𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐕𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐄 ➤ 𝒉𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒑𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆

xvi. the nymphs' collusion

"Dear Olympus, where are you two headed?" Electra inquired when she noticed Hades and Persephone walking together, arms linked.

"Out," Persephone replied innocently, with a mischievous smile.

"But, where to?"

"I'd give up if I were you, Electra, she won't tell me either." Hades sighed, a sort of sheepish blush lingering on his face.

"And I'm not going to," Persephone added as the two walked away. "See you later, Electra."

Electra couldn't help but sigh and smile at the sight of them being happy together. Perhaps his advances were gradually becoming successful. And that was enough to make her heart leap for joy.

Her happiness, however, was short-lived.

"So, what are you doing?

Electra would've cursed out loud, but she kept her composure as she turned around and replied,
"Performing my duties as the housekeeper of this palace, Minthe. I may ask the same question to you as well."

"I'm having a hard time taking a nap." Minthe sighed and rubbed her eyes furiously.

"Well, that's not my problem. Good afternoon." Electra shrugged, smirking softly to herself as she walked away.

"Rude," Minthe muttered bitterly.

She would've gone back to her room if she hadn't heard happy laughter. Curiosity got the best of her, and she walked over to the balcony, her heart breaking into a million little fragments at what lay below.

Hades held Persephone's hands as they walked away, and she noticed the flower goddess' head tilted slightly towards his shoulder.

She felt her first clench around the balcony's top railing. If she were a god, she could have broken it. But then again, she was nothing more than a nymph.

A river nymph.

The lowest of deities.

Her face reddened with frustration, and Minthe thought steam might be evaporating from her ears although that was quite impossible. Scowling at the happy couple below her one
more time, she immediately ran back to her room.

Minthe furiously slumped back onto her bed, tears welling in her eyes. She stifled sobs, feeling betrayed by what she had witnessed.

"Ma'am is everything –" Minthe immediately grabbed one of her pillows and threw it at the servant who had asked her such a stupid question.

"Just leave me alone!" She spoke through gritted teeth, slammed the door, and locked it.

Her hands were closed into fists and roughly threw the chair of her vanity table aside nearly breaking it. She could have wrecked the entire room if she had not forced herself to calm down and fix her hair with a sigh.

But still, all her insecurities of herself emerged
to the surface.

Minthe never expressed any affection or feelings for Hades, even now. Minthe had no time for love, and it never interested her anyway.

But she couldn't understand.

She couldn't understand how, despite treating him horribly, Hades still loved her.

He had even proposed to her several times, but the answer was always a bitter no.

How could he even consider getting married?