Hestia laughed. "Hah. Look at who's threatening whom now. Pahaha."
Then the laughter dropped clean off her face. "You are nothing but a plaything for the duke. A lamb being fattened before the slaughter, fed well for no reason other than to make sure it tastes better on the day."
"He's spoiling you for his own gain. For his own objective, winning that tournament, where a slave's worth counts for a great deal. He's fooling you into believing you hold some genuine importance in his life. He'll have made you believe he isn't disgusted every single time you stand beside him."
Hestia tilted her head. "...I mean, that's what every celestial is taught at the academy, isn't it? A frightened slave is useful. But a devoted slave is invaluable. Feed them. Praise them. Protect them. Convince them they're family, if you must. They'll fight harder, bleed longer, and die smiling for you."
