Aphrodite looked at Hephaestus quietly. Vulcan's hair was very short, and his hairstyle was black.
His face is quite handsome, with sharp edges and corners, straight eyebrows, narrow and bright eyes, his skin is not fair, with a honey-like luster, and those strange patterns have a special charm.
After putting aside the influence of "Hera's Resentment", although Hephaestus still looks ugly and terrible at first glance, he will no longer make the gods hate him more and more, but gradually, with the passage of time, from it Feel a strange charm.
The Vulcan, who has a low self-esteem and a fragile heart, has a rather wild and robust appearance.
Hephaestus was watched with admiration by Aphrodite, his Adam's apple rolled, as if a hot red iron was scalding him, Hephaestus couldn't help turning his face away, Avoiding Aphrodite's gaze: "Your Highness, please stop looking at me."
Aphrodite's hand pinching his chin moved up slowly, stroking Hephaestus' cheek.
The cold fingertips brought a very strange feeling to Hephaestus, he trembled slightly, and a strange emotion grew wildly in his heart.
Aphrodite said: "Hephaestus, you are not ugly. The reason why he can't bear to look at you directly is because of two reasons. One is the pattern on your face at first glance. It is indeed scary, so the gods will feel very uncomfortable when they see you at first sight, but under normal circumstances, when the gods get used to it, they will no longer be afraid of it. However... that is the second thing I want to say The reason is that there is an extremely strong resentment lingering on your pattern."
"That resentment wraps around your body, and every god who looks at you will be stared at by that resentment, and then feel a strong malice. And the stronger the malice they feel, the less they can look at you directly."
"Under such a cycle, your face will become more and more impossible for him to look directly at. Over time, you will become the embodiment of ugliness and terror,"
Hephaestus couldn't help covering his face, he said hoarsely: "What about you, don't you think I'm getting more and more scary?"
Aphrodite raised the corners of his lips, and he smiled: "I... I have a good relationship with the god in charge of hatred. She gave me the power to block hatred. So..."
He lowered his head and whispered in Hephaestus's ear, his voice was hoarse and charming: "I just think you are getting more and more attractive."
Hephaestus blushed, like a rampaging crab, at a loss, and said shyly, "Your Highness, please stop making such jokes..."
Aphrodite let go, stood up straight with a smile, shook his head, walked to his seat and sat down, sighed softly and said, "I just want to help you be more confident."
Aphrodite sat down opposite Hephaestus, carefully observed the pattern on Vulcan's face, and then quietly aroused the power of revenge.
After a short trial, Aphrodite determined that the Vengeful Godhead could help Hephaestus undo the power of hatred.
Now that she was sure, Aphrodite spoke out.
After a moment of silence, Hephaestus asked, "Your Highness, can you tell me... the source of the power of resentment in me?"
[Don't be the Queen of God...]
Hephaestus's heartbeat suddenly rang in Aphrodite's ear. This was the clearest heartbeat Hephaestus heard after entering the Temple of Eros.
It is conceivable how much influence Hera had on Hephaestus.
Aphrodite's eyes trembled slightly, and a little pity appeared in his eyes, and he said softly: "Your Highness, it is meaningless to get to the bottom of many things."
Hephaestus paled a little, he pressed his lips tightly, and said after a while: "I just want to give up on myself..."
Aphrodite said helplessly, "Alright then."
"It's because of Her Majesty Hera, she deeply resented your formation, but because she was afraid of being controlled by the god king, she had to give birth to you, so the resentment coiled around you and made you what you are now."
Hephaestus stared blankly at his belief, and asked sadly and desperately: "Why does she hate me?! Because she hates the king of gods, and am I a child of the king of gods... But, but, Ares Same as me!"
Hephaestus said full of hatred: "Why is the treatment of Ares completely opposite to mine?! The same is her child, why did she leave all the pain to me, but gave Ares endless pain? Beloved, what is the difference between me and Ares!"
Aphrodite looked at him silently, and Hephaestus covered his face in embarrassment, not wanting Aphrodite to see his distressed side.
Hephaestus spoke in a low voice, with sobs in his voice, he explained: "Your Highness, I don't hate the Mother Goddess, I'm just very unwilling...Why Ares has the same background as me, and the Mother Goddess treats us It's quite the opposite."
Aphrodite closed her eyes gently, her thick eyelashes trembling slightly, then he let out a breath, opened his eyes, looked straight into Hephaestus' eyes, and said to him: " I can understand your pain. But, promise me, Hephaestus, don't go after the truth behind this, okay?"
Aphrodite actually didn't want to reveal the extremely secret connection between him and Hera, but he felt the strong unwillingness and resentment of Hephaestus.
Thinking of the series of things that Hephaestus used an ax to split Zeus's head mercilessly before, and conspired to imprison Zeus and force Zeus to agree to his request, Aphrodite was sure that although Hephaestus was sometimes inferior and cowardly, , but he is equally ruthless and decisive.
Aphrodite had no doubt that Hephaestus, who had a grudge against Hera and Ares, would do something, and then it was very likely that he accidentally discovered his other identity, and Ares's identity. The real story.
But these things cannot be exposed, otherwise, Aphrodite may be able to escape from Zeus by virtue of her strength and various means, but Hera will be forcibly stripped of her godhead by Zeus, and Ares will die tragically again Under Zeus.
Therefore, after weighing it for a while, Aphrodite chose to tell Hephaestus part of the truth and stop him from searching for the truth.
Hephaestus hadn't noticed Aphrodite's abnormality yet, seeing Aphrodite stopping him, he subconsciously growled, "Why can't I seek the truth behind this!"
Just after he finished yelling, Hephaestus regretted it. He said uncomfortably, "Sorry Your Highness, I was a little emotional just now... I didn't mean to yell at you."
Aphrodite didn't answer, but lowered her brows and eyes in silence and tiredness.
Hephaestus stared at him blankly, a terrifying thought suddenly flashed through his mind, he stood up subconsciously, walked up to Aphrodite and grabbed his arm: "Your Highness, Ares Is his life experience real... and has something to do with you?"
Aphrodite choked suddenly. Although Hephaestus didn't finish his words, how could Aphrodite not understand the subtext of Hephaestus' words
He was clearly suspecting... that he had an affair with Hera, and then gave birth to Ares!
Although... the surface of the matter does seem to be the case, but he really has no special relationship with Hera.
Aphrodite immediately denied: "Hephaestus, put away your doubts, I am a virgin god."
Hephaestus pursed his lips: "I know you are a virgin, but a virgin can also impregnate a goddess. I just want to know if Ares is yours..."
"It doesn't count... I do have some special connection with Ares, but we are definitely not the kind of relationship you think."
Hephaestus stared at him blankly, without speaking, as if he had lost all judgment.
Aphrodite stared at him quietly, and said in a low voice, "Hephaestus, although I often have lies in my mouth, I have always been sincere to you."
Perhaps your statement itself is also a lie...
Hephaestus thought in frustration without words.
His hands clenched tightly, clenched into fists, and then loosened abruptly.
After a long while, he let out a long breath, tried his best to smile and said, "Okay, Your Highness. I will no longer resent Mother Goddess and... younger brother, and I will no longer seek to find out the truth."
Aphrodite was speechless, he rubbed his forehead and sighed: "Hephaestus, you really misunderstood... Forget it, just promise me not to go."
After speaking, he silently stared at Hephaestus, hesitant to speak.
Hephaestus gritted his teeth, his cheeks giggled, and he tried to ask softly, "Your Highness, do you have anything else to say?"
Aphrodite confirmed: "You really won't tell this matter?"
Hephaestus looked at him sadly: "Don't you believe me, Your Highness?"
Aphrodite paused, and said apologetically, "No, it's just that I'm used to being cautious."
Aphrodite wanted Hephaestus to swear to the Law so he could be completely at ease.
But he knew very well what kind of feelings he had brought to Hephaestus by his performance just now. Seeing the pathetic look of the wild young man in front of him gritting his teeth and resisting the red eyes, his cold and hard heart softened a little. , Didn't say these ruthless words directly.
Aphrodite changed the subject and repeated the old saying: "Hephaestus, let me remove that power of resentment for you, so that you will no longer be rejected by the gods."
Hephaestus gently pushed his hand away, lowered his head and refused, "No."
Aphrodite froze for a moment and asked, "Why?"
Hephaestus blinked quickly a few times with his reddened eye sockets, holding back the tears in his eyes.
He said: "I don't care about his godly gaze anymore... And, I want something special between us."
Aphrodite paused for a moment, didn't persuade her any more, just sighed softly: "That's fine."
After finishing speaking, he picked up the drop of life essence that rolled down on the table, and said: "We have been delayed for too long because of other things, and we almost forgot the main thing. Let me see your legs?"
Hephaestus pursed his lips, and he took a step back, his face obviously a little tangled.
Aphrodite asked gently: "If you don't want to restore your appearance, it's because you don't care about his godly gaze, but the disability affects you yourself. Don't you want to restore your health?"
Hephaestus shook his head: "No..."
Perhaps Aphrodite's previous praise had an effect, and Hephaestus no longer refused to show his appearance in front of Aphrodite.
He swallowed the cloak, and under the cloak he only wore a flaxen sarong, and the strong chest of the upper body appeared directly in the air.
Aphrodite's eyes lingered on his muscular chest and abdominal muscles for two seconds, then naturally moved away.
And Hephaestus took something from the side of the cloak, and he held that thing for a while, before solemnly walking up to Aphrodite and stopping.
Aphrodite looked at him silently, raised her eyebrows slightly, showing doubts.
Hephaestus looked at him solemnly, and opened his palms. An exquisite ring was quietly lying on his hand. In the center of the ring was engraved with a rose in full bloom, surrounded by scarves. Spiked thorns.
Hephaestus gave the ring to Aphrodite, and he said with a dazed expression: "This ring is called 'Rose'... I originally gave it the meaning that roses are beautiful and sweet, just like you, And the thorns around are the guardians of the rose, like me."
"But my mood is different now." Hephaestus whispered: "Its implication is that roses are love, but if you want to pick love, you have to endure the thorns of thorns. Although love is beautiful...but It can't be picked easily, you have to endure pain."
Hephaestus: "Your Highness, I want to give it to you. This is a gift I prepared for you."
Aphrodite paused, and took the 'rose'.
He brought 'rose' into the little finger of his left hand, saying: "I like the new meaning of 'rose'."
Hephaestus remained silent.
Aphrodite stared at 'Rose' for a while, and asked, "Why does the transparent gemstone in the center of 'Rose' smell so much like life essence?"
Hephaestus looked away: "Because it is."
There was a complicated flash in Aphrodite's eyes, and he asked in a low voice, "Is this why you are still disabled?"
Because I want to create the most perfect ring for His Highness, I would rather endure disability than take that half drop of life essence...
Aphrodite stood up, pointed at the seat where Hephaestus was sitting just now, and said to him, "Sit down."
Hephaestus did as he said, and then asked, "Is there anything you want, Your Highness?"
Aphrodite didn't answer, but divided the whole life liquid into two halves, gave half a drop to Hephaestus, and said, "Take it when I tell you to take it."
Hephaestus was a little confused, and then saw Aphrodite lift up her long clothes and squat down in front of him.
A panic similar to surprise suddenly emerged, and Hephaestus subconsciously wanted to step back.
Aphrodite frowned and said, "Don't move."
Hephaestus immediately froze in place.
Aphrodite lifted Hephaestus' hem and grabbed his wounded right ankle.
Hephaestus couldn't help but flinch, and Aphrodite's palm was hard to keep him from moving.
Hephaestus was overwhelmed by endless panic at this time, and could hardly breathe, let alone stop anything.
Aphrodite looked at Hephaestus' wound, which had almost healed after so long, except for a finger-long scar on the skin, and the bone was crookedly crooked.
Aphrodite's eyes were calm, and her fingertips slid gently on the scar. The scar that was supposed to heal slowly opened again, and golden-red blood seeped out from it.
Hephaestus hissed lightly, and Aphrodite comforted in a warm voice: "It will be fine soon, don't be afraid of the pain."
Hephaestus didn't say a word, and it took a while before he said softly: "...um."
Aphrodite focused on setting Hephaestus's bones and healing his wounds carefully. Halfway through, Aphrodite suddenly paused, as if an invisible wave appeared, pushing his hand away. Shake a bit.
Aphrodite frowned, and looked up towards the entrance of the garden in the temple.
Because of that accident, Hephaestus' wound was pulled, and he hissed lightly, showing a painful expression.
Aphrodite continued to set his bones, but the movements of her hands were much faster.
Aphrodite finally dripped half a drop of the original life liquid into the wound of Hephaestus, and under the stimulation of the original life liquid, the wound healed rapidly.
Hephaestus clutched his robe tightly, recalling what Aphrodite had done for him just now, he couldn't help feeling a surge of emotion.
He wanted to say something, but Aphrodite stood up and walked towards the temple garden.
Aphrodite raised the golden staff and waved it lightly, ripples like water waves opened, and the plants and flowers grew wildly, from the other side of the garden to the temple.
Aphrodite stood at the entrance of the temple, a vine crawled in through the stone pillar, stretched out playfully in front of Aphrodite, and opened a small red flower towards him.
Hephaestus came over and asked doubtfully, "Your Highness, what is this?"
Aphrodite did not speak, and reached out to take the bright red flower, and then looked towards the direction where the vine was stretching out. The silver-haired and blond-haired twin gods walked from the other side, stepping on the green grass hand in hand, handsome and beautiful. to the extreme.
Hephaestus lowered his brows and eyes, and his mood was instantly poured with cold water, and he became quiet again.
Aphrodite ignored Hephaestus' subtle mood changes, frowned slightly, and asked in doubt: "Your Highness, what are you... huh?"
Apollo touched his lips and smiled: "Because I and Al's temple are not connected, in order to make it easier for us to find each other, we opened a secret garden behind the temple. We can directly enter the garden from the back of the temple to meet. It is necessary to go out of the temple again, and the whereabouts are more secretive."
Aphrodite raised her eyebrows lightly: "So that's the case... But since this is the secret garden of the two Highnesses, why do you want to connect to my temple?"
The twin gods didn't speak, but stared at Aphrodite quietly with the same emerald eyes, as if he was a scumbag who had done something cruel.
Artemis' eyes moved from Aphrodite to Hephaestus behind him. Because the power of resentment had not been removed, Hephaestus's face still looked terrifying. Artemis Turning away with a frown, a little aggrieved: "Your Highness, this is the secret garden of you and our siblings, why did you bring Hephaestus?"
Aphrodite clicked her tongue: "But you didn't tell me where this place is before you invited me in."
Hephaestus stared at the twin gods for a moment, and asked softly behind Aphrodite, "Your Highness, do they have the same relationship with you as you do with the queen?"
"..."
Aphrodite turned her head and glanced at him, and said helplessly, "I've said everything, it's not true."
But Hephaestus didn't seem to listen to this, and just repeated: "Secret Garden."
Aphrodite moved the tips of her ears, and looked away vaguely.
Aphrodite continued to talk to the twin lord gods: "Do the two Highnesses have anything else to do?"
Apollo nodded: "Yes, Your Highness, after we left, Athena was summoned by the God King into the God King Palace. They seemed to be discussing something inside, but they didn't come out for a long time. Soon after, the Great God Gaia followed went in, and they haven't come out until now. Thinking of Athena's priesthood, I'm a little worried... "
Aphrodite asked: "Because Athena is the goddess of wisdom, are you worried that she will plot against us?"
Apollo kneaded the strings carelessly with his fingertips, and replied: "To be precise, I am afraid that His Majesty the God King will use the wisdom of the Goddess of Wisdom to plot against us. After all..."
"Now it is different from before. If Athena is named as the main god by the god king, her position as the main god can be deprived by the god king at any time. She has more scruples than us. In order to consolidate her position, she will definitely work hard to ask the god The king showed his power..."
"And the best way for her to show her ability is to use her wisdom to teach us a group of guys who angered the god king a hard lesson." Artemis took it and added, the twin gods had a perfect understanding.
Aphrodite nodded, confirming the guess of the twin gods, but he had no intention of discussing with the twin gods. After listening, he said: "Thank you two highnesses for the information, I know about this matter."
Artemis looked at Aphrodite with beautiful eyes, and asked anxiously after hearing the words: "Your Highness, the God King is plotting against you. Don't you need our help?"
Aphrodite touched his chin and pondered, the twin gods looked at him expectantly, while Hephaestus glanced at the twin gods with a vague and cold look.
After thinking for a while, Aphrodite shook her head: "I have something to think about, everyone, please retreat first, and let me be alone for a while."
The three main gods didn't expect Aphrodite to directly issue the order to expel the guests. After they were all stunned for a moment, the twin main gods replied a little helplessly: "Ah, yes, Your Highness."
Hephaestus took two steps, he was not used to the normal way of walking, so his posture was a little stiff, but his steps and manners were much more graceful and upright than before, he said softly: "Your Highness, thank you for your help. "
Aphrodite touched the 'rose' on her little finger and said with a smile, "You're welcome, I like your gift very much."
Hephaestus looked at the twin gods, showed a rare smile, and then nodded slightly.
The main god of Gemini was expressionless, unable to tell whether he was happy or dissatisfied.
After seeing off the main gods, Aphrodite sat quietly for a moment in her temple, frowning, thinking about some hints and clues in her mind, then took out a piece of parchment, and wrote a few words on it:
[Warning: Do not wear jewelry given to you by women. ]
[Tartaros: I will have a brief affair with you afterwards. ]
[Gaia: I hope you can give birth to a new god, he is the newborn of Eros, the son of you and Arix. ]
[Zeus: revenge, hatred. ]
[Athena: The king of gods, the defender of patriarchy, the spear and shield controlled by the king of gods. ]
[Curse: Your sincerity will be trampled to death by others. ]
[Gods who play with love will eventually be played by love. ]
Aphrodite wrote warnings, prophecies, and curses about him on parchment scrolls.
Compared with the curse in the first half of the sentence, the curse in the second half of the sentence is thicker in the shackles transformed into Aphrodite's soul, and it also makes Aphrodite more vigilant.
Combined with what was going on, Aphrodite thought, there was an ingenious plan slowly unfolding for him.
However, the gods of the layout only need to complete their respective tasks, but Aphrodite has to connect the entire layout and then crack it, in order to get clues to crack it.
Aphrodite underlined the second and last sentence heavily, and sighed softly: "The one who confuses me the most is His Highness Tartarus... what does that Highness think? Did my refusal make him give up this ridiculous idea?"