Greece: I am Zeus!

Chapter 244 Hestia's Advice (8K chapters, bonus chapter for monthly votes, last day, please vote!)

The pure and beautiful Hermella didn't think about comparing herself to Hera; she was still very self-aware.

There was an insurmountable distance between himself and Hera.

In her heart, there was only endless envy for the goddess Hera.

Hmm. At present, there is still a lot of worry about my own mother.

Fortunately, night and day have always coexisted and can comfort each other.

As for the great omniscient goddess atop Mount Olympus, who appeared to be reclining on her throne but had actually been silently observing the progress of her daughter's "work practice," she too let out a mournful sigh.

The sigh was so light, as if it were turning another predetermined page in a book of fate that had already been written.

Even if she knew the ins and outs, causes and effects, beginnings and ends of everything.

Even so, the omniscient goddess of civilization and memory has always been wise, insightful, intellectual, and magnanimous.

However, after truly witnessing what was happening before my eyes, I still couldn't pretend nothing had happened.

Fortunately, her long, almost eternal, omniscient life had already made her mind exceptionally resilient.

Although it's inevitable to feel a pang of jealousy, you can always find a way to soothe your heart.

A bitter taste lingered in her chest like fine dust, but she smoothed it out one by one, letting it sink into the deep well of her memory.

The one who was most open-minded was Themis, the most sacred lady of justice.

She understood how deep the pain and how agonizing it was to "suppress one's own love."

Even a god as flawless as her has experienced endless torment when faced with the intense conflict between upholding principles and yearning for her original divinity.

It's not hard to imagine the pain Hera, whose temperament wasn't as resilient and tenacious as hers, but who had to endure a deeper yearning for divinity, must have experienced.

Hera, the most gentle and beautiful goddess, did not wish to suffer such pain for so long.

At this moment, Hera finally felt a little better, and she let out a long sigh of relief.

Of course, deep down, she still harbored some resentment and helplessness towards her beloved God-King.

Although it is as shallow as a cloud that will disperse with a gust of wind.

The one who suffered the most was the goddess of wisdom.

Even though she has achieved the "supreme perfection" of wisdom; even though her mind has reached the state of "the highest good is like water".

Even though she knew this day would inevitably come; even though she herself had advised Hera to accept her own heart and to accept her beloved god-king.

However, when that moment actually arrived, she still couldn't control the deep pain in her heart, as if she were being ravaged by countless giant hands.

She would not have felt such pain if her beloved god-king had been with any other goddess.

Because she knew that, compared to the other goddesses, the God-King loved her the most.

However, Hera is different from the other goddesses.

She knew Hera as well.
She is the god-king he loves most, and the goddess he loves most in his heart.

But at the same time, she also felt a faint sense of relief.

As Hera's best friend, the kind-hearted Hera couldn't bear to see her good friend immersed in such torment and pain every day.

Eurynome sat to the side, looking at her heavy-hearted sister with concern, wanting to offer words of comfort, but not knowing where to begin.

Metis smiled faintly, gently embraced her beautiful younger sister, and tenderly stroked her soft hair with her jade-like hand.

Whether I like it or not, my beloved God-King's will will not change.

If that's the case, why make your beloved God-King and your friend suffer together?

In any case, her beloved God-King also deeply loved her.

But why does my heart still ache so much?
This silent question from the deepest part of my heart hung the most bitter and sorrowful tears in the depths of the goddess of wisdom's divinity.

Hestia, the most gentle of them all, simply smiled wistfully, sweeping away the faint thoughts in her heart.

After all, they were the closest of sisters.

Even if the lover's true love is Hera, the outcome will not change.

My dear family members are always the most important, aren't they?
More than anything, she was genuinely happy for Hera.

She knew how much Hera loved Zeus, and she also knew how much torment Hera was enduring, both internally and divinely.

Now, although her good sister still has some hurdles to overcome, at least she no longer has to suffer that divine backlash.

The biggest hurdle has been overcome, and everything will be easier from now on.

At the same time, she was also somewhat relieved.

Fortunately, Demeter is still asleep and will probably not wake up for a few more days.

Otherwise, if she saw such a huge commotion, she would most likely be extremely jealous, which would be detrimental to sisterly unity.

Upon sensing Hera's return to Olympus, she immediately set off for Hera's temple to see her.

Asteria, who had long since returned to Mount Olympus, had also learned of Zeus's words from her sister Leto.

Her heart was filled with a mixture of joy and sorrow, grief and pity.

The good news is that their father and mother gods have finally received the forgiveness promised by the God King himself.

Although we still need to endure some more suffering, there is finally definite hope.

What saddened her most was that her dear sister had borne the brunt of all this.

The God-King's meaning is already very clear.

He had already decided to marry his sister.

He even wanted his own sister!
Her pity stemmed from this very incident.

If His Majesty the God-King truly loves his sister, then so be it.

Being able to become the wife of the God King is not a disgrace to my sister.

After all, her sister still had some special feelings for the God King.

The problem is, given their current status, it's highly unlikely they could become the wives of His Majesty the God-King!
I'm afraid I can only be the God King's lover!

Moreover, she herself will likely suffer the same fate.

To be a lover.
This was something that was rather difficult for the radiant and brilliant Asteria to accept.

Indeed, His Majesty the God-King is the greatest God-King. He is the most handsome and valiant god, the most courageous, the strongest, and the wisest god.

He is the God of Gods, the King of Gods, and the Lord of all.

However, Asteria did not like it.

I just don't like it for no reason.

If I don't like it, I just don't like it.

Asteria is a radiant goddess, a glorious goddess, a dazzling goddess. What she pursues is uprightness, a clear conscience, and the freedom to display all her brilliance!
She acknowledged that the most charismatic god in the universe is the God-King.

She also admitted that she deeply revered the power and authority of the God-King, including His unfathomable and profound strategies.

Sometimes, she would fantasize about what it would be like to have a husband like the God King.

However, she did not want to humbly look up to God after becoming God's wife.

Even if the relationship between husband and wife is not absolutely equal, it should still be relatively close and equal.

But how can there be equality before the supreme God-King?

Even if they were the first wife of the God-King, even if they were the goddess Hera whom the God-King loved most, were they truly equal before the God-King?
It should be known that even the great, eternal, holy goddess Rhea, His Majesty's birth mother, still had to lower her most noble head before His Majesty the God-King.

She could accept becoming a subject of the God-King, or even a servant of the God-King.

However, she could not accept that she was both His wife and His handmaid.

She could not accept the idea of ​​suppressing all her glory and brilliance, and becoming a mere speck of dust beside the mighty god-king.

A servant is acceptable, but a wife is not.

A married couple shouldn't be like this.

Now, let alone being an unequal wife, she's probably going to become a disgraceful mistress!

Even worse, if there is absolutely no affection between them, then they are just playthings.

What does this mean?
And Hera.

Hera was the most gentle and loving goddess, and she always protected the two goddesses, treating them with boundless kindness.

While he said he was serving them, he actually treated them as his own sisters and took care of them.

Hera, the goddess, loved His Majesty the King of Gods so deeply.

How could my own sister go and steal the mistress's god!

How could this be worthy of Hera?!

If we truly submit to the God-King, how will we ever have the face to face Hera again?
However, the sisters had no say in any of this.

All principles were rendered ineffective.

Faced with the will of the God-King, they had almost no choice.

Not to mention those who have no honor, among all the gods in the universe, who can defy the will of His Majesty the God-King?

Principles can be upheld, but resistance must be faced with reality.

All lofty creeds and resolute principles are but a light morning frost before the truly supreme god-king Zeus, melting away with a flick of his sleeve.

How could the radiant and dazzling Asteria not feel pity for her?

For myself, and for my sister.

Compared to Asteria's brightness and stubbornness, Leto, who seemed delicate and melancholic, saw things more clearly.

The insightful goddess Leto knew all too well that nothing in this world is perfect, and that choices must always be made.

No matter how unwilling or helpless we are, that's just how things are.

Ultimately, a choice must be made.

The God-King has too many goddesses; he doesn't need these two sister goddesses.

As for Hera...
What a joke! Could those two possibly pose even the slightest threat to Hera?

I can make amends to Hera later, and I can also repay her kindness gradually.

However, it is absolutely unacceptable to disobey His Majesty the Supreme God-King!

The promise left by His Majesty the King of Gods still echoes deep within Leto's divinity: in the future, He will forgive Coeus and Phoebus.

Leto was not unaware of the price that would be paid to pave the way for this understated "future."

Even earlier.
He had already made more realistic plans for himself and for his sister.

When choosing a barren wilderness, the only thing you can do is not be picky, but endure.

The principles of the universe cannot be rewritten by wishes.

In the face of true order and power, individual likes and dislikes are but a feather.

She knew there weren't many options, and she never lied to herself.

She will only turn the options that are not available into feasible paths.

Besides, His Majesty the Supreme God-King has never been a bad choice.

Although His Majesty the God-King is greedy and promiscuous, he is also affectionate and generous, powerful and dazzling, and always remembers his promises, isn't he?

When the warm-hearted Hestia arrived at Hera's temple of fertility, she saw two goddesses with different expressions in the courtyard.

One of them had a calm expression, and even within that calmness, there was a hint of ease and joy.

The other one had a noticeably somber expression, a gloomy look, and lowered eyebrows, as if shrouded in a dark shadow by the evening clouds.

The demeanor of these two goddesses has been completely reversed from before.

The once melancholy Leto is now as clear-headed as a mirror, while the radiant Asteria has withdrawn her brilliance and remains silent in contemplation.

Hestia was slightly surprised, but not particularly concerned.

He was, after all, Hera's servant, so she couldn't say much.

In any case, there would never be any god in the entire universe who would dare to disrespect Hera.

Each goddess has her own flame and shadow, and it's perfectly normal for them to have their own selfish desires and matters.

When Leto saw Hestia arrive, he immediately greeted her with the gentlest smile, his demeanor composed, and led Hestia directly into the palace.

Given Hestia's distinguished status, there was naturally no need for notification.

Although Hera's feelings may be complicated right now, it's not a big problem.

On the contrary, the warmth of the cosmic fire could soothe and comfort the mistress's conflicted heart, which was a good thing. Leto could understand Hera's struggle and persistence, but she simply couldn't quite comprehend it.

With the God-King's boundless favor, what is there to worry about?
Having already received the most love from the God King, yet still wanting the one and only God King, is simply too greedy.

How could a god-king belong to only one goddess?

He is the sky, the universe itself, and like the sun, His nature is to shine brightly everywhere.

To demand uniqueness is tantamount to a mortal trying to possess the sun in its own arms, which is far too unrealistic.

There is only one god like Oceanus in the entire universe.

Even his beloved father and mother gods, in private, were not necessarily very honest.

Although Leto directly invited Hestia into the temple, he also subtly reminded Hestia with his divine sense: the chief god is currently in a complicated mood, please comfort him.

She did not follow Hestia into the temple, but instead led the noble goddess to the front of the temple and then quietly left.

I need to comfort my silly, straightforward younger sister.

Inside the temple, the light was as clear as water, and starlight fell in golden ripples, creating an atmosphere of utmost tranquility.

Hera of the Beautiful Ones sat on her divine throne, eyes closed in meditation. Her breaths were long and deep, her thoughts rising and falling like tides, and she had been lost in thought for a long time.

She remembered Zeus's last gaze upon her before they parted.

That gaze was clearly imprinted deep within her divinity, appearing before her eyes again and again, impossible to shake off no matter what.

It contains a love so intense it can pierce nebulae, and a shame as rare and profound as the deep sea.

It's as complex as a rainbow after a thunderstorm.

She still cares, but no longer wants to avoid it.

She was still in pain, but she had learned to weave that pain into a sweet and happy song, turning it into her first silent lullaby, which she sang to the unborn child in her womb.

She is trying to make peace with herself.

She was also pondering how to compensate and balance the goddesses she sincerely respected and who had become the wives of her beloved god-king.

Love should not come at the cost of harm.

When Hestia entered the temple, this was the scene that greeted her—her beloved sister sat quietly on her divine throne, her eyes closed, her expression clear and serene, like a spring sea after the rain.

Her best friend has become even more beautiful.

There wasn't any specific change in appearance.

Rather, it's the kind of temperament and charm that emanates from within.

After being completely united with the Great Father God, the "Great Mother Goddess," now complete, has fully blossomed in beauty.

It is true, and it possesses even more of the supreme grace of a "Great Mother Goddess".

The gentle and reserved deity of the Great Mother Goddess is like spring water filling a river; her divinity possesses an indescribable abundance and tranquility.

This maternal radiance that gives birth to all living beings makes Hera the undisputed number one (among many other goddesses) among all goddesses.

Hera's beauty was in no way inferior to Aphrodite's.

The mother of all spirits is naturally the most beautiful, just as radiant as the great mother of all things.

It is even more profound in its beauty.

Hestia's gaze immediately and unconsciously drifted to Hera's lower abdomen.

It remained slender and flat, where a flawless jade hand was unconsciously caressing it.

Under her divine gaze, the Lord of Fire, she could clearly "see" an incomparably powerful and majestic deity sleeping peacefully in that sacred place of life, nurtured by boundless maternal love.

Although He is still asleep in the Sea of ​​Procreation, His divine radiance is like countless stars burning brightly at the same time, dazzling and almost impossible to look directly at.

The pulse of that law was so familiar it sent shivers down my spine.

It is the most fundamental power of their once cruel Father God.

That was the supreme "creation" authority of the ancient god-king.

After being woven a second time by Zeus and refined into a more sophisticated "law of creation," it was conceived anew once again in Hera's womb.

Moreover, it was first conceived by the laws of the Great Father God and the Great Mother God, and then continued to be conceived in the womb of the Great Mother God.

He is destined to be born as a top-tier god!

Even though Hestia had quietly entered the temple, Hera kept her eyes closed, as if she were wandering in the distance at sea, lost in thought.

The Lord of Warmth sighed silently.

She came to her gentle and beautiful best friend, stretched out her arms, and gently embraced her warm and tender friend.

Her embrace was as warm as the innermost cosmic furnace at the beginning of the universe.

The flames were not scorching, but rather just the right amount of warm.

Hera's divine body trembled violently, and she was immediately startled before finally coming to her senses. After realizing it was Hestia, she instantly relaxed.

She embraced her warmest sister in return, nestling her head in that most comforting embrace with deep dependence.

Hestia could clearly sense that within Hera's divinity lay an undisguised melancholy and sorrow.

She smiled gently and said softly, "My dear Hera, congratulations on having the most adorable child."

Hera smiled a complex smile, a smile that held a mixture of happiness and sweetness, entanglement and bitterness.

She sighed softly, not speaking immediately, but hugging her sister tighter, as if drawing courage from this warm tranquility to face the future, to herself, and to her friend.

Hestia gently stroked her long golden hair and softly comforted her, "Hera, you don't need to worry about these things. You love Zeus deeply, and Zeus loves you deeply too. We can be together forever, and that's enough."

"I know you've endured so much injustice and suffering. But that bastard, no matter how much he indulges himself, he still loves you the most, doesn't he?"

"As the ruler of the universe, He cannot change His nature, yet He must also shoulder the heavy responsibility of perfecting the universe. My most gentle and loving Hera, please be more tolerant of Him, and also be more tolerant of yourself."

"You can't live without him, and he can't live without you, so why make each other suffer this unnecessary sadness? Why make each other struggle between sweetness and pain?"

Hera sighed softly in her arms, her voice heavy as she said, “My dearest Hestia, my warmest sister. I know all this, I have already accepted Him.”

She paused, then spoke softly and earnestly, "But... how can I face that kind-hearted Metis? She is my best friend, and has always treated me so gently and encouraged me."

“She even said she wouldn’t mind if I became Zeus’s wife, and would welcome me to be her closer sister.”

"But...but she loved Zeus the most. Before me, Zeus loved her the most. She was Zeus's first wife, and now...how can I face her now?"

Hera's voice was even trembling with sobs: "She...she always wanted to have a lovely child with Zeus, to give birth to Zeus's firstborn son. But...but now, Zeus's firstborn son is already in my womb."

Hera looked up, her eyes clear yet filled with pain, her voice trembling slightly: "My dear Hestia, please tell me, how am I supposed to face my best friend?"

Hestia blinked her golden-red fiery eyes, almost speechless.

If she hadn't known Hera so well, she would almost have thought Hera was showing off to her.

Hmm. If these words were heard by someone else, they would almost certainly be perceived as boasting.

This is both "Zeus's favorite" and "the eldest son of the king of gods," it sounds like a boast.

However, she knew that Hera was a god, and Hera was not that kind of god.

How could this goddess, who would soften at the sight of birds being bullied by wind and rain, possibly hurt others with her own happiness?

What she truly cared about was the principle of loyalty, the dignity of her friends, and the beauty and happiness of friendship.

Now, Hera truly felt guilty about it and genuinely felt sorry for Metis.

Although, it was not her fault at all.

However, her noble and holy character still tormented her conscience, causing her to suffer for sins that were not her own.

Hera knew the bitterness of being deeply immersed in the sweetness of love.

She also knew the bittersweet feeling of deeply loving a male god, yet having to share that love with other goddesses.

Hera was definitely not the kind of goddess who, having been rained on herself, would make other goddesses rain on her as well.

What's more, the one who's going to get rained on is her best friend.

Moreover, her friend originally had an umbrella.

Although the umbrella was indeed a bit tattered, at least it was still there.

But now, she herself had snatched this already tattered umbrella from her best friend's head.
What caused her even more pain was that, deep down, she also felt an incurable sweetness from the warmth under the umbrella.

In the complete divine union with her beloved God King, she could clearly feel that she was his unquestionable and only "favorite".

This made her almost go crazy with happiness!
Sweetness and pain churned within her, and she didn't know which part to show to whom.

The overwhelming happiness that arose from their embrace was a feeling she couldn't deny to herself.

This complex mix of sweetness and guilt made Hera, a woman of divine character, truly feel ashamed and utterly humiliated.

Hestia's trip was precisely to comfort Hera.

Having a deep understanding of her own sister, she naturally knew Hera's current emotional predicament.

She had already prepared a solution before she arrived.

She held her beloved sister with tenderness and gently comforted her:
"Hera, my dearest Hera, my gentlest and kindest Hera, this is not your fault, not at all, you are innocent."

“You made no plans, you took no initiative, and you even used all your strength to refuse.”

"If we're going to assign blame, let Zeus take the blame. It's all that wicked Zeus's fault!"

Hestia paused for a moment, then hugged Hera tighter and spoke even softer: "But if you really feel bad about it, I have an idea you can consider."

Hera suddenly looked up, her tearful eyes blazing with urgent fire, and asked in a desperate voice, "Good sister, is it true? Please tell me quickly!"

Hestia paused for a moment or two, carefully organizing her thoughts, before slowly speaking:
“I know that you and Metis are best friends. And Metis, I’ve always been close to her.”

"She is a kind, gentle, and compassionate goddess, and she should not be harmed innocently because of the mistakes of that wicked Zeus."

“But Hera, now that it has already happened, there’s no use running away. We should face the problem actively, confront it, and deal with it.”

"The precious friendship between you should not be harmed because of this. I think this is definitely not what Zeus would want to see."

“Metis is a kind and generous goddess, and she is worthy of the title of the first wife of the king of the gods. I believe that there is nothing wrong with us sharing Zeus’s love.”

As for... as for the child.

She looked at Hera's delicate hand that was gently covering her abdomen, paused, and then became even more gentle and solemn, "Although Metis does not yet have her own child, and the eldest son of the God-King has already been chosen, you can still go and grant her wish."

“You can share the firstborn son of the God-King with her.”

"Huh?!" Upon hearing this last sentence, Hera abruptly lifted her head from Hestia's embrace.

Her golden eyes, filled with extreme shock and confusion, stared straight at her warmest older sister.

This proposal truly shocked her.

There is probably nothing more outrageous or incomprehensible than having a supreme mother goddess share her child with other goddesses.

Hestia naturally understood this, so she continued, "My dear sister, don't misunderstand, I haven't finished speaking yet."

"The 'sharing' I'm referring to is not the kind of division and alteration of the origin, like the goddess of night and the goddess of day."

“What I mean is, after you give birth to this lovely child in the future, you can invite Metis to be the child’s only ‘godmother’.”

"This is also the most sacred intimate relationship. In this name, let the child also call her 'mother' and ask her to participate in care and teaching."

“Look, your child possesses the immense authority of ‘creation’.”

"However, this power of 'creation' is also inseparable from the cultivation of 'wisdom'."

"Wisdom is the cornerstone of creation. Creation without wisdom is nothing but pointless daydreaming and chaotic piling up."

"Only with wisdom can 'creation' unleash boundless inspiration and power; only with wisdom providing the direction for progress can 'creation' break through all existing constraints."

“You are the great mother goddess who guides all ‘evolution’, while Metis is the goddess of wisdom who makes ‘evolution’ even better.”

"In this respect, it is the best choice for this child to become your child, both for Himself and for the entire universe."

Hera listened quietly, her chest heaving gradually subsiding, and slowly nodded.

She could accept this suggestion.

As long as it's not like Aether and Hemera, whose very origins were altered, it's fine.

Moreover, this is indeed a good way to achieve multiple benefits.

This is indeed the most beneficial thing for the child's future development.

Hera's feelings of guilt and inner turmoil finally eased somewhat, and a smile returned to her face once again.

She said softly, "My dear sister, thank you for your suggestion. It is indeed the best solution! I will go find Metis now and hope she will accept it."

As she spoke, she was about to get up, but Hestia gently tugged at her hand.

The Lord of Fire chuckled softly, "What's the rush, you?"

"There's no rush. I haven't finished speaking yet."

(End of this chapter)