Freya held Bell's arm, resting her head lightly on his shoulder as they walked down the stairs together.
That unmistakable "mistress" aura made Hestia's lips purse in frustration.
"You two seem to be getting along quite well."
"Our relationship should be good, Hestia."
Freya replied without hesitation, smiling as if it were only natural. She seemed perfectly content to make things clear.
"Today's a good opportunity. With Bell here, it's time to make a few things public."
Bell, still in her grasp, hadn't expected today to turn into such a discussion.
But that was fine. If things continued in chaos, it wouldn't be good for any of the goddesses.
At that, all three goddesses grew serious.
Step by step, Freya descended the stairs without releasing Bell's arm, guiding him to sit with her off to the side.
That single action drew a surge of hostility.
So Loki immediately jumped to Bell's other side and sat down as well.
The sight of the two flanking him like that made Hestia's temples throb.
"Hey! It's fine to talk things out, but do you two have to act like that?"
Freya's piercing eyes swept over her, making Hestia's heart stutter before Freya finally spoke.
"Didn't you and Hephaestus already drain Bell dry yesterday?"
...What the hell!?
Bell nearly blurted out an expletive right then and there.
Not only was he caught off guard, but even Hestia—who'd been fuming moments ago—froze on the spot. Her lovely face instantly turned crimson.
"!?"
At home, she and Hephaestus often spent time together, but she had never once exposed anything like that in front of others.
Now, being confronted so bluntly, with Freya's words so straightforward and suggestive, her mind completely blanked.
"W-w-what are you saying!?"
Flustered, Hestia jumped up from the sofa, her entire face red as she stammered.
Her awkward denial only made Hephaestus, who was blushing just as hard, avert her gaze in embarrassment.
Feeling Bell's body stiffen completely, Freya confirmed her suspicion.
'I knew those two would pull something like that.'
She mentally rolled her eyes at them.
They had just discussed the topic of "sharing" yesterday, and by nightfall, those two had already drained Bell dry.
Freya found Hestia and Hephaestus's shameless behavior utterly disgraceful.
At least she was certain she'd never stoop that low.
Yes—she would never do something like that just because of jealousy.
Suppressing her irritation, Freya looked at Hestia with calm self-assurance.
"It's not like I just found out you're no longer a virgin goddess."
"Yesterday, we talked about 'sharing.' With how jealous you are, of course you'd try to get back at Bell afterward, wouldn't you?"
...How did you know that!?
Hestia's entire face went bright red. For a moment, she even wondered if Freya had somehow seen everything that happened with her and Hephaestus the previous night.
"I didn't see it."
"You…"
"I don't have the ability to read the minds of gods—you know that perfectly well."
"Then how did you…"
"It's written all over your face. Even without that ability, I could guess easily."
Freya found Hestia's expression far too obvious; just a bit of probing was enough to get the full picture.
"And your lust is a little too easy to read."
That was an undeniable fact.
Loki nodded in agreement beside her.
Hestia's lust was different from others—it was the quiet, repressed kind. Her image as a Virgin Goddess was nothing more than a facade hiding her desires.
As a goddess equally familiar with such impulses, Loki was well qualified to say so.
But the comment made Hestia's face burn red, and she couldn't help protesting,
"Why does every single one of you say I'm lustful!?"
"Isn't it true?"
Freya even rolled her eyes.
Hephaestus sighed and covered her forehead helplessly.
Loki thought the girl simply lacked self-awareness.
"In Tenkai, you were always buried in books, never showing the slightest interest in other gods. That cold attitude is exactly why they all started calling you the Virgin Goddess..."
"Athena and Artemis are the same as you in that regard."
"But the colder a goddess acts, the more passionate she becomes when fate brings someone to her. Isn't that the curse of all virgin goddesses?"
Freya's blunt words made all three goddesses pause and reflect.
'Could it really be true, just like Freya said?'
Hestia thought back to her usual interactions with Bell, and her already flushed cheeks deepened in color. 'Freya… your analysis really is spot on.'
Hephaestus, after a moment's thought, couldn't help inwardly agreeing as well. 'Damn it, she's right!'
Compared to Hestia and Hephaestus's slower realization, Loki came to terms with it instantly. As one of the virgin goddesses herself, she understood the feeling all too well.
Unlike the shorty's repressed nature, however, Loki's desires were worn openly—and only directed at her own adorable children.
She loved seeing their cute reactions, especially their shy, flustered expressions—it was like watching a flower bloom before her eyes.
In the past, Loki had never experienced that sensation firsthand.
But now, she had.
Especially after finding herself in that same bashful state recently, Loki realized just how inappropriate her past teasing of her children had been.
Still, if she was the one being teased instead, she couldn't say she'd mind.
Loki glanced at Bell sitting beside her. Seeing how stiff he was, it was obvious he had no idea how to deal with situations like this.
'Well, shorty and Hephaestus spoiled him too much.'
For someone who could even resist Freya's temptations, Loki figured his reaction wasn't that bad—he was just inexperienced.
Of course, if this kid did have experience in that area, she'd make sure to leave her teeth marks on him.
Hmph. If he was going to gain that kind of experience, it had better be from her.
...
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