Lady Night's attitude was too submissive, submissive to a confusing degree.
Even before Kronos, she had never shown such respect and obedience.
Even if Zeus gave her more, that couldn't possibly make her so submissive!
This didn't match Lady Night's character, nor her noble status as a source of the universe!
And what did that last sentence mean?!
Explain, explain—what do you mean Night's children are Zeus's children?!
Explain! What are you trying to do?!
You Nyx only have two children, and they still belong to Hyperion now, only nominally yours!
Where do you get more children?!
The gods didn't yet know that Lady Night, in the long years, eroded by boundless loneliness and negative emotions, had independently conceived several more children through night's laws, only she dared not let the children enter the world.
Uh... her resentment toward the sky god lineage was too obvious.
Most of these children's laws were negative emotions—anyone seeing them would understand Lady Night's thoughts at a glance.
Previously Lady Night absolutely dared not release them, fearing it would arouse the sky gods' vigilance and stronger targeting.
Wise Metis lightly frowned her clear features, her wisdom-filled eyes first looking toward Nyx, then inconspicuously glancing at Zeus's dignified, composed face, always feeling something was wrong.
The goddess of civilization and memory curved her thin lips in a shallow, disdainful smile. Night Goddess only knew these underhanded little tricks!
Just thinking about having children with Zeus, wanting to gain power through motherhood! Fighting for authority through children!
Detestable!
Night gods were night gods—couldn't do anything aboveboard!
Annoying Zeus! Really bewildered by night! Why give so much!
No! I want some too!
Hyperion, hearing Nyx's last sentence, lightly exchanged a glance with his wife. Lady Theia, mother of radiance, immediately understood.
She gracefully rose, her elegant radiant beauty showing a gentle and convincing smile. Her soft voice rang through the hall, carrying earnestness and touching sorrow:
"Just Zeus, Aether and Hemera were once Lady Night's children, but the master of spirituality—Sky Father Uranus—made them become the beloved children of Hyperion and myself."
Theia's voice carried a mother's plea: "We've been together for countless ages. The children are also harmonious together, depending on each other. This familial love cannot be severed."
"Merciful Zeus, please consider a poor mother's feelings—don't take away my dear children. That's pain a mother cannot bear."
She turned slightly, directing her gaze toward Rhea, pleading: "My dear sister, sacred merciful God Queen, I believe loving Mother Goddess Rhea, as a great mother, can completely understand this painful feeling of losing children."
Theia paused, her radiant gaze first looking toward Nyx, then turning to Zeus, continuing: "I know Lady Night is equally a mother who deeply loves her children. She equally misses her children, yearning to embrace them and feel the warmth of connected laws."
"For this, I'm willing to share my children with Lady Night. Even though I'm so reluctant and pained, I equally understand Lady Night's feelings. Her deep love for her children—I feel the same."
Theia finally pleaded earnestly: "Just Zeus, let my children—Aether and Hemera—equally call Lady Night mother goddess. I believe the loving night master will care for her children like me, giving them equal love and protection."
Zeus was very clear that Hyperion would never give up Aether and Hemera. Their children Helios and Selene were conceived based on Aether and Hemera—they couldn't possibly accept returning the children.
Allowing Nyx nominal recognition was already good.
Zeus himself wouldn't agree either—how could someone who just took power immediately antagonize his loyal allies?
At least not for some time.
Weakening allies right after taking office made no sense emotionally or logically.
Moreover, as long as loyalty continued, there was no need to cause trouble in the future.
The gods' world ultimately spoke through strength—no need for schemes to weaken subordinates.
Furthermore, daylight and radiance were both universal source laws and naturally restrained night's basic laws. The daylight laws couldn't be allowed to return to night's control—that would be too unbalanced.
Theia's current words were the most appropriate solution.
Her speaking now was merely to secure a legitimate promise for Aether and Hemera's belonging before the gods.
It was harmless enough.
Zeus directed his gaze toward Theia, his tone gentle yet firm: "My dear Goddess Theia, respected mother of radiance, how could I not understand a mother's heart-piercing pain of losing children? Because children losing their mother is equally the world's greatest pain."
Zeus's gaze seemed to inadvertently sweep past Mother Goddess Gaia, making brief eye contact with her.
He looked at Theia and continued: "The past has become past, but now, how could I force a mother to abandon her beloved children? This has no justice whatsoever, nor does it conform to the core ideals of the new order I established!"
Mother Goddess Gaia secretly agreed, feeling more assured about Zeus's promises.
'Zeus's divine character is still reliable!'
"Decisions made by former Sky Lord Uranus, I won't change—those are established old laws."
"Perhaps children, for various reasons, gained additional mothers who love them. Then they needn't choose only one, because choosing anyone would be tremendous harm and heartless betrayal to the other mother."
Zeus's words were full of benevolence as he said gently yet firmly: "He should equally revere all his mothers, and all his mothers should equally love him."
His voice instantly became incomparably solemn, giving a declaration to the entire universe: "From this day forward, I solemnly declare in the name of universe master, king of all gods: All beings in the universe—where mothers lovingly care for children and children respectfully love mothers—that is the greatest respect for me. The opposite is the greatest insult to me!"
"I will punish all unloving and unfilial evil beings with thunder, showing no mercy!"
After Zeus finished speaking, he looked toward Aether and Hemera, instructing: "Aether, Hemera, from this day forward, both Goddess Theia and Lady Night are your respectable mother goddesses. You must equally revere them, regarding them with equal love."
Hearing this, Aether and Hemera immediately rose from their seats, quickly came to the hall's center, and unhesitatingly knelt on one knee before Zeus.
They said with incomparable gratitude: "Merciful master, just God King, your benevolence makes all beings respect you. We will forever be grateful for your virtue—your mercy protects all spirits."
"Thank you for your love. We will forever equally and respectfully love our two mothers. Their love is our life and source."
"Having two such loving mothers is our supreme honor. We vow to repay them with reverence!"
Goddess Theia's bright, charming smile instantly bloomed as her graceful figure bowed respectfully to Zeus: "Supreme master, thank you for your virtue. Your judgment is so just and full of wisdom. Your grace shines eternally."
However, Lady Night's heart was now filled with indescribable unwillingness and loss.
Previously helping the Titans overthrow Uranus had only gained her nominal motherhood of Aether and Hemera, without truly bringing them to her side.
Now overthrowing Kronos yielded the same result—the children still only had nominal belonging!
But Zeus hadn't sought her opinion, directly announcing the decision. She was helpless.
She had originally thought to slowly work on Zeus in the future to get her children back.
But now Zeus had so solemnly announced the decision before all gods to the entire universe—getting the children back in the future would be extremely difficult, or almost impossible.
Lady Night felt quite dejected. Her psychological gap was too great.
She had clearly supported him so much! Given her entire being to Zeus!
Clearly just now he gave so much! Now just scraps, and he wouldn't give even those!
She was secretly angry, determined that Zeus shouldn't expect her to kiss him again in the short term!
Unless he compensated her!
But even so, she still honestly gave her response, though her voice was somewhat low: "Wise Zeus, your wisdom astounds gods. Your will, I naturally follow."
Zeus seemed oblivious to Nyx's dejection, his profound gaze inconspicuously passing over Lady Night to look at his closest comrades-in-arms.
Several goddesses, seeing the insincere and dejected Night Goddess, already had their lips curving upward.
He understood these goddesses' thoughts too well—he couldn't indulge them too much. Only giving favors wouldn't work either, as it bred arrogance through indulgence.
Dealing with goddesses required appropriate firmness, repeatedly working them over—both thunder and gentle rain were indispensable. Only thus could goddesses truly become obedient and willingly compliant.
Zeus's majestic words rang out again: "Gods, please vote."
Since Zeus had already decided, the Hyperion couple had no objections, and most gods wouldn't spoil Zeus's face.
Hyperion and Theia first expressed agreement. Most other gods also went along, agreeing. Though no gods opposed, several gods abstained.
Mm...
Mainly goddesses.
Zeus understood this well. He nodded lightly, indicating this proposal had passed, then directly proceeded to the next agenda.
A smile appeared on his majestic face as his gaze turned to his closest siblings in the hall, saying warmly:
"My dearest brothers and sisters, my sibling comrades-in-arms, it was precisely your strong support that let us achieve final victory in the war against the old God King, win ultimate glory, and welcome this completely new era."
(End of Chapter)
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