Seeing that the atmosphere seemed a little off, Hestia got up and asked:
"What's going on?"
Realizing that her reaction had been a bit excessive, Artemis gave a soft cough and casually asked the two of them. "You two… were going to eat rabbit?"
"Yeah. Rabbit meat is nourishing, has firm texture, and tastes really good."
As the head chef, Lorne instinctively nodded and began explaining:
"I wasn't sure what to make at first, but just now I saw a rabbit had snuck into the vegetable patch and was gnawing at the seedlings, so I thought, why not catch it and prepare some rabbit meat for everyone to try?
But considering how many people are eating tonight, that little portion didn't seem enough.
So, I went to the market and bought a whole cage of them. I was just getting ready to prepare them…"
As soon as he said this, before Artemis could react, Hestia belatedly rushed toward the vegetable patch that had been badly chewed and wailed in anguish.
"Damn it, my garden! Who? Who let a rabbit in here?!"
Immediately, the huntress goddess awkwardly stepped forward.
"Ahem, Aunt… it was me. I caught one while hunting on the way here, and accidentally let it escape when I came through the door. I got caught up in chatting and completely forgot about it…"
"That's right, it does seem to be the one that ran into the backyard."
Athena followed up with a perfectly timed comment, seemingly to clarify, but in reality cementing Artemis's fault.
The huntress goddess shot a glare at the goddess of wisdom, who appeared to be helping while sneakily adding fuel to the fire, then hesitantly spoke.
"Aunt, I really liked that little guy… why don't we let it go? I'll compensate you for the damages."
"So that's what happened, huh… fine, forget it…"
Seeing her niece admit her fault, Hestia didn't bother pursuing the matter further and waved to the head chef in the backyard who was about to strike down judgment.
"Lorne, where's that little rascal? Give it back to her."
"Uh… I forgot to close the cage earlier, and while opening it, I wasn't paying attention. They all slipped out, and now I can't tell which is which. Maybe Lady Artemis can come and identify it herself?"
Lorne pointed at the half-open cage on the ground and the few snowy-white culprits on the loose nearby, his face full of awkwardness.
Realizing the situation, Artemis now just wanted this farce to end as quickly as possible.
However, after scanning the area, she couldn't help but shake her head in mild disappointment.
"Strange… it doesn't look like any of them."
"Maybe a few of them escaped during the chaos…"
Lorne replied helplessly, glancing at the huntress goddess with hesitation.
Clearly, the capture had been interrupted by Artemis's arrival, giving the little creatures the perfect chance to escape.
Fortunately, Artemis was reasonable enough.
She simply sighed in regret and didn't make things more difficult for the chef who had been unwittingly caught in the mess.
"I see… let's just drop it."
Lorne, understanding the mood of the huntress goddess, took the initiative to speak and pardoned the group of fugitive culprits.
"Rabbit meat takes a bit of time. Why don't we switch to another dish?"
"That's fine..."
Hearing such thoughtful words from the head chef, Artemis couldn't help but nod with a smile.
Even the look she gave him carried a hint of warmth.
As the commotion from the little episode finally settled down, Lorne promptly released the few rabbits who had narrowly wondered around the gates of hell, back into the wild.
On the way, he picked up some beef and lamb, gave a loud call, and entered the kitchen to start over.
"You ladies just sit tight, the food will be ready soon."
The three goddesses didn't suspect a thing and returned to the living room, casually chatting as they waited for the formal meal to begin.
Hearing the laughter of the goddess from the inner room, Lorne, busy slicing beef and lamb in the kitchen, couldn't help but praise his own cleverness.
The best way to hide a drop of water… is to throw it into the sea.
Likewise, the best way to make a single rabbit vanish without a trace is to surround it with a whole bunch of other rabbits as cover.
Now that he had released so many, directly or indirectly, even if Artemis got suspicious later, it would be nearly impossible to trace it all back to him.
Besides, with the vegetable patch having been destroyed, Artemis would have a hard time pressing for answers in front of the aggrieved Hestia.
And to someone like the goddess of the hunt, a mere prey animal wasn't exactly a rare or irreplaceable thing.
As far as Lorne was concerned, the matter was now effectively over.
In the end, not only had he safely defused the bunny crisis, he even managed to score some favorability points with the huntress goddess.
Absolutely perfect!
Replaying the entire event in his mind to double-check for any flaws, Lorne gave a satisfied nod, then lifted several exquisite dishes fresh off the stove and took out his own home-brewed wine from the cellar, ready to properly host the trio of gathered virgin goddesses.
"Come on, have a drink! Don't hold back!"
With the wine and dishes ready, Hestia immediately poured a large glass of grape wine for herself and her two nieces, enthusiastically inviting them to drink.
The fragrance of fruitwood and flower petals rose into their noses, stirring the interest of the two goddesses.
They picked up their cups, mimicking Hestia's gesture, and tilted their heads back in one clean motion.
At once, a faint sourness spread through their mouths, followed by a delightful sweetness that lifted the spirits.
The rich fruity aroma carried notes of flowers and herbs, offering a mellow, complex taste full of distinct layers.
In a daze, they seemed to find themselves standing in a lush meadow, surrounded by blooming flowers.
Clusters of ripe grapes and pomegranates hung from the branches, releasing a fragrance that refreshed both body and soul.
Moments later, Athena and Artemis both opened their eyes and looked at the wine jar on the table.
Unconsciously, they licked their rosy lips and refilled their cups in unison.
Clearly, they had already been won over by this drink called "wine."
"I told you it was good, didn't I? Come on, drink, keep drinking!"
Seeing that her nieces had taken a liking to the fine drink she'd recommended, the hearth goddess, feeling proud and delighted, praised Lorne's brilliant creativity while enthusiastically livening up the mood at the table, constantly refilling their cups.
Soon, after each of them drank a jar of wine, the three goddesses were already a little tipsy.
Their fair faces were covered with an alluring rose red, their eyes were blurred, and their bodies were a little dizzy.
"More wine coming!"
With a cheerful call, Lorne, in charge of hosting the three goddesses, respectfully cleared away the empty jars and brought up the remaining four jars of wine from the cellar, placing them on the table.
However, Athena waved her hand, pushing the jar in front of her slightly away, a trace of regret flickering in her eyes.
"No, thank you. While the taste and sensation are certainly novel, if I drink any more, I'll lose control of my body. I don't really enjoy that kind of sensory imbalance."
Likewise, Artemis, sitting opposite, also put down her cup and nodded in agreement.
"Indeed. Drink too much, and your hands start to shake, that would affect my aim. That's enough for today."
Seeing the two virgin goddesses showing such restraint, Lorne, who had been quietly harboring some less-than-pure hopes, couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.
But after thinking it over for a moment, he let it go.
They were virgin goddesses, after all.
If Athena and Artemis lacked vigilance and basic self-preservation, they wouldn't have remained untouched for so long.
"Huh? You two aren't drinking? Well, perfect, more for me~!"
Just as Lorne was silently lamenting, Hestia's eyes lit up upon hearing her nieces decline.
And then, without hesitation, she pulled the remaining four jars over to her side.
Breaking their seals one by one, she drank greedily, indulging in that intoxicating, otherworldly sensation.
Bang!
Fifteen minutes later, the hearth goddess, who had enthusiastically downed five jars of wine, lay face down on the table, snoring blissfully, her face plastered with a silly, drunken smile of utter bliss.
At that moment, after all his effort, with the bait laid out and ready for a drunken scene, Lorne looked over at the one and only fish that had bitten, a thick-lipped drunk curled up before him, and his face darkened.
You again!
You've done this both times!
You still haven't learned your lesson, huh?
Clearly, the last beating wasn't enough!
Yet despite his twitching fingers itching for action, he ultimately didn't bring his hand down on Hestia's butt.
Athena and Artemis, the ever-reliable nieces, had already stepped in, one on each side, supporting their aunt as they helped her upstairs.
Watching the three virgin goddesses walking away together, Lorne had no choice but to obediently begin clearing the dishes, setting aside any ideas about giving Hestia a little "discipline," for now atleast.
That night passed peacefully, without incident.
With the arrival of morning, Lorne sat up in bed, ready to head downstairs and prepare breakfast.
"Woof!" But before he could even fully open the door, the golden hound in the corridor let out a low whimper and darted straight into his arms, its dog face filled with a humanlike look of terror as if it were fleeing from some monstrous beast.
Outside the door, the blonde, silver-eyed huntress goddess nonchalantly withdrew her hand, wearing a reserved smile as she casually greeted him.
"So early?"
"Mm. Just up to make some breakfast, to treat you all properly."
Lorne replied with a mild smile while gently stroking the trembling golden hound's head.
Artemis glanced at the room behind her and then smiled as she made a suggestion.
"Aunt will probably sleep till noon. Why don't you come take a walk with me first?"
Then, her gaze shifted downward, landing on the golden hound in Lorne's arms as a flicker of heat flashed in her eyes.
"Since you've got such a fine dog, how about we go up into the nearby mountains and have a little hunting contest?"
"And what's the point of comparing yourself to him? Why not try me instead?"
Before Lorne could say a word, Athena stepped out from another bedroom, her voice laced with frost as she looked at the clearly scheming huntress goddess.
Seeing her carefully laid plan suddenly interrupted, Artemis frowned in displeasure.
But in the next moment, as if something occurred to her, she smiled again.
"Sure. It's not every day we get to hunt together. Let's see who brings back more game. And while we're at it, he can be our judge and guide."
"No problem!"
Athena nodded cheerfully, but then, following Artemis's line of sight, she cast a meaningful glance toward the man behind her.
Across from her, Artemis responded with a warm, pleasant gaze, filled not just with friendliness and appreciation, but even reached out and pulled the man's arm toward her, exuding unmistakable enthusiasm.
"Ride in my chariot. It'll be faster that way."
A step too slow, Athena narrowed her eyes slightly, and the faint sound of grinding teeth emerged from between her clenched lips.
At that moment, forcibly promoted to goddess referee, Lorne couldn't help but think of a certain future colleague named "Paris" and that even more infamous golden apple.
His scalp tingled.
This… probably wasn't going to be a good job, was it?
(End of Chapter)
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