[Greek Mythology] The Demons Under My Command - Chapter 27

A Winter Trip to East Bay

Li Jia was sitting in a rocking chair, looking at the swaying branches outside the window. She felt a little sad that three seasons had already passed in this world, and it was now early winter. She actually liked winter—it was a good season for baked sweet potatoes.

Feeling listless due to the sudden temperature change, she barely reacted when a figure blocked her light.

“Your Majesty, are you here to supervise my studies? Give me five more minutes, and I promise I’ll get up.” She had been diligently studying during her break, thanks to Hera’s strict tutelage.

Hera pulled Li Jia off the chair. “Change your clothes. We’re going out.”

Li Jia’s eyes lit up. “Your Majesty, where are we going?”

“To East Bay.”

Li Jia immediately responded with a “Great!”—anywhere was fine as long as she didn’t have to do homework.

She packed her suitcase, recalling what Winslow had taught her about the continents: North Border, South Marsh, East Bay, and West Tranquility.

“Why the sudden trip to East Bay? What’s the climate like? Hot or cold? How many days are we going for? I need to know what clothes to bring.”

“The climate?” Hera replied. “It’s like eternal spring. East Bay is right across the Nastia Strait

A sea! Li Jia had never seen the sea before. She excitedly decided that her custom-made Bohemian-style dress would finally be put to use.

She asked if Dorian and Winslow were coming. “They are not,” Hera said simply.

Instead of using the Peacock War Chariot, Hera had Li Jia sit on her suitcase and, with a Shadow Blink , they instantly arrived at their destination.

The strait was a deep blue rift between mountains, connecting the turbulent outer sea to the calm inner bay. Hera cast a divine power to conceal their appearance, making them look like ordinary people.

The Unexpected Piggyback Ride

Li Jia wanted to Shadow Blink straight to the beach, but Hera frowned, stating that using Shadow Blink the whole way would defeat the purpose of taking her out to experience life.

Li Jia thought: Then why did you use it to get here from the Hot Spring Spring? (The essence of humans is double standards, and apparently, so are the gods.)

Halfway there, Li Jia sat down on the ground in a huff, refusing to move another step.

“Get up here,” Hera commanded.

Before Li Jia could react, a steady force lifted her, and in the next moment, she was being carried on Hera’s back. The suitcase was shrunk by divine power and placed in Li Jia’s pocket.

“Your Majesty, you can’t, please put me down…” Li Jia struggled, but her cheek bumped into Hera’s broad, strong back, which carried the warmth of sunshine and a faint scent of pine.

“Hold tight,” Hera said without turning her head, her voice carrying a trace of unnoticeable fluster.

Li Jia eventually wrapped her arms around Hera’s neck. Her fingertips accidentally brushed Hera’s hot skin, and she flinched as if burned, yet she leaned her face even closer against her back.

Li Jia’s ears felt hot, and she silently called herself pathetic. Hera’s steps were steady, and Li Jia barely felt any shaking. This was the first time in two lives that anyone had carried her.

“Your Majesty…” Li Jia whispered close to her ear. “Why are you so good to me?”

The warm breath in her ear made Hera’s heart skip a beat.

“If I’m not good to you, then who should I be good to?” Hera’s voice was low. “You are my only attendant.”

“You won’t have any other attendants?” Li Jia asked calmly, but she felt intense jealousy and sadness; she didn’t want Hera to have anyone else.

“No. Keeping you busy is enough for me.” Hera slowly opened her mouth, speaking softly. She had no desire or courage to present herself entirely to another person again and wait for them to love her even after seeing all her flaws. “That person can only be Li Jia. In front of her, I don’t need to hide any flaws. It is an unprecedented joy for two incredibly similar souls to be close.”

Li Jia thought for a moment and said seriously, “You’re right. I am a troublesome person, so it’s quite enough to take care of me. Your Majesty doesn’t need to add new troubles for yourself.”

Hera: “You certainly have self-awareness.”

The Smallest Fishing Boat Cabin

They eventually reached the beach. Li Jia immediately came alive, took off her shoes, and stood barefoot, playing by the water’s edge. Hera stood aside, waiting for her to tire out.

The nearby fishermen rely on the sea and often build wooden houses or rest on their boats. This gradually formed a tourism industry around the strait.

Li Jia chose to stay on a fishing boat.

Hera found the rental dock. After looking at the boat sizes, she said, “We’ll take the smallest one.”

Li Jia: “Why not the biggest? The bigger one is more spacious.”

Hera: “Because I didn’t bring that much money. The money is with Winslow. She manages the finances at the Hot Spring Spring; I have no right to interfere.” She looked helplessly at Li Jia. (Li Jia thought: I don’t believe you. You just didn’t bring Winslow and Dorian!)

Li Jia resigned herself. “Fine, anywhere is okay.” (The person who isn’t paying has no say.)

Hera paid, and Li Jia took the key with a small copper tag marked “No. 32.” The boat was painted a bright rusty red, resembling a blossoming red lotus on the water.

Inside the small boat cabin, there was a simple bed, a round table, and two chairs. There was no shower, but a wooden tub for bathing. Other necessities had to be purchased separately from the dock.

Hera went to the dock to order a bucket of hot water and two dinners for No. 32.

An Unspoken Confession

Li Jia pulled out the white puppy-patterned pajamas she had brought. Hesitantly, she placed a black, identical set on the table for Hera. “I… I also had the Goddess of Weaving make a set of pajamas for Your Majesty. I don’t know if they’ll fit.”

She quickly went to the partitioned area for washing up, not daring to look at Hera’s expression. She regretted bringing it, fearing Hera—a goddess who has seen everything—would despise her gift.

As she immersed herself in the hot water, her heart was filled with regret. She shouldn’t have brought the pajamas. Now, if Hera wore them, it would feel forced; if she didn’t, Li Jia would lose face.

Suddenly, a large hand touched Li Jia’s exposed neck. She dared not open her eyes, but she heard the sound of clothing slipping off. The other person stepped into the tub. The previously spacious tub became cramped, and the sudden water pressure rose, covering Li Jia’s nose. She accidentally choked.

The woman pulled her out of the water, sitting her on her lap to raise her up. Li Jia’s back, fresh from the warm water, pressed against the other person’s skin. She felt a burning sensation on her back.

“Open your eyes. Breathe,” the woman spoke softly.

Li Jia’s heart pounded. She slowly exhaled, trying to calm herself.

“What are you thinking about?” Hera asked.

“I was wondering if you would hate me,” Li Jia blurted out.

“No. Why would you ask that?” Hera smiled slightly, noting that Li Jia had switched from “Your Majesty” to “you.”

Hearing her say no, Li Jia’s eyes welled up with unexpected tears. Afraid of being seen, she lowered her head, but tears couldn’t be stopped as they fell into the bathwater. She felt deep guilt because the better Hera treated her, the more uneasy she felt.

Her initial purpose for approaching Hera was impure; she was selfish and opportunistic, saying ambiguous words against her conscience just to survive.

“What is it? Did someone bully you?” Hera gently stroked her back.

The next moment, soft lips pressed against her cheek, gently licking away the hot tears. It wasn’t lust; it was a kind of solemn cherish. Hera’s tongue tasted the salty tears, yet she seemed to savor a treasure, patiently kissing away the wetness.

Stopping at her eye corner, she rested her nose against Li Jia’s temple, her voice low like a sigh: “If you cry any more, my heart will melt.”

For a moment, Li Jia wanted to abandon everything and confess the truth to Hera, but she found herself unable to speak. She remembered the System’s warning: she couldn’t do anything to destroy the plot.

If Hera knew she approached her with an agenda, would she still be so kind? When Hera discovered her true nature, she would definitely leave her.

Thinking this, Li Jia was utterly lost. Who would love a liar? Tears fell again, because she couldn’t bear to lose Hera’s kindness.

Hera continued to comfort her for a long time. Finally, exhausted from crying, Li Jia was lifted out of the water, dried, and changed into her pajamas.

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