Hadeia

I received word that Eros’s wife had safely crossed the Acheron. Now I can finally breathe easier. After all, if she couldn’t safely return from my realm, I wouldn’t be able to face that little one. 

My only remaining concern is the beauty I placed in that box… 

Though she appears somewhat naive, she’s not completely dull-witted, so there shouldn’t be any problems. If she ignores a god’s warning, she’s deliberately inviting trouble upon herself. 

And not just any warning, but one from Hades, no less.

“So? You promised to tell me! What happened between you and Eros?”

“Can you really press me when you see all these scrolls and stone tablets piled before me?”

“You don’t actually think I care about your work right now, do you? What kind of debt do you owe Aphrodite’s son? If you’re trying to make me jealous, you’ve succeeded! Now it’s my turn to annoy you until I’m satisfied. Come on, quickly! Tell me!”

Now the problem is mine. Persephius has been clinging to me, endlessly pestering since the moment Eros’s wife left the Great Hall. Even though I fled to my office, he refused to give up and followed me. Like an irritating canary! 

Thanatos and Hypnos, who had been waiting to assist with my work, disappeared long ago without a word, clearly accustomed to this by now.

“How foolish! Back then, Eros was just a child who barely reached my waist. A barefoot little boy running around! What could you possibly be jealous of?”

“You’re trying to deceive me, aren’t you? How could such a small child take a fully grown maiden as his wife?”

“How would I know? I have no idea what magic he worked. As far as I know, Eros spent countless ages as a child. Whether he stopped his own growth, or his mother had some whim… 

Anyway, in terms of age, he’s older than you, so it’s not strange that he suddenly grew into a young man and fell in love.”

“With a human woman his mother despises, of all people?”

“Why couldn’t he fall for her? Though his situation is somewhat amusing. A boy who shot arrows everywhere, unpredictably causing love and hatred… He looks just like a hunter caught in his own trap.”

“Hmm. I wonder if Eros shot an arrow at me too?”

“What are you suddenly talking about?”

“Just wondering. I seem to have fallen for you at first sight rather seriously.”

The way he propped his chin up and pondered was amusing. I snorted.

“Don’t entertain such foolish thoughts. Even Eros knows who your mother is. What nerve would he have to play tricks on you?”

“Well, we can’t be certain, can we?”

“Eros told me directly. Don’t worry about it unnecessarily.”

“He told you directly?”

That was a mistake. Persephius looked at me with sparkling eyes. I closed my mouth. But silence is only a temporary measure.

“Aphrodite was being spiteful. She claimed you were shot by an arrow and courted me because of it. But later, Eros confessed it was a lie. That’s the end of the story. You wouldn’t remember it anyway.”

“That’s absurd! Why have you kept this secret from me all this time?”

“Because you weren’t in the Underworld then. And what difference would it make if you knew now? It’s all in the past. Besides, things have turned out this way regardless.”

“You say it’s all in the past, yet you placed such a powerful sleep in that box? How very trustworthy of you.”

Persephius laughed loudly. I didn’t deny it.

“I hope Aphrodite opens that box soon! She’ll feel like she’s been punched right in the nose! But what can she say? She’s the one who sent her daughter-in-law to retrieve something that doesn’t exist.”

That’s probably right. She’ll blush and throw quite a tantrum. But she won’t start another quarrel. She’ll have enough of a headache with her son’s situation, so how could she complain about Hades exacting a mild, dignified revenge? 

Besides, this isn’t my share of vengeance. It’s Persephius’s. I still remember how Aphrodite mocked Persephius, claiming he was enchanted by Eros’s golden bow, ridiculing both of us together. 

I glanced at Persephius. His expression was like that of an excited puppy. Yes, he doesn’t need to know. Just like his previous memories.

When he returned to the Underworld because of those six pomegranate seeds, I deliberately didn’t restore the past that had been washed away by the waters of forgetfulness. 

How could I? I was Hades, with dignity and pride to maintain. I couldn’t bring myself to recite a past he wouldn’t remember, just to force my belated affection on a coltish youth. 

I had to prepare myself. I thought that without Eros’s golden arrow, without even the memory of love, he couldn’t fall for me a second time.

Yet here he is before me now. As my Queen, as Hades’ Persephone.

“What is it?”

Instead of answering, I brushed away the hair that had fallen across his temple. His grinning face is so adorably exasperating.

“You must prefer having a young husband, right? And such a handsome one at that.”

“Being mischievous again, I see.”

“I need to have some fun. You’d be bored without me.”

I don’t deny it. I don’t tell him how long and lonely the spring and summer were without him.

But he reads the words I don’t say.

“You know, sometimes I wish winter could last forever.”

“What a wicked thing to say.”

We kiss, laughing quietly.

While listening to the sound of snow falling on the earth above.

fin.