The moment I left the council chamber, I regretted everything.
Not the idea.
The speaking.
The attention.
The doors closed behind me with a heavy echo, and suddenly the hallway felt too quiet.
Too empty.
For a moment I simply stood there, staring at the marble floor.
What had I just done?
The thought replayed itself in my mind over and over.
A king… and a queen.
I pressed my fingers lightly to my temples.
Gods.
Why had I said that out loud?
Because it was true.
That was the problem.
Truth had a way of making people uncomfortable.
Footsteps echoed behind me.
I didn't need to turn around to know who it was.
"Leaving already?"
The familiar voice carried the quiet rumble of distant thunder.
I turned slowly.
Zeus stood a few paces away, his hands resting casually in the pockets of his jacket like he hadn't just shaken the entire political structure of Olympus.
"You shouldn't have said that," I told him.
His eyebrow lifted.
"Said what?"
"That you would consider it."
Zeus leaned against one of the marble pillars.
"You mean the crown?"
"Yes."
The word felt heavier outside the council chamber.
"That wasn't a small idea, Zeus."
"I'm aware."
"And Ares nearly looked ready to start another war over it."
"That's not unusual for Ares."
I sighed.
"That's not the point."
Zeus studied me for a moment.
"You regret it."
It wasn't a question.
I hesitated.
"Regret isn't the right word."
"What is?"
I glanced back toward the closed council doors.
"Reality."
Zeus waited.
I folded my arms.
"You invited me into that room because you thought my ideas were interesting."
"That's part of it."
"But you didn't think about what happens next."
Zeus tilted his head slightly.
"I'm thinking about it right now."
"That's exactly what worries me."
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"You're the one who proposed it."
"Yes," I admitted.
"And now every god in Olympus will be talking about it."
"Good."
I blinked.
"Good?"
Zeus pushed away from the pillar.
"Power isn't created quietly, Hera."
He walked a few steps closer.
"It's announced."
His voice had lowered slightly.
"And tonight, you announced something very important."
I frowned.
"A hypothetical political structure?"
Zeus shook his head.
"You."
The word landed heavier than I expected.
"What does that mean?"
"It means Olympus just realized you exist."
My stomach tightened slightly.
That wasn't necessarily comforting.
Zeus seemed to notice.
"You don't like attention."
"I prefer control."
He laughed softly.
"That's fair."
For a moment, we stood there in the quiet hallway.
Then Zeus spoke again.
"You surprised Athena."
"That sounds dangerous."
"It should."
I glanced at him.
"And Apollo looked like he was watching a play he enjoyed."
"That's normal for Apollo."
"What about Ares?"
Zeus smirked.
"Ares is always angry about something."
That was probably true.
Still…
"What about you?" I asked.
Zeus paused.
"What about me?"
"You supported the idea."
"Yes."
"Why?"
For a moment, he didn't answer.
The palace windows reflected faint flashes of lightning from the storm still lingering over Olympus.
Finally he said quietly:
"Because you're right."
I searched his face.
"About the crown?"
"About Olympus."
His gaze drifted toward the distant city.
"We won the war," he said.
"But we haven't built the future yet."
His voice carried a weight I hadn't heard before.
And suddenly I understood something I hadn't realized earlier.
Zeus wasn't just ambitious.
He was worried which meant he cared.
"You want stability," I said slowly.
"Yes."
"And you think I could help create it."
Zeus looked back at me.
"I think you already are."
My pulse skipped slightly.
I looked away quickly.
"That wasn't my intention."
"I don't believe that."
"It wasn't."
He studied me carefully.
"You've been watching Olympus for years."
That wasn't entirely incorrect.
"You understand how power moves through this place."
I didn't respond.
"And you just proved it."
Before I could think of a response, another voice echoed down the hallway.
"Well."
Apollo stepped around the corner, clapping slowly.
"That was the most entertaining council meeting we've had in centuries." His voice exaggerated his cheerful expression clearly sarcastic.
Zeus sighed.
"You were listening?"
"I'm a god of music and prophecy," said Apollo.
"Of course I was listening."
Apollo's bright eyes shifted toward me.
"You've certainly stirred things up."
"That wasn't the goal."
"Oh, I know."
His smile widened slightly.
"But it happened anyway."
Zeus folded his arms and stood infront of me almost like he was trying to protect me, but from what ?
"What do you want, Apollo?"
"Nothing," Apollo said innocently.
"I simply wanted to meet the goddess who convinced Zeus to consider monarchy reform."
I stared at him.
"That's not what happened."
Apollo leaned closer slightly, lowering his voice.
"That's exactly how it will sound tomorrow."
My stomach sank.
Zeus didn't look surprised.
"Rumors move quickly in Olympus," Apollo continued.
"And you just gave them a very interesting story."
He straightened, clearly enjoying himself.
"Good luck with that."
Then he skipped away down the corridor like a man playful child.
I watched him go.
"That man is exhausting."
Zeus chuckled.
"Yes."
Silence settled again.
Finally I spoke.
"This is going to cause problems."
Zeus nodded.
"Yes."
"You don't seem concerned."
"I am."
"Then why support it?"
He looked directly at me.
"Because sometimes the right idea causes problems."
The storm outside rumbled again.
Low.
Distant.
I realized something uncomfortable in that moment.
The world was starting to shift around us.
And whether I wanted it or not I was now standing in the center of it.
Zeus studied me quietly.
"You're thinking about running."
I didn't answer.
"That's understandable."
I finally met his gaze again.
"I'm thinking."
"That's why I invited you."
The lightning outside flashed once more across the palace windows the gold shimmers I could see out the corner of my eye matched his eyes perfectly.
And for the first time since the council meeting…
I began to wonder if Zeus had known exactly what he was doing when he asked me to come.