The utterly shocked Goddess of Night instantly felt a bone-piercing chill wrap her whole body, as if it would freeze her completely.
Endless grievance and bitterness surged like the Underworld River breaching its dikes, overturning her heart and almost spilling from her core.
She could even feel bitter water pouring along the valves of her heart inward, stuffing her chest until it felt stifled, making her heart ice-cold.
In that moment, she felt all strength drawn from her body in an instant, leaving only a world-spinning dizziness.
Those bright, fox-like eyes that always mixed nobility with allure were, beyond her control, veiled with glistening ripples, soaked in mist…
She wanted to say, "I dare you," yet feared he would say nothing and turn away.
She wanted to yield, but had been wounded to the core by this "heartlessness."
Her throat felt squeezed by something.
She could not get a single word out.
But after only two or three breaths, Zeus pulled her into his arms again—more domineering, more forceful, more wild than before!
His strength was so great she even felt a keen, genuine pain.
It was a force as if to knead her divine body to pieces, to work her from skin and bone to divinity inch by inch into his embrace, to press her wholly into his flesh and into the seams of his bones—an absolutely irresistible strength.
It hurt—truly hurt.
Yet from that pain surged the solid assurance of being possessed. A despairing heart once more welcomed the light of hope.
Then the tenderest, most intimate words, like the warmest spring breeze, brushed her ear: "May I walk into your heart, please?"
She was about to blurt "Yes," but the God-King's gentle words continued.
"My Nyx, you have always been in my heart. But why is it so hard for me to walk into yours?"
"Every day I must handle matters great and small of the cosmos, order the newborn laws one by one and weave them into the order of Heaven—I truly am run off my feet."
The God-King held the goddess in his arms even tighter, his voice softer. "My dearest goddess, look—are my words empty? Have the laws of the universe not, through my efforts, become ever more refined and flourishing?"
"I want the universe to be better, more prosperous, more lively."
"And all of this is so that I can, with you whom I love, with our children, with all the gods we love, share this eternal goodness together."
The God-King's chest pressed to the Goddess of Night, every word hot with fervor. "I know how you yearn for bustle and splendor; how could I bear for you to be unable to enjoy it all? I only want you to have all that is better!"
"Even amid such busyness, your shadow in my heart is always drifting to and fro, tugging at me at every moment."
"Whether I walk or sit, it is you. My longing for you always leaves me ill at ease."
"So the moment I had the slightest bit of free time, I rushed to you. For my longing for you subjects me to endless torment."
"Such torment I cannot bear even as God-King. It is like falling into Tartarus, suffering eternal emptiness and pain."
With that, this smooth-tongued, philandering God-King suddenly let out a deep, heavy sigh.
He said wistfully, "My love, my Nyx. I come to you because your tenderness is unforgettable to me. It is a treasure I can never abandon, as my kingship is."
"Your tenderness is the sweetest wine I prize, obsess over, and crave most. With you, all my divinity is wrapped in your ocean of gentle honeyed affection."
"Only with you can I cast off all troubles and burdens and think of nothing at all."
"Because you always spoil me and embrace me with your broadest, softest arms."
The God-King suddenly shook his head hard, his face wrung with pain; his voice grew warmer, and more bitter. "Nyx, Nyx, my love, you make me suffer too much."
"My love for you is beyond doubt, so deep. Night enfolds me, and I have never thought to part from it."
"But what were you just saying? What were you doing?"
"You didn't even want to nestle in my arms anymore!"
"After we suffered the pains of longing and finally embraced again, you could bear to let me go!"
"Cruel Nyx, heartless one—why are you so harsh to me?"
"Please, please tell me—what must I do to truly enter your heart?"
"My beloved Nyx, where has your spring-water gentleness gone? Where have your unique pampering and pliancy toward me gone?"
"Why is it that every time we meet again, you use such cold words and deeds to wound my heart?"
"Do I truly disgust you so much? Do you truly have not even a shred of tolerant love for me?"
Once her beloved God-King pulled her tight again, the Goddess of Night was pressed hard against Zeus, clutching his lapels, afraid to lose that indispensable embrace.
The God-King's strength was great; the tight embrace hurt, but she was only more relieved and glad.
The thought of him leaving had again, palpably, shrouded her in the most terrifying emptiness and helplessness.
That dreadful feeling far outstripped the bitterness of jealousy and hatred.
She quietly listened to her beloved God-King's sincere words, and gradually felt she had gone too far.
Her endless grievance, like a rising tide, quickly ebbed under her beloved God-King's "blood-and-tears indictment."
The expert God-King's ear-scorching ardor turned her next surging wave entirely into a deep guilt that could drown her.
Under the philandering God-King's alternation of soothing and pressure, this pure Great Mother Goddess truly began to reflect.
And she reflected very seriously, very deeply.
'Could it be… that it really is my fault?'
'It seems so… Zeus… he truly has it hard.'
'He's been busy for the whole universe; there are indeed many more laws now, and the world is ever more flourishing.'
'He's doing it for us, too.'
'Have I been too hasty? It seems… I have.'
'A mere year or two is just a nap to us.'
'Yet I kept pressing and questioning him—even threatening him—forgetting his duties and burdens.'
'He finally came, and I said such heartless, excessive things…'
'This…'
The God-King, secretly watching the goddess in his arms, saw the pure Great Mother's expression soften from helpless fear and gradually take on a tint of guilt.
He decisively pressed the advantage!
"Alas—"
As if heartbroken, he let out another long sigh, full of weariness and disappointment.
"Alas, my love, my love. If my love has felt like a burden to you, then I… can only apologize."
"If you have never loved me, then… how could I ever walk into your heart?"
"Is the only way not to burden you… to leave?"
That word "leave" was like a snowball flung into her arms; Nyx jolted at the cold.
Her heart shook violently and would not settle; in an instant, endless dread rolled back like a tide, submerging all her divinity.
Her jade fingers hurried to clutch Zeus's lapels more tightly, her knuckles blanching with the force.
Her already pale, matchless face went whiter still, like clear frost upon white jade.
She cried out, "No! My love! My Zeus! I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"
"It's my fault! I was being unreasonable! I'm sorry! Please, please don't say that!"
Thoroughly at his mercy, the goddess spoke ever more urgently: "How could my heart not hold you? Can't you feel it? When we are completely joined, deep in my divinity there is only you!"
She drew a deep breath, her chest trembling lightly, and said hurriedly in a lowered tone, "Your love would never weigh on me! Your love only fills me with boundless satisfaction!"
"All my happiness, all my joy, all my completeness exist because of your love for me!"
"I'm sorry, my love… truly sorry." As she spoke, she guided her beloved God-King's large hand to her bosom,
pressing it firmly over her heart, where night-tide's softest surges and true feelings stirred.
In those fox-bright eyes, once sharp and imperious, only utmost softness and fragility remained, their rippling gaze full of pleading.
She looked up at her beloved God-King and begged in a low voice, "Zeus~ you are my God-King, my lord, my everything! Please, I was wrong, I truly know I was wrong."
"Please, forgive me, will you? I'll never do it again! I promise you I won't say a single foolish word before you ever again!"
The stately, regal, icily noble Mistress of Night, embodiment of night itself, at this moment seemed like a daughter of the ocean, like tender, coquettish night.
In a posture verging on humble, she bared everything of herself without reserve before her only sovereign.
She swayed her divine body lightly, guided Zeus's big hand to the place he loved most, where he could feel her abundance best.
With lowered brows and meek eyes, she coaxed, her voice soft as white clouds: "Father-God… my great father… please forgive the immature Nyx, will you?"
"Please… please, truly feel Nyx's love for you~"
"And please, please continue to bestow your precious love generously upon Nyx~"
______
(≧◡≦) ♡ Support me and read 20 chapters ahead – patreon.com/Mutter
For every 50 Power Stones, one extra chapter will be released on Saturday.