Roannia was elated and mortified at the same time. The two Goddesses were chatting so casually that, for the passers-by, they might appear as a mother and daughter. The happy undertones in Harmonia's voice with her cheerful and spontaneous laughter during their discussion make it obvious that their relationship was special. But... She was surprised that she, a Mortal, was allowed to be present during this very discussion. She was also mortified by the long stares given to her by Empress Hestia and her, sometimes, furrowed brows as if the Goddess couldn't understand something she read on Roannia's face. She would have preferred to hide in the kitchen and watch how her maids learned from Lady Hestia's maids rather than sitting in this room pretending to be confident. But, she wasn't allowed to flee so the Princess was nervously sitting, almost sweating. It was one thing to be comfortable in the presence of Goddess Harmonia who was like an older sister or even a mother to her. Especially since the Goddess had participated in raising Roannia after Queen Aurelia of Aclium, her real mom, died during Roannia's birth.

However, it was something else entirely to be calm and comfortable in the presence of a much older and powerful Goddess like Hestia. Even if someone, somehow, managed to forget about her being an Empress of Arcadia, she was still an incredibly powerful Goddess. One of the most powerful Deities of Aderon who had fought the horrors of the hellish plains before the Heroes walked Nilmerthis. Roannia was vaguely aware that God Ares was Hestia's brother but, somehow, it never occurred to her that it also meant that she was Harmonia's aunt. With a growing ball of terror in her stomach, she slowly realised that Hestia, Zeus, Hera, and most probably Zephyr were uncles and aunts of the Gods of the pantheon of Aclium. She sipped tea with slightly trembling hands as the realisation slowly sank in.

Ahhh... All choices were illusions... Aclium was predetermined to ally itself with Arcadia...

"You look pale, Princess Roannia... Something wrong?" Hestia's voice was full of concern.

"I believe that my little Roa is having an existential crisis." Harmonia softly patted her head.

"Oh..." Hestia leaned back in the armchair and looked at Harmonia with amusement. "The classic?"

"I would say so..." Harmonia sighed and hugged stunned Roannia. "You know Aunt... Free will is an illusion and all that stuff."

"Oh, I see." Hestia chuckled and smiled at Roannia.

"How... How do you know, Goddess Harmonia?" Roannia looked at her Goddess who sighed.

"I told you, Roa... When we are alone or in a friendly circle, you may call me by my name alone. You are special to me..." Harmonia's voice was soft and comforting. Not waiting for the Princess's confirmation, the Goddess sat nearby and looked in her eyes. "What troubles you?"

"I... Nothing. I just realised that if Aclium were to choose to ally ourselves with Ibrevell, then you would be sad for making enemies of your family, my Godd- I mean, Harmonia..."

"Of course not." Harmonia shrugged. "It happens all the time. We aid our people, Roa, we truly do, but we will not influence their relationships and politics. I know you are speaking hypothetically but, if your father decided to believe the Elves, I would ask him to reconsider but, ultimately, it was your decision to make. Deimos and I would be sad and, perhaps, Phobos would be angry at you, but we would still support you."

"My Husband wouldn't hurt the Eternals, or as you call them, Gods, but have no illusions, Princess Roannia. Aclium would have burned and your nobility would have been put to the sword or exiled. I don't think you would survive the war either. It's not from malice but from a grim reality. As long as you live, Aclium lives, Princess Roannia." Hestia said with a hollow voice but then smiled. "Let's leave those gloomy thoughts behind! The Elves helped you to make the right choice, after all. The choices you make matter, Princess Roannia and they are not predetermined."

"I... Thank you, Goddess Hestia." Roannia lowered her head only slightly comforted by their words.

"I know!" Empress Hestia clapped her hands with a smile. "Let's go shopping to take our thoughts from this gloomy mood of yours!"

"But we can't leave just like that..." Harmonia panicked.

"Nonsense!" The older Goddess stood and smiled. "Any attire is perfect for going shopping!"

•••

Roannia couldn't, exactly, recall the steps she took to return her, again, to the lavish carriage, sitting in front both the Goddesses. However, their merry moods were replaced with something else. Harmonia was concerned while Goddess Hestia focused. The older Goddess sighed and looked out of the window.

"If you look outside, Princess Roannia, you will see one of the busiest streets in Avalon. Each day hundreds of people walk it, dealing with their businesses, chasing their dreams, or simply conducting official matters of one of the bureaus of Triskelion. All of them feel, all of them dream, and all of them have hopes and ambitions. Fate is a capricious thing... Even we, the Eternals, are not above its whims. But one thing is certain: Fate is not determined." Goddess Hestia said with a comforting voice. Roannia numbly followed her gaze and watched the people of Arcadia doing their things outside the carriage. "There is no God of Fate because anyone is capable of changing fate. Oftentimes, they can only change their fate or the fate of the few people around them. But there are some people capable of changing the fates of untold millions. People like you, Princess Roannia... Monarchs, sometimes, can lead entire countries to prosperity or ruin with a single decision. That knowledge may weigh heavily on your shoulders but you shouldn't let it crush you. Not making a decision is a decision of its own."

"I'm just a Mortal whose time on this world is counted since the day I was born..." Roannia whispered.

"Such thoughts are often a reason for depression." Hestia shrugged but Harmonia sadly lowered her head. "But you are wrong... Mortals live short lives, that's true, but they burn brighter and with much more passion than we Eternals ever could. You give more and take more from life... Your time is meaningful."

"I... I never thought about it." Roannia admitted with a heavy heart. "But what will happen with us after we die?"

"That depends..." Hestia shrugged. "Some Mortals return to be reborn, rarely remembering more from their past than simple flashes, images, or sounds. They start anew, unburdened by the shackles of their previous mistakes and free to make new ones. Some join their families in the afterlife until they are ready to go beyond. We don't know what's there. Some... Some chose darkness for themselves. They delve into dark magic of the worst sort and condemn their souls to oblivion... Just be a good girl, Roannia."

"Huh..." Somehow it was comforting. Maybe hearing about the future from a Goddess was enough? Roannia tried to smile. "Thank you, Lady Hestia."

"But..." Hestia tilted her head and looked at the Princess with curiosity. "It appears you shouldn't have to worry about dying anytime soon..."

"Ummm..."

"I think it would be better if Harmonia told you..."

"Not yet... I'm still not ready..." Harmonia's voice was like a trembling whisper coming from afar.

"Tell me... what?"

"Harmonia..." Hestia took a deep breath while Harmonia squirmed and dropped her head with a defeated sigh.

It took another few silent and awkward moments full of nerves while Roannia was squeezed with anticipation. But, just before the anticipation crushed the Princess, Harmonia sighed.

"Fate is indeed a cruel and capricious thing. It spares no one and plays with us all..." Harmonia's voice was sad and bitter. "What I am about to say to you, may come as a shock... But I beg you, don't hate me..."

"What are you saying?" Roannia opened her eyes wide open and looked at the woman who was like a mother to her.

"When Aurelia died during labour, you died with her as well. I... If I were just a moment faster, I could have saved you both without any problem. A simple Divine Heal would have been enough but I was called too late..." Harmonia said very quietly and trembled. "But when I saw your tiny face... I... You were dead only for a moment before I took you and called you back by feeding you Ambrosia. It... It shouldn't be given to Mortals but I just couldn't... I... I couldn't let you go... Not again..."

Harmonia started crying. Her tears flew on the carriage floor, carving strange grooves inside the very soul of Roannia. The Princess was crying as well.

"She would have died anyway after consuming ambrosia." Hestia sighed. "I didn't know it existed in Nilmerthis..."

"It doesn't... But I had saved just enough of it... I had hoped that one day-" Harmonia buried her face in her hands. There was a sigh of incredible pain, guilt, and sorrow in her voice. "But you looked... No, not just looked... I knew that you were Autonoë reborn. I lost you once because of Hephaestus' curse! I couldn't bear to lose you again! So... So I mixed our blood and, when you survived, I knew it was you!"

"If you were wrong, that would have killed Roannia or, possibly, damaged her soul..." Hestia stated blankly and sadly shook her head. "Well... She had died already... But her soul..."

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"I knew it might hurt her soul and, despite that, I would do it again. But Roannia survived and everyone was elated. Everyone but me. I was scared and heartbroken because I couldn't muster the courage to tell you... this. I kept it secret in the darkest corners of my heart... No one knows... Even my brothers do not suspect a thing. But..." Harmonia grimaced. "They will know. Soon everyone will notice that you do not age. That you are gifted and special... You are a Demigoddess, Roa. You are destined to ascend, my Daughter. You are my Autonoë and, at the same time, Varis' and Aurelia's daughter. But, most importantly, you are your own person, Roannia..."

Roannia felt that she was about to faint. Happiness, fear, elation, horror... The events of the last few days were hard to accept. She felt everything and nothing at once. Shock was suffocating her. The feeling she had for Harmonia finally condensed and she looked at the Goddess differently. Could it be true? How could she, a Mortal princess, be the reborn daughter of a Goddess? But... She looked at the anxious Harmonia and saw an immense fear in her loving eyes. There was no conflict inside Roannia because Harmonia had never truly tried to replace her mother... But at the same time, she had always been there for her...

"Then can I call you Mom?" She smiled through her tears and Harmonia jumped with a blur to embrace her. One second, the small-framed Goddess was sitting near Empress Hestia crushed by guilt and sorrow and, the next, she stood in front of her, with a soft smile and hugging her greedily.

"Yes! Yes, Roa!" Harmonia sobbed, but it was a cry of happiness. "Yes, my Daughter!"

"I was furious at Hephaestus when I discovered what he had done to you and your family. At the same time, I couldn't truly punish him. I was even furious at Zeus but you know how he was..." Hestia sighed but she looked happy with their happiness. "But what you have done is dangerous and, now that I have confirmed it, I have to warn you. Roannia cannot fall into Ibrevellian's hands. In time, I will relate to you everything you must know and I promise it will be soon, but not now. First of all, I don't want to sour the mood and, secondly, we are close to the first shop I want to visit. But Roannia... For your safety, until you get powerful enough to protect yourself, you have to stay in Avalon or at least under our protection."

Harmonia and Roannia tensed hearing the serious voice of the Goddess Hestia.

"Aclium needs an ambassador." Hestia raised her hand in a calming manner. "And I see no reason why your Daughter can't be it, Harmonia. You both get to stay together and no one would dare to disturb your peace. Avalon is the safest place I can think of for Roannia to grow in power and ascend. However, it will create a series of problems for the future... Anyway, we, but mostly you two, will have worries for later." Hestia clapped her hands together and smiled warmly at the two." Let's celebrate this happy day! First stop, Wendy's Clothing Store!"

Roannia chuckled, pushing away her earlier worries, which were already pushed away by the immense happiness she felt. Even though she had never met the woman who gave her birth, she was glad and thankful to her. She always thought that she only had her father but, all this time, she had a loving mother by her side. The carriage came to a stop and a distinguished butler opened the door for them. A very troubled-looking Captain Rex was standing nearby while a group of Praetorians had already managed to separate a sizable crowd from the carriage. They were just standing at attention, their glaives in one hand, with large gaps between the soldiers that no one considered crossing. There were excited voices of people that signalled to Roannia that the people of Avalon were accustomed to seeing their Royalty. When Hestia left the carriage, the crowd cheered, however, to the surprise of the Aclians, the crowd dispersed quickly on their own. Just waiting until after their Empress welcomed them with a small gesture and a smile. The people seemed happy and moved on with their day.

But Roannia couldn't muster the strength to get out of the carriage. Not after everything she just went through. She would have stayed and hugged her Mother for the rest of the day if not for Harmonia's gentle tug.

"Let's go, Roa. Maybe we can buy matching dresses?" A soft smile played on her lips. For the first time, Roannia saw so much happiness contained in Harmonia's expression.

"I don't want to go, Mom..." She sighed but it was all in play. She was too happy to just sit still. Some internal energy demanded that she dance happily. Roannia chuckled as she quickly stood up. "But matching dresses sounds nice."

They entered the bustling, huge shop full of magnificent dresses that immediately captured the focus of the Princess. She looked around in shock while Empress Hestia gently guided her in front of a patiently waiting young woman. While six of the staff were professionally dressed and were, undoubtedly, clerks, the woman in the middle must have been some sort of noble.

"Hello, Wendy! I'm glad you found time for us on such short notice." Hestia grinned at her.

"You jest, my Lady!" The woman smiled cheerfully and honestly. "I will always find time for any of you, my Empresses, even if I must stretch time itself. What brings you to my humble shop, my Lady?"

"My Niece and Princess Roannia of Aclium need proper dresses," Hestia said and sighed theatrically. "You see, we had to return to Avalon in a hurry and, because of me and Irene, they couldn't pack even their most basic things!"

"That's truly horrible, my Lady. We can't let our guests suffer such inconveniences!" Wendy shook her head slightly outraged. "Girls, let's get to work. Charlotte and Anya, bring me the newest collection. Cindy and Natalie, underwear and lingerie. Once you have dresses, assemble some more casual outfits. Marge and Clara, take care of our guests."

"Yes, Master Seamstress!" All the clerks replied in unison with a respectful bow and hurried to their tasks.

Roannia and Harmonia were approached by two girls who politely and professionally introduced themselves and asked them to follow them to the private room.

"And where do you think you are going, Sir?" Roannia looked behind to see poor Captain Rex blocked by Lady Wendy.

"I'm the Guard Captain of Lady Roannia's Royal Guards! I can't leave her-"

"Absolutely out of the question! Praetorians! Take him to the men's waiting room. This shop is protected, Captain, and, if I'm not wrong, your duty is to also protect the Privacy of your Princess. So you will do it while waiting in there." She pointed toward a room overlooking the store from above. "Besides... Do you truly think that you can protect your Princess better than the two Goddesses who will be with her?"

The Captain deflated slightly after receiving a critical hit straight into his ego and self-confidence.

"I received orders from the Emperor about your person, Captain." One of the Praetorians put his hand on Rex's shoulder. "I was ordered to properly arm you."

"But..." Rex looked at his gear. He knew it wasn't exactly the best gear, even in Aclium, but he was rather proud of it. However, just one look at the Praetorian made him realise how much he was outclassed by their gear alone, not to mention their considerable skill. "Your orders, my Lady?"

"I will be safe here, Captain Rex. I know you want to do your best to protect me, but we really are in friendly territory. Arcadia is our ally, Captain." The Princess smiled at the veteran who had guarded her throughout her childhood. She suspected that she was stunned by recent events but she couldn't muster any suspicions towards the Arcadians.

Once the doors to the private room closed, Roannia started furiously blinking at the scenery. Rare and beautiful wood adorned the walls and parts of the floor. The white marble floor shone like it was covered in a thin layer of frost, sparkling under the bright light of many magic lamps and a stunning chandelier which hung in the centre of the high ceiling. The room was huge and furnished with luxurious pieces of furniture, massive mirrors, and a strange contraption near the opposite wall. It resembled a walkway, but somehow it was covered with actual snow.

"What is that?!" Roannia looked shocked.

"This is an environmental fitting room, my Lady." A Human girl, named Claire explained proudly. "Our establishment prides itself on selling the best quality products for every season and any condition. In this fitting room, we can simulate any weather, terrain, and even season of the year. If Your Highness wishes to buy winter clothing, you can test how it would fare in snow or low temperatures."

Claire was excited about the contraption but Roannia stared at it with shock. Something like that was unimaginable and, yet, Arcadians used it in a clothing store.

"Thank you..." She muttered and looked at her Mother who was, similarly, stunned only to turn and witness the arrival of two massive hangers on wheels, each of which had, at least, fifty dresses on it. Her jaw dropped seeing dresses' vibrant colours, stunning shapes, and incredibly beautiful materials.

The room erupted in a cheerful chaos when the clerks took off Roannia's and Harmonia's dresses and set them aside. The Princess noticed their pitiful gazes but, compared to what they were offered, she had to agree. The first, a light blue and deceivingly simple dress was so snugly fit that Roannia barely felt it. Then came another, and another, and another. Before she noted the time, a few hours had passed and she had chosen ten new, stunning dresses and at least seven new casual outfits. All of them were made of absurdly rare materials and with an unmatched mastery. She suspected that once her seamstress saw those dresses, she would break into tears and embark on a pilgrimage to Avalon to learn. Roannia was drinking sparkling water as she ate a delicious piece of cake. She was wearing a light piece of clothing called a t-shirt and incredibly comfortable lingerie when she noticed a price tag on one of the dresses she intended to buy. She almost choked on her drink and had to cough out the water frantically.

"Mom!" She squirmed in a whisper at Harmonia, who was standing nearby in a similar blue dress Roannia had on at the beginning, checking her reflection with a very happy smile. "We can't afford anything here..."

"What?" Harmonia followed her gaze and her smile was shattered in an instant. She lowered her voice to a whisper. "Eight thousand gold pieces?! For a dress??"

The silent panic turned into horror when they heard Wendy returning. Panic set in as they looked at the clothes they foolishly believed they could afford.

"Girls!" Lady Wendy, oblivious to the frantic discussion of her clients, clapped her hands. "Pack everything for our esteemed guests."

"Ekhm... Lady Wendy, we love your clothes very much but I'm afraid our budget is currently tight..." Harmonia looked at the shop owner with an apologetic face that burned red with shame and embarrassment.

"You have nothing to worry about, Lady Roannia, Lady Harmonia." Lady Wendy waved her hand dismissively. "Everything was already paid."

"By whom...?" Roannia decided to sit down, feeling her legs start to shake. Even if she was careful in her estimations, the clothing the two of them picked was worth more than fifty thousand gold pieces.

"By me of course!" Hestia smiled widely. "Well, technically it was me and Irene but since you chose so few pieces, I can cover it without any problems."

"Aunt..." Harmonia looked at the auburn-haired Goddess with a weak gaze. "We..."

"Na, na, na! I don't want to hear it. Just say: thank you, my Dearest Aunt. Both of you." Hestia grinned.

"Thank you, my Dearest Aunt..." Both Harmonia and Roannia repeated in unison and slightly awkwardly.

"Good girls!" Hestia laughed and hugged them both and looked at Lady Wendy. "Could you be so nice and send the dresses to the Aclian Embassy, Sweetie?"

"Of course, my Lady!" Wendy smiled and winked at the slightly terrified Roannia. "Your secret is our secret, my Dearest Customer."

In their shock, they hardly noticed the moment when they were dressed in their current elegant, yet casual, outfits. If not for Hestia's clap and cheerful laughter, they would have been left standing there wordless.

"Now... Rubby's Jewellery Store!" Hestia ordered and moved toward the exit.

Roannia looked at her Mother and both of them, slightly dazed, if not outright stunned, followed their aunt, who seemed to have all the money in the world and had no qualms about spending it all...

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