Afterward, Nyx, guided by Thetis, made her way to see Astellon, her youngest son, and his daughter—her own granddaughter.
"Auuu!!"
"Yes, yes. You like our daughter too, don't you?"
"Aguu. Kyaaa!"
As they drew near the room, a child's cry echoed from beyond the door, accompanied by the voice of her son, Astellon.
"Looks like we've arrived. I can hear our youngest... and it sounds like our granddaughter is with him."
At that, Nyx's lips curved upward into a tender smile, and Thetis nodded in response.
"Yes, Lady Nyx. Astellon and Noxia are in that room."
"Are they alone?"
"Probably... Hecate is likely there as well. Noxia is Hecate's daughter, after all."
"Hmm. Perfect. Thetis, you should come in with me."
"Pardon? M-me?"
Thetis jumped, looking at Nyx in sheer surprise.
"Who else would I mean? While I came today to see my son and granddaughter... I also wanted to see you. This works out quite well."
"Th-then..."
"Now then! It's been far too long, my youngest!"
"L-Lady Nyx?!"
"Honestly, what is with that formality? I told you to call me Mother."
While Thetis stood there flustered, Nyx seized her hand and flung the door open.
As the door swung wide and the two goddesses entered, Astellon was visibly shaken by Nyx's sudden appearance.
"Ah. Is that little one Noxia?"
Ignoring Astellon's shock, Nyx stepped forward toward the child nestled in his arms.
"Oh, my. She really is the spitting image of you two. How adorable."
"N-Nyx... Mother... what brings you here...?"
Stunned by the sudden intrusion, Astellon managed to stammer out a question.
"I heard I had a lovely granddaughter, of course."
As she answered, Nyx's gaze remained fixed solely on Noxia, who was staring back at her with wide, blank eyes.
Wait. Why is Mother here?
I had been playing with Noxia as usual when the door suddenly burst open. I was thrown into a panic seeing Lady Nyx stride in, with Thetis looking as though she had been dragged along by the hand.
When I asked for the reason for her visit, she simply told me she had come to meet Noxia.
"My, look at those squishy little cheeks."
"Uuuh."
"My sweet granddaughter. Why don't you come to me?"
"Nngh..."
Lady Nyx's entire world seemed to center on Noxia. After pinching the baby's cheeks, she beckoned her into her arms.
After a moment of hesitation, Noxia shifted over into Lady Nyx's embrace.
"Ahhh! My granddaughter! You are absolutely precious!!"
With a look of pure bliss, Lady Nyx nuzzled her cheek against Noxia's, holding her tight.
I watched the scene in silence for a moment before leaning toward Thetis to whisper.
"What exactly is happening right now?"
"I don't know either. Lady Nyx suddenly appeared and demanded to know where you and Noxia were..."
"...Did she really come just for Noxia? I have a feeling that's not the whole story..."
"Son."
"Y-yes, ma'am!"
I jumped, startled by Lady Nyx's voice, and answered instantly.
"Truly, you have been blessed with a wonderful daughter."
Contrary to my anxiety, Lady Nyx wore the widest smile I had ever seen on her face as she gazed down at Noxia.
Seeing this, Thetis also let out a long, shaky breath of relief.
"Is that so?"
I relaxed slightly, swayed by the warm atmosphere.
"Yes! Ah... she is already so beautiful, it's almost worrying... but, son. May I ask one small favor?"
"A favor? What is it?"
"It's late, so it's nearly time to put Noxia to bed, isn't it?"
"Well, yes..."
"Then tonight, I shall be the one to put her to sleep. I will sleep with Noxia tonight."
"Pardon? What do you mean? Noxia sleeps with me...!"
"Surely you aren't going to coldly turn away your own mother, who traveled so far to see you?"
"No, wait! Why is the conversation suddenly going in that direction?!"
"Because I simply cannot resist such an adorable granddaughter! So just accept it and move on!"
"..."
"...Do you really have to do this?"
I was absolutely floored. The "favor" was far more sinister than I had imagined.
I barely managed to beat Hecate to secure the right to put Noxia to sleep and sleep beside her tonight...!
"And what exactly can you do about it? Do you truly believe you can defeat me?"
"That's impossible. But... Noxia likes me more!"
"And yet, judging by her reaction, she is currently clinging to me."
"Then... let's make a wager! Let's see who Noxia chooses!"
"Very well. Let us try it."
Ultimately, we decided to leave the decision to Noxia. Lady Nyx and I both stepped back, leaving the baby alone in the center of the room.
Then, we both beckoned her with loud, eager voices.
"Our daughter! Come to Daddy!!"
"Come to your grandmother!!"
Noxia stared blankly at the two of us for a moment before she began to crawl.
Just as our gestures became more frantic—
"...Huh?"
"Kyaaa!"
"N-Noxia?"
The one Noxia chose was neither of us. She crawled straight to Thetis, who was standing in the middle, and clung to her leg with a bright, bubbling laugh.
"This is...!"
"Ah..."
The two of us stood frozen, faces etched with absolute shock at Noxia's unexpected choice.