Zeus also formally bestowed the honors due to the children—the nine Muses, and the goddess of love and beauty who had just arrived on Mount Olympus to rapturous welcome—Aphrodite.
And at the end of the proclamation, Zeus placed special emphasis on this—Metis, the goddess of wisdom, is the God-King's eternal, first wife!
All gods must respect Metis just as they respect the God-King!
No matter who!
Even his other wives must respect Metis!
On the morning of the first day of every year's first "Month of Zeus," all other wives must personally go to the goddess of wisdom's temple to present her with the sweetest honeyed wine.
Failing to do so is tantamount to voluntarily relinquishing the title of the God-King's wife.
Zeus pitied the great sacrifice made by his beloved goddess, and likewise spared no effort to uphold Metis's face and dignity.
This approach was certainly more than sufficient—even those goddesses whose origins surpassed the goddess of wisdom's and whose seniority was higher, as long as they wished to be Zeus's wife, likewise had to show Metis enough respect.
This news was a stone that stirred up a thousand waves!
That the goddess of civilization and memory could become His Majesty's wife was already within the gods' expectations.
By now no god was unaware of their relationship; the nine lovely Muses had made all Olympus much livelier.
That the goddess of wisdom did not object also made sense.
After all, the goddess of wisdom had personally gone to welcome the God-King's lover and child.
And His Majesty's attitude was clear: even if other goddesses became his wives, the goddess of wisdom would still be the "greatest"!
Moreover, all gods must show the goddess of wisdom the utmost respect. Under such circumstances, the goddess of wisdom had no need to object.
But since when did the goddess of sacred justice and order also become the God-King's wife?!
There hadn't been a whisper of this—it was far too sudden!
Well then, the two goddesses who had once served to restrain the God-King's power—the God-King's right and left hands—now had both become the God-King's wives.
What restraint could there be now?
True, no one had really expected those two to truly restrain the God-King.
But at least it let everyone comfort themselves a little.
For the gods had absolute trust in the Lady of Justice's divine character; if anything happened, at least the goddess of justice would stand forth and speak righteously.
Now, well and good—everything has bowed completely to the God-King's will.
At present the God-King's strength and power had thoroughly surpassed the former God-King's.
Bear in mind, no ruler ever fails to favor the goddess of order.
Even the former God-King coveted the goddess of order immensely, but he didn't have the slightest hope.
That the goddess of order did not personally oppose him was already because the Lady of Justice adhered strictly to her principles.
What was stranger still was that the goddess Dione had not been acknowledged by His Majesty as a wife.
Though he had granted their child such an important authority, the mother was instead left a free goddess, her status not formally recognized—most peculiar.
However, though the gods had their various thoughts, not one dared speak up.
This was, after all, the God-King's family matter; since the God-King and the goddesses involved had raised no objections, how could bystanders presume to comment?
Thinking it over, the gods concluded it must be that His Majesty was considering the goddess of wisdom's face, thus had not yet announced Dione as his wife.
Dione was, after all, the goddess of wisdom's sister, and His Majesty had granted her child honor—this, relatively speaking, balanced things.
Another most explosive rumor quietly spread across Olympus.
It was said that as long as His Majesty was willing to acknowledge a goddess as his beloved, and as long as that goddess herself wished to become His Majesty's wife, then she could, with full legitimacy, become the God-King's wife.
And the goddess of wisdom, as first wife, would not obstruct it.
It was said this message was personally announced on behalf of the goddess of wisdom by the sacred Themis.
Though there was no formal proclamation, the goddess of justice had never denied it.
Which meant the rumor was indeed true!
Hearing this, the gods could only sigh inwardly: The God-King—worthy of the title indeed!
After all this, and with this rumor added, many goddesses who had been melancholy and depressed were instantly revived!
Since the God-King already had three publicly acknowledged wives, surely he wouldn't mind a few more?
As for sharing one's beloved with other goddesses…
Well, first win him—then talk!
Later one could strive to become the only beloved!
The goddess of wisdom truly was unwise—to tolerate the God-King publicly having multiple wives.
In the end, whether she could keep that first-wife position was another question entirely!
Several goddesses were already rubbing their hands—fighting spirit blazing, victory in sight!
Of course, there were goddesses who were not delighted.
A certain ancient goddess currently in the Underworld, who declined to be named, remarked—why is my name not on the public list of wives?!
But when she remembered the humiliating business of having to present wine every year to the goddess of wisdom, this proud goddess immediately gave up the idea.
If she couldn't be publicly announced, so be it.
To bow her head and humble herself before another goddess—never.
In any case, as long as Zeus was in the Underworld, he could only be hers!
Yet there was one goddess even sadder—everyone knew who.
Of course—it was that valiant champion of pure love, steadfast and faithful—Hera.
For her, love absolutely required exclusivity and fidelity.
She herself was so, and demanded the same of the husband she loved.
Zeus's flagrant philandering only wounded her heart more deeply.
It seemed she too had the same opportunity, but it was one she would rather not have.
Not because she did not love Zeus—she loved him to the marrow.
But because her proud divinity and steadfast character demanded of her at every moment—she could only choose a love unique and singular!
To this, Zeus said: just watch my methods!
In truth, there were many goddesses with strong initiative.
Right after the assembly, a goddess could no longer hold back and came knocking.
Zeus knew some goddess would make the first move, but never imagined it would not be Hestia as he'd thought, but the gentlest, softest Demeter!
He had just returned to his palace and sat down when a faint, life-rich scent of new grain drifted quietly in.
Then Maia—daughter of Atlas, eldest of the Pleiad sisters—came quickly on long, graceful legs to report: the goddess of harvest and agriculture, Demeter, sought audience at the door.
Zeus pondered a moment, then had Maia invite her in. He had, these days, indeed neglected Hestia and Demeter.
What could he do? There were too many goddesses and only one of him.
These days he was weaving the Heavenly-Order system, hurrying to unite with goddesses to beget children, and soothing his beloved goddesses—he hadn't had a single idle moment.
His Majesty truly was overworked.
For upon his shoulders rested the whole universe!
The moment gentle, lovely Demeter entered, Zeus considerately bade the attendants withdraw; for a time, the vast hall held only the two of them.
Demeter today wore a bright pear-yellow gauze dress carefully woven from the evening glow, a crown of flowers upon her brow; her smooth green hair fell to her waist; a soft gold sash cinched her waist—her attire as fresh and pleasing as ever.
Zeus needed only to see her to be filled with fondness.
The goddess of harvest and agriculture was both gentle and mature; both soft and adorable.
Who would not, from the heart, love her?
Who in the world does not love bountiful grain?
The goddess of harvest stole a glance at the empty hall; once certain they were alone, this goddess—who always seemed shy and tender—turned at once into a breeze full of freshness and sweetness and threw herself straight into Zeus's arms.
No sooner had she landed in his embrace than her eyes turned red. In a soft, sticky voice full of grievance, she said, "Zeus~~~"
The mother goddess of harvest had already draped her soft arms around Zeus's neck. With hurt and heartache she said, "Zeus… my dearest Zeus, have you forgotten me? After you had Metis and the others, did you forget me completely?"
Dear Demeter—this passionate, direct display startled even Zeus.
He thought inwardly: Demeter must truly be anxious; otherwise, as shy as she usually is, she could never say such words, much less make such a bold move.
Then again—perhaps not.
Demeter had never hidden her love for him.
She seemed shy and tender, but in many cases, compared to Hestia and Hera, she was bolder and more direct.
Zeus wrapped his arms tightly around the soft goddess of harvest. His handsome face showed a smile of genuine warmth—so perfect that Demeter was dizzy.
The tender God-King said, "My dear Demeter, even if I forgot myself, I could never forget you. Look at you—how could you say something that hurts my heart so?"
The goddess of agriculture and harvest was in no way inferior to the daughters of Ocean. Hearing this, her tears fell almost immediately; her lovely green eyes brimmed with ripples of light, ready to spill.
She said softly, "Zeus, you—you only ever say sweet words to coax me. If you truly haven't forgotten me, then why, all this time, have you not come to me even once?"
"Do you not know how deeply I miss you? Do you really not know my heart toward you?"
(End of Chapter)
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