412 Bonus Minerva the Daughter of Hyacinth (2/2)

I've included with this letter a little gift that might help your dear daughter. It's a book I've written that might inspire her to find the courage to continue loving what she loves. If she changes her mind after reading that book, please tell her that the world may always judge her for who she is, what she does, how she looks and what she loves. However, the most important thing at the end of the day isn't the words of unknown people. With your love and Poseidon's love, I believe Minerva will grow up to be a lovely young woman, befitting of the title Daughter of Hyacinth.”

Medusa flipped through the book that Swift wrote. It was quite a thick book including the tales about Athena's glorious battles, the ridicule she faced and the kind heart she possessed till the very end. While the gorgon spotted some twisted facts in the story, she couldn't help but feel touched that someone else still remembered Athena for who she truly was and not the tales that others painted of her through gossip.

Returning the reply, Medusa thanked Swift for the book and advice. As a mother, she was ashamed that she couldn't help her struggling daughter when she was needed the most. Yet, reading Athena's story reminded her of the past. Athena always struggled with insecurity because her father back then was nothing like Poseidon. Zeus was a terrible parent who was constantly flirting around with other women and making babies all over without even remembering half the names of his children. The women in Zeus' old harem were constantly fighting each other and looking at their current situation, Medusa felt thankful that Poseidon was nothing like his brother.

With a book in hand, Medusa carefully approached her daughter's room where she heard silent sobbing. She knocked on the door and entered, peering at her daughter who wiped her tears and looked at her mother guardedly.

”Is it another dress?”

Medusa smiled. Her daughter was too lovely to be crying alone like this. ”No, it's not. I have a gift from Swift for you.”

Hearing that, Minerva became curious. A gift from the harpie librarian? The one thing she loved as much as the gothic fashion, was books. Minerva was a huge fan of stories and studying and she wasn't going to refuse another story from her favourite aunt.

The gorgon smiled when Minerva didn't reject her offer to read the story together. Maybe there was still a silver lining that Minerva wasn't going to reject books even if she rejected dresses. Swift's strategy might work and the gorgon hoped with all her heart that her lovely daughter will learn self-love after the end of the story.

”You know,” Medusa said casually halfway through the story. ”Even if the entire world stands against what you love, Hyacinth will be that one place that always welcomes you. After all, you are the beloved daughter of Hyacinth, the miracle gifted to Poseidon and I. Zero didn't make a mistake, you're the best gift we can ever ask for.”

The story no longer mattered. Minerva hugged her mother in tears. ”I actually love the dress that Carlson got the tailors to make. I like all of it. I'm sorry I didn't appreciate what everyone was doing for me, I was too selfish and thought more about other people's irrelevant opinions when the ones who wished for my happiness the most are trying their best. I'd been a fool mother. I just didn't want to be different...”

Medusa hugged her silly daughter, glad that Athena's soul was still a kind-hearted fighter even though she didn't have her memories. If they had met under different circumstances in the past, Medusa and Athena might have been best of friends. Yet, she couldn't say that this little piece of happiness she earned after everything was bad. Her daughter was growing up quickly day by day and as the mother, Medusa didn't want to waste time dwelling on the past.

It was time to move forward and grasp that happiness within her reach.