In the depths of the Underworld, Catia stood quietly before Hades's throne.
She had always been cold and silent, but at this moment, her gaze was firmer than ever.
The independent and unrestricted increase in power that Hestia had gained after deciding to become a virgin goddess had stirred a wave in her heart.
She recalled the chaos caused by Eros's uncontrollable golden arrows, and the potential threat that Zeus, the God-King, posed to any goddess, a sword constantly hanging over their heads.
And looking at herself—she truly had no interest in love, and even considered it an unnecessary distraction.
"Father," Catia's voice was as clear as ice.
"I request, like Aunt Hestia, to become a virgin goddess."
Hades's deep violet eyes fell upon her, as if he could see all her unspoken considerations—distrust of Eros, vigilance against the potential threats of Zeus, and the alienation from love in her own nature.
He did not ask much, simply nodded calmly.
"Of course."
One word, simple but with authority. The law stirred slightly, and a protective light, similar to Hestia's but more aligned with the atmosphere of the Underworld, enveloped Catia.
She felt an invisible shackle break, her divinity become purer, her power indeed significantly increased in stability, and most importantly, an absolute 'inviolable' imprint of the law was etched into the essence of her being.
Hades looked at his transformed daughter, pondered for a moment, and spoke again. His voice was still level, but he entrusted her with an important duty:
"From this moment, you are responsible for the selection and recognition of the Maidens."
This meant that Catia was not only a virgin goddess herself but also the de facto administrator and arbiter of this priesthood within Hades's sphere of influence.
This was both a trust and an arrangement to further integrate her into the core of the Hades system.
Catia trembled slightly, and then solemnly saluted: "I obey, Father."
At this moment, Metis's figure silently appeared beside Hades, like a shadow. She looked at Catia's back as she silently withdrew after receiving the order. The corner of her mouth curved into a playful arc. She leaned on Hades's shoulder and softly asked:
"Who do you think our newly appointed Maiden Goddess's first 'client' will be?"
A glint flashed in her eyes, with a slight interest in a good show.
Hades did not answer directly, but looked askance at her and asked, "What do you think?"
Metis smiled with a certain possessive note, leaned close to Hades's ear, and whispered in a sweet but chilling voice:
"How about having our daughters... Athena, Thalia, and even Eros... all become maidens?"
Her eyes sparkled: "That way, they will always belong to us, no outsider can touch them, and their wisdom and joy will only bloom for Hades..."
This proposal was bold and paranoid, fully in line with Metis's nature of combining extreme wisdom with a somber possessive streak.
However, upon hearing this, Hades showed neither surprise nor contemplation. He simply tilted his head slightly, looked at the 'Metis' beside him, and then...
reached out and gently touched her head.
This action possessed a rare intimacy, but it was different from the kind of softness he used when interacting with Metis.
"You are not Metis," Hades's voice was calm and unwavering, and he directly refuted this.
"Metis?" 'Metis' blinked, a look of perfect doubt on her face, imitating Metis's all-encompassing tone.
"You are not me, how do you know I am not me?"
Hades ignored the quibbling, withdrew his hand, curled his fingers, and tapped her smooth forehead.
"Thalia, stop playing," a slight, barely perceptible helplessness sounded in his voice.
"If you want to be a maiden, go to Catia and apply."
The disguise was instantly exposed!
The expression on 'Metis's'—or rather, Thalia's—face instantly crumbled. She pouted, and the wisdom and enigmatic aura belonging to Metis receded like a tide, giving way to her own boisterous, elfish eccentricity.
"Oh! No fun!" Thalia stomped her foot discontentedly, returning to her former pure and lively voice.
"It's rare to see the Father God soften because he gave the Mother Goddess a ring... I just wanted to take the opportunity to tease you!"
She grinned, not at all embarrassed about being seen through, and seemed to find the game interesting.
Hades looked at her, a flash of clarity in his violet eyes.
"Metis wouldn't give you the 'Gaia's Foundation'..." he said slowly, sharply scanning Thalia, instantly ruling out several options.
"Poseidon? No, he doesn't have that kind of mind, and he doesn't need it. Hecate."
He precisely identified the 'accomplice'.
The smile on Thalia's face froze, and her heart skipped a beat.
Oh no!
To have fun, it seemed she had sold out her sister Hecate!
Hades's voice was still level, but with invisible pressure:
"I haven't pursued her yet..."
He paused, looked at Thalia's expression, which instantly turned a little guilty, and continued: "Never mind, this time, let's settle it together."
Thalia stuck out her tongue, folded her hands, and made a pleading gesture, but her face remained the same optimistic expression:
"Father God~ Don't be like that! The goddess of creation creates fun, and someone has to realize it! Sorry, sister Hecate!"
She apologized insincerely; obviously, in her opinion, 'creating fun' was the supreme mission, and it was permissible to 'sacrifice' her companions for it.
Hades said nothing more, just waved his hand, indicating she could leave.
Thalia, as if pardoned, immediately transformed into a cheerful streamer, humming an incoherent tune on her lips, and disappeared beyond the main hall, probably to find Catia or to 'break the news' to Hecate.
Just as the streamer transformed by Thalia had barely vanished outside the palace, the air between the thrones rippled slightly again, and another figure slowly condensed—still the enigmatic robe, eyes still deep as a sea of stars, and the corner of her mouth held a clear and pleasant arc.
The real Metis appeared.
She approached the throne, her eyes gliding over Hades, as if she had a panoramic view of this little farce.
"Well," she chuckled, her voice languid.
"Dear Hades, what do you think of the proposal that 'Thalia' just made?"
She deliberately emphasized the name 'Thalia', her eyes flashing with a narrow light, wondering if Hades would be mistaken again.
Hades raised his eyes, his violet eyes calmly looking at her, and did not answer immediately.
He looked at her for a moment, and then, in a gesture similar to but fundamentally different from the one he had used to identify Thalia earlier, he reached out and gently touched her head, very naturally.
The movement was soft, with a certain familiarity and intimacy that required no words.
"Thalia?" Hades's voice was low and affirming.
"The second time, I won't be fooled."
Metis let his palm rest among her hair, enjoying this rare warmth, then raised an eyebrow and deliberately asked with a tone of grievance and challenge:
"Oh? Doesn't my Majesty Hades 'always trust' me?"
She quoted what Hades had previously said to Hermes.
"Why, just because my mischievous daughter once pretended to be me, you don't believe that what is before you is real? It seems your 'always trust' isn't so absolute."
Her words were a clever trap, trying to topple his argument.
Hades looked at her, his violet eyes deep, as if peering into the very depths of her soul.
Even after confirming it was Metis, he slightly frowned, experiencing an indescribable feeling of dissonance.
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