《Beauty Of Thebes》


 Chapter 1 - Thebe’s Finest Beauty

    Chapter 1: Thebe¡¯s Finest Beauty


    Thebes, a city blessed by the gods. Aphelius, King of Thebes, had three daughters and had reached the age of marriage. King Aphelius was troubled finding the right suitor for his three daughters who would be a good husband and a fine warrior.


    Ever since Princess Persephone, the most beautiful woman was married off to good ¡®ole Hades, the rankings of the families¡¯ beautiful women moved higher in rank, and now the two princesses of Thebes were both ranked first and second.


    And there was nothing good being known as a beauty. Look at Helen of Troy¡­ she caused the downfall of the Trojans. Literally. In Greece, the fate of beauties was unceasing. There came the frequent visits by wandering heroes to wager a bet or take possession of the kings¡¯ daughters. And lord help the king for he had no say in the matter! And then there exists another problem. The lustful male gods who¡¯d sneak in the middle of the night and have his way with the princesses. Now that, that was the biggest problem.


    King Aphelius only goal, or at least at the moment, was to make sure his daughters was safely married off without disturbance that he made sure his men keep a distance from the princesses so as to prevent them from depriving his daughters¡¯ purity.


    The palace of Thebes followed an open style of architecture that was a combination of elegance, grandeur, and gentleness. But it could not protect the princesses. Hell, it¡¯d not stop outsiders from breaking in. So to protect the princesses¡¯ purity, the officials said, ¡°We must revise the architecture of the palace so no outsiders can break in and steal our princesses¡¯ innocence.¡±


    Instead of pillars, the king built a wall of cement, and the public bathhouse where the princesses often frequented to was surrounded by maze-like corridors. Even their rooms had been revised, but the princesses, accustomed to the traditional architecture of high-ceilings and open air complained. They slept in a room that was akin to prison. The king therefore allowed the bedroom to have a window. It was modified, of course. It was strong, durable, and could never be opened from the outside.


    Even his daughters, who had no knowledge of windows were instructed to close the windows before heading to bed.


    The king did suffer from a sense of chronic anxiety. No matter what he did to protect the princesses¡¯ purity, the thought of the gods with their strange methods frightened him to death. So the king came up with another method to protect the two princesses.


    But wait, did not the king mention that he had three daughters, so why then only two was mentioned? There was a perfectly good reason. The other princess, Eutosteia, was uncannily ordinary that it was hard to believe she was of royal lineage.


    Askitea, was a golden-haired beauty.


    And Hersia was a brown-haired woman who had a perfectly sensual body.


    There were rumors of many falling in love at first sight and if they continued to look, well, they¡¯d go blind. And what of Eutostea? She found it easy to keep her heart free from all the pressure regardless of what people thought of her as an ugly pheasant among the two beautiful women.


    At dinner, Askitea said to Eutosteia, ¡°Since you¡¯ve no chance to marry a prince, why not submit yourself to father? You can continue living the life of luxury everyday like that.¡±


    ¡­. What did she just speak of?


    Of course, Eutostea was silent. Her sisters had weird quirks.


    Hersia, who sat next to Eutosteia ate her lamb in silence. But after a while, she spoke on her behalf and scolded the youngest. ¡°So you say sister, but who knows, you¡¯ll probably live your whole life as an old maid and die old due to your temper. Be a good girl and serve in the Temple of Apollo instead.¡±


    ¡°If I do, well, I¡¯ll pray that my sisters won¡¯t scare away the people and is married off safely.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t need your prayers!¡±


    Hersia and Askitea roared at the same time.


    Eutostea sighed. She knew the thoughts of her sister. Unfortunately, unbeknownst to father who struggled to keep their purity alive, the two princesses looked forward to a romantic night with a male god.


    Zeus, the king of gods¡­ it was familiar legend that he approached a woman that he¡¯d often disguise himself as an animal before taking shape. And so even though Askitea was allergic to furry-like animals, she continuously brought furry animals with her to bed.


    And as for Ares who had the hots for Aphrodite¡­ well¡­ Hersia often moistened herself night with perfume, staring off into a daze, thinking that she is the reincarnate of Aphrodite, the Goddess of Beauty.


    Eutostea sighed. Her two sisters¡¯ vain delusions were immature. A god is a god, after all, and man rarely sees the gods¡¯ much less know of their affairs. If they spend the night giving their pure chastity to the male god, won¡¯t they gain the ire and jealousy of the goddess? Unlike her sisters, she had a different wish, and it was for her beloved Thebes to remain prosperous and continue to exist in history.


    Hersia and Akistea left the dining hall and returned to their quarters, daydreaming of the male gods.


    And so the night of Thebes deepened and midnight came. The two of Greece¡¯s top beauties washed themselves clean, brushed their hairs soft, and the likes. As for Eutostea, she went straight to bed. Meanwhile, the king¡¯s soldier thoroughly guarded the princess. To hell if anyone broke in. The soldiers¡¯ would give them a good beating.


    But what of gods? Well, it¡¯d be easier for a god to dispose of a human than to kill an ant.


    ¡°Oh my god¡­¡±


    Eutostea closed the window in her bedroom with lips parted slightly. The latch to the window was missing. The staff wouldn¡¯t be so careless¡­


    ¡°Where did you slip and roll off to?¡±


    Eutostea raised her brows and began to look for the missing latch. In doing so, she did not notice the figure near the window frames.


    A gust of wind swept through the room and the fire dimmed. The chimney left behind a haze of smoke before turning into black ashes. The room darkened in an instant. Eutostea¡¯s eyes widened. She saw a man sitting against the window frame with the moonlight as his backdrop.


    ¡°The window¡¯s open.¡±


    The man¡¯s voice tickled her ears as sweet as a honeyed drink.


    Eutostea prepared to scream.


    ¡°Thie¡­ thief¡­.¡±


    But her mouth was quickly covered by the man¡¯s large hands. Eutostea felt a sense of pressure she had never felt before.


    ¡°Are you Thebes¡¯ princess? Even though I entered through the window¡­ well, don¡¯t worry about it, I won¡¯t hurt you. Forgive me for not being able to reveal myself in the darkness.¡±


    He whispered in her ears.


    What was his identity?


    He pulled his hand away from her from her mouth. She wanted to speak but she could not. The words were stuck in her throat. She did not know what was going on, but all she knew was that she wanted to get away from the man. But alas, the man shackled her. He placed his hand on her back and waist, pressing his fingers in her flesh.


    ¡°I came to be your one-night lover. After this night, you will neither remember me nor meet me again,¡± the man whispered in a voice like honey.


    While the man held her hand and led her to bed, Eutostea wore a grim countenance. The man caressed her hair and grabbed a handful, smelling its scent like an incense.


    ¡°I heard you like to use perfume, but I don¡¯t smell anything.¡±


    ¡®I don¡¯t.¡¯


    Eutostea replied inwardly to the man¡¯s strange question.


    It was her second sister, Hersia, who was obsessed with perfumes.


    Moving from her hair, the man touched her cheek and caressed it.


    ¡°If I had seen you in daytime, you¡¯d have rosy brown hair.¡±


    ¡®No, my hair is black. That is my sister.¡¯


    And she whispered.


    The man¡¯s face was getting closer and Eutostea could feel it. The man was confused and mistook her identity as the second princess, Hersia.


    ¡°Allow me to introduce myself as I spend the night with you. Princess of Thebes, I am Apollo, God of Prophecy.¡±


    He whispered in a sweet, friendly voice before overlapping his lips with hers.


    She wanted to resist, but she could not for her lips were instantly devoured. The man¡¯s tongue intruded her mouth and captured her tongue, sucking it so violently that she¡¯d almost forgotten to breathe.


    ¡®You¡¯ve got the wrong room.¡¯


    But still, she did not resit. Eutostea clung to him helplessly. She collapsed onto the bed against the will of her own body. Tonight, Apollo would take her.

 Chapter 2 - You’re In The Wrong Place (1)

    Chapter 2: You¡¯re In the Wrong Place


    It was Eutostea¡¯s first company with that of an opposite sex¡­ her first kiss and god forbid, the first she exposed her bare skin to a man. If her sisters were to learn that she¡¯d shown her body to a deity in bed, they¡¯d grind their teeth in jealousy.


    Eutostea¡¯s body trembled. The man gently laid her down the bed. No, god, not man. He looked at her deeply, like a prey waiting to be devoured. He leaned forward and crashed his lips onto Eutostea, mixing his saliva with hers. With lips stuck on hers, he grasped her soft mound with one hand. It was a heavenly feeling, he thought.


    Eutostea moaned. She felt a strange feeling flow through her body. They call it pleasure, right¡­? But that was but a brief encounter. After the short foreplay, Apollo pushed his manhood deep inside her secret garden.


    Eutostea heard that the first experience would be painful and would fade right away, but that was an obvious lie. It was a splitting feeling of something creeping down. She almost seemed to break in half from the pain too. It was strange, and a little awkward knowing her hymen had been forced open. The hot flesh filled her garden and god could she could feel it deep inside.


    And it was then that she felt pleasure¡­


    Moreover, while her eyes were shut tight, Apollo¡¯s constant kisses and caresses melted her body like cotton candy, sucking her tongue like sweet nectar.


    Ignorant of a man and woman¡¯s relationship, she allowed Apollo to skillfully lead the pace. As a result, Apollo wrapped her legs around his waist and thrusted forward slowly, bringing Eutostea to higher stairs of ecstasy.


    ¡°Haa¡­¡±


    With lips stuck on each other, Eutostea moaned softly, a sound Apollo found pleasurable to the ear. He smiled and deepened the kiss once more.


    The night was short, or at least she thought it was. She didn¡¯t know how long the time had passed, all she knew was of Apollo¡¯s never-ending thrust and grinding against her wet petals. And each time, she¡¯d respond to a throaty moan. Apollo would have continued the sensual act but he was at his limits and so was she. She placed her arm on Apollo¡¯s shoulder as a sign of surrender before he made his release.


    And finally, with a sigh of pleasure, Eutostea laid back down. Her cheeks were burning hot and the gap between her open crotch was damp, her secret garden covered with white fluids.


    Apollo rested beside her and circled his fingers on her skin.


    ¡°You don¡¯t smell at all. It¡¯s weird,¡± he said, smelling her scent.


    ¡®I don¡¯t use perfume.¡¯


    Eutostea answered mutely. And like before, no sound came out. But this time, the pressure from before gradually decreased and she felt slightly comfortable. Though there still exists the uneasiness in her heart.


    ¡®What should I do? He had mistaken me for my sister¡­¡¯


    But whether or not he mistook her identity, Apollo enjoyed the moments of fingering her sweet spot.


    Eutostea groaned.


    ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t need to smell all the time.¡±


    ¡°Regardless, I¡¯d have allowed you to call my name, but you kept silent.¡±


    What was she supposed to do in the presence of a god? She did not know. That and the pressure was too overbearing. Unsure what to say, she used other forms of communication and pulled Apollo¡¯s hand into her arms. Her purpose was to move his hand away from her sweet spot.


    ¡°Lick it.¡±


    He made a sudden request and she thought it all the more absurd.


    ¡®What? Right now? After all that had just happened?¡¯


    But still, he was a god and it was best to follow their wants and needs. Eutostea placed her lips on the back of his hand. In that instant, her skin was covered with goosebumps. It was electrifying.


    This is the body of a god?


    In her midst of wonder, Apollo grabbed her chin and ravaged her lips and she once again felt a strange, cool feeling flowing all over her body.


    ¡®It¡¯s strange¡­¡¯


    Was it his saliva? No that can¡¯t be right.


    How could someone¡¯s saliva become so intoxicating and taste so sweetly? Eutostea had an idea. Because he was a god.


    Apollo smiled, pressing his two fingers on her lower lip.


    ¡°Won¡¯t you let me hear your voice before the night ends? Are you afraid? Oh, maybe it¡¯s because of me. Right, I shouldn¡¯t have come here like this. The energy of a god is too much for a human not used to it. Is it an inconvenience? But didn¡¯t you have the best night? Hmm¡­ I don¡¯t really care. But even so, I¡¯ll faithfully spend the night next to you. I won¡¯t leave ¡®till dawn.¡±


    He smiled sweetly again.


    ¡°I¡¯ll sing you a song.¡±


    To hear the voice of the god of music was akin to addiction. He had a sweet voice, humming the lyrics of a tune.


    As she lulled deep into sleep, Eutostea had only one thought, she was screwed. She feared what was to come. The prison-like structure designed by the king was like an ironclad to prevent outsiders from entering, but well, here was¡­


    The dim moonlight barely shone through the windows and Apollo saw her lulling to sleep. He kissed her forehead goodbye and approached the window. Eutostea looked over her shoulder and saw the silver dawn of light rippling his sturdy figure that could only be seen through deem eyes.


    The last voice she heard from the god was an ominous prophecy: ¡°I¡¯ll come again.¡±


    And at last, sleep overtook her.

 Chapter 3 - You’re In The Wrong Place (2)

    Chapter 3: You¡¯re In the Wrong Place (2)


    Eutostea woke up in the morning; she slept soundly and woke up feeling refreshed. She felt weird ¨C¨C having a bizarre night, or maybe a dream that she could not quite pinpoint and point her finger to.


    Or maybe she did¡­


    Eutostea glanced around with blank eyes and was surprised by the wide open window that looked ready to welcome a guest in. That and she slept naked¡­ her favorite dress lying at a distance.


    When she reached out to her side, she noticed a dent on the mattress, a trace of someone, not her, lying down¡­


    She quickly got to her feet and moved. If the maidservant we¡¯re to find out the condition of her room, rumors would surely spread. And she did not want that. She hurriedly leveled the sunken side of the mattress and put on the dress that laid on the floor.


    ¡°You¡¯re up.¡±


    The door opened, timed by the chiming bells.


    No one had any inkling interest in the open window, merely searching every inch of the bed.


    Eutostea watched them nervously, eyes squinting.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did you lose anything?¡±


    ¡°No, Princess. Did you turn around a lot last night? The bed is in a mess.¡±


    ¡°Then clean it up. It¡¯s your job.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Princess.¡±


    Three or four people changed the sheets to a new one and arranged the bedding diligently.


    Eutostea left the room to wash her face, but upon forgetting something, she returned to her quarters and instructed the servants.


    ¡°The window latch came off. Fix it again.¡±


    The servants exchanged suspicious glances at her orders.


    Eutostea frowned and waited for an answer.


    They nodded.


    Satisfied, she walked back to the public bath, a place she and her two other sisters shared.


    Clear water pulled up by the waterway filled the circular bathtub, filling up the tub like spring.


    Eutostea was the first to arrive. She took off her clothes and thought of her sisters.


    They¡¯d be in bed right now.


    Procrastinating.


    Eutostea looked in front of the bronze mirror to find any sort of suspicious markings or traces, but there was none to be found. Her stomach did not feel full and bloated and there was no pain in her groin.


    Something was odd.


    She had probably lost her virginity last night, but however, her body had changed when the blaring moon blighted the sky. Her dream was so vivid. Was she a pervert dreaming of Apollo? She did not know.


    Eutostea shook her head and hurried to take a bath, soaking her body with lukewarm water.


    In time, her sisters made their appearance..


    ¡°Did anyone hear a knock on a window last night?¡±


    It was the voice of Princess Askitea.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t hear anything. I was too tired.¡±


    Said the second princess, Hersia.


    ¡°How can you sleep like that? What if someone barged into your room unknowingly? That¡¯s dangerous. Anyways, I heard it for sure. I heard a window rattle. If the maidservants weren¡¯t watching me like an eagle, I¡¯d have opened the window and check it out right away.¡±


    ¡°Would a God need to knock on a window when entering a woman¡¯s bedroom?¡±


    ¡°But I really did hear it¡­¡±


    Askitea said with a sigh.


    ¡°If it was Almighty Zeus, he¡¯d have laughed and break through the window, smashing it without care. The person who knocked on a window last night might¡¯ve been a little boy or a petty thief.¡±


    Eutostea, who was listening, shrugged.


    ¡®Sister, maybe his name was Apollo.¡¯


    Birds roam the day and rats flock in the night. Eutostea prayed to Artemis in her heart to forgive her of her first carnal sin. She was frustrated too¡­ no longer a virgin.


    The other two princesses finally dipped into the bath. Hersia and Askitea diligently applied olive oil to soften their hair, further accentuating a strange scent that flowed from somewhere.


    ¡°What¡¯s that smell?¡±


    Hersia said.


    ¡°It smells good. Did you change the oil?¡±


    Askitea asked.


    They began to search for the source of the scent, searching every corner, until, finally, their eyes fell on one side of the room. It was Eutostea, half immersed in the bath.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe it.¡±


    ¡°Dears gods.¡±


    The two sisters looked at each other and nodded in understanding.


    How could the youngest sister obtain a sweet fragrance? She never cared much for beauty and decor. Forget even looking at distilled water or perfumes. That was not her thing.


    Askitea and Hersia analyzed Eutostea¡¯s hair and neck respectively. Her bodily fragrance was like honey and heaven and reminded them of an evening primrose. They¡¯ve gone through numerous fragrance, but never did they smell a scent like this.


    It was heaven!


    ¡°Was she struck with poison? That should be it¡­¡±


    Though that was far from the truth, and Askitea could not think of other reasonings why her younger sister smelled good. Even Hersia agreed to her foolish reasoning..


    And the first thing they needed to do was to neutralize the scent of the poison.


    ¡°I hear that if you pour wine, it¡¯ll neutralize it.¡±


    Askitea walked to a cabinet next to the massage table and grabbed a jar of wine.


    ¡°Our dear sister is very unlucky¡­ to have gotten poison¡­ we need to quickly neutralize it and put some barley tree essence thereafter to soothe the skin better.¡±


    Askitea muttered.


    The two sisters joined forces to pour wine over Eutostea¡¯s head.


    Eutostea suddenly woke up from her stupor and anger rose like lava.


    ¡°Are you crazy?!¡±


    Eutostea burst out in roaring anger, her naked body exposed. She chased after her foolish sisters.


    Askitea threw the jar away and quickly escaped.


    Hersia slipped and landed on a maidservant.


    Five minutes later, both were caught in Eutostea¡¯s hand.


    While the maidservants cleaned the bath, the other two sisters explained their reasoning for pouring wine on her.


    Their reasoning and excuse was to try and neutralize the poison Eutostea was inflicted with without making it seem absurd otherwise, it would seem like they were asking to be beaten to death.

 Chapter 4 - Stay Pure, Pretty Princess

    Chapter 4: Stay Pure, Pretty Princess


    In the morning come, Eutostea¡¯s sisters and the servants were in curious wonder of her¡­ scent. Each time she passed, their bodies grew hot and in fervent heat, especially their groin.


    ¡°My heart is beating fast because of your scent, princess¡­¡± said one of the passing servants.


    Eutostea¡¯s cheeks burned like a tomato at the servant¡¯s comment and she dashed straight to her room. Her servants soon followed after her.


    Hours later, Eutostea was found sitting in daze at the garden.


    There were carpetings imported from Persia sitting atop the armored pavilion and marble pillars supporting the roof.


    Eutostea rang a bell lightly and food came flying in. She sat in front of the bowl of purple grapes, attempting to appease her hunger first. She was out of strength from last night and she needed to snap out of her euphoria.


    Last night¡­ she became someone¡¯s meal.


    Suddenly and unaware, the voice of a male rang out.


    ¡°Eutostea, you smell nice lately. Are you finally interested in perfumes?¡± the king


    questioned.


    Eutostea looked up with a face full of embarrassment and said, ¡°Pardon?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I¡¯m sure the scent comes from you.¡± The king leaned forward and smiled. ¡°What kind of perfume did you use? You should share it along women.¡±


    Her two sisters and her mother, who¡¯d been hiding from behind the walls jumped out from their hiding and joined in the conversation with gawking eyes.


    ¡°Right? I¡¯ve never smelled anything like this before. I was wondering if younger sister was trying something new,¡± Asquitea said.


    ¡°Screw you, sister. When have I ever been stingy about sharing my cosmetics? I¡¯m so very sad.¡± Hertia sniffled a cry and used her forefinger to gesture a fake tear.


    Eutostea was speechless ¡ª she was embarrassed, ashamed, and bewildered that her body odor became the headline for her family members.


    ¡°I really did not put anything on,¡± Eutostea said, cheeks flushed red.


    ¡°Don¡¯t lie, sister. I¡¯m sure you put on olive oil.¡± Hertia replied.


    ¡°Is it the scent of flowers?¡± said Asquitea.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s a cool scent coming out of deep forest after rain,¡± the mother remarked.


    All three women¡¯s replies were different.


    The King of Thebes listened to their words with excitement and said, ¡°Eutostea, stop teasing your mother and sisters. Go on, tell them the answer.¡±


    But Eutostea did not answer.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you, Eutostea?¡± he questioned.


    The king took his daughter¡¯s silence as an answer that she was unwilling to reveal. Women¡¯s stubbornness ¨C¨C it¡¯s as clear as daylight. But, he swallowed his words and did not pry any further.


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s nice to see you have an interest in these kind of things too. It¡¯s good that you¡¯re taking steps to become a proper princess. You should look to your sisters for help too. You¡¯re a princess and you¡¯re to be married one day to a prince,¡± the king said, imparting his sound wisdom.


    ¡°You should listen to what your father says,¡± her mother added, ¡°A woman¡¯s natural appearance isn¡¯t everything. Even though you were born fair, you¡¯re far from ugly. You¡¯ll be just as beautiful as your sister if you polish yourself well, my child.¡±


    ¡°Yes, mother.¡±


    Others, they thought they had the rights to comment on Eutostea¡¯s looks. She was the ugly sister and who she was and what she could offer was not good enough. She did not have the pretty face to match her pretty mind. No, she was just average. Sure, she was a princess, but she was average. And no one listens to average.


    Though the more serious problem she needed to worry about was her virginity. It was gone, stolen by the thief of the night.


    Her father made it loud and clear that were she to lose her virginity to a god, well, she can kiss goodbye to her comfort and luxury for he would exile her immediately.


    And besides that, her lost virginity was a stumbling block in a man and woman¡¯s marriage, and would be labeled a damaged product without value.


    It was why the king kept strict watch on Asquitea and Hercia. It was his rightful duty as father and king to keep their purity for the worthy groom.


    Thebes needed to enter into a marriage to foreign country to strengthen their power. And besides, Thebes was a small city-state sandwiches between powerful states and countries. A marriage of alliance was absolutely crucial for the sake of their survival.


    The king needed to use his daughters well.


    Eutostea too ¡ª she knew better than anyone else of her duties and responsibilities as a princess. Sometimes, she was concerned of what would lie before her two sisters. They could not think much beyond the future and she worried for their sake.


    But before that, why did her window latch come off last night, and why did Apollo mistake her for her second sister?


    ¡®Oh, I¡¯m screwed¡­¡¯


    Back in the room, Eutostea teared up and slammed her head on the desk.


    She sighed.


    ¡°Oh Artemis, what will become of me?¡± Eutostea asked the goddess of purity a question, but it came without a reply.


    Sighing, Eutostea checked the window. She mentioned the servants earlier to have it fixed and it should have been repaired by now, but still, there was no latch.

 Chapter 5 - Princess, You Smell Like Me

    Chapter 5: Princess, You Smell Like Me


    Rumors of the third princess¡¯ intoxicating scent quickly spread throughout the palace. The maidservant who served her and the first and second princess¡¯ maidservant, too, testified in person ¡ª their words credible.


    ¡°Your scent is strong. What did you use?¡± a maidservant said.


    ¡°Scent? Hey, our princess doesn¡¯t have a thing for that. She¡¯s just¡­ not that kind of person. And it just wouldn¡¯t match her face,¡± said another maidservant.


    Eutostea became the hot topic amongst the servants.


    ¡°Then what is this scent? It¡¯s the first I¡¯ve encountered of it. It¡¯s otherworldly and superior¡­¡±


    The maidservant washed the bedding sheets from the princess¡¯ room. Soon, other maidservants huddled together and inhaled the ever so rousing scent. The scent from the sheets was stronger too. Did the princess spill some on the bed sheets? But nevertheless, the mysterious aroma caused the maidservants¡¯ hearts to flutter.


    ¡°Are you scads going to waddle there?¡± The laundromat captain scolded the maidservants and splashed them with frothing lye. ¡°You¡¯ve a mountain of laundry to do! Get going!¡±


    And so the maidservants scattered and made their way to their baskets.


    The maidservant placed in charge of cleaning the bed sheet dipped it onto the lye and stamped on it with her feet, cleaning the dirt off in the process. Strangely, however, the scent in the water became thick like a golden wooden chamber.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure the princess would scold us if she knew the truth. What ever shall we do?¡± a maidservant sighed and muttered.


    The maidservant washing the scented bed sheet looked over her shoulder and casually asked, ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°You intentionally broke the window latch. What if she finds out that we¡¯re the culprit? She¡¯s even ordered us to fix it this morning, but yet I did not.¡±


    ¡°The princess, she¡¯s been interested in that window latch since then.¡±


    ¡°Right¡­¡±


    The timid maidservant was uneasy. ¡°It was the king who instructed me to take out the window latch in the first place. It was his order and I only followed. I assume it was for the princesses safety.¡±


    ¡°So that¡¯s it. But why do we need to keep the princesses locked up¡­ why¡­¡±


    ¡°Shh. Watch your mouth, Clara.¡±


    And that was that.


    Their conversation ended.


    The maidservants dried the laundry in the hot sun while the three princesses spent time in their respective leisure activities.


    ***


    Dinner came quickly.


    Eutostea leaned against her bedroom window and sighed. She had asked the servants to have the window latch fixed, but the repairman suddenly had to withdraw early. He was tasked to work outside the palace.


    ¡®I have to make sure the window is closed,¡¯ she thought with clenched teeth. ¡®He¡¯ll come again today.¡¯


    Night came quickly.


    Eutostea¡¯s heart thumped erratically and went to bed early, making sure all the lights are turned on. She heard that gods were reluctant to reveal themselves to humans. Yesterday¡¯s there was only one light, the moon. With only the moonlight present, Eutostea was unsure whether the person was a man or a god.


    So, she needed to be wary. With the lights turned on, she felt more at ease.


    Besides, she did not want anything to do with the gods. They¡¯re dangerous. Past godly intervention always ends in tragic mess.


    Outside the window, the sounds of the guards¡¯ footsteps echoed.


    Eutostea bit her lip. The security, they weren¡¯t reliable. She thought of asking her father to train them further tomorrow morning. If only she was properly guarded¡­


    But, much to her dismay, an ominous foreboding loomed in.


    A gust of wind blew out all the lit lamps.


    ¡°What¡­¡±


    Eutostea leapt to her feet as the reality of the present moment overlapped with the memories from last night.


    It was a man, his shadow a fluorescent beauty against the moonlight.


    He slipped into the room with graceful gestures and became one with darkness.


    Eutostea¡¯s legs trembled.


    Step by step, the man walked up to her, without notice, without hesitation. Though wearing the shell of a human, his godly presence was evident¡­


    ¡°Princess of Thebes, we meet again.¡± The sweet voice echoed in her ear, proving that last night¡¯s deed was no dream.


    Eutostea felt an electric touch from her back.


    ¡°You smell like me. I¡¯m glad.¡± The man laughed.


    So, it was all because of this god that she had met unnecessary troubles.

 Chapter 6 - You Are Mine

    Chapter 6: You Are Mine


    ¡°Why did you turn off the light?¡± Eutostea asked.


    In the whirlpool of darkness, Eutostea had not the chance to recognize the figure and image of a god. She could only believe it was him.


    Apollo¡¯s finger grazed her cheek. Unlike his electrifying touch from yesterday, this was one was friendly and more¡­ wholesome.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want you to see me. Anyhow, I am but a soul covered in human shell. It isn¡¯t me¡­ but a fake.¡±


    Apollo¡¯s explanation revealed Eutostea¡¯s doubts.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you able to see me without the lights on?¡± Eutostea said in tongues of whisper.


    Apollo chuckled lightheartedly. ¡°Do you think my eyesight is that bad? You seem suspicious of me, the man who came back for you, the man drunk with your beauty.¡±


    ¡®Yes, I don¡¯t quite trust what I¡¯m not seeing.¡¯


    Eutostea looked at him ¡ª looked at where he should be. He should have noticed the difference between her and her sister. Her sister was beautiful and she was average.


    ¡°My hair¡­¡± Eutostea muttered.


    ¡°You smell nice, princess. I like it.¡±


    His lips touched the top of her head and savored her scent, his arms wrapped around her. He looked zoned out.


    Apollo, he made her¡­


    ¡°A god has never heard my voice before,¡± Eutostea changed the topic, feeling uncomfortable.


    ¡°Yes. It sounds better than the melody of my lira.¡± Apollo smiled.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s quite comparable.¡±


    ¡°If you say so, princess. Don¡¯t be too hard on yourself. Princess, my name, have you forgotten it?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m comfortable writing it.¡±


    Apollo smiled and looked at Eutostea warmly. ¡°Now that you¡¯re talking, I notice that your voice is sweet and tinged with spices of stubbornness.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, forgive me if I was rude.¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s quite alright.¡±


    Eutostea surprised herself. She spoke more to a god than any human. Perhaps she had drunk too much wine for dinner? And perhaps she had much gusto and brevity because of it.


    ¡°Are you here to spend the night with me again?¡± Eutostea asked, a question that surprised her.


    Apollo was surprised too. He smiled. ¡°That¡¯s quote bold of you. I like it. And yes, I did promise to come back. I¡¯ve been waiting to see you again.¡±


    ¡°This would be my second time¡­ I¡¯m shy¡­¡±


    Apollo pressed his thumb on her full lips. ¡°The woman I held in my arms yesterday would beg to differ.¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­¡±


    Eutostea seemed unable to look at him out of shame.


    ¡°It¡¯s all right. It was lovely. You were great. I wanted to see you again today. I really did. Truly. I hope I can hear more of your voice as well.¡±


    Apollo untied the brooch pinned on Eutostea¡¯s shoulder; a scaly, smooth cloth crashed onto the floor and revealed the curves of a woman.


    ¡°Turn the lights on, Apollo. I need to tell you something¡­¡±


    Eutostea knew where this was heading to so she desperately brought up a new topic of conversation only to have her lips stolen.


    Apollo¡¯s lips, cunning as a snake, coveted her like the sun covets the moon, like the tides gravitating towards the moon. His free arms snaked around her body. He wanted her ¡ª the flaws she had and her perfection; he thought it adorable.


    Grunting, his hands went down her fleshy buttocks and lifted her off the ground, his lips pressed against her nape. Eutostea supported herself and nervously wrapped her arms around his neck tightly.


    Her actions pleased Apollo.


    ¡°Tomorrow, everyone throughout Greece will know that you are my woman. Your taste, scent, and feel of your body pressed against me¡­ that is mine.¡±

 Chapter 7 - You’re Cute, Princess

    Chapter 7: You¡¯re Cute, Princess


    ¡®What kind of things are you saying¡­?¡¯


    Eutostea swallowed her inwardly complaints the moment her back touched the bed.


    Apollo¡¯s hand descended on her chest, her bosom swallowing his hand. His other free hand touched her erect headlight that was as stiff as his manhood.


    Eutostea turned her head to the side with closed eyes.


    She was naked.


    He was naked.


    Apollo soothed her flaming and erect headlight with his tongue.


    Eutostea bit her lip, attempting to control her voice, but as always, her lips was devoured by Apollo ¡ª they were drunk in trance.


    Apollo slid his hand down her lower leg and felt the damp crease in her lower area. He rubbed her sweet nectar and Eutostea wriggled. She was wet. And softly, he pushed his manhood inside her.


    ¡°Nnghh¡­¡± Letting out a soft moan, Eutostea bent her back.


    ¡°Don¡¯t move too much. You¡¯ll get hurt.¡±


    Apollo placed his hands on her waist and drove further inside her, his lips blocking hers. Her insides tightened and Apollo grunted in her mouth.


    She felt good. She gave him pleasure.


    Apollo moved back and forth diligently and Eutostea embraced his neck while wrapped in his sensation.


    He was proud of her. She let herself go to the sensation of pleasure.


    They kissed again, his lips smothering hers and her body.


    Once the deed was finished, they cooled down and laid in bed. Eutostea laid on her stomach and had her face on the pillow.


    ¡°Today¡¯s the last day, right?¡± Eutostea asked the man combing her hair with his fingers.


    That was her wish. If this night was their last, she could bury this all and continue her life. She¡¯ll think of it as a mere dream, never revealing what she had done to anyone.


    Apollo said nothing, only caressing her hair like a gentle wave.


    After a while, his lips parted. ¡°¡­I¡¯ve met a lot of women. All would do anything for me to stay, yet¡­ you¡­ you keep pushing me away,¡± he said lowly. ¡°You don¡¯t like me, do you, princess?¡±


    His pride was hurt.


    ¡°It¡¯s not that¡­¡±


    The answer was complicated. There were many reasons, but Eutostea thought it proper to answer honestly than to deceive a god.


    ¡°I¡¯m honored that you would come to me. I¡¯ll never have this experience again with anyone, but you must know that I¡¯m only human. When a man intertwines their fate to a god, a miserable end would always await them. You know that. I want to live normally. Please¡­ please let the people remember me as the Princess of Thebes, not as your lover. That is my one and only request.¡±


    A long, drawn out silence followed.


    His hand, still stroking her hair, grabbed her hair emphatically. Eutostea gave a faint moan.


    ¡°A pampered girl. You¡¯re so arrogant.¡±


    Apollo leaned over and looked at her. Their eyes met and Eutostea saw in his eyes stars dancing; she saw the act they made previously, their bodies begging for each other like it consumed them, and she saw how he pressed himself on each petal, the bud slowly blooming.


    ¡°I could kill you right now, painfully too, and say that you¡¯d tried to challenge a god¡¯s authority. I could put a curse on this city¡­ but¡­ princess, you¡¯re too cute when you¡¯re like this, when you¡¯re trying to push me away.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry if it seemed unpleasant.¡±


    ¡°Smother my lips and beg for forgiveness.¡±


    Apollo brought his lips close to her face and she fidgeted nervously.


    ¡°Do you want me to place a curse on the city?¡± Apollo smiled languidly.


    ¡°Ha¡­ I¡¯ll do it.¡±

 Chapter 8 - Kiss Me, Seduce Me

    Chapter 8: Kiss Me, Seduce Me


    ¡°Princess, I quite like you dearly. I think I¡¯m growing fond of you. Now, come here, kiss me ¡®till we lose ourselves.¡±


    Though they¡¯d already done everything, though she had already felt his touch, Eutostea was embarrassed. She approached his face, took a deep breath, and looked at his lips ready for plucking. His lips were dry but warm and opened slightly like a blooming flower.


    And then¡­ she crashed her lips to his.


    Apollo groaned and held the back of her head, pushing her deeper towards him without shame, without care. For now, he was her world.


    ¡°Not enough, princess,¡± Apollo whispered, his tongue inside her. ¡°Kiss me more until our lips burn.¡±


    ¡°God¡­¡±


    ¡°Princess, you must say my name instead. Don¡¯t be vague. Now, come, touch me¡­ touch me¡­¡±


    A long kiss followed.


    ¡®Pervert¡­¡¯ Eutostea thought.


    Pleasure invaded her body; she dug her fingernails on his back. Apollo chuckled and spread her legs. Eutostea could not believe this god¡¯s libido. Flushed with embarrassment, she covered her secret garden.


    Apollo laughed sweetly and pushed her hand away. ¡°Princess, you¡¯re beautiful down there. Don¡¯t hide it, or are you seducing me? Is that it?¡±


    ¡°No!¡±


    Apollo kissed her hand sweetly and gazed into her beautiful eyes, though to others they¡¯d find it average.


    ¡°You¡¯re beautiful.¡±


    Eutostea could not see his face in the dark, yet she looked at him with mixed emotion.


    Apollo placed her hand over her head and slowly, once more, penetrated inside her wet nectar.


    She moaned and felt nigh pleasure.


    ***


    The sun rose, an indication of the morning come. Eustostea¡®s maidservants entered her quarters and brought in the new sheets that had been ironed overnight.


    Upon entering, the maidservants screamed thoughtlessly. They found Eutostea lying on the floor rolled in the quilt like a dead mummy. Her dense black hair was strewn over the milky carpet like seaweed. She had beautiful skin but dark circles filled her eyes.


    ¡°Princess¡­ did you not sleep? No, why are you on the floor¡­?¡±


    One maidservant attempted to help their princess up.


    ¡°Wait a minute. Let me be on the floor for a moment.¡±


    ¡°Princess, what do you mean?¡±


    Eutostea pressed her cheeks on the marble floor with tears falling in the corner of her eyes.


    ¡°My life is ruined,¡± Eutostea said softly. ¡°You should take the time to enjoy this happy moment for now. And, you don¡¯t need to clean my bedroom today.¡±


    Then she stood up from the floor with a grim look. Death seemed to follow her like a shadow.


    The maidservants were confused and looked at one another with confused eyes. But, still, they they left and closed the door behind them carefully.

 Chapter 9 - Apollo’s Dream

    Chapter 9: Apollo¡¯s Dream


    For certain odd reasons, Eutostea felt from the bottom of her heart a conspiracy brewing ¡ª namely her bedroom window. No matter the amount of times the repairman fixed her window latch, it was often set so loosely that it would fall off by the slightest touch. And she did not know why. The only thing she knows¡­ that she¡¯s certain of is Apollo. He¡¯d enter her room each night like an addiction. He wanted her. That she was certain of.


    He gave her pleasure. If there was a word to describe it she may as well call it a gift. She grew accustomed to his gestures and reached nigh pleasure far too many times to count. He treated her like a woman, like an equal partner.


    Looking at the man who occupied the other half of her bed, Eutostea got out of the bed. She looked at the male god and then the window frame that was brighter than the inside of her bedroom with the stars as silhouettes. The window frame was wide open and the latch evidently loose.


    She once recalled Apollo grumbling at the latch¡¯s cumbersome difficulty.


    Eutostea sighed. A sudden thought transpired in her mind. She looked at Apollo once more before proceeding to wrap her bare body with a robe.


    Eutostea left the room thereafter and was greeted by two bodyguards. Eutostea raised her hand, pressed her finger on her lips, and signaled the two men to keep quiet. She turned around briskly and quietly walked towards Askitea¡¯s bedroom quarters. Five guards, the numbers twice as many as Eutostea¡¯s, stood guarding in front of Askitea¡¯s door. She passed them by and entered her sister¡¯s room.


    A subtle lantern light lit the bedroom and Eutostea walked straight to the window frame without mind. She had attempted to open it, but to no avail, it was tightly locked and would not budge open.


    Eutostea looked at her Askitea; she slept comfortably.


    A firm expression formed on Eutostea¡¯s lips as she left the room and trotted to Hersia¡¯s bedroom quarters. Similar to Askitea, Hersia had many guards on stand by and her window tightly locked.


    But for her¡­ that was not the case.


    ¡°Mr. Repairman¡­ are you doing this on purpose?¡±


    Eutostea returned to her room and kicked the walls in a flitting fit of anger. Why was she given an incomparably different treatment from her sisters? The thought continued to fester in her mind till¡¯ finally, she calmed down upon remembering she had another company lying on the bed.


    She turned around and sat on the corner of the bed. She thought she could her hear chest fluttering¡­


    ¡®I could light the lamp¡­ I¡¯d be able to see his face¡­¡¯


    But she did not.


    ¡®No, I¡¯m not that curious.¡¯


    She thought bluntly.


    Unlike others, she did not care for Apollo¡¯s appearance. He¡¯s beautiful, she¡¯s sure if it, but she had no inkling care. Maybe she could use him, the unruly god, as a weapon.


    ¡°Why are you sitting there like a ghost?¡± Apollo said and clasped her hand.


    ¡°I woke up from a wild dream.¡± Eutostea was now able to concoct a lie without blinking.


    Apollo smiled lowly. ¡°That¡¯s great. I had a dream too.¡±


    Apollo reached for her neck and pulled her towards him. Eutostea allowed herself to be pulled into his arms; she laid her head on his chest. He knew exactly where her eyes were, her nose, and her hair in this pitch black darkness.


    Eutostea thought it strange. Could he not tell that she was not Hersia if he knew her body structure better than anyone else?


    ¡°Don¡¯t you want to know what I dreamed of?¡± Apollo asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m not curious,¡± Eutostea replied.


    Apollo smiled. ¡°I would have told you.¡±


    Eutostea shook her head. ¡°I hear that gods dream of the future. I dare not peek at your dreams.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right, Princess of Thebes,¡± Apollo laughed. ¡°Well, anyways, tell your father to send a hawk to Delphi tomorrow with a white ribbon tied to his leg.¡±


    Eutostea snapped her head and looked at his eyes. ¡°Is the dream related to Thebes?¡±


    At her sudden question, Apollo burst out in laughter. ¡°You said you weren¡¯t curious.¡±


    ¡°It becomes another matter when it has to do with my kingdom.¡±


    Apollo¡¯s eyes softened and looked at her affectionately like a lovely evening flower.


    ¡°All right. I¡¯ll tell you. In my dream, you appeared¡­¡±


    At the end of Apollo¡¯s tale, he hugged Eutostea and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go back to sleep.¡±

 Chapter 10 - Throwaway Princess

    Chapter 10: Throwaway Princess


    Dawn came.


    Eutostea refused to bathe in the morning light and immediately sought her father¡­ no, the king¡¯s presence. Aphelius, the king, was at the sauna. No one was to interrupt his schedule until after breakfast, but regardless, Eutostea sent his personal servant¡¯s a signal urging him to hurry.


    While Eutostea waited, the king dressed up before opening the door. Eutostea walked in and bowed to the king.


    ¡°Father.¡±


    ¡°What happened?¡±


    There was a clear set of irritation found within his brown-colored eyes, the color similar to Eutostea¡¯s.


    ¡°I have a request.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°The request is to send a white ribbon around a bird¡¯s leg and to set out on a journey to Delhi to receive an oracle as soon as possible.¡±


    ¡°Oracle?¡± the king furrowed his brows, his lips hardening. ¡°How do you know an oracle will arrive like a thunderbolt in Delphi? What else can it be when one ties a white ribbon to a bird¡¯s leg?¡±


    ¡°I cannot explain how I know or why but it came from the mouth of a trusted person. Soon, an oracle will arrive in Delphi. For now, trust me and let the bird go.¡±


    Aphelius looked at his daughter¡¯s determined expression. She was not lying, he could tell. She¡¯d normally never request for anything unless it was a special occasion. Though he did not cast aside his doubts, he granted his youngest daughter¡¯s request.


    He ordered a body-able servant to seek an official to send a their hawk to Delphi and specifically instructed the servant that a white ribbon must be tied around the hawk¡¯s leg.


    ¡°Father, I have another question.¡±


    ¡°What is is, Eutostea?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re you the one who deliberately ordered the repairman to prevent my window from being fixed?¡±


    ¡°!¡±


    The king¡¯s eyes widened.


    Eutostea woke up in the early morning with a clear thought in mind. Recently, the behavior of those around her was¡­ awakened ¡ª her maidservants refused to make eye contact with her and showed an overly anxious response when the window¡¯s condition was pointed out.


    She had her suspicions, suspicions that her deed with a man had yet to be exposed. She knew it was bound to happen and it would come. Her lost virginity would spread like a wildfire. But¡­ there was no news. She had not been caught. Apollo was able to cover his tracks while the latch broke continuously.


    She¡¯s sure the repairman hadn¡¯t done his job properly on purpose.


    ¡°Why do you think that?¡± Aphelius did not deny.


    ¡°A mere conclusion reached by reasoning alone.¡±


    Aphelius sighed and praised his daughter unemotionally, ¡°You are far more brilliant than the scholars who work for me.¡±


    Eutostea felt that his reply was a cowardly evasive response. She now realized the truth and tried to keep her emotions in check.


    Aphelius looked at his daughter and said, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why are you trying to ease your anger?¡±


    Eutostea¡¯s eyes glinted. ¡°Father, am I a throwaway daughter? I¡¯m not beautiful¡­ I¡¯m hardly someone you consider precious given the care you¡¯ve shown me¡­ am I a bait for my sisters?¡±


    A long silence followed thereafter.


    ¡°For your sisters, your sacrifice is the best way to protect our kingdom,¡± Aphelous replied.


    Then, he bit his lip and looked straight at his daughter and asked a question he was most curious about. ¡°So who tipped you off that an oracle will arrive Delphi? Was it a man who entered from your bedroom window?¡±

 Chapter 11 - Hawk And Oracle

    Chapter 11: Hawk and Oracle


    Eutostea¡¯s face contorted. She felt betrayed, like being struck with a knife in the heart.


    ¡°Who is it?¡± King Aphelius repeated the question.


    ¡°Take a guess. You suddenly seem to care about my life after years of turning your head away from me.¡±


    ¡°You are Thebes¡¯ princess before you are my daughter.¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­ yes¡­ the ugly princess, one that you¡¯ll readily throw as a bait for one to pick up and eat.¡± Her voice was shrill, giving a self-condescending smile.


    Eutostea seemed to have inherited her stubborn character from her father. The two fought neck to neck without concession.


    ¡°I¡¯ll tell you about my virginity and my lover after the oracle is delivered from Delphi. I¡¯ll tell you. After all, this is my duty as princess of Thebes.¡±


    Eutostea gave a formal bow and walked out. She walked to her bedroom and sat on the floor as if her soul had escaped reality. She ignored the bells and the chirping of her sisters. At least the cold marble floor supported her safely. Even she felt like falling into the abyss, she¡¯d not fall.


    If she were any younger, she¡¯d have the impulse to leave the palace. It would be tempting and it¡¯d be justification for retaliating against her father for ordering a worker to loosen her window latch while her sisters stay protected. But running away from home was childish and the king would never bat an eye to her absence.


    Clearing her confused mind, Eutostea decided to wait and place her trust on fate and destiny. She listened attentively and waited for the sound of the hawk¡¯s powerful flaps heading towards her with the oracle¡¯s message.


    It was in the afternoon. The palace courtyard was in a stately daze. Everyone in the palace gathered in the courtyard and looked up. Eutostea looked down from her bedroom window wearing a gloomy look. The hawk flapped its wings and circled around the air. A white ribbon was tied around its ankle.


    ¡°That¡¯s strange¡­ what¡¯s wrong with it?¡± someone muttered.


    The hawk seemed nervous based on the deductions of the people from the courtyard. The hawk looked down and circled in the sky mockingly. Then, suddenly, it had a set goal in mind and flew fiercely towards Eutostea. Its sharp claws neared Eutostea¡­ closer¡­ closer¡­ Eutostea immediately raised both her hands in defense as she fell on her back.


    ¡°It went inside the princess¡¯s room,¡± a witness who saw what had happened shout.


    ¡°Who?¡±


    The others were puzzled.


    ¡°The third princess!¡± someone shouted.


    Sounds of footsteps clamored as they rushed to the third princess¡¯s room. Meanwhile, Eutostea fought with the hawk. She did not know why the hawk lunged towards her suddenly pecked on her hair wildly.


    ¡°Help me!¡± Eutostea called her maidservants in a hurry.


    And came they did. Once they saw what had happened, shock filled their core at the sight of an eagle-sized hawk fighting one-on-one with the princess.


    ¡°Get this thing off me!¡± Eutostea roared.


    ¡°Ye-yes¡­¡±


    The maidservants moved in a hurry and worked in tandem to rid the hawk from their princess. There were scratches all over the princess¡¯s arm; blood flowed like a dam. This was a first. What could have attracted the hawk to the princess? The maidservants were dumbfounded while the princess looked depressed.


    The maidservants repeatedly bowed their head and said their apologies for not helping her in time as they saw the princess lie in her blood.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. You won¡¯t be punished.¡± Eutostea reassured them and maintained her dignity as princess of Thebes. ¡°That aside, the hawk is important. It has a message from an oracle. Take it away, carefully.¡±


    The king would be waiting for the hawk in the reception room. As the maidservants and the hawk left the princess¡¯s room, a prophet detractor stepped forward and said, ¡°The hawk is a male and an animal called ¡®The Eye of God¡¯. There must be a reason why he had no intention of going down and instead flew straight into your room. Please allow me to open the oracle here.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not for me to decide,¡± Eutostea said.


    In the king¡¯s absence, even she was not authorized to give orders at her own well. As she said this, several people came barging in her room.


    ¡°Do as he says, Eutostea.¡± A man clad in royal robes and a crown on his head stood in the masses of people. It was King Aphelius. ¡°I too wonder why the hawk came after you. Read the oracle.¡±

 Chapter 12 - Disaster Of Thebes

    Chapter 12: Disaster of Thebes


    Someone from the masses unknowingly popped up with a seat for King Aphelius. The crowd immediately made way to seat the chair in the center. Meanwhile, the maidservants cleaned Eutostea¡¯s tangled hair and wiped the blood of her arm.


    All eyes were locked on the prophet detractor, an old woman, who held onto the hawk¡¯s foot. The old woman looked at the white ribbon meaningfully. Inside it was the oracle¡¯s message ¨C¨C a prophecy. A clay plate was given to her and she began to translate and read out loud the inscription written.


    ¡°Listen, good people of Thebes. You¡¯ll soon starve and die in vain during battle. The country will perish without a trace, and only so few of you will remember its name. This disaster will be brought upon you by a man and is the fault of your ungrateful king and royalty.¡±


    The prophet detractor¡¯s voice was soft, but the people who were able to hear her were shocked and livid downright to the core.


    ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re interpreting the oracle truthfully or is it your own meaning?¡± King Aphelius asked the old woman angrily.


    ¡°I am interpreting it as it is written.¡± The old woman¡¯s voice was as still as a lake.


    King Aphelius glared; if looks could kill, his glare would be one. He breathed deeply and ordered the people out of the palace after grabbing hold of the clay plate from her hand. He¡¯s sure rumors will spread quickly for some have already heard of the prophecy.


    The servants who knew nothing and saw the king drowning in a horrid tune, they quickly scattered away.


    Eutostea looked at her father still in the room. ¡°What will you do now?¡±


    King Aphelius sighed. Though he managed to keep a straight face in front of the masses, his heart thumped erratically from the shock he received. He and his royal family would be responsible for all the unfortunate events that was to come, as said in the prophecy. He stood upright as he got out of the chair and tidied his clothing. The soft clay plate crumbled like dough from his hand.


    ¡°I think the gods are angry with me. I¡¯ll sacrifice myself to the temple.¡±


    But before that¡­


    Eutostea owed him an answer.


    ¡°An oracle comes ever so randomly and no one can predict when it will come, but I wonder how you know that oracle will be sent from Delphi. Now tell me who the man is, Eutostea.¡±


    Strangely enough, Eutostea was not afraid. A firm decision had been made in her heart. ¡°I did not see his face. No matter how many times I set the lamp on fire, it¡¯s swallowed by darkness in a flash. But I could hear his voice. It was soft and mellow. On the first night, he revealed himself as Apollo, the God of Prophecy.¡±


    ¡°How can you be sure if it¡¯s really Apollo?¡±


    King Aphelius wanted clear, concrete evidence.


    The king wanted hard evidence.


    Eutostea flinched slightly. She could feel her father¡¯s pressure, the pressure to obey.


    ¡°He is Apollo.¡±


    ¡°Heh,¡± King Aphelius scoffed. ¡°Anyone can impersonate a god without showing his face.¡±


    ¡°You think I can¡¯t differentiate truth from false? I know. He is a god.¡±


    King Aphelius clenched his teeth and slapped his daughter.


    Eutostea staggered and fell to the floor.


    ¡°You stupid b*tch!¡±


    Her father¡¯s words¡­ it achedmore than the pain of being slapped. It felt like daggers stabbing her heart.


    ¡°If that man visits again tonight, this time you better see to it that you find a description of his features so we can put a bounty on his neck! If the light burns out, turn the light back on and sneak a peek while he¡¯s asleep. For you to be deceived by someone who seeks to divide and burn the country and place a stain on your father¡¯s face¡­ I can only call you a traitor. I¡¯m glad he didn¡¯t touch your sisters. Do as I say if you don¡¯t want to be labeled an immoral woman, do you understand?¡±


    Eutostea touched her cheek with trembling hands and looked up at her father, eyes wide open and lips shut tight. She did not expect this.


    ¡°If I don¡¯t get a satisfactory report tomorrow, you can go ahead and leave the palace.¡± He left a word of warning behind and disappeared.


    Eutostea smiled bitterly, wiping away the tears that came tumbling down.

 Chapter 13 - Affair Made Public

    Chapter 13: Affair Made Public


    If Eutostea and Aphelius¡¯s conversation spread like a wildfire, then her and Apollo¡¯s deeds was a volcanic eruption.


    Murmurs of whispers could be heard from every corner. Every knowing eye watched Eutostea¡¯s movements with precise details.


    Even her two sisters would soon grow privy to Eutostea¡¯s affairs. Previously, they had gone through means to deduce the behavior of their youngest sister.,


    ¡°I guess pouring the wine was too much¡­ maybe that¡¯s why she¡¯s upset,¡± Askitea pondered.


    ¡°Oh, come on.¡± Hersia shook her head and stuck her tongue out at Askitea¡¯s words. ¡°Upset? No way she¡¯d be sulky about that. It¡¯s something else¡­¡±


    Hersia rubbed her chin in wonders


    The disturbance from Eutostea¡¯s fragrance had recently subsided. It was a unique scent that made their hearts and many others flutter and at times causing unknown depression.


    The two princesses assumed their youngest sister acquired a foreign exotic fragrance at first. They recalled the rowdiness occurring in the laundry when the maidservants washed her bedroom. sheet. The more they washed it, the stronger the scent became. It did not fade. If only they could see their youngest sister so they could discern the truth of the matter. It had been a while since she ate and bathed with them. If this continues on, they may not remember whether Eutostea¡¯s hair was black or gray.


    Their bitter quarrel soon disappeared and their topic of conversation soon arrived at beauty and intelligence, but they found it distasteful and lacking that Eutostea was not present. They would poke fun of her countenance while she would retort with her sharp tongue.


    Askitea and Hersia sighed.


    ¡°As expected¡­¡± Askitea muttered.


    Their eyes met.


    They had the same thought, the same mind.


    ¡°It¡¯s not fun with just the two of us.¡±


    One sister sighed.


    ¡°That little wench¡­ I know I smelled something on her body¡­¡±


    One sister snarled.


    The two rushed through their baths. While drying and applying on the perfume, the prophetic oracle was extracted inside Eutostea¡¯s room.


    Combing her soft hair, Askitea murmured, ¡°I truly wonder what happened to our youngest sister.¡±


    Askitea sighed. She could not piece together the puzzle while Hersia focused on another problem.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t it seem like Eutostea has a man?¡± Hersia said. ¡°What do you think?¡± Her gaze landed on the maidservant.


    The maidservant, under the intense gaze from the two princesses, stumbles and broke out in cold sweat and said, ¡°Yes¡­ it is said that the third princess¡¯s window latch broke and during the repairs, a man whose identity was unclear came in and out of her bedroom. She said herself that she had spent the night with someone. The man told her that an oracle from Delphi would be arriving, causing the king¡¯s anger to rise through the roof¡­¡±


    ¡°No, wait, wait a minute. Doesn¡¯t she have a bodyguard? Why did no one stop the man from coming in and out?¡± Hersia asked.


    ¡°Ah, don¡¯t ask unnecessary questions.¡± Askitea pushed Hersia aside. ¡°Is he handsome?¡±


    It was important for Hersia to know whether the man was handsome enough. The truth would answer her question whether to fight her youngest one-on-one. But her question was left unanswered as the maidservant said, ¡°The third princess does not know. She had never seen her face. He ran away before she could identify his facial features, Your Highness.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Askitea leaped up, clutching her ankle-length garment. Her face turned a flaming red. ¡°He ran away? Argh! Why does she not check for the most important thing!¡±


    ¡°The king slapped her on the cheek, Your Highness,¡± the maidservant muttered.


    This time, Hersia stood up abruptly. ¡°Slapped? I would have never believed that father could be so¡­ cruel¡­!¡±


    The eyes of the two princesses sparkled like lava. It was an odd sight to see two of Greece¡¯s most beautiful women erupt like a volcano. The two of them immediately ganged on the poor maidservant, demanding from her where Eutostea went. The maidservant, overwhelmed by their presence was unable to speak a word, and so the maidservant near the door answered for her instead and said, ¡°Princess Eutostea went to the Temple of Artemis. The king had asked that Princess Askitea and Hersia go to the temple and pray to the gods. He would also be on his way there soon.¡±


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell us sooner?!¡± Askitea fumed.


    ¡°I could not tell you because you were taking a bath, ordering us not to disturb you,¡± the maidservant lowered her head.


    Blushing from embarrassment, the two princesses looked at each other and nodded with determined eyes.


    They dashed out of the bathhouse in a hurry.

 Chapter 14 - You Believe In Apollo?

    Chapter 14: You Believe In Apollo?


    No temples existed in Thebes for they had no official god. Religious freedom was guaranteed. Inside the houses of the citizens exists a room meant for worship. That room was their temple. For women, goddesses such as Hera, Athena, and Artemis were a popular choice. The palace included had a temple erected for Artemis solely for their three princesses.


    In a small room, a statue of a goddess carved with marble. She valued purity and a symbol for women to value their chastity. Eutostea often stopped at Artemis¡¯ temple when she sought peace and quiet, thankful that no religious coercion was required. She was free to worship individually and offer tributes of her own will. Though her reason for entering the temple was not to pray nor offer tributes. It was something else.


    Eutostea brought with her a waxed candle and lit the temple. The waxed candle was more effective, its use lasting longer than a lantern that extinguished easily. Much to her dismay, waxed candles were overpriced and required much labor to manufacture, ¡®thus they were only used in temples.


    Standing at the front entrance, a sullen look flashed across her face. The slap from her father burned and stung still. She was no longer a virgin, her chastity, her only use as a woman no longer ceased to be. She wondered why women like her lose their value and worth as a woman when committing sinful and carnal desires? Why? It mattered not to her father if that man was a god, too.


    Eutostea bit her lip and opened the door. Pondering over the matter was useless and depressing she pushed her thoughts aside. When she walked in, the statue of the goddess laid erected so exquisitely elegant.The hem of her garment clung to her skin tightly, creating an illusion that her figure was real.


    ¡°Eutostea!¡±


    Eutostea heard the familiar voice of her sister, Hersia, from behind.


    ¡°What the hell¡­?! You had me ripping my hair off in agony guessing your lewd¨C¡±


    Eutostea quickly blocked the mouth of her elder sister that spat out vulgar words.


    ¡°This is a temple. Be quiet.¡±


    Askitea arrived a second later, sighing as she tapped Hersia¡¯s shoulder. Hersia grunted while Eutostea pulled her hand back.


    Hersia folded her arms and tilted her head sideways. She looked at Eutostea¡¯s cheeks with keen eyes. ¡°Your face looks like a steamed bun. Did you cry? Your eyes are swollen.¡±


    ¡°Are you here to comfort me or complain while knowing the details?¡± Eustostea said brusquely.


    Hersia wiggled her brows. ¡°I heard father hit you¡­ and the girl who hates being touched actually spent the night with a man who claims to be a god. And worst of all, you never got a good look at his face!¡±


    Eutostea sighed. If she spoke, she¡¯ll only dig her own grave.


    ¡°Sister, you¡¯re not the kind of person who¡¯d sit still when someone hits you¡­¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I really don¡¯t know. All I know is that he claims to be the god Apollo,¡± Eutostea sighed.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Those servants did not tell you? I¡¯m surprised. I thought they did considering you ran all the way here so quickly. But yes, the man I spent the night with claims to be Apollo¡­ and don¡¯t look at me like a kid who¡¯d been tricked. If you were to walk in my shoes, you¡¯d understand how I feel.¡± Eutostea¡¯s voice was dismal and lacked any semblance of normalcy. ¡°He said a prophecy would arrive in Delphi and I¡¯d need to send a hawk tied with a ribbon. I did as he told me. The prophecy speaks of Thebes ominous future.¡±


    ¡°Sister, do you believe that man who calls himself Apollo?¡±

 Chapter 15 - Mistaken Identity

    Chapter 15: Mistaken Identity


    Askitea and Hersia¡¯s mind went blank, feeling as if they¡¯d been struck by a hammer on the back of their head knowing a man, or a god possibly, spent the night with their maiden sister.


    Eutostea did not wait until their shock faded and said, ¡°Father wants more information from him ¨C his height, the texture of his hair, his facial features everything¡­ I¡¯m to gather the information tonight¡­ if he comes.¡±


    And then she looked up at the Temple of Artemis.


    ¡°When he¡¯s asleep, I¡¯ll secretly light a candle. Whether he¡¯s an ordinary man or a god¡­¡± Eutostea trailed off.


    ¡°How on earth can you tell the difference of man versus a god?¡± Hersia questioned sharply.


    ¡°Man who sees a god¡¯s true colors¡­ their eyes burn and they go blind. This¡¯ll prove the truth for father.¡±


    ¡°Sister, you¡¯re crazy,¡± Askitea muttered.


    She clutched her skirt and opened the temple¡¯s door wide and entered.


    Eutostea hesitated.


    Akistea walked before the eye of the goddess Artemis who stared at them with knowing eyes. She found a tray of candles and hid it inside her skirt before leaving the temple. Her younger sister, Eutostea, looked at her with questionable eyes.


    Askitea stood next to Hersia and said, ¡°What? I¡¯m a virgin, aren¡¯t I? Did you think I¡¯d get shot with an arrow? I went in instead so you would not have to. Don¡¯t worry.¡±


    At this moment, Askitea acted the part of an older and responsible sister.


    Eutostea was amazed, her lips parted slightly open.


    ¡°I want to see what a god looks like. How rare is it to see a god in real life? If he¡¯s a normal man, I¡¯ll pull out all the hairs in his body. Hersia and I will wait outside with the guards on standby. Soon as you give the signal, me and Hersia will light the candlestick and go in quietly to catch a glimpse of his face. Isn¡¯t that a good plan?¡±


    ¡°¡­..You don¡¯t have to do this for me,¡± Eutostea said.


    ¡°Nonsense! We¡¯re not doing this for you but the want and yearning to see a god. I¡¯ve always yearned for Zeus, but Apollo is good. He¡¯s a handsome god, too. If I could see his face once, I¡¯d gladly volunteer even if I was blind!¡±


    Eutostea looked at her two sisters alternately not knowing whether to laugh or cry.


    ¡°Actually, he came to my bedroom quarter believing I was Hersia. I¡¯m sure you know that, sister.¡±


    ¡°Hmph! Well, there¡¯s still Ares,¡± Hercis snorted, pretending she was upset. ¡°I¡¯ll go in there and surprise him. I¡¯ll show that god my precious face and he¡¯ll see the kind of beauty he missed out on!¡±


    ¡°But the moment you see his true identity, you¡¯ll go blind and burn to death. Didn¡¯t you hear about the story of the woman burning to death after seeing Zeus?¡±


    ¡°Fake news! It was Hera¡¯s doing!¡±


    ¡°Oh really? Don¡¯t say I did not tell you.¡±


    ¡°Shut up!¡±


    The two sisters quarreled once more, the sight a regular occurence.


    Eutostea sighed.


    The three princesses pondered over their sloppy plan while returning to Eutostea¡¯s room. The night drew near and their plan would soon set in motion. The two beautiful princesses remained together, walking around freely in the hally. More guards watched over them. When Eutostea slid the hairband under her door, Askitea and Hersia will know that it was time to sneak in her room. Eutostea was confused, unsure if their plan would work¡­ but it was worth the try.


    Meanwhile, her lamp shook ominously.

 Chapter 16 - Are You Hurt, Princess?

    Chapter 16: Are You Hurt, Princess?


    His appearance was accompanied by the strong wind, and in a flash, darkness greeted Eutostea and buzzing accompanied the window.


    ¡°Princess of Thebes.¡±


    She¡¯s sure he doesn¡¯t know her name. She¡¯s no Hersia nor Askitea. Somehow, a sense of shame and disgrace washed over her knowing the uninvited guest was unaware of her name.


    ¡°Did you receive the prophecy, princess?¡± There was a touch of cheeky laughter in his voice.


    ¡°It¡¯s a mess.¡± Eutostea shivered had gone unnoticed as she quelled her seething anxiety.


    Apollo laughed lowly at her curt answer. His laughter never grew too loud for anyone to hear but her. He was cheeky and playful ¨C always. Before she knew it, she grasped his characteristics.


    ¡°The oracle interpreted the prophet artistically. Very much to my liking, and your king is quite the ungrateful one. Hmm¡­ maybe a sacrifice needs to be made in the name of Thebes¡¯ king. Maybe the gods will forgive you as they interpret the sacrifice on their own whimsical liking.¡±


    ¡°That would be difficult.¡±


    ¡°You have your own temple, yet you speak of it like you don¡¯t own it,¡± Apollo¡¯s lips curled.


    ¡°The people in this palace are too stuck up. They¡¯ll interpret anything that fits their interests. The truth matters not,¡± Eutostea smiled bitterly.


    And then, before she knew it, Apollo flashed in front of her and smeared his lips across the scruff of her neck. Eutostea¡¯s chest rose at the touch of his rosy lips exploring her skin. She believed that she was his object of amusement. Does her reaction elicit an interesting response from him?


    ¡°I mentioned that you were in my dream, princess.¡± Apollo blew hot air in her ear.


    Eutostea tried to pay it no mind and said, ¡°Yes, why did you dream of Thebes as a kingdom without a king, without a ruler who held no power?¡±


    Apollo¡¯s hands explored her back.


    ¡°That was the oracle¡¯s interpretation. You, in my dream, was different.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Eutoste¡¯s brows furrowed.


    ¡­..His hands grazed her perky behind and he groaned. His lips touched her bare shoulder. ¡°Oh, princess¡­ I don¡¯t know what you do to me. Hey. But in my dreams, I saw you even if I did not see your face. But I saw you. I saw that unforgettable figure lying on her back in the flowing river full of nectar.¡±


    ¡°So you were staring at me in that dream?¡±


    The story of a god¡¯s dream was absurd even to Eutostea that she replied confidently without revealing any hints of her sloppy plans. All she could think of was to put him to sleep. She needed to push her hair-band under the door before the night lingered deeper.


    ¡®Are they already at the door?¡¯


    ¡°Of course. But you were gone. I watched you drift away.¡± His voice was as precarious as a wobbly light.


    ¡°To be a dead man in the river full of nectar¡­ though it¡¯s a dream, I feel honored,¡± Eutostea said, vaguely praising.


    She had once watched Askitea flaunt her mountainous peak and hips in front of the bronze mirror naked. It was pretentious of her but she sought praises from her youngest sister, Eutostea.


    Apollo was like her. He sought to hear praises from her.


    Apollo looked as if he had been caught off guard and smiled. ¡°That tone of yours, princess, is really charming.¡±


    He cupped her cheeks and inhaled her scent.


    This man was too vague though she¡¯s not sure whether it was good or bad.


    ¡°Wait, the feel of your skin is strange, complete different from yesterday.¡± Apollo frowned and caressed her cheek softly. ¡°Are you hurt, princess?¡±


    ¡°I got stung by a bee.¡±


    If her sisters were present, they¡¯d have said, ¡°How can you tell such a sloppy lie?¡±

 Chapter 17 - Is He Asleep?

    Chapter 17: Is He Asleep?


    ¡°Let me help you, princess.¡±


    Apollo kissed Eutostea¡¯s swollen cheeks. His lips was cold as ice but soon, the heavy stinging pain was gone.


    ¡°This is Asclepios specialty. I learned a few tricked from him in the way of medicine. I¡¯m good at healing broken bones and torn muscles,¡± he said.


    ¡°That¡¯s unexpected.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Apollo asked.


    Eutostea touched the cheek where the stinging pain was once in. ¡°You don¡¯t seem the type who¡¯d treat or heal someone.¡±


    The sun god was known to be an arrogant and versatile man who lived his life based on his own macabre taste.


    ¡°There¡¯s a lot you don¡¯t know about me, princess.¡±


    ¡°I could say the same.¡±


    ¡°But I do know a lot about your body¡­¡±


    Eutostea was not cold despite the open windows. Apollo¡¯s body, which held the heat of the sun, warmed her. Apollo could feel Eutostea¡¯s fingers vividly digging onto his shoulder. Her scent completely settled over his body.


    ¡°Princess¡­¡±


    Apollo craved her and yearned to know every inch of her. In the bluntest way possible, he wanted her. Never did he expect he¡¯d think highly of her, much less spend the night with her regularly. There was something about her, something that drew him to her¡­ something¡­


    And then he had a dream, a prophetic dream. He, the god of prophecy, considered his dream an important device that gave glimpses of the future. And in that dream, Eutostea appeared. It was no fragmented dream, but detailed. She was woven into his future¡­


    Apollo dragged her to the bed and traced his finger over her lustrous skin.


    ¡°¡­..Princes.¡±


    He was like a butterfly who came to visit his flower, the flower that was soaking wet. He loved the taste of her nectar, the sweet fluid the flower produced. He drowned in ecstasy touching that flower.


    And then¡­ he closed his eyes.


    Eutostea looked at the silhouette of the handsome god. She was anxious and it felt like she was committing a sin. No, there was no time to think. She was on time-limit. She stopped hesitating and cautiously got out of the bed, put her clothes back on, and walked to the door. The sound of bare feet clinging to the floor was needlessly loud. Slowly she pushed her hair tie under the door and waited tensely. It felt like hours until¨C


    The door opened slowly.


    ¡°Eutostea, is he asleep?¡± a voice whispered ever so softly.


    Askitea and Hersia, with their hair hanging down in their pajamas, held a candle. They looked like thief. Hersia pulled the candlelight close to her to prevent the light from spreading throughout the room. Meanwhile, Eutostea nodded, her face ever so tense. She stepped aside and allowed her sisters in.


    The light crept toward the bed.


    The thick dark curtains was lifted and the white sheet exuded a certain warmth. A big foot stuck out off the blanket. His foot was smooth and without calluses. His tendons were attractive¡­ his ankle too. Askitea¡¯s eyes ran through his legs and saw his thighs revealed halfway. She groaned lowly.


    ¡°¡­..¡± Eutostea sighed.


    ¡®Are you really going to do this?¡¯


    Askitea moved the candlelight. The man laid on his stomach. He had blonde blonde shaggy hair that rested over his broad shoulder. His olive skin glowed.


    ¡°I can¡¯t see his face¡­¡± Askitea whispered.


    The three women bent over and looked at the man¡¯s countenance, but darkness overpowered them.


    ¡°Give it to me.¡±


    Eutostea snatched the candlestick from her sister and crouched down beside him. As she neared his figure, she moved the candlestick to light his face. From the side of his face¡­ to his nose bridge¡­ to his full lips¡­ to his chin¡­ and chest¡­ the lights showed his figure fully.


    Hersia and Askitea sucked in a sharp breath.


    He was¡­ godly beautiful.


    He looked more feminine than masculine, his drooping eyes like glowing puppies. His face was strong and defined, his features molded from granite. His eyebrows sloped downwards in a serious expression. His long eyelashes were like butterfly wings and his usually playful smile was now resting and now looked like perfect lips pressed firmly together that were ripe for kissing. He had prominent jaws that curved around his neck gracefully and had firm chest and muscles.


    Eutostea who she had spent the nights with stared at him, unable to say a word. The man who had kissed her, hugged her, held her, and caused her tears was revealed under the candle light.


    He was¡­ no doubt¡­ Apollo.


    The three women knew it deep in their hearts as they stood in place absentmindedly. There was no denying it. He was a god, he was Apollo.


    ¡°What do we do now¡­?¡±


    But they did not know.


    Meanwhile, the candle wax dripped down and fell on the shoulders of the sleeping god.


    Apollo opened his eyes in fright.


    ¡°!¡±


    Eutostea hurriedly pulled back the candle, their eyes meeting.

 Chapter 18 - Do I Know You?

    Chapter 18: Do I Know You?


    ¡°Quite bold for a maidservant to wake up a sleeping god. Are you not afraid, girl?¡±


    ¡®¡­..Maidservant?¡¯


    Apollo determined Eutostea¡¯s identity as that of a maidservant. She was in disheveled clothes and had the appearance of an average woman whose presence would be buried in the face of her two sisters. She was no princess ¨C her beauty was insignificant like a stone.


    Eutostea broke the silence and boldly opened her mouth. ¡°You are something. You mistake me as the second princess, and now a maidservant.¡±


    Her voice seethed with resentment.


    ¡°¡­..?¡± Apollo was replete with confusion.


    Eutostea scoffed at his puzzled expression clearly seen under the lit candlestick.


    ¡°Do you not recognize me?¡± she asked.


    ¡°¡­..Do I know you?¡±


    His reply disappointed her and she laughed in vainly at Apollo¡¯s wanton arrogance. A moment ago, he had touched her affectionately.


    ¡°I was sure someone of your kind would know. You¡¯ve gone this far. Shouldn¡¯t you recognize the woman you held in your arms?¡±


    Apollo¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°It¡¯s not enough that you wake a god in his sleep? That¡¯s brave and admirable, but must I put up with you talking back to me?¡±


    Humans, truly a tactless being who had no manners. Apollo simmered with anger. He took the candlestick from Eutostea roughly. Gravity moved in motions and Eutostea fell over the mattress strenuously.


    ¡°¡­..Ah!¡± Hersia let out a yelp as Apollo pulled her close to him.


    She laid frozen with one leg resting on the edge of the bed. Apollo grabbed her wrist and lifted her to the bed. Undaunted by the dripping candlestick, Apollo brought the light under his chin. The flaming candle did not injure his skin.


    He grabbed her chin and brought his lips close to hers.


    ¡°Behold and open your heart, Princess of Thebes. Here lies the face you longed to see,¡± he growled.


    ¡°¡­¡­¡± Hersia turned her head and avoided his gaze. Her body trembled, lips quivering.


    Askitea slowly stepped out of the bed and crawled down the floor to help her sister, Eutostea.


    ¡°You wanted to know who I am, and now you can¡¯t make eye contact with me? That maidservant was brave enough. What are you so afraid of?¡± Apollo snarled and brought his face closer to Hersia. ¡°Look, look at every single inch of me. Look to your heart¡¯s content.¡±


    The candlestick burned erratically in his hands. Apollo¡¯s beautiful features were horribly distorted under the blazing flames. Hints of regret flickered in his eyes.


    ¡°Look at me, princess. Look, look at me! Look at the face of the man who sought your embrace every night. If my sister saw me, she¡¯d scoff in disbelief. Look at this stupid clowd, princess!¡±


    Apollo had worn a shell, a fake body. The heat slowly burned his shell.


    ¡°Haa¡­¡±


    Hersia slowly made eye contact with the god who had seized her chin. Red eyes gazed at her deeply and she was afraid. She shut her eyes and burst into tears. Her body drooped faintly and Apollo looked at her stiffly. He let out a sneer and let go of Hersia and stood up with the candlestick in hand thereafter. A brief moment of anger filled his core.


    Meanwhile, his arm began to melt. The heat thawing at the shell of his skin. He looked at the witnesses left. They had seen him. He should kill them, throw them as snacks to the monsters.


    Eutostea walked in front of him and looked at Apollo blankly. She turned her head slightly and looked at Hersia¡¯s current state of being before facing Apollo. He was naked, his hand stuck onto the candle. Apollo looked at Eutostea coolly.

 Chapter 19 - Don’t Come Back

    Chapter 19: Don¡¯t Come Back


    ¡°Girl, you¡¯ve got quite the nerve to look at me straight in the way? Do you want to waste you life away?¡± as he spoke, his fake shell of a body melted away steadily.


    Eutostea remained impassive. ¡°I know now what you think of me. That¡¯s enough.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    As he observed the voice of the woman he thought a stranger, a sense of dejection and familiarity washed over him.


    ¡°¡­Wait a minute.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll offer myself to the temple. Eutostea, the Third Princess of Thebes¡­ her name will be offered as a sacrifice of sincerity. I won¡¯t speak what happened today, nor will my sisters, so pelase, don¡¯t be angry at Thebes.¡±


    Apollo¡¯s lips tightened. His shell had almost melted. He could not speak properly; his vocal cords were broken.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t come again. Don¡¯t even dream of me,¡± Eutostea said bluntly as she grabbed hold of the candlelight.


    ¡°Eutostea,¡± Apollo muttered her name in his tongue without a sound.


    The face of the Third Princess standing with only lit candlelight in the serene darkness gradually became opaqe.


    Apollo, who¡¯d been dozing off and leaned back against a chair in Olympus opened his shut eyes. He was silent, unable to think.


    A thumping crash of iron echoed.


    Hestia sat in front of a fire that never died out and looked at it with a poker face.


    ¡°Apollo, you had a good night? Did you enjoy it?¡±


    ¡°¡­Hestia¡­ let¡¯s not talk about it,¡± Apollo answered brusquely.


    Long ago, he had fallen deep in love with that goddess ¨C even begged to be hers desperately only to be rejected in humiliation. Since then, life with Hestia has been somewhat difficult. But he¡¯s mature now, more than his father, Zeus, and he could live peacefully with her.


    He did not immediately get up from the chair. A heavy heart droned over him and was unable to describe the feeling swirling in his heart.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been in and out of the human world as of late,¡± said the virgin goddess.


    She rarely talked, but today, she had much to say.


    ¡°Ah. That rumor,¡± Apollo responded.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it fascinating? Our brothers prefer to make contact with human beauties. Artemis and I talked and we thought it fascinating. You and that woman have so many differences.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know Artemis was close to you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a pure soul and we get along well. But be careful. If you obsess over things blindly, it¡¯ll only led to poison and torture.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re trying to admonish someone who¡¯d just woke up,¡± frowning, Apollo revealed his displeasure.


    Hercia worked on the furnace. Like sleet, flames fluttered and took form into the shape of a deer.


    ¡°Apollo, don¡¯t let others see what lies in your heart. There are eyes watching.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Apollo recalled the face of that woman.


    His heart tightened.


    ¡°What? Are you hurting? Look at that distorted face of yours.¡±


    ¡°Nonsense. You¡¯ve gone cray staring at the flames for too long.¡±


    Apollo left the scene with a dismal chuckle.


    A golden chariot appeared.


    Hestia watched his fading figure, her grays glinting.

 Chapter 20 - How Could He?

    Chapter 20: How Could He?


    Thebes three royal princesses kept a close eye on the divine event they experienced last night.


    Ignorant of the current situation outside the bedroom, Eutostea asked how her sisters handled the guards that stood outside the front doors. Askitea foolishly said her belly ached and burned while she slept. Due to this, her nose was stuck on the pole while she slept until the early morning chicken cried. It was a far cry from the truth and was unreasonable too, but the guards believed her.


    The power of beauty truly moves men¡¯s hearts.


    ¡°I thought we¡¯d be able to do something last night too,¡± Hersia sighed and muttered. She continued showing signs of anxiety. Her hands trembled. ¡°I couldn¡¯t speak. That man¡­ the strength I felt from him, I could barely stand as I tried to push him away nor could I look at him straight in the eye¡­ Eutostea¡­ how were you able to look at him straight in the eye with a clear voice?¡±


    The eyes of the two elder sisters turned to their youngest.


    Eutostea sat on the bed with her long, black hair hanging down. She looked calm and stable, more so than her sisters.


    ¡°I had to say it. If I didn¡¯t, we might face the wrath of a god. Thebes might end up in ruins.¡±


    Hersia looked into Eutostea¡¯s eyes sincerely.


    Meanwhile, Askitea, concerned about her dry skin due to yesterday¡¯s uproar, looked in the mirror with a shocked face. She opened the moonflower oil she brought from the bath and spread it on her face. Unlike Hersia, she recovered from last night¡¯s ordeal much quicker.


    ¡°Will you be okay, sister?¡± Askitea asked while admiring herself in the mirror.


    ¡°Yeah. I¡¯ll be okay. I¡¯ll stay in the room to rest.¡±


    Eutostea had a throbbing headache.


    She was aware that she acted haughty and arrogant in the presence of a god. She¡¯d even demanded that he leave for she was furious. How did he not see her when he¡¯d spent many nights with her? A maidservant? Is that what he thinks of her?


    Yes¡­ that¡¯s right¡­ he had mistaken her until the very end.


    She could find excuses, but each time she replayed the memory in her head, it ached that a god was unable to see her.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Hersia asked.


    Askitea stopped her self-care routined and looked at Eutostea.


    Eutostea wore a bitter smile. ¡°Why do you worry about me? Why all of a sudden? You¡¯re not acting like the sisters I know.¡±


    ¡°Through and all that happened to us, you¡¯re still my sister, our sister. And besides, we¡¯ve gone through that horrible disaster yesterday. I think it¡¯s proper that we go through this together,¡± Hersia replied.


    Eutostea¡¯s eyes softened. Looking at her sister, Hersia seemed to have gradually recovered from the fear. The trembling in her hands faded. Maybe it was because she¡¯s playing the part of a brave, older sister.


    ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re okay?¡± Hersia asked again.


    Eutostea parted her lips but closed it.


    Apollo¡¯s behavior was unjust. It was sudden, arbitrary¡­ and sexual. The first night, she felt like a jewel stuck in a mansion for eons only to be suddenly stolen in the dead of the night. On the second night, she had a stubborn thought that it¡¯d not work between her and the god. On their third night, she speculated that he knew her true identity and that he was attracted to her, Eutostea, not her sister. On the fourth day, she had similar thoughts. He slept next to her comfortably and completely defenseless. She could hear his heart beating.


    But¡­


    When they shared their nights of passion, had never felt anything? True. Their relationship was a forced beginning, but¡­ she came to accept it. She had accepted Apollo¡¯s kisses and caress, she accepted the pleasure he gave her.


    But¡­


    The thought of it sent her further in anger.


    How could he not know her true identity?


    How did he not recognize her?


    He indulged in her body as if he loved her.


    Had he thought of her as her sister all along?


    Eutostea sighed. She felt miserable.


    ¡°Eutostea?¡±


    Askitea touched her youngest sister¡¯s shoulder.


    Tears dripped down Eutostea¡¯s face. Askitea leaned forward and wiped it away.


    ¡°I felt¡­ that I wasn¡¯t special¡­ but when he hugged me, I felt like I mattered¡­ I held those memories close because I wasn¡¯t sure how long our nightly meetings would last. I had hopes that this day would never come¡­ Oh Artemis, how am I able to raise my head and say I¡¯m the Princess of Thebes¡­?¡±


    As Apollo¡¯s fake body melted, she remembered those pairs of glowing eyes that looked at her as it came tumbling down.


    She wondered if he¡¯ll ever remember her.


    A while later, Eutotea left to take a bath alone. She told her sisters that she needed time to think. Askitea and Hersia left her be as she had wished.

 Chapter 21 - Her Decision

    Chapter 21: Her Decision


    The anxiety that Thebes might incur the wrath of the gods caused people to open their wallets.


    Fine liquor, high-quality oil, papyrus paper, bronze tools, and flakes were all piled up one after another. Even gold bars, silver bars, and bronze bars were assembled together in one box to offer the gods as hopes of appeasing their wrath.


    Askitea and Hersia offered their gold jewelries.


    Those with the means to carry the offerings to the temple were chosen right off the bat. Even the handpicked dancers were among the best of the best. The tributes offered to the gods were valuable and thus the safety of everyone on board and the items prepared for their journeyed destination was of utmost importance.


    The names of the three princesses were written side by side on the clay board.


    The people wondered if Thebes¡¯ three princesses would journey with them in excitement. They stared at the clay board with glittering eyes and a look of mellow admiration.


    Meanwhile, King Aphelius called for his daughters as he nervously scratched the back of his neck.


    He wondered if the journey to Delphi would be peaceful¡­ his beautiful daughters would be walking and riding on the back of the day in and day out.


    When Hersia and Askitea appeared, his eyes widened and said, ¡°What were you thinking putting your name on the clayboard? Now there are people gossiping that you¡¯ll go!¡±


    ¡°I wrote it down with full intents and sincerity, father,¡± Askitea replied.


    ¡°Right, right. I know how to ride a horse. I¡¯ll be fine, father,¡± Hersia chimed in.


    ¡°I wrote in the list that I would be the only one journeying to the temple, but my sisters insisted, father,¡± Eustostea added with tired eyes.


    King Aphelius looked at his two beautiful daughters with a knowing look. He was aware that he could not keep them locked inside the palace all their life. They were beginning to rebel and Hersia and Askitea had quite the stubborn and fiery personality¡­ and that damned daughter of his too who¡¯s name he¡¯ll not mention.


    ¡°You guys leave first. I have to talk to her.¡±


    His eyes landed on Eutostea.


    Hersia and Askitea were hesitant and looked at Eutostea nervously, but at her nod, they went back to their rooms reluctantly.


    The room immediately grew reticently quiet. Only the father and youngest daughter remained. Their relationship would never be the same, though it had never existed in the first place. She was always ignored while he gave his love and affection fully to her two elder sisters. Not that she could blame them.


    Eutostea looked at her father.


    The atmosphere was nowhere close to friendliness, but something akin to enemies checking the cards their opposing foe had hidden.


    ¡°What are you planning?¡± King Aphelius asked. The voice was coercive, as if commanding her to answer quickly.


    ¡°I promised I¡¯d pay tribute to the temple. I¡¯ll journey to Delphi and offer myself to the temple,¡± Eutostea expressed her thoughts blankly without much regard.


    ¡°Is it because of the man who claims to be Apollo? You would willingly bring your sisters out in the open full of many dangers? They¡¯ll eat and sleep on the streets. Have you no shame? You would do all this for a man?¡±


    She expected these words from her father. She was prepared.


    ¡°I was told to report the appearance of the man to you, father. Should I fail, I¡¯ll be kicked out of the palace. I was unable to see him yesterday. According to you, father, I am no longer a princess, but an unwanted child. Ever since father had loosened the window latch for the sake of my sisters¡¯ safety, my fate and destiny was sealed.


    ¡°That¡¯s right. That is what I ordered you to do¡­ that I¡¯ll kick you out of the palace should you fail, but you¡¯re simply trying to cover his visit. I know better. You plan to leave the palace and become his bride.¡±


    ¡°Far from it, father,¡± Eutostea said. She pinched the back of her hand. She¡¯ll not allow herself to be shaken. ¡°I¡¯m not protecting him, father. I¡¯m only keeping my word. I failed you. I was not able to see him. Offering myself as tribute to the temple will be the last thing I will do as Thebe¡¯s princess. I do not want to tarnish your name any further for my reputation and honor had already fallen.¡±


    King Aphelius scoffed. ¡°Where does that arrogant personality of yours come from?¡±


    ¡®I¡¯m sure I inherited it from a certain someone,¡¯ Eutostea thought.


    ¡°Fine. So be it,¡± King Aphelis clicked his tongue, ¡°They¡¯ll be leaving for Delphi at dawn tomorrow. Follow the procession quietly.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Euostea nodded, ¡°Should I tell mother?¡±


    ¡°When will you find the time to explain to her that you¡¯re being excommunicated because of the sins you¡¯ve brought upon Thebes?¡± King Aphelius replied snarkily.


    Eutostea¡¯s question had been answered.


    King Aphelius let her go without resistance and care.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what use you¡¯ll have to the temple and what you¡¯re able to offer, but it matters no longer. Do as you please, Eutostea.¡±


    And that was the last farewell of a father and daughter.


    Eutostea returned to her room and packed her belongings. When she looked at the clay board with her name engraved, she remembered her two sisters filling in their names too. Unlike her, their decision had been made out of their own will. No matter the path they¡¯ll take in life, they¡¯d always receive the love and support from her father and family members.


    But Eutostea, she was alone.


    She sighed, remembering the order her father gave her ¨C sacrifice herself to protect her sisters.


    She pushed the thoughts aside and quickly packed up.


    She consoled herself that she would have no regrets.


    Finally, she lied on the bed and looked at the dark ceiling.


    Perhaps her fate had been fixed long before Apollo came to see her in the midst of the night.

 Chapter 22 - To Delphi They Go

    Chapter 22: To Delphi They Go


    The goddess of dawn, Eos, stretched as her radiant golden hair swayed in the horizon, signaling the new dawn.


    The wagon, holding control over the entirety of Thebe¡¯s destined fate slowly began to move. The people who awakened in the early dawn wore a groggy countenance on their faces as they mounted their horses. As the brass wagon was loaded with heavy materials, the horses rested often along the way, tiring out constantly from bearing the weight.


    Behind the wagon, Eutostea rode on a horse. There was not anyone who did not know that she was a princess, but nevertheless, she covered herself with outerwear with intents of not wanting to draw any more attention. The horse she rode on bore the color of the midnight sky, its glossy mane a testament to its good health, and it was so mild tempered that though she had only ridden it a few times, it never snorted at her.


    The road to Delphi, which was considered to be the center of the world, was like that of a spider web. No matter what place you started from, one always ended up at Delphi, located on Mount Parnassus.


    The fastest route from Thebes involved cutting through a mountain ridge. Mount Parnassus was known as the Mountain of Gods. The mortals could not see its shape from where they currently stood.


    Vineyards stretched out beyond the outskirts of the city they were passing through. At each clay-walled dwelling along the way stood at least one olive tree, the beloved tree of Artemis.


    Upon seeing the party of travelers with clothes different from the farmers drenched with sweat that took up the entire road parted to the side and made way.


    Soon, the vineyards of their hometown connected to a vast expanse of fields, and it was at that moment that Eutostea truly felt that she was leaving Thebes¡­ and maybe forever.


    To make haste and arrive in time for Apollo¡¯s festival in ten days, the travellers kept a tight schedule. After four days without a bath and sleeping on the road, Eutostea washed her face in a brook near the pathways.


    The dirty ground was stained with droplets of water. Eutostea dipped the tips of her leather shoes into the clean water of the stream. She was in a desperate need of a bath and her mind unconsciously gravitated to her two sisters who habitually took one to two baths a day. She was sure they¡¯d be freaking out. She had managed to convince them to go despite their vehement refusal. It was for the best.


    ¡­Once again she was reminded that she had truly left the palace.


    Her heart was empty, as if a cold wind raged from within.


    While she sat down near the stream and dazed off vacantly, a man walked up to her.


    ¡°Are you uncomfortable, princess?¡±


    It was Paeon, the soldier leading the wagon. He had been hired by King Aphelius.


    Paeon looked haggard and tired. He¡¯d been tasked to deliver the tributes safely, follow a tight schedule so they arrive on time, and look after her. It was tedious work. In principle, it was more appropriate to look after the princess more carefully, but he had been unable to focus on the details due to the strenuous schedule laid out in front of him. Even so, he managed to check up on her without a word of complaint.


    Not wanting to show any weakness in front of the man hired by her father the king, Eutostea wore a blank emotion and replied with an ¡®I¡¯m fine¡¯ whenever the soldier came to check up on her. She needed nothing and requested only for conventional things such as how much longer they had left in their journey.


    Paeon placed his palm against his forehead and sighed. He turned his gaze towards a spot in the distance before parting his lips. ¡°We¡¯ll soon arrive in the small city of Kiriakion. We¡¯ll spend a day recouping there before we continue our journey. We¡¯ll make it in time for the festival.¡±


    Eutostea nodded. ¡°I see.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll obtain a private room for you when we arrive in the city. Though we¡¯ll only be staying in Kiriakion for one night, it would be good for you to go sightseeing. I¡¯ve already informed the others.¡±


    Paeon added the last sentence to subtly hint that Eutostea enjoy herself comfortably and to have fun.


    Eutostea was grateful towards Paeon¡¯s kindness and gradually started wanting time to herself. As if he had read her made, he quietly made his way towards the stream and left her be.

 Chapter 23 - Murmuring Voice

    Chapter 23: Murmuring Voice


    Next to the stream stood an old silverberry tree. Eutostea sat under its shade and cooled herself down. She could the soft, murmuring voices of others inspecting the materials in the wagon. One of the wooden containers filled with oil had been damaged and leaked all over.


    She wondered whether she needed to offer something at the festival.


    Eutostea mused over the thought. Princesses had no possessions of their own. Women were unable to inherit properties inThebes¡­ only with the exception of partial ownership of their husband¡¯s belongings after their marriage. Since Eutostea was an unmarried woman, and possibly for the rest of her life¡­ she was no longer a virgin¡­ her proprietary status was no different from a beggar. She disliked speaking confidently, as if she was hiding golden bars in her possession, but there was nothing she could do over spilt water.


    Eutostea sighed and straightened out the wrinkles in her clothes as she stood up from her seat.


    The line began to move again.


    She wondered whether she¡¯d be able to bring herself to care for the festival in an unknown and unfamiliar city after all the hardships she faced. Happiness and enjoyment were contagious emotions.


    When she entered the city, the smell of delicious food wafted through their nostrils. Even the drinks were offered to vagabond by the farmers and citizens, of whom were grateful for the year¡¯s harvest. Everyone smiled. Their lungs were filled to the brim with merry laughter.


    Tables were strewn out everywhere. Clean pieces of cloth were spread across the display stands, and adorned with plates of delicious food and olive branches. There were even groups of people making bouquets out of wild flowers in the fields and handing them to the passing visitors.


    Eutostea smiled and accepted a bouquet for them. The person who handed it to her was a girl donned in a simple white dress. She beamed a bright smile to Eutostea before fluttering away to the next person as if she was walking on air.


    The party moved their heavy feet towards the place they¡¯d be staying at. It was a house Paeon¡¯s cousin owned. The room Eutostea had been assigned to had a ceiling so low that numerous vines and weeds messily weaved through it. She unpacked her belongings and sat down on the bed before taking a good look at the room.


    The echoing laughter outside was incessantly noisy.


    With a vacant expression, Eutostea began to massage her tired feet. If they were to leave the following morning, she needed to be sure no blisters formed on her feet.


    Meanwhile, the other members of her traveling party dispersed towards Agora, where the festival was at its highest peak.


    From a distance, the voices of the many merchants hollered, calling towards potential buyers. To Eutostea, the sound was like a lullaby and before she knew, she had fallen asleep on top of the mattress consisting of three straw mats. The cold air began to creep up from the floor. The chilly feeling caused her to shiver and she awoke from the deep sleep. Night had fallen and it¡¯d grown dark without her notice.


    The festival only grew livelier at night. It was quiet. No one had come back. It was as if she was stuck in a different world.


    ¡°It should be around here somewhere¡­¡±


    She suddenly caught the sound of a soft whisper. At first, Eutostea thought it to be a mouse and looked around the room on alert, but she realized the source of the sound came from outside. Sliding her shoes on, Eutostea cautiously walked towards the door. The light of the oil lamp flashed back and forth through the crack of the door. It was taunting her.


    ¡°This is oil¡­ and this¡­ isn¡¯t something I can eat..¡±


    The murmuring voice sounded closer than ever before.


    Eutostea tiptoed as quietly as she could to flatten herself against the old, decrepit door. Someone was fumbling through the items in the bragg wagon. It was a wagon that held items that was to be offered to Apollo¡¯s temple.


    ¡­Could it be that the guards instructed to watch over the wagon had left to participate in the festival as well?


    Eutostea fervently hopes that was not the case.


    The figure ransacking the defenseless wagon stood on their tiptoes and practically had their entire upper body submerged in the cart. It was a man. The blue robes he wore dangled precariously from his belt almost like a tail. Judging from his lack of shoes, he seemed to be a beggar.


    The light of the oil lamp cast a reddish glow against the defined muscles on his shoulder and back. Many would think he was a strong man none would dare anger. No¡­ he¡¯s no beggar. Right? Does a well-fed and a strong, healthy beggar exist¡­?


    Something¡¯s not right.


    Pondering over the matter, Eutostea contemplated on her choices. Should he stop him or leave him alone?

 Chapter 24 - Favor Of A God

    Chapter 24: Favor of a God


    ¡°Ah, here it is,¡± the figure explained as he pulled out a ceramic jar promptly.


    Eutostea recognized the jar and immediately abandoned all thoughts of remaining still and watching from the tarry sideline.


    ¡°Put the jar down,¡± she said, a little too cold a tone than she expected.


    The man had plans to pilfer, but he should have chosen a different item.


    Eutostea donned a menacing pose and a begrudging look as she held onto a broom standing upside down and aimed it toward the man¡¯s back.


    ¡°Put it down carefully. I¡¯d hate to see it break.¡±


    What the man planned to swipe from the wagon was the wine from the holy water of Thebes to be offered to the temple of Apollo.


    The man, all the more ready to down the liquid in the jar, stopped his suspicious act at her sharp voice. His burly figure turned and faced Eutostea. Unlike his strong body, the face of a man was of a young boy no older than fifteen.


    Surprised amiable eyes looked at Eutostea.


    Eutostea had not planned ahead¡ªhad no plans to beat him up with the broom, though she had quite the threatening aura.


    The man whose appearance was neither man nor boy smiled wide, twinkling eyes crinkling.


    ¡°You should sleep more,¡± he said. ¡°Why are you awake at this time?¡±


    ¡°Pardon?¡± she raised a brow.


    ¡°I¡¯ll make it so you have a nice dream. My sweet, dream a sweet dream where all your problems and bitter worries will disappear, and before you know it, it¡¯ll be morning. Look, your friends are deep asleep,¡± the man said, swinging the jar in his hand around loosely.


    A pair of legs jutted out from behind the wagon. She understood now. It was not that no guards stood watch over the wagon, they were¡ªrather they were drunk till their cheeks and noses turned a bright, rosy red as they succumbed to alcoholic intoxication with loud, blaring snores.


    ¡°Did you do this? You drugged their drinks?¡± Eutostea asked, the slit of her eyes narrowing.


    The man chucked a wide smile at her snarky question. ¡°Hardly. I¡¯d been their therapist, listening to them complain their difficult travels from Thebes to Delphi over cups of drinks. Next thing I knew, they fell drunk asleep.¡±


    Just how strong would the alcohol be to render the guards unconscious? On the other hand, the man before her was too¡­ sober. She smelled the faint scent of alcohol from his body, but he was anything but a drunkard.


    Coming to the end conclusion, the next question popped in her mind: Why did he drug the guards, and what was his intent to pilfer the jar of wine?


    ¡°Are you trying to destroy the tributes?¡±


    She positioned the broom in front of her and gripped it tighter; the man smiled at her bemusedly.


    ¡°Rather than that, why haven¡¯t you fallen asleep?¡±


    The man observed Eutostea¡¯s face carefully. There were no hints of flushed redness on his cheeks and discolored eyes; he was focused.


    ¡°Are you not nauseous or dizzy, as if you¡¯re drunk?¡±


    ¡°¡­What are you saying?¡±


    ¡°How strange.¡± The man ignored Eutostea¡¯s threats and confrontations and murmured to himself.


    Eutostea¡¯s gaze dropped to the container in his hands.


    ¡°Just calmly put down the wine and leave. It isn¡¯t something you should be touching. If what you seek is alcohol, there¡¯s plenty available outside. Do you understand?¡±


    However, Eutostea¡¯s offer of looking past his crime of sullying the tributes went on deaf ears.


    The man sneaked up toward her like a serpent before placing his nose on the side of her face and sniffing softly.


    Ah¡­ now he understood.


    ¡°You¡­ have you won over the favor of a god?¡± Figuring out her identity, the man let out a hearty laugh. ¡°So who was it? I can¡¯t tell, but it¡¯s probably 500 million times apart from the ones I¡¯m familiar with.¡±


    Eutostea¡¯s expression cracked.

 Chapter 25 - Fear In Her Eyes

    Chapter 25: Fear In Her Eyes


    Though she nearly lost her composure and was debating whether to hit the man¡¯s good-looking face, Eutostea managed to stay on the defensive, reminding herself of the times when she failed to maintain her cool.


    It seemed the man didn¡¯t realize how rude it was to get so close to a woman¡¯s face and outright sniff her. She needed to put some space between them. When she slowly took a few steps back, the man thought that she was afraid of him.


    ¡°I¡¯m not trying to threaten you. Come on now, don¡¯t be scared. I¡¯m asking because I¡¯m genuinely curious.¡±


    ¡°Do you think I wouldn¡¯t be afraid?¡±


    His haggard appearance looked like a beggar. He was the size of a bear, and thought he didn¡¯t have any weapons, he kept swinging around the container of wine that could break at any second while practically naked.


    Even with the hair on her arms standing on ends, Eutostea was completely aghast.


    ¡°Look, if I planned to hurt you, I¡¯d have already done so before you could blink. Do you really think I¡¯m the type to hurt a person? Jeez. I¡¯m not so bloodthirsty like Ares. You¡¯re looking at me as if I think all humans are mere ants and prey that are meant to be shot down with arrows in the wilderness like how Apollo and Artemis hunts. That¡¯s a big misunderstanding.¡±


    Upon the mention of Apollo¡¯s name, Eutostea¡¯s willowy eyebrows furrowed.


    Regardless, the drunkard continued to mumble. He was like a comedian putting his heart and soul into his routine even if Eutostea was the only audience member listening.


    ¡°Ah¡­¡± the man let out a long breath, ¡°this saddens me deeply. Even if I¡¯m still a greenhorn that only recently joined the twelve gods, I¡¯ve been doing my best to hear out all the emotions and feelings of the people, and uh¡­ I even came down myself to oversee this festival from start to finish. I checked to see that there was enough food and wine to go around, and I even kept the people who had fallen unconscious on the streets warm by intoxicating them so that their bodies stayed warm. If I spotted someone drinking alone, I¡¯d go and keep them company over ten or eleven drinks. After all of my services and volunteer work, I thought that I deserve a little treat and luckily came across a container of such high-quality wine in this wagon. Yet¡­ to be treated like a complete burglar is completely unfair!¡±


    Eutostea wondered what the drunkard was thinking, ransacking another person¡¯s wagon like it¡¯s an excavation.


    ¡°Hey, young miss holding the broom who¡¯s won the favor of a god¡­¡± the man hollered, ¡°psst! Hey!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Eutostea. Princess of Thebes.¡±


    ¡®At least for now.¡¯


    Even though she didn¡¯t like how he said she won the favor of a god and didn¡¯t feel inclined to share her name, she did so anyway.


    The drunkard resumed shaking the bottle of wine around as he exclaimed, ¡°Oh, so you¡¯re a princess? I heard that the princesses of Thebes were true beauties. Was that rumor a lie, or are you lying to me right now?¡±


    ¡°¡­..¡±


    She swallowed back the urge to say that the rumors referred to her sisters.


    Eutostea sent a wary, piercing gaze towards the man. He was too suspicious to simply label him a drunkard beggar pillaging to find something to drink.


    ¡°Why do you say that I¡¯ve won the favor of a god?¡± Eutostea asked sharply.


    ¡°If you want to know, then give this wine to me.¡±


    What kind of childish nonsense was he trying to pull?


    Eutostea¡¯s forehead crinkled deeply.


    The drunkard pulled the precious bottle of wine closer to his lips as he stared with pleading eyes at her.


    ¡°I said this before, but that wine is meant to be offered as tribute. It seems that you really don¡¯t understand how much I¡¯m holding myself back against you right now, but when the festival ends, the soldiers guarding this wine will come back. Do you think they¡¯ll only stop at flogging you when they figure out you¡¯ve ransacked the wagon?¡±


    In other words, she was telling him to stop saying nonsense and put down the wine and leave while she was being nice, but the man smiled simply at her threat.


    ¡°Who¡¯s there to come? Everyone in this city is sleeping under the spell of sweet intoxication. They won¡¯t wake up till dawn,¡± the man whispered. ¡°The only person awake is you. If you don¡¯t believe me, why don¡¯t you see for yourself?¡±


    He told Eutostea to go to Agora herself and see to believe his words.


    The voices of merchants and the laughter of people on the streets that Eutostea heard just before she fell asleep were now absent. The only sound that remained was the chirping of bugs.


    ¡°Do you think I¡¯ll just leave a thief alone by themself?¡±


    Eutostea was nervous, but she didn¡¯t let it show in her calm and composed voice.


    ¡°I can see fear in your eyes, Eutostea,¡± the man said.

 Chapter 26 - Dionysus

    Chapter 26: Dionysus


    All of a sudden, the man turned to a completely different person. The smile on his face disappeared, leaving behind a flat line. His green eyes gleamed and gazed at her, piercing through the depths of her soul. In those eyes, Eutostea saw something resembling Apollo. If Apollo¡¯s eyes were like a passionate fire, this man¡¯s eyes were a burning incense, a hazy smoke circulating them.


    ¡°You¡¯re the only one who¡¯s awake. Seeing as you¡¯re able to resist my powers, there¡¯s someone watching you¡ªa god more powerful than me. I¡¯m sensing this familiar feeling coming from you.¡±


    The man thought over it for a moment.


    Was it Apollo? No, that can¡¯t be.


    He tilted his head.


    ¡°Are you Dionysus?¡± Eutostea asked.


    It was a viable guess, judging from the pungent smell of wine coming off from his tattered-looking-beggar¡¯s clothes and how he actively looked around the festival for humans to help out with.


    Neither confirming nor denying her words, the man took the piece of cloth hanging off the waist of his trousers with his left hand and loosely draped it across his shoulder. He then started taking one step after another toward Eutostea, who had put some distance between them earlier.


    The petals of the myrtle hanging from above fell down on the path he walked.


    ¡°Your motherland is Thebes. It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve had wine from there, so¡­ it¡¯s fine if I drink this, right?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s wine that¡¯s to be offered as tribute to a temple.¡±


    Eutostea did not find it tedious repeating the same words over and over again. She simply chose to show her manners towards Dionysus upon realizing his identity. She had no plans to hand over the wine.


    ¡°I¡¯ll refill it after.¡±


    ¡°What would become of my kingdom if the container of the wine I was to offer to the temple had its contents changed?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll make the exact same wine. You know that all the wine in the world is under my jurisdiction. It¡¯s fine so long as I replace it with the exact same wine, right?¡±


    ¡°When something is offered for tribute, the item represents the genuine feelings of the person offering it. This wine must be the original in order for those feelings to be properly portrayed.¡±


    ¡°Argh,¡± Dionysus scratched his head in annoyance, ¡°you¡¯re so picky. Look, I¡¯m so parched I could die. Just let me have one mouthful. Shall I tell you a secret? Apollo won¡¯t be attending the festival at Delphi. He¡¯s planning to vacation in Hyperborea. It¡¯s a little earlier than his intended plan, so that¡¯s why I¡¯m going in his stead. Hence, all the tributes offered at the festival of Delphi will be given to me.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Eutostea said flatly.


    ¡°Haaa¡­ I¡¯d put you to sleep right now, but I don¡¯t even have the strength to do that.¡±


    Dionysus¡¯ ears turned red as he stamped his foot on the ground as if he was throwing a tantrum. The sound of grapes that at some point started growing out of vines at his feet being crushed could be heard. While he was distracted, Eutostea snatched the precious container of wine in his hands.


    Noticing that he was barehanded, Dionysus let out a dejected laugh. ¡°I¡¯m normally given everything I want. This is the first time someone¡¯s actually taken something out of my hands.¡±


    ¡°Please don¡¯t be mistaken. This wine was something you stole from.¡±


    ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Dionysus stuck his tongue out like he was gonna vomit, ¡°alright, alright! Fine, take the wine. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s so special about the festival at Delphi, but I guess I¡¯ll taste it then. Enough with this shameful dispute. Let¡¯s drink.¡±


    A golden cup appeared in Dionysus¡¯ hand. When he made a pouring motion his his hands, a rose-colored wine started filling the golden cup from the bottom up.


    A lovely smell wafted through the air.


    While Dionysus was pouring the wine, Eutostea put the container back in its place on the wagon before placing other precious items on top of it. She didn¡¯t know when he¡¯d try to pillage the wagon again, so she needed to camouflage the wine as best as she could. Having done that, Eutostea returned back to Dionysus, who offered her a cup.


    He had already drained his own cup.


    It looks like he wasn¡¯t lying.


    ¡°I don¡¯t drink.¡±


    ¡®I won¡¯t with you, at least.¡¯


    Eutostea drew the line between them.


    Cough!


    Dionysus, who heartily drank his wine, coughed at her cold words.


    Eutostea stared down at Dionysus¡¯ backside. He was bent over at the waist trying to clear out the wine that went down his windpipe.

 Chapter 27 - Pretty When Intoxicated

    Chapter 27: Pretty When Intoxicated


    ¡°You¡­ do you think I¡¯m the type to poison you? No. I won¡¯t allow my name to be tarnished. Look, I¡¯m only trying to offer you the best drink you could ever taste in this mortal world, but you don¡¯t want it? Why?¡±


    Dionysus donned a tearful look, eyes strained and cheeks flush a rosy-tinted peach.


    Eutostea shook her head. She was not the least bit dispirited by his appearance. There was no one but her awake at this time of the hour wherever she looked around. Only the god standing in front of her was playing theatrics musingly.


    No. She¡¯ll not dance in the palm of his hands and voluntarily drink his wine. And the idea itself was horrid the more she thought about it.


    ¡°The festival ends today. We leave for Delphi tomorrow, stopping by in the afternoon for a small break. I¡¯ll need to keep my sanity intact so that the tributes reach the destination safely.¡±


    ¡°Oh, c¡¯mon! My drinks have no hangover effects. Those drowning in drunkenness will wake up with a clear mind. Of course, you won¡¯t remember a single thing that will happen today.¡±


    ¡°I know. That¡¯s why I refuse,¡± Eutostea said coolly.


    Dionysus, who begged and begged Eutostea, changed his posture and talked persistently, asking that they drink together. He was the god of wine and entertainment. This quarrel was second nature to him.


    ¡°Then take a glass. Okay, fine. You don¡¯t need to drink it. I¡¯ll just drink alone while you keep me company. Let¡¯s have a table. Are you hungry?¡± Dionysus changed the subject as if he had given up.


    The golden chalice carved by Hephaestus fingers showed off its grand gracefulness in Dionysus¡¯s hand. Eutostea looked at him¡ªhe was the sort of god who refused to give up.


    Reluctantly, Eutostea accepted the golden chalice.


    ¡°It¡¯s the best drink. You¡¯ll regret it.¡±


    Eutostea¡¯s eyes narrowed. Didn¡¯t he say he won¡¯t force her?


    But sure enough, the moment she received the chalice, Dionysus encouraged her to take a drink.


    ¡°It¡¯s a seductive color. I¡¯ll regret it once I take a sip,¡± Eutostea murmured.


    ¡°That¡¯s the point. Just stop doubting yourself and drink up. Drink, drink, drink!¡± Dionysus echoed and clapped his hand in rhythmic motion. ¡°C¡¯mon, drink!¡±


    Meanwhile, the haggard-looking god snapped his hand and food appeared. No one was around to follow his will, but that didn¡¯t stop him. He clapped his hand again and a spring rose from somewhere on the barren surface began to flow in a stream.


    A beautiful warrior wrapped in elm bark walked out of the darkness. The goddess-looking warrior poured wine on Dionysus¡¯ empty chalice. She carried food from hand to hand while mouthing a song from start to the chorus. The song spoke of two lovers whose love was destined to be a tragedy.


    The scenery of the white petal tree, which began to scatter in time, was lyrical. The atmosphere was serene.


    Eutostea put her lips on the chalice.


    Dionysus¡¯ eyes bent satisfactorily.


    The wine tasted different. She knew it was no ordinary wine¡ªordinary wineries were bland with by-products. The scent of the wine tasted like sweet fruit, its potency strengthening as it touched her throat.


    The female warrior replaced her chalice with a new one.


    Eutostea took a sip, emptying the chalice in no time.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it good?¡± Dionysus mumbled while grapes.


    His eye sparked, as if insinuating Eutsotea to fall deeper in temptation.


    And fall she did. The taste was amazing.


    ¡°What bad drinks have you had on a regular basis? Admit it, my creation is godly, right? You won¡¯t find this specialty anywhere.¡±


    Like a mother bird watching a baby eat its prey, Dionysus grinned and lifted his chin. She looked intoxicated, but still, she looked pretty like that.

 Chapter 28 - Dionysus Swallows Eutostea

    Chapter 28: Dionysus Swallows Eutostea


    There were no shortages of food and alcohol. Dozens of warrior-like goddesses appeared and continued to serve Dionysus and Eutostea platters of food on a golden plate with a new set of alcohol.


    The warrior, braided with laurel leaves on her head, played the lira. Shaking like a beautiful willow, the goddesses danced elegantly. Their bodies reclined gracefully and became one with the choreography. It was as if they were born to dance, as if this was their destiny.


    It was a performance performed to its utmost best for Dionysus, the god they served.


    Eutostea ended up drinking his wine. She thought it an honor to witness the graceful dance of the warrior goddesses.


    There was no shortage of alcohol or food. Dozens of Moussa, looking like a warrior, continued to serve food on a golden plate with new alcohol.


    The scenery of Dionysus and Eutostea holding down the fort with the warrior goddesses dancing under the starry lit night was a mysterious yet elegant painting.


    Eutostea sipped her drink and gaze at the night sky with a swoon. Her head grew intoxicated with dizziness as if she¡¯d seen the height of beauty.


    Was she drunk?


    She asked herself.


    Drunk? No. But the reality she breathed now was unrealistic.


    ¡°You said that you¡¯re princess, didn¡¯t you? That your name is Eutostea?¡±


    Dionysis, who once sat comfortably on the chair with his back leaning, suddenly leaned towards her, chin almost touching her shoulder.


    Eutostea didn¡¯t mind his distance closing in and accepted him. She looked at his left face glistening under the shades of the lamp. Unlike her previous wariness thinking he was a thief, her vigilance at this moment eased.


    As for Dionysus, he remained slack and carefree, a trait ever so visible.


    ¡°Do princesses go to pay their tributes to the temple themselves these days? No, that can¡¯t be right. Oh¡­ wait! Oh, this is surprising. Did you run away from the palace?¡±


    He assumed wild guesses, yet he threw words close to the truth by chance.


    Eutostea avoided answering and drank more.


    ¡°A-are you serious?¡±


    Dionysus blinked and thrust his face forward, almost breaking his neck in the process. He looked at her with wide-eyes and mouth drooping to the floor. Also, though somewhat amusing, it was the first time he saw her face express genuine embarrassment.


    ¡°Aww, well, it¡¯s fine. You¡¯re so brave,¡± he smiled cheekily, ¡°Though I see that you can¡¯t do much, yet you ran away like this¡­ hmm¡­ are you escaping because of love? Wait, do you at least have a place to stay?¡±


    ¡®What does it matter?¡¯ Eutostea thought absently.


    ¡°When the festival is over..¡± Dionysus trailed off¡­


    ¡°I¡¯ll think about it when I¡¯m done,¡± Eutostea answered.


    ¡®Well, I don¡¯t really have any plans.¡¯


    Though she wished she was the type of person who easily spoke her worries out to others much like her sister. But¡­ she wasn¡¯t like them. She could never be.


    Dionysus rested his chin on her shoulder and looked at her with eyes of worry. He hummed an ancient song and looked at her in earnest.


    His eyes resting on her countenance as if trying to figure her out became burdensome to Eutostea. She blinked stiffly. Somehow, the god¡¯s lips, smooth as a red apple, became glaringly visible and magnified in large.


    Her lips closed and parted before downing the rest of her wine.


    ¡®I¡¯ll relax for now.¡¯


    And with that thought, it was as if the worries weighing her back released, however momentarily it may be. She laughed melodically, pearly white teeth showing.


    Dionysus stuck his tongue out and licked the drop of wine on his upper lip.


    ¡°Hey, princess,¡± he called and said words she could not understand thereafter.


    When it seemed like she couldn¡¯t understand him, Dionysus laughed, his laughter akin to a dying hyena.


    He scooted his head slightly closer to her, face almost touching her nape. Eutostea frowned and stepped back. Though it was futile as he shuffled closer to her.


    Dionysus smiled mysteriously.


    The warrior goddess¡¯ song was near its peak.


    Dionysus¡¯ smile grew gradually.


    Eutostea was unable to comprehend what was happening. It was as if he was speaking a language she did not know.


    ¡°Hey, you¡¯re kinda pretty.¡±


    Dionysus laughed gently, his laughter echoing clearly in her ear.


    Thereafter, she felt a hand cupping her cheek.


    A sweet breath fell down her nose and sent her in a feathery daze. Maybe she¡¯d been drinking too much that she¡¯s hallucinating but she felt the touch of his lips swallowing and devouring her own lips.

 Chapter 29 - Their First Night (19)

    Chapter 29: Their First Night (19)


    A mere moment passed before she realized their lips touching¡­ kissing. His tongue touched her lips with mischief, a trait in line with his personality from what she¡¯d seen so far.


    Eutostea gave in and stuck out her tongue in curiosity. Regardless, she was afraid.


    Dionysus laid his fangs bare and bit her lips, her luscious, thick lips. He could taste his wine.


    Eutostea¡¯s beating heart gradually accelerated. The kiss she and Dionysus shared was different from Apollo.


    Dionysus closed his eyes, the shades of his long eyelashes delicately visible, almost touching her skin.


    The sweetness of the wine from his tongue was flavory and intoxicating.


    She, too, followed suit and closed her eyes gently. Neither the dancing of the warrior goddesses nor the fountain of wine flowing under their feet was seen.


    She could feel Dionysus¡¯ hot body temperature as he pressed himself against her.


    ¡°Mnn¡­¡±


    Eutostea raised her arm over his shoulder while Dionysus wrapped his around her waist and pulled her up. He sat down on the chair and placed her on his lap. He didn¡¯t let her go in the process; he tangled his body tightly to hers as his lips remained pressed on hers.


    Dionysus¡¯ fingers groped Eutostea¡¯s forearm and loosened the pin fixed to her shoulder. Her front lash fell down, exposing her curving body subtly that clung to his bare skin gently under the moonlit night.


    ¡®It¡¯s Apollo¡¯s woman. So¡­ he took her? Well, it doesn¡¯t matter.¡¯


    He rested his chin, as if a habit, on her shoulder and hugged her tight. His glowing eyes spoke of much conviction.


    Eutostea thought she was a broken flower who lost her petals, but Dionysus¡¯ touch made her bloom again and again. He didn¡¯t make her feel like she was any less of a flower. It was as if he saw her damaged petals more beautiful than any other petals.


    Their throes of passion began on the chair, Eutostea riding him. Then the position was reversed. Dionysus stood up and plopped her on the floor. He touched her head and circled his thumb over her forehead.


    Meanwhile, lush vines spread on the floor like a rug, warming Eutostea and increasing her comfort.


    Dionysus with his back against the backdrop of the starry night sky spread her leg and stood in between the slit of her garden.


    His erect manhood touched her inner thighs. Her skin was smooth and warm, but he knew that he¡¯d soon feel a flesh even warmer and pleasurable.


    ¡®¡­Is this okay?¡¯ Eutostea was lost in thought.


    Dionysus¡¯ thick, curly hair tickled her forehead, his breathing hot and heavy.


    Eutostea looked at him.


    ¡®It doesn¡¯t matter anymore.¡¯


    And with that, she let herself go and entrusted her body to him. Raising her arms, she wrapped it tight on his neck and back.


    Whatever the problem arises, she¡¯ll deal with it later.


    ¡°Hey, you,¡± Dionysus smiled, ¡°You¡¯re so cold to me. Warm-up a little. Haha, actually, you¡¯ll end sweating from pleasure soon. No worries, I¡¯ll take the lead.¡±


    Then, he pushed his manhood inside the entrance of her garden. Eutostea swallowed him, accepting him fully.


    A groan escaped her mouth and echoed in his ear. His ears perked up, delighted at the pleasure she felt¡ªdrunk in intoxication much like his wine.


    Her skin burned as if it had been oiled and set on her as her flesh coiled around his shaft. She, too, could feel him warming her insides.


    She was in hellish pleasure, a temptation of painful ecstasy. She knew their act was shameful, yet she didn¡¯t hate it.


    Dionysus seemed to notice something amiss. Many thoughts stirred through his head.


    He tangled his fingers with hers and placed it onto the ground, shifting the center of his gravity and position to push inside her deeper.


    Eutostea closed her eyes and let out a soft, inaudible moan, hands gripping Dionysus¡¯ right and legs circled around his waist.


    The night sky watched them commit themselves to the throes of passion.


    Her hips bucked and her body quivered. Sweats of pleasure trickled from their bodies and dripped down the floor.


    His movements, his thrusting was too intense that her fingernails scratched the back of his skin.


    Dionysus¡¯ eyes twinkled. He licked his lips gently, enjoying the new strange stimuli she gave her.


    Despite her intense shaking, her eyes remained closed.


    Dionysus found traces of Apollo¡¯s power in her belly. The force was shaped like a snake stretching itself out. It stood right at the edge of her lower belly and womb ready to bite Dionysus shaft.


    He smirked wondering how many times Apollo caressed Eutostea. The thought of it deepened his curiosity.


    Eutostea was Apollo¡¯s woman, his friend and one of the twelve gods. He knew he shouldn¡¯t but¡­


    Dionysus licked his lower lip with excitement, thrusting back and forth over and over. Eutostea accepted him gladly and replied with moans of ecstasy.


    And soon, Apollo¡¯s presence gradually diminished as Dionysus spread his power inside her.


    Reaching their peaks, both Eutostea and Dionysus climaxed and released a juicy river dam.


    Dionysus kissed Eutostea¡¯s blushing face, which was breathless with pleasure. Her legs, swaying like paper, entangled around his waist. He leaned forward, burying his face in her shaking mounds.


    Apollo¡¯s presence disappeared completely and it was now Dionysus inside her. He was content knowing that.


    Thereafter, Dionysus and Eutostea fell into a deep slumber.

 Chapter 30 - Accept My Proposition

    Chapter 30: Accept My Proposition


    In the early morning, Dionysus summoned his servants who had excused themselves last night. The Muses sisters, the one leading the performances last night, appeared and poured wine into a golden cup which he accepted.


    Exhausted, he breathed heavily and asked Eutostea, who laid down on the carpet of vines, if she wanted some, to which, she again, refused.


    Having sobered up, Eutostea began to reason and rebuke herself for what had occurred, only to conclude that there was no point crying over spilt milk.


    Smiling cheekily, Dionysus slung his arm around her shoulder and asked, ¡°You said you¡¯re going to think about a place to stay after the festival ends, right?¡±


    He got close to her face.


    ¡°How ¡®bout becoming my priest? What do you think? My temple¡¯s located on the banks of Pactolus. Hardly anyone ever visits, so it gets rather lonely at times. But I¡¯m sure it¡¯ll become a breathable place worthy of living with you taking care of it! And, and, and¡­¡± he stressed the word out, ¡°and since it¡¯s under my jurisdiction, there won¡¯t be anyone who¡¯d dare invade, ¡®lest they want to receive the wrath of a god. Oh! And you won¡¯t ever have a shortage of food and wine.¡±


    The tone of his voice implied that there was no better opportunity than this.


    Eutostea didn¡¯t take him seriously.


    ¡°You give quite the generous proposition to a mortal you¡¯ve just met,¡± Eutostea smiled lightly.


    Dionysus shrugged. ¡°What can I say? I¡¯ve taken a liking to you.¡±


    ¡°You seem to take a liking to others rather easily.¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­ did Apollo tell you that? You shouldn¡¯t listen to any words coming out of his mouth. It¡¯s all hearsay.¡± Dionysus clicked his tongue in annoyance.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Taken aback, Eutostea looked at him surprisingly. Her shoulders tensed and she grew more cautious.


    ¡°So did you do something wrong? Did he chase you away? Abandon you? You don¡¯t seem like a broken-hearted woman. I find all of this strange, if you ask me.¡±


    Dionysus asked questions after questions in quick succession.


    Eutostea didn¡¯t answer.


    Dionysus shrugged.


    ¡°Wh-what? Don¡¯t look at me like that. I¡¯m only asking cause I can¡¯t think of any other explanation but that. But what do you think? Is my offer not appealing enough? Should I throw in more incentives?¡±


    He wore a sad puppy look.


    ¡°Okay, okay, if there¡¯s something else you want, I¡¯ll listen. Look, I like you. You¡¯re unique and interesting. The fact that you¡¯re a princess who ran away from the palace is mind bogglingly brave, but that¡¯s also rather fun, too. And there¡¯s never been a woman whom Apollo kindly let go after having touched her, yet here you are perfectly intact in one piece.¡±


    Then he scratched his temples.


    ¡°Eutostea, please sincerely consider my proposition.¡±


    Was this his way of taking pity on a girl who he spent the night with under the influence of alcohol?


    Or was he joking like usual?


    Eutostea carefully studied the face of the god standing in front her. She could find no traces of laughter. His two eyes were completely fixated on her.


    ¡°If you¡¯re not making fun of me, then I¡¯ll consider your offer,¡± she said after much thinking.


    And with that, she picked up her clothes and redressed herself.


    Dionysus watched her actions with a victorious smile before downing the wine on his golden chalice and throwing it carelessly on the ground.


    ¡°I¡¯ll head to Delphi first while eagerly awaiting your arrival. The amount of time it¡¯ll take to get there should be plenty enough for you to think about my offer. I¡¯m serious about it and I¡¯d like it if you could give me a definitive answer when you arrive.¡±


    The grapevines that stretched across the front of the house followed his passing footsteps before disappearing into the shadows.


    The many dozen goddesses that came to Dionysus¡¯ call followed suit, their steps ethereally rhythmic as they danced away gracefully.

 Chapter 31 - Artemis Takes Shot

    Chapter 31: Artemis Takes Shot


    When the sound of the goddesses elegant voices disappeared, their ambient voices near the surrounding, the loud snores of mortal men and women along the streets, the chirps of the grass and bugs, the mewls of a stray cat scavenging through the food littered across the town from last night¡¯s festival.


    Eutostea picked up a pair of the golden chalice left behind.


    She chuckled.


    What was that? Was this a token of his sincere proposal?


    What an odd god.


    Though she wanted to throw them away, Eutostea didn¡¯t want to face the god¡¯s wrath, so she packed it along with her belongings. She then looked over the wagon full of tributes dubiously. Thankfully, the wine was safe.


    The goddess of dawn, Eos, awakened and painted the whole sky with brightness.


    With the festival coming to an end, the drunken folks found themselves in completely different places from where they remember. Some were positioned upside down in a lawn, whereas others slept on top of slanted rooftops. The merchants, too, slowly regained their senses. Even Paeon, who slept in drunken stupor in the middle of the square, began to rouse.


    The dim rays of light began to stretch across the earth. All those who watched as daylight arrived all thought the same: ¡®I can¡¯t remember what happened.¡¯


    ¡°It seems that Dionysus visited us last night,¡± said a stranger, speech slurred and incoherent.


    ¡°If that¡¯s true, then I¡¯m glad the effects weren¡¯t severe. We¡¯ve forgotten where we were and woke up in an unfamiliar place,¡± another commented, relieved.


    The traveling party from Thebes groggily walked back to their temporary dwelling to regroup.


    The first thing Paeon did was inspect the wagon holding the tributes to the temple. Though the items were arranged strangely, they were all safe, and the guards tasked with watching over the tributes were praised despite Eutostea knowing that they did nothing but snore the night away.


    Eutostea sighed; she was the only one who fully remembered the events of the previous night.


    ***


    Once a year, Apollo vacationed at the city of Hyperborea¡ªnamed after the Hyperboreans, a race of giant-like creatures¡ªwhich was located in the north of Thrace.


    The land had no crops, only the harsh ocean and the constant overcast weather. Though the soil was barren, similar to the underworld, it slowly shone and was brought back to life from the dead ground in the form of flowers under Apollo¡¯s light.


    But as Dionysus once mentioned, this year¡¯s visit was much earlier than previous years. Moreover, it was the first time Apollo had forgone the festival and tributes altogether and holed himself up at Hyperborea.


    It was why Artemis decided to make an appearance where here brother was at without announcement.


    A field that was as dry and barren as the desert, the sun beating down on the mounds of sand, and with not a thing of existence, Artemis was able to spot her brother quickly. He slept under the shade of the laurel tree he so dearly loved. She put her hand against the bark of the tree that was at least a century old and tried to guess its age, but alas, there were no answers within the rough bark of the tree.


    ¡°Brother, you know that this tree¡¯s malnourished and dehydrated waiting for you. You only come to visit once a year. Just for that annual meeting, it endures this heat waiting for you.¡±


    It was something like love.


    The reason why this tree, which was originally located in the Forest of Delos, came out here to take root was because of Apollo.


    Artemis oftentimes thought of her brother a pervert.


    Apollo raised an eyebrow. His eyes shone like rubies, emitting a bright red light. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you were going to hunt wild boars? What¡¯re you doing here?¡±


    As if confirming his words, Artemis, indeed, had her precious case of arrows strapped to her back. The arrows were made out of bayberry branches, making them flexible and able to withstand tension well.


    She took the bowstring bordered with silver lining that shone like moonlight and with the hamstring made from a titan¡ªsomething that even a strong, burly man would have difficulty pulling taut¡ªand effortlessly pulled the bowstring back, grabbing one of the arrows from her back.


    ¡°I wanted to practice shots here.¡±


    Upon hearing his little sister planning to shoot volleys of arrows into empty air like this barren wasteland, Apollo thought that she had chosen a well-suited spot.

 Chapter 32 - A Wild Bet

    Chapter 32: A Wild Bet


    The blazing sun from up above looked down on the gods as if bearing witness. Artemis aimed her bow at the cloudless sky and pulled the bowstring tightly. The string bent and arched. The right arm of her muscle swelled, demonstrating strain. While pulling the string to its limit and what it could endure, Artemis let go.


    The cycle repeated.


    Woosh¡­ woosh¡­ woosh¡­


    The only able sounds that could be heard from a far distance was the whistling sound of the bowstring.


    Apollo rose up. He hadn¡¯t eaten yet and he was somewhat famished. He wore purple tunic, his right breast in full naked view. Both feet were fitted with golden sandals. A ribbon-thin golden band intersected to the knees. He habitually fixed his clothes and centered it on the gravity on his right; he didn¡¯t forget to frown.


    Artemis hadn¡¯t seen it yet, but the burnt marks on his shoulder hadn¡¯t healed and only furthered his pain.


    Hyperboria was his sanctuary, a place where he regained his vigor. Whenever he rested here, he¡¯d rise to the best optimal condition, yet that formula had broken.


    The fall of the candle melting the shell of his body was fake, this he knew well, but he wondered why it affected his true self. However much he tried to reason it, Eutostea¡¯s face came to mind¡ªa woman who he had mistaken for a maidservant and hadn¡¯t recognized till the very end.


    A dismal sigh belched out and he leaned his back against the laurel tree.


    Artemis glanced at her silent brother. ¡°The Delphi Festival is tomorrow and you seem like you don¡¯t want to go.¡±


    ¡°Dionysus will manage it while I¡¯m away.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re handing responsibility over to him? Brother, this festival is meant for you. The people came for you,¡± Artemis said, tone sarcastic and outspoken for a pure beauty of cool, icy-toned (white-blonde) hair and intense red eyes.


    Apollo knew Artemis held great disdain for Dionysus.


    ¡°The boar hunt. The ones in Mount Kerinaiua are young. My hounds aren¡¯t satisfied with the blood of those little pricks, so I asked Zeus if I could open a hunting ground and came to let you know in advance. It¡¯s alright for me to hunt in the woods northwest of Delphi on the night of the festival, right?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s hear first why you chose to settle on the day of the festival. There¡¯ll be a lot of people in Delphi that day. There¡¯ll be a lot of eyes watching.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s on the night where the moon is at its brightest without obstruction from the fog. There¡¯s no better night to hunt. The fairies also spoke the same tune. And it¡¯s been a long while since I last hunted on the mountains of Parnassus. I miss its terrain and I wish to run fast with the wind on my back. Anyways, you¡¯ll let me, right?¡±


    Artemis smiled gently knowing that Apollo would, of course, allow it. Her bright smile was a blooming flower. The majesty of the goddess disappeared and Apollo saw only his precious sister. And as she expected, Apollo nodded, allowing her to hunt as she saw fit.


    Whoever saw that smile, there was nothing anyone would not do for her.


    ¡°The hunt will begin at midnight and it¡¯ll end before dawn. I¡¯ll be roaming northwest to south. Brother, are you sure you want to spend your days alone in Hyperboria? Why not join me?¡± Artemis suggested implicitly.


    Apollo looked at his lira, which he placed beside him. It exuded a sour look.


    ¡°Sounds like a bet.¡±


    A golden bow appeared from his hand. It was his favorite bow¡ªone he used to kill Python, a vicious snake that afflicted both man and god.


    Artemis was dumbfounded with laughter. ¡°You plan to hunt too? You¡¯ll bet against me?

 Chapter 33 - Delphi, At Last

    Chapter 33: Delphi, At Last


    ¡°Of course not.¡±


    Apollo lowered her expectations. As the goddess of hunting, her brother¡¯s hunting skills were sorrowful and unsatisfactory. The philosophy of the twin siblings¡¯ bows was different. Apollo¡¯s weapon was made for killing while hers for hunting.


    Apollo frowned, having trouble raising the brow and showing a demonstration.


    Eventually, he confessed his injury to his sister. ¡°I hurt my shoulder and have difficulty demonstrating to you my improved skill. I think it¡¯s fair that you go first, right?¡±


    ¡°Are you hurt? I¡¯m surprised. You look fine. Is that why you¡¯ve chosen to recluse here on vacation? I was sure that you¡¯d stop killing monsters since finding the lira.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    It was no monster, but a woman¡ªa mortal woman. A simple drop of candle wax had injured his shoulder. Apollo couldn¡¯t possibly tell his sister of this embarrassing event.


    ¡°So then what will you wager on, sister?¡±


    ¡°A female deer with golden horns. There¡¯s nothing like that to decorate my lira,¡± Artemis, a goddess who so many treasured and coveted, smiled.


    ¡°Fine. I agree.¡± Apollo was satisfied with the wager.


    ¡°And what of you, brother? What will you wager? What do you want in exchange?¡± Apollo asked. He was willing to give Artemis what she wanted.


    Artemis let out a meaningful laugh and broke the lowest stretch dout branch of the laurel tree.


    ¡°If I win, I¡¯ll cut this tree down and make a chair for me to sit on.¡±


    ¡°!¡±


    Apollo¡¯s eyes shook for a moment. He soon regained his composure.


    ¡°Delos has a lot of laurel trees. You can find another one, brother.¡±


    ¡°Is there any reason to use this poor tree, which is barely alive after being deprived of nutrients due to poor soil?¡± Apollo asked, ¡°If you had planned to make a chair from the start, you¡¯d not need to offer a hunt and bet. I wonder what it is that you seek.¡±


    Artemis fastened the bow to her back. She pulled her long hair back and braided it.


    Apollo put down his bow and stared at his sister.


    Finally, he grumbled and said, ¡°Fine, whatever.¡±


    It was best that he do something to forget the pain from his shoulder. Much like his bow, he was itching to leave Hyperboria.


    ***


    The group, who had left Thebes, arrived safely in Delphi on schedule. The road leading up to the mountain was congested. The festival was one of the biggest events of the year for those who worshipped him. The procession¡ªwhich carried the offerings and tributes to the temple slowly climbed the mountain towards the temple¡ªcould be mistaken as people seeking refuge from afar.


    Eutostea sat on the horse¡¯s back and dozed off as the procession was delayed. The warm autumn weather caused lethargy.


    The number of visitors for the festival far exceeded the limits the temple could accommodate. Paeon ordered several members of the party to separate and quickly secure a seat at the temple.


    The rest of the group continued to move forward slowly. The fire burning on the altar never went out. Apollo¡¯s priest, Pyatia, stood at a platform and received the guests offerings and tributes.


    The line hadn¡¯t shrunk at all. Folks swarmed like ants and like Eutostea, many held sets of liquor. The sight made her think of Dionysus who she was sure was looking down with his tongue flapping and licking his red lips.


    ¡®Is Apollo really not here?¡¯ Eutostea thought to herself.


    She didn¡¯t want to stand and she truly did find it undesirable to sacrifice herself to the temple. But she promised. Though would he find her promise foolish? She was but a mere mortal who a god couldn¡¯t recognize.


    But it mattered no longer.


    Those in line waiting in boredom turned their focus on the sky. A flock of black-bodied crows flew low and circled ¡®round the temple. They twirled their wings, as if spying on the people below. The piercing cries of the crows were strange.


    Eutostea looked up and bore witness to the phenomenon.


    ¡°It¡¯s a good sign. The bird symbolizes that Apollo¡¯s made his appearance,¡± someone shouted.


    The crow was a bird that became Apollo¡¯s eyes.

 Chapter 34 - Offering Herself

    Chapter 34: Offering Herself


    Crowds of crows grouped in a line jerked westward, disappearing over the Parnassus Mountains. Watching the crows show their deeds as if to suggest the gods were present, many eyes saw the sun dye the sky with the last color of sunset.


    Darkness laid like smoke on the spot where Helios¡¯ tramp had passed, cooling off the heat of the day.


    Stretching wide, colorful constellations stood in place. Selene, the goddess of the moon, bloomed under their protection. The full moon awoke the earth shyly with a noble silver lining. A strange red cloud hung ¡®round the rim.


    The mortal beings below praised the gods¡ªwhom they knew as a strange night encompassing the day during the festival¡ªin the dreamy night sky.


    The line that Apollo¡¯s priest, Pyatia, was receiving gradually decreased.


    Thebes¡¯ time has finally come.


    Paeon sent out his commands and ordered many men to move the tributes from the wagon one by one to the altar.


    Eutostea approached the flames created by the gods. A bottle liquor cherished in her arms had been sent to the center of the altar.


    The brazier handed the offerings to Hersia, the goddess of hearth, to which her hands purified the offerings through the brazier before passing it through the corresponding god.


    There was a chance that the tributes and offerings to the altar could have been intercepted by Dionysus in the middle, but regardless, the offering would have to be delivered to the goddess first for purification before passing it to a god.


    The temple was a man-made building created for Apollo, but at the same, it was a temple made also for Hestia.


    ¡°I offer this tribute on behalf of Thebes.¡±


    Eutostea, with a solemn gaze, moved to the edge of a huge disc-shaped brazier and spilt the wine. The fire, which burned stably, smelt of sweet smoke as the drop of alcohol evaporated then burned again.


    To prevent the fire from extinguishing, the bottle had to be emptied carefully and smoothly as much as possible. It was a task that required utmost sincerity.


    Looking at the feast of swirling flames and hazy smoke, Eutostea remembered her home, her father who she¡¯d never forgive, and her two lovely sisters whom she loved despite their high ego and pride. She had left them all behind, wishing them a safe and prosperous future.


    She was blindly believing in this resolve, this wish for her family, and the safety of her country.


    Eutostea glanced at the little bit of wine left. She took out the golden chalice Dionysus gifted her out of her pack. After putting the chalice on the altar, she poured the leftover wine. The clear distilled wine fluttered in the chalice and turned into a blood-colored wine with a deep fragrance.


    Today, the god protecting Delphi was Dionysus. It seemed right for him to have a taste of the offering. Before him, Eutostea paid a moment¡¯s silent tribute.


    Pyatia stood for the side, waiting until her prayers were over.


    ¡°Are you done?¡± asked the priest.


    ¡°¡­Almost.¡±


    Nodding, Eutostea looked at the golden and silver treasures that filled the altar. The look in her eyes that said ¡°What will you do now?¡± spoke of much depth regarding her current circumstances.


    ¡°Give me the knife,¡± Eutostea said.


    Pyatia pulled out the dagger from her waist. With it, she watched Eutostea with curious eyes, as if the princess was going to cut off her fingers as offering.


    Eutostea took the knife and measured the length of the blade and its sharpness. Using her left arm, she grabbed a bunch of her hair and cut it off with a single stroke.


    ¡°Princess¡­!¡±


    Shocked, Pyatia had tried to stop her, but it was too late. Her hair had already been cut. She looked boyish now.


    Now carrying something covetous as a bundle of hair, Eutostea put it on the brazier.


    ¡°No matter how much I think about it, this is all that I¡¯m able to offer¡­¡± Eutostea muttered.


    In Greece, it was only common among slave women to cut all their hair. For a Grecian woman, their last pride was their hair, which they took care of pridefully and even more so when they were of noble and royal status.


    Eutostea thought that this was the most reasonable offering. Her unstable honor, position, and what would become of her haunted her. What she could offer to Apollo was also something that tormented her.


    After a long thought, Eutostea recalled that Apollo, who often visited her in the dead of the night, liked to play with her hair when hugging her affectionately.


    ¡°I offer you the most valuable thing I have left. Please don¡¯t be angry.¡± With a smoky smell, Eutostea murmured as she looked down at the burning hair.


    Then the flame, filling the big brazier, burned as if a firecracker had burst, and drew three flames into the air.


    Eutostea wondered if it was Hersia, Apollo, or Dionysus peeping at Delphi.


    It was a question she¡¯ll never hear the answer to.

 Chapter 35 - Apollo And Artemis

    Chapter 35: Apollo and Artemis


    Thereafter, Eutostea covered her head with a cloth and left the temple.


    Pyatia, who was about to tell her to go back to Thebes thinking the princess would change her mind before the journey was over, looked worried. The look she saw in Eutostea¡¯s eyes when she cut her hair and returned the sharp knife to her had already been set.


    ¡°Are you leaving like this?¡±


    ¡°Inform the king that the tribute had been delivered safely and contents of the prophetic trust should, hopefully, be nullified.¡±


    ¡°Where will you go, princess? How can a woman navigate this dangerous world alone? Please break down your stubbornness and go back to Thebes and beg the king for repentance. He won¡¯t be so hard on you.¡±


    This was what Pyatia thought, thinking that the king would be reasonable enough to worry about his daughter.


    ¡°¡­You don¡¯t know my father. I¡¯ve already said my goodbye to him.¡±


    ¡®¡­And yet, he didn¡¯t budge.¡¯


    Eutostea adjusted the clothing on her head and squeezed the hem of her dress.


    ¡°You¡¯ve had a difficult journey. Then¡­ if it¡¯s what you¡¯ve decided, we shall part ways here.¡±


    Pyatia stared at her chin¡ªwhich was barely visible¡ªand led the empty wagon to the accommodated area Paeon and his party had taken up.


    Eutostea stood to the side, watching. A moment later, she left the building where the altar was located in search of a place to avoid the black night.


    From afar, eyes watched the scene and then just as swift as a flying squirrel, it disappeared into the darkness of the forest.


    ***


    Artemis sat on a large rock in a deep forest located southwest on the back of Mount Parnassus.


    The goddess wore a hunting garment, a shoulder brace made of deerskin, and a ponytail tying her hair up.


    Fairies fanned her sweat to cool her off, gave her drinks to quench her thirst, and wiped and rearranged her equipment. Artemis¡¯ elaborate hounds sniffed at the caracasses of the hunted animal gathered next to the rocks. Not long after they started hunting, they caught almost all the animals in the southwest forest.


    Apollo was washing his bow and arrow in the clear valley water beneath her, grazing the grass beside him. He wore a laurel wreath¡ªwhich symbolizes victory¡ªand wrapped a black veil around his upper body like a cap. His arm was wrapped in a band made of leopard skin.


    He, who drained all the blood of the beasts from his bow, rose up from the shore in contentment.


    So far, the two twin siblings were tied.


    As Apollo neared Artemis, the fairies who served her withdrew and moved to the edge.


    ¡°Don¡¯t get too close. You¡¯ll scare my children,¡± Artemis said harshly.


    Apollo chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s more afraid of you.¡±


    Apollo grabbed a glass of drink with his own hands and poured himself a drink.


    Artemis stroked the fairy¡¯s cheeks that sat next to her, thinking that her brother¡¯s words made sense. The cheeks of the mure maiden fairy blushed with shame. The goddess¡¯ fingers jeered at the fairy¡¯s lips.


    While the brother and sister duo took a break, the fairy, who was spying on the festival under the orders of Artemis, returned in a hurry.


    ¡°Goddesss¡­¡± the fairy said urgently. Her eyes spoke a sense of importance that she needed to tell.


    The goddess beckoned to the fairy whose eyes were astonished and asked her to come to her side.


    Apollo gave up his ears and listened to the fairy.


    He looked up, staring at the night sky with a sour look on his face. His crows haven¡¯t arrived yet.


    ¡°On the altar¡­ the hair¡­¡±


    He could hear the language of the fairy spoken. He couldn¡¯t understand much of it, only bits here and there. He saw her sister¡¯s expression, who had listened to the fairy¡¯s words hardened as if she had bit her tongue. Her face then distorted horribly.


    Unaware of the circumstances happening in Delphi, Apollo put down his glass and got up from his seat.


    ¡°Let¡¯s move, sister. If we go north, there¡¯ll still be many beasts left.¡±


    ¡°Will we be able to determine the winner by dawn if we catch only the smallest beast? At this rate we¡¯re going, it¡¯ll only be a tie.¡±


    At Artemis¡¯ words, Apollo looked at the mountains of hunting trails.


    The goddess, who climbed on the back of a rock-sized bear where she was sitting and shot it down through the skull with an arrow, had trouble deciding whether to announce what she knew.


    ¡°Let¡¯s have fun¡­ something more difficult to catch. The points are 500 points. If we catch just one difficult beast, we¡¯ll be able to turn the tide and come out a winner.¡±


    Artemis grinned.


    Apollo saw the hidden meaning behind that girlish smile. Apollo thought that his sister was up to her usual tricks and antics again, as usual.


    ¡°Fine,¡± said Apollo.


    And with that, Artemis ordered the fairies close to her and explained them the new game before being released. Dozens of fairies rose with grim faces and ran like the wind.

 Chapter 36 - Sleep In Peace, Human

    Chapter 36: Sleep In Peace, Human


    The second hunt began soon after.


    Apollo and Artemis reattached the sandal laces they had received from Hephaestus. The rugged terrain of the mountains mattered not them no the moonlight leaking through and darkness seeping through the dense leaves for the twin gods ran faster than anyone else.


    Waiting for the signal to start, their fervent redness resembled one of a competitive spirit.


    Artemis untied the leash on the hounds. The hounds growled, drooling from the tip of their mouths smelling the scent of their target. The barks of the hounds echoed an eerie sound.


    And then, with wings sprouting, they shot forwards and moved swiftly. The golden sandals added to their speed as if they were cutting through wind. The skin of the gods were not in the least bit affected. The branches hadn¡¯t scratched them nor did the leaves cut them like a knife.


    Artemis ran towards her prey like an elegant lioness. She unfolded the silver lining bow in her hand, pulling her arms together in parallel. The side view of the goddess demonstrating her hunting skill was reminiscent of a female warrior. The tense muscle of her lips and jaw, which were clenched and tightened, shone under the moonlit night.


    She let go of the bow without hesitation.


    The arrow chipped through the air with a shrill sound. Artemis filed a series of relentless arrows. The third arrow she used hit her prey.


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    The birds, who were asleep in the dark forest, flapped their wings and climbed higher into the azure hearing the scream of a woman.


    Apollo swiftly turned his head towards the direction of the sound.


    ¡®A mortal woman?¡¯


    Was this Artemis¡¯ catch?


    Fine, so be it.


    Apollo drew his bow and aimed it towards the direction his sister¡¯s hounds were running to.


    Artemis¡¯ arrow shot through the shoulder of the woman only struck the outer layer of her flesh. The blood dripping caused the hounds to chase after the mortal with more fervent excitement.


    The back of the woman, who let out a groan and ran desperately for her life, was wrapped in a white cloth, making her bloodstain on her shoulder more noticeable. Her outfit attracted the eyes of the forest to the point where it could be said that she had done it on purpose.


    The branch hit her head and the cloth that had covered her forehead flipped over. Short bobbed hair cut off revealed her white neck. The white skin from her back view looked fragile.


    ¡°Pamphagos, Laelaps, Tigris! Go after her!¡±


    Artemis called her loyal hounds¡¯ name and commanded. She paused for a moment and pulled the silver lining of her bow and aimed it in the dark.


    One¡­ two¡­ three¡­ four¡­


    She threw volleys of arrows without hesitation. The arrows cleverly passed her hounds chasing their prey and aimed it at the weak woman who could do nothing but run.


    Artemis smiled and sang the songs of Muses with a voice of joy and anger.


    ¡°Brother, do you plan on losing the game? Do you concede? You won¡¯t participate?¡±


    Apollo couldn¡¯t understand why his sister looked impatient. He sighed, pulling up his bow. Blood red eyes followed his target.


    Looking at the woman¡¯s short hair, he could see the situation roughly. Artemis had wanted to vent her anger at the immoral conduct of the mortal woman.


    Apollo¡¯s hand held his bow. His arrow was directed to the woman¡¯s heart. If he let go, it¡¯ll land on her heart. Suddenly, he thought that this game was too favorable for him. Artemis¡¯ archery and Apollo¡¯s archery had different personalities.


    While his bow was made to kill, Artemis¡¯ was made to hunt.


    She¡¯d slow her down first by injuring the tendons of her legs. Then her hounds, drunk with the blood of their prey, would chase after the prey with blood curdling excitement. The hounds would drink the blood of the prey, making the clean up of the hunt easier.


    Should the mortal woman slow down, she¡¯ll only end up bitten by the hounds. The well-trained hounds would attack her neck intensively so as to not cause damage to the rest of her body. She¡¯ll die painfully.


    Artemis wasn¡¯t one to show mercy.


    That was her hunting style.


    ¡®I don¡¯t know what you¡¯ve done, but sleep in peace, human.¡¯


    Apollo chased the trajectory of the arrow he sent out of pity. The woman was distracted as she ran for her life while not knowing a shadow of death was upon her.


    Then, a giant crow the size of an eagle fell. The arrow hit the crow by a hair¡¯s breadth and crashed.


    ¡°!¡±

 Chapter 37 - Hunting Eutostea

    Chapter 37: Hunting Eutostea


    Apollo¡¯s eyes opened wide, bow still in hand.


    It was the crow, his flying messenger. Apollo hadn¡¯t given the crow any order, yet it rushed up to the mortal woman and blocked the arrow rushing towards her.


    The crow was out of breath. Apollo flashed to the bird¡¯s side and lifted its body.


    A flock of the crows black feathers swarmed in sorrow at the death of their colleague.


    They sang in one voice.


    ¡°Sun God¡­ please take care of her. A woman you didn¡¯t recognize came to your temple and offered her hair as sacrifice.¡±


    ¡°!¡±


    He put down the body of the crow and hurriedly looked in the direction that Artemis¡¯ hounds were chasing.


    Artemis emptied barrels of arrows one after another.


    There was an evil smile on the face of his naughty sister. Her though, which could hide it in the fog, finally could be seen.


    Her face seemed to say, ¡®How dare you cut off your hair and offer it as a sacrifice to a festival to commemorate the dignity of my brother without taking care of the problems you have!¡¯


    The goddess¡¯ anger against the mortal woman, who was alluring enough to catch her brother¡¯s eyes, was fervent and extremely pure. A virgin must be pure. Even if she doesn¡¯t serve the goddess of chastity, the mortal woman should live a life of chastity. No one walks the path of slavery on their own.


    The mortal woman¡¯s bobbed hair was seen as a symbol of sex when it came to Artemis¡¯ eyes. She was unmarried and must have sought Apollo¡¯s eyes as she wandered around the festival with no one to look after her.


    The more Artemis thought of it, the more repugnant she became.


    The blood on the mortal woman¡¯s shoulder gradually spread on her back. Artemis looked at her, who ran and ran and ran away from the hounds, and raised her arrow and directed it to the mortal woman¡¯s back.


    ¡°Artemis!¡± Apollo¡¯s angered voice resounded, ¡°She¡¯s Eutostea, Princess of Thebes! Lower your bow!¡±


    As blood continued to spread on the mortal woman¡¯s back, a flock of crows approached her in a hurry. Artemis clicked her tongue and looked at Apollo angrily, then dropped the bow she was holding.


    Eutostea shrieked sharply.


    Her shoulders snapped.


    Eutostea staggered, closing her eyes tightly.


    The sound of the hounds was approaching ominously.


    ¡°Focus on hunting, brother! It¡¯s to wrap this up!¡±


    Artemis stared aggressively at the crows as if to remind Apollo what they betted on.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t want to upset me, lower your bow, Artemis,¡± Apollo growled.


    Crows flew above.


    His pale red eyes glared, his eyes raising fear like the lion of death.


    ¡°No, brother.¡±


    Artemis pulled a new set of arrow from her barrel.


    ¡°If you want it to stop, be more aggressive. You¡¯re funny. I will win this hunt, brother.¡±


    Artemis glared. The side of her face glowed angrily.


    ¡®Raise your bow if you don¡¯t want to lose. Stupid brother!¡¯


    Artemis glanced at Apollo¡¯s bow, his arms drooping. She remembered Apollo mentioning his forearm before that hunt began that he had injured it. She thought it amusing that his bow, that could kill anything in sight, was akin to rotting at this moment.


    Apollo¡¯s visible helplessness touched Artemis¡¯ sadism to further harass the mortal woman.


    Artemis stood straight, the back of her hair waving. Her silver bow glittered menacingly.


    ¡°Break the tendons of her ankle this time. If you fail, you¡¯ll be punished, Tigris!¡±


    Her loyal hound answered her solemn command with a loud bark.


    Artemis¡¯ fairies, watching the hunt on the branch trees, waved their arms to cheer for the goddess¡¯ victory. Listening to the calm voices of the fairies singing, Artemis calmly performed her execution.


    Her arrow flew precisely and sank beneath the mortal woman¡¯s legs.


    Eutostea screamed in tears. Pain penetrated her body whole.


    Then¡­ she fell over the bushes.

 Chapter 38 - Run, Eutostea...

    Chapter 38: Run, Eutostea¡­


    Darkness was a symbol of fear. Everyone would have nightmares wandering the vague darkness. It was akin to a dream where you¡¯d not be able to remember anything. Only a sense of fear corrodes your mind when you wake up in cold sweat.


    When she opened her eyes in the still forest, Eutostea thought she was in a still-like dream.


    The full moon¡¯s light leaked through the thick branches. Silver light scattered on the floor, drawing in the leaves. Moss, which grew out of the shade of the rock, gently covered the ground.


    She was in new terrain, but it seemed that she was near Mount Parnassus.


    Eustostea raised herself from the ground. The last thing she remembered was the ivory column from the Temple of Apollo. The temple, which was crowded with people who came to perform ancestral rites, disappeared like a mirage and she was now in the middle of a mountain.


    How did she get here?


    Eutostea did not remember.


    Then, she heard an echoing laugh.


    At the voice, a sleek shadow jerked up. Artemis¡¯ fairy¡ªwho looked like a girl¡ªwhispered in her ear.


    ¡°You¡¯re so relaxed.¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t want to die, run. Start running now.¡±


    ¡°Look at you sitting idly.¡±


    ¡°Artemis will win the hunt easily.¡±


    The fairies disappeared over the trees, grumbling. It was as if a ghost had come and go.


    Eutostea brood over what the voices said.


    ¡®Artemis? I¡¯m sure that¡¯s what I heard.¡¯


    Eutostea looked at the black sky with puzzled eyes. Was this the law of the forest? Did she¡­ somehow invade the gods¡¯ realm? She wasn¡¯t sure, she didn¡¯t know, but she felt something ominous coming.


    Artemis was notorious for her extreme dislike of mortals walking through the forests she manages.


    Eutostea had no memory of coming to this black forest of her own volition. It was absurd.


    Then, the barking of hounds began to sound intimidating. It was telling her that she had no time to stand idly by. It was the sound of the ominous foretold conclusion the fairies warned her in advance.


    A shrill arrow cut through the wind. Seeing the shivering arrow fall in front of her, Eutostea instinctively rose and moved her stiff legs. The arrow was meant for her. If she remained like this, she¡¯d die.


    Then an idea struck her.


    There was no way to know where to escape. The roads of the forest were shaped by old tree roots and raised rocks. It was a sacred forest with too few mortals around. There was not even a gentle path tamed by man. All over the wild grass were densely packed with shrubs that were just right enough to obstruct anyone from walking.


    Eutostea ran barefoot. The pebbles splashed wildly from beneath her feet.


    Less than five minutes after running, she realized the idea was foolish.


    Even a veteran hunter familiar with the terrain would never consider running around the mountain path at night. How fast could a mortal man run on two feet compared to a beast with four?


    Eutostea prayed for her safety eagerly, shoving the branches that stood in her way with her forearm.


    ¡®Please don¡¯t fall. Please!¡¯


    Eutostea ran straight, not daring to think of the pursuer chasing after her.


    Artemis¡¯ arrow penetrated her shoulder.


    Eutostea screamed as her eyes went dark for a moment.


    No matter how much she screamed, she couldn¡¯t express the searing pain she felt. The arrow pierced her flesh and tore her muscle. In the meantime, it occurred to her that she became an easy target to chase when blood poured from her shoulder one after another.


    And sure enough, the barking of the blood-scented hounds became more ferocious.


    The fear of wanting to survive overtook any pain that she felt as she released sets after sets of endorphins. She needed to survive. She needed to run. Don¡¯t think, just run.


    Eutostea moved forward, moving her stiff legs that seemed like it was made of wood.


    Artemis¡¯ arrows with brown feathers flew one after another. Whether it was intentional or for intimidation, it stuck through the path she passed.


    Eutostea felt like she was passing through a storm of arrows. It wouldn¡¯t be strange to be hit blindly by the arrows pouring in like a meteor shower. The prediction hit the mark. The second arrow hit the wing of her back.


    This time, she could feel her bones crack.


    With a shrill cry, Eutostea collapsed.


    When she coughed, bitter blood soaked her throat.


    ¡®I can¡¯t run anymore,¡¯ she thought, ¡®No. You have to run. You have to survive.¡¯


    The barking of Artemis¡¯ hounds was getting closer.

 Chapter 39 - Her Will To Live

    Chapter 39: Her Will To Live


    Eutostea rose again with superhuman strength. She could taste the blood in her mouth. Biting her molar, she endured the pain.


    She needed to run to live. It was a simple proposition. Was there anything more concise and desperate than that? Eutostea could no longer rely on any god. She rose to the beat of the full moon and ran again, the bright moonlight shining her path ahead.


    The longing for life was the driving force pushing her forward.


    She didn¡¯t want to die by the hands of the hounds.


    She didn¡¯t want a painful death by the arrows.


    ¡®Run, you idiot, run! Faster. Faster! Faster so no one can catch you. Run!¡¯ Eutostea shouted inwardly.


    Fortunately, both her legs were still intact. Fatigue piled up and began to sag, but still, she boosted her energy to its limits. Suddenly, it occurred to her that she had lost too much blood. Eutostea shook off the idea. She¡¯ll keep running. It was the only way out. She clenched her teeth and vowed to do so.


    The hunteress preying after her had the same thought.


    Artemis cast her last arrow. The arrow flew at Artemis¡¯ wish and penetrated Eutostea¡¯s left ankle.


    Eutostea wasn¡¯t immune to pain. She was a mortal. With a cry of despair, Eutostea fell over the knee-high bushes.


    ¡®It¡¯s over.¡¯


    This was the only thought she had.


    Her loss of mobility made her an easy prey for the hounds. They¡¯d tear her tender flesh to shreds, exposing their yellow teeth under moonlight. A trained hound would immediately tear her nape off.


    This was not the ending Eutostea wanted.


    She wanted to live.


    Was there anyone who wanted to die like this?


    Anyone who looked forward to someone taking their own life?


    It was okay to limp, to have her whole life ruined, but she wanted to live. Eutostea shouted her thoughts inwardly despite knowing no one would hear her calling. She wanted¡­ to live¡­


    She knew she couldn¡¯t pray to a god and lie down at her most hopeless moments of her life. She didn¡¯t have the right to. It was a god killing her.


    Moving her hands and legs, her fingernails scratched the dirty soil and bled. Her whole body complained of her aching pain as she pulled herself up with pressure on her elbow.


    ¡®Still, I have to live,¡¯ Eutostea thought.


    She grabbed a bundle of dirt and grunted. The more strength she put into her hand, the more painful it became.


    ¡®Still, I have to live.¡¯


    Her tenacity was the only light guiding her.


    Eutostea crawled forward, smelling the strong blood she shed. The word ¡°going forward¡± seemed funny. She was moving at a slow pace. But still¡­ still¡­ still¡­ she wanted to live.


    In the meantime, the hounds that were doggedly tracking her had caught up.


    Tigris, the head of the hounds, was a black-haired hound like Apollo¡¯s crows. Tigris was the size of a wolf. He was intelligent and Artemis put special care towards him.


    The hound excitedly pressed Eutostea¡¯s back with its front paws. A long muzzle opened and hot saliva flowed down from the hound¡¯s black mouth.


    The saliva that fell on Eutostea¡¯s neck had a pungent smell. It was the smell of death mixed with the blood of the game.


    Eutostea had a piece of stone in her hand.


    ¡®Come on¡­¡¯


    Where does she get such courage? She decided to attack instead of covering her arms to defend herself.


    The hound would tear her neck apart in the blink of an eye. Could she act faster than that? She¡¯ll only know when she tries. Eutostea turned her upper body and quickly raised her arms high.


    ¡°Stop!¡±


    Far away, Artemis¡¯ screaming voice cut the open air.


    Tigris¡¯ huge body collapsed helplessly. The dog fell to the right of Eutostea, unable to mumble its last despair.


    Eutostea hadn¡¯t made a move. She was dumbfounded and looked at the body of the hound then to the golden figure standing tall and proud.


    When the leader of the hounds died, a group of nervous hounds barked uneasily. In a hierarchical society driven by an alpha, when the leader of the pack falls, the order collapses.


    Yet there was one who approached Tigris without fear. Apollo¡¯s arrow once again cut through the air. Like rice straw, the hound collapsed after losing its life, an instant kill on the head.


    Artemis breathed heavily.


    ¡°No! Come here!¡±


    Artemis exclaimed at her dogs stealthily approaching the corpses of their companions. No matter how well-trained they are, the terrified hounds wouldn¡¯t listen to their owners. They began to approach their immobile colleagues with thoughts to wake them up.


    Resisting the pain in his arid arm, Apollo squinted and opened his eyes. His bows bent tight. Five arrows fired like rapid fire. The brave hounds who were hunting for its prey died at once.


    ¡°No! No!¡±


    Artemis threw the arrow canister and flew to her brother. She flew up like a winged fly and lifted her silver to the top of her head.


    ¡°Are you crazy? They¡¯re my dogs! It¡¯s not my dog, but her that you shoot!¡±


    The belt of Artemis¡¯ bow struck Apollo¡¯s head. There was a long scratch on Apollo¡¯s cheek. He held his sister¡¯s silver bow back with one hand and spit blood. The first blow had given the impression that he had been beaten.


    ¡°You win the bet, Artemis. Go ahead. Use the laurel tree in Hyperborea and turn it into a chair or a coffin for four. I¡¯ll leave it to your will. I think the latter would be better. There¡¯s so many that I don¡¯t know if one tree can cover all of them.¡±


    ¡°How do you get to decide that? This is a violation of the rule!¡±


    Artemis¡¯ hand, holding the bow, trembled.


    She clenched her teeth and tried to use her silver bow again, but failed to gain the upper hand in terms of strength.


    Apollo¡¯s blood red eyes looked down upon her in the coldest way she knew.

 Chapter 40 - The Winner Of The Hunt Is...

    Chapter 40: The Winner of the Hunt Is¡­


    ¡°Rules? Violation?¡± Apollo asked coldly. ¡°Are you going to hit me some more?¡±


    Artemis scoffed. ¡°If I try to vent my anger, it won¡¯t end with one or two bloodbath. Are you going to give me something big in return, brother?¡±


    Artemis looked at the bloodstains on Apollo¡¯s lips and laughed sardonically.


    Apollo wiped the blood away. His arms had taken a severe blow. It was tingling.


    ¡°I know you¡¯re upset because your old sons of b*tches died.¡±


    ¡°!¡±


    From Artemis¡¯ eyes, flames seemed to pop out.


    ¡°Sister, go. Aren¡¯t you the winner of the bet? I¡¯m not interested in your sheep with golden horns. It¡¯s boring. And the look in your eyes, the attitude of blaming me for your b*tches is too blunt. As for the laurel tree, take it. I was thinking of cutting it someday too. Even if you dig and dig, you won¡¯t find what you want. That tree is just one of the many ones I pulled out of Delos.¡±


    Apollo took off the laurel crown on his head and threw it at his sister¡¯s feet. It rolled, making a clear sound.


    ¡°I repeat, you¡¯re the winner, Artemis.¡±


    Artemis pulled back her bow, as if rejecting her brother¡¯s offer. Apollo immediately looked elsewhere, his mind occupied with something else.


    The place where the two gods went to was different. Artemis walked to her hounds, which the fairies carried in their arms, with a tearful look. Hugging their cold bodies, she shed hot tears.


    Though she was pronounced winner, her spirit was chaotic.


    Apollo rushed to the bloodstain mess at once. There was a mixture of broken grass and the hounds¡¯ blood. It was a mess. There were traces of something dragging on the floor.


    In the meantime, the fairies continued to drag the bodies away.


    He saw a trail of a human body being dragged away, too.


    Apollo¡¯s heart beat faster and faster as he walked along the trail, which seemed to be covered with red carpet. The afterimage of the laurel wreath, which he took off earlier, remained on the ground and throbbed as if he were choking his head.


    ¡°Uhh¡­¡±


    Eutostea was desperate.


    All the hounds that followed after her were dead and the fairies who came to collect the bodies of the dead chattered about the fight between Apollo and Artemis, announcing that the game was over.


    A strong tenacity to live moved inside her.


    Half forgetting the pain, Eutostea dragged herself, crawling away. She made a trail akin to a red-like carpet on the path.


    Apollo looked at it, unable to utter a word.


    And then¡­ his footsteps stopped suddenly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t chase me away!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t come after me!¡±


    He heard the illusion voice of the fairies which he had forgotten momentarily overlaid on the road. He shook his head and kept walking and then he saw her, he saw her back figure.


    ¡°Kill me rather than to be intimidated by this man, father!¡±


    Voices¡­ illusions¡­ they echoed in his ear.


    He hated it.


    Was he so ugly blinded by love?


    Illusions. Again.


    Apollo looked at Eutostea.


    Eros¡¯ arrow struck his heart. He was eager for her. How was he to express his love in his own way to her? Was he able to love to the point of hating death? Somehow, Eros and Thanatos came to mind.


    Meanwhile, audible voices echoed in his ears. It was Eutostea¡¯s groan.


    ¡°¡­Save me¡­ help me¡­¡±


    It was a voice full of fear, but the will in her words was clear. It was a desire to live.


    Apollo trudged along.


    The arrows Artemis struck Eutostea with on the shoulder looked like the wings of a broken angel. When she felt a strange sensation, she immediately became wary.


    ¡°Eutostea, it¡¯s me. You don¡¯t need to run.¡±


    ¡®I came to save you.¡¯


    The words he had wanted to say pressed heavily against his chest.


    Eutostea had two arrows struck her, one pierced her ankle and surprisingly, there were many small wounds. But the biggest cause of the bleeding was the arrow lodged through the right of her shoulder.


    The bleeding was so severe.


    It was cruel¡ªtypical of Artemis¡¯ hunting methods.


    The muscles were torn apart and arrows clattered between her bones. Had Artemis struck a living nerve, a terrible pain would flood her at every moment.


    Apollo spread his legs over her and knelt down. Touching the wound, he grabbed the arrow.


    ¡°It¡¯ll be painful. Bear with it.¡±


    ¡°Ah!¡±

 Chapter 41 - Cursing Eutostea

    Chapter 41: Cursing Eutostea


    As Apollo drew out the arrow without hesitation, Eutostea screamed as she vomited blood.


    Apollo¡¯s hand poked through the wound and measured its size. Artemis¡¯ hunting arrowhead was a broad iron rod. The arrowhead spunt at a rapid pace and poked itself through the inside of Eutostea¡¯s flesh.


    Eutostea had a big wound that would be difficult to regenerate even with human resilience. In this case, it was better to cut off her arm. Otherwise, she¡¯d not be able to recover and she¡¯ll only meet Hades.


    Man was weak. Truly weak.


    Apollo leaned back.


    Apollo sobbed, enduring the pain with her teeth clenched.


    A tremor could be felt in Apollo¡¯s hand as he touched her back. Slowly, he kissed her bloodshot wound. Just as Aphrodite was born from the foam in the waters of Paphos, on the island of Cyprus when the Titan Cronus slew his father, Uranus. The large punctured wound of Eutostea began to regenerate again in similar shapes.


    Apollo licked his lips, blood mixing with her saliva.


    He pulled out the next arrow.


    ¡°Ungh!¡±


    Eutostea gasped in anticipation of the incoming pain. The arrowhead, which had crushed the deep of her bones and scattering inside her flesh, had been pulled out with a terrible thud.


    Eutostea fainted without screaming.


    Apollo¡¯s fingers went inside the wound of her hole and shook off the bone debris.


    Then, he bowed his head like a ritual and kissed her wound. It had been covered with holy blood. The arrow that pierced her limp ankle was the last left.


    When Apollo stood up to cure it, Artemis stood behind him.


    ¡°Move. I¡¯ll shoot her dead.¡±


    The hand pulling her silver lining raised. Artemis¡¯ cheeks were filled with tears. The tips of her nose were also red.


    Apollo drew back his lips and wiped the stain with the back of his hand.


    His appearance, whose blood was dropped down to his chin like a monster that sucked human blood, was seagulls unfamiliar at this moment.


    ¡°Get rid of the bow, Artemis.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not aiming at you, so get out of my way,¡± Artemis said.


    She looked at the back of the moral woman lying at the foot of Apollo. Her treatment had almost been completed.


    ¡®Why do you pity her, brother?¡¯


    Artemis¡¯ eyes glowed horribly.


    Apollo stood still, staring at his sister¡¯s bow.


    ¡°Can¡¯t you hear me? Get out of the way. No, there¡¯s no need to move. I¡¯ll just shoot her through the crotch. Instant kill.


    ¡°She¡¯s my girl.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    Artemis fumbled.


    When she asked blankly, Apollo sat on his knees. Not for Artemis, but for treating Eutostea¡¯s ankle.


    The arrowhead nibbed half of her slender ankle. As expected, when the arrow was pulled, pools of blood bled out. The bursting of blood hit his white face, leaving behind a red stain.


    Artemis thought her brother had gone crazy.


    With his mouth on her ankle, Apollo raised his red eyes and looked at Artemis.


    ¡°If you touch her, I won¡¯t take it easy. I¡¯ll drag Helios¡¯ Chariot out. Not only your b*tches, but your fairies who follow your around will burn in the woods and die a joyful death. I¡¯ll turn this forest into a desert where you¡¯ll never see spring again. And you¡¯ll only have one of my laurel tree that survived in Hyperboria.


    As if that wasn¡¯t enough, Apollo pulled up the corners of his lips and chuckled.


    Artemis shook her hands and lowered her bow.


    ¡°You dare insult me in front of my fairies? Are you swearing at me, Artemis, the hunting and chastity god?¡±


    Apollo ignored Artemis and wrapped the black cloth he was wearing over Eutostea¡¯s body. He was confident that Artemis would not be able to hurt her.


    Eutostea¡¯s treatment was nearing completion. She was breathing, fortunately. Her hot breath and the rise of her chest was proof.


    ¡°Apollo!¡±


    An furious Artemis called his name.


    ¡°Then I, Artemis, will curse you to the ends of the earth! The wounds of my arrow may be curable, but I will never stop cursing you and that woman! She¡¯ll never be happy beside you. I¡¯ll find her and kill her even if I have to chase her to the underworld. No matter what you¡¯ve done, no matter how much you¡¯ve given her affection, know this¡­ she¡¯ll never remember you¡ªneither your name, your face, your history together, or the fact that you saved her today. Your existence in her mind will be erased! You, Apollo, will soon feel bitter. The affection you poured into an empty jar will end up a waste!¡±


    In response to the goddess¡¯ anger, a stream of thunder boomed and lowered from the sky.


    Apollo¡¯s two bloody eyes glared at Artemis reproachfully. Without saying a word, he headed to his temple located in Delphi with Eutostea in his arms.

 Chapter 42 - Apollo’s Tears

    Chapter 42: Apollo¡¯s Tears


    Meanwhile, inside the Holy Temple of Apollo¡­ all those who offered their sacrifices went back to their lodgings outside the temple. They put enough firewood on the brazier that Pyatia, Apollo¡¯s priestess, remained and did not go out until dawn.


    Eight carts of well-dried firewood came in from Delos. The priestess was satisfied. The offerings and tributes placed on the altar at the rally hall were left overnight and kept in a temple safely for one year.


    In the space where the priestess left, only the burning sound of the brazier rang quietly.


    Dionysus, sitting on the throne of Olympus looked down and rose from his seat with a clownish smile. Golden sandals glided on the air, accompanied by the night.


    Without his usual companionship, he entered the temple, spreading the leaves of the grapevine under his feet.


    He went to a place full of purple silk¡ªmeant for Apollo¡ªand draped it on his naked right shoulder. He turned his head, observing the golds and silvers.


    ¡°With all my heart, no one will notice.¡±


    Dionysus, tied a bag to his back. With a pocket full of gold coins on his belt and a silver ingot processed like pebbles in his hand, he walked towards one place. There lay a pair of familiar golden chalice.


    ¡°The more I see, the cuter that princess becomes. I wonder what she¡¯s doing.¡±


    Thinking of Eutostea¡¯s he savored her offering. From the moment the wine poured into his golden chalice, the color changed to his symbol. Dionysus drank the dark wine, the nostalgic aura remaining.


    After tasting the wine, Dionysus lay on the altar with a sigh. Though the festival was over, he had yet to hear an answer from Eutostea.


    ¡®Where can I go find her?¡¯ he thought, agonizing.


    A lira string next to him bounced and lightning flashed. It fell far away from the north of the temple. The sky swarmed with grotesque red clouds gathering over the forest near Mount Parnassus.


    ¡°Is that Zeus?¡±


    Dionysus stood at the side and observed the scene from afar. The color of the clouds was murky. Zeus¡¯ specialty was to create thunderstorms in the dry sky, yet it was somewhat different with the smell it exuded.


    Dionysus felt the power of a strong curse. An uneasy shudder sprang up on his forearm.


    Then, a new shadow appeared behind him.


    ¡°!¡±


    Dionysus slipped down the purple silk on his shoulder and kicked it towards the altar with his heel.


    Apollo had seen him.


    Dionysus blinked and cleared his throat.


    ¡°Apollo! You¡¯ve come back so quickly to Delphi. I thought you were still in Hyperboria. Haha¡­ what are you holding in your arms? There¡¯s no way you¡¯re holding a mortal woman, right? Haha¡­¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right. It is a mortal woman, Dionysus,¡± answered Apollo.


    Apollo¡¯s voice was more demoralized than usual.


    Dionysus came close to him, pulling out a bow and throwing it at the floor at random. His eyes opened meaningfully wide when he saw the woman¡¯s face.


    ¡°I was caught up in Artemis¡¯ hunt. I managed to cure the trauma, but she¡¯s still unconscious from the pain it caused. She¡¯s the princess of Thebes, Eutostea.¡±


    Swallowing the words lodged deep in his throat, Dionysus put his hand on her forehead. Eutostea looked like she was sleeping in peace, but somehow, he could hear her piercing scream echoing in his ears.


    ¡°Are you crying?¡±


    Dionysus looked at Apollo in astonishment.


    A transparent teardrop formed around Apollo¡¯s bloodstained mouth. His teardrops gathered at the tip of his chin and became rose-colored drops of water and fell down.


    ¡°Will you wake up? Will you open your eyes? Of course¡­ you won¡¯t right away. Will you come to consciousness? I¡¯m nervous¡­¡± Apollo murmured to a whisper.


    ¡°Did Artemis do anything? I¡¯m sure the princess will soon come to her senses when she recovers from her internal injuries.¡±


    Dionysus quickly took on the position of a brother comforting his sibling, Apollo.


    There was a hidden story, this Dionysus knew.


    Apollo told the truth with a painfully distorted expression.


    ¡°She¡¯s cursed¡­ a severe curse. The target is directed towards Eutostea and me both. I couldn¡¯t stop it¡­ I could only dumbly listen as Artemis mouthed off her curse.¡±


    Dionysus was only then able to determine the cause of the mysterious lightning strike he had witnessed earlier. It was a wave cause by the powerful power of a curse, which drew the goddess¡¯ anger.


    ¡°Um¡­¡±


    Dionysus scratched his chin, gaze alternating between the chalice cup he was holding and Eutostea¡¯s pale face.


    ¡°How come this always happens to every woman who manages to take a place in my heart?¡±Apollo dropped his head and whispered in a small voice.


    A diamond-glowing drop of tears fell ceaselessly from Apollo.

 Chapter 43 - Sly Dionysus

    Chapter 43: Sly Dionysus


    ¡°Brother A¡­¡± Dionysus smiled, ¡°you know that your sister and I are at odds, don¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°¡­What¡¯s the point of telling that story now?¡± Apollo hesitated and cut off Dionysus¡¯ words with a single stroke.


    ¡®Oh, he¡¯s mad. He¡¯s big mad.¡¯


    Dionysus touched his forehead with the free hand, his other hand holding onto the golden chalice. He looked at the distant mountain.


    Eutostea drank the drink he gave at the festival and spent the night with him. What would happen should he spit out a long explanation about spending the night with Eutostea while knowing that Artemis had placed a curse on her, which works by faith in purity. Would it offset his crime of touching Apollo¡¯s woman? Would Apollo notice that his presence inside her had disappeared?


    Dionysus gulped down the wine with a cold sweat.


    ¡°What is the curse about?¡± Dionysus asked Apollo standing tall as if he had turned into a tree.


    ¡°A declaration of war to pursue Eutostea to the ends of the earth and kill her.¡±


    ¡®Oh my Gods! What a crazy woman! Yeah, it¡¯s a good thing I kept my distance from her.¡¯¡¯


    Dionysus¡¯ mind spun crazily.


    ¡°I had mistaken Eutostea for her second sister. I didn¡¯t recognize her. I¡¯m sure she was hurt and now I¡¯m at fault that she¡¯s been cursed to oblivion. No matter how much she knows of my existence, she¡¯ll only forget me.¡±


    The curse of oblivion was an old, ancient curse led by the Underworld ruled by Hades. It required such intense hatred for the living to form to something powerful and wrathful.


    The curse was usually written to scold an ungrateful human being such as the hero of Athens, who still sits in a chair of oblivion to this day and doesn¡¯t remember himself even now.


    ¡®Crazy woman, you actually used your brain,¡¯ Dionysus muttered inwardly.


    Artemis wrote the most cruel curse to her brother. Apollo had almost lost Eutostea, her life at the edge of death and under Atropos¡¯ will. He could do nothing but watch her, which he felt powerless. He had become the loser. Apollo, a god full of victory and splendor, had lost to Artemis. He even gave his laurel wreath away.


    ¡°She said that this mortal woman will never be happy next to me,¡± Apollo said solemnly.


    But had he ever been happy with a woman? His love always brought onto them ruins. He should¡¯ve expected that this obvious formula would¡¯ve been applied to Eutostea.


    ¡°Then she can stay by my side,¡± Dionysus said daringly.


    The silent Apollo looked at him red eyes that would kill him if spewed another joke one more time.


    ¡°I¡¯m serious, brother. Don¡¯t glare at me like that.¡±


    Dionysus threw back the golden chalice he was holding. He straightened his posture to show that he was not drunk but with a clear mind. He needed to make this crazy lunatic realize that he was having a sincere conversation with him.


    ¡°Are you going to protect her in Delphi? Artemis said she¡¯ll follow you to the ends of the earth. You two have the same blood, so she¡¯ll sniff you out right away. Will you put a chain all over the mountains of Parnassus? She won¡¯t stop.¡±


    ¡°You son of a b*tch,¡± Apollo recited in an angered voice.


    But he was silent again. It was his fault that he had killed her hounds and fanned Artemis¡¯ anger.


    ¡°Then where will you protect her? If you put her in Hyperboria, she won¡¯t last a day. Are you going to bring back the woods? Will you give yourself months to make out with the flowers and turn it into a greenery?¡±


    ¡°¡­I won¡¯t repeat the same mistake, Dionysus.¡±


    ¡°You barely make any sense now,¡± looking at Apollo¡¯s grief-stricken face, Dionysus grinned and continued, ¡°so just leave it to me.¡±


    Dionysus patted his chest confidently.


    With a sullen look on his face, Apollo looked at Dionysus, wondering what he was up.


    ¡°In the upper reaches of the Pactolus River, there sits my temple, abandoned and without anyone looking after it. It¡¯ll be a sanctuary for her. Artemis will never go there. She hates my guts. She¡¯ll never find Eutostea hiding in my temple. I¡¯ll make her my mistress, so she can recover.¡±


    ¡°Damn you,¡± said Apollo.


    Dionysus shrugged slyly. ¡°It¡¯s not something I can solve either. Zeus won¡¯t even be able to solve it should he decide to intervene. He might end up listening to Artemis¡¯ grief. You¡¯ll only end up giving Eutostea more troubles.¡±


    Downright lie¡­


    But the lie sounded like a truth that Apollo nodded and agreed to Dionysus¡¯ plan, albeit hesitant.


    Dionysus prepared to receive Eutostea in his arms. The pockets of gold coins on his waist jingled.


    ¡°She¡¯s my woman. Be prepared to give up your life if you don¡¯t take great care of her, Dionysus.¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes, of course. It¡¯s your right. We¡¯re in the same boat. I¡¯m offering my voluntary help.¡±


    ¡°Stop talking nonsense and get the hell out of this place before Artemis notices you. Her eyes are all over the place.¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes,¡± Dionysus hugged Eutostea, answering like a rickety rascal.


    Embracing her in his arms, Eutostea fell asleep quietly like a baby.


    ¡®Oh beautiful woman, you¡¯re back in my arms.¡¯


    With a pleased smile that Apollo didn¡¯t notice, Dionysus hit the golden sandals on the floor. His figure vanished like a smoke.


    Apollo was left alone in the temple. He wiped the bloodstains off his cheeks with an expression of disapproval. It would be a real shame if anyone caught him like this.


    ¡°You know how to shed tears, too, Apollo.¡±


    When Apollo turned his head and looked at the altar, Hestia, wearing a hood, stood beside the brazier. Hestia caught her. Apollo felt hopeless. The goddess covered her mouth and laughed softly as she heard his pride crumble.

 Chapter 44 - Hestia’s Words

    Chapter 44: Hestia¡¯s Words


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re not in Olympus. That¡¯s a surprise, Hestia. Without you, who¡¯ll protect the brazier?¡± Apollo greeted the goddess in a blunt manner.


    Hestia laughed with a relaxed face.


    ¡°It¡¯s the night of Greece¡¯s biggest festival and I had no choice but to visit Delphi. You¡¯re the only one crying in the festival, Apollo.¡±


    ¡°What did you hear?¡± Apollo asked. He had no doubt that Hestia watched the whole scene from the side quietly.


    Hestia descended their altar with a clatter of footsteps.


    Apollo was anxious that as she approached him closer, his tear marks would become more pronounced to her view. However, his pride did not allow him to wipe it with his hands as if he were a child crying in front of an adult.


    ¡°I have much to say. My mouth is heavy, so don¡¯t worry about it. I came here to tell you something,¡± Hestia said.


    Apollo looked at the goddess with suspicious eyes. As an adviser to Zeus, she knew Olympus better than anyone.


    Hestia¡¯s gray eyes were reflected in Apollo¡¯s eyes while he looked at her with suspicion and anxiety.


    Apollo¡¯s hand fumbled at his bangs.


    ¡°I took it off because I lost my bet against Artemis.¡±


    ¡°Hooo¡­ when was the last time you lost? I can¡¯t recall. I keep learning new things today,¡± Hestia said, admiring.


    Apollo was on the edge of anxiousness. It was obvious that she came to tease him.


    ¡°Just get to the point. As you can see, I¡¯m not very happy to lose a bet.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s because you¡¯re afraid of a mortal woman dying that you didn¡¯t care to lose your pride, isn¡¯t it, Apollo?¡±


    ¡°Hestia.¡±


    Her words cut through the prideful god¡¯s heart.


    ¡°Why are you here, Hestia?¡±


    Apollo was burdened with the gray eyes looking at him that seemed to know everything. It would be more accurate to say that he didn¡¯t know how to act in front of her.


    ¡°Long ago, you asked me to be your wife and cut your hair. Do you remember? I still have it.¡± Hestia once again uttered in front of him the events of the past, which he did not want to remember.


    Apollo breathed deeply.


    ¡°As soon as I got the chance, I threw it on the brazier. I shouldn¡¯t have done it.¡±


    ¡°How valuable the meaning of Apollo, the god of light, to burn it. I remember long hair looked good on you, but after Penaeus¡¯ daughter had that kind of ending, he cut it without mercy.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were so interested in my hair,¡± Apollo said with a straight face.


    Hestia pulled a glossy hair tie out of her sleeve. Appearing like a wig, it was a long braided hair offered by Eutostea. What was unique was that the golden hair woven together at the base belonged to Apollo.


    ¡°This is my present, Apollo. I made it to capture the heart of the woman who had cut off her hair for you. If the laurel water pipe¡¯s seat is empty, it would be nice to use this instead.¡±


    Apollo opened his eyes to look at the owner of the hair.


    ¡°This was the tribute she offered, Apollo. You had missed your chance to know what she meant because of your absence. Now she¡¯s cursed by Artemis.¡±


    The curse of oblivion. Her life would always be in danger and she¡¯ll never be happy beside him. She may face the same fate as Daphne.


    Apollo was facing his ends¡¯ wits.


    Hestia laughed lowly.


    ¡°Does the passion of the young days, which you¡¯d been chasing after and crying out for love all day long, have gone away? What¡¯s wrong with the curse? Sure, the curse of oblivion is dreadful. But has it ever frightened you? If you forget, you need to remember. You sound weak, Apollo. Here, think of this as a talisman. Though I¡¯m not the goddess of fate, this hair might work out in your favor.¡±

 Chapter 45 - Throw Away Your Radiance

    Chapter 45: Throw Away Your Radiance


    Hestia threw the hair up in the air. Apollo grabbed at the right timing. The softness of the hair in his hand was familiar. He only realized it now. The image of Eutostea lying on the ground with an arrow piercing her flesh came to mind. Even in his dreams, her skin was submerged in the red-necked river. Was it an indication of her future lying in a pool of blood?


    ¡®It¡¯s my fault,¡¯ Apollo lamented in his heart.


    ¡°What should I do, Hestia? I¡¯d like some advice from your point of view. I¡¯m¡­ new to this.¡±


    Looking at the goddess about to leave for Olympus, Apollo asked her with genuineness. Hestia was surprised and looked to see if the prideful god before him was Apollo.


    ¡°You¡­ look confused.¡±


    Apollo¡¯s red eyes became clear. It looked like it¡¯d shed tears again.


    ¡°You caught me crying. There¡¯s no point in trying to pretend,¡± Apollo said.


    ¡°Where had that conceited god gone to? It¡¯s the first time you¡¯ve shed away your pride and talked to me like this. It¡¯s the first time.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not the first time,¡± Apollo corrected her.


    Hestia snorted with excitement. ¡°When you proposed to me, you were stiff. It sounded like I¡¯m supposed to accept because it was an honor to do.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s stop talking about it.¡±


    Apollo turned a blind eye to his own dark history. He knew he had dug his own grave.


    Hestia looked back at him and murmured, ¡°I think it¡¯s a new beginning to admit that you¡¯ve lost. You¡¯ve always been a symbol of pride and victory. You¡¯re the sun god, you shine brighter than anyone. But don¡¯t be stubborn to win over those you care about. That¡¯s my advice. If you want to be with Eutostea, you can¡¯t be as you are now. There are things you need to change.¡±


    Hestia moved her hands and flamed appeared. The swaying little flames darted from her fingers and went into the brazier. Hestia stared at its movements with a benevolent gaze. The flame was a living creature to her.


    She showed all sorts of things with the brazier.


    Hestia recalled Eutostea¡¯s facial features again. Those brown eyes, which had been immersed in the abyss, seemed to hold a secret, so she listened quietly.


    The scarlet light illuminated her white chin.


    Hestia moved her lips again. ¡°Through her tribute I felt her essence. The mortal woman is like a wick of lantern. It doesn¡¯t shine brightly in the sun, but in the dark, it is as dependable as a source of light, similar to a moonlight becoming desperate to light the dark night. But no matter how strong the lantern¡¯s wick is, the light will go out when the oil supporting it shakes.¡±


    Hestia took her hand off the brazier and looked at Apollo.


    ¡°If you want to make her happy, don¡¯t shake her like oil, but be a wax that holds her down. Be the light that burns, stably illuminating up the darkness.¡±


    ¡®I wonder if you can do that.¡¯


    Hestia stared straight at Apollo and spat out her thoughts.


    ¡°Will you be able to throw away your radiance and bend down for her? If you had asked me this before, I would have said no, but now I¡¯m a little skeptical. I admire you for throwing off that laurel wreath. This is the end of my advice. Everything you do is in your hands.¡±


    Hestia didn¡¯t forget to add an afterword soft and silent as if it was meant only for Apollo and not to privy ears.


    ¡°Remember, you¡¯re not the only one who¡¯s attracted to light like a moth.¡±


    No matter how godly they were, they, too, were servants of time. They had their end and beginnings. This was Hestia¡¯s warning.


    The goddess turned into an opaque gas and gradually disappeared, riding on the smoke emitted by the brazier.


    ¡°¡­I have to throw away my own radiance¡­¡±


    Apollo stared at the braided hair in his hand. It was the only insignificant looking think that caught his heart among the magnificent tributes offered to him. Apollo put the braided hair around his forehead and knotted it so that it would not unravel.

 Chapter 46 - Ariadne

    Chapter 46: Ariadne


    The calm waters of the river rounded to edge and greeted Dionysus, which slowly descended with Eutostea. He went straight across the narrow river and into an island-like forest.


    Stepping through the trees and walking inside, a white-roofed temple emerged. The temple, which had been neglected for decades, felt shabby compared to Apollo¡¯s temple in Delphi.


    Without a single proper architectural building, the roof served as a pillar for enduring the weight of everything with unusually high-growing vines attached to it like a rope. The grass grew wild and the pond was dried up, leaving only traces of mud.


    The empty space, which was no popular visit, was so wide and vacant. The interior of the assembly hall, where the altar was to be, was a tomb of a dried-up vine. The wide bowl of the furnace for the tributary offering had red rust.


    The murmur of Dionysus¡¯ footsteps echoed.


    When he entered the inner room of the temple, where the priest stayed, Dionysus sighed. It was a place the Muses sisters could live in. But for Eutostea, it would need some touch up.


    The lamp was lit on the narrow room and a clean bed was prepared for the Eutostea the patient.


    Dionysus greeted his goddesses who welcomed him back and immediately laid Eutostea on the bed. When he took off Apollo¡¯s cloth, which covered her body, and threw it roughly on the floor, one of the goddesses approached and folded the cloth neatly.


    Eutostea, who seemed to have fallen asleep, tossed and turned, lips frowning as if she was experiencing an uncomfortable dream. Dionysus turned her body to a comfortable position, otherwise, she¡¯d wake up feeling pain because of the pressure on her injured shoulder and ankle.


    ¡°Would you like me to prepare a drink?¡± Dionysus¡¯ goddess approached and asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m not feeling in the mood,¡± Dionysus asked, asking them to leave.


    With smiles on their faces, the warrior-like goddesses quietly walked out of the inner room.


    Dionysus flopped down on the floor next to the bed. Two slender leopards he raised appeared in the dark and approached their master. Dionysus reached out his hand, rubbing and scratching their head, while he rubbed the other leopardd with his bare feet.


    The band of the golden sandals had been gnawed with the leopard¡¯s teeth as if they were toys.


    ¡°Were you keeping our house safe?¡±


    Dionysus stroked their backs with a grin, not caring whether his sanders were broken. The male leopard¡¯s name was Mariad while the female¡¯s name was Eonia. Marad fell comfortably down, head resting on Dionysus¡¯ thighs, while Eonia looked around, smelling the scent, then climbed up to the bed.


    Eonia was as tall as Eutostea. She sniffed the scent exuding from Eutostea, the mattress fluttering because of the leopard¡¯s weight.


    Dionysus hugged Eonia and lowered her to the floor for fear that Eutostea would wake up.


    ¡°Eutostea¡¯s recovering because she¡¯s sick. I¡¯ll introduce you to her later when she wakes up. I know. It¡¯s been a long time since you¡¯ve seen a mortal woman.¡±


    Eonia¡¯s eyes broadened. It was as if her eyes were that of a human eye and not that of an animal.


    Dionysus looked somewhat solemn.


    ¡°Yes, I know. I feel the same way,¡± Dionysus said, stroking Eonia¡¯s nose.


    When his wife was alive, Eonia was the beast who followed Ariadne faithfully. The smell of a mortal woman coming from Eutostea caused Eonia to mistake her as Dionysus¡¯ wife for a moment, but she quickly realized that it was not so. The thought saddened Eonia who longed to see Ariadne.


    Dionysus¡¯ golden chalice rolled over the floor. It was empty, but if he so desired, it¡¯d be filled with wine in an instant. Dionysus fell into a long, deep thought.


    The two leopards rested on both his sides as if they wanted to ease their master¡¯s worries. They stayed that way all throughout the night. As if sensing their master¡¯s thoughts, they guarded Eutostea.


    The next day, when the sun rose, Eutostea came to her senses. The heat from the night damped her neck and back. The unpleasant feeling caused her to rouse from her sleep faster.


    ¡°Apollo¡­?¡±


    Eutostea raised her head and called out the name of the last person she saw. Her voice sounded awful like a terrible ghost who came back to life from the grave. And her lungs, gods it hurt like hell. Eutostea coughed and looked around.


    ¡°You miss Apollo enough to call his name as soon as you wake up? Wow, this is somewhat painful.¡±


    The face of Dionysus popped into Eutostea¡¯s view. He was kneeling on the floor, chin resting on the edge of the bed. His green eyes gazed at her.


    ¡°Hmm¡­ by chance, maybe the curse had been offset¡­ you haven¡¯t forgotten,¡± he said, disappointed. He wore a sad, solemn look.


    ¡°¡­.Yes?¡± Eutostea asked, frowning.

 Chapter 47 - Cute Little Bun

    Chapter 47: Cute Little Bun


    Artemis was chasing her and Apollo saved her. Eutostea had lost consciousness during the treatment and what she awoke to was a simple room that felt like home and¡­ the face of Dionysus, who she thought she¡¯d never see again after the festival.


    It was unlikely for a person like her to immediately understand what was going on when she had just awoken.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be like that. This isn¡¯t a strange place. It¡¯s my temple,¡± Dionysus grinned and answered one of her many questions.


    ¡°Why am I here? Why are you¡­¡± Eutostea cleared her mind and got to the point, ¡°¡­What about Artemis?¡±


    The name gave her goosebumps. The hairs on her arms stood up and anxiety washed over her eyes.


    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better to worry about yourself first than the angry goddess who wants to kill you?¡±


    Dionysus naturally changed the subject. It was foolish to have her think of something terrible when she had almost died and barely lived to see another day.


    ¡°I¡¯ll answer the question to your curiosity when you recover.¡±


    Eutostea tried to raise her upper body, but she fell back into a fit of pain.


    ¡°You see, I told you. Why can¡¯t you listen? Stubborn woman,¡± said Dionysus, kicking his tongue. ¡°Apollo¡¯s fine, but the shock your body remembers hasn¡¯t recovered yet. You¡¯ll be like that for a while.¡±


    He stirred the golden chalice in his hand. The red wine turned clear. Dionysus tipped the cup around Eutostea¡¯s mouth and told her to drink.


    ¡°It¡¯s a warm-heated medicine. It¡¯ll help ease the pain.¡±


    Eutostea looked down at the chalice with a complicated heart.


    ¡°I remember what happened after you gave me the drink¡­ is there nothing on this?¡±


    ¡°What? Don¡¯t give me that look. I didn¡¯t put anything suspicious. It¡¯s real medicine. Must I swear on the Styx River?¡± Dionysus said proudly, his heart stabbed with a knife.


    ¡°Don¡¯t do that. It¡¯ll be a burden.¡±


    ¡°Drink it, then. My arm is about to fall,¡± Dionysus pointed to his wobbly hand with his eyes and cried.


    ¡®Would it feel like this if I had a younger brother?¡¯


    Eutostea thought of a terrible imagination as she tilted the chalice and drank the liquid ¡®medicine¡¯ without further resistance.


    Dionysus helped her slowly as she watched her drink.


    To Eutostea, it tasted more like fruit juice than alcohol. Eutostea drank the whole chalice without repulsion. The thirst and sore throat she felt had disappeared. Above all, the pain in her shoulder, which kept poking and nagging her, disappeared as if it had never occurred.


    Putting weight on her elbow, Eutostea got out of bed.


    ¡°Thank you, Dionysus. I¡¯m not sick anymore.¡±


    ¡°It didn¡¯t taste so bad for a weakling like you, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it was delicious. By the way, can you explain why I¡¯m here?¡±


    ¡°Of course. But before that, do you want to see the temple and get some fresh air? I¡¯ll show you around.¡±


    ¡°I think we can take a look after getting an explanation.¡±


    ¡°In this place? Boring. I¡¯ll tell you in the garden while we have lunch. This place isn¡¯t suitable for long conversations. There¡¯s a lot of dust too¡­¡±


    ¡°I think it¡¯s comfortable enough here.¡±


    ¡°I mean, it doesn¡¯t hurt me to see you being so stubbornly cute, Eutostea.¡±


    Cute¡­


    Eutostea was speechless for a moment.


    Dionysus took this chance as a good opportunity. He lifted her body and carried her, mindful that Eutostea wasn¡¯t able to use her feet well.


    Eutostea scrambled and grabbed his hair like a rat.


    ¡°Dionysus!¡±


    ¡°Aya, aya, aya. Stop moving, I¡¯ll slap the cuteness out of you,¡± playing pretend, Dionysus said in a voice of annoyance.


    ¡°What are you doing? Put me down right now!¡± Eustostea exclaimed.


    The feeling of the unsteady floating in the air was not pleasant. Eutostea was genuinely angry and gripped on Dionysus¡¯ hair harder. The leaves of the grape vide hidden in his hair crumpled in her grasp.


    ¡°You want to pull out all my hair and make me go bald? You really want to smack the handsomeness out of me, don¡¯t you? Please don¡¯t. It¡¯s the only thing going for me. Now, I won¡¯t drop you, so just relax and stay still. You won¡¯t be able to walk properly because you hurt your foot, so I¡¯ll just carry you like this.¡±


    ¡°Give me a cane. I¡¯ll walk on my own!¡± Eutostea shouted.


    Dionysus¡¯ face flushed red. ¡°Every cane I have has a handle carved into the shape of my little manhood¡­ are you really that interested? Wow. Well, I don¡¯t mind letting you try the real thing now.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°Do you want to do it right now? You¡¯re hurt, but I think I can handle you.¡±


    ¡°¡­Just be quiet and go.¡±


    Eutostea covered her beet-red face with both hands.


    Dionysus smiled cheerfully and walked out of the inner room.


    ¡°We¡¯ve already seen each other. What¡¯s there to be ashamed of, my little cute bun? You quite liked it when you rode me that night.¡±


    Eutostea glared silently at Dionysus, who kept spouting mean things.

 Chapter 48 - Lazy God

    Chapter 48: Lazy God


    Dionysus faithfully kept to his word that he¡¯d show Eutostea around the temple.


    The first thing he did was introduce her to the dozens of warrior-like goddesses called Moussa, who appeared and served him whenever he so desired.


    Eutostea couldn¡¯t memorize their names as they all looked alike. She thought Dionysus was the only one able to tell them apart.


    In a graceful moved, the Moussa bowed with their knees bent.


    Eutostea greeted the beings who lived longer than her, muttering, ¡°I don¡¯t know what to do.¡±


    Dionysus giggled and called his leopards.


    ¡°This is Eonia. The smaller one is Mariad. They¡¯re usually wary of strangers, but they¡¯ll be gentle with you. Don¡¯t worry.¡±


    As Dionysus knelt down on one knee and lowered himself, Eonia and Mariad rubbed their noses on Eutostea¡¯s feet, capturing the scent of the stranger.


    Dionysus said they didn¡¯t bite, but it mattered not. When the two big beasts came in, Eutostea hardened like ice.


    ¡°I think I¡¯ll need some time to get close to them,¡± grasping her fluttering heart, Eutostea murmured.


    Dionysus was slightly surprised by her words. Eutostea did not yet know why she was in his temple, but she seemed to have guessed that she¡¯d be staying here.


    The thought of it made Dionysus feel better.


    He walked again, slowly. At his pace, the two leopards stood side by side, escorting them safely.


    ¡°I¡¯m telling you in advance, but don¡¯t expect too much. If you do, you¡¯ll be disappointed. It¡¯s dirty and it¡¯s been a while since I took care of the temple¡­¡± said Dionysus. It was a voice devoid of confidence.


    Eutostea was surprised to see it. He donned on the opposed of a relaxed appearance. His usual drunken laughter had disappeared for a moment.


    His green eyes looked at the exterior of the temple.


    ¡°Yes, I should¡¯ve built a new column, but I wasn¡¯t able to call in a stone worker to repair it, so I just wrapped it in wood and called it finished.¡±


    Dionysus explained from which the vine became the pillar of the temple instead of the columns.


    ¡°I thought it was good to hold out until it got struck by lightning or caught on fire.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡± Eutostea followed his gaze and observed the tree that had grown high, almost touching the roof.


    Dionysus turned around and walked to the assembly hall, muttering, ¡°I¡¯m ashamed to show it.¡±


    The altar was nowhere to be seen. When Eutostea pointed to an empty space and asked, Dionysus replied, ¡°Everytime I pass it, there¡¯s a tall stone slab as big as a bed. I got irritated and put it up in the garden to use as a bench.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Eutostea asked, doubting her ears.


    ¡°We¡¯re having lunch there. It¡¯s flat, so it¡¯s perfect for lying down on a mat and eating out.¡±


    ¡°If there¡¯s no altar, how do the worshippers offer sacrifices and tributes for the festival?¡± Eutostea wondered.


    ¡°A festival had never been held,¡± Dionysus replied, ¡°Little bun, I¡¯m more of a destitute god than you think. You¡¯ll be quite disappointed if you measure me using the same standard as Apollo.¡±


    It didn¡¯t seem to cut his pride when he said that nor was he ashamed.


    Dionysus pointed to the floor of the assembly hall where the dried and dead tree roots lay. The place where the altar was supposed to stand was dug in a circular shape like a low bathtub.


    ¡°Originally, this was a pond full of wine.¡±


    ¡°You got rid of the altar to dig a pond and fill it with alcohol. Tell the truth, Dionysus,¡± Eutostea said.


    ¡°It¡¯s natural that the temple of the god of wine overflows with wine.¡±


    ¡°Of course, but it¡¯s a problem when there¡¯s too much. It¡¯s not supposed to be a pond for drinking, but a place to swim.¡±


    ¡°Oh, then shall we dig deeper and turn it into a swimming pool?¡±


    ¡°No. It was a slip of my tongue. I hope you don¡¯t take it seriously,¡± Eutostea said.

 Chapter 49 - My, My, You’re Cute

    Chapter 49: My, My, You¡¯re Cute


    Dionysus walked with a rusty furnace bowl (Eutostea was serious).


    He guided the Moussa to grab the remains of the crayfish tools that hadn¡¯t been used for long and head to the underground facilities that appeared to be a liquor store.


    When the inner introduction of the temple came to an end, they came to the garden. Weeds coiled around the marble altar and Dionysus hurriedly cleared them all away.


    The Moussa prepared the lunch meal and neatly spread out a linen cloth as Dionysus set Eutostea down from his shoulder and sat her down.


    Dionysus lay comfortably on the linen cloth, not caring whether wrinkles were formed or not.


    ¡°You¡¯re hungry, aren¡¯t you? I¡¯m thirsty, too. Right, I¡¯ll have a drink.¡±


    ¡°Drink as much as you like. However, I¡¯d like to hear your supposed explanation with a sober mind.¡±


    Eutostea stole his golden chalice.


    Dionysus gave a broad smile.


    ¡°My, my¡­ why are you so cute?¡±


    ¡°¡­..¡±


    Unaccustomed to that sort of praise, Eutostea was left speechless.


    Dionysus touched the tips of her hair.


    ¡°Short hair looks good on you, too. Apollo must¡¯ve owned your sacrificed hair, right? I¡¯m jealous. I barely got a drink from you as a tribute,¡± he said, pouting.


    As he touched her hair, face gradually nearing hers under a pretext, Eutostea turned her head and dodged.


    Dionysus¡¯ lips touched her ear.


    ¡°Oh, there was something on your ear. Haha¡­¡±


    Eutostea wiped her ear without agitation and looked at Dionysus with calm eyes.


    ¡°Will you continue making a fool of me?¡± she questioned.


    Till Dionysus told her the full story, she¡¯ll not show a crack of emotion towards him.


    Dionysus sighed, surrendering.


    ¡°Fine, fine. When you first woke up, you wondered why I was taking care of you in my temple, right? Fine. I¡¯ll explain it to you as promised. Though make sure to give me a kiss as a reward later on. Anyways, I¡¯m sure you remember that Apollo cured you from Artemis¡¯ hunt. It was a game, a bet for them, but that crazy woman got pis*ed off when Apollo decided to save you, so she cursed you. It¡¯s a powerful curse placed on you and Apollo. Though you¡¯ve escaped death, your life still hangs by the tread. Artemis will do her best to kill you and Apollo won¡¯t always be able to stop her. He asked me to help hide you. This place won¡¯t catch Artemis¡¯ eyes. It¡¯s just the Moussa, my beasts, and you and me here.¡±


    ¡°¡­I¡¯ll have to live all my life here?¡±


    ¡°Why? You don¡¯t want to?¡± Dionysus asked, curious.


    Besides, there was nowhere to go. She ran away from the palace without even a plan in mind. And even if she tried to live anew or become a priestess, who would accept her? She cut her hair, a symbol of a slave. If Eutostea walked around loosely in the mortal world, she¡¯d be stoned to death or subjected to the harsh conditions of men.


    Meanwhile, the goddess was searching for her through the eyes of death.


    The life of an ordinary mortal woman, who had no means to defend herself, was akin to an ant. Man was predisposed to be weak. Dionysus didn¡¯t want to see her in danger.


    Dionysus bit his lips and said, ¡°You should stay here until your safety is assured.¡±


    He spoke with the utmost purity, not showing his desires. He pretended to wear a generous heart that would let her go after her safety is set whenever she so desired, but in truth¡­ his plan to make that cute little bun fall in love with him was set in motion.


    Dionysus smiled, appreciating Eutostea¡¯s face. Somehow, the more he looked at her, the more her beauty shone. Maybe this was the effect of attraction.


    ¡°Be the priestess of my temple, Eutostea. I¡¯ll protect you from Artemis. I won¡¯t let her touch even a single speck of your hair. It can even last a lifetime, if you want.¡±


    He drew a confident smile, again. He knew the woman in front of him had only one option.


    ¡°I understand.¡±


    Eutostea returned the golden chalice she took from him.


    ¡°I¡¯ll serve as your priestess.¡±


    She turned her gaze away and took a glimpse at his shabby, simple temple surrounded by coniferous forests.


    ¡°But it looks like we have a lot of work to do.¡±


    Then her eyebrows tightened, nose scrunched up.


    ¡®I need to get better soon¡­ I don¡¯t want to walk around with a p*nis-shaped cane.¡¯


    Dionysus giggled as if he had read her thoughts.


    Facing the clear wind, the two ate their lunch.


    Eutostea¡¯s cup was filled with red wine, slowly drinking Dionyus¡¯ wine without much hesitation.


    Dionysus smiled. This woman, she sure gave him satisfaction.

 Chapter 50 - Golden Crown

    Chapter 50: Golden Crown


    The greatness and decline of a temple was connected to the reputation of a god.


    Eutostea¡¯s current survey of the main temple showed that it was degrading. Even the temple that was meant to serve evil spirits was cleaner than this. The Moussa stood next to her with a box as she organized her thoughts on what to do first.


    ¡°I¡¯ll need some clothes first,¡± she smiled shyly and opened the lid of the dusty box.


    Several clean clothes were folded neatly. There traces of someone who had worn them in the past. It was no ordinary clothes. Sure, it looked old, but the quivering sensation made Eutostea¡¯s hands melt, almost.


    Along the edge was embroidered with gold threads. It described the shapes of constellations in the night sky. From the idea of gods bending man in heaven, it was the divine lady and the priest(ess) representing the gods¡¯ voice who could wear such embroidered clothing.


    The front was embroidered with a cane of Dionysus and vines of grapes wrapped ¡®round it.


    Eutostea took off her old clothes and changed into the priest¡¯s uniform.


    The Moussa were excited when they heard they¡¯ll have a priestess after a long time. They flicked away somewhere and came back with another box in their arms. It was a golden silver bracelet embossed with the pattern grapes in Dionysus¡¯ image.


    They put it on Eutostea¡¯s wrists and rubbed her arm in satisfaction.


    Suddenly, they thought of something and disappeared.


    The box they brought this time was smaller than before. The Moussa fluttered their long and beautiful eyelashes, lowering their eyes solemnly.


    Inside the box was a small golden crown wrapped in silk.


    ¡°I am a priest, not a woman of Dionysus.¡±


    Eutostea refused with embarrassed eyes. It was a treasure burdensome to receive.


    Dionysus appeared and took the box. The Moussa backed away as he stood before Eutostea.


    ¡°It¡¯d be left rotten in the dust anyways. You wear it, Eutostea,¡± he said.


    ¡°Dionysus.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a present for my first priest. If it¡¯s too much for you, you¡¯re free to leave it behind when you go away. And don¡¯t think you¡¯re wearing it to flatter me. Just wear it and stop thinking too much.¡±


    Dionysus slowly draped the crown over her head. The leaves of the vine wrapped around the side of her hair and forehead. Narrowing his eyes, he carefully fixed the position of the golden crown.


    ¡°There. It suits you, cute bun. Hmm¡­ you look better with bobbed hair,¡± he smiled, eyes bent with satisfaction.


    Eutostea didn¡¯t blink.


    ¡°If you¡¯re trying to flatter me and win my affection, do it with labor. There¡¯s many places here in the temple that needs cleaning up. I can¡¯t do it alone. My ankle is injured.¡±


    ¡°Wow, you¡¯re openly testing a god,¡± Dionysus clicked his tongue, eyes twinkling. However, he never said no.


    Eutostea raised her arm to take off the burdensome crown.


    Dionysus hurriedly held her hand and cried, ¡°If you take it off, then you¡¯re disqualified to become a priest. No, then I won¡¯t have another good one¡­ but just keep it on, okay? Pretty please?¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes.¡±


    Eutostea looked tired and pulled her hand away from his grasp.


    Ignoring Dionysus¡¯ request to be carried on his shoulder, she sat on the leopard¡¯s back lying down. The leopard was a beast that was as big as Dionysus.


    The leopard which Eutostea mounted was a male named Mariad. He rose from his seat gently and went out of the inner room in a relaxed manner similar to his master.


    Dionysus took Eonia with him and followed Eutostea.


    ¡°Get rid of the floor here and move the altar back.¡±


    Eutostea pointed to the floor of the assembly hall and handed Dionysus a rake.

 Chapter 51 - Leading Control

    Chapter 51: Leading Control


    ¡°It¡¯s my temple. Do I have to clean it up?¡±


    ¡°Shall I clean it up, then?¡± Eutostea asked, pointing to her injured foot that she was unable to lift up.


    ¡°No, no, little bun. I¡¯ll clean it up. You stay on Mariad¡¯s back.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll do what I¡¯m able to do.¡±


    The part Eutostea cared most about was the rusty brazier bowl. The three-legged brazier bowl was large enough to cover both arms. It was an expensive bowl that she could feel the quality touch of the craftsman.


    The bowl, which contained fire that should never go out, was filled with rainwater and trash. There was also the smell of yeast. The outside of the bowl also the most¡­ burdensome to clean. It was so rusty.


    ¡°Here¡¯s the fermented goat¡¯s milk you asked for.¡±


    The Moussa handed the jar and cloth to Eutostea.


    Nodding, Eutostea got off the leopard, sat on her knees, soaked the cloth the goat¡¯s milk, and rubbed the surface of the bowl in silence.


    ¡®How long would it take to get rid of the rust?¡¯ Eutostea wondered.


    Dionysus looked at Eutostea with his chin resting on the rake.


    ¡°Shall we start a new life?¡± he asked, smiling.


    ¡°Do you want to see the temple go bankrupt?¡±


    Eutostea stopped for a moment and looked at him, at the place where he stood. There were many wooden vines that kr was hard to tell whether it had been raked or not.


    ¡°When are you going to clean it up?¡±


    ¡°¡­I can just blow it with force rather than raking it away for half a day.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t use your powers for that, but your strength to clean up the mess. Unlike me, you have the strength of an ox. If not, should I rake it myself?¡±


    ¡°No, there¡¯s no need for that,¡± muttering, Dionysus raised his hand and waved them violently.


    ¡°Put everything away before we eat,¡± Eutostea said firmly, pointing to the western and eastern ends of the vast assembly hall.


    ¡®I think I chose a good priest¡­¡¯


    Dionysus began to rake, feeling like Hercules carrying out Hera¡¯s task. Soon, he concentrated on his labor without a word.


    The Moussa, who played music for Dionysus and alcohol for him when he stayed at the temple, looked at each other alternately with puzzled and flushed eyes before deciding to do something.


    They helped him clean up.


    Three Moussa¡¯s tried their skirts to their thighs so it wouldn¡¯t interfere with their work. They tied their hair up, too, before attaching to Eutostea¡¯s side to help her.


    The rusty skin of the bowl began to melt softly and peel off like a tear.


    Eutostea was convinced by the sight of the brazier bowl, which was beginning to show its beauty.


    It was a valuable work made by a skillful artisan.


    When the jar was emptied, Moussa went to the underground storage and grabbed another, but when she opened the wooden door, a bunch of rats popped out and she screamed.


    The ears of the two leopards, who laid down next to Eutostea, pricked up. The beasts flew like the wind and jumped to the stairs.


    The rats, unable to escape, had its head crushed under the leopards¡¯ paws.


    Mariad racer forward. He stamped his paws and crushed the rats as if he were dancing. The leopard was so absorbed in his new toys that he bit and tore them apart to death.


    Eutostea pauses, peeking at their roaring hunt.


    ¡°Pamphagos, Laelaps, Tigris! Go after her!¡±


    Artemis¡¯ voice came to kind unconsciously.


    Eonia and Mariad took up the muzzle stained with the blood of rats.


    ¡°Break the tendons of her ankle this time. If you fail, you¡¯ll be punished, Tigris!¡±


    Two pairs of beastly eyes stared back at her.


    Eutostea recalled the yellow teeth of the hunting dog rushing towards her neck.


    Her throat became parched.


    ¡°You bastards!¡± Dionysus shouted. ¡°Get over here!¡±

 Chapter 52 - A Past Memory

    Chapter 52: A Past Memory


    Two leopards turned their eyes to their master, pupils greatly dilated.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you catch those rats?! I¡¯m here breaking my back working hard and you want to play around?! Eutostea may not scold you yet for she fears you for the time being, but I¡¯m not afraid! Go and catch those rats. Step and crush and smash the head! Do something useful! After all, you¡¯re living in the house of a god without paying rent!¡±


    Dionysus whistled with two fingers on his lips. The leopards jumped high on the floor as if it was a race. The squeaky rats¡¯ scream vanished from the lousy roar.


    Dionysus rattled them like a drummer, pounding a rake on the floor. A light whistle came from his dried lips. It was a prelude to the battle.


    The Moussa helping Eutostea stood up as if possessed and began to dance happily.


    It looked a mess.


    Eutostea looked up at the warrior-like goddesses dancing like crazy with a blank look.


    ¡°Mariad! Bring back the chubbiest rat! He¡¯s the real culprit. I¡¯m already worried about running a poor temple, and look, my beautiful priest is in trouble! Right, I¡¯ll give it to her as a gift.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t need such a gift!¡± Eutostea shouted to Dionysus.


    Dionysus, who was whistling and clapping his hands, clasped his belly and laughed.


    ¡®I don¡¯t know what¡¯s so funny. Why are you so happy?¡¯


    Eutostea watched and observed Dionysus¡¯ dance. He clapped his hands like a tambourine and cheered for the beasts.


    Eutostea¡¯s heart rate also increased with the sounds of pounding.


    With the cheers of Moussa, Mariad and Eonia walked proudly on all fours with many flesh in their mouths.


    The plump, fat rat was dead, its stomach torn out and intestines sticking out. The tongue stuck out the open mouth and its two long molars were the color of yellow.


    Dionysus strokes the leopards¡¯ head and praised their actions, taking the carcass of the mouse out of their mouths.


    ¡°Rats, how dare you touch what¡¯s mine?¡±


    When he gave a squeeze, the body spurted blood between his grasp. It was crushed like pumpkin.


    Dionysus crushed the remaining rats¡¯ body with his foot as the leopards did. Sounds of bones cracking and guts bursting echoed.


    The floor became so wet as blood after blood came out of their small body.


    Eonia and Mariad grew fervent with excitement watching their master and roaring loudly.


    ¡°Eutostea,¡± said Dionysus, turning his head and looking at her. ¡°I finished cleaning the basement.¡±


    Staring blankly at his beaming smile, Eutostea glanced at the lump of guts scattered on the floor.


    ¡°We¡¯ll need water. You¡¯ll get it, right?¡±


    ¡°I can wash it off with wine.¡±


    ¡°Bring the mop.¡±


    Stopping him, Eutostea pointed to a separate room where he kept the tools.


    Dionysus walked awkwardly along, scratching his back neck.


    Examining the white-faced Eutostea, Moussa grabbed her shoulder.


    ¡°Are you all right?¡±


    ¡°Yes. We¡¯ll clean up again.¡±


    Eutostea smiled faintly and held the cloth tighter.


    Mariad and Eonia smacked their mouths, scratching their claws at the bloodstains trampled by Dionysus.


    A eutostea clearly remained a scene that had been imprinted in her memory. It was a memory of Artemis¡¯ hounds, which fell with a heavy noise next to her after being shot by Apollo¡¯s arrow.


    She didn¡¯t think much of it then.


    Was she lucky to be alive? That her neck wasn¡¯t bitten?


    She didn¡¯t think much of it then, but now, she was pleased that they had died.


    Suddenly, as she approached and brushed Eonia¡¯s soft hair rubbing her head against her thighs with her fingers, Eutostea felt vivid joy spew out from her heart.


    Excited by the rhythm and beat of Dionysus, she stretched out the tip of her finger and smiled.

 Chapter 53 - Dangerous Woman

    Chapter 53: Dangerous Woman


    Puck!


    When Dionysus poured a bucket of water, garbage such as shattered wooden remains, rat carcasses and fallen leaves floated up. He carried the by-products out of the temple with a long bar of bristles. He cleaned up, skillfully. Though he bore a look akin to boredom.


    Meanwhile, Eutostea had removed two-thirds of the rust from the bowl. As she and the Moussa finished up their part, Eutostea rose from her seat and put the trash piled up in the bow in a basket. When the inside of the bowl was cleaned, she poured melted pig oil and rubbed the bowl clean with a cloth.


    She polished and oiled, polished and oiled, a rhythmic cycle. Eutostea cleaned the bowl properly. She wanted it to last and hold fire for a while. And by noon the work was done.


    Exhausted, she took a rest, leaning against the leopard¡¯s body.


    ¡°Don¡¯t overdo it,¡± said Dionysus as he looked at Eutostea¡¯s complexion.


    He poured her a cup of warm liquor. It was a drink meant to relieve pain, a fortunate thing for her. The pain from her overworked arm and shoulders eased off from the sweet drink.


    The hand holding onto the chalice came to his sight. It had dried up blood coagulated with rusted metal.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t wash your hand?¡±


    ¡°Oh, I can wash it now.¡±


    Unexpectedly, she poured wine over her hand and rinsed it clean.


    ¡°Give me your hand,¡± he said.


    Eutostea looked at him. What was he up to now, she wondered.


    He grabbed her hand and took a closer look. His black pupil widened. Giving the Moussa a shot of glance, they lifted a cold water bucket and poured it over Eutostea¡¯s hand. Dionysus rubbed off her hand full of blood and alcohol with a clean cloth.


    Once clean, Dionysus noticed her hand was red and overworked.


    Eutostea sighed. ¡°I know you¡¯re free-spirited, but cleanliness is important in the temple. That way, I¡¯ll be able to relax and calmly drink the wine you make.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t wash myself yet. Shall we take off our clothes?¡± Dionysus asked, seriously.


    ¡°Don¡¯t spout crazy things,¡± she said, looking down at his meticulous and careful touch.


    At this time, Dionysus looked at her, really looked at her. Her eyes were slightly lowered from deep concentration. She was a simple girl, but far too complex to define. How peculiar it was that she grew more beautiful each time he looked at her. He wanted to touch her round forehead with vines and leaves wrapped loosely. Her straight, willowy eyebrows¡­ thick black hair¡­ thick lashes¡­ pretty nose¡­ slightly flushed cheeks¡­ and sweet lips the color of wine so desiring, more so than any wine he had ever tasted.


    What a dangerous woman¡­


    Dionysus tilted his head to the side and pressed his lips on hers. The hand cleaning hers suddenly stopped, letting it go and grabbing and holding her.


    As he tried to put his tongue deeper and continue the sweet, tasteful kiss, Eutostea pulled away and slapped his shoulder.


    ¡°You smell like sweat,¡± she said.


    Dionysus, savoring the moment, slowly opened his eyes and smiled slyly.


    ¡°It¡¯s because I¡¯m working,¡± he pouted, ¡°That aside, I listened to you well, so please look my way and give me a reward.¡±


    Eutostea¡¯s expression remained unchanged. She looked like a cool beauty, causing his heart to flutter. Then, she pointed to the dense coniferous forest and said, ¡°Cut down the trees for firewood. Five carts full. I can then say that you worked hard.¡±


    ¡°F-five carts?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± she said, nodding. ¡°Don¡¯t forget to break the firewood. I¡¯ll eat lunch first. If you don¡¯t want to starve, you should get started.¡±


    ¡°Eutostea!¡± Dionysus gasped. ¡°I didn¡¯t peg you as some pushover.¡±


    Dionysus sniffed a tear and played with Eutostea¡¯s hair while donning a sad expression.


    Eutostea looked at him and answered coolly, ¡°What¡¯s new about asking such a thing? You know that I¡¯m a princess. You should be aware that making orders is second nature. Anyway, aren¡¯t you going to cut the trees?¡±


    Moussa walked up to Dionysus with a floral smile and handed two axes to Dionysus.


    Eutostea climbed on Mariad¡¯s back and headed to the altar where the lunch table was set up. While the assembly hall was in the process of cleaning, the altar will take a few days.


    Meanwhile, Moussa didn¡¯t understand Eutostea¡¯s demand to spread a mat on the floor. Moussa tried to persuade and change her mind, but it was futile.


    The exasperated Dionysus immediately grabbed Eutostea¡¯s hand and said, ¡°You said we¡¯d eat together earlier. And this is my altar! Also, this food will eventually go inside your mouth anyway, so why not wait? Yeah, just wait a little longer. I¡¯ll go and cut five carts of fire and come back quickly. Let¡¯s eat together after that.¡±

 Chapter 54 - His Beating Heart

    Chapter 54: His Beating Heart


    Dionysus came back in a flash with carts full of work the little bun entrusted him with. He cut down dozens of trees and beaten firewood without sweating, without a speck of dust on his clean face.


    Eutostea didn¡¯t trust him so easily. She asked Moussa to check the back of the temple piled with firewood. Moussa came back explaining a good pile of firewood with five carts full.


    ¡°You¡¯re not hungry? Let¡¯s eat,¡± said Dionysus, plopping down next to her and looking at her with glittering eyes.


    Eutostea looked at him with different eyes. He was a good worker, she could attest, but goodness was he a shambles of mess. She¡¯ll need to revise some of the temple¡¯s rearrangement. It would likely end earlier than expected if she bossed him around efficiently.


    And he¡¯d be willing to do so too it looked like.


    Not knowing her wicked thoughts, Dionysus looked at Eutostea¡¯s lips before popping a grape in his mouth.


    Eutostea, she looked like a cute baby bird he wanted to eat.


    Eutostea paid him no mind and ate her meal with a peaceful smile, thanking Moussa for the palatable dish.


    Devouring his plate, Dionysus looked at Eutostea.


    ¡°How¡¯s your shoulder?¡± he asked.


    Just looking at it bothered him.


    ¡°The pain went away after having a sip of the drink you gave me.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s only a one-time thing. Don¡¯t rely too much on that. Also, you¡¯re still a patient, so take a rest. It¡¯s the best shortcut to healing quickly.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve had enough rest.¡±


    ¡°Why do you believe in yourself so confidently? You¡¯re a mortal, one with a weak human body. So fragile, so weak that you could break so easily. Don¡¯t overdo yourself. Let¡¯s stop our work and rest for today.¡±


    Dionysus bent his arms and grinned, resting his chin on the palm of his hand.


    ¡°Also, shall we refill the bowl we made in the memory of the assembly hall cleaned up to its fullest? It¡¯ll be quite an enjoyable night to hear the Muses perform at night and wine poured out as if a purging.¡±


    ¡°Won¡¯t you end up starting a fire?¡± Eutostea poured cold water on Dionysus¡¯ romantic proposal. ¡°In addition, if you look at the nails of the bowl submerged with wine, they look a little black and a little rough.¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s fill it with clear water.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll fill it with clear water. I think it would be better if we could pump from the groundwater to prevent dryness. I have to get new water to make wine anyways.¡±


    ¡°Wow! You¡¯ll make me a drink?¡± Dionysus asked, voice excited and thrilled.


    Eutostea looked at him as if stating the obvious.


    ¡°Yes, because I¡¯m your priestess. It¡¯s my duty to build a wine for the altar. There¡¯s different recipes for each temple. If you could tell me what you prefer, I¡¯ll learn them fully.¡±


    Suddenly, she realized what she said in front of the god of wine seemed quite presumptuous. Eutostea blamed herself for the slip of the tongue.


    It was Dionysus¡¯ specialty providing the best drink in the world from a simple wave of a hand. Would she be able to compare hers with his drink after many trials and errors and practices? But¡­ what if she failed to make him a delicious wine? Would she be a failure as a priestess?


    As she thought about this, Dionysus, who tilted his golden chalice and stared at the red wine, parted his lips.


    ¡°Your words aren¡¯t more touching than I thought. Eutostea, my heart is pounding so hard. I can¡¯t control it. I only had a small sip of you but you¡¯re far more deadly than any drink I ever had.¡±


    With eyes full of hearts, Dionysus looked at Eutostea.


    His hand covered her cheek, thumb rubbing the corner of her eyes and cheekbone.


    Eutostea looked at him straight in the eye.


    Her lips touched his earlier¡­ it was too short! Dionysus leaned his body towards her, knocking down the golden chalice. The breath of the man and woman drinking the same wine mingled in the air.


    ¡°Dionysus,¡± Moussa called his name.


    Disturbed by the short valuable time he had with Eutostea, the lascivious Dionysus squinted his eyes and turned his head.


    ¡°What?¡± he asked.


    ¡°A message from Olympus.¡±


    A giant eagle sat clutching on one foot over Moussa¡¯s shoulder, bowing slightly.


    ¡°All gods, including the twelve main powers, gather in Olympus immediately.¡±


    From the beak of the eagle came the voice of Zeus. The giant beast, who had said what it needed to say, spread its huge wings wide as if to cover the sky and rose rapidly, creating a gust of wind.


    Dionysus big his lips and looked at the chaotic lunch table.


    Moussa, hiding behind the tree, ran out and put golden sandals on.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on, but since something¡¯s happening, looks like I¡¯ll have to go up.¡±


    Dionysus descended from the altar.


    Eutostea began to move, but he stopped her.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t eat much. Just finish your meal. Someone will clean up the mess. Don¡¯t wait for me. Sleep whenever you¡¯re tired. I¡¯ll come back for you soon as I finish my work,¡± leaving her behind with a friendly voice, Dionysus¡¯ figure disappeared alongside the eagle.


    Eutostea sat on the tablecloth with spilt wine and looked up at the cloudless afternoon sky.