24K Magic for a Perfect Illusion

Ch 29: Keep Up

Hearthof didn’t know how to talk rationality with his sister anymore as she’s all about feelings because she’s too happy to be married with the love of her life.

Although his sister meant well, still he didn’t like to be together with Hestia because of a trap.

If Hestia is willing to be with him that’s way much better than being pressured by the public opinion.

A lot of celebrity news came up to cover the article about Hestia and Hearthof though some media are still waiting for the two to release a statement, since the news about rich families weighs the same as the news about celebrities.

Although Hestia and Hearthof still hang out together as usual, they keep their distance from each other in public and not close as they used to be.

Even if the public opinion shouldn’t affect how they behave together since they both know the truth, still they have an image to maintain and a reputation to hold.

“Do you have any plans this Sunday aside from lazing at home?” Hearthof asked after having a dinner with Hestia on a Friday night in a restaurant.

“I’m keeping my nieces and nephew distracted while my sisters and brothers-in-laws are out on date. They probably left the children at home by now and my parents are looking after them since it so happened that Valentines to be on a weekend.” Hestia replied nonchalantly. “You know it’s been my job every Valentine’s Day since Ter and Hera got married and have kids on their own.”

“Right, you always write it on your letters every February.” Hearthof wanted to asked Hestia out but it seems impossible now since she’s babysitting but an idea suddenly popped up in his head. “Why don’t you bring the kids at my hotel tomorrow, they can stay for a night and play at the amusement park for two days?”

“Really? You also want to babysit with me?” Hestia chuckled. “They don’t have their attendants on Sundays so it’s really just me who’ll take care of them. Are you sure you’re up for this?”

“Yeah, why not? I’m already an uncle of three remember?” Hearthof said confidently though he took care of his sister’s children occasionally.

“If you say so. I’ll tell my sisters then that I’m taking the kids to your hotel and probably dismissed their attendants earlier than Sunday since they also have a life on their own.” Hestia nodded.

The next day, after taking the children at Hearthof’s hotel, Hestia dismissed the twelve attendants tending to the children.

“Children, he’s my friend Hearthof, he’s the owner of this hotel and the amusement park, so you better be nice to him.” Hestia told her nieces and nephew.

“Hearthof is too long, Aunt Tia, doesn’t he have a nickname?” Hephaestus asked while clinging his arms like a monkey around Hestia’s neck.

“Uhm …. I actually call him Hearthof too as he calls me Hestia.”

Hearthof heard their conversation so he responded, “My sister calls me Thof, sometimes Thofy that sounds like toffee.”

“Thofy it is!” Persephone exclaimed. “Hello, I’m Perse!” she smiled brightly as she introduced herself enthusiastically.

“Hello, Perse.” Hearthof crouched down to be on the same level as Persephone. “She’s Demeter’s daughter, right?” he asked Hestia.

“Uh-huh.” Hestia nodded. “She’s the energetic one among these three. Hephy, say hello to Thofy.” she encouraged the timid Hephaestus in her arms.

“Hello.” Hephaestus said shyly before he buried his head on the nook of Hestia’s neck.

“Hello, Hephy.” Hearthof stood up and asked, “Do I look scary to you that’s why you’re hiding on your Aunt Tia?”

“No, you actually look nice. If there’s someone who looks scary between us that would be me.” Hephaestus said as he has deformity on his face and the word ‘ugly’ has been imprinted in his mind already because that’s what everyone says about him in the kindergarten.

“That’s not true.” Hearthof clearly heard the pain in Hephaestus statement and he feels sorry for the child. “As far as I know bad guys are scary but you’re a good kid so you can’t be scary.”

“But I look different from everyone else.” Hephaestus uttered.

“Everyone’s different so I don’t see anything wrong about you.”

Hephaestus looked at Hearthof as if they’re having a conversation in their minds, like a man to man understanding.

Hearthof opened his arms and asked, “May I carry you?”

Hephaestus asked Hestia’s permission with his stare and the latter nodded at him in response so he went to Hearthof’s arms.

“He likes you.” Hebe said after watching her brother interaction with Hearthof. “Hephy doesn’t like to be carry by a stranger but he came to you willingly.”

“I’m your Aunt’s friend so I’m not a complete stranger, am I? You must be Hebe, right?” Hearthof knew that Hestia’s second sister, Hera, adopted a child but Hebe looks like the younger version of Hera when he first met Hestia’s siblings.

“Yes, I am.” Hebe stretched her hand towards Hearthof, offering for a handshake.

Hearthof shook Hebe’s hand and said, “It’s nice to meet you too.”

If he didn’t know that Hebe was adopted, he won’t doubt the child to be Hera’s first-born child because of their resemblance.

Hearthof met Hera when she was eleven and Hebe is also currently eleven, that it felt like he met Hera for the first time again, thus he told Hestia about his observation only to be laughed at by the latter when he asked if Hebe is Hera’s biological child.

Hestia, on the other hand laughed on the outside but inside she’s terrified with Hearthof’s observation.

Indeed, Hebe is Hera’s biological child but she’s an offspring of a forbidden love that the Nevaeh family keep as their deepest and darkest secret.

Although, Hearthof is her best friend, he’s still an outsider to their family, thus he can’t know the truth about Hera and Hebe’s real connection.

The Goddesseth Hotel branch in Seoul has amusement park since there’s no casino in it like in Vegas or a resort like in Hawaii, and instead of just a plain hotel like in New York, Hearthof put an amusement park to entertain more customers.

Since it’s Saturday, the amusement park is jammed pack with a lot of people in all different ages.

“Whoa! It’s crowded!” Persephone exclaimed as soon as they reached the gate of the amusement park. “Aunt Tia, we’ll have the VIP ticket, right?” she looked up on Hestia expectantly.

“Ask Thofy about it.” Hestia replied playfully.

Persephone then turned her head to Hearthof and asked the same question with her childish voice.

“No need for VIP ticket, I am the ticket.” Hearthof replied coolly.

“Huh??” Persephone looked at Hearthof in puzzlement.

Hebe as the oldest explained to Persephone, “Thofy owns the place so we don’t need tickets since we’re with him.”

“Ah right!” Persephone remembered what Hestia told them before. “Wow! Thofy, you must be playing here every day!”

“Perse, Thofy is a businessman like grandpa and great-grandpa so he works in the office and not playing every day.” Hephaestus said while hanging his harm on Hearthof’s shoulder since the latter is carrying him instead of walking like the two girls.

“Hmph! That’s so boring! You have your own amusement park and yet you spend your time in office.” Persephone said. “I really don’t like being an adult, all they do is work they don’t have time to play.”

“That’s why enjoy while you’re still a kid.” Hestia patted Persephone’s head gently. “When you grow up like us …” she glanced at Hearthof and continued, “You also need to go to work.”

“Does she have to?” Hearthof chimed in. “She’s the only child of Demeter Nevaeh and Zeus Ceres, she can actually live like a princess for a lifetime.”

“You know well that’s not how a Nevaeh raised, whether you’re a boy or a girl, you need to work and earn money for your own.” Hestia corrected Hearthof right away.

Hearthof shrugged, “I’m just saying. But of course, I know your family is different from the majority of wealthy families I know.”

Hestia nodded and changed the topic, “Anyway, what are the rides that these kids can enjoy?”

Their group of five proceeded inside the amusement park and had all the rides that a 4-year-old allowed to take.

Hephaestus is currently 4 ½ but he’s almost the same height as Persephone who’s turning six in less than two months, while Hebe even though she’s 11 ½ and twice taller than Hephaestus, she has a heart condition so she can’t take extreme rides too.

After spending the whole afternoon in the amusement park and watching the lights display at night, they all went straight to the presidential suite of the hotel that Hearthof reserved for them.

Once done with dinner and taking a bath with the children, Hestia tucked them into their beds to rest and it didn’t take too long for them to fall asleep since they’re all exhausted from playing all day and they’ll be doing the same thing again by tomorrow.

“Thanks for helping me today and for tomorrow too.” Hestia clinked her goblet of wine to Hearthof’s.

They decided to drink a bottle of wine before taking their rest.

“Nah, don’t mention it. I like children so it’s no hassle for me.”

“Why don’t you have your own family then? You’ll be a great father for sure.” Hestia replied while staring at the city’s night view from the balcony.

“If only you’re ready to be the mother of my children, why not?” Hearthof mumbled as he stared at Hestia but averted his gaze right away when Hestia turned her head to him.

“What did you just say?” Hestia heard him speaking but she didn’t hear him clearly. “Sorry, I didn’t catch that.”

“I’m just saying, I’m waiting for my future wife and mother of my children. Falling in love don’t happen instantly.” Hearthof said.

“So, you don’t believe in love at first sight?” Hestia smiled faintly.

“You have a bachelor’s degree in psychology and yet you believe that phrase?” Hearthof mocked.

“That’s how everyone calls it.” Hestia shrugged. “Although it’s just a simple attraction and barely classified as love but that’s how all romance starts, right?”

“Well, you’re the expert here so I believe whatever you say. Anyway, since we’re talking about love now, have you?” Hearthof mustered his courage to ask.

“I don’t even have a crush so what more being in love.” Hestia chuckled. “Honestly, I don’t know if I’ll ever love someone. Not that I’m against with the idea although I know that pain is part of the process, and I don’t like getting hurt. But love is dangerous for me. You know I don’t trust anyone easily, that’s why I only have you and Ves as my friends and the rest outside my family are just strangers to me that I won’t care about. So, when I fall in love with someone, I might be the type of girl who will put everything on the line and risk it all for my man.” she paused for a while and sighed heavily. “I’m afraid that I’ll bet my life for the wrong man.”

“How would you know if he’s right or wrong for you if you don’t even try?” Hearthof emptied his goblet and poured another serving of wine while waiting for Hestia’s answer.

“I’m not a risk taker. I rather be on my safe zone than go out there for a battle.” Hestia took the bottle of wine from Hearthof and poured the rest of the wine in her goblet.

“I didn’t know that Hestia Nevaeh is a coward.” Hearthof snorted.

“Well, a coward lasts longer than a fool, Hearthof Goddesseth!”

“Hah! So, you’re saying that those who are in love are fools??”

“You can say that. They do everything and anything for love. They’re lucky if they play the game right but if not, they lose everything even themselves in the end.” Hestia stated matter-of-factly. “Only few people survive that game together.”

“I’m glad you’re not a psychologist, you’ll be advising people negatively about love that they would not even think about it.”

“I can’t deal with people directly that’s why I’m a psychometrician, also the reason I don’t think I can keep up with Ves, he’s too perfect and sometimes I can’t help but feel insecure.” Hestia said.