Aphrodite's Audacious Proposal -2-
Aphrodite's steps were swift and hurried. She couldn't afford to waste a single moment. The goddesses she had come to meet were Adamantia and Gaia. She knew women's ways all too well. Women in polygamous relationships always established a rigid hierarchy among themselves. Wedging into that was like laying siege to the walls of Troy. Cracking their solid defenses was impossible from the start.
That's why she had to move quickly.
"Are Gaia, Adamantia, and Echidna inside?"
"Yes, they're all together, and Hebe is with them too. Hebe just stopped crying."
"Crying?"
"I heard Gaia herself rejected the marriage proposal between Heracles and Hebe. I don't know the details."
The handmaiden managing the guest palace bowed politely in submission before announcing inside.
"Gaia, Adamantia, and Echidna. Aphrodite has come to visit. What shall we do?"
"Let her in."
"Yes, we'll do that. ...You may enter, Aphrodite."
"Thank you."
Aphrodite gave the handmaiden a light nod of thanks and stepped inside. There, in a luxurious palace radiating comfort, three goddesses sat on golden chairs, chatting amiably. Hebe, her eyes puffy from crying, suddenly sprang from Gaia's embrace and toddled out of the palace, covering her swollen face in embarrassment before Gaia could stop her. With the handmaiden's wry smile as she closed the doors, only four goddesses remained.
"I hope you've been well, Gaia."
"No need for formal greetings, child. Heracles hasn't arrived yet, so take a golden chair first."
"Thank you."
"This is unexpected. I never thought you'd visit this palace."
"I'm the one surprised you'd welcome me so warmly."
"How could we not? You're practically our benefactor, Aphrodite."
"......"
Gaia readily offered Aphrodite a golden chair, but it was Echidna who spoke first. Caught off guard by the unexpectedly warm atmosphere—having braced for battle—Aphrodite soon understood why. In simple terms, all three goddesses had been bound to Heracles through her influence. Adamantia and Gaia owed her for the golden arrow, while Echidna had benefited from the ring of seduction, if only a little. Immersed in their sweet newlywed bliss with Heracles, the three viewed their "benefactor" Aphrodite with genuine goodwill.
But Aphrodite had to shatter that kindness.
"The truth is, I came because I have something urgent to discuss with you three."
"...Urgent business? What is it?"
"Ooh, what? What is it? The goddess of love with something urgent—I'm excited!"
"Sounds fun."
"......It's not that fun, actually. The thing is, I want to become Heracles's wife too."
As Aphrodite had planned, cutting straight to the chase chilled the room's atmosphere in an instant. The temperature must have dropped several degrees. Echidna's lively smile crumpled, Gaia kept smiling but exuded a visible, menacing pressure, and Adamantia alone showed no change, simply blinking her beautiful blue eyes as she scrutinized Aphrodite's face.
Of them all, Adamantia's gaze unsettled her most. It felt like she was appraising her. And indeed, Adamantia was appraising her.
In that uncomfortable silence, the eldest, Gaia, spoke first.
"...May I ask your reasons?"
"You know the story of how Heracles saved me during the war, right?"
"Yes, we've heard. But why bring it up now?"
"The first reason I decided to marry him is gratitude."
"Interesting words, Aphrodite."
Aphrodite had said it was the first reason—implying it wasn't mere thanks that drove her. The goddess of love, beauty, and eros wasn't one to take lightly. Gaia and her two daughters pressed her with their eyes: out with the rest.
Aphrodite smiled faintly and continued.
"The second reason is payback. Heracles owes me a debt."
"Payback? What debt could there be between us?"
"He saved me, ignited a fire in my heart, then never came for me. He trampled the pride of the goddess of eros."
"...Pride? So you planned to repay him with your body from the start?"
"Of course. My husband is long gone to the underworld—what's there to be ashamed of?"
"......Impressive, Aphrodite."
Adamantia was genuinely admiring her. Her intent to repay with her body from the outset was bold enough, but tying it to her divine authority and claiming wounded pride was masterful. As one of the Twelve Olympians, the goddess of love and eros repaying a great favor with eros made perfect sense. Tricky, yes—her husband was dead, marriage dissolved, no qualms there. And Aphrodite wasn't the type to care anyway. Once framed as a matter of pride and divine power, Gaia, Adamantia, and Echidna found it hard to argue.
But the three weren't about to yield easily.
"Then one night would suffice, right? Why marriage? You're infamous for despising it."
"Trading Olympus's ugliest husband for Achaea's handsomest? That's different."
"Then why come to us first?"
"Everything has its order. Before greeting the man who'll be my husband, I must greet his wives first."
"...You still haven't said why marriage."
"Olympus owes Heracles a debt. Shouldn't he claim his reward?"
She was flawless. Clearly, Aphrodite had come fully prepared.
Rarely taking the lead, Adamantia now steered the conversation.
"Zeus is the one who owes the debt."
"No, not just Zeus—all of Olympus. My marriage is the fitting reward."
"I have war merits too. It's unfair for only Heracles to be rewarded."
"You'll gain a beautiful little sister, Adamantia. Isn't that a reward?"
"Can you serve me as an elder sister?"
"You're originally my aunt, but if I must serve you as a sister, that's a boon for me."
Aphrodite never faltered in expression or voice. Backing down here meant being torn apart by the three. That would not only doom her marriage to Heracles but mock her authority and power as an Olympian. She might even have to flee Olympus for Rhodes.
Before her stood the primordial goddess Gaia and her daughters. Even the mighty Aphrodite risked a rough end if she slipped.
But contrary to her fears, Adamantia eyed her with apparent amusement, blue gaze roaming her form.
"You're a good goddess. You're an earth deity too."
"......I was born from Uranus and the sea."
"I can tell just by looking. You're an earth deity."
"......I see. So you're a Geomushin too."
"?"
What did being a Geomushin matter? Adamantia even smiled faintly, nudging Gaia. Suddenly, the three stood side by side, beaming at Aphrodite. She was a bit flustered.
Gaia spoke again.
"Your resolve is firm, and you've invoked a goddess's pride. Refusing outright would shame us. Instead, we'll each set a condition. Will you accept?"
"That's no trouble."
"Good. First, get Heracles's firm promise of marriage before sharing his bed."
"For me, promise no relations with any man or god after marriage. Easy, right?"
"For me, you leave Olympus and live only on Sicily with us."
"? Is that really all? Those aren't hard at all."
Aphrodite was puzzled. Ultimately, securing Heracles's proposal made them trivial. She'd planned to receive his proposal anyway—just follow through as intended.
Yet the three goddesses smiled enigmatically, ignoring her confusion.
Aphrodite would realize later that these three conditions were far harsher than any trial—more grueling and merciless.