— The Emporium Holds Its Breath
Freya ascended the stairs slowly, one step at a time, each heel-click echoing through the Emporium like the toll of a bell.
Every employee froze.
Customers stopped whispering.
Even the enchanted mannequins seemed to pause mid-pose.
Aeron stood at the top of the staircase, calm as ever.
Freya stopped before him, her silver eyes gleaming with heat and hunger.
"Aeron," she murmured, "thank you for not running."
Aeron raised an eyebrow.
"Should I have?"
Freya smiled—dangerous and beautiful.
"You couldn't, even if you tried."
Aeron remained unmoved.
"…You're proving my point."
A soft laugh escaped her.
The tension was thick enough to cut.
— Aiz Steps Between Them
The moment Freya lifted a hand toward Aeron—
Aiz moved.
Swift. Silent.
Sword drawn just enough to reflect the overhead light.
She didn't threaten.
She simply stood there.
Between Aeron.
And Freya.
Aiz's golden eyes were steady, emotionless—but fierce.
Freya tilted her head, amused.
"Oh my… little Aiz Wallenstein. How protective."
Aiz blinked once.
"…Stay away from him."
Simple. Direct.
There was no hesitation in her voice.
Freya smiled.
"Aiz, dear, I don't want to hurt him."
Aiz replied instantly:
"I don't care."
Freya blinked—surprised for the first time.
Aiz continued, her voice quiet, trembling slightly, but unyielding:
"He stays with us."
— Riveria Joins In (Composed, Controlled, Deadly)
Riveria's heels clicked across the floor as she approached.
She stepped beside Aiz, emerald eyes cold with elven fire.
"Lady Freya," Riveria said flatly, "Orario already trembles beneath your whims. Do not drag innocent people into your obsessions."
Freya smiled sweetly.
"Innocent? Riveria, my dear… nothing about Aeron is innocent."
Riveria didn't flinch.
"Regardless. You will leave."
Freya raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? And if I refuse?"
Riveria summoned faint azure light along her fingertips.
"Then you will be escorted out by force."
A murmur rippled through the room.
Everyone knew:
Riveria wasn't bluffing.
Freya's smile widened, delighted.
"A strong stance. I approve."
— Haruhime Refuses to Hide
Behind Aeron, Haruhime clutched his sleeve lightly.
Her hands trembled, ears pressed flat—
But she did not step back.
She whispered, barely audible:
"Aeron… I'll stay with you. No matter what."
Freya's gaze shifted to her.
"Well now," Freya purred. "Aren't you a brave little fox? Finally found your voice, did you?"
Haruhime swallowed.
"I won't let you hurt him…"
Freya's expression softened—not sympathetically, but with interest.
"My, my… this is turning into quite the contest."
— Demeter's Divine Intervention
Then—
A gentle, warm presence filled the air.
Demeter descended the stairs from the rooftop garden, her steps unhurried, her expression calm but uncharacteristically hard.
"Freya."
Her voice was soft—
But carried the weight of forests, harvests, and seasons.
Freya turned, intrigued.
"Demeter. I didn't think you'd get involved."
Demeter continued walking until she was beside Aeron.
"I would prefer not to meddle. But you are upsetting the city. Upsetting him. And upsetting the people who care for him."
Freya smiled thinly.
"Oh, I see… you've fallen too."
Demeter didn't deny it.
She simply touched Aeron's shoulder gently—a gesture that said everything without a word.
The Emporium vibrated with quiet power.
Two goddesses.
Two different temperaments.
Both standing near the same mortal.
Or… near something more than mortal.
— Aeron Finally Speaks
Aeron raised a hand.
Instantly—silence fell.
Even Freya stilled.
Aeron's voice was steady, low, and filled with a calm authority that anchored every trembling heart in the room.
"Enough."
Freya blinked.
Aeron continued:
"You want my time. My presence. My attention. I understand that."
He stepped forward—just enough to close the distance.
"But I don't belong to anyone. Not a goddess. Not a familia. Not a throne."
Freya's smile faded into something deeper—something sharp and hungry.
Aeron kept speaking.
"I will choose who I stand with. Who I walk with. Who I allow close."
He glanced at Aiz—her eyes softened.
Riveria—her breath steadied.
Haruhime—she lit up with fragile courage.
Demeter—she offered him a quiet, supportive nod.
Then he turned back to Freya.
"And that choice is not yours to make."
Freya inhaled slowly.
The room held its breath.
— Freya's Answer
For a long moment, Freya simply stared at him.
Then she exhaled softly and smiled—
A real smile.
"Aeron…"
She lifted one finger and tapped his chest lightly, right over his heart.
"…you are extraordinary."
She stepped back.
"You've become even more interesting. Even more irresistible."
Aeron didn't respond.
Freya's eyes shimmered.
"I am not giving up."
Aiz stepped forward.
"Then I will not move either."
Riveria stepped closer.
"Nor will I."
Haruhime held Aeron's sleeve tighter.
"I'll stay too…"
Demeter crossed her arms.
"This won't be easy for you, Freya."
Freya laughed—soft, musical, dangerous.
"Oh, I know."
She turned toward the stairs.
"But that's what makes it exciting."
She walked away, each step echoing.
At the door, she looked back once more.
"Aeron… I'll be back soon."
And then she left.
---
Scene 8 — Aftermath: Silence, then Heartbeats
The doors closed.
Silence fell.
Aeron exhaled.
Aiz stepped closer to him.
Riveria calmed her breathing.
Haruhime leaned into his arm.
Demeter watched him with steady warmth.
Aeron looked over the four women standing with him.
"…Thank you."
Aiz shook her head.
"I didn't do it for thanks."
Riveria added quietly:
"Neither did I."
Haruhime whispered:
"I just… didn't want to lose you…"
Demeter placed a gentle hand on his back.
"You're not alone, Aeron."
Aeron smiled faintly—rare, genuine.
"I know."
(Please leave a review on how you think about the story thus far please.)