After spending some time talking with Nemesis and the goddess Nyx,
"Well then. I should be going now."
"Are you leaving?"
"Yes. The sun is already rising."
As dawn broke, the goddess Nyx and Nemesis rose from their seats, and I respectfully saw the two of them off.
Afterward, my wives came to me and asked what had happened during the night, saying they had sensed an unusual presence and the like.
I told them everything that had taken place, and—
"So now you mean to seduce even your own sister?"
"I do wonder how the conversation keeps taking that turn, Hecate."
Atalanta, Medea, and Hippolyta did not know what to make of the goddesses who were steadily gathering around me. As for Hecate and Nyx, they watched me with a strange wariness.
'No, what exactly did I do to deserve this...? I never once decided to seduce anyone.'
**
"Mother, why did you leave in such a hurry?"
"Hmm~ Let's see."
Meanwhile, Nemesis, who had departed with Astellon, asked her mother Nyx, who stood before her, why she had rushed out when there was no need to hurry.
"For now, let's say we can't monopolize that child for ourselves."
"...I see."
Though the answer was vague, Nemesis accepted it.
"Hmm.... Nemesis."
"Yes."
"May I ask you something?"
"Please do, Mother."
Nyx looked at Nemesis and, as always, smiled as she spoke.
"Tell me. What do you think of Astellon?"
"M-Mother! What... what on earth do you mean by that?!"
"I'm asking how you think of that child as a man."
"What is that supposed to mean all of a sudden...!!"
At Nyx's completely unexpected question, Nemesis's expression, usually devoid of emotion, flushed red.
In that state, Nemesis could not properly meet Nyx's eyes, and instead recalled the image of Astellon, her younger brother.
He was unlike anyone she had ever seen before. A man who received the love of both goddesses and the people at once. And yet—
"B-but we're family, aren't we? Things like that between family..."
Nemesis tried to dodge Nyx's question by invoking family ties, but—
"It's just a conversation between us, so what does it matter? And besides... you're not truly bound by blood, are you? So hurry up and answer."
Nyx pressed her daughter for an answer by every means possible, and in the end, it was Nemesis who raised the white flag.
"I-I think he's a good boy. His way of thinking and his skill are both outstanding compared to others..."
"Not that. When you look at Astellon as a woman, what do you think of his charms?"
"M-Mother!"
"Mm-hm? How long are you going to keep your mother waiting? Are you not going to answer until my neck falls off? Come on~"
".... If I look at him as the opposite sex... I think he's wonderful. His looks are exceptional, his personality and abilities are outstanding, and he's a good child..."
Though the conversation had only lasted a short while, Nemesis kept talking about Astellon, and Nyx, listening to her, lifted the corners of her mouth in a broad smile.
"Hmm~ So our Nemesis thought of Astellon that way. Well... that's a relief."
"...What do you mean by that, Mother?"
"Not yet, Nemesis. Your mother thinks that's a very good thing."
"...Pardon?"
"So wait a little longer. In the meantime, your mother will make all the necessary preparations."
Saying that, Nyx spoke to Nemesis in a serious tone, then turned away and, while leaving, kept teasing her with remarks like, "I never would have guessed our Nemesis thought that way about Astellon~"
**
Meanwhile, Hestia, who maintained the flames of the hearth on Olympus, stared blankly into the fire with a dazed expression.
In her mind, memories of descending to the mortal world and chatting with Astellon kept surfacing, more so than the life and duties she had here.
"I-I really don't know why I'm like this..."
Hestia tried hard not to pay attention to those memories and kept watching the hearth fire.
Yet the more she tried not to think about it, the more memories of Astellon came flooding in.
"It's not as if I like that child..."
"Hmm? What did you say just now?"
"...!"
At the words Hestia had muttered without thinking while recalling Astellon, someone answered her. Startled, Hestia looked toward the owner of the voice.
"...Hera."
There stood Hera, and she addressed Hestia, who was looking at her.
"Did I hear that right? My sister has fallen in love..."
"I-I haven't fallen in love with anyone..!"
"Oh, come now. Do you know what you look like right now?"
"W-what do I look like?"
"The face of a girl who has just realized she's in love."
"What are you talking about..! N-no, that's not it. I... um..."
Hestia's face reddened at Hera's blunt remarks, and she desperately denied them.
Seeing that Hestia could not even meet her eyes properly, Hera became even more certain of her own conclusion.
"Go on. Tell me who on earth you've fallen so hard for."
"I-I told you, I haven't..! Hera..."
"You've been thinking about that man nonstop too, haven't you? I'll help you, so tell me."
At Hera's words that she would help her, Hestia hesitated for a moment before telling her everything.
".... I see. So that's how it is..."
"See? I told you I wasn't lying. I... there's no way I'd fall for someone who already belongs to another."
At Hestia's confession, Hera fell into thought for a moment. Just as Hestia was about to continue at the sight of Hera's reaction, Hera spoke first.
"Sister. I'm going to say this seriously now. That... really is love."
"...Huh?"
"What do you mean, 'huh'? Sister, you're completely smitten with that man—Astellon!"
"N-no..."
"No, my foot. You only focus when you talk about that man, and you keep thinking about him. What else am I supposed to call that? Stop denying it already."
"But... Astellon is already married, and I heard he recently had a child with the goddess Hecate..."
"Sister. How many people in Greece do you think actually care about something like that?"
"Huh? Uh... I'm not sure."
"None. Truly none, except for a very small number."
"Ah, wha?"
"In my eyes, that child is fated to attract more women whether he intends to or not. And if you say you like him, what man would reject you?"
".... Really. Do you think so?"
"Yes. If that's what you want."
"Then... I'll try getting a little closer next time."
"Yes, that looks much better than before."
"But... Hera. Is it really all right for you to help me? You..."
"I know what you're worried about. It's probably because of my title as the goddess of marriage. But if you and Astellon truly love each other and marry, that's a benefit, not a loss. Astellon is the heir of the goddess Nyx and Lord Erebus. Since you're the first child, I'm satisfied just by having helped arrange the marriage between the two of you."
"Then... I'll give it a try!"
"Good. If the two of you end up marrying, I'll handle the social side of things."
"Yes! Thank you, Hera!"