**Nicko's POV:**
Winter has ended, and spring has arrived. My lady, Jewel, excitedly dashed out of her room, running into the hallway and straight to the palace garden.
I watched her as she observed the grass. She looked around and saw me staring at her from the balcony above.
**Gema:** "Nicko!"
She shouted my name, a smile spreading across her face. She must have seen something that piqued her interest and would likely ask me what it meant.
I went down to join her, and as I arrived, she pointed to the sky, exclaiming:
**Gema:** "Look, Nicko! The sun shines through the clouds, the ice glaze has melted, and the flowers that were frozen for so long have started to bloom. Such an unexplainable phenomenon that only the gods above could cause."
**Nicko:** "I... strictly agree, my lady."
**Gema:** "Nicko?"
**Nicko:** "Yes, my lady?"
**Gema:** "How did the gods above create the seasons?"
She questioned, and I thought for a moment, recalling the story of how the gods created the four seasons.
**Nicko:** "It is the gift of Persephone, the goddess of spring."
**Gema:** "Persephone? The goddess of spring?"
**Nicko:** "You heard me right, my lady."
**Gema:** "Nicko?"
**Nicko:** "Yes, my lady?"
**Gema:** "Tell me more about her."
I couldn't help but giggle, having successfully predicted her question.
**Gema:** "Is there something funny, Nicko?"
**Flashback:**
As the daughter of Demeter, the goddess of harvest, Persephone represented nature alongside her mother. Initially, Demeter wanted her daughter to be known as the goddess of maidenhood.
However, due to Persephone's unmatched beauty, Hermes and Apollo began to compete for her affection.
Aware of the potential consequences for her daughter’s fate as the goddess of maidenhood, Demeter took Persephone away from Mount Olympus and concealed her among other female nymphs.
One day, while gathering flowers in the field, a cleft in the ground opened, and Hades, the god-king of the Underworld, emerged. He instantly fell in love with Persephone's beauty and abducted her, with Zeus's approval.
When Demeter discovered her daughter had mysteriously vanished, she searched the earth tirelessly, carrying a torch in her right hand.
Unable to find Persephone, she neglected the earth, and in her despair, caused nothing to grow.
A prophecy from an oracle, a priestess of Apollo, foretold:
"The happiness of the god of death brings about the end of all life on this earth. The gods above cannot contradict or prevent this future, for another god—the god of birth—will ensure it comes to pass."
Eventually, Helios, the sun, who had witnessed everything, revealed to Demeter what had transpired, guiding her to the location of her daughter’s abode.
Finally, Zeus, pressed by the cries of the hungry people and the other deities who also heard their anguish, forced Hades to return Persephone to her mother's side.
Hades complied with the request, but first tricked Persephone by giving her some pomegranate seeds to eat.
Persephone was rescued by Hermes, who had been sent by Zeus. However, Hades had already tricked Persephone into eating Pomegranate seeds. Because she had tasted the food in the Underworld, she was obliged to spend a third of each year with Hades and the remaining parts of the year with her mother, Demeter.
Due to Demeter's sadness, Aphrodite then established a bond between Persephone and Hades as law:
"Making Hades no longer seek love from another, and Persephone will truly enjoy Hades' company."
Yet, even when Demeter had the chance to be with her daughter, the curse of Hera remained strong, declaring:
"Making Persephone worthy of worship because of her mother, but never in her mother's company."
Demeter experienced profound sadness and forgot her obligation of year-long harvesting.
Every summer, we feel Demeter's warm love for Persephone; every autumn, we sense Demeter's worry for Persephone's return to the Underworld. Every winter brings Demeter's cold sorrow at Persephone's absence, while every spring marks the joyful welcome of Persephone's arrival.
**End of Flashback:**
My lady, Jewel, was so captivated by the story I shared that after listening, she looked up at the sky and prayed for Demeter to soon find true happiness in her daughter's company, saying:
**Gema:** I know Hera's curse may never be lifted, but I hope Demeter can find contentment, at least with Persephone's presence.
I too looked up and prayed with her for Demeter's happiness.
**Gema:** Nicko?
**Nicko:** Yes, my lady?
**Gema:** I recall you telling me that Helios was punished by Zeus and locked in Tartarus, remember?
**Nicko:** Yes, my lady.
**Gema:** So?
**Nicko:** The timeline of "Persephone's abduction" differs from the timeline of "Phaeton's tragedy," my lady.
**Gema:** Oh...
She thought for a while before finally speaking.
**Gema:** So that's how Persephone became the goddess of spring?
Well, her mind changes so quickly...
**Nicko:** That is... correct, my lady.
