Chapter 2: Chapter 1 The Blessing of 996_2
Kronides?
Strange, why does this name feel so familiar, as if I've heard it somewhere before?
"Sorry, Semele, my love, I've had too many trivial matters to deal with recently. As soon as my journey ended, the first thing I thought of was coming to see you."
In the corridor, that handsome young man with silver shoulder-length hair and eyes like stars, uttered sweet nothings while recounting some amusing travel anecdotes.
With every move he made, he radiated a masculine charm that completely captivated the love-struck princess. She leaned weakly against her lover's chest, the affection in her eyes growing more intense and fervent, her pretty face blushing like a blooming rose.
At this moment, peering through the chiffon curtains, watching the couple so deeply in love as if they only had eyes for each other, Luo En in the cradle wore a look of disbelief.
Fuck, no way?
As everyone knows, it is quite impolite and offensive for a servant to address their master by name, regardless of the era.
Moreover, it seemed like his mother had deliberately concealed his origins, and they hadn't had any visitors at the castle for a month, so only today had Luo En officially learned his mother's full name.
At the same time, corresponding information also began to emerge in his mind.
Semele, daughter of Cadmus, the City Builder of Thebes, and Harmonia, the Goddess of Harmony, and a descendant of the War God Ares...
With the memories of texts surging in his heart, Luo En finally recalled the origin of the name "Kronides" at this moment.
Kronides, which means "son of Kronos," is the alias used by Divine King Zeus when he had an illicit affair in the mortal world.
So it's the alias of that human-shaped seed sower from Olympus, no wonder it felt so strangely familiar...
By the way, in his past life, Luo En worked for a game company that created games based on heroes' epics and folk tales from around the world.
As an outstanding employee of the year, he naturally had a decent knowledge of myths and legends.
And after deducing his parents' illustrious identities from their true names, Luo En couldn't help but look at his own tender hands, bewildered.
If the names were right, then wasn't he the legendary Dionysus?
— That one cursed by Hera, who went mad for half his life, but miraculously replaced Hestia, the Goddess of the Hearth, to become one of the Twelve Olympians, the God of Wine?
The absurd thought didn't linger long before Luo En shook his head, eyes filled with doubt.
But this obviously wasn't right.
According to Hesiod's "Divine Chronicle" and other related myths from Ancient Greece, Zeus and Semele, the Princess of Thebes, had an affair, which was discovered by his legitimate wife, Hera.
Jealous Hera, disguising herself as the princess's relative, persuaded the princess to demand Zeus to reveal his divine form, to prove his love for her. Zeus, unable to refuse the princess's request, revealed his true divine state, and consequently, Semele was burned by thunderbolts.
At that time, Semele was already pregnant, and Zeus could only save the preterm infant by sewing him into his own thigh until the baby was full-term. Since Zeus walked with a limp while the baby was in his thigh, hence the name Dionysus, which means "Zeus's limp".
To put it simply, the God of Wine, Dionysus, was born after his mother, Semele, had died.
Could it be that I'm remembering it wrong?
Or perhaps, the names of my parents are just a coincidental match?
In a state of confusion and unable to come to a conclusion, Luo En couldn't help doubting his own judgment.
At that moment, beneath Semele's princess's adoration and cuddles, the silver-haired young man "Kronides" picked up his delicate lover, stepping into the great hall.
But immediately, he stopped, furrowing his brows as he looked towards the cradle inside the room.
"Ah, I was so happy to see you just now that I forgot to mention the birth of the child."
Coming back to her senses with flushed cheeks, Semele shyly jumped down from her lover's arms and, taking his broad palm, led him to the cradle to show off.
"Look, his eyes and hair, they're so much like yours!"
However, the silver-haired young man in the room didn't respond, just standing still, gazing deeply at the newborn in the cradle.
"Aren't you happy?"
The unexpected coldness startled the princess, causing her to turn around in bewilderment.
"How could that be? This surprise came so suddenly; it caught me a bit off guard."
The silver-haired young man snapped back to reality, revealing an infectious smile, his eyes flickering with a trace of doubt.
"Didn't the doctor say last time that there were still a few months left in the pregnancy?"
"Yes, the delivery happened much sooner than expected, but the baby was very cooperative and didn't make me suffer too much."
The princess nodded in explanation, sweetly leaning on her lover's shoulder.
Meanwhile, Luo En, watching the "parents" in front of him putting on a display of affection, twitched the corners of his mouth slightly.
Well, really...
So this counts as a premature birth, and it's my fault, huh?
After getting a definite answer, Luo En's little head was crammed with a messy tangle of thoughts.
He had never won even fifty cents in a lottery, but this time reincarnation went big.
—Not only was he a member of the divine-blooded royal family of Ancient Greece, but also a candidate for the future Twelve Olympians.
Of course, if he wanted to successfully ascend and live a peaceful life, he would have to first check whether the "mistress killer" and "bastard slayer" Queen Hera would agree.
You should know, the mistresses and illegitimate children who have died directly or indirectly by her hand, could easily make up three tables for mahjong.
But don't panic, as long as your teammates don't feed, you can still maneuver through this wave.
Luo En glanced at his love-struck princess mother and muttered to himself.
Just don't get talked into insisting on seeing Zeus's true form, whatever you do.
And just in case, if it really comes to that, I'll use all my might, even if it's from breastfeeding, to block it.
As long as you survive Hera's pursuit, the hard days will be over.
While calculating this, Luo En sneaked a peek at the legendary Divine King Zeus, feeling a bit conflicted.
Should he build a good relationship with his cheap father earlier?
If he cozied up to him, he wouldn't even need to fear Hera's pursuit; it would be easy mode.
The more Luo En thought about it, the more tempted he became, his gaze involuntarily shifting toward the thickest leg in Greece under Zeus...
"You've really been through a lot these days, my dear."
At the same time, Zeus, who was disguised as Kronides, seemed to have recovered from the shock of receiving a precious child. A hint of a smile squeezed into his tense face, and a gentle male voice softly began to speak in the ear of his lover.
"By the way, my dear, I've prepared for you the most splendid gift upon my return from this long journey, as proof of our love."
The princess, immersed in her passionate love, immediately lit up.
"Really? Where is it?!"
Zeus caressed his lover's hair affectionately, his voice exceptionally gentle.
"Just close your eyes obediently first."
The princess nodded softly, closing her eyes, her cheeks flushing with anticipation.
Boom—
Thunder raged in the sky, clouds outside the window churned, and a moment of brilliance flashed by.
Next to that handsome face, turning away from the princess, a stern coldness spread under the thunderbolt's illumination.
In the cradle, as Luo En planned how to hold onto the metaphorical big leg pinch by the nose, his eyes inadvertently swept over the scene, and he froze slightly.
Strange, why does this cheap father feel...
"Crack!"
In an instant, a series of explosive noises came near, and dozens of lightning bolts plummeted down, piercing through the roof and pouring onto the two embracing figures in the center.
The beautiful yet fragile girl melted away instantly like ice and snow under the scorching sun.
The brutal thunder kept rolling, the scorching flames burst forth, witnessing this love as bright as light and fire.
Everything was collapsing, everything was melting away.
"Crack!"
The majestic palace was torn in two, collapsing thunderously, and the overwhelmed hill crumbled, dragging the palace debris down into the raging sea.
The purple cradle carrying the newborn, along with the falling palace and mountain rocks, plunged into the bone-chillingly icy waves.
With no time to react, Luo En's world became nothing but cold darkness, his heart's outraged cries building up inside his tiny chest.
NMD, WSM!
Boom—!
Before the cliff shrouded in lightning, the silver-haired figure stood still, looking at the pieces of purple wood floating on the foam, frowning slightly before taking a step forward.
"Buzz buzz buzz buzz!"
At the same time, lights like stars lit up in the night sky one by one, outlining the contour of a towering mountain amid the clouds.
Has someone lit the sacred fire?
Zeus seemed to think of something, his face tightening, as he subconsciously retracted his step forward, his imposing figure disappearing into the fading thunderlight.