Love and Fire - (2)
I quickly called out to Hephaestus, who was about to leave with Eros to the torture chamber.
"...Hephaestus." "Yes?"
The blacksmith god paused and turned around.
Yes... this nephew of mine gave me the bident, repaired my armor many times, and even built Charon's boat. It would only be fair for me to help him resolve his marital problems.
"Do you still have feelings for Aphrodite? Think carefully and answer wisely." "...Hmm." "If you wish, I could help you find another goddess who doesn't pale in comparison to Aphrodite in beauty."
Hephaestus thought deeply, his eyes clouded with confusion, sadness, love, and regret.
"Aphrodite has been with not only Ares but several other gods. She's had many children..." "But I..." "Yes, I know you're still attached to her. But a marriage cannot survive on one-sided affection. Even though Zeus forced the two of you together, you're aware of the truth, aren't you?" "..." "What you've done recently has surely reached Aphrodite's ears as well."
Hephaestus hung his head low, unmoving for a long time. Then, as if his thoughts had frozen over, Eros's voice interrupted.
"Um... Lord Hephaestus." "What is it, Eros?" "Well, as the God of Love, I know... My mother's heart has already drifted away..." "Haa..."
Letting out a sigh deep enough to shake the Underworld, Hephaestus finally spoke. With a bitter laugh, the words that came out were full of resignation.
"Haha... Uncle, it seems Aphrodite and I were never meant to be." "...Indeed."
Now that Hephaestus had finally given up on his marriage to Aphrodite, I began thinking of ways to persuade Zeus.
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Aphrodite and Hephaestus's marriage was a decision made by Zeus, the King of the Gods. He feared that the gods would fight over the incredibly beautiful Goddess of Beauty.
"I won't hear another word! From this moment forward, the husband of the Goddess of Beauty will be Hephaestus!"
Zeus had proclaimed this with all his authority, and overturning such a decision would not be easy. I'd need a proper reason, solid evidence, and the support of other gods.
To persuade Zeus, I'd need to find a way to prevent any further conflicts... and I'd need Poseidon's cooperation. But if Hephaestus's official marriage is dissolved, it's likely that other gods will swoop in to pursue Aphrodite...
Wait, if I consider this from a different angle, I might have the leverage I need. And I've heard that Poseidon is currently in Olympus...
I need to head to the palace above the clouds and start convincing the gods right away.
The Palace of Olympus. The serene atmosphere of the clouds stirred when they saw me approaching.
"Wait... isn't that the King of the Underworld...?" "Lord Hades?! Is he here because of the incident when Lady Demeter's daughter was taken to the Underworld?" "Maybe he's come about that business with the lower goddess, Medusa, from long ago..."
Poseidon was nowhere in sight, possibly inside drinking nectar. I grabbed a passing servant girl, who was carrying a tray of nectar.
"Oh! O-oh, Lord Hades!" "Where is Poseidon?" "T-The Lord of the Sea is... over there..."
As I nodded and prepared to move, the servant's face caught my attention. I hadn't seen this one before in Olympus... wait, is that... a boy?
"What is your name? Are you a newly ascended lesser god?" "I... I'm Ganymedes, a prince of Troy, and Lord Zeus brought me here to Olympus, Lord of the Underworld!"
Looking down, I saw the boy bowing before me. A face that rivaled the beauty of any goddess, yet he was a boy?
And hold on—Zeus brought him here? Could it be...
"Did Zeus forcefully bring you here? If so, just nod slightly, and I'll send you back to the living world." "N-no, that's not it. Lord Zeus has treated me well."
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He could barely speak out of fear. Clearly, he hadn't been in Olympus for long. No extraordinary power or noble lineage... did Zeus just abduct him for his appearance?
And wait—Troy is quite a significant kingdom. To take its prince just because he's beautiful... is that really acceptable? It's not as if this boy is some great hero needed for a divine mission.
"Very well, continue with your duties." "Yes, my lord!"
I can bring this up when I try to persuade Zeus. Hmm... I should also speak with Hera. That would make things much easier.
As I pondered, I continued walking through the clouds until Poseidon came into view. The blue-haired god was seated, listening to the music from a lyre, a goblet of nectar in hand.
I walked over and sat next to him.
"Poseidon, we need to talk." "Hades? What brings you here..." "I want to help Hephaestus divorce Aphrodite and find him a new wife. I need your support to convince Zeus." "Hmm."
Poseidon downed his nectar in one gulp, wearing a disinterested expression.
"Is this because of what Hephaestus almost did to Athena?" "Exactly. If we just leave him as he is, I'm worried he might turn to Gaia's side if she offers him a beautiful goddess." "I see..."
"You were the one who egged him on, weren't you? Athena got caught up in this because you were trying to use Hephaestus. Show some mercy to your nephew." "If my nephew sides with Gaia, it'll only make Zeus's rule more unstable. Why would I want that?"
The slight smirk on his face told me that he hadn't entirely given up on the idea of rebellion. Sure, it would've been petty to push Hephaestus toward Athena out of mere dislike...
Conflict among the gods would only weaken Zeus's authority. He may have been lying low for a while, but he hasn't let go of his ambition.
"I fail to see the appeal of ruling Olympus." "Honestly, Hades, I don't understand why you care so much. I don't care for Zeus, so do as you please." "Are you still planning a rebellion?" "Hmph! And if I were, would you consider joining me?"
Poseidon muttered under his breath and turned away. Hmm, so he's not serious about rebellion, just making mischief.
It still irritates me, though. This god stirred up trouble for his nephew and now pretends to be uninvolved?
"...Then let me persuade you another way. Most don't believe it was you who provoked Hephaestus, but if I confirm it as true, how would that play out? And what if I were to invite Medusa, who now curses your name in the Underworld, to come here and expose what you did to her? I also have countless victims of yours in the Underworld—what if I let them haunt the living heroes as they return from training?"
In truth, these are mostly empty threats. I would never violate the will of the dead, especially not for petty squabbles. I also don't have a reason to turn Poseidon into a true enemy.
But... after dealing with so many of Poseidon's victims in the Underworld, I can't help but be a bit annoyed. It would be nice to give him a small scare.
At my words, Poseidon's face reddened with anger, and he slammed his hand down on the table as he stood up. Luckily, he didn't realize the bluff I'd thrown at him.
He might figure it out later, but for now...
"W-what?! Hades, are you threatening me?!"
His eyes flickered with blue divine energy, and the surrounding gods turned to watch us. Now that I've shown the stick, it's time for the carrot. Calm down, Poseidon.
"...I wouldn't do this unless necessary. But if you help me now, I'll let you meet the dead." "Meet the dead...?" "Your illegitimate children, and even the mortal women you once loved." "Hmph."
Poseidon sat back down, staring at me intently. Even Zeus cannot interfere with my authority over the dead.
Even Zeus had asked me once to meet Semele, the mortal woman he accidentally killed and the mother of Dionysus, but I had refused.
Other than a few rare cases, like Phaethon and Helios, reuniting the living with the dead is a matter of world balance, forbidden to even the gods.
Poseidon has always cared deeply for his children, so this offer should appeal to him. He grumbled as he sat, drinking his nectar again.
"For a god who is praised by mortals for his mercy, you sure are ruthless to your own brother." "Think of it as the price of your deeds. Your victims keep coming to the Underworld regularly." "Hmph... those pesky mortals..." "Hephaestus has given up on Aphrodite. If we arrange his divorce and find him a new wife, you'll benefit as well, won't you?"
Poseidon's eyes shifted, clearly calculating the benefits and risks of siding with me.
"...Let Hephaestus know I helped him. I wouldn't want to earn his grudge, after all." "Good. I'm off to persuade Hera next."
All I needed was a hint of agreement. Just having Poseidon on my side would be enough to sway Zeus's decision.
I recalled that Poseidon had once courted Aphrodite when she first appeared. But perhaps after she had Ares's child, he gave up—or maybe it was because of Amphitrite...
With Poseidon's cooperation secured, we moved to speak with the queen of the gods, Hera. Inside the spacious hall, Hera, her beauty radiating as she applied olive oil to her face, gasped when she saw us.
"Hades and Poseidon...? Could it be... rebellion?!" "...It's not what you think."
Of course, that's the first conclusion she'd jump to.Love and Fire - (3)
"...So, you want to divorce Hephaestus and Aphrodite and arrange a new match for him?" "That's right. If you help, it'll be much easier to persuade Zeus, won't it?"
After calmly explaining the situation, Hera quickly realized this wasn't about rebellion. As the Queen of the Gods, she regained her composure, lounging back in her chair with her arms crossed.
"You're asking the Goddess of Marriage to help break up a marriage? Does that seem right to you, Hades?" "But you already know it's a broken, unstable marriage."
Hera's brow furrowed slightly.
"Finding them a harmonious new family should be the duty of the Goddess of Marriage, don't you think?" "Hmm... That's one way to look at it." "Hephaestus has already given up on Aphrodite. If you help him find a new family, he'll be so grateful he'll probably weep and thank you."
Hephaestus had been thrown to Lemnos by Hera right after birth. Thankfully, she'd come to regret that in recent years.
"The reason Hephaestus even attempted to assault Athena was because his relationship with Aphrodite wasn't fulfilling. Now that there's a child born between him and Gaia... If Gaia shows up beautifully adorned in front of Hephaestus..." "Are you saying he might fall for her beauty?" "I wouldn't say he'd betray us, but he might reveal some information or fulfill a small favor without realizing it."
Hera had a soft spot for Athena, so this incident must have been a shock for her. A little more persuasion...
"And Zeus brought a boy named Ganymedes to Olympus recently..." Grit! "He's even going after boys now! Do I have to compete with men now too?!"
Her previously calm demeanor vanished, and the Goddess of Marriage was suddenly fuming. So, it really was because of Ganymedes' appearance...
"Ahem. Anyway... Zeus himself acts out of attraction, even to the same sex, yet he's suppressing the love between Aphrodite and Ares, isn't he?" "That's true." "And if you help me, Aphrodite will be grateful that she can be with Ares. The Goddess of Love might even..." "Give me advice on how to win back Zeus's attention from that boy?" "Exactly. If things go well, I'll make sure Aphrodite knows how much you helped."
Aphrodite could lend Hera her enchanted girdle, the Cestus Himá, or provide other advice on matters of love. Either way, Hera stood to benefit.
"Alright. I'll support this." "Good. Let's go talk to Zeus now."
With Hera and Poseidon in tow, we headed to Zeus. In his expansive bedroom, the King of the Gods was napping.
Poseidon stepped forward to wake him.
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"Wake up, Zeus." "Hmm...?!"
But as soon as Zeus opened his eyes and saw Poseidon...
"Who... Poseidon? And even Hera?!"
The Sky God immediately sprang to his feet, summoning a bolt of lightning. A massive electric storm burst from his hands, shaking the entire building.
FLASH! BOOM!
"...Is this another rebellion?! Poseidon, if you're challenging me again, then come at me!" "No, you misunderstand..."
"Haah... It's not what you think, Zeus." "...Oh, Brother Hades? So this isn't a rebellion..."
As the storm raged around us, I pressed a hand to my forehead.
"...Divorce between Hephaestus and Aphrodite?" "Yes, so put the lightning down already. If I were here to rebel, I'd have worn my Helm of Darkness!"
At that, Poseidon relaxed and refrained from drawing his trident, while Hera, looking exasperated, crossed her arms. Seeing the three of us, Zeus finally dismissed his lightning.
"Well... Ahem! If I wake up from a nap and see Poseidon, how could I not think of rebellion?" "It was an understandable mistake, but we've come to discuss Aphrodite."
It felt odd to have such a serious discussion in a half-destroyed building. The surrounding gods were whispering, and I could see Hermes rushing over in a panic.
"Let's move this discussion somewhere else." "...Good idea."
We relocated to a quieter room. Poseidon, Hera, Zeus, and I gathered around a round table.
I carefully explained the reasons for the divorce between Hephaestus and Aphrodite.
Hephaestus had been pushed to the point of attempting to assault Athena, and if Gaia were to appear beautifully dressed, he might be tempted. Aphrodite's affair with Ares had already been publicly exposed at the Festival of the Arts. Aphrodite had also borne Ares a child, Harmonia, and Hephaestus had finally given up on her.
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After thinking for a while, Zeus turned to me with a question.
"But why are you so invested in their relationship, Brother?" "...I just felt sorry for my nephew. After all, he's made many things for me." "Yes, the bident he made for you was quite sharp..."
Poseidon chimed in about the bident. Indeed, no weapon could compare to the one Hephaestus had forged.
"If Hephaestus has truly given up on the Goddess of Beauty... Morally, a divorce might be the right thing to do. But..." "You're worried that other gods will fight over her?" "That's exactly the concern. If I reverse my decision and change my stance..."
The authority of the King of the Gods rests heavily on his words. That's why he hadn't divorced them yet.
Perhaps Zeus thought that, eventually, Aphrodite would stop her affairs, or maybe he was waiting for the right time... There were many factors at play.
"Then we'll help smooth things over. Right, Poseidon?" "Well, I can offer my quiet agreement..." "I'll help as well. They never really had a happy marriage anyway."
Zeus stroked his beard, deep in thought.
"Could we really prevent a rebellion among the gods?" "...Anyone with serious objections can be sent to the Underworld. I'll handle any god who goes mad over her." "Are you sure? That's a lot of work for the Underworld." "Work? I'd be reducing the workload, actually."
I didn't think there would be too many. Who would dare openly oppose Zeus when he, Poseidon, Hera, and I were all aligned?
"...Alright. Let's proceed. Summon Hephaestus from the Underworld, and I'll gather the other gods." "Good. I knew you'd see reason."
"...After careful consideration, I've decided it's best to sever the bond between Hephaestus and Aphrodite."
Zeus proclaimed their divorce in front of the gathered gods. Let's see... Aphrodite was barely hiding her joy, while Hephaestus let out a quiet sigh, standing silently.
"Hephaestus, I will introduce you to a new wife. How about Aglaea, the Goddess of Radiance?" "I will follow my father's will."
Aglaea, the Goddess of Radiance. She was one of the three daughters born to Oceanus, the Titan of the seas, and Eurynome, along with Zeus.
The beautiful goddess with her turquoise hair waved at Hephaestus. Even the blacksmith god seemed somewhat content with her appearance.
While she wasn't quite as beautiful as Aphrodite, Aglaea was still incredibly lovely. She slipped through the gathered gods and linked arms with Hephaestus, smiling.
"Lord Hephaestus!" "Ah, yes..." "The necklace you made me last time—it was so beautiful!"
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Though Hephaestus was a blacksmith god, his domain also included fire and volcanoes, making him a god of considerable rank. Despite his appearance, as one of the Twelve Olympians and Zeus's firstborn, he was still highly sought after.
Meanwhile, Aphrodite and Ares seemed pleased... The real issue was, of course, the other gods. The first problem came in the form of Hermes's question.
"Um, Father. But didn't you declare that Hephaestus would always be Aphrodite's husband?"
At this, Zeus furrowed his brow and glared at Ares and Aphrodite.
"Those two are practically inseparable... Tch! They've already had Harmonia and Eros, haven't they?"
Even under Zeus's scornful gaze, Ares and Aphrodite didn't seem bothered. If anything, they shrugged as if they'd gladly accept such a small amount of criticism.
"I admit, it was my mistake to force a loveless marriage! But if any god dares stir up trouble over Aphrodite, they will feel the full force of my lightning!"
RUMBLE!
With Zeus's stern warning, and the fact that Poseidon, Hera, and I were all watching closely, the lesser gods would surely think twice before causing any trouble over Aphrodite.
Still, I should have a word with her to tone down her allure... Though I doubt much can be done about Ares, we should at least control the potential for chaos.
Of course, the real problem will be some of the higher gods, who are still captivated by her beauty.
"Aphrodite, if you ever tire of Ares..." "Hermes. The granddaughter of Minos, Apemosyne, whom you forced yourself on, is in the Underworld. Shall I bring her here?" "Wh-what?! No, that's...!"
"Ahem, Uncle Hades. Unlike Hermes, I could make Aphrodite truly happy..." "Apollo, I'm sure Daphne, who turned into a tree because of you, would disagree." "That was because of Eros's arrow—no, never mind."
Poseidon had given up, and... was that Dionysus looking over at us with a suspicious gaze?
Glare.
...::;;
Dionysus turned his head away at my silent warning. Good. With all the mortals who've lost their minds and died at his wild festivals, I've had more than enough.
"Haha..."
Ares... well, they've already had children, so I'll leave him be for now. I glanced around at the other gods. The winds, the rivers, or perhaps the minor deities under Demeter...
Wait a minute, aren't most of these gods just reckless troublemakers? Then again, considering the way Zeus has been leading them...
"...Ahem. Ahem! Let's conclude this meeting! The wedding of Hephaestus and Aglaea will be held in Olympus..."
With so many gods, why are there so few normal ones?