Chapter 16 – Ecstasy

“Mom, who is that?”

Olympus was especially radiant that day.

Golden columns reflected the sunlight, making the entire temple shine, and the Gods roaming the clouds all wore bright smiles.

Persephone, who didn’t yet understand the structure of the world or the ways of the Gods, simply enjoyed searching for new faces in the sparkling scenery.

Then, she saw someone.

While everyone else wore dazzling white and gold,

He was a presence as deep and calm as darkness.

His jet-black cloak trailed across the floor, and the black hair falling over his brow gleamed like obsidian.

His face was nearly expressionless, but his eyes were sharply alive.

He was a man who exuded a “quiet majesty” more than any God she’d ever seen.

“Hm? Do you mean the one in black?”

At Persephone’s question, Demeter frowned slightly and followed her gaze.

“Yes! I’ve never seen him before… I don’t know his name.”

“That’s Hades. He’s also called the King of the Underworld.”

Hades. King of the Underworld.

The name struck a heavy chord in her chest.

Ruler of the Depths.

Lord of Death.

In every story she’d heard as a child, Hades was always a fearsome God, always depicted as lonely as a shadow.

But the man Persephone faced now was nothing like that.

Quiet, but strong.

Dark, but holding a gentle light.

“Oh, I’ve heard of him. He always stays underground… He rarely comes to Olympus or the surface.”

“Yes. And since Hades is the God of Death, he’s the opposite of us. So even if you meet him, try not to get close.”

“…Alright.”

She answered obediently, but her heart was running in a different direction.

The image of Hades disappearing from sight lingered in her mind.

The moment his long cloak fluttered,

The moment those deep, shadowed eyes brushed past her.

It was a feeling she’d never had before.

Not fear, but unfamiliarity—and that unfamiliarity only made her more curious.

Everything about him.

***

That was when it began.

More often than the blooming of flower buds, more than the sunlight shining through the clouds, a single shadow came to mind.

Every time she came to Olympus, Persephone found herself unconsciously looking for him.

Would he come today, or not?

Maybe today…

Those deep, heavy eyes.

The cloak that seemed to shroud him in quiet darkness.

The overwhelming majesty that radiated from every step.

He was her complete opposite.

She was the Goddess of spring and life.

He was the Lord of Death and Darkness.

But that very difference drove her mad with longing.

Calm, but not cold; solid, but never rude.

Every action was marked by restraint, and that restraint was so alluring she couldn’t escape it.

Today, too, following her mother to Olympus, she searched for him without thinking.

But, as always, there was no sign of his shadow.

‘He’s not here again.’

Disappointment crept in.

She hadn’t seen him in a while, and her heart grew anxious.

She wanted to see him. Just seeing him once wasn’t enough.

She wanted to greet him, to talk with him, to walk together, to laugh.

And, in the end, she wanted to say,

‘I want you. I want you by my side forever.’

Was this love?

The thing she’d only heard about, that everyone experienced, the kind of unrequited love that squeezed your heart until it hurt.

The feeling that had begun to burn deep inside her now threatened to overflow.

Should she hide it?

Or should she run to him and confess right now?

As she weighed it over and over in her heart, her ankle twisted and she lost her balance.

‘Ah… I’m falling again.’

Her mother had told her countless times not to be so clumsy.

As her body tilted forward, someone’s hand quickly caught her.

“Are you alright?”

A low, deep voice brushed her ear like a breath.

She looked up instinctively.

His silhouette was all she could see, outlined by the sunlight.

She couldn’t see his face clearly,

But in that moment, she knew.

It was Hades.

Her eyes widened.

Her heart pounded wildly,

And the sensation of his hand gripping her arm

Remained on her skin like a brand.

“I apologize. I touched you without your permission.”

He carefully let go and stepped back.

“No, it’s fine… You kept me from falling. Thank you so much.”

Led by his hand, she slowly straightened her posture.

Only then did she see his face clearly.

It was really him. Hades.

His expression seemed blank, but his eyes held a restrained warmth.

A smooth, strong jawline.

A man who could seize your heart with a single glance.

She was breathless.

All the yearning and fantasy she’d harbored for him

In that brief moment, became reality.

And she realized.

She was going to love him.

Irrevocably, deeply.

***

“Great and noble Goddess of love, Miss Aphrodite, I greet you.”

Persephone bowed her head politely, and the Goddess of love curved her red lips in a faint smile.

“Oh, Persephone, Symbol of Abundance. What brings you here?”

Most Gods who came to her wore desperate expressions for love, but it was rare for someone to come with such quiet dignity as Persephone. That alone piqued Aphrodite’s interest.

“I… I came because I have a heartfelt request, Miss Aphrodite.”

Persephone’s face was a mix of shyness and hesitation.

“Such a heartfelt request from Miss Persephone… Please, sit here.”

Aphrodite gestured to a silver-threaded cushion. Persephone folded her hands and sat on the sofa, but the words didn’t come easily. After waiting a few seconds, Aphrodite finally spoke first.

“So, what is this request that’s making you so hesitant?”

“Could you… perhaps make one of the Gods fall in love with me?”

Her voice was barely audible, but Aphrodite heard every word.

“Pardon? You mean for you, Miss Persephone?”

The golden wine glass in Aphrodite’s hand trembled. Her beautiful lips parted slightly, and a flicker of surprise crossed her golden eyes.

‘Persephone, in love? And she came to me herself, asking to win someone’s heart…!’

Aphrodite’s eyebrow twitched as she tried to hide her intrigue. She’d never imagined this noble, quiet Goddess would come to her with a heart full of longing.

“Making someone fall in love isn’t difficult. But it depends on which God. Can you tell me his name?”

Persephone hesitated, then spoke softly.

“It’s… Lord Hades.”

“Hades?”

Aphrodite frowned. It was an unexpected name. That gloomy, solitary man who always buried himself in darkness—Hades. In her mind, Hades seemed a terrible match for the beautiful, lively Persephone.

‘Hades? That stubborn man?’

Aphrodite couldn’t hide her disbelief, but then a playful curiosity flickered in her eyes.

“Miss Persephone, are you sure you’re not mistaken?”

“Yes. I’m sure it’s Lord Hades.”

Persephone spoke clearly and firmly. Her steady gaze made Aphrodite drop her teasing tone.

“Someone as handsome and charming as Lord Hades is only natural to fall for, isn’t he?”

Her sincere words made Aphrodite’s eyes widen a bit.

‘She thinks that gloomy man is charming…’

It was a combination she’d never imagined.

But soon, Aphrodite’s lips curled into a slow smile. If a Goddess this noble had given her heart, the feeling must be real. And Hades, who had lived so long without love, might be an interesting challenge to unite with her.

“Very well.”

Aphrodite spoke.

“As it happens, Hades will soon have reason to visit the surface. I’ll send Eros then, to help you become the object of his love.”

Persephone bowed her head deeply in relief.

“Thank you so much, Miss Aphrodite. I will repay your kindness.”

“No need. Just receiving such a request is a great joy for me. If I succeed, I’ll let you know quietly.”

“Thank you, truly.”

Persephone steadied herself and stood. As she walked out the door, her steps were lighter, full of hope.

Left alone, Aphrodite swirled her wine glass and murmured to herself.

“Hades and Persephone… Affairs among the Gods are always the most fascinating.”