Ais finally understood!
What she should do wasn't run away, but to clarify her feelings.
As Riveria said, she had to take the initiative to seize her own happiness.
Though she didn't fully comprehend it, it was just like how her father and mother were.
How could her mother not be with her father?
Seeing Ais regain her fighting spirit, all traces of her earlier dejection vanishing, Riveria also sighed in relief with satisfaction.
"By the way, who was this woman blowing kisses at Eiji that you mentioned?"
She casually asked.
She ought to properly advise Ais, after all, this was Ais's first time in love!
Though she knew nothing about it herself, Riveria felt she couldn't just stand by!
If it was a formidable rival, they had to act quickly to eliminate the threat!
"Freya."
"Oh, Freya."
Riveria nodded.
Then she suddenly snapped back to reality, her brain freezing for a moment.
"Who did you say?"
"Freya."
"...Goddess Freya?"
"Yes."
Ais nodded very seriously.
"...Hiss!"
Riveria sharply inhaled.
She clutched her forehead with an extreme headache.
"Tell me everything about your encounter today in detail!"
...
"Where's Ais?"
Eiji raced back to Twilight Manor at breakneck speed.
He grabbed an anonymous companion and urgently inquired.
"Ais? She went straight to her room as soon as she got back, seemed really upset. Riveria already—"
Before he could finish, Eiji dashed inside.
Ignoring Alicia and the others' greetings, he headed straight for the western spire.
Please let me be in time!
He prayed inwardly.
But his luck had already sealed the outcome.
"Eiji!!"
No sooner had he entered the tower's ground floor hall than an angry shout came from above.
Riveria descended the stairs with furious steps, her face dark as a pot.
"Speak! Are you involved with Freya?!"
It's over.
Eiji groaned inwardly.
As Riveria's furious shout echoed, the entire Loki Familia erupted.
"Who? Our prince is involved with who?!"
"Freya? That bitch goddess!"
"Not Tiona, not Ais, not Lefiya, but the goddess of a rival familia?!"
Uproar came from all directions.
Cries of disbelief, curses, and the sound of weapons being swung rose chaotically.
Eiji remained silent.
Under Riveria's furious gaze, his face turned pale.
"...I was wrong."
Eiji sighed deeply, his face filled with regret.
Ais came down the stairs, her face instantly paling upon hearing this, her body swaying unsteadily.
"You're not denying it?!"
Riveria was shocked, her face losing colour.
She had desperately hoped Eiji would refute it—for Ais's sake, for the familia's sake. Otherwise, not only would Ais be heartbroken, but the entire Loki Familia would find itself in an untenable position.
One of their own members entangled with the goddess of a rival familia—what kind of propriety was that!
The two familias were bound to clash one day!
It was precisely because of such possibilities that ordinary adventurers usually chose partners from within their own Familia rather than forming cross-Familia relationships.
If two major Familias came into conflict, which side would you stand on?
If the couple had children, which Familia would they belong to?
Countless troubles like these would arise!
If Eiji had denied it, things might have been manageable.
"I won't deny it. A mistake is a mistake."
Eiji shook his head, his expression full of turmoil. "I'm not the kind of person who makes mistakes but refuses to take responsibility. You can punish me however you see fit—I have no objections."
"I only regret giving in to momentary impulse, unable to resist the temptation of revenge... Ah!"
His face was filled with regret.
Nearly the entire Loki Familia had gathered here, with everyone in the base drawn to the commotion.
Hearing his words, the crowd exchanged bewildered glances.
"Wait, what do you mean by that?"
Riveria suddenly frowned. "What does 'the temptation of revenge' have to do with your relationship with Freya?"
She felt as though she had stumbled upon some hidden truth.
Ais lifted her gaze, a faint glimmer of expectation in her eyes.
"At this point, I should come clean."
Eiji let out a long sigh, his expression nostalgic.
"It all goes back to a few days ago, when we first learned that Ishtar's key was in Freya's possession. Loki and I went out... Actually, we went to see Freya at that time."
Riveria remembered that incident.
Loki and Eiji had left and returned with the key.
They had wondered how Loki managed it—Freya wasn't a goddess easily satisfied—but since Loki refused to explain, they hadn't pressed further.
"Don't tell me—?"
Riveria suddenly thought of a terrifying possibility.
"Did Loki make you... seduce Freya?!"
She practically spat out the word "seduce" through gritted teeth.
"No, this is my fault!"
Eiji was overcome with grief.
"All these days, I've been consumed by thoughts of avenging Line and the others, of settling the score from the artificial labyrinth! In the end, I couldn't resist and succumbed to misplaced anger!"
"Prince!"
"That's so like you, Eiji!"
"I knew you weren't that kind of person!"
The girls looked at him with moved expressions.
So that was it!
It was said he had once stood in the rain for hours by Lynne's grave. Everyone knew how deeply he cared for his comrades.
It must have been Loki's fault!
This was all because of Loki and her terrible idea!
What was the point of making Eiji seduce Freya in the first place?
Even if he could resist the charms of the Goddess of Beauty, wasn't it just like throwing meat to a dog?
"Loki! Where is Loki?"
"Loki, come out and face the music!"
The girls redirected their fury, their shouts echoing throughout the Familia.
"That damn Loki, coming up with such a horrible plan!"
Riveria clenched her teeth, seething with anger.
She felt her grip on her staff tighten, itching to strike someone—no, strike a certain god!
Ais puffed up her cheeks, feeling anger toward Loki for the first time.
Eiji sat slumped in a chair in the hall, looking resigned to his fate.
"What's all this about?"
It wasn't until evening that Loki finally returned, reeking of alcohol.
The moment she returned, she was startled by the grand scene before her—over twenty beautiful girls, each wielding sticks and glaring at her with furious expressions. Even Riveria, Ais, and Tiona were among them.
"Beat her up!"
At Riveria's command, the group surged forward like wolves and tigers, pinning Loki down.
"Ow ow ow!!"
Loki let out a pained howl.
Even after it was all over, she still had no idea what had just happened.