Chapter 24.2 Birth
The sea swelled, and from the foamy waters emerged a colossal shell. Under Poseidon’s watchful eyes, it slowly began to open.
Inside, curled up in its center, lay an unclothed young man. His soft, crimson lips were slightly pursed, and cascades of golden hair spilled over his porcelain-white skin, hiding his delicate, flawless form. His flesh was pale with a faint flush, as if dyed with the essence of blooming flowers.
His brows furrowed slightly, long lashes trembling before he finally opened his eyes. The moment he did, twin emerald irises, breathtakingly vibrant, shimmered beneath the sky.
He slowly sat up, his eyes still filled with the naivety and innocence of a newborn. The shell drifted with the waves, tossed and turned on the turbulent sea, looking pitifully small. Suddenly, a huge wave hit, and he was caught off guard, almost falling into the sea, but he fell into a warm embrace.
Startled, he found himself held up in mid-air. Looking up, he could only see the god’s handsome profile and deep, fathomless eyes.
Poseidon scooped him up and gently placed him back in the shell — the companion shell still had residual divine power that needed to be absorbed by the new god.
The beautiful youth was back in the rocking shell, his fingers clutching the edge of the shell, his expression filled with fear. The rain poured down mercilessly on him. He shivered in the storm and the waves, helplessly raising his eyes to look up at the blue-haired god standing high on the wave crest not far away, silently begging for his help with his eyes, like a pitiful little deer.
That face was stunningly beautiful, unparalleled in the world.
The God of Love and Beauty, Venus, was born knowing instinctively how to charm others with his beauty.
A voice simultaneously echoed in the minds of all the Olympians — the God of Love and Beauty, Venus, has been born.
Only when a god of the highest level was born would the laws of the universe grant such a grand entrance, announcing their existence to the world from the moment of birth.
In an instant, the storm vanished. The thunder fell silent. The heavy downpour ceased, and the ocean stilled into perfect tranquility. The sky turned a brilliant blue, the sun shone in golden splendor, and above, the goddess Iris painted a magnificent rainbow across the heavens.
The world itself welcomed the birth of its most beautiful god.
The shell, now drifting on calm waters, floated aimlessly. Poseidon raised his hand, summoning a gentle sea breeze that carried the shell to the nearby island of Cyprus.
There, Venus rose from the shell, stepping barefoot onto the golden sands. With each step he took, white roses bloomed in his wake, vast fields of them unfurling across the earth. His golden hair cascaded in silken waves, reaching the elegant curve of his slender calves. He was perfect in every way.
Before Venus, there had been no roses in the world. He was born to represent romance.
The Horae had been waiting for him. They dressed him in solemn and beautiful robes and fastened a golden belt imbued with the magic of love around him.
Venus obediently allowed them to do as they pleased, becoming even more radiant and charming in the beautiful attire.
Eunomia, one of the Horae, stepped forward and gestured toward an ornate chariot. “Your Highness the God of Beauty, please step aboard. It is time to depart for Mount Olympus.”
Olympus? Poseidon’s expression darkened. He had planned to raise the new god in the sea.
The other two Horae, noticing Poseidon’s presence, dipped into a respectful bow before addressing him with surprise. “Your Majesty the King of the Sea, what brings you here?”
Poseidon fixed his gaze on Venus. His voice carried a note of displeasure. “He was born in the sea and should belong to the sea. Why is he being taken to Olympus?”
One of the Horae answered patiently, “Your Majesty, the God of Beauty is destined to be one of the twelve major Olympian Gods. His status is of the highest order, and before he reaches maturity, he must stay on Olympus to nourish his divine power with the spiritual energy of the divine mountain.”
A god’s infancy lasted two hundred years. Although Venus looked like an adult at birth, his mind and strength would not be the same as an adult god until two hundred years later. Even the most unscrupulous god would not sleep with a new god who was less than two hundred years old. Such an act would bring the wrath of all Olympus upon them.
The early years of a god’s life were crucial. Mount Olympus, with its rich spiritual energy, was undoubtedly the best place for Venus to grow, far better than the gloomy, sunless depths of the sea. And as the God of Sea, Poseidon could not linger on Zeus’ domain for long.
His storm-blue eyes darkened, displeasure clear in every line of his face. His possessiveness would never allow something born of his waters to be raised in another god’s territory. But he could not provide Venus with the best growing environment.
If only I could tear Zeus from his throne. A dangerous thought took root in Poseidon’s mind.
He walked in front of Venus, who looked up, his clear eyes filled with confusion.
Poseidon placed a magnificent ice-blue crown on Venus’ head, his fingers gently stroking Venus’ golden hair. “This is the crown of the Queen of the Sea. It is my token for you.”
Venus touched the crown on his head, loving the beautiful ornament. He gave Poseidon a stunningly sweet smile. Being newly born, he didn’t understand what it meant.
Poseidon gently stroked his cheek, then coldly warned the Horae, “Tell my lecherous brother not to have any ideas about him. In two hundred years, I will personally come to Olympus to pick up my Queen of the Sea.”
The Horae froze, momentarily stunned. Their gazes flickered toward Venus, and even they, divine beings accustomed to beauty, felt their cheeks flushing. He was more breathtaking than any goddess on Olympus.
Such otherworldly perfection, no wonder the King of the Sea had laid his claim so soon.
But will the King of Gods really let such a beautiful god go? They couldn’t help but worry deeply about the future of the God of Beauty. Hopefully, this cabbage wouldn’t be eaten by a pig.
In the vast, empty great hall, Amphitrite waited for what felt like an eternity. Finally, Poseidon returned.
She was a little uneasy. She had noticed earlier that the sea had calmed down a lot, clearly indicating that the King of the Sea was suddenly in a good mood, but it had nothing to do with her.
……Then, could continue their previous conversation?
Before Amphitrite could think further, she heard Poseidon speak, seamlessly continuing the previous topic, “I know you’re not willing, so I won’t force you. You can go back.”
Amphitrite: “???”
Wait, wasn’t she very willing?
Hurriedly, she spoke up. “Your Majesty, I never said I was unwilling……”
Poseidon chuckled softly. It was a beautiful laugh, yet utterly devoid of warmth. “I always consider a lady’s dignity. If it is you who refuses to marry me, rather than the other way around, wouldn’t that sound much better?”
Amphitrite’s face paled. She lowered her gaze. “I understand, Your Majesty.”
She had been sent here against her will, her father eager to see one of his daughters crowned as the Queen of the Sea. At first, she had not wanted to marry a god she had never met. But after seeing the King of the Sea in person, she couldn’t help but fall for him.
She was the most beautiful daughter in her family, envied by her sisters. If Poseidon rejected her, she would be mocked relentlessly. But if she was the one who turned him down, her reputation would remain untarnished.
In fact, she might even be admired for her supposed indifference to power and status.
Fortunately, it was only a brief encounter, and she came to her senses in time.
Amphitrite, being a sea nymph herself, quickly composed herself. Without hesitation, she took her leave and departed from the palace. Poseidon then issued an order to dismiss all the other women, forbidding anyone from claiming the title of his lover, so as not to upset his future Queen of the Sea.
With the nymphs gone, only mortal women remained. Fifty years had passed since they had entered the palace. Their families in the mortal world were long dead, leaving them with nowhere to return to. Their beauty, once a prized asset, would surely become a curse in the outside world. When they had willingly come here, they had been granted eternal youth and a life of luxury. Now, none of them wished to leave. Even if they did, they had no means to survive on their own.
The water gods took pity on them and refrained from casting them out. Instead, they allowed the women to stay on as palace attendants, tending to the daily upkeep of the grand halls. But serving the King of the Sea personally? That was no longer an option.
Medusa, who was not a mortal, also chose to stay as a maid, biding her time, waiting for the right opportunity to draw closer to Poseidon.
Once all was settled, Poseidon sat upon his throne. The beautiful face and the sparkling eyes of the newborn god appeared in his mind, making him feel happy and relaxed.
For the first time in centuries, the restless sea grew calm. Sunlight shimmered over the water, casting a rare, gentle warmth.
At last, he had found the perfect lover.
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