They looked at each other without a word, only sighing that, after all, they were sisters who had shared hardship and shared prosperity. Whatever had passed between them, one joke, one embrace, and it was over.
As for worry, there was none at all.
Come now—did anyone really think goddesses were easy to bully?
These three great goddesses together, without the God-King or the scant few topmost great gods taking the field, could punch through the Three Realms and Three Domains three times over with ease.
And given their stations, who would dare show even a trace of disrespect? Do they truly think the God-King would not fly into a rage?
The two sister goddesses, enjoying a rare quiet, looked at the table full of divine wine and ambrosia, and had no intention of letting it go to waste.
Judging that their mistress would not be returning for a while, and that nothing else would occur, they sat with easy hearts, poured for each other, and drank and tasted freely.
These days, they too had much on their minds.
A rare peace—best to have a good, honest drunk.
Meanwhile, watching those three harmonious, affectionate streams of glow descend together, the eternal, holy Queen of Gods, Mother Rhea—who had been somewhat worried—finally set her mind at ease.
She watched the light-shadows of her children recede, and a relieved smile bloomed upon a face lovely enough to make heaven and earth dim. Even her head of brilliant, iridescent hair floated with newfound lightness.
Then she looked toward the horizon, where the golden cloud and rosy light still rolled across the sky, and with helplessness gave a scolding glare.
This child she took the greatest pride in could be called flawless.
He was a truly perfect God-King, a great sovereign who had brought justice and peace to all beings of the universe.
Only one point!
In matters of love he was too greedy—and too wanton!
Truly beyond hope!
On Mount Olympus, a mere stroll would mean meeting at least five goddesses close to Him!
Though… there was some good in it.
At least her dear grandchildren had multiplied and multiplied.
The family grew ever more prosperous and splendid, and Olympus ever livelier.
With children often by her side, life was indeed happy.
Er… only, when meeting her good sisters again on occasion, there might be that tiny bit of awkwardness…
Mother Rhea, the eternal, holy Queen of Gods, held a station on Olympus absolutely transcendent, and her life was happy and without lack.
Not entirely without lack.
The only thing that still gave her a headache was that child who worried her most—Poseidon.
Now that foolish son was still alone, blowing bubbles in the cold Underworld river…
In the end, Mother Rhea's heart ached for her child.
She thought she must find a fitting chance to plead with Zeus; if he could be released early, it would be better done early.
To be steeped alone in that Underworld river, icy to the bone and grinding down every will—that was truly hard to bear.
Alas—she could only watch for the opportunity.
After all, the mistake that blockhead son had made was indeed too much.
Without a good occasion, even as a mother she found it hard to open her mouth.
The golden clouds at the horizon remained, and the aurora did not rest.
And the three gentle streams of glow had already slipped quietly down to the mortal world.
There, bonfires burned bright.
Spring, too, drew near.
When His Majesty the God-King finally left the Temple of Wisdom refreshed and clear-headed, He hesitated atop the clouds for the space of a heartbeat or two, and in the end returned first to His own highest God-King's temple.
He of course knew the stir caused by Demeter's awakening, and it was not Demeter alone who was anxious and aflame. How to arrange matters next required careful thought.
There was no help for it—His Majesty the God-King was forever handling myriad affairs. Properly coordinating the love of many goddesses was also a matter concerning the stability of the universe.
The gentlest, most demure, orchid-hearted Maia, seeing the God-King return, let a star-bright joy flash through her eyes.
But it at once turned into a measure of just-right plaint, and a full measure of longing she could not hide.
Her steps, however, did not halt. From afar she had already set in motion those long, long, long legs—truly like the temple's celestial pillars—striding forward to greet Him.
Gentle Maia knew well that His Majesty the God-King favored this most alluring pair of long legs of hers.
Thus she never minded presenting without reserve, before her beloved Majesty, the charm she was proudest of.
By her normal divine stature, she was of a height with Zeus.
Therefore, to maintain the decorum of lord and retainer, and to satisfy her beloved Majesty's small, harmless "preference," she never wore any footwear, and her long dress was cut with slits like a cheongsam.
After all, as the Majesty's attentive little handmaid, to appear taller than Him would hardly be respectful—even if His Majesty did not mind such things.
And if His Majesty had a liking, it would be even less suitable not to let Him see it at all times. As His Majesty's dear handmaid, she should do her utmost to satisfy His special tastes.
Her figure was extremely tall and straight, handsome and beautiful; to be equal in height with Zeus was, after all, no small height.
Therefore her jade feet had nothing to do with words like "petite and dainty."
Yet relative to pure smallness, proportion mattered far more.
These often-bared soft hands of hers—no, these feet—were of excellent proportion, their form could be called perfect; else she would not show them with such confidence.
The arch's curve was like a willow bough in spring—supple and elegant; the skin's texture surpassed winter's ice and snow—fine and clear; the ten toes were crystal and plump, like morning jade-dew or deep-sea pearls.
After His Majesty Zeus's personal, repeated, in-depth, hands-on testing and authoritative verification, the God-King could say with responsibility:
At present, among the goddesses of Olympus, Maia's long legs were a peerless, stand-alone treasure; and her jade feet were second only to those of His beloved, gold-booted Hera.
Now the Atlas family had basically blended into the universe's new order.
Though Atlas for now was still a god without portfolio, at least he had regained freedom.
Once Zeus fully pardoned Atlas, the last wisp of worry and inferiority in these dear young goddesses' hearts vanished like smoke.
This let more of the little goddesses gather courage to pursue their own happiness.
At least they would no longer feel their house was a grade below other gods.
Wise and demure Maia thought the same.
These third-generation Titans not only had honors of their own now—she and her sisters were also the God-King's noble attendants.
One might say they were still a strong family not to be lightly slighted in the entire universe.
All the more because…
His Majesty the God-King—He… He also…
Alas—she only wondered when she herself might truly be brought within His Majesty's hall. And whether she might have some standing…
If she could become His Majesty's wife in open title, even ranked beyond the tenth, it would do!
It was not Maia alone who came forward to greet the God-King, but her other equally dear and lovely sisters as well.
The Seven Sisters of the Pleiades, the Five Sisters of the Hyades, and Thaumas's daughters—bright Iris and scheming Arke.
And, lastly, treading on lotus steps and approaching slowly—the daughter of Ocean—Clymene.
This incomparably strong, once heartbroken Titaness of the second generation, after venting all grievance and pain upon her father and mother's side, had hurried back to resume her duty as the God-King's "steward."
Now that her eldest son Atlas had been pardoned, and her third son Prometheus and fourth son Epimetheus had received great rewards,
one might say that aside from that purely disastrous husband Iapetus and their second son Menoetius, things were basically complete.
The present state of her three sons, and the chance to dwell in this most peaceful and beautiful God-King's temple, with these dear children to keep her company daily, were already enough to soothe her oft-wounded heart.
Life for these dear children in the God-King's temple was easy and joyous.
Amid this warm and relaxed air, with all her burdens set down, she felt the world open wide, and even her mood seemed many years younger.
The only thing that often made her mutter silently was His Majesty the God-King's incurable wantonness.
Leaving aside the other goddesses outside the hall, even just the dear children within the God-King's temple—she did not know how many had a murky tie with His Majesty.
She even wondered—was it all of them…
After all, when idle, what these children discussed most when gathered together was His Majesty the God-King.
Looking at the God-King, encircled by the little goddesses in two or three rings, laughing with utmost delight, she held the same complaint nearly all gods shared:
This flawless God-King, without a single fault—only in matters of love was He truly unrestrained to the utmost.
Her sole comfort was that, fortunately, these children would not fight to the bitter end over favor…
Not that there were no spats at all—only that it would not truly wound sisterly affections.
Truth be told, within the God-King's temple, competition among Zeus's dear little goddesses for favor was rather fierce.
After all, aside from wantonness, their Majesty truly had not a single fault.
Even to look a few more times each day upon His matchlessly handsome face was enough to keep their hearts light all day.
Their Majesty was generous and kind, gentle and approachable, easy for gods to draw near, and never minded everyone romping with Him together.
Day by day, these little goddesses saw only Zeus, this one god. In such conditions, it was hard not to be moved.
And the one to be moved over was only this single choice.
These clever little goddesses knew it well in their hearts.
As His Majesty the God-King's personal attendants, they could only, and would only, belong to this great God-King.
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