A/N : Thank you to everyone who submitted reviews. I have read them and really appreciate them. And to my other readers, I hope you will do the same, so that I can better focus on the right direction for my writing in the future.
......
After arriving at the mansion, Allen immediately carried Mikaela to her room and gently laid her down on the bed, letting her fall into a deep sleep so she could rest properly. He made sure she was comfortable before quietly leaving the room.
Once that was done, Allen returned to the living room, finally allowing himself to relax a little.
"Hey, love," Raviel asked casually as she looked at him, her tone light but curious. "So… what do you think? Are you planning to tell my new little sister about that?"
She was talking about the truth—about their reincarnation into this world.
Allen paused, then exhaled softly, clearly giving it some serious thought.
"Hmm… I think it'd be better if we wait," he said at last. "We should tell Mikaela after our wedding ceremony is over."
Raviel listened quietly, and it was clear she had no problem with Allen's decision. She simply smiled, completely at ease with his choice, trusting him to handle it in his own time.
Allen then reached over and turned on the PS3 that was sitting there, the familiar startup sound filling the room. He grabbed two controllers and tossed one lightly toward Raviel.
"Wanna play together?" he asked casually, flopping back into the couch like he owned the place—which, honestly, he did.
Raviel caught the controller and looked at it for a second, then smiled.
"Hmmm, sure," she said, shifting to sit more comfortably. "So… what are we playing, by the way?"
Honestly, there wasn't much else to do anyway.
Allen chuckled.
"How about Call of Duty?"
Raviel laughed at that.
"Ha! Okay, let's go."
A moment later, the screen loaded up, the menu music playing as they got ready.
.......
Later that night, Allen noticed Aphrodite sitting alone in the attic. The space was quiet and dimly lit, warm light spilling from a nearby lamp. She was seated comfortably with a book in her hands, a glass of expensive wine resting beside her, the faint aroma of grapes filling the air.
Allen paused for a moment before speaking.
"What are you reading?" he asked casually. "Mind if I sit here?"
Hearing his voice, Aphrodite lifted her gaze and turned toward him. Her expression softened immediately, and a gentle, beautiful smile curved her lips.
"Of course," she replied warmly. "I'm reading Greek stories."
She tilted the book slightly so Allen could see the cover, her fingers resting lightly along its spine.
Heroes, Gods, and Monsters of Greek Mythology by Bernard Evslin.
"It's interesting," she added with a quiet chuckle. "Seeing how humans retell our stories…."
She took a small sip of her wine, eyes glimmering with amusement as she looked back at Allen, clearly inviting him to stay.
"So, do you actually like that story?" Allen asked, nodding toward the book in her hands.
Aphrodite immediately shook her head.
"No. Not at all."
She frowned, clearly annoyed now.
"Especially the parts where I'm forced to marry Hephaestus," she continued, her tone sharp. "Then suddenly I'm written as cheating with Ares, and on top of that having 'romantic affairs' with other gods like Zeus, Poseidon, and whoever else they feel like throwing in."
She scoffed and tapped the cover of the book with her finger.
"It honestly makes me sound less like a goddess of love and more like a complete bitch in these stories," she said with a small pout. "Like I had no choice, no feelings, no agency—just drama fuel for everyone else's legends."
Allen let out a short laugh, shaking his head.
"Wow. They really didn't do you any favors, huh?"
"None," Aphrodite replied flatly. "They turn me into a walking scandal instead of an actual person. Or goddess."
She leaned back slightly, crossing her arms, then glanced at Allen with a sideways look.
"I swear, sometimes I think whoever wrote these myths just wanted an excuse to blame everything on me."
Allen smirked.
"Well," he said lightly, "look at it this way—at least you were memorable."
Aphrodite stared at him for a solid second. Her eyes narrowed slightly, and the air around her felt just a bit heavier.
"…Are you saying I really am a bitch like they describe in that book?" she asked, her tone edged with irritation, clearly ready to protest.
Allen immediately raised both hands in surrender and shook his head.
"Hey—no, of course not," he said quickly. "That's not what I meant at all."
Aphrodite crossed her arms, clearly unconvinced.
"Hmph. That's what it sounded like."
Allen sighed, leaning back a little.
"What I mean is, those stories exaggerate everything," he said casually. "They flatten you into gossip and drama. Real you? Way more complicated. Way more human."
She studied his face for a moment, searching for any hint of teasing.
"…You better mean that," Aphrodite muttered.
She clicked her tongue, then looked back down at the book, still annoyed—but the edge had softened just a bit.
Hearing that, Allen immediately decided it was time to switch topics before Aphrodite got any more fired up.
"Oh—right, speaking of something else," he said quickly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Do you want to go on a date with me tomorrow?"
Aphrodite blinked, caught off guard.
"I was thinking," Allen continued more straightforwardly, "we could watch a movie that's coming out in theaters tomorrow. Just the two of us. Hang out, relax… maybe grab something to eat after."
He shrugged like he was trying to play it cool, but there was a clear sincerity in his voice.
Aphrodite looked at him again, really looked at him this time. Then, slowly, a small smile formed on her lips.
"Hm… sure," she said. "Why not?"
She closed the book and set it aside, her expression softening. After all, they were going to get married soon anyway. Spending time together—actually getting to know Allen better, his habits, his personality—didn't sound bad at all.
....
The next day, Allen got ready early and waited for Aphrodite so they could head out on their date. When she finally appeared, Allen couldn't help but pause for a second.
Aphrodite was wearing short denim jeans and a loose red striped shirt, with the top two buttons casually undone, paired with simple sneakers. The look was relaxed but effortlessly eye-catching.
Allen let out a low whistle. "Well… you look beautiful," he said honestly.
Aphrodite smiled when she heard that. "Thanks. You look handsome too," she replied, giving him a quick once-over.
Allen was wearing a black leather jacket over a tight white T-shirt, slightly loose gray pants, and a pair of dark sunglasses that completed the look. Before he could say anything else, Aphrodite reached out, took the sunglasses right off his face, and slipped them on herself.
"I like these," she said playfully. "Mind if I wear them?"
Allen chuckled. "Yeah, sure. Go ahead."
Not long after that, the two of them headed to the car and drove toward the nearby city, ready to spend the day together—just the two of them.
....
Meanwhile, Allen had just left the mansion, completely unaware that Mikaela had already woken up. At that very moment, Mikaela was still lying in bed, trying to process everything—only now, Raviel had decided to sit by her side and talk.
Raviel rolled her wheelchair a little closer to the bed, resting her elbows casually on the armrests. Her expression was calm—surprisingly gentle. This wasn't the teasing, mischievous Raviel Mikaela had half-expected. This one looked… thoughtful.
"So," Raviel began lightly, like she was just starting a normal, everyday chat, "how are you feeling?"
Mikaela hesitated for a moment before answering. "Like I got hit by a truck," she muttered honestly. Then her eyes drifted to the wheelchair. "…And I guess I'm not the only one."
Raviel chuckled softly. "Yeah, that's true," she said with a small grin. "And honestly, I think you might need one of these too—for a while, at least."
That did it. Mikaela let out a weak laugh, the tension in her chest easing just a little.
"Yeah," she sighed. "I think I really do."
For a moment, the room felt lighter.
They talked quietly after that.
.....
Morning in Los Angeles felt bright and easygoing. The sun was already high in the sky, but since it was still May, the air remained pleasantly cool rather than hot. Traffic hadn't picked up yet—just the soft hum of passing cars and the distant chatter of people starting their day. The city felt awake, but not rushed.
Aphrodite sat comfortably in the passenger seat, still wearing Allen's sunglasses. She leaned back casually, one hand resting near the window. Allen glanced at her and smiled.
"You know," he said teasingly, "it's still morning. You look like a celebrity trying to escape the paparazzi."
Aphrodite let out a small laugh. "If that's the case, then you're the most laid-back bodyguard I've ever had."
"Low pay," Allen replied quickly, "but a lot of responsibility."
Not long after, they arrived at the cinema, which had already opened for its morning show. A large poster of Alice in Wonderland stood out vividly under the soft morning sunlight. The area in front of the theater was calm and quiet, very different from the noisy crowds that usually came at night. Allen bought the tickets along with two drinks, then walked back over to her.
Aphrodite looked up at the movie schedule and frowned slightly.
"So… we're watching Alice in Wonderland?"
Allen shrugged casually. "There's no rule that says a date has to involve a romantic movie, right?"
"Hm." Aphrodite turned to look at him. "I guess that's true. I did think you'd invite me to watch some kind of cheesy romance film at first."
"So? Are you disappointed?" Allen asked.
Aphrodite shook her head, smiling softly. "No, not really."
Soon after, they entered the theater. The studio was still fairly empty, with only a handful of people seated far apart. The lights slowly dimmed, and the screen came alive with the colorful, strange world of Wonderland.
Aphrodite looked noticeably more relaxed than before. From time to time, she whispered small comments, especially during the more bizarre scenes.
"Humans really have strange imaginations," she murmured.
Allen smiled faintly. "Well, you're human now too. Doesn't that mean you're strange as well?"
"…You're right," Aphrodite replied after a brief pause, letting out a quiet laugh. "I sometimes forget about that."
Without realizing it, their shoulders brushed against each other. Neither of them moved away.
When the movie ended, the lights slowly brightened again. Aphrodite let out a soft breath.
"So?" Allen asked. "Did you like it?"
She nodded. "It wasn't as bad as I expected."
Allen stood up and instinctively held out his hand. "That's good to hear. Come on—let's walk around a bit, and after that we can grab something to eat."
Aphrodite looked at his hand for a moment before taking it.
They spent the next few hours wandering around, playing games at the arcade, taking pictures together at a photo booth, and just enjoying each other's company without any pressure. By the time they finished looking for a place to eat.
After finishing their meal, Aphrodite didn't let the day end just yet. Instead, she dragged Allen into a nearby karaoke place. Inside, they sang together, laughing freely—especially whenever Allen messed up the lyrics or came in completely off-tempo. Aphrodite teased him for it, but she was laughing just as hard, her voice occasionally breaking as she sang along. It wasn't perfect, but that only made it more fun.
By the time they stepped back outside, the sun had begun to dip toward the afternoon. Earlier, the rich aroma of coffee and freshly baked pastries had drifted from a small café across the street, drawing Aphrodite's attention. She had slowed to a stop back then, clearly tempted.
"Allen."
"Hm?"
"We still have time, right?"
Allen had followed her gaze and smiled. "Of course."
"Good," Aphrodite had replied with a faint smile.
They had walked into the café together, blending into the gentle rhythm of Los Angeles—unhurried, relaxed, and completely free of drama.
Now, as evening slowly approached, they finally headed back toward the car to return home.
Inside the car, the city lights beginning to glow outside the windows, Aphrodite spoke softly.
"Thank you… I really enjoyed our date."
Allen smiled as he started the engine. "I enjoyed spending time with a beautiful woman like you too."
He drove toward the parking gate, slowing the car to a stop.
"Allen…" Aphrodite called again.
"Hm?" He turned to look at her just as the car came to a halt.
"If possible," she said quietly, leaning a little closer, "I'd like you to take me on dates like this more often."
Allen met her gaze. "Of course."
"Promise?"
"I promise."
Not long after, they leaned in and shared a long, warm kiss there in the parking area—unhurried, affectionate, and filled with emotion.
Suddenly—
BEEP! BEEP! BEEEP!
A car behind them blared its horn loudly.
"Hey, idiots! What's taking so long? If you want to make out, go get a hotel or something—don't block the road!" a man shouted angrily from the other car.
Allen and Aphrodite froze for a second… then burst out laughing.
"Sorry!" Allen shouted back as he quickly drove forward and out of the way.
Aphrodite leaned back in her seat, smiling mischievously.
"Hmm… Allen, but I think that man's suggestion isn't such a bad idea."
Allen glanced at her. "Are you sure?"
"Of course," she replied calmly. "We're getting married soon anyway. Doing it now or after the wedding doesn't really make a difference, right?"
Allen chuckled softly. "Alright then."
With that, he turned the car around and drove toward the nearest hotel, the city lights of Los Angeles stretching endlessly ahead of them.