At the table, after a night of discussion, Samael and Themis found the outcome far from satisfying.
If they had started laying their plans back when Zeus went to the Oceanus Sea, they might still have had a chance to restrain the God King's ambitions.
But now, Gaia the Earth Mother, Uranus the Sky Father, and more than half of the Twelve Titan Gods had already leaned toward Zeus. Olympus had grown too powerful, unstoppable in its momentum.
Even among the new gods, Zeus's position was firmly secured.
With the loyalty of the three Cyclopes and the three Hecatoncheires, it would be no easy task to move against him, whether openly or in secret.
And among the six siblings, while Hades and Poseidon were unstable elements, and Hera could be counted as half of one, their survival strategy was clear: external threats first, internal conflict later.
This was why, when the diligent Goddess of Wisdom was stripped of power, the other five siblings, though sympathetic, never truly opposed Zeus.
Tch. Not a single one in the God King's bloodline is easy to deal with.
Forget it. We'll see how things go. Worst case, I'll take Tiamom and Themis, run somewhere else, erode the divine authority of another world, and I'll be back to being a proper serpent again.
Just as Themis and Samael exchanged wry smiles, an unexpected visitor appeared at the Waterside Treehouse, making both of them frown.
"What's with those faces? Am I so unwelcome?"
"I've spent every day on Olympus longing for the time we spent together."
The slender figure at the doorway lowered her hood, clasped her chest with feigned heartbreak, and sighed dramatically.
But no tears came from those blinking eyes—only mockery and playful teasing.
Samael recalled what Themis had told him before, that this Queen of the Gods once planned to drag him into her schemes. Seeing her smiling like this now, the corner of his mouth twitched.
What was the saying again? A white mask over black.
"Enough. If you want to come, come. No one here will stop you."
The Goddess of Justice hesitated for a moment, her hand on the Sword of Judgment as she frowned and murmured.
"Astraea, has it only been a few days and you've already forgotten your aunt? I held you when you were little."
Metis stepped gracefully through the doorway, smiling with narrowed eyes. Her hand reached out, clearly intent on pinching Themis's taut cheek with playful irreverence.
Hmm, really leaning into the act. Samael rolled his eyes slightly, keeping his distance from this goddess whose very presence screamed "trouble."
"If you came here just to do such meaningless things, then there's no reason for you to stay."
Themis brushed aside Metis's hand, her voice colder now.
Remembering Zeus's little games, the goddess found herself instinctively more guarded toward her niece.
"So Aunt Themis is truly angry with me?"
Metis's smile faded. With a helpless sigh, she lifted her skirts slightly and sat elegantly across from them, propping her chin in her hand as she toyed with a flower-shaped cup.
"Alright, calm yourself. I knew nothing of his actions. I came here specifically to apologize."
Themis's expression softened slightly. She trusted her niece would not lie about this.
But before she could speak, Samael placed a hand on her shoulder, lips curved into a faint smile.
"Apologies require sincerity. If a shallow apology were enough, what need would there be for justice and law?"
"Surely, Your Majesty the Queen, you aren't that petty?"
Themis, who had been ready to relax, straightened again at his words, her gaze sharpening toward the goddess across from her.
Metis blinked in surprise, then glanced curiously at the small one demanding "compensation." Rubbing her chin, she shot her aunt a teasing look.
"I always said being too upright and too gentle is a disadvantage."
"But now I can rest easy—someone has conveniently balanced that out. He suits you quite well, you know."
Hearing her niece's jab, even the usually composed Themis nearly lost her composure, her dignity crumbling before her eyes.
The Goddess of Wisdom savored the rare sight of her aunt's embarrassment. But before Themis could erupt, she drew on years of experience treading on dangerous ground, schooling her features into seriousness as she shifted to business.
"Indeed, when you make a mistake, it is only right to compensate."
"He has promised not to trouble you further, to preserve your divine seat, to respect your role in justice, and not to vent his anger on your little lover."
Samael raised a brow, smirking.
"Only for now?"
"At least for a long while..."
Metis recalled the unwilling glint hidden in her husband's eyes before she left and sighed with a nod.
"He's not going to finish the war with Mount Othrys only to come to us spouting lessons about life and ideals, is he?"
Samael's smile thinned, his voice pressing hard, sharp as a lawyer exploiting loopholes to win a case.
"Relax. Until he's firmly seated, he won't intrude on your little world."
"After all, challenging Kronos under destiny is vastly different from lashing out at Aunt Themis over petty grudges."
"The Twelve Titans aren't just you. They have their own interests to consider..."
Metis rolled her eyes, finally tearing away the last shred of her husband's pretense.
It was simple enough. The Twelve Titans carried real weight. To win them over by charm or persuasion was one thing.
But if he openly sought revenge, today it might be Themis he targeted for spurning him. Tomorrow, he could find another excuse to pick off the old Titans one by one.
They were all veterans of this game. Did he really think, if pushed too far, they wouldn't strike back?
Clearly, Zeus's compromise—sending his wife as mediator—meant that the lure of power outweighed both face and desire.
Well, at least he can be reasoned with, as long as there's something he wants.
If he were truly a brute, Samael thought, he'd have no choice but to flee with Tiamom and Themis.
Seeing the unexpected turn for the better, Samael allowed himself a quiet sigh of relief.
But they all knew this was temporary. Even without this incident, the ambitious God King would eventually bring each of the Twelve Titans to heel.
Themis, who had been silent, finally lifted her head, her expression soft.
"So that's how you persuaded him?"
"After all, I don't recall the beasts born of the God King's blood being so reasonable. Only wisdom, weighing gains and losses, can restrain that madness."
Metis nodded with a proud little hum, her lips curving smugly. Before her closest elder, she looked like nothing more than a child seeking approval.
"I simply told him I was taught by you. You raised me longer than those two ocean gods with their six thousand offspring. Whatever I can do, you can certainly do."
"My parents, the God of Light and the Goddess of Radiance, and the other Titans he has courted—if the situation changes, they too can be persuaded by you."
With a flick of her finger, the Goddess of Wisdom summoned a parchment covered in dense runes from a magic circle, handing it to Themis, whose expression grew complicated.
"These are the divine seals left by the Titans I've spoken to. If necessary, you can contact them and put pressure on Zeus together."
"But how long this balance lasts depends on you, Aunt Themis."
Themis remembered the small child who once clung to her arms. Hearing that call filled with emotion, it felt as though nothing had changed.
"So if you want peace, don't let me surpass you, Teacher..."
Metis hesitated for only a moment, muttering a teasing line before breaking off with a smile. She turned to leave, and Themis felt a pang of loss.
She really has grown up.
But just as the Goddess of Wisdom reached the door, a voice rang out behind her, calm and layered with meaning.
"Your Majesty the Queen, whatever your intentions, I'll accept this favor."
"As a return gift, why don't we discuss another matter?"
"Concerning... your fate."
...
(50 Chapters Ahead)
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