Author's Note
First things first, I am not going to make Niall fall in love or whatever. I just wanted to do some fan service for myself since Aphrodite is my favorite goddess in the series.
A two-week time skip will happen in the next two chapters most likely, after that, I'm going to focus on MC gaining power, more Eldritch stuff.
Peace!
--- --- --- --- --- ---
However, before I could dig into the majestic steak, I heard a familiar female voice that momentarily reminded me of Hestia, though she wasn't supposed to descend for another two and a half years.
"Ohh, what a cutie! I can't believe my eyes, such a nice catch Mia!!" The beautiful blonde goddess commented as she approached me.
Her beauty was divine, unlike any other goddess or mortal. Her smooth golden hair and pair of green eyes glanced over me. She had a smaller structure, not as small as Hestia's but smaller than average.
"Mind telling me your name, cutie?" My chin was lifted by the goddess herself, her eyes staring directly into mine. I noticed her confusion as she gazed a bit longer at my eyes.
"Such pretty but odd eyes you've got there... but that doesn't change the fact that you're a worthy catch for a beauty like me, hah." She spoke so full of herself, while I waited for her to stop the nonsense so I could reply.
I tried to glance at the other girls, but my head was fixated on the goddess as she held my cheeks with both of her hands. "Hm, you dare look at other women when I'm in your presence? How oddly interesting...."
Now I remembered that Aphrodite was known for charming beautiful mortals, inviting them to her familia in that way. I was most likely resisting her charm right now, not that I could know if she tried to charm me or not.
"My name is Niall, goddess Aphrodite." My reply stunned her for a mere moment before she smiled at my deadpan response.
"I am well pleased that you know my name. Well, it's nice to meet such an astonishing young man like you. Would you mind showing me around the town?" She seductively smiled, but little did she know that this was my first day in Orario as well.
"I would like to, goddess Aphrodite, but you see... This is my first day inside Orario. I wouldn't mind if we spent some time together while we walked around the town. That, of course, is after I finish the unfinished business with these guys over there."
I pointed at Mia and the girls, all of them looking at me dumbfounded except Syr, who was visibly frustrated by Aphrodite's involvement. Aphrodite just smiled and nodded. Instead of moving away, she sat at the table right next to me.
"So, I was eager to accept this meal, but I will refuse it now. Not only did you guys put me in a difficult situation today when Syr had a sudden panic attack and blamed it on me. But you kidnapped me without my consent, even if I don't think that kidnapping with consent exists. Anyway, you guys aren't worth my time."
I could hear all of them gasp in shock. Each of them was a bit saddened and surprised, except for Syr, who was watching me with clear interest. She became even more intrigued by me now.
Mia, on the other hand, was boiling red. Before she could curse me or whatever, I simply grabbed Aphrodite's hand, which surprised her a little, and we both ran away from the Hostess of Fertility Inn.
---
"Sorry for the sudden rush, goddess Aphrodite. But it was either that or getting cursed or possibly beaten by that angry dwarf woman." Both of us stopped after a minute of running through the city.
Aphrodite's face blushed from the sudden rush, however, her hand still tightly held mine, which made me tilt my head in confusion.
"Hah hah hah, honestly, you took me by surprise, Niall. Also, why are you looking at me like that? Is it weird for two lovers to hold their hands tightly as they dive down in a deep passionate kiss on their lips?"
She daydreamed for a moment before looking at me expectantly. "Why don't we try that right now? What do you say?" She leaned closer, and inches away from my face, I could feel her breath up close.
"You've known me for less than five minutes, and you already see us as lovers? I mean, you are the goddess of beauty but have some standards. You can't just go up to any pretty man or boy you like and seduce him."
She thought for a moment, then I saw her eyes flash in a golden color, which reminded me of Freya's charm ability that glowed purple when used.
'This little runt just tried charming me. Despite my crush on her, this is a major thing that pushes me back from liking her 100%.' I rolled my eyes, making Aphrodite look at me with a shocked face.
"So where do you want us to go? Maybe we could just wander around the town until we find something interesting enough... or maybe we could inspect the ruined area of the town." I tried to change the subject, but suddenly Aphrodite leaned in for a kiss.
She pressed her lips deeply into mine, crossing her arms around my neck, she pulled my body to hers. After ten seconds of a passionate kiss, she pulled away with a blush and a smirk on her pretty face.
"What do you say now? Hehe?" She smirked, while a blush appeared on my cold face. I may not have emotions, but the blood still runs in my body. I don't know how I blushed, but I didn't care that much.
"That was a pretty nice kiss, but that still doesn't change my question to you. You just kissed me after knowing me for not more than five minutes. That alone is enough to tell me that you use your beauty on everyone as you seem fit."
She was shocked again; her smirk broke, but she quickly chuckled upon seeing a blush on my face. "You're a very interesting young man, Niall. Not only did you resist my charms, but you managed to stay calm after I kissed you. And for your information, I do not kiss anyone whom I like. I may be the goddess of beauty, but I do not sell my body out like that damned Ishtar. You are a special case, so be proud. You made this goddess fall in love faster than anyone would've thought!"
She held her arms on her hips, looking proud at me. I was wrong about her selling her body; she might not be like Ishtar in that regard. The kiss was pretty damn nice, but thankfully the charm wouldn't work on me, so she couldn't brainwash me.
"I don't mind the kiss, but I don't believe in love, especially in true love at all. Love is just a human-made concept, nothing else, nothing more." Aphrodite was taken aback by my statement.
"You dare say something like that in front of a goddess such as I? Love is real; it's spread everywhere. Every being is made to feel love and express it as it sees fit. Even someone as cold as you is capable of feeling love."
She leaned closer, staring at me daggers; she was a bit mad right now. "Do I need to drag you to bed to prove to you that love is, in fact, real? Or are you just playing with this pretty goddess of yours?"
I was thinking about what I should say next, but nothing smart came to mind. "It is too late for me, my goddess." I used a reference from Star Wars when Darth Vader says this to his son Luke, just with my spin at the end.
Aphrodite clenched her fists. She took my mouth again and kissed me even more deeply than before. She held the kiss for about fifteen seconds before releasing me, a visible spit was visible on her lips at the moment of release.
"Still that stone-ass face, huh... I have to admit. You're pretty stubborn and cold-hearted. Most men would've fallen in love with me long ago, but you... you are different than the others. You managed to resist my charm, but not only that... no no! YOU, you are ignoring a goddess of beauty, ignoring her advances!"
She pointed at me with her finger, her green eyes showing both affection and anger. She was mad at me, but probably she felt pity at the same time. I always found love too bothersome and fake; women never really interacted with me, nor did I interact with them.
One could say that I am asexual, even if I don't like calling myself by those modern terms from the previous world where I lived.
"Honestly... Okay, let's go now. I want to know more about you, about your life before Orario, your preferences, and the types of girls you like. I mean, of course, it's a type like me, muahaha!"
She laughed cheerfully while grabbing my hand to hold it. I decided that it was best to remain silent for some time, so I accepted her arm and decided to travel across Orario with Aphrodite by my side.