NOVEL NEXT Chapter 417: Is this what being in love really feels like?
"Goddess!"
In that moment, every female disciple present seemed completely frozen in place.
The cold, flawless figure before them was none other than the revered and worshipped Goddess Sylvia of the entire Themyscira Sect.
And the man standing beside Sylvia? He was none other than the goddess's newly announced boyfriend—Timothy.
It made sense, though. After all, there wasn't another Holy Emperor-level couple anywhere on the entire Elant continent!
But still…
"Why is the Goddess here? And what was that she just said?"
The disciples stared at Sylvia, utterly confused and shocked beyond words.
However, they quickly realized that the goddess was happily chatting with Timothy, seemingly paying no attention to them.
"So, what do you think, babe? My Veil of Shadows isn't too shabby, right? It gives off a familiar vibe, but no one can see through it. That's the highest level of the technique." Now that his identity was revealed, Timothy couldn't help but smile.
"This Veil of Shadows is indeed quite mysterious. To suppress two Holy Emperor auras at once… I've never seen a technique like this before."
Sylvia's curiosity was clearly piqued.
But as she looked at Timothy, it was obvious there was something else on her mind.
Suddenly, Sylvia lowered her head slightly, her voice carrying a hint of shyness that was barely noticeable. "Hey, what you said earlier… does it still count?"
"Huh? What did I say earlier?" Timothy was momentarily confused.
Since the goddess had suggested they put on a little show to shake up the disciples of the Themyscira Sect—who had grown to despise the idea of love—Timothy had used the Veil of Shadows to hide their auras and spontaneously put on a display of affection.
And it was completely unscripted.
"Idiot!"
Seeing that Timothy still hadn't caught on, Sylvia grew a little anxious. "I'm talking about that thing you said!"
"Which thing?" Timothy asked, a playful smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"You!"
Seeing that sly smile, Sylvia began to suspect that he was deliberately teasing her, pretending not to know what she meant.
But no matter how much she wanted to hear his answer, Timothy wouldn't say it. Her heart was a mess of emotions, filled with anticipation.
Left with no choice, Sylvia bit her lip and, in a voice so soft it was almost inaudible, whispered, "I mean the part where you said you'd come here every year to pick a flower for me… and say that thing."
Her voice was so quiet, it was clear how embarrassed she was to even bring it up.
"Ohhh, so that's what you meant, babe!" Timothy finally let out a laugh.
"What? You can't do it?"
"Of course I can. I'll keep my promise. Not only will I come every year, but I'll say it as many times as you want."
"Hmph, that's more like it."
Sylvia's expression faltered for a moment, her heart racing, but she still tried to keep up her tough front.
Just then, Timothy gently pinched her cheek.
Her soft skin felt like cotton candy—an incredibly satisfying sensation.
"What… what are you doing?"
"Ahem, I just wanted to see how tough your little mouth really is. But judging by how soft it feels, it's not that tough after all. At least, not physically."
The meaning behind his words was obvious, and Sylvia immediately panicked. "When did I ever act tough?!"
"Heh, if you weren't acting tough, are you sure you'd be as calm and indifferent about those three little words?"
Timothy grinned, his smile carrying a hint of teasing.
"Of course!"
Despite her racing heart, Sylvia responded immediately. After all, the disciples of the Themyscira Sect were still watching from the sidelines.
"Are you sure?"
But Timothy, already anticipating her response, suddenly leaned in close to her ear and quickly whispered, "I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you..."
He repeated the words at lightning speed, like a rapid-fire barrage.
Though the pace was fast, each "I love you" hit Sylvia's heart like a cannonball.
A cannonball made of candy, no less!
Sylvia's face flushed bright red. She hadn't expected Timothy to pull such a ridiculous stunt. "Stop it, you jerk! Don't… don't say it anymore!"
"But babe, didn't you say you didn't care about this?"
"I mean, I don't care that much, but…"
"I love you, I love you, I love you..."
"Ahhh, okay, okay! I get it! I was just being a little stubborn earlier, alright?!"
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Finally, Sylvia couldn't hold back her embarrassed outburst any longer.
"Hahaha, looks like I've won again," Timothy laughed, clearly amused, and stopped his relentless teasing.
Even so, Sylvia's face remained flushed, and her gaze was filled with a mix of frustration and embarrassment.
She lightly punched Timothy's chest in protest, but she was too worried about hitting him too hard, so each punch landed softly, like cotton candy gently brushing against him.
"So sweet."
"Ughhh, is this what being in love really feels like?"
Watching the scene unfold, the disciples of the Themyscira Sect suddenly felt a lump in their throats.
For years, they had treated love as the ultimate taboo, scoffing at the very idea.
But now, they found themselves unexpectedly overwhelmed by the sweetness of the goddess's relationship. And, to their surprise, they were starting to get hooked on it!
At that moment, Sylvia turned to face the disciples of the Themyscira Sect.
After a brief silence, she let out a small, self-deprecating smile. "I guess now you all understand, don't you?"
She sighed softly. "The reason I did all of this today was to show you that love isn't exactly what I once thought it was.
Sure, there are plenty of shallow relationships out there, but there's also love that's incredibly genuine.
Yes, love might affect your cultivation, but it could also bring unexpected benefits to your spiritual journey.
Since my views have changed so drastically, it's clear that my old beliefs weren't as absolute as I once thought.
Even that book, The Uselessness of Spiritual Partners, was a bit too extreme.
As for what you should do next, I think you already know the answer."
A Holy Emperor-level figure possesses immense power, capable of dominating the world.
And because of that, throughout history, it's been rare for a Holy Emperor to reflect on their past and openly admit they were wrong, as Sylvia had just done.
She glanced at Timothy beside her, her autumn-colored eyes sparkling with affection, her beauty breathtaking.
In that moment, the disciples of the Themyscira Sect, who had been holding onto their doubts and fears, finally felt a sense of relief wash over them.