Thea bit heran lips as she stared at the museum building with hesistation
She tightened the scarf around her neck that felt a little loose. Taking a deep breath, she braced herself to walk into the museum. She had to do this—Selene had asked her to refine the costume sketch of Persephone that she would wear at the upcoming school festival.
Thea's sneakers squeaked slightly against the museum's marble floor with every step. The place was a bit more crowded than the last time she came. She made her way toward the Greek artifact exhibition room. Her eyes scanned the space—it was quieter compared to the entrance area—and her breath caught when she spotted the broad back of a man she knew quite well.
Alaric Liu Grayson.
He was explaining one of the artifacts to a group of visiting teenagers, his voice deep and authoritative. Then he offered them a polite smile as they walked away, seemingly satisfied with his explanation.
As if sensing someone watching him, Alaric turned around—and their eyes met.
"H-hi…" Thea raised her hand, waving awkwardly at him. "We meet again, Mr. Grayson."
Alaric smiled, walking toward her. "I had a feeling you'd return to this museum sooner or later."
"...?" Thea raised both eyebrows, confused.
"When I was explaining the painting in the other room, your eyes lit up. It was obvious you're someone who loves art, am I right?"
Thea chuckled nervously, scratching her cheek—she hadn't expected Alaric to notice her excitement back then.
"There's no need to be embarrassed about it. There's nothing wrong with loving art."
Alaric's eyes caught the sketch paper peeking out from her bag. "Are you here for a school project this time?"
"Ah, yes." Thea pulled out the sketch. "This is… a costume sketch I'll be wearing for our upcoming university festival."
"I see… what kind of costume made you decide to come here for inspiration?"
"Persephone."
"Oh… the goddess of spring and consort of Hades, ruler of the underworld." Alaric looked intrigued.
"Yes." Thea sighed in resignation. "A powerful goddess... and yet Selene decided I should be the one to play Persephone."
"Why? You're fitting for the role." Alaric's gaze softened as he looked at Thea's gloomy expression. "You have beautiful milk-chocolate hair—soft, like the essence of spring itself."
Thea froze as Alaric touched a strand of her hair. She held her breath; they stared at each other in silence as he casually tucked it behind her ear, as if it was something completely natural for him to do.
"Your hair was a little messy." Alaric smiled. "May I ask… what's your major? A festival requiring a Persephone costume sounds intriguing."
"Archaeology." Thea hesitated, careful not to mention she was attending Calvenhart University—after all, they were just casual acquaintances. "My close friend… she's one of the organizers for the upcoming cultural festival. And she volunteered me without asking."
She let out a frustrated sigh. "Are all rich kids like that? Acting on their own whims?"
Alaric chuckled at her annoyed expression. "That just means she believes in you—that you're perfect for the role of Persephone. And you must trust her too, right? Otherwise, you wouldn't call her a close friend."
Thea pouted at his words but didn't refute him. He was right. As much as Selene annoyed her sometimes, Thea knew she meant well. Selene wanted her to step out of her comfort zone. Thea had always stayed behind the scenes, avoiding attention.
"If you don't mind, may I take a look at your sketch?" Alaric's voice brought her back to the present.
She nodded, handing the sketch to him. Their fingers brushed, and Thea held her breath.
"This sketch is… very well done. For someone hesitant to play Persephone, you're surprisingly dedicated."
Thea clicked her tongue at his remark. "It was drawn by Selene—the friend I mentioned earlier."
"Oh…" Alaric nodded in understanding. "But you still took the time to come here and refine the design. Maybe… deep down, you're actually interested in becoming Persephone?"
"I… don't like doing things half-heartedly." Thea noticed the way Alaric's amber-brown eyes seemed to pick up on something unspoken in her. "And maybe… I am curious about Persephone. Why she chose to become Hades's consort and queen of the underworld?"
"Ah, I understand your fascination. Persephone and Hades do have a compelling story." Alaric nodded. "Come with me. There's something I want to show you that you might find interesting."
Thea followed Alaric deeper into the Greek wing of the museum. His confident footsteps echoed along the floor, and Thea could smell his cologne—a warm cedarwood scent. Classy, timeless, and surprisingly enticing.
She blinked, startled by her own thoughts, and shook her head slightly, her cheeks warming.
"What am I thinking? He's probably twice my age… he's just a kind man helping me out."
But she couldn't deny that Alaric was, indeed, captivating.
"Is something wrong, Miss Elwood?"
Thea looked up, realizing Alaric had noticed her shaking her head. "Ah, uhm… it's nothing." She needed to change the subject quickly. "This crown…"
She pointed to a museum display showing a replica of a golden leaf crown adorned with sharp thorns—a beauty protected by something dangerous.
"Yes, this is a replica of Persephone's crown, based on classical mythology interpretations." Alaric reached out and touched the glass case surrounding it. "The golden leaves represent her as the goddess of spring, while the thorns reflect her other side—as queen of the underworld."
"Delicate… and strong," Thea murmured.
"You're right." Alaric stepped aside so she could get a closer look. "At first, the other gods saw Persephone as fragile and easy to hurt. But when she became queen of the underworld, they realized she was strong and unbreakable."
"People often say Persephone was taken by Hades. But not many know that she chose to stay—not because anyone forced her."
Thea reached out, placing her hand gently against the glass protecting the crown.
"…Do you think someone can fall in love with what they used to fear?"
"They can. That's how Persephone embraced her fate—by becoming queen of the underworld and Hades's consort." Alaric folded his arms. "Sometimes fear and fascination come from the same place."
Their eyes met. A strange silence fell between them, calm and quiet—time itself seemed to slow.
"Just like you, right? At first, you feared being the center of attention. You've spent so long in your comfort zone. But now, you have a chance to step into the light. I think you'll come to enjoy it."
Thea lowered her gaze, fidgeting with her fingers. "I don't know… but I'll admit—I'm starting to like the idea of being Persephone."
Alaric paused for a moment, then took out a key from his pocket and unlocked the glass case of Persephone's crown.
"Try it on."
"Is that okay?"
Alaric smiled. "It's alright. It's just a replica, after all."
Thea hesitated, but did as he said. She carefully lifted the crown from the case and placed it on her head.
Alaric's amber eyes stayed on her. The museum lights gleamed against the golden leaves atop Thea's head. The crown framed her delicate face and soft milk-chocolate hair perfectly.
"Beautiful… I knew it. You're perfect for the role."
Thea froze, her cheeks burning from the compliment—whether Alaric realized what he said or not, his expression remained calm.
"I should go. I still have… a lot to do." Thea removed the crown and handed it back to Alaric, who furrowed his brows slightly.
"I see. Understood." Alaric returned the crown to its place. "It seems like you've gotten the inspiration you needed. If you ever need help with Persephone again, you know where to find me."
Thea nodded, trying her best to smile. "Thank you, Mr… Alaric."