novelraw Chapter 172: Not Playing Your Game
Chapter 172: Not Playing Your Game
Indeed, the hall had frozen over the moment those words left Peleus’s mouth.
Yet every eye had swung to Eris.
Even Ignotus seemed surprised...
Though his reason was entirely different.
’For the fairest... is that supposed to be a big deal?’
He was questioning the thought process behind Harmonia’s actions.
And though it was obvious to those who gave a damn that Eris wasn’t the one who threw the apple, all of Them wanted it to be ’Her’ anyway, for the drama, if anything.
In any case, was this really the big deal Harmonia was making it out to be?
As annoyed as Ignotus was, which was a gargantuan level, he didn’t really think so.
Eris, on the other hand, was panicking, not wanting to be blamed for chaos again.
"That’s not mine! Anyone watching would’ve seen it come from Harmonia’s direction!"
Did anyone listen to ’Her’ words?
Of course not. Why would They?
’She’ was of Calamity; it was only natural that ’She’ was the one who did it.
"This again..."
Whispers rippled through the crowd, each voice dripping with the same old poison.
"We all know ’She’ brought it."
"Discord follows ’Her’ wherever ’She’ goes."
Eris gritted ’Her’ teeth, but ’She’ kept ’Her’ chin high.
There was no way ’She’d’ let them see ’Her,’ a Higher God, in such a light again. Never.
Harmonia, off to the side, kept watching with ’Her’ smile twisting, no longer able to hide ’Her’ deep hatred of everything Eris.
Ignotus, meanwhile, kept staring at ’Her.’
He was ready to sprint over, grab ’Her’ by the ankle, and use her like a club, but Eris brushed ’Her’ fingers against his hand—a grounding touch that told him enough.
’She’ needed him here; without him, ’She’ wouldn’t be able to stand strong.
Before Peleus could decide what to do with the apple, the three trouble magnets moved.
Juno, Minerva, and Venus.
All three extended ’Their’ hands towards the apple at the exact same time.
"Obviously it belongs to me."
Juno was the first to speak.
"I am the rightful ruler of Heaven. The fairest title is beneath me, but accuracy is accuracy."
Minerva loudly scoffed, ’Her’ face prideful and incredibly smug.
"Queen, if you think your face is the standard of beauty, then we may require an optometrist. The apple clearly recognizes wisdom and grace. It belongs to me."
Venus laughed at her.
"Oh, please. You two are adorable; it’s really cute that you’re trying, but I am literally the Goddess of Beauty."
The three locked eyes.
"..."
"..."
"..."
For a second, the air went still...
’I AM THE FAIREST!’
Then all Hell broke loose.
Juno’s peacock-feathered mantle flared behind ’Her.’ Minerva summoned a spear with a flash of blue-white light, ’Her’ owl crest glowing. Venus’s aura bloomed pink and gold, hearts fluttering around ’Her’ like angry butterflies.
"You dare stand in my way?"
Juno growled, taking a step forward.
"You would lose before the battle even began."
Minerva countered, leveling her spear.
"I don’t even need to use my Element~..."
Venus teased with a pout.
"I just need to smile and watch the entire hall support me instead."
"It’s a wedding!"
Minerva snapped.
"Have some dignity!"
"You brought a spear to a banquet!"
Venus snapped back.
"Juno started this!"
Minvera barked, ruining whatever remained of the air ’They’ had earlier.
"And you followed? Why? Because of your insecurity?"
Venus cooed.
The three went on and on while everyone watched.
Ignotus had his arms crossed, annoyed as all Hell.
"Are they always like this?"
His whisper was heard only by Eris.
"Yes."
’She’ whispered back.
"How have you not killed ’Them’ yet?"
"Because Jova’s fond of ’Them.’"
"That’s reasonable."
The hall trembled as the three Divine Wills clashed.
Emerald, silver, and pink swirled wildly, destroying the marble beneath.
Lower Gods ducked under tables, food jumped off plates, and wine splattered.
All the while, Juno, Minerva, and Venus shoved away at each other.
"You harpy!"
Juno shoved Minerva’s shoulder.
"Your form is sloppy."
Minvera jabbed the bottom of Juno’s chin.
"You’re all ugly when you fight."
Venus kicked both of them in the shin.
This was barely a fight, but more like a temper tantrum.
"This is so stupid..."
Ignotus grabbed at his own face.
"This is always what happens."
Eris agreed.
"Every. Single. Time."
Right before the three Goddesses escalated into a full battle—
"THAT’S ENOUGH NOW."
Jova interfered, raising one hand.
"..."
"..."
"..."
What came after was instant, suffocating silence.
Even Ignotus reacted on instinct, his mind warning him not to speak.
Jova walked forward, ’His’ expression wrinkled with pure annoyance.
"It’s not funny anymore."
The three Goddesses straightened as ’He’ plucked the apple right out of ’Their’ hands.
Jova exhaled and turned towards Eris.
"Your presence made this mess."
Eris stiffened.
"You settle it."
’He’ handed ’Her’ the apple.
Just like that, ’They’ tossed the trash to the person ’They’ blamed for dropping it. Eris couldn’t believe this was happening to ’Her.’
"I DIDN’T BRING THIS!"
’Her’ shout hit made the hall tremble.
Torches flickered, and even Jova blinked.
But once ’She’ started, the dam ’She’ held back for so long finally burst:
"You people—ALL OF YOU—always look at me whenever a bad thing happens and think that it must’ve been me! That I caused the trouble! Not your own inadequacy!"
She jabbed a finger toward Juno, Minerva, and Venus.
"I HAVE NEVER DONE ANYTHING!"
Many Gods recoiled.
Juno looked offended, Minerva rolled her eyes, and Venus smiled.
"You keep treating me like I’m pure evil!"
Eris kept going, ’Her’ black hair floating up.
"Like every disaster has my name on it!"
’She’ was having none of it.
"And now I’m supposed to FIX your mess?! Your pettiness?!"
She waved the apple around.
"I didn’t ask for this! I didn’t even WANT to come to this stupid cycle celebration!"
Ignotus, unable to watch any longer, stepped beside ’Her’ and put a hand on ’Her’ shoulder.
"House."
’She’ froze at that word, only to blink.
"...House?"
Eris repeated it back, obviously confused.
’...’
Oh, there was no doubting it, ’She’ didn’t remember.
The safe word they’d agreed on...
’She’ didn’t remember it.
That scared him.
But ’She’ tore away from him before he could steady ’Her’ further. And that was when the trio of Goddesses closed in.
Juno, of course, approached first.
"Eris, there’s no need to trouble yourself over this. Choose me, and tell you what, I’ll have anyone who speaks ill of you be sent to Hell for a time. I’m the Queen; you can trust that it’s in my power to do that."
Minerva stepped in.
"Choose me, and I shall endeavor in changing how all the Gods view you. Victory in all you do and wisdom to rise above every slight."
Venus was the last, giving Eris a wildly different proposition:
"Choose me, darling, and I’ll give you the love of the most beautiful man in all of Heaven."
Eris stared at ’Them,’ exasperated beyond death.
"ARE YOU PEOPLE SERIOUS?!"
The entire hall flinched.
"I didn’t ask for a stupid apple!"
"I didn’t start this! I didn’t WANT this!"
"And I am NOT choosing between any of you!"
’She’ raised the apple, and everyone leaned forward, as if hypnotized by it.
Ignotus raised a brow, watching as Eris hurled the apple down.
It shattered the marble.
"I’M NOT PLAYING YOUR GAME!"
The hall gasped.
Harmonia smiled wider.
Ignotus’s hand twitched toward his sword.
And the illusion...
—
{Loss of Self: 70%}
—
Tightened.