36 ........

The room was eerily silent with a rather thick atmosphere, Zeus's intense glare at Hephaestus was returned with an equally intense glare back at him. Two of the enforcers stood right below Zeus's elevated station  each standing in a way that they believed was appropriate, the Other two enforcers are in a wild moose chase looking for Apollo in the wrong places. Aphrodite who stood beside Hephaestus feigned a confidence but was inwardly nervous as she felt a sense of insignificance and lack of confidence, being the only woman in the room gave her a sense of unease.

"So, you killed Ares?"

Zeus asked casually with his gaze moving from Hephaestus to Aphrodite and noting her clothing, she hadn't had a chance to change and was wearing the same sports bra and tights she had been wearing earlier and Zeus found the outfit to be quite a good fit on her, he scratched his beard while his gaze Lingered longer on her.

"Yes that I did"

Hephaestus grasped her hand pulling her closer to his side, he was supposed to stand at the centre of the room alone but Aphrodite followed him and it didn't seem like anyone was objecting or its possible that both of them are considered accomplices to the murder of Ares regardless Hephaestus wasn't liking how the God king seemed to stare at his wife.

"and the reason?"

Hephaestus couldn't help but note the complete lack of concern in Zeus's voice, there was nothing that suggested that Zeus was angry or distraught  about Ares' death. Hephaestus had thought that Ares was a favoured son at least more favoured than he was.

"Because he tried to rape Aphrodite and tried to kill me, was I suppose to let him do  those things"

Incidentally no evidence was ever collected for trials, it was your word against the word of the opposition and maybe a friend or two that is connected to the situation and the God king chooses which side of the story is believable to him. Usually Themis is present to act as advocate for both sides  advising the king  and  to keep him from making a verdict based on his mood(usually fails to do so). Hephaestus's trial was more like an interrogation rather than a trial as there was no doubt about the fact he killed Ares, if his  reasons are sufficient he can be let go or be punished leniently.

"I Suppose not, but Ares is a member of Olympus  you cannot simply kill him because the mood strikes you"

"The fu– he was trying to kill me, he attacked me out of nowhere and said he was going to eliminate me, was I just let him go after he made his intentions clear"

Hephaestus defended himself, how was he supposed to let someone who wanted to kill him go that's almost asking to get killed, maybe He could have talked it out with Ares and they could have come to an understanding but then Ares should have also come to talk and resolve his issues with Hephaestus.

"Well due to you killing him you both committed a crime and created a problem for me so you need to be punished"

At this moment in time unbeknownst to Hephaestus or anyone in the room Zeus was currently focusing his attention and senses at Athena's location, she may have said she Surrenders but Zeus wasn't going to just believe that so he made it a point to follow her Presence, right now If Hephaestus were to suddenly attack Zeus it would take a few seconds of delay before he could respond.

"so because I inconvenienced you, I need to be punished? I thought this was supposed to be a fair trial."

"It is a fair trial and since you conspired with a traitor I will have you banished from Olympus until a proper punishment can be issue for killing Ares"

Zeus spoke, it would have been better to kill him that way Aphrodite would fall right into his lap but that would distract him from Athena, she's the priority right now and he needs to keep his senses sharp in case she tries something. Since Hephaestus killed Ares he'll need a level of attention plus Zeus isn't the type to finish his fights too early so for now he just needs to separate Aphrodite from Hephaestus.

"Also you two are now divorced"

"What?? Why??"

Aphrodite blurted those words out and frowned as she did, while earlier she may have wanted a divorce she doesn't now, she doesn't believe herself to be good enough for Hephaestus but she'll try to be and she wants him by her side as she does that she can't divorce him now.

"He's being banished, you aren't. He won't be able see you or talk to you. Infact seeing and talking to him would be tantamount to treason you don't want to be a traitor do you?"

"if that's the case then  I'll…."

She paused, was she really willing to leave Olympus forever? This place was her home, leaving and coming back is no problem but to leave indefinitely not only that would she be running away if she did? Would she be running away from her past if she left Olympus. Her future is with Hephaestus and the person she wishes to become is someone she wants to be with him, it May be running away but without Hephaestus there's no point in her changing.

"I'll leave with Hephaestus, where he goes I go"

She finished  causing Zeus to frown deeply but he didn't rebuke her instead he looked at Hephaestus.

"Hephaestus You are hereby banished from Olympus, where you go is none of my concern, say your goodbyes"

His wording did not involve Aphrodite and only mentioned Hephaestus, both Aphrodite  and Hephaestus Exited the room, they didn't protest to this nor did Hephaestus feel any loss from this whole ordeal and incidentally he got his wish, to live with Aphrodite freely and peacefully.

...

With Hephaestus  and Aphrodite leaving the room Zeus  was able  to focus more on Athena and noted that her presence was right above him on the second floor of the palace.

"So she's going to that room, foolish girl"

He smiled as he muttered to himself, with Hephaestus being banned from Olympus  both Hera and Themis confined in his chambers and Ares being dead Athena had no Allies plus the fact that she seems to be gaining power by the second was making her presence all the more easy to detect, for the time being he'll let her do as she please and the utterly destroy her and show her how foolish it is to go against him.

"Kratos, find the others and bring them here, Apollo can handle himself the search for him is over."

As a king Zeus has the ultimate power within Olympus  and should have the final say in everything however he let the 12 Olympian be a thing because at the time he needed allies  to fend of enemies, in fact even right now there's a number of titans that could become enemies of Olympus but he will not have his throne taken from him nor will he allow anything that is his to escape his grasp.

Having received his order Kratos disappeared and went to carry them out. Leaving Nike alone with Zeus.

"Nike"

"Yes my king"

"How do you think a king should punish those who sought to take his throne from him"

"matters such as that do not concern me my King, it is up to your discretion"

Nike advised and Zeus smiled at her answer, dealing with Athena wouldn't be too difficult if her goal is just the Scythe then he can handle her, he just has to make sure that she doesn't leave Olympus for now and without any Allies she shouldn't cause too much trouble.

"time to see my wife or should I say wives"

He chuckled at his words as he left the room followed by Nike.

...

It  didn't take  long for him to arrive at  his bed chambers were Hera  and Themis were being kept along with Leto and Demeter, Hecate wasn't here but instead would be conducting a security check to re-evaluate the magical security system she set up. Even thought she was confident in her system she still felt the need to check it just so she could laud it over Zeus about How he was wrong to doubt her.

Nike stood on outside the door and Zeus Entered the room, it was uncomfortably silent with the four Goddesses not making eye contact with each other, Leto was feeling dejected with her head down staring at the floor, Themis stood behind Hera who had all her Four arms crossed  and Demeter was watering some plants that definitely weren't there before she entered

"considering the future I would have thought you would be chatting it up but I guess I was wrong"

He entered and closed the door as he said and had an amused smile on his face. Looking at them individually he found each and everyone of them to be quite enchanting, beautiful in their own right but Hera was the most beautiful of them all, it was never a lie that he loved her.

"why would I be talking to them"

"Yes why would I be talking to the person who tried to kill me when I was pregnant"

Leto responded with bit more energy in her voice, causing Zeus to grin even more, he had a thing for defiant women but he also likes them when they're timid and soft spoken, he also Liked when they're confident and strong, beautiful and naïve, he liked different kinds of women or to put it simply  he liked every kind of women, each had their own unique flavours in bed.

"I personally have no interest in talking although I am quite curious as to why we are here? Both Hera and Themis are criminals but me and Leto are not."

Demeter asked.

"The matter is pretty simple, I'm tired of being married to one person so why don't I marry all of you, there's two missing but  we'll talk about that later."

There was hardly any surprise in any of their faces, knowing Zeus it wasn't something out of the question for him.

"I want a divorce, you can marry whoever you want afterwards"

Hera spoke, in Truth Hera had wanted to take the throne for herself, she hated Zeus or rather she was mad at him as such she wanted him to die as punishment then once he reincarnates their relationship would begin from scratch with her being the one in power, there was also the fact the Future she had seen wouldn't come to pass if Zeus had died even momentarily.

Unfortunately for Hera Athena didn't plan to kill Zeus momentarily and they would have come to blows once Athena's idea was revealed to her. Now that Hera has been defeated and the hope of restarting her relationship was gone all the momentum she had was gone and she only wanted to be away from Zeus and a divorce seemed to the right thing to do, she didn't like it but it is for the best.

"if you want a divorce fine but then I'll be forced to send you to Tartarus"

"I'm fine with that."

Zeus paused, he certainly didn't expect her to call his bluff like that, obviously he wasn't about to send her to Tartarus, He had hoped to coerce her with that but no matter.

"doesn't matter what you want, as king what I say is final"

He  clarified and  Hera could not respond to his words and instead remained silent, Zeus was about to quite literally force all of them into a relationship. before  she could speak again Demeter spoke first.

"Are you saying that we aren't allowed to object?"

She asked not very pleased. It seems Zeus wasn't taking no for an answer to his proposition, He was already the father of her daughter and its not like she didn't find him attractive However she wasn't about to be forced into anything.

"Yes"

......

A/N: Zeus Starting his own harem it seems, is this the right way to do it?

Thank you very much to you guys for the support I really appreciate it.

Question.

I had planned to end this book quite quickly 60-80 chapters however I just Began planning the second arc not only that but I got an idea of a sequel Focusing of Hephaestus's and his children(3) but I don't know where to set it.

Ancient greece with various Greek myth heroes a d legends with a mix of other anime or comic characters

Or

Set it in modern day earth

Should I make a poll?