Even as a goddess, Loki was still a woman at heart.
And since it was her first time going through something like this, of course her mind had been restless that night. Staying up late was only natural.
But the real culprit behind her sleeplessness? That brat who had caused it all—he'd slept like a baby.
When Loki took a good look at Tsuna's bright, well-rested face, she felt her irritation spike even higher.
"…"
Confronted with that look, Tsuna froze, momentarily at a loss for words. He took a steadying breath and stepped closer to Loki.
"Uh, Miss Loki, I'm only thirteen. Thinking about marriage proposals might've been… a bit premature."
"Oh? So you do realize that what you did yesterday was basically a 'proposal,' huh?"
Tsuna blinked, then paused—right as Loki's faintly annoyed expression melted into a sly, knowing smile.
…Crap. He'd walked right into that one.
Still, he didn't try to deny it.
"Yeah. I knew it sort of looked like a 'proposal.'"
"'Sort of'?"
"…Fine. It was a proposal."
There was really no escaping it. No matter how he spun it, his actions yesterday could only be taken as that.
Originally, he'd planned to just let things play out naturally, like he'd decided the night before. But now—well, so much for that.
"Mhm. You're right," Loki said cheerfully, sitting up on her bed. She bent her knees and hugged them, watching him with a teasing grin. "It was a proposal."
"And since you proposed… I've decided to accept."
Her grin widened. "I've always been interested in the idea of getting married to a kid I'm fond of. I know you didn't mean it consciously—but I couldn't care less about that part."
"Or what? You prefer girls like that little runt's goddess, Hestia, or that lunatic Freya?"
Tsuna could practically picture both in his head—he knew exactly what Loki was poking at.
"Miss Loki, saying I don't like them wouldn't be convincing, would it?" he said wryly. "Physical appearance is definitely part of attraction. But I also know getting too hung up on that kind of thing usually leads to trouble."
Loki pouted, but her smile returned almost immediately. That answer was so like him.
"Alright, let's drop the topic of that shrimp and Freya for now."
She tilted her head, her eyes gleaming with something sharp.
"I'm not the type to treat your words or actions as some kind of joke. So today, you're giving me your answer."
Loki was never one to dance around things.
Gods were different from the children of the lower world—they could be playful, sure, but they were also bold enough to act on what they wanted.
And as the pressure built, Tsuna didn't look troubled. If anything, he'd already made up his mind.
"Loki-san, if this isn't just a joke, then I'm not planning to avoid it."
"Honestly, I don't dislike you. In fact… I kind of like you."
Loki's smile grew brighter, satisfied.
"Mhm. That's a good answer."
"Since you've said that much, then I'll be clear too. I'm not treating this as a game either."
"And as for that 'like' of yours—well, come on, I am a goddess after all~"
That last line carried a smug lilt, but there was no denying the truth in it.
Every god and goddess was beautiful—divine charm was built into their very being. What set them apart was the aura that colored their beauty. Each had a different hue, a different allure.
But bottom line? A goddess was still a goddess—and in terms of looks, they were all stunning.
Now that she was in a good mood again, Loki's drowsiness vanished completely.
"Come here."
She beckoned him closer.
Tsuna hesitated but obeyed. The next moment, Loki leaned forward and planted a kiss on his cheek.
"Ehehe~ There. Marked and sealed. You're mine now."
"Just so we're clear—you're not allowed to let that woman Freya steal you away, got it?"
That particular woman's antics were infuriating enough on their own.
Especially after hearing from Tsuna about some of the things that insane goddess would pull in the future—Loki figured it was better to start taking precautions now.
I… got kissed?
Tsuna blinked, stunned. Loki's sudden move had caught him completely off guard. And calling it "sealing the deal"? Was that her idea of a stamp?
But her next words pulled him back into focus.
"Freya's Charm is insanely strong," he said, thoughtful now. "But as long as someone has 'Charm Immunity,' that's enough to resist it."
Knowing Freya's methods, of course he'd already thought of countermeasures.
He'd even based them on Bell Cranel's natural resistance to Charm.
"As long as I'm not affected by it," he continued, pulling a small silver ring from his pocket, "I don't have to worry about whatever underhanded tricks she tries."
He handed it to her.
"This ring's sole purpose is to grant immunity to Charm. It's specifically for when Freya suddenly decides to get… interested."
Loki examined the ring carefully. It was simpler than the one before, but finely crafted. She slipped it onto the fingers of her right hand and nodded approvingly.
"Fits perfectly."
"And yeah, you're right—it's definitely necessary to have something against Freya. That woman's obsession in the future is a serious headache."
"If it weren't for that shrimp being completely unaffected by Charm, she might've actually succeeded with her nonsense."
If Freya had succeeded back then… the world afterwards really would've been doomed.
Still, Loki wasn't too worried about it now. So long as that crazy woman didn't stick her hands into her business—or try to steal her Tsuna—then there wouldn't be a problem.
"And what about you?" she asked.
"To keep things discreet, I've embedded all the anti-Charm components into the metal parts and buttons on my clothes," Tsuna replied, pointing to them.
Each one was something he'd specifically crafted for that purpose.
Loki's lips twitched.
Yeah, she shouldn't have asked.
That level of over-preparation was so him.
Still… she couldn't help but smile.
Pure, unguarded joy bubbled up inside her—
Joy.
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You can read up to chapter 170 on patreon.com/NiaXD.
P.S. Extra chapter goal: 500 powerstones!