At night, as Hestia looked at Artemis sitting before her with an apologetic expression, she felt her heart take a heavy hit despite all the mental preparation she'd done.
"Why are all my friends setting their sights on my Bell?"
Hestia's mood plummeted.
Artemis moving in with her should've been something to celebrate—but the problem was that this person had come to compete with her.
Bell, who had already been "split away" from her in some ways, was now going to be divided even further. Just thinking about it made Hestia grumble internally.
"I'm sorry, Hestia."
Artemis couldn't help apologizing.
This situation was entirely her fault. She had acted despite knowing Bell was Hestia's child. Especially after learning the nature of Bell and Hestia's relationship, her behavior amounted to barging in as a third party.
Of course, even accepting that her actions were wrong, Artemis had no intention of backing down.
When she made that decision in her heart, she already knew nothing could change these feelings.
Even if it meant offending her best friend.
"Hmph…"
Hestia was still upset. Her best friend had come to confront her—and openly at that—to steal her Bell.
Unbelievable.
But after seething for a moment, Hestia remembered another matter regarding Artemis.
'Hmm~ It must be that other one constantly influencing Artemis, making her come after my Bell!'
'So annoying!'
She wanted nothing more than to make the Artemis before her stay far away from her Bell.
But she knew it wasn't possible. Not realistically.
Artemis dared return only because she knew Hestia wouldn't actually throw her out.
And Hestia truly couldn't drive Artemis away.
Just as the atmosphere between them was growing stiff, Hephaestus stepped in. As Hestia's friend, she actually had quite a bit of authority here.
"Hestia, just accept it."
"???"
Hestia stared at her, her expression clearly saying, "Sis, what are you doing?"
Hephaestus, however, was perfectly calm.
"Artemis is thin-skinned to begin with, yet she came straight home to talk to you. That means she's already made up her mind. Do you really think you can stop her?"
"I…"
'I can obviously stop her!' Hestia wanted to say that, but she couldn't. Because deep down she knew—how was she supposed to stop something like this?
A goddess's affection for a child of the Genkai often came from a momentary flutter. Such affection rarely lasted long and often had a playful undertone.
But when a goddess wasn't just showing affection and was truly in love, then "just playing around" no longer applied.
Clearly, Artemis was the latter.
If Artemis's love was really directed at Bell, then no one could stop it.
Think back to Freya's situation—did Hestia not try to stop her then?
More than that—Bell himself had tried to stop it too.
And what happened?
Freya ended up siding with the Guild, shattering all of Hestia's plans.
Once a goddess decided on her love, nothing could overturn it.
It became fate.
"It can't be stopped."
Hephaestus delivered the conclusion without hesitation.
Once a goddess cast aside shame in the name of love, she became truly shameless.
And Hephaestus did not doubt that Artemis—normally so bashful—would "evolve," because the fact that she returned home and confessed already meant she'd become much bolder than before.
"For Artemis to come back and say this to you means she's already shameless enough."
"Think about the other shameless goddesses in the house."
"..."
As soon as she thought about it, Hestia's face turned green.
Facing shameless people, she really didn't have good countermeasures. And if she compared Artemis with certain others in the house… Hestia realized Artemis now had a hint of Hephaestus's old flair.
She had snatched Bell first and apologized afterward.
That was peak shamelessness.
Was Artemis about to pull the same move?
Watching Hestia's expression, Hephaestus chose the perfect moment to strike again.
"And don't forget—Artemis and Bell came back like this after going out today. Do you really think Bell had no part in it?"
"...!?"
Hestia's eyes widened. She'd forgotten Bell was a factor too.
Hephaestus's lips curled slightly as she continued.
"That boy has never once gone after a girl on his own, has he?"
"From the very beginning, all his attention was focused on you. Even when he saved Artemis, it was because you wished it."
"Mm…"
Hestia couldn't refute that.
The whole Artemis incident came from her wish—it was what she wanted. That's why Bell had put in so much effort, even revealing the Divine Core he needed to keep hidden, all to fulfill her desire to save Artemis.
"Artemis developing feelings for Bell also probably came from that incident. He saved her—of course such thoughts would arise."
"Later at home, when the other Artemis relentlessly chased Bell, he blocked her every time. Why do you think that is?"
"....."
Hestia had no comeback.
Bell's attitude had always been firm, but many events had shifted his perspective over time.
"But… but still…"
Even knowing all this, Hestia still felt unhappy.
Seeing the timing was right, Hephaestus leaned close and whispered into her ear.
"Bell once said he wanted to treat everyone as family, because he didn't want to betray the affection of any goddess."
"Our love doesn't bloom for just anyone. I think you know that, and Artemis knows it too."
Hestia fell silent.
She knew very well.
Artemis had always tried hard to avoid contact with Bell. But with the other Artemis being so direct, this attempt to avoid him would soon become impossible.
And Hephaestus was right—whatever Hestia knew, Artemis surely knew too.
"But how you decide to handle this… that's up to you."