"Princess Hela, I have long heard of your name. I never expected to meet you here. Might I have the honor of speaking with you?"
Stark, dressed in formal attire, raised his glass toward Hela and asked with a smile.
Hela openly ran her gaze over Stark from head to toe. For a male suitor, such behavior was quite offensive.
It also told her would-be suitor: Don't mistake me for some easy social butterfly. Only someone long accustomed to judging others would habitually look at everyone this way.
When Hela's gaze fell upon those brown eyes, she paused slightly and spoke his name in a hoarse voice. "...Stark."
It was not a particularly famous name, known only within a very small circle—and Asgard was naturally part of that circle. When Hela called his name, Stark understood that her appearance here had to be part of Loki's plan. The two of them had likely remained in contact all along.
That deduction made sense. Hela and Odin had a terrible relationship; they could even be said to regard one another as mortal enemies. Hela also had a conflict of interest with Thor, since both of them had once been Odin's preferred heirs.
But Hela and Loki had almost no conflict at all. Or rather, they were kindred spirits in misfortune.
Hela had it even worse. She had ended up with an inexperienced, ill-tempered father. He did not know how to teach, and she did not know how to learn. Two complete novices collided and both lost, but in the end, Hela alone bore the consequences.
In that case, Hela and Loki had room to cooperate. Perhaps by now, Hela and Thor could reconcile as well. The Asgardians' reverence for strength was carved into their bones. Only if Thor was strong enough would