Chapter 32: Ch 32: To keep on living...please marry me

/This magnificent presence...Just as I thought, it is you, Lady Apophis! You are finally regaining your power and influence. What a marvelous discovery I have made./

The other god sounded like he was in awe, and Aiden swore he could feel the other god’s eyes on his wrist where his Goddess rested.

Aiden felt a pang of jealousy as he watched his goddess looking up at the other god, and Aiden’s first instinct was to hide his goddess from the other god’s gaze with his sleeve.

He noticed the priestess’s gasp of shock, but he did not feel bad about his actions.

After all, if his goddess was permitting such behavior, why did anyone else’s opinion matter?

"You are a youngling in terms of godhood, so I can tell that you have done well. Now, why have you called for this audience? You better give me a good reason."

Goddess Apophis asked, and Selene bowed her head under the pressure of the two gods. Sweat was traveling down her face as she gasped in shocked silence.

The almighty presence was making her head spin, and she looked at Aiden, feeling sorry for him as well. But unlike her, he did not look winded or uncomfortable.

If anything, he looked like he belonged in this atmosphere.

For the first time, Selene began to doubt whether Aiden was even human or not. Surely no human could take this much pressure and keep their head up?

’I wonder what is going on inside his mind? Just how much power is he using to keep his head up?’

However, contrary to her beliefs, Aiden had no need to use power because he had not felt any pressure from this meeting.

In fact, the local god in front of him barely felt different from another priest to him.

’As expected! The only one capable of moving me is my goddess. Her divine essence is all I need.’

Aiden nodded as he reconfirmed his beliefs before he decided to ask the question that had been bothering him for a while.

"So, why did you call for this meeting? I am sure it was not simply to waste my goddess’s time."

Aiden asked in a polite voice, but anyone could tell that he was not happy. He had not even touched the tea that had been placed in front of him yet.

Selene gasped at his rudeness, but her god did not seem to mind. If anything, he looked happy to answer Aiden’s question.

/Indeed, this is not a simple greeting, but rather a proposal. My intuition tells me that you will soon be regaining your spot in the gods’ world and making a comeback. And I would like to be a part of that moment. So I would like to propose a deal—please make me yours as well. I want to become your consort, Goddess Apophis./

The glass in Aiden’s grip shattered at those words, and he looked at the god in front of him with a chilling expression.

Selene was not sure how a human could ever make her feel this chilled, but she was suddenly shivering in fright.

"Don’t joke around. My goddess is not a toy for you to play with."

He warned Selene’s god, and the god finally looked agitated.

/Stay out of this, human! This is a discussion between two gods. A human like you—/

Finally, Goddess Apophis moved herself between the two and slammed her tail on the table. She looked annoyed, but not with Aiden. Rather, her eyes were looking at Selene’s god with fury.

"How dare you raise your voice at my apostle! Unfortunately, I will have to reject your proposal. I have decided that my first priority will always be Aiden for as long as I am alive. If you are ready to always be second to me, then you are more than welcome to try your luck."

The goddess warned, and the god in front of her fell quiet.

Selene was not sure what the god was thinking, but she had never heard a goddess be this firm before. She was about to interfere when she heard her god speak once more.

/Very well. I understand how you feel. If you have decided that this is what you want, then I will not push you any further. Rather, I would like to make another deal with you./

Selene looked at her god backing down. She had never seen him like this before, and she had a sudden feeling that he was about to make a drastic decision.

However, she was a loyal subject, so she could not make a noise at her god’s decision. She had to take it gracefully and—

/Please, devour my essence and make me a part of you. That way, I will still be a part of the greater god you will become. My individuality will disappear, but my power and name shall live on./

The god finally spoke, and Selene could no longer take it. She ended up slamming her fist on the table and she spoke up.

"You cannot do that! I have spent my whole life serving you. If you disappear, then I—"

This was the first time she had raised her voice at her god, and it felt terrifying. She had no idea how the other priest was ever able to talk back to his goddess.

Her god looked at her and let out a sigh that made her shrink. She felt like she was making a mistake that was going to cost her a lot...

But if she backed down, she was going to lose her god. And that was not something she could risk.

And yet, she could not open her mouth to interfere.

Finally, the snake goddess made a decision.

"You wish...for your name to keep on living? Then, there is no need for me to absorb your essence, right? I will take your power and origin. In return, you can live out the rest of your days as a human. What do you think about this deal?"

Now this just felt insulting, but her god was smiling in relief for some reason. And that broke Selene’s heart.