Demeter's Love (Chapter 14)
After clearing away the bodies, I soothed the devotees and sent them on their way. I made sure they took home as many grapes as they wanted, lest any doubt should arise about Demeter’s faith, and I told them every tale I could link to the goddess so they would trust her completely. Luckily, the story flowed smoothly, and everyone left the forest with bright smiles on their faces. It had been possible only because the previous night had been spent on temple duties, but the festival still ended on a note of lingering regret.
“…………”
The next morning I frowned at the thought of meeting Poseidon again, trident in hand, after a night that had left me feeling utterly drained. Sleep had been impossible, but time kept marching forward until the hour finally arrived.
When had I even slept?
By the time I opened my eyes, morning had already come, and I had no memory of it. The familiar morning sounds reached my ears, carrying with them a familiar heaviness that made me feel I had slept less than I should have.
Clip, clip, clip…
Clip, clip, clip…
Clip, clip, clip…
That sound… I’ve heard it before, somewhere.
In this era it was unfamiliar; in modern times it was commonplace. I shifted my upper body to investigate and froze at the sight under the bed.
“Eh? What are you doing, Lady?”
“You’re awake. Nothing strange. Your nails were too long, so I was trimming them. Stay still.”
A nail clipper flashed in her hand, the rhythmic clip, clip, clip filled with unexpected cheer. She laughed brightly as if nothing unusual were happening, completely unaware of how scandalous it was for a goddess to be clipping the toenails of a mere human.
“You’re trimming my nails, Lady? They’re dirty—please stop.”
“It’s fine. Just a little longer and it’s done. Be good and stay still.”
“Even so…”
“Hush! Be quiet~!”
“Nnngh…”
I had barely opened my eyes and my head was already pounding. Yet I didn’t have the heart to refuse Demeter’s kindness, so I lay back down. From there I watched her, chuckling softly, the sound carried on the breeze straight into the temple.
“What sudden business is this? Even if I am a goddess, appearing like this is rather embarrassing.”
“No need to be surprised. I saw some of the people who stepped on your foot last night had especially skilled hands, so I borrowed their nail clippers.”
Clip, clip, clip.
“The result looks neat, but I wonder how durable it will be. Since I couldn’t ask for help from anyone proper, I decided to experiment and trim your nails for you.”
“Ahaha…”
She had called it a nail clipper, but the thing she held was clearly a staple gun with blunted teeth—nothing like the modern tool I knew. A few more tweaks and it would be perfect.
“And… when I think about how soon you’ll be leaving, I thought I’d mark the occasion with this. Not such a bad idea, right?”
As a goddess she had excellent instincts. I didn’t deny the words and simply agreed.
“Once the events involving Mestra are settled, I was planning to leave right away.”
“Then you’ll be departing today?”
“No? I caught Mestra and reclaimed the trident. I certainly can’t give them back to Poseidon without asking. I’ll see if he’ll listen to reason.”
“It’s fine. She won’t hold a grudge. With her usual tongue-lashing you’ll sort it out.”
“Then… when did she leave?”
“While you were sleeping.”
Demeter’s brazen reply made me scratch my forehead. I had no idea why she had suddenly stepped in, but I was relieved that the troublesome task was over. Honestly, though, I still didn’t know her motives.
“Why?”
“The goddess herself said meeting Poseidon was awkward. There were past events… and I played matchmaker, didn’t I?”
“The situation had grown too large. Mestra stole Poseidon’s trident and her face was already flushed—she wouldn’t have wanted to be suspected. There’s no need to dwell on it.”
“Ahaha~! Of course. Stealing the trident wasn’t the best choice. Then everything turned out all right?”
“I see… how should I explain this…?”
Demeter fell silent, looking troubled. She was clearly choosing her words carefully. Since I couldn’t push her, I waited quietly and soon she answered.
“She wanted to say a great deal about Mestra, but once she told me what Mestra had done, she lost her steam and left.”
“To Poseidon?”
“He was a little annoyed.”
“A little?”
“Quite a bit?”
Why did it sound like a question? Judging by her tone, it wasn’t simple anger. Had something sudden happened while I slept? Worry spiked through me. Fortunately the temple still stood, but what about the outside world?
“Still, I believed my anger was justified. Don’t you agree?”
“She couldn’t even manage her own weapons or the people around her and tried to suppress me with raw power—that would make anyone resentful.”
“Exactly. She tried to turn the tables on me, and I got genuinely angry. It was a close call, but he backed down gracefully. I’m glad for that.”
“Heh…”
Just imagining it sent shivers down my spine. Poseidon and Demeter fighting was like heaven and sea battling each other. From what I’d heard, the outside world had stayed calm, but if they had truly clashed, no one would have remained unscathed.
Could it be… that while I slept peacefully, lives were lost back and forth…?
Even as a goddess, I had to admit my position against the male gods was weak. If that were the case, the rowdy Poseidon had no reason to retreat. The only explanation was that the gentle Demeter had grown furious and he had yielded.
“……It’s settled.”
As I finished the final touches on the morning’s cleanup, Demeter rose gracefully. She offered me her hand and laughed merrily when I bowed. She had meant to head to the river for bathing, but she followed anyway. It wasn’t a burden, and since she never did anything improper I couldn’t quite shake the slight sense of obligation.
“You’ll be heading straight back to Argos today?”
“Yes. I had planned to travel for half a year, but Spartoi appeared suddenly, so I’ll guide them to Argos, introduce them to the king, and come back.”
“Then you’ll formally take Achilleus as your husband?”
“Of course.”
“What made you hesitate to marry right away?”
“It’s a personal matter… haha…”
She gave a wry laugh. I had already slept with Achilleus in the woods and borne a black stallion, yet she hadn’t married him out of shame. Still, they had traveled together, or so she would never admit.
Ah, that was too embarrassing even for me to repeat.
“Something like that, then.”
“There must be a story behind it.”
“It’s not quite a tale worthy of the gods, but if I must say, it’s rather shameful. I hope you won’t ask.”
“Then I won’t. I only wish you and Achilleus to live happily together. On the surface it looks fine, but the age difference worries me. What if something happens?”
“She’s a wonderful woman, even if her womanly ways aren’t obvious. She’ll be with me until the end of her life. If death ever parts us, I’ll simply have to face that challenge.”
“Shameful words indeed. Are you flattering me?”
“I speak from the heart. If I had disliked her, I would have gone alone.”
“Hmm~?”
She seemed to mull over my words, then suddenly burst out laughing.
“Before you go, would you like to hear a prophecy?”
“A prophecy?”
“I, Demeter, will tell you your future… how about it…?”
Normally I would have been tempted, but my face tightened.
“I’m sorry. I don’t believe in prophecies. Thinking of all the tragedies they’ve caused, it’s better not to hear any.”
“It’s not the kind of concrete prophecy you see in myths. It only warns of things to avoid, so don’t be afraid.”
“Hmm… really?”
“Of course. I will never make you do something you dislike.”
Her gentle smile made refusal impossible. I nodded.
“Then… I understand…”
“Hehe, stay still.”
She took my right hand and pressed it to her forehead, eyes closing. Receiving a prophecy from one of the Twelve was a strange feeling, yet I obediently endured. After a moment she spoke.
“I see… here… this is your homeland, Argos…?”
“Argos?”
“Yes. Someone in your hometown is jealous of you. This will become a thorn in your side.”
“…………?”
Jealous of me? I tilted my head, but Demeter’s words weren’t finished.
“He will try to deceive your friend. The person deceived will have thin skin and might make mistakes.”
“Oh?”
“I’ll keep it short. This is the line I can draw. Decide for yourself how to act after hearing it.”
Truly, she had only given the bare minimum. I thanked her from the heart. Demeter smiled as if this were a simple gift before departure, but for me it was vital information. I would be returning to Argos soon, and now I could prepare myself for whatever might happen there.
The one jealous of me… what did I do to make such a young sprout target me…?
No answer came to mind. I would be back in Argos soon enough; I would think about it then. For now I simply thanked Demeter for her kindness and tried to humor her. Fortunately the merciful goddess had been deeply saddened by my departure, yet she did not stop me. I left lightly.
But in this moment, one troubling thought lingered…
When I had glimpsed her belly before leaving…
Was she overeating?
It might have been my imagination, but her stomach had looked slightly rounded.