Clymene drew a soft breath before speaking. "The clear-sighted goddess of wisdom, the erudite goddess of civilization and memory, the great goddess of agriculture and harvest, the warm and mighty sovereign of fire, and, at the side of the revered goddess of procreation, the goddess Leto—each has come requesting an audience with you."
"In addition," Clymene stepped a little closer and reminded Zeus in a very light voice, "Their Graces Hestia and Demeter are waiting for you inside your hall right now."
"And Amalthea is also in your temple, waiting for you."
Hearing this roll call, Zeus's head swam at once and he immediately wanted to turn and leave.
In fact, he did turn by instinct and was about to go, but Clymene, quick of eye and hand, lightly tugged the corner of his robe and then released it in an instant.
She whispered a reminder: "Your Majesty, Her Grace Hestia is very low in spirits, and Her Grace Demeter is also extremely downhearted."
At that Zeus stopped again.
He thought: I really can't leave. For a moment I almost thought Hera was here.
So long as Hera isn't present, everything can be handled.
He cast Clymene a sidelong glance, thinking inwardly: Oceanids—always unsettling my mind, tangling my thoughts!
He cleared his throat lightly, then said without changing expression, "I just suddenly remembered another matter—mm—but nothing urgent. My beloved radiant goddesses are what matter most."
"I truly can't imagine what could have stolen those bright smiles from their beautiful faces. Come, let's go back now."
Clymene blinked her luminous eyes—clear as the polar sea—and, looking at Zeus's rather "interesting" hair colors, said softly, "No doubt something extremely important to Their Graces."
At this Zeus's brows lifted a fraction, and he squinted at Clymene.
He had felt that look from the Oceanid most distinctly just now.
Clymene felt a pang of guilt at once. She flashed a contrite, ingratiating smile, her gaze sliding aside, not daring to meet the God-King's eyes.
She scolded herself inwardly: Clymene, Clymene, you're still under sentence! Mind your place!
Zeus had no mood to quibble with her; there were three [two (one)] goddesses inside who truly needed comforting.
Hestia was the gentlest, and doted upon him most—easy to soothe.
Dull little Maia was the most obedient—this dreamy goddess was even easier.
Only Demeter—who seemed gentle and tender—was in truth very jealous. Small-minded she was not, but she did have her little temper.
He had clearly promised her he would announce her as his wife soon, and yet now…
With her temper she would be greatly displeased and likely to make quite a scene.
Zeus pondered a moment and fixed his plan.
A small problem! Easy to solve!
Brave Zeus, fear no hardship!
His Majesty gave Clymene a look not very stern and said, "Well? Lead on."
Relieved, Clymene nodded quickly and hurried ahead to guide Zeus back to the temple.
The star goddesses and rain nymphs standing at the fore of the hall exchanged meaningful glances when they saw the God-King return.
In most of their eyes there was a touch of schadenfreude, a merry glint at the show to come.
Of course, a few of the more tender-hearted young goddesses quietly hid a trace of jealousy not easy to detect.
Though their station was that of Zeus's vassals and attendants,
Between gods there were not those intricate mortal formalities.
Gods are gods.
And Zeus least of all was a God-King who liked to posture. He was the gentle, accessible, broad and kindly All-Father.
He would never truly treat these lovely young goddesses as the family of condemned deities.
A ruler who is harsh to his own household gods often meets a poor end.
So Zeus had always pampered them greatly.
In informal moments, in private, these high-born goddesses and nymphs were quite free-spirited.
They even dared to tease and joke with their great God-King.
They were, after all, young goddesses in their prime—lively and charming by nature.
Even Maia, the most refined and poised of the sisters, would sometimes show a few girlish traits.
Zeus liked precisely this warm, familiar atmosphere, and the newly joined Iris and Arke had quickly blended into this relatively harmonious circle.
That Clymene could adapt so quickly to life in the God-King's palace was because she herself had seen how her grandchildren's generation fared in His Majesty's household.
It was that very atmosphere that confirmed for her that, so long as she did her duty well, it would not be impossible to one day ask His Majesty to pardon her foolish son.
When the children returned to the Ocean to reunite with their parents, their mood and color were excellent.
She knew then that His Majesty treated them well.
But she had never expected—how was this merely being treated well? It was outright pampering.
From her grandchildren's private whisperings, His Majesty's usual temper and disposition truly were very good!
Except…
Well, that is normal—His Majesty is also a god and has his preferences. That's only natural.
Clymene thought of Prometheus and sighed inwardly. His Majesty truly cherished those gods about him.
Fairly speaking, being one of His Majesty's household gods—keeping him company—really was quite a fine lot!
At that thought, Clymene silently cursed Menoetius's foolishness ten thousand times over once again!
Had he pledged loyal service to His Majesty properly, how would any of this have happened?!
How did I give birth to such a foolish child!
Zeus had no mind now to wonder what Clymene was thinking.
He drew Maia aside and asked in a very soft voice, "My dearest Maia, what's the situation inside just now?"
Maia, first of the Pleiades, was Atlas's and the Oceanid Pleione's proudest eldest daughter.
She perfectly inherited the virtues of the starry giant and the Oceanid.
She had a cascade of glossy black hair, like silk of night, flowing soft to her slender waist.
And a pair of bright, silver-gray eyes.
Those eyes were lively and radiant—like her stellar self—beautiful beyond compare.
She was very tall of figure.
Even standing on the steps, her long knees rose above her sisters' waistlines.
And not only long—the proportions were near perfect.
Her thighs were shapely and full, her calves long and straight, her ankles slender and graceful.
From the root of her thigh to her ankle there was not an ounce of excess.
Every inch of outline seemed drawn to the most perfect golden ratio.
They were like a pair of smooth jade pillars, exquisitely carved, supporting a breathtaking "beyond-standard" length.
In her normal manifestation, she stood nearly eye to eye with Zeus.
On this point, Zeus could vouch personally.
He had examined it himself, hands on.
As for her figure, Zeus could only say—it held both the grandeur of the stars and the soft grace of the ocean.
As the eldest of the Seven Pleiades sisters, her temperament was the most quiet and dignified—refined and wise.
Among Atlas's twelve daughters as pretty as flowers, she was his favorite.
Maia gently bit her rosy lips, a complex look hiding in her gaze at Zeus.
She answered softly, "Your Majesty, Her Grace Hestia is very low in spirits. Since coming, she hasn't said much."
"As for Her Grace Demeter… her mood is probably, perhaps… truly not very good."
"She seems very displeased and may require a good deal of effort from you."
"Goddess Amalthea is with them now, chatting. Her Grace Demeter is very fond of Goddess Amalthea and close with her."
Zeus nodded thoughtfully, feeling steadier at heart.
He looked at Maia—who seemed herself a touch low—and teased, "And you, my dear Maia—have you anything that makes you unhappy?"
At this Maia's fair face flushed slightly.
She turned her eyes aside and murmured, "N-no. Serving at Your Majesty's side—how could I be unhappy?"
Zeus smiled faintly and, while she wasn't looking, quickly kissed her rosy cheek.
Only then did he whisper, "I was a bit unhappy a moment ago. But now—I'm happy. Thank you, my dearest Maia."
The goddess Maia showed no panic at this. She only cast a covert glance at her sisters peeking from not far away.
Seeing no one had noticed, she gave Zeus a slightly reproachful look.
This was hardly the first time; she was used to it.
His Majesty always liked to sneak a small advantage of her like this.
Though she herself also liked it—indeed, looked forward to it.
Still, for the sake of sisterly unity and affection, she should keep a low profile.
Having set his resolve and thought through how to take the initiative, Zeus strode into his temple openly.
Upon entering, he saw the bright and guileless Amalthea chatting merrily with Demeter.
The two goddesses were already sitting together—and even holding hands as they spoke.
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