Enjoy the chapter😁.
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Hera was walking through the garden of Aetherion's palace.
It was one of the most beautiful places he had cultivated—something truly spectacular.
Butterflies of countless colors fluttered through the air, while young lions played together nearby.
Nymphs tended to the plants that belonged to the forest and nature itself, moving gracefully among the greenery.
Even the starry sky above was breathtaking at that moment.
She had her own palace, of course, but this place was different.
It was where she had, in a way, been raised—alongside her siblings—after they escaped the stomach of their father, Kronos.
She sighed in irritation.
"Sigh~ I'm so troubled,"she muttered to herself, raising a hand to scratch her head. A frustrated expression crossed her face."I can't stop thinking. I can't relax my mind."
She didn't want to admit it, even to herself, but she was nervous—nervous about the battle ahead.
She had never participated in such a conflict before, not even in the hunts she had once begged Aetherion to let her join.
This would be her first true battle, and her anxiety was only natural.
Still, her pride would not allow her to acknowledge it.
So she tried to brush the feeling away, refusing to dwell on it.
As she continued walking, she noticed someone else in the garden—a tall man with shoulder-length golden hair streaked with green, and a cloth circled around his eyes.
She immediately recognized him.
"Hm? Aetherion,"
she called out casually.
He turned toward her at once, a playful grin spreading across his face.
"Oh, Hera," he replied, offering her a cheeky, mischievous smile. "What are you doing out here on such a fine night?"
She rolled her eyes lightly at his words.
"I couldn't sleep," she said in a lofty, proud tone. "I needed some fresh air."
She lifted her chin and turned slightly away, unwilling to appear weak.
Aetherion simply smiled at her.
"How about we take a walk together? It might help calm us both."
Hera looked at him for a moment before finally nodding.
"Very well," she said. "Shouldn't you lead the way?"
Aetherion gave a small bow, gesturing ahead of them.
"Of course, my lady," he said dramatically. "This way—to the magnificent garden of mine."
He began to walk, and Hera followed behind him.
Watching his back, she let out a quiet giggle, finding the situation unexpectedly amusing.
Finally, as she let out a small giggle, Hera looked ahead at Aetherion.
He glanced back at her, still wearing that mischievous smile.
"Having fun back there?"
he asked.
Hera quickly shook her head.
"Not at all,"
she replied, then looked forward again, a faint smile lingering on her lips.
Aetherion shook his head as well and continued walking ahead.
Hera followed him silently, her thoughts drifting to the one who walked before her—the one who had saved them, who had done so much for all of them, and who had even helped train them to become stronger.
Especially her.
It was Aetherion who had given her the idea of how to truly use her domain—particularly her domain of Woman.
It had become her trump card, a powerful force that even Aetherion himself acknowledged as one of the strongest he had ever seen.
She prides herself of that.
She couldn't wait to use it on the battlefield.
And yet, beyond his role as a leader and savior, she felt something else for him.
She couldn't lie to herself about it.
Still, she didn't know what to do whenever she saw him speaking with Metis or Themis—talking easily with them, sometimes even in ways that felt… romantic.
It made her feel jealous, though she hated admitting it.
She had noticed it clearly, especially before the meeting, when Aetherion and Themis had shared a quiet moment together.
She doubted either of them realized it—but she had.
She knew Aetherion well… or at least she thought she did.
His rapid growth, his calmness, still surprised her.
After all, she had seen her brothers—each of them easily attracted to women, flirting openly, chasing beauty wherever they found it.
Hades was perhaps more refined than the others, but even he was drawn to nymphs or goddess old or new he found appealing.
As for Zeus and Poseidon… men or even animals weren't save.
But Aetherion was different.
Hera noticed that he didn't flirt.
He didn't pursue anyone.
Even when others tried to flirt with him, he merely offered a kind, gentle smile—as if he didn't notice at all.
She knew he must have noticed, though.
He wasn't foolish.
Even if he appears so from time to time.
This was the man who had tricked Kronos and freed them all.
Because of that, she didn't want to move too quickly and risk scaring him away.
She didn't understand why he didn't seem to feel the need for romance—or perhaps he did, but kept it buried.
She looked at him more intently now, her gaze deepening as if she were trying to peer into his mind.
'I really want to know what's going on in that head of yours,'
she thought, shaking her head slightly—yet her eyes remained fixed on him, as though searching for the mysteries of the world itself.
Suddenly, Aetherion turned around with an awkward smile.
"Hera… are you trying to read my thoughts?" he asked teasingly. "If you keep staring like that, you'll make me blush."
Hera noticed it—and immediately felt heat rise to her cheeks.
She hurried forward until she was walking beside him.
"I was just trying to pierce that stupid head of yours,"
she snapped.
"Ouch," he replied lightly. "Aren't you being a bit harsh?"
"No," she said firmly. "Sometimes I just don't understand that idiot head of yours."
Aetherion could only offer a helpless smile.
After a brief pause, she muttered again—quietly, but loud enough for him to hear.
"At least it's a reliable stupid head… especially when it's count."
Aetherion froze, then turned toward her with surprise before breaking into a wide grin.
"Huh? Did you just compliment me?" he asked. "Wow! I didn't know you could do that, Hera.You used to, when we were younger, but you haven't done it in a while—"
He began circling her, firing off questions one after another.
A vein twitched on Hera's forehead.
"Shut your mouth," she snapped. "Do you think I can't be civil and give compliments when they're deserved?"
"No,"
Aetherion replied immediately.
Another vein popped.
Without hesitation, she swung a punch at him.
Aetherion leapt away effortlessly, still wearing that teasing smile.
"Stay still!"
she shouted.
"Don't want to,"
he replied cheerfully.
They ran through the garden—one chasing, the other dodging and laughing—until Hera, without even realizing it, smiled as she ran after him.
Her feelings for Aetherion, unnoticed even by her own heart, were growing warmer with every shared moment.
And these memories—these simple, joyful moments—would remain with her forever.