In the vast, echoing hall, a slender figure slowly stepped into view.
Her silky black hair flowed freely behind her. She wore a simple white dress, modest in design, yet brimming with charm.
Her figure, graceful and shapely, was vaguely outlined beneath the fabric. But what stood out most was her face, so young, even more youthful and innocent than Amphitrite's.
You could almost call it a baby face.
This contrast only made her seem more vibrant, full of life. Her delicate features sharply clashed with her mature silhouette.
From the moment she emerged, her piercing black eyes locked unwaveringly onto Eros.
"Greetings, human Eros. I've heard your name many times."
Eros instinctively took a cautious step back, leaning slightly toward Styx and whispering,
"Who is she?"
Once bitten, twice shy.
A goddess who showed up unannounced without any clear identity or backstory was not someone Eros was going to trust easily.
"…I don't know either," Styx replied, surprised. She examined the girl's face carefully.
This wasn't one of the Oceanid goddesses. In fact, she had never seen her before.
But to appear here, before the divine throne of Oceanus, she had to be someone with a close connection.
Perseis frowned slightly. The girl's face and aura did feel vaguely familiar.
But for the life of her, she couldn't place it.
Thankfully, the mysterious goddess wasn't planning to keep her identity hidden.
"My name is Hebe, the Goddess of Youth. Don't tell me even the nymph who once set fire to others has forgotten me?"
She glanced toward Perseis with a playful expression.
Wait a minute. Now that she mentioned it...
Perseis hesitated. Hebe, daughter of Zeus and Hera, was known for serving wine at the grand feasts of Olympus.
Not just her. Styx had likely seen her too, once or twice.
"What's wrong?" Hebe asked with a grin. "You don't recognize me? Or are you suggesting someone's impersonating the daughter of the King of the Gods?"
She took a confident step forward, her smile easy and natural.
It made sense. Even if they didn't trust her, they should at least trust their father, Oceanus.
Would the great Oceanus really allow someone with an unknown identity to linger before his throne?
That final flicker of doubt faded from their minds. Eros, however, remained slightly guarded.
"You're Hera's daughter? Then why are you here?" he asked warily. "Are you here to block my path or something?"
He didn't get Hera's logic. If she wanted to block him, wouldn't she have sent Ares instead? What good would sending a pretty vase like Hebe do?
Hebe giggled softly, covering her mouth.
"Relax. I couldn't care less about my mother's affairs, and I certainly didn't come to help her go after you."
"I'm just here on behalf of my father, to express my gratitude and respect to Oceanus."
Back when Zeus was still a child, Oceanus had sheltered and raised him. It was a debt of kindness no child could forget.
Even though Hebe stood by Poseidon as the rightful Sea God, it didn't mean she had to be cold with Oceanus.
It was a flawless explanation.
"Is that so?" Eros asked, narrowing his eyes. "Then how do I know you're not some spy sent by that treacherous woman?"
Treacherous... woman?
Hebe's youthful, radiant face twitched involuntarily before smoothing over once more.
"Isn't that a little harsh to say about my mother?" she said with a wry smile.
"As for proof?" She shrugged. "I'm just a frail little goddess. If Mother truly wanted to deal with you, do you really think she'd send me?"
She opened her hands, palms up, an obvious sign that she bore no weapons or threat.
"That's exactly why I'm suspicious," Eros shot back. "There's a little trick called a honey trap. Who's to say you're not here to poison me with a kiss or something?"
After all, he remembered the myth of Pandora all too well. A seemingly innocent beauty had caused the fall of mankind by slipping past their defenses.
As far as Eros was concerned, anyone connected to Hera, unless they'd also been a victim, was automatically suspicious.
Hebe's lips twitched again. She almost cursed out loud.
Poison him with a kiss? Honey trap?
This guy was out of his damn mind.
Honestly, the only reason she hadn't zapped him with divine lightning on the spot was out of respect for Zeus.
The things Zeus had told her recently kept gnawing at her mind. That was the only reason she'd taken on the identity of his daughter, Hebe, and approached.
But this guy... he was really asking for it.
Just two sentences in, and she'd already wanted to smack him. Twice.
Still, she held herself back. She couldn't act rashly.
Oceanus had just spoken to her moments ago. His words still echoed in her thoughts. She couldn't let her temper get the better of her.
With a deep breath, she forced a polite smile.
"If Mother was trying to harm you, she wouldn't send me. In fact, I haven't seen her in quite some time."
"I've been staying here, in front of Lord Oceanus's throne. If you need proof, I'm sure he can vouch for me."
Honestly, there was nothing especially suspicious about her, aside from being Hera's daughter.
But the myths surrounding Hebe were sparse. Aside from eventually marrying Heracles, she barely had any tales of her own.
Eros couldn't really guess what kind of goddess she truly was.
Still, in Greece, suspicion came first. Always.
Just because he seemed cozy with the Oceanid goddesses didn't mean he'd let his guard down.
He wouldn't dare eat or drink anything they gave him in private.
For all he knew, one of them would spike his tea with some bizarre love potion. Or worse.
After all, Greece had no shortage of dangerous women. Yanderes, madwomen, obsessive goddesses.
Even the great Heracles had been ruined by his wife's paranoia.
Constant vigilance. Never fall into a honey trap.
"I'll leave you to chat," Styx said suddenly. Seeing no fight was about to break out between Eros and Hebe, she turned and walked toward the throne.
Leaving Eros behind, still trading thinly veiled barbs with Hebe.
Styx stepped before the throne of Oceanus and lifted her head, her voice clear and reverent.
"O River that encircles the universe, my great Father, and my great Mother. I, Styx, your eldest daughter, have returned to seek your audience."
From the empty throne, water began to cascade down like a waterfall, swirling around it and forming a towering figure of liquid majesty.
The being stood about two to three meters tall, massive but elegantly proportioned. There was power, yes, but also the serene beauty of flowing water.
Its face, formed from water, was indistinct, except for the gentle kindness in its gaze.
"My daughter," came a soothing voice. "I already know why you have come."
Styx lowered her eyes. Before her stood her divine parent, Oceanus, and also Tethys. For as one of the ancient Titans, Oceanus was without gender.
A deity of primordial origin, Oceanus had divided into male and female aspects, imitating Gaia's example, and gave birth to the countless Oceanid goddesses.
"Now," Oceanus said warmly, extending a hand to her, "tell me all you've seen and learned of this human."
He brought her close, letting her sit upon his lap, just as he had countless eons ago.
"I too... am very curious about what kind of man he truly is."
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Author's Note: (Translator's NOTE: This clarification should be on Chapter 51 but i want you guys to know this information earlier so that there would be less confusing scenes or chapters).
Let's clarify something. At this point in the timeline, humans haven't been born yet.
So technically, Zeus hasn't started hooking up with mortals, transforming into animals, or really going full-genderbend god-mode.
Aside from her seven divine wives (yeah, that includes her aunt, older sister, and cousin), her romantic history is still pretty tame.
Honestly, Old Zeus isn't as freaky as the myths make her out to be.
She just really, really likes pretty girls.
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