. Just… perfect.
My fingers glide across the surface, and I almost can't believe how cool and soft it is. Not a single thread is out of place. Not a single seam is rough. It's like it was made for comfort and beauty—crafted with a precision no ordinary tailor could ever achieve.
'He got this in my favorite colors…' I smile faintly, brushing a finger over the embroidered petals.
Nestled just beneath the dress are sandals—elegant, white leather with soft cushioned soles, clearly designed with comfort in mind. Thin straps curl up like vines, meant to wrap gracefully around the ankles and feet. Each strap is dotted with tiny, vivid blue flower charms that glint subtly in the light. They match the dress perfectly—stylish without being gaudy.
And then… I spot it.
And my smile falters.
"…P-PANTIES?!"
I stare at the final piece, peeking innocently from the bottom of the box. My face erupts in heat as if someone just lit a forge in my skull.
Rage surges within me. "How dare he—!"
My fingers shoot out, yanking the tiny piece of white fabric from its place like it might explode.
They're simple—white like the rest of the outfit—but made of the same luxurious, unnaturally soft material. Light enough to glide across the skin without friction, breathable, and yet stretchy in a way that makes me blink in disbelief as I pull at the waistband slightly and it stretches easily, before snapping back to size when I let go.
Blue floral embroidery circles the waistband in delicate loops, giving it a sense of handmade intimacy that feels a little too personal.
I scowl, still blushing furiously. "Who puts panties in a gift box?!"
But my voice wavers. I hold the fabric up again. Slowly and cautiously, with just a bit of curiosity.
'It's… so soft.'
I press the fabric gently against the inside of my wrist. It feels like clouds and water and some kind of divine silk all at once. No chafing, no rough stitching—just a gentle, seamless quality.
'It's better than anything I own… by far.'
'Did… did he make this?' I wonder, chewing my lip. 'No one sells anything this good. Even if they did, we couldn't afford it. I don't think other gods even get anything this good.'
I kneel in front of the box. The panties rest in my hands, the dress draped across my lap, and the sandals lying peacefully in the box.
Confusion swirls in my chest. Warmth. Embarrassment. Gratitude. A touch of panic.
'Was this a joke? Is he teasing me? Or did he actually… want to have me wearing these panties for our date?' My face turns bright crimson at the thought.
I clench the panties in my hands, resolve slowly forming behind the storm in my heart.
"It's a gift." I whisper to myself. "A really good one. So… I can't just not wear it."
My cheeks puff out again in frustration, trying to push back the lingering blush.
"I'll wear it. All of it." I nod to myself firmly. "And when I see him…" I start out shyly, before frustration once again takes over. "When I see him, I'm gonna give him a piece of my mind!"
Even with my heart's thumping wildly… I'm happy that he'd want to imagine me wearing panties he picked out.
"Let's do this." I take a deep breath and psych myself up, clutching the edge of the wooden bench for support. "It's just a casual date. Just a dress. Just… really cute panties." I groan and cover my face.
I shake my head quickly, cheeks burning. "Pull yourself together, Hestia." One more deep breath, and I begin to change.
(Riven POV – Jagamarukun Stall, 2:32 PM)
I lean casually against the stall's shaded edge, arms folded, eyes lazily watching the shifting crowd of Orario's afternoon bustle. My mind, however, is occupied with only one thought:
'Will she be mad?' I smirk faintly. 'Hopefully she's not too mad.'
The panties had been added with good intentions, even if the delivery was… bold. They're high-quality, seamless, comfortable enough to sleep in, and better than anything else in Orario. All thanks to Great Sage. If I'm going to convince Hestia to start a clothing business, she needs to understand the product.
And in the meantime… well, I wanted her to feel special.
While I waited, I decided to change into something new myself. I also need to look nice for the date.
I put on a freshly crafted white cotton-linen shirt, soft to the touch, tailored to fit snug across my chest and shoulders without restricting movement. The open collar dips slightly at the neck, while the hem and cuffs are embroidered with subtle blue flower motifs that echo Hestia's own dress. My sleeves are rolled up neatly to the forearms.
My trousers are a deep navy blue—fitted but flexible, breathable enough to avoid feeling hot. They sit comfortably under a sleek grey belt, and my brown leather sandals are laced securely but minimally. It's a simple look…
But I know I look good.
And judging by the curious stares I've gotten just from standing here… so does everyone else.
'Thankfully none of them are bold enough to approach.' I sigh inwardly. 'I'd rather not deal with all that before the date.'
And then I see her.
She walks toward me with a determined energy. She's always like that when she's flustered, trying to act angry, but just doesn't want to admit it. Her fists are clenched, and her expression is serious—but I can already tell by the puff in her cheeks and the slight pink in her ears that I'm not in any real danger.
When she reaches me, she stops. Her eyes immediately trail down my frame, openly assessing me with surprising thoroughness.
"…When did you change?" She asks absentmindedly, circling me like a very short and very opinionated fashion judge. Her sandals click softly against the cobblestones.
I grin. "I also needed new clothes. Figured I should look my best—for you, of course."
That hits her harder than expected. She stutters mid-step, her expression stunned, and a faint blush dusts her cheeks as she looks away.
"T-that's…" She clears her throat loudly. "Don't say stuff like that so casually!"
I laugh softly, eyes never leaving her.
She's wearing the dress.
And she's perfect.
It fits her perfectly, loosely hugging her curves in all the right places without being the least bit lewd. The spaghetti straps leave her petite shoulders bare, and the bodice rises just enough to show a hint of cleavage—amplified by my height advantage. The skirt flutters just above her knees as she moves, light and breezy, giving her the look of a goddess strolling through a field of bluebells.
My smile softens. "I'm serious, though. You look beautiful, Hestia."
She freezes, her eyes go wide, and then her entire face turns crimson. She spins around with a dramatic squeal, her twin tails whipping through the air. "W-WHY would you say that out loud?! In public?!"
I raise a brow, and lean downward, before gently whispering into her ear. "Should I whisper it like this instead?"
She squeaks a bit, jumping away slightly, covering her ear with both hands as she stares at me with wide eyes. "Y-you're unbelievable! First the clothes, now this?! I haven't even yelled at you yet!"
"Oh?" I immediately step closer to her again, smirking slightly. "And what exactly were you planning to yell at me for?"
She puffs her cheeks, glaring up at me—but it's not real anger. She's shy, flustered, and desperately trying to hide her embarrassment. "You know what you did!"
I tilt my head playfully. "I really don't. Could you be more specific?"
Her lips twitch, and then she drops her gaze. Her voice comes out in a near-whisper. "T-the… panties…"
I blink dramatically. "Oh? Those?"
"Yes!" She huffs, cheeks puffing out again. "You put them in there without saying anything! Do you have any idea how shocked I was?"
"But they were cute, right?" I say, grinning like the devil.
She grits her teeth. "That's not the—!"
"And did you wear them?"
That stops her again.
She looks away, blushing even deeper. Then, very, very slowly… she nods.
I narrow my eyes mischievously. "Was that a yes?"
"…Shut up."
I laugh in amusement.
"I hoped they'd be comfortable." I say gently. "So that we could fully focus on the date."
She doesn't respond at first. Then she mumbles. "They are… stupidly comfy…"
A moment of silence passes between us. I drop the teasing for a moment, just watching her and admiring her beauty. She fidgets slightly as she notices my gaze, but never tells me to stop.
'There's just one thing I'd want to change.' I think, stepping behind her.
"Huh?" She says in surprise, but makes no move to stop me. "What are you doing?"
I gently run my hands through her hair. "Do you mind if we let your hair down?" I ask curiously. "I think you'd look even more beautiful that way."
Hestia turns her head to look back at me, and nods her head shyly. "Okay…"
I smile warmly. Then I slowly and gently remove her hair ties.
Her dark strands spill across her shoulders, streaming down her back with the grace and beauty of a waterfall.
"Does it look good?" She asks nervously, playing with her hair a bit.
"You look amazing." I say sincerely, and her eyes brighten up as she gains more confidence.
We both know my words are true, and before she can get excited and rush forward, I stepped beside her.
Then I offer my hand. "Ready to start our date, Goddess?"
She looks at it for a second, then slowly places her hand in mine.
"Y-yeah… Let's go." She mutters.
I smile, adjusting my grip, and holding her hand firmly, but gently, as we begin to walk side by side towards our first destination.
***********
A/N: Hello Everyone. I hope you've all had a wonderful day. If you enjoyed the chapter and book thus far, please consider leaving me some comments, reviews, or powerstones. It really helps the book out.
Sorry for the late chapter. I'm really not good at lovey Dovey and dating stuff, so it takes me much longer to write, but I think it turned out well.
The date will start in the next chapter. Feel free to add suggestions and ideas. Actually, I'm quite interested in what you guys think about their dynamic. Riven likes to tease Hestia, and Hestia gets shy. To me, it's slightly weird because in canon she's more proactive, but conversely, that's because Bell was a harmless bunny. Can't be that careless with Riven🤣. Hence why she's shy.
I'm actually thinking about Uno reversing it on Riven, with Hestia pushing to be proactive, and it becomes a bluffing game till one side folds. That would be a disaster (one I'm excited to see). Then the outfits. The images are just references, the descriptions are more important.
Also thinking of altering Hestia's personality a bit. Having her grow. Unlike canon where she was childish, which is cute, I want her to mature a bit because of Riven. Y'know, become a respectable Goddess. Cause let's face it, while Riven likes teasing her, mature Hestia would be able to do some damage back that current Hestia can't. She'd have eventually gained resistance to teasing sooner or later. I'm not gonna make her suddenly mature, and she'll still have her childish side, but overall, at least to the public, she'll be the goddess Riven deserves. Like her alter. (Personally, I find mature Hestia super hot, so yeah, there a re some ulterior motives behind it).
You can also read 10 chapters ahead and support me at [email protected]/AMV_WEAKLY
Anyway, that's all from me. Have a good night everyone😁