In the mythology of Greece and Rome, there are three celebrated virgin goddesses.
Hestia, who vowed to spend her life by the hearth, spreading warmth across the world.
Athena, the eldest daughter of Zeus, who swore her virginity by the River Styx and stands as the second-in-command of Olympus.
And Artemis, who promised her father Zeus to remain a virgin, gaining not only dominion over cities but divine status as well.
And then, though not a virgin, there’s a related figure: Ark, the priest of Artemis.
The reason these three goddesses, all sharing the commonality of purity, have gathered here is quite simple.
It’s for a conversation with Hera.
Though no specific roles were assigned, their expected contributions are quite clear from their presence alone.
Hestia, with her neutral disposition, will likely act as the moderator and mediator to ensure the discussion doesn’t veer off course.
Athena’s role, however, is more complex.
Ever since I won against Hermes, leading to the reinstatement of Metis, I’ve heard that Athena and Hera have been in intense conflict.
The Queen of Olympus and the wife of Zeus felt her position threatened by the prospect of Athena’s mother returning.
It was a natural clash, though with Metis set to reappear tomorrow, Athena’s wishes will be fulfilled. But maintaining a strained relationship with Hera wouldn’t align with her nature.
As for Artemis and myself?
Our primary objective is to clear misunderstandings and mend relations through dialogue.
While we were gathered with differing purposes, Hestia glanced at us all and smiled, covering her mouth with her hand.
“Ho ho, being together like this makes me feel secure. We haven’t gathered like this before, have we?”
“That’s true. I’ve seen you frequently, Aunt, but Artemis…”
“Our darling is a homebody.”
“Not really, considering she roams the mountains every day. She’s more like a fierce individualist…”
“Why don’t you two talk behind my back where I can’t hear you?”
Hestia and Athena were enjoying their banter when Artemis pouted, inflating her cheeks.
But then, as if in perfect sync, the two elder goddesses reached out, tousling her hair.
Artemis retaliated, shaking her head to escape their grip—an almost clichéd repartee.
It’s a common story, but the characters make it feel so special that even the time spent blinking felt precious.
And just like that, after the two virgin goddesses teased young Artemis until she cried “uncle”, they finally settled down.
“Haa~ that was fun, wasn’t it, Athena?”
“Yes, Aunt. It was a perfect way to unwind.”
“Mmph… Playing with me like this… I hate you both.”
When tears started welling up in Artemis’s eyes, the two elders finally relented.
Their expressions shifted suddenly, much like actors switching to acting mode when the camera lights come on, adopting serious looks.
“Will Hera… open her heart to us?”
“It’s uncertain. I’ve nearly quarreled with her every day due to issues surrounding my mother’s reinstatement.”
“Hmm… Even Hera respected Athena greatly. It was quite a shock for her, too.”
“Older sisters, isn’t that something we should worry about? The reinstatement of Metis has already been decided. Instead, it’s our role to console Hera, helping her to accept it. Isn’t that right, Ark?”
Unlike the two older sisters pondering how to ease Hera’s mood, the youngest virgin goddess presented a rather cold reality.
Then, validating her point, she tossed the speaking turn to me.
Agreeing with her perspective, albeit slightly T-shaped in my position, I concur.
But confronting Hera with such a mindset might only drag us deeper into a mire.
“I agree… but we don’t know what Hera is thinking. To understand her stance, we should go and talk to her, right?”
With everyone nodding in agreement, we left Athena’s office and headed to Hera’s chambers located on the top floor of the temple.
The top floor of the steel temple housed only three VIP suites, reserved for the most important individuals, two of whose doors were wide open, clearly vacant.
“Father hasn’t arrived yet, it seems.”
“Yeah, probably he’ll come just in time for tomorrow’s commemoration.”
“Seriously, looking at it this way, father is completely introverted.”
While Artemis and Athena lamented Zeus’s absence,
from my perspective, his absence was quite beneficial.
Just considering Hera’s history, seeing Zeus’s face would likely inflame her emotions further.
Standing before the closed VIP room door on the left side, we stared at it intently, closed like her heart.
“I’ll go first,” Hestia volunteered, stepping forward to knock.
Knock, knock.
“Hera, it’s me. May I come in?”
“Hestia…? Come in, the door’s open.”
Upon hearing the welcome from inside, Hestia turned back briefly to exchange glances with us.
As I slowly nodded, she placed her hand on the doorknob.
Opening the door, we stepped into the VIP room.
The first thing we noticed were the rows of empty wine bottles scattered across the floor.
Looking up, we saw Hera reclining on a leather sofa, a glass of wine in hand.
She appeared to have been drinking heavily since the afternoon.
Hera greeted Hestia with a slight smile, but upon seeing the rest of us, she froze.
“Is… is this a joke, Hestia? Surely you wouldn’t…”
Hera understood that Hestia had gathered us and brought us here.
Thinking Hestia was someone who understood her, she couldn’t stop her trembling lips, brimming with betrayal.
Particularly, she didn’t hide her hostility towards me.
“Scum. What are you doing here? Have you come to mock my misery?”
Staggering to her feet, Hera lurched towards me.
Startled, Hestia stepped in front of me, grasping Hera’s shoulders and gently guiding her back to sit on the sofa.
Whether due to intoxication or Hestia’s intervention, immediate violence didn’t follow as it had in the past.
“Hera, Athena, Artemis, and the priest Ark, they’ve braved to come here to talk with you.”
“…About what? What kind of discussion is there to have with the ones who disgraced me?”
“Hera…”
“Hestia, imagine how you would feel if someone who mocked you comes later asking to talk.”
In response to this question, Hestia, unable to find a clear answer, turned to us for help with a questioning glance.
At this moment, Athena also whispered to me that she would leave, but I stopped her by gripping her arm.
“Why?”
“I’ll take care of it, Lady Athena.”
“Be careful. Lady Hera is drunk. Her emotions could go anywhere.”
“If it does, I have faith that Lady Athena, who once restrained Aphrodite, will manage the situation.”
Surely, Athena would demolish a wall or two of her own temple if it came to protecting me, I firmly believed.
Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward as Hestia stepped aside, allowing me a full view of Hera.
Her unruly red hair and a negligee with a loosened shoulder strap exuded a certain sensuality, undoubtedly why she was once chosen for the golden apple.
If only it wasn’t overshadowed by her hostility towards me.
I knelt down and greeted her respectfully.
“First, greetings. Priest Ark presents himself to the Lady Hera, the spiritual mother to all humankind.”
“Scum. Your silver tongue is still as sharp as ever, I see. And now you’ve even drawn Hestia, my comfort into this drama? What’s next, Demeter?”
“Drawn into this… Three of us would be in big trouble, Lady Hera. Remember, Hestia came for the purpose of mediation.
She’s always been concerned about you, even when she visited our temple, she only reproved me. If we must choose sides, Hestia is on your side, Lady Hera.”
At this, the gazes of Hera and Hestia met.
One searching for confirmation,
the other filled with worry.
Realizing this, Hera relaxed slightly, snorting dismissively before turning her body away.
It’s strange, isn’t it? Whenever I look at Hera, I can’t help but imagine a rough but loving mother from Gyeong Sang Province.
“I’m not one to be tricked by your tongue. Just state your business and be gone. Your face makes me nauseous.”
“Then, let’s cut to the chase.”
“Yes.”
Would a provocative conversation count as a conversation?
Good.
The dialogue begins.
“Have you conspired with Dionysus?”
!!!
My shocking statement left the three virgin goddesses stunned. Eyes wide, mouths agape, they resembled fish out of water.
The quickest to recover was Artemis, who approached me with fire in her eyes.
“What are you talking about? That drunkard conspiring with you?”
“Have you forgotten where you went to seek Dionysus after he cursed you with drunkenness?”
“Hera… Lady’s main city, Herae…us behind the mountain… Why? The drunkard… he has nothing to do with Hera… right?”
Artemis’s voice faltered as if she too had realized something from my question.
And then, having reached the same conclusion as me, she exclaimed in realization:
“You mean Lady Hera had some sort of connection allowing Dionysus to stay nearby?!?!”
She correctly provided an answer that stuck firmly in everyone’s ears in the VIP room.
The Wine of May.
Although it was passed over at the time as Dionysus being a vagabond who happened to settle behind Mount Heraeus,
I had always doubted the connection between Hera and Dionysus, especially since Dionysus began residing there after my fifth labor.
“Arc, what are you saying? Conspiracy…?”
“So, tell us more in detail.”
Even Hestia and Athena, intrigued by this story, urged me to explain further, the former so astonished that she teared up.
“After the failure of my fifth labor against Hermes, Lady Hera conspired with Dionysus to put me in jeopardy, intending to suppress the reinstatement of Metis.”
“Why… why would our Hera do that?”
“Simple. To delay the motion indefinitely should the double labor fail.”
Instead of answering verbally, Hera just raised the wine bottle to her glass, pouring and quickly finishing it in one shot.
“So, it seems to have failed in the end.”
