"I told you that I would not dishonour your reputation, did I not? People started to ask questions of why I had gone out to look for you so I told them that we had begun a courtship and that our supervisor had run inside to fetch someone to help you before you came inside." I suppose that made sense. "And, as for cutting back on your duties, I have split the workload between the two of us so that we will better be able to do independent research." His eyes burn into mine as he speaks.
                          
"And, I don't think my little dove would be nearly as cute if she were to be a walking statue of Sleeping Hermaphroditus." He smirks, plucking another grape off of the table and throwing it into his mouth. I can feel his eyes running over the contours of my face as I think. I pout at the thought of it. 
                          
... Meanie. " I suppose you are right, that would be rather un-cute." 
                          
"I must say, I prefer the red. It's rather beautiful against your skin." His words are soft; his eyes run glide down to the red of my dress. Undignified.
                          
"Have you no respect?" I question his rather scandalous behaviour in a hushed tone, so as not to bring attention to ourselves. "Perhaps you should re-learn how to handle yourself around a lady, Brone. It is scandalous enough that you have decided to fake a courtship, but I will not have my reputation questioned because of your inability to have a respectful conversation."
                          
He only laughs slightly. "I can assure you, Adora. I know how to handle myself around a lady," His eyes return to my face; I do not meet his eye. "But I would not reject the offer if you were to be my teacher."
                          
Scoffing, I turn to the platter in front of us and take a piece of fruit, plopping it into my mouth before replying. 
                          
"A respectable young god would not enjoy scandalising young goddesses the way you do. I would be rather surprised if you were able to court any young goddess into being your wife when you can hardly look at one without finding yourself drooling." 
                          
He laughs again.
                          
"I think that you should allow me to court you, properly. And, if you would consider my proposal after three months, then I win." I only look at him for a few moments. I should not even let this cross my mind, but my curiosity got the better of me.
                          
"What is it that you would want if you were to win, which you wouldn't because there is not a sentence that comes out of your mouth that is not disreputable." He laughs again. 
                          
"I do not think that I will reveal that information to you just yet," his laughter dies down as his eyes begin to roam my face again, as if he were studying me. My attention returns to my breakfast as I answer him without so much as a glance.
                          
"Fine. You will not win anyway."
                          
We spoke for a while about the training that we are going to do after lunch. That he has already spoken to the previous 'teacher' that Athena had given me and relieved him of his duties. Mora shows up towards the end of breakfast and proceeds to shovel food into her mouth. 
                          
After endless meetings and having to compete with men trying to outsmart me to appease their fragile masculinity, I am now finally going to my greenhouse. Mora is alongside me, listening to me rattle off hundreds of poisons that I could supply from just this one greenhouse. Mora has always let me rattle on for hours and hours about poison, rather forbearingly. 
                          
The path up to the greenhouses is lined with white marble columns that house plants and busts of, who I can only assume to be, Athena's dead close friends and commanding officers. There are a lot. 
                          
The plants within these pots, however, are simply for show. They would hardly harm a cat, barely invoking weakness. Bouquets of Dahlias and alstroemeria spout up, adding colour to the otherwise mainly white decor of the house. It is a rather odd combination of flowers, especially for a bouquet, but strangely enough, they work together. Reaching up onto my toes, I pluck an alstroemeria from one of the pots, cradling in my hand as we continue to walk along the path.