Chapter 6
She was smart enough to understand that most importantly, if the myths were anything to go by, giving the apple to the Goddess of Beauty always ended in disaster. There was no need to hear any more.
She promptly turned to The Goddess of Wisdom and War, Nerva and held out the apple.
“I wish offer this to you, Lady Nerva.”
Silence fell over the group for a beat.
“Elinne.”
The stillness was broken by Nerva’s firm, age-worn voice.
“You already possess wisdom.”
She reached out and took the Golden Apple from Elinne’s hand, then gently helped her to her feet.
From beneath her deeply shadowed helm, her green eyes sparkled with quiet intelligence.
“I will make sure this is a choice you never regret. Thank you for the gift.”
“…Ha!!”
A sharp, disbelieving laugh cut through the air.
Vishtar was staring daggers at her, her teeth clenched, face flushed a furious red.
That glare… wasn’t it exactly the kind that turned people to stone in the old stories?
Terrified, she quietly ducked behind Nerva’s back.
Vishtar looked as though she’d rip the hairpin from her neat chignon and hurl it at her any second.
“How dare you, mortal…!”
“Compose yourself, Vishtar.”
Unfazed by the murderous look, Nerva spoke without expression, standing squarely in front of her like a fortress.
“You agreed to this wager under your own terms, favoring yourself. And yet you lost. As promised, the Immortal Lands are mine. Accept the result.”
“Ha…!! You, you! You blind, stupid, repulsive mortal! You—you…!”
Vishtar, breath ragged with fury, looked like words were failing her altogether. Finally, she spat them out.
“You will never again know love! You will fall for a man the world sees as hideous and vile, and you will share your body with him for eternity, forever bound to him by love!”
It was honestly beyond comprehension how such venom could erupt from such a small body.
Even after her furious cursing, Vishtar didn’t seem satisfied. She whirled around to face Heril, the goddess of family and fertility.
“Lady Heril! Will you just stand there and say nothing?!”
Gone was Heril’s usual calm, graceful smile. Her expression had hardened to stone as she glared at her.
“This insolent mortal has insulted us both and yet you act as if you don’t care!”
“Don’t make such a fuss, Vishtar.”
The frigid stare turned toward the Goddess who had just finished her screaming fit.
“I was indeed insulted, yes. But you were the one who brought her here by your own will. So why do you put us on the same level?”
“Well… I mean… that’s true, but still…”
“Enough! I was never pleased with this unfair wager to begin with!”
Vishtar closed her mouth again, shrinking slightly.
Despite all her arrogance, it seemed she was of the lowest rank among the three Goddesses.
“And now listen well, Elinne the Mortal.”
A cold command froze her where she stood.
If Vishtar could cast such curses, what kind of horrors would the more powerful Heril unleash?
Her spine stiffened in dread.
“I shall not curse your future family. Nerva has taken you in as her foster daughter. Out of respect for our long bond, I will restrain myself.”
“Th-thank you!”
“But from this moment forward, you will no longer be able to bear children.”
…Okay? And?
She glanced up, wondering what dreadful curse would follow that ominous pause.
But Heril remained silent, her expression glacial.
She blinked at Heril in confusion. Was that… it? Did she miss something?
“My goodness! Isn’t that far too cruel a punishment for a mere mortal, Lady Heril?”
Apparently, she hadn’t misheard.
Because Vishtar, standing right next to her, looked absolutely delighted.
“To be born a woman and never carry a child—what a tragic fate!”
If someone hadn’t heard the content, they might have thought she was offering congratulations from how cheerful her voice sounded.
“Oh! Nerva, do forgive me. I meant no offense to your eternal virgin vows. Of course not! It’s just… what a truly devastating curse, wouldn’t you say?”
…Is that really it?
Even as Vishtar prattled on, Elinne found herself more bewildered than upset.
The curse of Infertility.
For some, perhaps, it was a terrible curse, but for her? She had no desire for children.
She was already exhausted just trying to survive in this brutal world, why on earth would she want a child?
If anything, an intriguing thought crossed her mind.
‘So… I won’t need to worry about birth control anymore? And no more of those annoying monthly visits either?’
……Hold on. This really wasn’t such a bad curse at all.
Especially after hearing Vishtar’s previous curse about falling in love with some so-called ugly man, this one felt more like a blessing.
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