TGS - Chapter 56
Chapter 56: Half-Truths
Alyuin stared into the void for a moment before realizing it was a dream.
Lotus was still lying peacefully beside her, and the pool at the Kadera temple couldn't possibly be a hot spring. It was just a dream.
The princess slowly exhaled and closed her eyes again. She couldn't find the will to sleep, nor did she particularly want to.
She lay in the darkness, lost in thought for a long while. The restlessness and heat from the dream still lingered in her body, but her mind was as clear as if it had been splashed with cold water.
The dream was perhaps absurd. After all, a god couldn't possibly be blasphemed and then, without any resentment, call her "child" as if nothing had happened.
But that was precisely the situation Alyuin now faced.
Whether in the past or the present, the way Lotus looked at her had never changed. It was still the same as it had been at the temple in Kadera—gentle, affectionate, indulgent.
Without a doubt, it was the attitude one had toward a child.
Alyuin raised her eyes, using the moonlight spilling in from the skylight to carefully trace the goddess's features as she slept.
The avatar's appearance was different from the goddess's true form. It was delicate and unassuming. The play of light and shadow made her look subtly different than she did in the daytime, lessening the sense of distance.
Alyuin picked up a strand of black hair and rubbed it between her fingertips. It was cool to the touch.
An indescribable sense of frustration and sadness welled up inside her.
That's right, an avatar.
Whether she had forgotten or had subconsciously ignored the fact, the one accompanying her was not the goddess herself, but an avatar of Lotus.
The affection and intimacy were real, but the god's true self remained high above in the Kingdom of the Gods. In her eyes, Alyuin probably occupied only a very small part.
Even though Lotus's avatar stayed here, she remained detached from the world's affairs, never initiating contact with anyone other than Alyuin herself, as if she were merely fulfilling the promise she had made.
"I will come to the mortal realm and accompany you."
That was what Lotus had said on the night of the assassination attempt years ago.
Alyuin released her hand, letting the strand of hair fall back into place.
From this perspective, the idea she once had—"to make Lotus unable to leave, little by little"—seemed so laughable and ignorant.
If things continued like this, could she really achieve the outcome she desired?
As she pondered, the moonlight gradually shifted, moving from Lotus's profile to her slender neck. The princess's gaze followed unconsciously.
Perhaps it was time to make the goddess see clearly that she was no longer a child, but a woman.
A woman worthy of being a god's wife.
As for the possibility that Lotus was not attracted to women, Alyuin had completely cast it aside, or rather, had chosen to selectively ignore it.
Even if Lotus didn't like women, she certainly didn't like men.
Alyuin had seen it clearly. Lotus rarely paid attention to others, and those who did capture her notice—like Rhea, the God-Concubine Naimaer, Kopal, and so on—weren't they all women?
As for men like Motis and Luca, she had never seen Lotus spare them more than a few glances.
Alyuin was very confident in her deduction.
That being said, there were still some obstacles to putting her plan into action.
One of those obstacles was... Alyuin wasn't technically a woman yet.
She was still three months away from her coming-of-age. The one chosen to preside over her coming-of-age ceremony had long been decided: the very goddess Alyuin adored, Lotus herself.
She had been so proud when it was arranged, but now the thought felt a little strange.
What kind of elder-and-junior relationship was this!
Tannier had quite a variety of hot springs. One could soak in a different type each day and not repeat for several days.
The next day, Lotus chose another pool in the forest. The water in this spring was relatively cool, just pleasantly warm, and the pool was clear with no steam rising from its surface.
It was an autumn afternoon, and the temperature was comfortable.
Lotus, wearing a short robe, leaned against the edge of the pool with her eyes closed, resting.
Suddenly, a cool breeze swept by. Lotus frowned instinctively, but before she could react, she felt a long linen bath towel being gently draped over her.
Lotus opened her eyes.
"Alyu?"
"It's me," Alyuin said. "It's cooler here. Be careful not to catch a cold."
"Gods don't catch colds..." Lotus said as she turned toward the sound of the voice. She suddenly froze, her expression complicated. "You, on the other hand, should be careful not to catch a cold from the wind."
Alyuin, who had been wrapped in a long towel yesterday, was today wearing only a loose, short robe.
Her long hair, usually pinned up, was let down, gathered to one side and tied with a ribbon. This simple, softer hairstyle toned down the natural intensity of her features, making her appear gentler than usual.
Lotus watched, wide-eyed, as the princess approached with a perfectly calm expression. The white fabric became soaked by the pool water, clinging to her honey-colored skin and creating a strange kind of beauty.
"It's warmer in the pool," Alyuin said matter-of-factly.
Lotus thought she had discovered the truth. Alyuin had probably brought the long towel for herself, but upon seeing Lotus with only a short robe, she had given it up.
So considerate.
"...You should put the towel on," Lotus said. "The wind is a bit strong right now."
"I brought it for you. I'm fine." Alyuin paused, then found a brilliant excuse. "I'm training my willpower."
Alright, after yesterday's conversation, Lotus was no longer surprised.
Seeing that the wind had died down and warmth had returned to the air above the pool, she confirmed that the temperature wouldn't cause anyone to catch a cold and said no more.
Just as she was about to close her eyes again, the princess propped her arms beside her.
"Lotus, let's talk."
"Mm, what do you want to talk about?"
"Have you been to the mortal realm before? Not counting the founding of Solancia."
"No," Lotus replied. "In fact, I don't even remember what happened when Solancia was founded."
"I see." Alyuin nodded. "Then you probably haven't met many humans. That's a shame. I wanted to ask your advice on something."
A question about humans? Lotus, who had once been human herself, couldn't help but feel a flicker of interest.
"You can tell me. I might know something about it."
"Do you think I'm beautiful?"
"..."
"Am I considered beautiful among humans? What about among gods?" Alyuin asked insistently.
Lotus turned her head. Her eyes fell upon the princess's stunning yet youthful face, which was now gazing at her without blinking, eyes full of expectation, the corners of her lips curved into a bewitching smile.
Bewitching—Lotus was startled by her own description. She shook the thought away and answered responsibly, "Very beautiful. I have never seen anyone who can compare to you."
Thinking of the otherworldly beauty of the gods in the divine kingdom, Lotus added, "And you are no less beautiful than a god."
It was a sufficiently objective statement, and it came entirely from the heart.
But Lotus was a little confused. "Why do you suddenly ask this?"
Alyuin sighed. "I'm just not very confident. If I'm considered beautiful among both mortals and gods, why doesn't she like me?"
A two-second silence. "Wait," Lotus said.
Wait, that sentence contained a lot of information.
In ancient Solancian, "he" and "she" were written differently, but they were pronounced identically.
In her surprise, Lotus didn't notice such a subtle distinction.
Setting aside why Alyu would lack confidence in her own face, the hidden meaning in her words was... she had someone she liked?
And it seemed that person did not return her feelings.
In the span of a few seconds, Lotus mentally reviewed the names of everyone they had met recently but couldn't identify a possible candidate.
In fact, she and Alyuin were rarely apart; they knew basically the same people, except for that group of gods.
Lotus was certain she hadn't noticed any signs before. When did this happen? Was it during the time Alyu became interested in love among the gods, or sometime after?
Seeing the goddess remain silent for a long time, Alyuin continued, "Lotus, what are you thinking?"
Before Lotus could respond, she sighed softly and answered her own question. "You don't have to think of how to comfort me. I understand."
Her long fingers traced the lines of her own face, swept past her raised neck, and finally came to rest just above her chest, wiping away a water droplet that was about to fall.
After doing this, Alyuin said dejectedly, "I suppose my looks truly aren't enough to attract her. That's why Adia's messenger didn't find her, and only hops around in my heart."
"I don't think you understand," Lotus said.
—There was nothing more difficult to respond to than watching a beautiful young woman claim she wasn't pretty enough.
No, that wasn't the point.
Lotus couldn't help but sit up a little straighter, choosing her words carefully. "Don't say that. Do you not trust my judgment?"
"Then do you like my face?" Alyuin immediately followed up. "If not my face, what about my body?"
Lotus took a deep breath. "People don't fall in love just because of looks. That's only part of it. There are many other reasons."
Alyuin said in a low voice, "But if even my face can't attract her, what can I do to get a response?"
This question was a bit beyond her expertise. Lotus had never studied the psychology of love; she herself had absolutely no experience.
She could invent answers about a god's view on love based on her own understanding, but being asked how to make someone like you...
Lotus even began to suspect there was something wrong with this particular hot spring.
"Generally, you just try to become more outstanding, but Alyu is already very outstanding," Lotus said slowly. "Adia's call has no logic. No matter what you do, it's hard to influence another's feelings."
"Is there no other way?"
Lotus lowered her eyes in thought. "Cater to their preferences?"
Alyuin actually put on a show of serious consideration, then smiled faintly after a moment. "Thank you, Lotus. I will work in that direction."
Seeing that the topic was about to end, Lotus breathed a sigh of relief.
A complex emotion belatedly surfaced.
Who is that person?
For a moment, Lotus almost lost her calm demeanor, nearly asking the question out loud, but she managed to hold back.
Everyone has their secrets.
If Alyu didn't intend to say, she shouldn't ask.
Just then, Alyuin added casually, "So, aren't you curious?"
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