𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐕𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐄 ➤ 𝒉𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒑𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆

iii. the harvest's discourse

At that exact moment, the young Persephone,
the Goddess of the Spring and the maiden who had seemingly captured the attention of the Underworld's king had found herself tip-toeing quietly toward her bedroom.

Nestled amidst the grandeur of Mount Etna, her dwelling was a majestic oak tree, whispered to have watched over the passage of time since ancient days.

The interior of the house was surprisingly spacious, with a bright and airy atmosphere. A gentle breeze flowed through the open windows, creating a refreshing and lively ambiance. The space was filled with an assortment of plants and animals, evoking a sense of nature and the goddesses of spring and agriculture. Vases adorned the concrete shelves and staircase, adding a touch of elegance to the space.

The whole house was quiet. Persephone let out a sigh of relief. As long as her mother hadn't caught her sneaking away, she would be safe. Now, all she needed to do was to make a perfect excuse should Demeter appear and ask her about her whereabouts.

Demeter was a devoted mother who loved her daughter very much. But sometimes, Persephone would be frustrated by her mother's over-protectiveness.

Despite the fact that she was the only child, she felt as though she was in control and lacked the freedom to choose for herself.

Despite this, Persephone continued to act in a somewhat rebellious manner. She had been sneaking out of their home since she was small, to play with the nearby nymphs and other deities, or eavesdrop on the mortals. At the end of the day, she would always find herself back inside being lectured by her mother.

Persephone allowed herself a smile as she remembered those fond memories from her sheltered and closely watched childhood, quickly entering her room and carefully closing the door.

"It's about time you returned home."

Too late. With a wince, Persephone tucked a strand of her bright red hair behind her ear. So she turned and hid her hands behind her back while feigning a smile.

"Hello, Mother," she said incoherently through awkward chuckles. "How are you today?"

Her mother stood behind her with her arms folded, wearing a serious and worried expression. There was a striking resemblance between mother and daughter; both were elegant and radiant with chestnut hair. However, Persephone's eyes were a paler shade and had an unusually piercing gaze, while Demeter's eyes shared the same greyish-blue hue as her sister's.

She was not persuaded by her daughter's antics, though.

"Where have you been?" she asked, feigning curiosity and raising her eyebrows at her daughter.

"Uhh...," Persephone thought. "I was with Hermes. By the forest. You know, having friendly conversations, about our daily godly duties." She was praying that her mother would believe her this time. "And you know Hermes, we're just friends."

"Do I look like a fool to you, Persephone?" Demeter's voice came up a notch. "Neither you nor Hermes were in the forest. You were both at the party on Olympus."

"Well, it's Artemis and Apollo's party. I just wanted to congratulate them. Show support for my friends." Persephone's face fell, and she walked to her window and looked outside, unable to face her mother.

Demeter sighs as she approaches her daughter.
"Darling, I know I am being harsh on you, but do you understand? I am harsh on you because I care about you and want to ensure your safety. I will never forgive myself if that happens."

"And how is hanging out with my friends going to hurt me?" Persephone prompted.

Demeter shook her head slightly. "Not all your friends. I'm referring to your male friends." She let out a shudder. "By that, I mean Hermes and Apollo. They're Zeus' bastards. What if they hurt you? Or worse, touch you –"