Everything that happened today spread rapidly among the gods, and the lax, willful ethos among them changed at once.
In terms of status and relationship, those punished this time could not be higher or closer.
His Majesty the God-King's words were grave enough, and no god wanted to lose the honor won with such effort.
The gods were heavy-hearted, but Zeus was in delightfully high spirits.
He didn't return to his own temple at all, but slipped quietly into Themis's.
The other goddesses might be too noisy right now; it was better to seek some peace with Themis.
Mainly, whenever he saw Themis's holy and dignified figure, his heart filled with fondness.
Themis had only just returned. As she stepped into the hall, she saw Zeus lounging half-reclined upon her divine seat.
Her heart gave a jolt, and then a tide of complex feelings surged through her.
Joy laced with nerves, nerves tinged with shyness, even the faintest fear—but above all, joy.
A single turn of thought told her Zeus must have snuck in; the nymphs who had returned to the hall had not announced him.
Zeus, who had been a bit bored, brightened the moment he saw Themis come in.
In a flash of lightning he shifted to her side and, without ceremony, reached out and took the goddess of justice's long, slender jade hand.
Full of delight, he said, "Dear Themis, you're finally back."
"Ah, let me guess—after I left, you gave the gods a proper lesson again, didn't you?"
At that sudden grasp, Themis felt an indescribable weakness wash through her in an instant, as if all her strength were drawn away at the touch of his palm.
Only with difficulty did she steady her mind enough to keep her composure and answer him.
She forced a calm front, though her voice had softened enough to startle herself: "I merely reiterated to the gods the sacred order Your Majesty established, and warned them not to offend again."
Seeing her pretend composure—when her heart and face were already in a flustered tangle—only fanned Zeus's heat and affection.
This always stern, solemn goddess of justice now wore a faint, lovely blush upon her flawless white cheeks.
She didn't even realize she could try to pull her hand free. Instead, as if most naturally, she quietly accepted it.
Zeus chuckled inwardly and, still holding Themis's hand, strolled toward the throne. "Dear one, do you think I was too harsh today?"
Following him weakly, breath growing quicker, Themis rallied at his words.
When it came to serious matters, the goddess of justice sobered at once.
She shook her head lightly, sun-bright golden hair swaying, and said earnestly and firmly, "Your Majesty, you were not wrong—indeed, I think you were too lenient."
"The gods are the universe's foundation. Their every act shapes it. We must not be too willful and lax, or it will be a great disaster for all living things."
Without realizing it, they had reached the throne. Zeus sat down directly and, with a subtle tug, drew the beloved goddess of justice into his arms, settling her upon his knees.
He nestled his head close against Themis's smooth, fragrant shoulder; the warmth of his breath clearly brushed her cheek as he spoke.
Already weak all over, the holy goddess now went stiff as a board, not daring to move at all.
This fearless goddess of justice now felt even her sacred, jade-like body trembling ever so slightly beyond her control.
In her mind, those intimate images Mnemosyne had implanted—of her and Zeus—grew even clearer.
No matter how she tried to suppress them, they kept rising before her eyes, as if—Mnemosyne had become herself.
She truly felt she was going to lose her mind.
Zeus laughed softly, deliberately breathing warmly against her ear and teasing the divine aura that had long since grown restless. He murmured, "A little laxity is normal. Not only the gods—even I am often lax and willful."
"After all, not every god can be like my most beautiful goddess of order—ever diligent and meticulous."
Themis could no longer form words.
Pure as ice and flawless as jade, she had never had contact so close with any being.
Especially when the one holding her now was also the very god she yearned for in the depths of her divinity and loved to her core.
She felt her divinity full of longing and dependence on Zeus; every bit of her godhood urged her to offer everything to the great God-King—to her great lord and father.
Zeus continued, unhurried: "Every god grows lazy, and many love their comforts—that's only natural. Whoever does the same thing day after day, however much they liked it at first, will eventually grow weary."
"So we must still allow the gods some private space, time for their own pleasure and rest."
"We must hurry to weave the 'Heavenly Dao' order. Only so can we free the gods' time. Otherwise, given time, it will lead to great disaster."
Clinging to a last shred of reason, Themis only managed a labored nod.
Her divinity was already in a haze.
She knew she absolutely could not refuse Zeus—and in the depths of her godhood, she had no desire to refuse.
But a hurdle of principle remained in her heart that she simply could not cross.
Facing her own unsteady state now, she was full of self-reproach and fear.
Breathing in the unique, fresh scent of his beloved goddess—like the hidden perfume of plum blossoms standing proud in winter—Zeus did not have the heart to take her now. That would be too cruel to Themis.
He knew she could not resist him, and that she longed for him just as deeply.
But she would blame herself for a lifetime.
It was still just a touch too soon.
Besides, he had just been entwined with Metis and Mnemosyne, and had only just punished Nyx and Mnemosyne.
If he were to join with Themis here and now, it would be too hasty—his appetite too blatant.
Metis might have said she wouldn't mind, but there was no need to be so impatient—too lusty.
To make the goddesses seem like vessels for venting would be far too much. Better to wait a few days.
Once the "Heavenly Dao Order" was fully established, then would be the best time to join with Themis.
They could have a child at once!
Holding the bewitchingly moved Themis in this serene and holy temple of order, Zeus quietly savored the warmth and softness in his arms.
After a long while, he whispered in an affectionate tone at her ear, "Dear one, so much has happened lately that even I feel a bit tired. May I rest beside you for a while?"
Themis could not bring herself to refuse, nor could she voice consent—she could only remain silent.
But silence often means ambiguity—and ambiguity is a silent assent.
Zeus gently released his beloved goddess and laid his head upon the goddess of justice's jade-like lap.
It had to be said: the goddess of justice's legs had a different, exquisite feel and charm.
Among the goddesses with whom he had had close contact so far, the goddess of wisdom's legs were long, her calves slender, her jade feet like white plum in snow and cherries in morning dew—silky and delicate to the touch.
The All-Knowing Goddess's snowy thighs were lovely, her figure full and graceful; her legs were soft and plump, like a bright full moon, their touch like cotton in snow and brocade in clouds—suffused with ultimate allure.
The goddess of justice, tall and straight, valiant in bearing and singular in spirit—her legs were exceedingly long, like white jade bamboo; as a pillow they felt strong, athletic, springy and full.
Yet with careful attention, they were not without extreme smoothness and softness—like warm white ivory carved with utmost skill into pillars of jade, but far warmer and softer than white jade.
To use a more vivid image—they were like the purest white lotus on Olympus's peak, facing endless wind and snow in proud bloom.
As the saying goes, when you lower your head and can't see the tips of your toes, that alone is a worldly beauty.
And the reverse holds as well.
Lying now upon a goddess's knees, eyes open yet not seeing her face—this too was a beauty to shake even godhood.
Especially being so near that, from the mistress's tension, the ripe fruits trembled, swaying as if to fall.
Her garments were thin and simple; looking up, there were few sights in the world to compare.
Though tall and straight, the goddess of justice's divine body lost nothing in graceful curves.
Lofty indeed, as mountains and rivers winding.
Nestled like a child, Zeus nuzzled against his beloved goddess's warm, jade-like legs—and before long, in that sacred domain, he drifted into sleep.
Gods, with their vast, robust divinity, do not have to sleep, but sometimes they choose it—to restore their minds, to relax taut spirits, or simply to pass the time.
Zeus slept with an easy mind—but the goddess Themis was now tense to the utmost.
(End of Chapter)
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