Three months passed.
I'm still a baby, but I'm more active than most newborns.
I can crawl around on the floor now, although it doesn't do me much good considering I'm almost always in the arms of my sisters.
They refuse to let me crawl.
Whenever they do this, my mother reprimands them, insisting that constantly carrying me will hinder the development of my legs.
She was quite surprised when she first saw me crawling on all fours, given that it's only been three months since I was born.
Today, my mother announced she would be taking me out of her quarters along with my sisters to show me around the estate.
Currently, we're in her chambers, and she's changing her clothes.
I must have caught her attention because she noticed me staring and came over, lifting me into her arms without a second thought, despite not being fully dressed.
"Are you hungry, my sweet baby? Does Mama need to feed you?" she cooed, gently massaging my back and giving me a soft kiss.
In response, I let out a series of delighted baby giggles, which made her face light up with happiness.
I really loved seeing her smile—she's so beautiful.
I must have been blessed to have such a loving and caring mother.
"Oh, my baby is so cute!" she exclaimed, showering me with another kiss before starting to feed me.
Afterward, she finished dressing and carried me out of the room, where my three sisters were waiting.
"Have you sent everyone away?" my mother asked, directing her question to my eldest sister.
"Mm, yes. I've also activated the barrier, just in case anyone attempts to peek into our castle," Elizabeth replied.
"Hmph, who would dare to spy on our territory unless they're courting death?" my mother scoffed.
"I dismissed the maids and servants, informing them that the Duchess has emerged from seclusion and wishes to speak privately with her daughters," Elizabeth added.
"That's good. I'm still recovering from childbirth and feeling somewhat weakened. It will take at least two years for me to regain my full strength, and until then, I want to keep my son a secret—even from the royal family," my mother said, narrowing her eyes.
"Apart from the four of us, no one should know of his existence—not until I reach the peak of the Aura Master realm."
"What about Aunt Freya?" Elizabeth inquired.
"If she comes knocking, I won't hide him from her," my mother replied with a serious expression. "But I won't let him leave the confines of our castle."
Who is Aunt Freya? Is she really my aunt?
And why is my mother keeping me a secret?
Is she afraid that someone might try to harm me, or is she just being overly protective?
And what did Elizabeth mean when she dismissed the maids and servants?
I don't recall ever seeing a maid or servant around.
Then there's what she said about activating a barrier.
What kind of barrier?
And what did she mean by spies?
I have so many questions, but I've yet to even develop the ability to speak.
I might have been completely blind in my past life, but that doesn't mean I'm some innocent and clueless fool.
I've learned to recognize letters and spell words by touch, and from what I've gathered, I know one thing for certain: this world is completely different from the one I lived in before.
This world feels... supernatural in a way that I can't quite put into words.
It's complex, mysterious, and far from simple.
Thinking about all this makes my tiny head hurt, so I refocus and listen quietly to their conversation.
"Mother, did giving birth to him really take so much out of you? You seem unusually weak. You weren't this weak after having the twins," Elizabeth asked, her voice laced with concern.
"Yes, it's strange… it's as if he took half of my energy when he was born," Mother replied softly, her fingers gently rubbing my cheeks with a loving touch.
...
Mount Olympus, Realm of the Greek Pantheon
The goddess Aphrodite stood in her castle, her attention entirely absorbed by a small lotus pond before her.
Reflected in the tranquil waters was the image of a crimson-haired woman walking around a grand castle with her three daughters, a newborn son cradled in her arms.
"I can't believe it took her ten years to give birth to him… even though that woman is one of the strongest in that world," sighed Aphrodite, the goddess of love.
For an ancient goddess who had lived for eons, ten years was but a fleeting moment, yet for mortals, it was an eternity.
Beside her floated an oval mirror, within which appeared a figure clad in dark robes.
"It actually took twenty years," came a deep voice from the mirror.
It was Hades, the god of the underworld.
"The soul took ten years to fully settle into her womb, and another ten years for the gestation period."
"His soul is truly abnormal... Just considering its sheer size, it took twenty years for him to be born. Imagine how long it would've taken if he possessed the soul power matching its level?" Hades continued.
"It could've taken thousands of years," Aphrodite murmured with another sigh.
"But why did you choose that world?"
"This particular world is evolving rapidly and offers numerous paths to power. And that woman—his mother—is one of the strongest martial artists there, holding a high rank in her kingdom," Hades replied.
"If it was status you sought, why not have him born into a royal family?" another voice interjected.
Hestia, the goddess of the hearth, appeared in a second mirror beside Hades.
"There are two reasons for my choice," Hades explained, his tone unwavering.
"First, that woman's soul has the highest affinity with his. Secondly, she is fiercely protective of her family and instills strong values in her children. I wanted that environment for him."
He continued, a subtle snort punctuating his words. "Moreover, being the strongest duchess in her kingdom with a fiery personality, she's feared by many. When our kid displays unstoppable talent, no one in her domain will dare target him."
"Just how deeply have you thought this through?" Hestia questioned, narrowing her eyes.
"I don't do things half-heartedly," Hades responded, his voice firm.
"If I'm going to be involved, I will give it my all. As gods, we must set the standard."
"A god of the underworld, showing this much thoughtfulness over a mortal soul... How intriguing," Hestia remarked.
"My position as the ruler of the underworld has nothing to do with my actions," Hades retorted.
"I'm not like my brother, nor the gods of other underworlds, and certainly not like demons. Judging and punishing the damned is simply my duty, nothing more."
With that, Hades' figure faded from the mirror.
"I can never fully understand him," Hestia sighed.
"He despises being judged based on his domain. Just because he rules the underworld doesn't mean he's cold or ruthless," Aphrodite explained.
"He's not like his brothers, Zeus and Poseidon, who act without regard for others."
"If he's so benevolent, why did he kidnap Persephone?" Hestia asked, narrowing her gaze.
"Everyone makes mistakes, even the gods," Aphrodite replied softly.
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{Author's Note: If you enjoyed this chapter, don't forget to vote with some POWER STONES. It would also really help me if you could rate this book. Thank you for reading!}