It should've gotten easier with time.
Everyone said so.
But everyone didn't care what their husbands did. Persephone's husband was loyal to a fault, preferring to dissolve into a pit of depression darker than the deepest hellholes of Tartarus than find another partner during her absence. Amphitrite's husband went on various escapades, but now, she simply joined him. Numerous other goddesses simply tolerated disloyalty, saying that eternity was a long time, Hera, just close your eyes, take a breath, and get a new hobby.
Hera wasn't sure why breathing was so hard. It wasn't as though she truly loved the man; he raped her into marriage, tortured her when she rebelled against his rule, and constantly saw other people, men, women, and anyone else with a ready hole for him.
There was no love, no loyalty in this mockery of a political marriage.
Then why did the lies hurt?
It was the principle, she decided, the sheer disrespect. She was a powerful, refined woman undeserving of such lies, such treatment.
She put out her cigarette and stood.
There was someone who did know exactly how to make her feel as she deserved.
Hera had staff who respected her, of course. Argos loved her without question, always keeping an eye or ten on her and not hesitating to get involved if Zeus bothered to punish her for her disobedience. But he didn't give her what she wanted. What she wanted wasn't something any man could provide.
Rather, she needed a feminine touch.
Zeus had his masculine touch, his prized boy toy and cupbearer, Ganymede. Hera had a cupbearer, too, but it was her daughter. Hera had no interest in her own children, and even if she did, Hebe was eternally a young girl, never aging past eight. Repulsive in the context of Hera's carnal needs.
Instead, she turned to her colorful messenger.
Hera made her way to the balcony of her quarters. The sun was still up, as it would be until she willed it otherwise.
"Hebe," she called to her cupbearer.
The girl scrambled in. She never was the graceful one, but Hera didn't mind. Her children were often her opposite, after all; chaotic, messy, loud, and clumsy, but useful.
"What will you be drinking, Mother?" Hebe asked, bowing low. Her red curls--the only part of her that took after her mother--fell out of their updo.
"Just a water."
Hebe lifted her head. "Just a water?"