It was impossible to miss that her niece was speaking in the past tense about her confusion and avoidance of relationships. That could be a good sign. Or it might just be recognition of a mess between her and the Greek. She wasn't exactly spilling her secrets easily. Ereshkigal was rather proud of her for that, actually.
"Relationships aren't about ownership," she explained. "A lot of people misunderstand how Nergal and I began. They think I became submissive, that I gave in. You know better. He doesn't own me, any more than I own him."
Though if anybody touched her husband, like that Greek war skank, Ereshkigal would sink a hook through their skull and yank until she ripped their spine out. That wasn't about ownership though. That was about passion and love. It would take Ninkasi longer to understand that though, so she didn't mention it.
"Relationships are about trust." At that point the waiter arrived, and the queen gave him a slow smile and her order for her drink. He was quite a pretty thing, wasn't he? All full of muscles and blond hair. Just the sort that would catch her niece's eye. Ereshkigal surreptitiously watched the girl to see how she'd respond.