At that moment, Persephone felt as though everything she believed in was collapsing.
The Hera and Gaia she knew—the Queen of Olympus and the ancient Earth Mother—had always been symbols of authority and dignity within the Greek pantheon.
Yet now, standing before the throne, they no longer resembled the figures she remembered.
The sight filled Persephone with anger.
Her chest rose and fell rapidly as she stared at the two goddesses beside Karl.
She failed to notice the amused expression that had appeared on Aphrodite's face.
As the Goddess of Love, Aphrodite understood emotions better than almost anyone.
Observing Persephone's reaction, she quickly realized that the Queen of the Underworld's outrage ran deeper than simple loyalty to Olympus.
At the same time, she found herself increasingly fascinated by the situation unfolding before her.
Meanwhile, Hera and Gaia remained beside Karl.
Neither woman attempted to leave.
Their attention was focused entirely on the man seated upon the throne.
Karl, naturally, noticed everything.
The reactions of Hera and Gaia.
The fury radiating from Persephone.
And the growing curiosity in Aphrodite's eyes.
Nothing escaped his perception.
The former rulers of Olympus now seemed determined to earn his approval.
To Karl, the irony was not lost.
The once-unreachable goddesses of ancient legend had undergone a transformation that even they themselves might never have imagined.
Persephone, however, saw only betrayal.
The more she watched, the angrier she became.
In her eyes, Hera and Gaia had abandoned the dignity expected of leaders of the Greek pantheon.
They appeared completely unconcerned with the destruction of Olympus and the deaths of Zeus and the other Olympian gods.
The thought made her clench her fists.
Behind her, Aphrodite's smile widened slightly.
Then, before Persephone could react, Aphrodite stepped forward.
"What are you doing?" Persephone demanded.
Aphrodite ignored the question.
Instead, she gently but firmly guided Persephone toward the entrance of the hall.
Karl raised an eyebrow.
Even he was somewhat surprised by Aphrodite's actions.
The Goddess of Love had always been unpredictable in both mythology and Marvel's cosmic interpretations of Olympus.
Her motives were often known only to herself.
"What are you planning?" Persephone asked angrily.
Aphrodite merely smiled.
"You'll see."
Their voices echoed through the hall.
Hearing the commotion, Hera and Gaia instinctively looked toward the doorway.
For a moment, both women seemed uncertain.
Yet after glancing at Karl, neither moved.
The hesitation quickly faded.
The atmosphere in the hall remained tense.
Soon, Aphrodite escorted Persephone inside.
The Queen of the Underworld's expression was filled with anger.
Aphrodite, by contrast, appeared perfectly composed.
She stepped forward and respectfully bowed.
"Aphrodite, Goddess of Love and Beauty, greets the God-King."
Her voice carried throughout the hall.
Persephone's eyes widened.
"Aphrodite!"
The Goddess of Love remained completely unfazed.
Persephone finally lost her patience.
Her anger, suppressed for so long, erupted.
"Have you all lost your minds?"
She pointed toward Hera and Gaia.
"The Greek pantheon was destroyed!"
"Zeus is dead!"
"Olympus has fallen!"
"And yet you stand here as though none of it matters!"
Her voice trembled with emotion.
She turned toward Hera first.
"You were the Queen of Olympus!"
Then toward Gaia.
"And you are Gaia—the Earth Mother, one of the oldest beings in our entire pantheon!"
"You should have been leading resistance against the one who defeated us!"
"Instead, you've simply accepted everything!"
The hall fell silent.
Hera lowered her gaze.
Gaia remained equally quiet.
Neither attempted to argue.
Neither attempted to justify themselves.
Persephone's accusations struck them harder than either woman expected.
The certainty in her voice forced them to reflect upon their own actions.
For the first time in a long while, uncertainty appeared on their faces.
And as Persephone continued staring at them, she realized something surprising.
Neither Hera nor Gaia seemed angry.
Instead, they looked conflicted.
As though they themselves no longer fully understood the path they had chosen.
...
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