Surrounded by blooming flowers, a refreshing fragrance drifted around the round table.
The tea party was set in the Sky Garden. Thanks to Hephaestus's arrangements, there were no outsiders here to disturb them.
The scenery was as natural and beautiful as a hidden paradise, but before the silver-haired Goddess, even this fairy-tale view was little more than decoration.
The moment Astraea stepped into the garden, she sensed that something was off.
She frowned slightly and asked, "Why is Freya here? Hephaestus, did you invite her?"
At the tea party hosted by Hephaestus, even Familia members were not allowed to enter.
At first, the Goddess of Forging had wanted to arrange things more thoroughly by allowing Familia members to accompany them as guards and help serve tea and water.
But Astraea had repeatedly emphasized that if they did that, there would be no need to guess who Hestia would bring. Faced with that impossibly tangled relationship, the tea party would never be able to continue.
"I do not know either. Maybe Hestia invited her."
Hephaestus's attitude was rather calm.
If Loki or Demeter had come, the tea party would undoubtedly become a mess in a certain sense.
Freya had always maintained an aloof, detached air, as if she stood apart from worldly disputes. Even if she joined them, she should not cause much trouble.
"I do not think Hestia would invite Freya..."
Astraea commented while easing her frown, then walked forward gently.
She had thought that by preventing Bell from accompanying her, this tea party could become a simple reunion, but Freya's appearance stirred a faint unease in Astraea's heart.
She was confident she could deal with Hestia and the others, but this proud Goddess of Beauty was difficult to predict.
Astraea did not dwell on it and greeted her. "Freya, it has been a long time."
The three Goddesses present had all lived through Orario's Dark Age together. Whether their Familia members were easy to get along with or not, the friendship between the Goddesses had not been affected.
Although Astraea was a Goddess, she mingled freely with the people of the Lower World and often looked after the children at the orphanage. Some of her former Familia members had come from that orphanage as well.
Loki disliked that way of doing things, but Freya admired it greatly. Thanks to that, Astraea had maintained a good relationship with the Goddess of Love.
"It has been a long time."
Freya left the railing and gracefully returned to the round table. "Seeing you so lively now, I suppose it must be because you are in love?"
"..."
Astraea froze for a moment.
She knew the topic of the boy would be impossible to avoid at this tea party, but she had not expected it to come so quickly.
Back in Tenkai, Astraea's domain had been far from Freya's. She had only heard that Freya was the chaste Goddess of Beauty, the woman countless male Gods dreamed of.
Because of the Dark Age, their past conversations had always been limited by the urgency of the situation, leaving no room for casual talk.
Now, with this question that cut straight to the heart of the matter, Astraea realized her instincts had been right. Freya was the one she needed to be most wary of at this tea party.
"Reuniting with an old friend naturally makes me happy. But Freya, what were you looking at just now?"
Astraea quickly changed the subject.
"I thought the view here was lovely, so I got a little lost in it and looked a few more times."
Freya answered softly, her expression showing no change at all.
"..."
Hephaestus sensed invisible sparks between the two of them.
She lifted the corners of her mouth and, as the host, took over the topic.
"Being praised by the Goddess of Beauty feels quite nice, even if it is only flattery. Whether we are catching up or prying into one another's private lives, let's enjoy the sweets while we talk."
"Hestia and the other one are not here yet. If you start now, they will definitely complain."
Astraea said that, but her right hand had already picked up the teapot and poured steaming black tea for the others.
"Thank you. It is their fault for being late."
Hephaestus politely accepted the teacup. She seemed convinced that Hestia would arrive later than everyone else.
"Astraea, are you pouring tea for five people so the remaining two will realize exactly how late they are?"
Freya nodded in thanks and sat in the seat directly facing the entrance.
Her chair was separated from the others. Whether by coincidence or because she was not good at socializing, judging from her position, Freya seemed to be sitting opposite everyone else.
"As expected of Freya, you saw right through me. A shut-in like Hestia, who cannot keep her promises, must be made to understand her mistake."
Astraea showed a kind smile.
"I heard that! You were the ones who arrived early, so do not make it sound like I'm late!"
Another Goddess's clear voice came from the entrance.
Hestia had just stepped into the garden when she instinctively paused. "Huh? Why is Freya here too?"
"Did you not invite her?"
Hephaestus asked in confusion.
"We are not that close..."
Hestia pouted.
In a certain sense, Freya was another kind of shut-in. The two had not had many chances to interact in Tenkai. As for after descending to the Lower World, Hestia Familia had only just gotten started, so there had been even less reason for them to cross paths.
Aside from a few Denatus meetings, Hestia had hardly seen Freya at all.
"How hurtful. So we are not friends?"
Freya put on the look of a fragile young girl and pretended to wipe tears from the corners of her eyes.
"Ugh... I'm just a little afraid of you. I did not mean it like that..."
Hestia hurriedly answered.
The chaste Goddess of Beauty, the aloof queen reigning over Orario. Whether in Tenkai or the Lower World, Freya was an extraordinarily dazzling and unfathomable existence.
Hestia could speak freely in front of Artemis and the others. Relying on the name of friendship, she could confidently punish them and list off the sins they had committed against the boy.
But Freya's arrival had disrupted Hestia's plan.
"If Hestia did not invite her, then..."
Hephaestus murmured softly.
She had placed great importance on this tea party and had not revealed any information to other Gods.
"I invited her."
Artemis stepped up the stairs and openly admitted what she had done on her own. "I am truly sorry for not telling you in advance. It was something I decided on the spur of the moment."
"That is how it happened. Have I caused trouble for everyone? If I am disturbing your tea party, I can leave now." Freya looked around at the Goddesses.
"I do not mind."
Astraea answered.
She did not voice the retort in her heart and merely returned a gentle smile.
Saying she could leave now, when she had not even moved to stand...
"I am fine with it too. More people will make things livelier."
Hephaestus agreed.
"Ugh... I do not really mind either. Freya would not do anything bad anyway."
Hestia slowly took her seat.
"..."
Artemis glanced at Freya and sent her a reproachful look.
She sighed softly, then said with a smile,
"In that case, let's all enjoy this long-awaited tea party together."