Just as Hecate was pondering this, a long-simmering storm, one no one could predict, erupted on Mount Olympus.
The focus was not on Zeus, the God-King who was always in the spotlight, nor on the goddesses and nymphs with whom he had warm relations, but on the often underestimated current queen—Leto.
Unlike Hera's strength and influence, Leto's beauty was as tranquil as a moonlit lake.
She lacked the strong support of her maternal family, and her priesthood was poor in combat.
Her ascension to the position of Queen of Heaven was more because Zeus had chosen a partner who was easy to control and wouldn't interfere in his affairs, especially after Hera.
At first, Leto acted accordingly.
She silently endured Zeus's repeated infidelities, placing all her hopes and emotions on herself and her twins with Zeus—Artemis and Apollo.
The excellence of these siblings was once her greatest comfort and pride.
However, tolerance has its limits.
Every time a new affair began, it was like a knife in Leto's heart.
She tried to persuade him, but was met with Zeus's impatience and indifference.
She sought help from her parents, the gods Koios and Phoebe.
But these two ancient Titans were almost vulnerable before Zeus, who wielded the thunderbolt; their protests and anger were easily suppressed, only intensifying Leto's sense of helplessness.
It seemed all she could rely on were her children.
But fate seemed determined to push her into the abyss.
Just as Leto learned she was pregnant again, a faint hope rekindled in her heart that this new life might make Zeus change his mind—if only to restrain himself. Reality struck her even harder.
Instead of showing any joy or concern for the birth of a new life, Zeus was displeased because of Artemis's close relationship with Catia, the Princess of Hades.
He believed this crossed a line, that Hades's power should not penetrate his Olympus too deeply.
At the same time, his attitude towards Artemis and Apollo sharply deteriorated—from former love and reliance to criticism and estrangement.
And Apollo, the proud god of light, did not try to ease the relationship but became increasingly 'close' with Hermes, known for his tricks and mischief, further fueling Zeus's disgust.
For Leto, this was certainly worse.
She had not only lost her husband's fidelity but also realized that her children were about to be implicated, losing their father's love and trust.
She was isolated and helpless, watching the most important bonds in her life being torn and destroyed.
Despair completely consumed Leto.
All the grievances, anger, unwillingness, and fear contained in her past gentleness and obedience burst through the critical moment at this point, transforming into a torrent of madness.
She no longer wept, no longer pleaded; she was enveloped by a terrifying calm.
She stroked her slightly swollen belly, where the child she had hoped would save everything was growing.
But now, in her eyes, this child was no longer a symbol of hope, but the source of all her suffering, a testament to her humiliation, the shackle binding her to this desperate marriage!
If not for him, perhaps she would still have the courage to leave?
Or would Zeus change because of his birth?
No, nothing! Only ever-increasing humiliation!
A twisted resentment grew in her heart—if not for this child, if not for the forced endurance of all this... how could she have ended up in this situation?
On a night when Zeus was off seeking pleasure somewhere unknown, Leto stood alone in the empty and cold temple and cursed the flesh and blood in her womb, something she should never have done as a mother:
"Since your father dislikes us even more because of you..."
"Since your appearance brings no hope, only deepens my pain and bondage..."
"Then I curse you!"
"I curse you, child in my womb!"
"You shall not be awaited, you shall not be valued; your light will be eclipsed by more dazzling beings, and your efforts will always be in vain!"
"I swear by my mother's blood and the power that bore you, may this curse penetrate deep into your essence and remain with you forever!"
A sorrowful and aggrieved voice echoed in the temple, carrying the deepest despair and malice of a desperate mother.
Divine power flashed with the curse, transforming into invisible black lines, coiling around the unformed divine fetus.
This was the most direct curse.
Its cruelty and resolve shook the silent night sky of Olympus.
After uttering the curse, Leto seemed to have exhausted all her strength.
She collapsed to the ground, her eyes empty, and only silent tears flowed.
She knew she had done something irreparable, transferring her pain onto the most innocent life.
And Zeus, standing far above on the throne of the God-King or somewhere enjoying pleasure, might faintly sense this curse from his bloodline.
But would he care? A queen he had long tired of, an heir he hadn't expected...
The seeds of this curse were sown, waiting to sprout in the future and bear bitter and repulsive fruit.
No one could predict what kind of storm this child, born under a curse, would bring to Olympus and even to the entire world of Chaos in the future.
In the depths of Hades, Hades's perception suddenly caught a fluctuation of pain and malice.
This fluctuation was not powerful enough to shake the heavens and earth, but its nature was extremely special...
Hades's brow, which had been slightly furrowed after the incident with Metis, suddenly tightened.
His gaze seemed to pierce through the layers of barriers of the Underworld, traversing the distance of space, and stop directly at the temple belonging to the Queen of Heaven on Mount Olympus.
He 'saw' Leto, collapsed on the ground with empty eyes, and even more clearly 'saw' the unformed life in her womb.
The curse was rewriting the nature of this life and distorting its future fate.
"Trouble..." Hades whispered to himself.