Before the vast and empty divine throne, there was no petty-minded goddess pretending to be someone's daughter this time.
Not even a single guard or priest stood watch. Eros had no choice but to walk in on his own, slow and casual.
"O great Oceanus, I'm coming in now~"
He called out loudly as a half-hearted announcement, then pushed open the doors to the throne hall.
Above the great hall still hung the world-encompassing, tail-biting Ouroboros river that circled all creation.
Only this time, another figure floated gently within its stream.
"Amphitrite? Is she okay?"
Eros immediately noticed Amphitrite wrapped in the flowing body of Oceanus, a bit of worry creeping into his voice.
"Relax, she's fine," came a gentle reply.
The water parted and gently laid Amphitrite on the ground, where the sleeping goddess slowly opened her eyes like a drowsy maiden awakening.
Mmm... she was definitely just asleep, there were sleepy tears glistening at the corners of her eyes.
"Hmm? Eros? Am I dreaming?"
Her familiar soft voice carried not the slightest trace of injury or spiritual instability.
"Of course not. I just came back, that's all."
Eros pinched her cheek. It was still just as smooth, wet, and satisfyingly soft.
The familiar touch roused Amphitrite from her daze, and her face flushed rapidly.
"Eros, my father's still here…"
Although she was clearly delighted by their reunion, the fact that Oceanus was right behind her left her feeling intensely embarrassed.
Even though they'd already done this and that, she'd never actually informed her father about their relationship.
And somehow… doing this in front of Oceanus added a strange kind of thrill.
"What're you thinking about, you little glutton?"
Eros flicked her forehead playfully.
He had zero intention of doing anything on the divine throne. If anyone was misunderstanding, it was definitely Amphitrite's own imagination running wild.
Seriously… they were already this close, and she still thought he'd try something here? Truly heartbreaking.
"So, what happened? Why are you here? Did something happen to you?"
After their brief moment of intimacy, Eros finally turned to the real issue.
There had to be a reason she'd stayed at Oceanus's side all this time.
"Well…" Amphitrite hesitated. But it was Oceanus who answered instead.
"I've simply been helping her adjust and attune more quickly to her new divine power, at the request of my other daughters."
Appearing once again in the form Eros had seen before, a perfect, three-meter-tall goddess, Oceanus remained as warm and gentle as ever.
"Eros, I must say, I was overjoyed to see you return from the abyss."
Eros whispered something to Amphitrite, then gestured for her to stand aside for now.
"Alright, then. Tell me, what exactly happened with her?"
Oceanus, ever forthcoming, answered without delay.
"To help you back then, that child became the Sea Queen. The title suits her well and has caused her no harm."
"However, when my other daughters found out, they had… other ideas, and came to me with a request."
As Oceanus spoke, the full picture became clear to Eros.
Amphitrite had become Sea Queen, and wasn't on good terms with Poseidon. This sparked a bold idea among Oceanus's other daughters.
Why did there need to be a King and Queen of the Seas anyway?
If Amphitrite could gain divine authority, what was stopping her from replacing Poseidon?
Let Amphitrite reign. Let Poseidon become the consort, Sea Queen in name only.
After all, they were both women. Why get caught up in outdated roles like "King" and "Queen" anyway?
Eros stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"Honestly? That actually makes sense."
If the Queen of the Underworld could outclass the King, then why not the Sea as well?
The idea wasn't half bad. They were just underestimating how damn stubborn Poseidon could be.
She was the type who'd never admit defeat until thoroughly beaten, and even then, she'd stew in silence and come back for revenge later.
She was like a feral mutt, no matter how many times you hit her, she'd always bare her teeth.
And if one day she stopped doing that, it wasn't because she was tamed, it was because she got smarter and learned to bite behind your back.
Still… fighting the heavens is fun. Fighting people is fun.
As long as it wasn't a life-or-death blood feud, Poseidon could be pretty entertaining.
"So, you chose to help them? Is that what you want?"
Eros raised his head and looked straight at Oceanus, gauging her stance.
If she said she fully supported her daughters' plan, then he might have to reconsider his position.
"Me? I don't want anything."
Oceanus smiled softly.
"My children came to me with a request, and I answered. Whether they succeed or not is up to them, just like you.
As long as it doesn't affect me, I won't interfere."
These ancient gods really loved playing bystander.
Nyx was like this. Oceanus was like this. Even Zeus did it.
It was like they all thought acting mysterious made them seem more dignified.
Almost reading his mind, Oceanus let out a gentle chuckle.
"This isn't our era anymore. For old relics like me, it's better to stay out of the way."
"Now tell me, Eros, what is your reason for returning to the sea?"
Eros scratched his cheek. "Hmm… haven't really figured that out yet. Guess I'll see where it goes."
Whether he'd cooperate with fate to reap some rewards, or stir things up just to annoy Ananke, he hadn't decided.
For now, he'd just enjoy life here at the Silver Seat of the Sea.
"Oh, right. I almost forgot, do you still have any Orichalcum? I need to find some."
Eros nearly forgot his actual quest in all the chaos. Before leaving, he asked about it.
"Orichalcum?" Oceanus nodded.
"If you head south from here, you'll find an island called Crete. There's a copper mine there, that's where you'll find what you seek."
Orichalcum, also called mountain copper.
Eros didn't know the specifics, only that it was incredibly rare.
"Got it. Thanks."
"It's not a gift from me," Oceanus replied. "Just pointing you in the right direction."
Her body dissolved back into flowing water, rejoining the endless river that encircled the world.
Eros took Amphitrite's delicate hand and led her out of the throne hall.
Once outside, she seemed to loosen up, hugging his arm intimately.
"Eros, you're finally back… The others said you were eaten by that monster. I thought you'd never return."
If Oceanus hadn't reassured her he was alive, she might have collapsed entirely.
Even so, these past days had been anxious and painful.
Only now, with Eros back beside her, did her heart truly settle.
"I'm not that easy to kill. Don't worry."
Eros gently stroked her silky hair.
"So, about the whole Sea Queen thing, do you really want to challenge Poseidon?"
If she said yes, then Eros might seriously consider messing with fate for her.
After all, he'd be willing to defy the heavens if it meant making a beauty smile.
But Amphitrite quietly shook her head.
"No… I'm not interested. I don't even like this divine office."
She knew full well Eros wasn't the "one woman only" type.
Still, the Sea Queen title made her uncomfortable.
She had no connection to Poseidon. Didn't even know her.
Yet that divine title forcibly tied them together, and that was what bothered her most.
"I only accepted because Sister Thetis and the others encouraged me. That's all."
Amphitrite had always been a soft-hearted girl.
If her sisters pushed her to do something, she'd try it.
And if she could turn the tables on Poseidon, maybe the Sea Queen role could become the Sea King.
That would feel better.
Eros understood her nature.
She wasn't chasing power. She just wanted peace.
"Alright then. I'll figure something out."
He had to find a way to resolve this division in the ocean, and if he could squeeze some benefits out of it, even better.
It would be tricky, sure, but tricky things could wait.
As they talked, the two arrived back at Amphitrite's palace.
She shooed away the curious Nymph attendants and stepped back into her familiar domain.
Everything was just how she'd left it.
All the decorations. All the little signs of their past battles, memories soaked into every corner of the room.
Amphitrite's face flushed a deep red. She bit her lip.
"Eros… you must've gone through a lot while you were away, right?"
She approached slowly, her eyes shimmering with desire.
Her long legs, wrapped in pure white stockings, lightly brushed against him.
Their gazes met. Eros understood exactly what she meant.
After all this time apart, there was no way Amphitrite, who was never one to shy away from passion, could hold back.
"Yeah… a lot happened."
Eros grinned, slowly easing her down beneath him.
"Let me show you… everything I've been through."
The moves he'd used in the Underworld, time to turn them back on her.