CHAPTER 162: CHAPTER 7

Underworld.

Core Section, the inner most layer of the realm of the dead.

City of Nox, the capital city of underworld.

Amongst the gothic and depressing architectural structures, Aphrodite’s temple gleamed like an anomaly—a place of roses, incense, and sensual luxury amid the gloom.

Inside her private chamber, the goddess of love lay sprawled across silk sheets, completely naked, showing off the perfect body that all gods dreamed of embracing, her arms wrapped tightly around a life-sized pillow.

The pillow bore the image of Hades himself, his silver hair embroidered with care, his sharp features captured in thread, his purple eyes glinting with stitched mischief.

Aphrodite nuzzled it with a blissful sigh, her lips curled into a dreamy smile.

"Mmm...lord Hades... yes, just like that..." she murmured in her sleep, wriggling against the pillow like a cat in heat. "...give it...to me...deep..."

Truly, she was having the best dream of her immortal life.

But her divine pleasure shattered in an instant.

Splash!

A freezing deluge struck her, drenching her golden hair, silken sheets, and her precious pillow.

Aphrodite shot upright with a shriek, her body trembling from the cold. Her face twisted in outrage as she whipped her gaze toward the intruder.

"What the fuck!?"

There stood Hera, serene and unbothered, holding an empty bronze bucket as if she had done nothing more scandalous than watering flowers.

"WHAT IN THE NAME OF TARTARUS IS WRONG WITH YOU?!" Aphrodite bellowed, clutching her dripping pillow.

Hera remained silent, throwing the bucket to the side as she crossed her arms.

"I was having the best dream of my life! Do you have ANY idea how much that dream cost me?! A whole year’s paycheck to Hypnos! A YEAR! And YOU—" She jabbed an accusatory finger, sputtering with rage. "—you cow, you RUINED IT!"

She felt her heart bleed signing the contract with Hypnos for her year worth of salary just for a single dream of a married life to Hades.

And yet before she could even thoroughly enjoy it, Hera completely woke her up.

She even asked Hecate to put up a barrier in her temple so no one can disturb her. She even worked nonstop so she can finish her job early so she can clear her schedule and just sleep.

"You bitch!"

Hera remained utterly calm, her eyes sharp as marble.

"Enough of your dramatics. I require your help."

Aphrodite froze mid-rant, blinking in disbelief.

Then, with dripping hair clinging to her face, she burst into incredulous laughter. "Hahaha! Your help? You, goddess of marriage, perfect, prissy Hera, want help from me? What? You finally decided that you don’t want to wait until marriage and wanted to find a man? Don’t worry, I may be a virgin, but when it comes to knowledge about getting laid, no one’s better than me."

Her tone dripped venom and delight at Hera’s expense, though her eyes glinted with curiosity.

Hera, as always, didn’t flinch.

"This has nothing to do with my marriage or my lack of romance," Hera said flatly, stepping closer, her presence commanding even here in Aphrodite’s den of pleasure. "This is about Hades...well, not really. But it’s related to him."

The name alone silenced Aphrodite’s laughter.

She stiffened, her fingers clutching her soggy pillow tighter, her lips parting ever so slightly as if she hadn’t expected Hera to say his name so suddenly.

The dripping goddess of love wrung her hair, unimpressed as Hera conjured a swirling vision in the air between them.

Within the flickering projection, a mortal man knelt before Hera’s temple in the overworld.

His frame was gaunt, skin clinging to bone, his robes hanging loosely on his wasted body.

His forehead pressed against the marble floor, hands splayed as though in endless prayer.

Aphrodite raised a perfectly arched brow. "What is this? Another half-dead mortal begging for scraps? Hera, darling, I’ve seen better skin and bones in the mirror after a fasting week."

Hera’s eyes narrowed. "Do not mock him. I will not allow you to insult his will and determination."

Aphrodite shrugs. "Whatever. Now who is this and what’s he got to do with my hubby."

Hera clicked her tongue, "Hades isn’t your hubby."

"Details."

The goddess of marriage sighed, but continued. "...This man is Orpheus."

Aphrodite tilted her head, recognition flickering faintly, before she gave a dismissive snort. "Ah, yes, the pretty musician. I heard Apollo once took a liking to his lyre. So what? He’s one more mortal with a tragic story. They are everywhere."

Hera’s expression remained stern, though beneath it was something softer. A rare sight for the always serious goddess of marriage.

With a flick of her hand, the image sharpened, showing Orpheus trembling but unyielding.

"He has remained there for three hundred and thirty-three days," Hera said gravely, her voice echoing with divine weight. "Without food, water, nor even sleep. And yet, he has not faltered. He didn’t move an inch."

Aphrodite paused, lips parting slightly.

"Three hundred and thirty-three...?"

"Yes," Hera affirmed. "Each day, he asks the same thing, that I grant him permission to descend into the Underworld. To see his beloved wife once more. To bring her back, if it is possible."

She stared at the projection, "His devotion... it has moved even me."

Aphrodite blinked, for once caught without a witty retort.

Hera’s voice softened, though her words still carried weight. "But you know Hades. No living soul enters his realm unless under exceptional circumstance. Medea herself was granted access only because of her divine blood and her bond to Hecate. Orpheus has neither."

She paused, studying Aphrodite with calculating eyes.

"If I go to Hades alone, he will deny me. But if you, goddess of love herself, speak on behalf of such devotion, perhaps even he will listen. That is why I need you."

The chamber fell silent, save for the faint dripping of water from Aphrodite’s soaked hair.

She stared at the fading projection of the mortal man, her fingers absently stroking her Hades body pillow.

"Tch..." she scoffed, forcing a smirk. "You’re telling me a mortal’s puppy love has even you tearing up? What’s next, Hera, you’ll be writing poetry?"

But her eyes betrayed a flicker of intrigue.

She tossed her hair back with a splash of lingering droplets, lips curving into a sharp smirk.

"Hera, you really must be getting sentimental in your old age. A mortal kneels and suddenly you want to play matchmaker with the dead? Pathetic." She waved a hand as if brushing away dust, her tone dripping with derision. "If devotion alone were enough, half the women in Greece would already be clawing their way into the Underworld."

But as her eyes lingered on the fading image of Orpheus, gaunt, trembling, yet still unyielding, her smirk faltered for the briefest moment.

There was something undeniable in that posture, in the unwavering resolve. It wasn’t lust, it wasn’t desperation, it was pure, unshakable love.

The goddess of love felt it resonate deep within her chest, like a chord plucked on a lyre. She scowled immediately, as if the expression itself offended her.

"Tch. Fine." Aphrodite crossed her arms under her chest, feigning annoyance. "If I don’t come, you’ll probably bore Hades to death with your endless speeches about justice and devotion. At least I can make the case with some charm."

Her lips curved into a sly smile, though her eyes betrayed something warmer. "Besides... if this Orpheus is truly that devoted, even I want to see whether his love can move the Lord of the Dead."

Hera allowed herself a small nod, relief hidden behind her composed exterior.

Aphrodite snapped her fingers, summoning a set of fresh garments in place of her damp skin.

She struck a pose, brushing invisible dust off her thigh.

"But let’s be clear," she added with a mischievous gleam. "I’m not doing this for you, Hera. I’m doing it for love itself. And maybe... just a little bit because I want to see whether Hades is completely devoid of feelings, or he would be moved by something so touching."

If he does, then that means she can completely go all out in pursuing him.

All those years she remained quite passive, not knowing whether Hades was even into woman beyond sexual pleasure.

After all, although it is only a rumor that he has shared the bed with the Primordial of the Night, but it is confirmed that he had slept with the Primordial Earth.

Meaning Hades isn’t above sexual attraction.

The only problem is, whether he can feel anything beyond simple lust.

Aphrodite has been probing for years, but Hades always look so calm and collected that she almost believed he wasn’t interested in romance.

Although Aphrodite was fine if they were only at the level of sexual partners, but having his heart is definitely something she wished more than anything.

"Well then dear, let’s meet our lord shall we?"

Aphrodite winked, then stretched luxuriously, as though the weight of her earlier frustration had already been replaced with anticipation.