At that mont, Persephone, Queen of the Underworld, who had suddenly appeared in the forest, glanced at the wreckage spread all around and swept her somber gaze over the two main culprits in front of her, and spoke with annoyance.
"My garden has been turned into this ss; how could I not co back?"
Caught red-handed, Luo En couldn't help but show an embarrassed smile. Just as he was about to start making his usual excuses, the clinking sound of armor rubbing against armor ca from outside the garden.
Clearly, the commotion he and linoe had caused was bound to draw attention, especially since the [Labyrinth Barrier] had been destroyed by the Sigil of All-Encompassing Destruction.
"What are you dazing out for? Bring her in!"
Following the frowning gesture from Persephone in front of him, Luo En ca back to his senses as if from a dream and hurriedly picked up the unconscious linoe, dashing into the elegant building that the Queen of the Underworld had indicated.
Passing through the exquisite beaded curtains, a faint floral scent greeted them, and the warm tones of the room's decor contrasted with the grimness of the Netherworld, as did the freshly changed velvet bedding, all suggesting that this might be the queen's own bedchamber.
Luo En carefully opened an empty wardrobe nearby, tucked the still unconscious linoe inside, subdued his breath, and quietly hid.
Soon, with the indifferent scolding of the queen, the Underworld Guards who had co to investigate the garden slunk away, their faces covered in soot and dirt.
About a quarter of an hour later, light footsteps entered the bedchamber, and a gentle voice followed.
"Co out now, they've gone."
Upon hearing the permission, Luo En pushed open the tightly closed wardrobe door and quietly crept out, scratching his head with an apologetic smile.
"Sorry for causing you trouble again."
"No need to be so formal, sit down and let's talk."
Persephone replied casually, setting down the solid wood tray in her hands and gesturing for her visitor from above ground to sit down and taste.
However, Luo En, looking at the tray with several delicate sweetats and a pot of fragrant fruit wine, couldn't help but murmur doubts.
You're not supposed to eat anything from the Netherworld, right?
As if she understood the concern in his heart, Persephone gave Luo En a look and humd lightly.
"Don't worry, these are all homade from my garden, they won't have any adverse effects on you."
Then, the Queen paused, her voice growing deeper.
"Besides, I've already been burnt once by that, how could I let you make the sa mistake?"
Moved by the touch of sadness in Persephone's tone, Luo En felt sympathy and hurriedly took his seat at the table, setting aside his reserves, he grabbed the sweetats and fruit wine, burying his head in eating and drinking, and did not forget to praise the queen's culinary skills.
"This osmanthus cake is both sweet and chewy, tasting really good; the fruit wine is crisp and refreshing, with a hint of floral aroma. Did you add wild honey?"
"Yes."
The queen's countenance ward, and she nodded with a smile, her gaze softening as she looked across at him, gently instructing.
"Eat slowly, no one is competing with you."
"It's been so long since I've tasted such delicious sweetats, I couldn't help myself, I apologize for any embarrassnt."
Having polished off a pot of fruit wine and most of the sweetats, Luo En wiped his mouth, revealing a light-hearted smile as if a child had returned ho.
The ambient warmth emanating from the queen's every move made her increasingly satisfied as she stood up, collecting dishes from the table while chiding him with a hint of bla.
"Having already escaped the Netherworld, why did you co back?"
"Of course, it was because I was worried about you..."
Luo En expressed the concern he had been harboring, then a bashful smile spread across his face.
"And, I promised to co back to see you."
Upon hearing this, Persephone smiled, warmth radiating from her eyes.
"You certainly are a man of your word, unlike Sisyphus with his slick and sly ways."
"What happened to him?"
"Not long ago, Charon ca to complaining; he risked taking you out of the Netherworld, and when Sisyphus got caught and brought back, he refused to pay Charon, saying he had no money, just a life worth taking—as long as he could win against Thanatos, he'd let Charon do whatever he wanted with him."
"That really sounds like sothing he would do..."
Luo En gave an exasperated laugh, mourning in his heart for the Ferryman who'd co away empty-handed.
Sisyphus was a born trickster, deceiving gods aplenty, not sparing Charon either.
Furthermore, he guessed that this ti, Sisyphus had little chance of fleeing again and naturally was unwilling to pay a considerable sum for nothing.
As for the oath to the river Styx, under divine punishnt, he feared nothing.
If Charon really could withstand the divine sanctions from Zeus, Hades the God of the Underworld, and Thanatos the God of Death to rescue Sisyphus for his debts, then Charon wouldn't be relegated to scraping leftovers from the mouths of the dead as the Ferryman of the Underworld River.
And should the day co when Sisyphus miraculously wriggled free, he would undoubtedly change his tune if he needed Charon's help once more.
After recounting this amusing tale, Luo En and the queen exchanged smiles, the atmosphere growing even warr.
When Persephone unintentionally saw a crumb of osmanthus cake lingering at the corner of Luo En's mouth, she subconsciously stood up, took a handkerchief, and stepped forward to wipe away the trace of food residue for him.
As her fingertips touched the young god's skin temperature and facial contours, the queen's suppressed emotions spilled out uncontrollably, her hands cupping that almost familiar cheek, her eyes welling with tears as she murmured softly.
"My little Zagreus..."
Being looked at and touched like this by a mother who had lost her son, Luo En suddenly beca uneasy, shifting his body uncomfortably. Finally, unable to endure the moral conflict inside, he spoke with a rueful smile.
"I'm sorry, I think you've mistaken for soone else."
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