Of course, as for Dione, none of the gods would dare harbor any improper thoughts—there are safer ways to die.
But that soft and lovely goddess of beauty? Now that would be perfect!
Her status, standing, looks, authority—all are among the very finest in the universe!
The moment Aphrodite arrived at Olympus, she instantly became the top choice among the Olympian gods for whom they most wished to take as wife—
with no runner-up!
Just as in Ocean, she at once became the most sought-after being among the Olympians.
What puzzled the gods, however, was that His Majesty the God-King and the goddess of justice and order did not come out to receive them.
After thinking it over, they could only conclude that His Majesty was preserving the goddess of wisdom's dignity.
He did not appear himself, but entrusted the matter entirely to the goddess of wisdom—meaning the goddess of wisdom remains the highest-ranking, and only, "principal wife" on Mount Olympus!
And indeed, they weren't wrong.
Metis has considered Zeus so much and sacrificed so greatly for him, so naturally Zeus must uphold the face she deserves.
Dione, after all, didn't need it, and certainly wouldn't mind losing a tiny bit of face.
Besides, the justice goddess's lap pillow was simply too comfortable!
He truly couldn't bear to leave.
And as for the goddess of justice—if Zeus wouldn't let go, what could she do?
She could only cry inwardly and pray that the newly arrived goddess Dione wouldn't bear a grudge against her for it.
But this time, Themis was overthinking it.
Dione would hardly blame her for such an unintentional act; in fact, by a happy accident it won her Metis's gratitude.
In this era, though the later, explicit concept of "marriage" had not yet arisen, and there was no so-called "monogamy" written into law,
By the gods' innate, haughty nature, when a god publicly declares their beloved spouse, the relationship is by default exclusive; only one partner is permitted. Among gods, this is an unwritten rule.
If a god publicly announced multiple beloveds, and the spouse still accepted it, that spouse would inevitably be mocked by other gods.
It is considered the greatest humiliation—a grave loss of dignity and face.
Even if the other party is the supreme God-King, the disgrace remains.
So Metis's willingness to accept all this truly is a sacrifice beyond what other gods can imagine.
For deathless gods, there are very few things more important than face.
Didn't Kronos, for all his brutality, still have only one publicly acknowledged queen—Rhea?
His other lovers never made it to the stage, let alone dared strut in front of Queen Rhea.
Gods might turn a blind eye to a partner's private dalliances, but if a lover dares to flaunt it before the official consort, a fight breaks out on the spot—and an undying, eternal feud is born.
On this matter, a partner must unconditionally support their official spouse; even a moment's hesitation means the marriage is broken then and there.
Unless both publicly announce the relationship has ended, no god in divine custom has ever dared to possess a second publicly acknowledged beloved spouse at the same time.
The reason Metis wields such tremendous influence now is precisely because she is the God-King's only publicly acknowledged beloved.
Even those lovers everyone knows about are still just that—lovers—unpresentable in public.
Of course, even as lovers, as the God-King's lovers, they are still not to be provoked.
Everyone knows the sway of pillow talk.
The union of gods is a profound intermingling of law-sources, the deepest confluence of divinity.
Especially when a child of law has already been born—that proves the relationship is as intimate as can be.
Now that Metis personally went to bring Dione to Olympus, and the gods came out to welcome them, it was because no one dared cross either goddess.
After all, Metis herself led the grand procession, so whoever turned out to welcome them, no one could object.
Besides, everyone was curious—what sort of goddess had taken His Majesty the God-King's first time?
What kind of allure could she possess, to quietly win His Majesty and even bear his first child?
The gods were dying of curiosity!
Upon seeing Dione and her daughter, the gods understood.
Truly, you couldn't blame His Majesty for losing his composure—anyone would.
Even those few goddesses who admired the God-King and were intensely curious felt sourness and bitterness in their hearts after seeing Dione.
However proud they might be, after seeing Dione they still felt themselves inferior.
And this goddess who appeared from who knows where—how could the child she bore with His Majesty be so perfect?
Has all the universe's beauty been monopolized by you mother and daughter?
Though Metis had resolved to give up herself and fully fulfill Zeus, to say she didn't care at all about face would be a lie.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have made such a display, personally going to bring them back.
Though no god dared comment openly, she could imagine the cutting words whispered in secret—things she didn't even want to think about.
She could only try her best to ignore those voices.
Now, as the universe's vice-sovereign, Themis being able to refrain from appearing with Zeus to greet Dione is itself the most direct sign of respect for Metis's status as "first consort."
The goddess of wisdom's heart was deeply moved.
At that thought, her resolve only grew firmer.
Spotless Lady of Justice—you are worthy of the name of spotless justice!
Such a goddess, she must repay—
and win over!
In Zeus's heart, Metis saw clearly how deeply he favored Themis, and how vigorous his desire to possess her was—no weaker than his burning feeling for herself.
After arranging splendid palaces for Dione and Aphrodite and formally introducing them to the gods, and after holding a welcoming feast,
Metis immediately set out to find the goddess of justice.
When a lovely magnolia nymph came to announce the goddess of wisdom's visit, His Majesty the God-King—who had been half-asleep with an arm around the goddess of justice's slender waist—gave a start and woke on the spot.
And the goddess Themis—whose mind had been a tangled mess with Zeus's rough breathing fanning across her smooth, flat belly—couldn't help letting slip a stunning smile at Zeus's boyish reaction.
Instinctively, she reached out to gently caress Zeus's handsome face and drew him softly into her generous, full embrace.
In these past moments, the Lady of Justice had felt an unprecedented serenity and ease; the softness of her divinity was firmly supported, and the emptiness within was wholly filled.
Because Zeus was in her arms.
The nymph who came to announce it found the scene fragrant and intimate—she very much wanted to peek, yet did not dare, bowing deeply as she awaited instructions, her heart scratched by invisible kitten paws.
The goddess of justice quickly came back to herself and said softly, "Go tell the goddess of wisdom to please wait a moment. Allow me to change my clothes, and I will go out to receive her myself."
The nymph took her orders and slipped away head down.
On her way out she couldn't help herself—she flicked her eyes up for a 'casual' glance and was thunderstruck.
Wow! His Majesty's head is completely buried!
Only then did Lady Themis release Zeus. With a trace of fondness even she did not notice, she said gently, "Your Majesty, you've rested long enough. I have an honored guest—the time has come for you to return to your own palace."
Zeus was still savoring the sweetness and truly didn't want to go. He pressed his face to his beloved goddess's taut stomach, nuzzling with reluctance, making the flawless Just One flush and weaken again.
Lazily, Zeus said, "Dear Themis, thank you for your kindness. I've rested very well."
"Then I'll go for now—but I'll be back."
Themis sighed softly, full of helplessness.
She urged gently, "Your Majesty, it would be best not to come again on private matters. Please don't wound a goddess who loves you so dearly—don't hurt her noble heart."
"The honored guest outside—her love for you is so deep it even moved me. How could you bear to hurt that love?"
Zeus pressed his face to her belly, breathing in the fresh scent unique to the goddess of justice.
His muffled voice vibrated against her lithe abdomen: "Dear Themis, I don't wish to hurt any god who loves me so, for I love you all so deeply as well."
"But you are all too extraordinary. Each of you bears a pull that reaches the deepest, most primal core of my divinity. I truly cannot suppress the most sincere, deepest love I feel for you."
"My dear Themis, feel this quiver in the depths of my divinity—this heart beats fiercely for you all. How could I not be drawn to you? How could I give you up?"
The goddess of justice sighed again.
And she—how was she any different?
"Your Majesty, do go quickly. Please don't put me in a difficult spot."
Her soft, rosy lips pressed together; after a brief pause, she added, "And the goddess of wisdom seems to be growing impatient—she may come in at any moment."
At that, Zeus sat up at once.
He bent and planted a quick kiss on Themis's flawless, cool-beautiful face, then said swiftly, "Dear one, I'll go first, then."
Themis smiled helplessly and said weakly, "Please, go quickly, Your Majesty."
Zeus smiled shamelessly and dissolved into a faint light, slipping away without a sound.
Though Metis had accepted his taking other wives, he could hardly be entangled with another goddess while Metis was out handling matters for him—
Much less do it before her very face.
No matter how magnanimous, no goddess could endure that.
Moreover, it would be far too disrespectful to Metis.
The goddess of wisdom had loved him into the dust for his sake.
Even if his face was thick and his heart tender to a fault, how could he so wound a heart that loves him with her whole being?
The goddess of wisdom had been a noble, proud goddess.
To be humbled for love—that is not her fault.
Themis carefully adjusted her clothes and smoothed her expression, ensuring nothing was amiss, then hurried out to receive Metis.
At the sight of Metis's gentle smile, an immense weight of guilt surged into her heart.
She did not want to go against her principles; even as she strained with all her might to control herself—to restrain her feelings for Zeus—
When faced with Zeus's active pursuit—
She truly could not withstand it!
Looking upon Metis's soft, beautiful smile, her heart brimmed all the more with pity.
This goddess truly loved Zeus to the point of being willing to surrender everything.
Who knew how much grievance and pain lay hidden beneath that perfect smile?
Yet she could only bear it in silence—and face it all with a smile.
A goddess, forced to take the initiative to share her beloved man with other goddesses—
There may be nothing more tormenting to a divine nature.
With this complex feeling in her heart, the Lady of Justice stepped forward and gently embraced the goddess of wisdom with boundless compassion.
In a tone of extreme gentleness—a gentleness even Zeus had not enjoyed—she said softly, "Dear Metis, welcome. Please, come in."
Feeling Themis's heartfelt compassion, the goddess of wisdom froze for an instant—then was filled with deeper emotion.
She returned the embrace lightly and said tenderly, "Dear Themis, thank you for your support."
Themis started slightly, and in the next heartbeat understood what Metis meant.
Her guilt only deepened.
Her upright, spotless divinity urged her to explain, but she had to keep Zeus's secret—and she could not bear to let Metis suffer even a shred more.
The goddess of justice dared not say more; she could only take Metis's hand and quickly lead her into the temple.
In her heart, she could only silently blame Zeus: "Zeus, you bad man! You've truly made all the goddesses who love you suffer!"
(End of Chapter)
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