(Greek Mythology) The Abyss of the Underworld
Chapter 112
Under the king's subtle hint that he didn't want others to speak out, the turmoil caused by the deposition of the queen soon subsided.
Just as the gods were secretly speculating that Zeus would not appoint a queen so he could indulge in pleasure, Mount Olympus quickly welcomed a new mistress.
For the king's wedding, the mountain was adorned anew by the skillful hands of the maidens. The meticulously decorated temples appeared even more luxurious and magnificent, with ingenious designs adding a touch of elegance to the extravagance. Gods came to offer their blessings to the newlyweds, creating an atmosphere of unparalleled splendor and joy.
The gentle and dignified mother personally lit torches and saw her beloved daughter off in her earthly temple, letting the flower-adorned wedding carriage carry the bride to the mountain.
The handsome god-king welcomed his beautiful bride on the sacred mountain. A magnificent long gown accentuated the goddess's graceful figure, its layers cascading to the ground. The hem of the skirt fluttered gently in the breeze, and her exquisite jewelry shimmered in the sunlight. Her face, more alluring than the spring blossoms, held a blush of bridal shyness and the youthful glow of a young girl, making even the most vibrant flowers pale in comparison.
The beautiful new goddess-queen, draped in the soft glow of spring, walked gracefully, bringing with her the warmth of spring itself. Each step was accompanied by slowly blooming flowers, as if bringing life and hope.
"This divine power brimming with life, truly befits the goddess of spring," Athena praised, downing her cup of wine in one gulp.
"That's not what you really meant," Artemis said more elegantly, taking a small sip from her cup.
"If it weren't for today, I wouldn't have realized that Persephone is actually quite beautiful."
Demeter, the goddess of agriculture, was an overprotective and doting mother, excessively protective of her daughter Persephone. As a result, few other gods had ever seen this goddess of spring, and naturally, few knew what Persephone looked like.
In this respect, Athena admired her father. Demeter had hidden her so well; it was quite remarkable that he had managed to find the gods.
"No wonder..." Artemis only finished speaking, but the gods already understood her meaning.
No wonder their lustful father had gone so far as to marry his own daughter as his queen.
"Another part of the reason is probably that he learned his lesson from Hera, so this time he wanted to marry a queen who wouldn't control him," Athena said somewhat casually.
In legend, Persephone, the goddess of spring, was a gentle and delicate goddess.
Athena herself wasn't particularly compatible with this delicate, feminine goddess, but the male gods, led by Zeus, were mostly quite interested in this type.
"Only a small minority," Artemis interjected, seemingly agreeing with Athena, yet also hinting at something.
At this point, the two gods exchanged a glance, abandoning the topic and turning to trivial matters; the wedding venue wasn't a suitable place for conversation.
Zeus's marriage to Persephone wasn't solely due to the goddess of spring herself, but also to her mother, Demeter. Admittedly, Demeter had been Zeus's fourth wife, but she hadn't been entirely willing to be with him from the beginning, and the two goddesses had long since fallen out. If Zeus wanted to gain something through Demeter, he could only do so through Persephone.
Countless pieces of information she had accumulated over the years flashed through Athena's mind, and she began to suspect something.
Of all the things Demeter possessed, the one most coveted and meticulously sought by the King of the Gods was the right to manage the earth, granted by Gaia.
However, too much of anything is tiresome. Just as Tartarus delegated the power of the underworld to Erebus and his wife, and then to Hades, Gaia had long since grown impatient with managing the earth. Demeter, whose attributes were similar to hers and who resided on earth, was a perfect proxy. In Gaia's absence, Demeter could handle all affairs of the earth, which is why, in mythology, Demeter dared to leave the earth barren when her daughter disappeared.
Athena's eyes darkened, a chill running down her spine. It seemed Zeus would soon make his move, and she should prepare accordingly.
On the other side of the temple, the goddess of light, Aglaia, was also not preoccupied with the wedding. Unlike Athena and Artemis, who were deep in thought, she was simply filled with worry.
The three Graces often roamed the earth, and over time they became acquainted with Persephone. Among the three sisters, Aglaia, the youngest, was Persephone's closest friend.
As her friend, Aglaia knew that Persephone disliked Zeus and cared nothing for the position of queen of the gods. Therefore, she couldn't understand why Persephone would agree to marry Zeus. With Demeter as her mother goddess, Zeus couldn't possibly force Persephone into marriage.
Thinking this, she tried to persuade Persephone.
"Persephone, you know what kind of person your father is. Why are you doing this?"
"I'm just unwilling..." Persephone murmured, slightly lost in thought, her voice almost inaudible.
"What did you say?" Aglaia didn't hear her clearly.
"..."
"Aglaia, I have a purpose that can only be achieved through this method," Persephone said softly in Aglaia's ear after a moment of silence, gently embracing her friend. Her voice held a hint of apology. "But I'm sorry, I can't tell you; it wouldn't be good for you."
"So, don't ask me, don't inquire of the other gods, and don't interfere. Promise me, you must promise me, okay?" Releasing her embrace, Persephone stared intently into Aglaia's eyes, her gaze pleading, her voice urgent.
"Promise me!!" Persephone's voice remained gentle, but her tone was sterner than Aglaia had ever heard before.
......
...
...
"Okay."
Aglaia finally agreed, but uttering that one word was more difficult than ever before.
"Aglaia, what are you thinking about? The wedding is almost over." Her second sister, the goddess of joy, Euphrodite, pulled Aglaia from her reverie. "Nothing," Aglaia explained, regaining her composure, "I just suddenly thought of some things from the past."
Euphoresis, hearing Aglaia's answer, didn't ask further and turned to continue chatting with her elder sister, the inspirational goddess Thalia.
As the wedding ended, Aglaia watched Zeus take away the exceptionally beautiful Persephone, all her worries ultimately remaining unresolved.