CHAPTER 110: CHAPTER 110: I’VE BECOME PERSEPHONE

Eros’ eyes lit up, offering a gift?

He remembered that Hades still owed him a reward.

That reward was supposed to be the first item offered to Hades during today’s banquet.

And this wouldn’t be anything ordinary. After all, gift-giving at such events followed unspoken rules.

None of the highest-ranking guests had made their move yet. Until they did, others typically held back.

What’s more, Thanatos had said this gift was from Nyx herself, which instantly piqued Eros’ curiosity.

Logically, Nyx should be aware of everything that happened in the Underworld.

Naturally, she must also know about what transpired between him and Hades. So was this gift a roundabout way of being given to him?

With a wave of her small hand, Thanatos summoned a flash of black light. An object appeared before Hades.

Eros looked over, and saw a black-haired beauty shrouded in quiet stillness. Even under the veil of black gauze, her figure was unmistakable.

This... Hades?

"Oh, it’s the Night Mirror from Goddess Nyx. Please pass along my gratitude for her generosity."

Upon seeing her reflection in the mirror, Hades also froze briefly like Eros.

But she quickly recovered and hastily clarified.

She was making it clear, especially to Eros, that the gift was the mirror, not her.

Still, Hades couldn’t shake a strange sense of foreboding.

Unexpected omens weren’t always literal, often bearing symbolic meaning instead.

Just like this mirror. One could say what you see is a mirror, or say what you see is your reflection.

Interpretation could vary.

So Hades quickly clarified that it was just a mirror, hoping to avoid Eros spinning some wild theory like: "You’re my real reward."

That said, even though the Night Mirror was a precious item useful in the Underworld, Hades wouldn’t mind giving it to Eros.

Of course, Eros saw through her thoughts immediately.

This move by Nyx, Eros had to admit, was genius.

The gift satisfied Hades’ preferences while also aligning with his desires.

Each party got what they wanted. A mirror that could reflect the inner soul meant nothing to Eros.

While both had their own ideas, those could wait.

For now, Hades formally accepted the mirror.

Thanatos turned and brought Hypnos back to their seats, without lingering.

With even Nyx showing her stance, the rest of the Underworld deities, no matter their reluctance, could no longer resist.

If even Thanatos had presented a gift, naturally they would have come prepared too.

One by one, the goddesses stepped forward to offer congratulations to Hades and present their own gifts.

This kind of back-and-forth formal socializing bored Eros to no end, especially when Hades wouldn’t let him show off his own talents.

Standing beside Hades, Eros let his mind wander back to what Mnemosyne had said.

The rift between Hades and Demeter, was it really just jealousy and resentment? Or perhaps... unwillingness to let go?

After listening to Mnemosyne’s story, Eros had tried imagining himself in Hades’ shoes.

Her eldest sister, Hestia, whom Eros had never met, was someone Hades deeply respected, yet she disappeared after the Titanomachy.

Her second sister, Demeter, though often bossy, had also been nurturing, but grew cold after having her own child.

Her third sister, Hera, whom Eros was very familiar with, had always shown indifference toward Hades, fixated solely on Zeus.

As for her youngest sibling, Poseidon, well, that weirdo was a lost cause. Hades held no hope there.

Zeus? Eros knew that story well. His lofty ideals and distant nature would naturally make Hades feel alienated.

Taken alone, these dynamics might just seem like strained sibling relationships, nothing unusual.

But Hades had spent her whole childhood with her sisters, even fighting side by side in the Titan War for ten years.

She took those bonds very seriously.

So now, with the six sisters nearly falling apart, Hades was the one most hurt.

Her eldest sister vanished, her second and third sisters ignored her while fighting each other, and her youngest was an enigma no one could understand, always distant.

Given this family setup... it wasn’t surprising that Hades’ mindset became twisted, to the point of kidnapping Persephone.

But Eros could also understand Demeter and the others. They couldn’t exist solely as Hades’ sisters forever.

They had their own lives, their own roles to fulfill.

It’s like siblings who were once close growing apart as they age and start their own families.

The childhood bond, however precious, can’t last unchanged.

That’s why, even though Hades never mentioned what she did before becoming Queen of the Underworld, Eros could imagine it.

Visiting her sisters constantly, flitting between them, trying desperately to restore that lost sisterly affection.

And becoming Queen, that was the final severing blow to her fantasies.

Once she became the ruler of the Underworld, she would be permanently stationed there. Years might pass without seeing her sisters or even exchanging a single word.

Still, she accepted the position, torn between the duty she must bear and the familial love she craved, ultimately growing distorted.

After sorting through all of Hades’ emotions, Eros could only think: This is heavy. Where did this drama queen escape from?

We’ll be sisters forever?

As long as we can be happy like before, I’ll do anything?

If my sister ignores me, I’ll just kidnap her daughter to force her to face me?

Damn, this is peak emotional baggage!

And yet, dealing with a woman like this was actually quite simple.

Just be genuine.

Honestly, Eros could tame Hades in under five minutes, and turn her into a lovesick partner who followed his every word.

Just one heartfelt confession, a vow sworn upon the River Styx, saying he would stay by her side in the desolate Underworld for life,

And Hades would completely fall for him.

She would give him everything she had, so long as he stayed by her side.

People who valued emotions that deeply were easy to win over. Just replace the old pain with new love.

The issue was... if he did that, he’d be stuck here.

If he made a sacred vow and broke it later...

Eros had no doubt Hades would kill him, then do unspeakable things to his corpse, and finally birth a new child to keep her company.

Was this Zeus’ plan all along?

Afraid of being caught by Hera up top, so she left him here with Hades, secretly encouraging him to "keep her company"?

And knowing how sentimental Hades was, once she realized she could share a man with her little sister, she might actually like it?

No way, did I just become Persephone?!

Eros was shaken, but then remembered, Zeus did say she’d wait for him on Mount Olympus.

But if he didn’t do it, who would be Hades’ emotional substitute?

Persephone? That child’s innocence made it plausible.

But Eros had already eaten that fruit too early, now it was too late.

He couldn’t exactly expect a Persephone "filled to the brim" by him to turn around and tell Hades: I’ll stay by your side forever.

Now his head hurt.

He already had the method to resolve the issue between Hades and Demeter.

But the key ingredient, Persephone, had already been eaten by him. Now it was a dead end.

Should he try another angle? Start with Demeter instead?

If he could get Demeter to accept her sister becoming her daughter-in-law, that would count as resolving the conflict too.

But that wasn’t so easy, unless Zeus intervened directly.

The more he thought about it, the more frustrated he became. Eros really wanted to drag Zeus over and make her deal with her own mess.

But Zeus had dumped the whole thing on him, saying she believed in Eros’ ability to fix it.

Fix it with what?! Call out Nyx and have her pin down both Demeter and Hades while he bombards them with sisterly love therapy?

Eros didn’t doubt Nyx could do it, but would the mighty Goddess of the Night really help him to that extent?

Just as he was feeling overwhelmed, Hermes, who had exchanged a few words with Hades, turned her attention toward him.

"I’ve heard so many stories about you. Now I finally get to meet you."

Hermes stepped closer, her eyes filled with curiosity.

"You probably haven’t met me before, but I’ve heard plenty about you. I’m Hermes, want to be friends?"

As she spoke, she extended her hand.

Eros snapped out of his thoughts and looked at Hermes.

She wasn’t his type, not that she was unattractive, but she lacked... sexual tension.

No curves, no long legs on display. Her smile was friendly, but Eros could tell she wasn’t the relaxed type.

Still, there was no harm in making friends.

Just as he was about to shake her hand, the banquet doors were kicked open with a loud bang.

"HADES!"

Under countless gazes, the real main character of today finally arrived.

Demeter strode in, brimming with killing intent. Any injuries she’d suffered earlier were now completely gone.

Hecate was still cloaked in black, silent as ever, but she glanced up briefly, locking eyes with Eros, standing behind Hades.

And there were two more goddesses besides them.

One was the ever-worried Athena, whom Eros had seen before.

The other carried a bow, her moon-white hair tied high. Her pretty face showed not a hint of fear or respect toward Hades.

Instead, she glared at her with restrained anger.

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