Chapter 24: The King and Queen of the Gods (1)
Hahahahaha!
A booming laugh echoed through a palace in the underworld.
“Zeus, that fool, was tricked by humans?”
“Yes, outdone by the very humans he ordered created,” came the reply.
“Hah, typical of him. Without Metis, what’s left of him?”
“So, shall we prepare?”
“No, let’s wait a bit longer. We need to see how our other siblings react.”
In the underworld, Hades’ laughter rang ceaselessly.
Meanwhile, Demeter, Hestia, and Hera gathered in Demeter’s fields, sighing as they heard the news.
“That fool hasn’t changed a bit,” Demeter remarked.
“Zeus feels… diminished since Metis left,” Hestia added.
“And that’s why he’s been chasing so many goddesses and fathering children lately, isn’t it?” Hera said.
“Probably. Athena’s situation must have shaken him deeply,” Hestia replied.
“So, what’s your plan, Hera? You anticipated something like this and helped Metis while building your own strength,” Demeter pressed.
Hera set down her teacup, gazing out over Demeter’s vast fields.
“I’m not sure yet. I haven’t decided what I need most.”
***
Poseidon’s Palace
At Poseidon’s palace, Iris and Leuke, sent by Hera and Hades to discuss Zeus’ situation and future plans, were greeted by the sound of a child playing.
The source was a young child frolicking on Poseidon’s throne—Kybele.
The nymphs tasked with caring for her were frantic, trying to stop her, but they were no match for her strength, despite her youth.
“Lady Kybele, come down! If Lord Poseidon, the queens, or Lady Metis see this, you’ll be in big trouble!”
“Heehee, I like it up here!”
Kybele, perched confidently on the throne, ignored her nursemaids’ pleas, laughing gleefully.
As Iris and Leuke watched awkwardly, voices approached.
“It seems Zeus took quite a blow from your absence,” Poseidon said.
“Well, I did play a part in him claiming the throne of the gods,” Metis replied.
“That’s a problem. We don’t know how Hera or Hades will move.”
“Hades, I’m not sure about, but Hera might be eyeing another position. And Prometheus’ stunt with the humans is another variable.”
Poseidon and Metis entered, deep in conversation, only to be met with the sight of flustered nymphs, Iris and Leuke standing awkwardly, and Kybele boldly wearing Poseidon’s crown on his throne.
The trident, too heavy for her to lift, floated nearby.
Poseidon chuckled at the sight.
“She looks more suited to that throne than I do.”
But Metis’ expression darkened instantly. Calling out sternly, “Kybele!” she approached her daughter.
Unfazed, Kybele grinned innocently and opened her arms toward her mother.
“Look, cool, right?”
Metis’ face grew even sterner.
Where was Athena, who usually kept Kybele in check?
Assuming her mother would praise her, Kybele kept her arms outstretched, but Metis scooped her up and delivered a series of sharp smacks to her backside.
Smack! Smack! Smack!
The sound of Kybele’s spanking filled the palace, followed by her wails.
“Waaaaah!”
“What are you crying for? I told you to stop causing trouble! You’re so well-behaved with your sister!”
“Waaaaah!”
Poseidon, watching the scene, laughed lightly and turned to Iris and Leuke.
“What a mess. I’d love to show this to your masters and Zeus, wouldn’t you agree?”
Iris and Leuke, unsure how to respond, bowed their heads, thinking, ‘I just want to go home.’
***
At that moment, Zeus, humiliated before gods and humans, was still seething in Olympus.
“How dare they make a mockery of me!”
What infuriated him most was how Metis’ absence had exposed his vulnerabilities.
“I need a reliable goddess to support me… and a way to punish Prometheus. The problem is how my siblings will react.”
He wanted to unleash harsh punishments on Prometheus and the humans, but he had too many forces to keep in check—the divided powers of the three realms and the gods outside Olympus’ control.
***
Time had passed since Zeus’ humiliation spread among the gods.
In a residence somewhere in the heavens, separate from Olympus, Hera awoke as Helios, the sun god, began driving his chariot.
After a breakfast of apples and clear water, she headed to her study to review her duties.
“Let’s see… this is Eos’ proposal.”
“This is Circe’s budget for her potion experiments.”
“And this is the Muses’ concert schedule.”
As she sifted through the goddesses’ requests and meeting notes, Helios’ chariot began its second circuit.
Right on cue, Iris, Hera’s loyal secretary and the rainbow goddess, entered.
“Good morning, Lady Hera. Did you sleep well?”
“Hm.”
“Shall I prepare some tea?”
“Coffee.”
“Oh! It seems you’ve taken a liking to the coffee Poseidon gave you,” Iris teased.
“…”
Hera’s silence and sharp glare made Iris yelp and hastily retreat.
Hera didn’t take kindly to suggestions that she owed anything to Poseidon.
It was time to get back to work.
Hera and Iris continued handling tasks until Helios’ chariot passed overhead.
“Iris, we have a meeting today, don’t we?” Hera asked.
“Yes, the gathering with your sisters.”
The meeting of Hera and her sisters was one she had organized to maintain her influence after the three chief gods’ roles were established, ensuring she wasn’t overshadowed by her siblings.
Though Hestia and Demeter now saw it as a way to bond, some goddesses viewed it as Hera’s private faction.
“No other plans, then?”
Iris double-checked the schedule.
“Uh… there’s one more thing.”
“What is it?”
“Well…”
Iris hesitated, reluctant to continue.
Hera, frowning, pressed her.
“Iris, you know I don’t like dawdling.”
Bracing herself for Hera’s inevitable outburst, Iris finally spoke.
“Poseidon says he’s attending the meeting…”
Hera fell silent, immediately regretting having asked.
Her expression darkened as she pressed further.
“Why is that fool coming?”
“He says… he needs to take a lot from your storehouse…”
Iris tensed, noticing the veins bulging on Hera’s forehead and her clenched fists.
As expected, Hera’s divine energy erupted, crackling around her like explosions.
“And?”
“Pardon?”
“What else did he say? That idiot wouldn’t come just for the storehouse. If he needed something, he’d just steal it.”
With unwavering certainty, Hera demanded more. Iris reluctantly reread Poseidon’s letter.
“He also says he needs the divine gold you, Demeter, and Hestia have stored, infused with your powers. And…”
Iris paused, then continued.
“He writes, ‘I’ll be attending your meeting in person. It’d be nice if you prepared the gold. Otherwise, I’ll have to be a righteous thief.’”
Hera could no longer contain herself.
Her divine energy surged, demolishing half the palace in a thunderous outburst.
“Arghhh!”
“Well… she’s blown up again,” Iris muttered.
Even Iris could understand why having a sibling like Poseidon would give anyone a headache.
“Last time, he raided the storehouse for magical potions to create a permanent rainbow garden in the sea. Another time, he stole supplies to make something called a ‘bikini’ or whatever…”
Recalling Poseidon’s antics, Iris glanced at her watch, wondering how long Hera’s tantrum would last.
‘Hope it doesn’t drag on. We’ve got drama viewing planned at the goddess meeting today…’
Unbeknownst to Hera, Iris was eagerly anticipating the new drama directed by Poseidon.
Rumor had it the Muses had handled the script, filming, and acting, making it the talk of the week.
Even after half her palace was wrecked, Hera’s rage eventually subsided, leaving her feeling hollow.
Poseidon, whose own sea storehouse was under his wives’ control, would likely continue pilfering from her or her sisters.
“That damned fool. He’s courteous to other gods but pulls these stunts with us…”
Deep down, Hera knew no one else would put up with him.
Composing herself, she prepared for the meeting, especially since a new member was joining this time.
“Iris, are we ready?”
“Yes, Lady Hera.”
“Then let’s go.”
Meanwhile, at Hestia’s palace, the meeting’s venue, Poseidon had arrived early with a goddess he intended to introduce.
“Haha, thanks, Hestia!”
“Poseidon, I don’t have much use for gold, so I can spare it, but Hera won’t be so generous,” Hestia said, smiling at Poseidon’s glee.
He’d likely face Hera’s wrath again, but for the sisters, it was almost an annual ritual.
“With this, I can finally build a massive amusement park!”
“Amusement park? What’s that?”
Hestia was puzzled. She’d never heard of such a thing among humans or other races.
Between the drama and now this, Poseidon was always up to something intriguing.
He grinned smugly.
“Oh, you don’t know? It’s something wonderful.”
He reveled in showing off his knowledge.
Unfortunately for him, while Hestia might have indulged him, Hera arrived earlier than expected.
As Poseidon gloated, Hera’s lion-drawn chariot barreled into him.
Wham!
“Oof!”
_____________________________________________
TL Note — Regular chapters will be updated 5 chapters per week on the site.
If you want to read ahead, join my Patreon for early access:
Plus Tier: 7 chapters/week per novel (21 total)
Premium Tier: Includes all Plus benefits + 9 chapters/week per novel (27 total)
You don’t need to pay extra for my other novels —
• The Genius Shut-In Writer
• Dream Breaker — they’re included in the same tiers.
Link — https://www.patreon.com/cw/Vritratls?utm_source=search
If you want to read this novel, just check the collection under “Poseidon's Chronicle.”
_____________________________________________