Hestia could not take it anymore.
The one sitting beside her was supposed to be the Goddess of Chastity, a role model admired by countless girls. Yet from the way Artemis and Astraea were talking, where was the dignity of a Virgin Goddess?
Talking about love in such shy, bashful tones. They were practically two vixens trying to seduce the boy!
"You two have gone too far! I absolutely won't allow Bell to do those things with you!"
Hestia downed her black tea in one gulp, as if it were strong liquor meant to stiffen her resolve, then glared fiercely at the boy's two lovers.
"I told you... that was only hypothetical..."
Artemis tugged at Hestia's sleeve.
"What do you mean, hypothetical?! You never would have said something like that before!"
Hestia shook off her friend's hand and answered resentfully.
The Artemis of the past would have sternly rejected any topic involving romance. But now, she had actually admitted there was a chance she might betray her chastity. It was absurd.
"Hestia, what I said just now was based on the premise of a [promise]."
Astraea emphasized calmly.
As long as that promise was not fulfilled, as long as tragedy still stood between them, her relationship with the boy would absolutely never progress.
"I don't know what kind of promise you made, but Bell will definitely fulfill it. So Astraea is a closet vixen too!"
Hestia answered with complete certainty.
"You really do trust him..."
Astraea murmured softly.
The promise the boy had made with her was wildly impossible, entirely within the realm of the [Unknown]. Yet Hestia, who stayed by Bell's side, believed without hesitation that he would fulfill it, even without knowing what it was.
That trust also proved that Bell Cranel had never broken a single promise along the path he had walked.
Realizing her lover's reliability and resolve, Astraea felt ripples stir in her heart.
"Ugh... Astraea, are you actually smiling?!"
Hestia stared at the slight curve of the Goddess of Justice's lips and demanded angrily.
"Sorry. I did not mean to."
Astraea answered gently, causing Hestia's forceful blow to land as if on cotton.
"You were definitely thinking about Bell just now! Pervert, deviant, vixen!"
Hestia vented the frustration in her heart.
Unlike her own short stature and childish face, Goddess Astraea was filled with feminine charm.
Even though Hestia understood that what drew the boy to Astraea was certainly not only her appearance and figure, but also that unwithering heart of justice, she still could not help feeling aggrieved.
"You must have used that lewd body to seduce Bell! Astraea is just like one of those perverted succubi from storybooks!"
Hestia crossed her arms and spoke loudly.
Taking advantage of the fact that she was standing, she looked down at the Goddess of Justice from above.
"..."
Hephaestus glanced at the sweets on the table.
Everything within Hestia's reach had already ended up in her stomach.
Could there have been liquor-filled sweets mixed in?
What Hestia drank just now had definitely been black tea, right?
Looking at Hestia's flushed face, Hephaestus could not help growing suspicious.
"Hestia, that was too much. You need to apologize to Astraea."
Artemis reminded her softly.
The Goddesses all knew that Hestia's words were mixed with resentment. She was not truly standing against Astraea or attacking her actions out of malice.
Even so, those words had gone a little too far against the gentle and noble Goddess of Justice.
"Ugh... Artemis even hugged Bell in bed. She's a more lewd succubus than Astraea!"
Hestia turned her attack on the one trying to mediate.
She was like a little dog gone wild, biting anyone who came close.
"W-what?! I've explained that so many times already. It was an accident!"
Artemis immediately retorted.
Sensing Freya's amused gaze, her face instantly flushed hot.
"Artemis, thank you for speaking up for me, but it is all right."
Astraea elegantly took a sip of black tea, then continued, "After all, Bell Cranel was the one who confessed to me first. And it was love at first sight. So in a sense, Hestia's accusation is not entirely wrong."
On the very first night the boy met Astraea, he had poured out a passionate confession.
Leaving aside his heart of justice, that surging emotion was surely connected to Astraea's breathtaking beauty as well. Goddess among Goddesses. The phrase was strange, yet it suited Astraea perfectly.
"..."
Hearing the story of Astraea and the boy's romance, Freya's brows furrowed slightly.
She did not voice her thoughts, soon regaining her calm and quietly waiting for the topic to continue.
"..."
Artemis wavered for an instant too.
Love at first sight... there had to be other reasons mixed in.
Wasn't Astraea's way of putting it a little too cunning?
"Aaaah! I can't hear you! I can't hear anything!"
Hestia shouted, trying to ignore Astraea's words like someone covering her ears and pretending nothing had happened.
Her heart was full of contradictions.
She wanted to know about the boy, yet she did not want to hear about the dazzling romances that belonged to other Goddesses.
She wanted to condemn her friends' betrayal, yet she did not want to honestly face these topics either.
"I understand, Hestia."
After thinking for a moment, Astraea asked tentatively, "Since this bothers you so much, would you like me to promise that from now on, I will not let Bell Cranel touch so much as one finger of mine?"
To avoid any misunderstanding, Astraea deliberately phrased it as a question.
She had no intention of making that promise. She only wanted to know Hestia's answer.
"Ugh..."
Hestia lowered her head and answered softly, "No... If you did that, Bell would be too pitiful..."
Astraea and the boy were lovers. If they had to cut off even physical contact because of her, Hestia could not make such a selfish demand.
That boy, and only that boy, was someone Hestia did not want hurt in any way.
"I see..."
Astraea murmured and said nothing more.
Her test had already yielded an answer.
Perhaps even Hestia herself did not know what she was truly seeking.
"Hestia, are you crying?"
Freya, seemingly unconcerned about stirring things up further, pushed the topic along in a teasing tone.
"I am not crying! I just think Astraea and Artemis went too far..."
Hestia pouted.
Freya narrowed her eyes and asked softly,
"Are you really sulking only because of those two, with no other selfish feelings mixed in?"