AEIWDT 06

Chapter 6 – 

“Don’t tell me you’re planning to bathe together with me?”

Theo frowned instantly, his face filled with displeasure.

“I was going to wash your clothes and blankets beside you while you bathe.”

Hestia tilted her head, looking puzzled by Theo’s expression.

“No.”

Theo’s reply was firm, his lips tightly shut as if to say he’d never allow such a thing.

Ah. Hestia’s lips curled into a mischievous smile, as if something had just clicked.

“Oh my, are you embarrassed~?”

She dragged out her words playfully, her tone like a grandmother teasing her grandson.

“Just get out already!”

Overwhelmed by teasing for the first time in his life, Theo lowered his head and shouted in flustered protest.

“You’re such a shy little thing. Fine, fine.”

Hestia chuckled softly and stepped away from the bathroom.

“I’m almost an adult too, you know!”

Half his body still inside the bathroom, Theo muttered resentfully. His ears flushed red with embarrassment.

“You probably still have another ten years before adulthood.”

SLAM!

Annoyed by her continuing to tease him even after leaving the bathroom, Theo slammed the door shut.

…I’m already 14, you know.

His small voice leaked from behind the closed door.

“Fourteen? I thought you were ten, maybe twelve. You’re really underweight. I’ll have to fatten you up while you’re here.”

Surprised by Theo’s age, Hestia made up her mind with a determined expression.

“It’s been a while since I had even a small reason to live. Is this what Lugh wanted for me?”

Should she find it endearing? Or scold herself for getting attached?

With a soft chuckle, Hestia murmured to herself.

Only after sweat beaded on her forehead from lifting her skirt high and scrubbing hard did the laundry finally end.

Hestia sank into the chair in front of the house—too modest to even be called a yard—and exhaled deeply.

Catching her breath, she stared blankly at the faraway sky and murmured quietly.

“Uncle El.”

A moment later—

The cheerful birds that had been chirping joyfully scattered all at once. The golden sunset sky glimpsed through the trees was suddenly consumed by a massive shadow.

Screeeee—!

A clear, high-pitched cry echoed across the sky. A giant eagle had appeared.

No, calling it “giant” didn’t do justice to its overwhelming size.

At its predator’s call, even the smallest birds and animals fled in terror, causing another eerie disturbance in the forest.

Finally, the eagle dove straight down, its talons sharp, as if it had mistaken Hestia for prey.

Yet Hestia stared up at it with an utterly calm expression.

The eagle abruptly changed direction and landed on a thick branch above her head. The tree shook violently under its weight, and leaves fell like rain.

“Calling me for such a trivial matter again?”

The eagle—El—let out a rough sound, his sharp eyes glaring down at Hestia.

“I don’t like doing laundry this often either, but this time I had no choice. Just let it go, just once.”

Despite Hestia’s pleading, El flapped his wings violently, clearly displeased.

“A pathetic excuse.”

A whirlwind stirred up leaves like a small storm.

“Ah!”

Worried that her freshly washed blankets would get dusty, Hestia quickly rose and shielded the basket with her body.

“How dare you call that an excuse! Don’t you see the sweat on my forehead? Don’t tell me your eyesight is already going bad?”

She shot back at El with an annoyed look.

“If you weren’t a special kind of human, I would have…”

El trailed off, gazing at her in silence before suddenly soaring into the sky—then dove back down at full speed.

Thud!

“Eghk—! Cough, cough—!”

Blinded and coughing from the dust cloud El had stirred up, Hestia opened her eyes to find both the eagle and the basket of blankets gone.

“If you were going to help anyway, couldn’t you just do it nicely? You’re getting old too, but that attitude is only getting worse!”

Grumbling as she dusted off her clothes, Hestia was interrupted.

“Um… are you alright?”

The bathroom door creaked open, and Theo emerged through the rising steam.

“Oh, you’re done?”

Hestia turned and looked him up and down.

“You’re so tiny, but you sure took your time.”

She smiled mischievously.

“…I’m not small.”

Theo pursed his lips and spoke firmly, clearly annoyed. His golden eyes glimmered with discontent at being treated like a child despite only being a head shorter than her.

“Alright, alright. Relax your face.”

A playful light shone in Hestia’s brown eyes, glowing under the setting sun.

“How’s the fit? Hmm, it’s a bit big, but if we roll up the sleeves and pants, it should do.”

She adjusted the sleeves of the clothes she had given him.

“Whose clothes are these, anyway?”

Theo asked quietly as she fixed his outfit. The clothes were old but clearly male garments.

“Wait—don’t tell me…”

His eyes narrowed with suspicion. Sensing his thoughts, Hestia quickly cut him off.

“I’ve never been married, and I don’t have any kids. Those clothes are mine. Don’t ask when I wore them. And just so you know—everything you’re thinking is written all over your face. Be more careful.”

Theo closed his mouth again, silenced by her quick response.

And that last remark about his face giving everything away… He’d never heard that before. He touched his face, puzzled.

Hestia chuckled like a breeze and straightened her back.

“Alright. Let’s head inside. The sun’s already setting—it’ll be dark soon.”

Theo looked around. The forest really was getting swallowed up by shadows.

An eerie feeling crept in, as if something might jump out at any moment.

“…Aren’t you scared living here alone?”

Theo asked curiously once they were inside.

“What’s there to be scared of? I’m the scariest thing here.”

He couldn’t tell if Hestia was being serious or joking.

But before he could figure it out, she turned away and walked off.

“Time to show off my skills for the first time in a while! Look forward to dinner.”

Avoiding Theo’s gaze, Hestia rolled up her sleeves and headed to the kitchen.

Another joke, huh?

Theo sighed and shook his head.

She barely knows me, so why does she act so familiar already?

And why… why had his own guard dropped so easily?

Theo’s expression was full of confusion.

Hestia, unaware—or perhaps fully aware—of his inner turmoil, began preparing the ingredients on the counter.

“Alright. You better earn your meal.”

She placed a bunch of blueberries the rabbit had brought onto the table and called to Theo.

Her expectant gaze made Theo quietly step forward.

“…”

But even after approaching, Hestia said nothing. Confused, Theo stared at her.

Eventually, she tilted her head and asked cautiously:

“…Is this your first time seeing blueberries?”

He didn’t look like a child who had grown up so poor that he’d never eaten them, but just in case…

“It’s not that…”

Caught off guard by the question, Theo began to reply—

“Watch closely. These little ones are blueberries. You just gently pluck the ripe ones like this. If you squeeze too hard, they’ll burst.”

Pluck. Pluck. Pluck.

She demonstrated a few, then held one out to him.

“Try it. It’s really good.”

Theo narrowed his eyes at the berry in her hand, suspicious.

“I mean it. Trust me. Just taste it.”

“…”

Pressed again, Theo slowly reached out and took the berry. After a moment’s hesitation, he opened his mouth and popped it in.

As he bit down, the blueberry burst in his mouth, releasing sweet and tart juice that vanished smoothly down his throat.

“Wow…”

It was easily the best blueberry he’d ever tasted.

Theo’s golden eyes widened in wonder. He slowly reached toward the blueberry stem.

“…!”

Realizing what he was doing, Theo gasped, quickly snatched his hand back, and covered his mouth.

He scolded himself silently—he should be staying on guard, not lowering it like this. His face flushed with shame.

But Hestia—

“These aren’t something you can find just anywhere.”

She beamed with pride, turned her back, and busied herself.

Snapping out of it, Theo shook his head hard and focused again—watching her move quickly.

His gaze turned deep and unreadable, filled with emotions too tangled to name.

“I know I’m pretty, so stop staring and just pick the blueberries.”

“…It’s not like that.”

Startled, Theo looked away and awkwardly began to pluck the berries.

“So this is how blueberries are harvested…”

As he got used to it, and the bowl filled up, a strange sense of satisfaction tugged at his lips.

By the time the room filled with the delicious aroma of cooking, the table was set with finished dishes.

“You’re not going to accuse me of poisoning the food again and ask me to taste it first, are you?”

Hestia teased, placing a bowl of stew in front of Theo.

The savory scent—unlike anything he’d ever smelled before—made his mouth water.