Greece: I am Zeus!

Chapter 141 The Melancholy Hera

Zeus nodded slightly, but tightened his embrace as if he wanted to forever embed the treasure in his arms into the depths of his divinity.

He lowered his head and placed a precious kiss on the purple-haired goddess's smooth, jade-like forehead.

"My dearest, my love, I will always love you."

"Whether in the past, present, or eternal future, this commitment will never waver."

The purple-haired goddess responded with an exquisitely beautiful smile. She raised her head to meet Zeus's gaze and replied, word by word, "My love, I feel the same way."

"In the infinite infinity, only your name is imprinted in my divinity, and my heart will only beat for you."

"I only have you, and I will only love you. No matter how many times it happens, no matter how time goes by, I only love you, and I will only belong to you."

After Zeus left, Metis collapsed helplessly on the dreamlike clouds, his forced composure and magnanimity crumbling instantly, as if all his strength had been drained away.

Two clear tears, finally unable to be held back, silently and slowly slid down her fair, moon-like cheeks.

She then fell into the clouds that enveloped her and disappeared without a trace.

She covered her face with trembling hands.

How could the goddess of wisdom not know?
She knows this better than any god.

How could this great god-king, destined to rule and control everything and soon become the father of all gods, possibly have only one goddess in his life?
Beneath His glorious throne, countless glittering stars are destined to surround Him.

But she
No matter how many chances fate gave her to start over, she still couldn't resist the burning love in the eyes of the Thunder God King, nor could she resist the warmth and power of His embrace.

Each time, she would fall into that trap without hesitation.

She could never give up Zeus's love, nor could she imagine how desolate and cold the world would be without Zeus.

She is the embodiment of wisdom, yet it is precisely the most affectionate and sentimental wisdom.

That kind of absolute, sublime rationality that governs and controls everything could never truly be born in her.

It can never appear in any mother goddess.

The rationality and sensibility of wisdom clashed fiercely time and again in the depths of her divinity.

And each time, it was her love for Zeus, as surging and boundless as the spring tide, that gave her the absolute upper hand.

Each time, the torrent of emotions, originating from the divine source and as surging as a tsunami, sweeps away the dam of reason with overwhelming force.

This profound love almost made her lose herself, and she willingly placed Zeus's joy above all else.

even
They were willing to push Him into the arms of other goddesses, just to bring Him happiness.

However, she also felt heartache, as if she were being cut by a sharp blade.

They will also feel heart-wrenching sadness, be burned by the poisonous fire of jealousy, and harbor resentment in endless longing.

They would be heartbroken over a love they could not possess.

An endless, dense sorrow, like countless invisible thorns, entwined her entire heart, bringing a subtle, stinging pain with every breath.

But she could only choose to wear the gentlest mask, willingly sinking into this vortex of unparalleled pain and ultimate happiness.

Immersed in it, unwilling and unable to extricate myself.

The poor goddess, amidst endless bitterness and sorrow, occasionally glimpsed a sliver of sweetness, like a thirsty traveler finding a spring in a parched desert; its taste was all the more intoxicating and addictive.

What is love in this world? It makes people willing to die for each other.

How can one let go of a love that is so deeply etched in one's heart?
At the same time, besides the wise goddess, whose heart was overwhelmed by waves of sorrow, there was also the great mother goddess who was destined to be eternally entangled with the father of the gods in endless destiny.

Hera, the supreme mother goddess who governs fertility and reproduction, and represents the continuation, survival, and evolution of life in the universe.

Gentleness, compassion, kindness, and tolerance are her innate divine qualities.

This future ruler of marriage, her love is eternal and faithful.

If she falls in love, she will only love that one god, offering up all her divinity and faith. Her divine fire will only burn for that one god, eternally loyal and unwavering.

That is why she could not bear to watch her beloved god be intimate and passionate with other goddesses.

Each time such a scene appeared, it felt like scalding lava burning her heart.

After Zeus publicly declared his love to the gods and acknowledged Metis as his beloved wife, Mount Olympus, the center of the universe, a symbol of holiness and order, infinite beauty, infinite sanctity, and infinite majesty, had transformed from a divine realm into a magnificent prison for her.

She could not stay any longer.

The surging love within her was like a volcano about to erupt, threatening to overwhelm her and reduce her to ashes in jealousy and heartbreak. She couldn't bring herself to compete for the male gods beloved by other goddesses, like prey.

Her dignity, her divinity, her noble character all made her utterly abhor such behavior!
Metis was her closest friend, so how could she possibly do anything that could harm the daughter of the ocean?
Therefore, she had truly made up her mind to move away from Olympus; it was the only way out she could think of.

However, the world is so vast, and she still doesn't know where she should go.

She didn't want to go to the sky or the underworld, because Zeus was there.

She didn't want to go to the cold, empty starry sky. As the great Mother Goddess who governs the reproduction of life, it was not appropriate for her to leave the world; she had her duties.

After much thought, it seems that only the vast and all-encompassing ocean is a suitable final resting place.

However, the countless threads of love and affection that were deeply rooted in her divine nature clung to her like the most resilient spider web, pulling and tugging at her, making her feel reluctant to leave time and time again on the verge of departing.

Even just being able to catch a glimpse of Zeus from afar each day was a great comfort to her tormented heart.

Since the Great Assembly of the Gods, the holy and perfect Hera with bright eyes and white arms has lived a secluded life and become exceptionally low-key.

Besides her sisters who also loved Zeus but could not have him and often came to her to sit together for warmth, there was also the great mother goddess Rhea, who often came to visit her with worries.

Her increasingly depressed state is causing great concern to the mother goddess Rhea, who is helpless to do anything about it.

Then there was Metis, the wise daughter of the ocean, who also frequently came to visit with concern.

However, the two goddesses are now in completely different mental states.

One was a goddess who received the supreme favor of the god-king and was immersed in the happiness and sweetness given by her lover every day. She was so radiant!
The other one couldn't even manage a forced smile, and seemed absent-minded and listless no matter what she did.

Hera found it strange that Metis would come to see her so often.

She didn't think Metis was showing off to her, nor did she think he was deliberately provoking her.

The kind-hearted daughter of the ocean is not such a harsh god, nor is her cherished friend Metis.

She just found it strange that Metis sometimes displayed an attitude that was extremely inexplicable and even carried a hint of melancholy that she couldn't understand, as if she pitied him.

Metis would often comfort and console her, saying things that sounded strange and seemed to have a hidden meaning.

After the grand ceremony of the gods, the banquet ended, and the clamor subsided, Hera once again sat alone in the silent cloud palace, lost in thought.

Her fingertips unconsciously traced the cold marble armrest of the altar, and once again she made up her mind, almost ready to leave this place of sorrow.

Just as they were hesitating, the goddess of civilization and memory, accompanied by two young goddesses, came to visit.

Hera didn't like this goddess of civilization's memory. She was certain that the "old" goddess's gaze towards Zeus was suspicious, and that she definitely harbored ill intentions!

However, Hera, by nature compassionate and dignified, was never a goddess who would turn away guests.

She also showed great respect to this goddess whom even Zeus respected.

Hera herself came out of her temple, greeted her with a polite and gentle smile, and invited Mnemosyne into the temple.

Looking at the elegant and dignified Mnemosyne before her, whose face was full of warm and friendly smiles, the holy Hera spoke softly, her voice like a clear spring: "Honorable Mnemosyne, the great goddess of civilization's memory, welcome to your arrival."

Her gaze swept over the two goddesses behind Mnemosyne, who were meek and visibly uneasy. She had a rough idea of ​​what was going on, but her face remained calm and composed.

"I wonder what brings you, esteemed sir, to my humble abode today?"

Upon hearing this, Mnemosyne sighed deeply, a perfectly measured sorrow appearing in her eyes.

With utmost respect and sincerity, she said, "Oh, illustrious Hera, the most beautiful white-armed goddess in the universe, Zeus's most beloved goddess of fertility."

"I have come here today to ask you for a favor, not for myself, but for the sake of these two poor children behind me, to plead for their lives."

As soon as she finished speaking, the gentle Leto and the composed Asteria immediately stepped out from behind Mnemosyne and came to Hera's side.

Without uttering a word, they resolutely knelt down before Hera's astonished gaze.

Crystalline tears, like pearls from a broken string, rolled down their beautiful faces.

Their sudden action truly startled Hera.

Seeing the two goddesses before him, their faces streaked with tears and filled with sorrow, his innate tenderness and compassion were instantly touched.

She hurriedly rose from her throne, intending to reach out and help them up, but was stopped by Mnemosyne raising her hand.

Hera paused, not returning to her throne, but standing up straight, her posture still dignified and elegant, though her expression turned serious. She asked, "Honorable Memory Master, what is the meaning of this?"

(End of this chapter)