I Became a Slave to a Mythical Shepherd

Episode 113. supremacy (3)

I allowed the guests to rest for a day, just as Priam had said.

On the surface, they toured Antandros, immersed in the heat of the festival… Behind the scenes, they diligently gathered rumors while unwinding.

Anyway, the next day, when it was daytime, we headed to the Temple of Aphrodite. This was also an event related to Ino.

From the point of view of the ancients, marriage was a step away from the protection of the virgin god Artemis and into the realm of Aphrodite and Hera.

Ino and I sprinkled olive oil on the statue of Aphrodite in the hastily constructed temple for this wedding and prayed.

and···

[It’s a beautiful child.]

A voice was heard. Glancing at her, Ino didn’t seem to hear.

[Although you know the road ahead of you, do you want to take the difficult road?]

“…”

I got no answer. We watched for a while as the bull’s fat and hide burned, and soon we returned to the palace.

Now that the couple’s kite has been made, will the wedding end here?

No way.

If it had been done so simply, he would not have brought so many people to Antandros.

In addition, all kinds of sacrifices were made to Hephaestus and Demeter, who defended this city, and the work with the gods was almost finished, but the work between humans still remained like a mountain.

“Oh Zeus! I offer you this cup, please accept it!”

“Please accept!!”

in the form of a banquet.

It was a continuation of what I had done for several days in Troia.

After seeing the statue of Hephaestus, the guests became wide-eyed and asked me if there were any more ‘like that’, and soon they were wandering around the city and its vicinity.

Of course, he scattered gold and silver coins everywhere, which was very good for the city’s economy.

“The farmers were cutting wheat ears with steel blades. is that okay? Could it be that some landlord, plotting treason, is secretly arming his slaves?”

“Ah, it’s all from me. Do not worry.”

“There are several hundred stadia of roads along the coast! what is this…”

“I made it to be good for a walk.”

“…”

“…”

The freedom of movement I allowed them also provided an opportunity for them to delve deeper into the situation inside the city little by little.

Thanks to that, the atmosphere in the hall soon changed.

A different air flowed between the guests than when Iphigenia invaded. But I still hadn’t quite grasped where the air was going and how to act.

I sighed softly and looked at the scene of the banquet, chewed on a nearby chicken leg, and raised my glass of drink.

. . . and find a small note under the glass.

Of course, it’s not ‘ji’, it’s a piece of cloth. We still have to wait another 1,000 years before Cai Lun was born in the Han Dynasty and fully covered the manufacturing method of paper.

“Paris?”

“huh. Why are you calling me?”

“Would you like to come over here for a second?”

I carefully put the note in and put it inside my pocket, and Ino called me to the corner of the banquet hall, where the servants went in and out, out of sight.

As we follow Ino, this time Ino hands over a wooden board the size of a palm.

“Someone asked me to deliver this.”

“···who?”

“I don’t know. I don’t remember all the hundreds of people who came to this banquet… I don’t think they were guests, but someone’s slaves or servants.”

I secretly looked at the wooden board I had received from Ino.

-‘Misia is a good ally. Hattusha is far from Mysia, but Troia is close.’

ah.

He pulls out the slip of paper he just found from inside his pocket and examines its contents.

-‘Prygia is moaning at the loot of the Amazons. Troia has unbreakable steel in the Amazon, and we have gold and friendship.’

…The atmosphere is definitely rolling differently than before.

He tossed the pieces of cloth and wood he had just received into a nearby brazier, and the correspondence of the kings disappeared in gray ash and smoke. We spent the day sitting at the head of the banquet again.

So the moon rises again.

The guests moved one by one supported by the servants, and other servants swept the floor, removing items such as baskets and broken jars that the guests had broken.

Ino and I stood listening to the sound of the broom sweeping, and then we were the last to leave the banquet hall.

I will have to repeat this for another three days or so. We have to walk a tightrope amidst the restrained eyes and calculated whispers of countless people.

…This wasn’t the original plan.

After sending Ino, who was tired, to the bedroom first, I returned to the empty banquet hall.

The ceiling is open, so the moonlit sky can be seen clearly, and the panoramic view of Antandros unfolds below. Anoitus said that one of the views in the palace was installed in the best position.

I wandered there without thinking, looking for the constellation Demeter gave me as a gift.

And in my field of vision as I was looking up at the sky, a finger intervened.

“If it’s a waterwheel seat, that’s it. It belongs to you.”

It is dignified and aged, but it has a thick voice.

Compared to Priam’s voice, which has become softer over time, it’s a voice that makes you think that a person can age like that again.

Where the fingers extended, the strong arm muscles continued. The veins stood out like vines climbing a thick tree.

The old man’s face was strong.

I knew his name Leader and king of the Thracian chieftains.

“Lesos-sama, you haven’t returned to your inn.”

“exactly. I still have stories to tell.”

“If it’s like that, I’ll tell my father, so I’ll set aside some time…”

“Your honorable father is of course important.”

Lessos cut my words and met my eyes.

“However, I would like to speak with you now.”

“…”

I recall the many notes I received during the afternoon.

And I also remember the eyes of those who didn’t send the note, as if they were somehow scrutinizing their prey.

Interest must have come for a similar purpose.

“Troia is a strong country. And thanks to you, I am stronger. To maintain loyalty to your father while enjoying this kind of wealth and honor, you are truly a trustworthy monarch.”

“Isn’t it natural?”

“It’s natural… it’s not. It is only natural that the forsaken prince would strike his father with the sword of vengeance. Like Agamemnon in the west and his slayer father.”

Lessos smiles happily and gives me a meaningful look as if he doesn’t.

“Agamemnon is by no means a reliable ally.”

“Ask your father and you will find out. We have never considered Agamemnon’s Mycenae as an ally.”

“exactly? In Achaean customs, it seems to be fashionable these days to send daughters to enemy lands.”

“…”

“Please do not dismiss my words as mere hostile cynicism. I am doing this out of concern for Troia as an old friend and neighbor.”

Saying that, Lessos put his hand away from the wheel of the watermill.

“…To engrave one’s achievements in the palace of the immortals with the body of a mortal.

Not even a demigod, at such a young age.”

“King of the Thracians, your favor is gratefully accepted. I will also bear in mind the fact that Agamemnon cannot be trusted.”

“I’m glad that’s the case.”

“But, if that’s what you want to say that Thrace is a more reliable ally…”

I looked up at the tall old man.

“Tell me what you want.”

There was no bewilderment in the expression of the old king Lessos. There is only an old smile like Naitae.

“I want to be the king of all Thrace.”

“…”

“You must have seen it too. How arrogant towards me are those who defy me… and refuse to submit to my power.”

Hate and anger flash in his eyes like static electricity for a moment and then disappear.

“Help me. I will be the king of Thrace.

I don’t care if Troia becomes the king of kings of this land, or whether Hattusha kneels down and decapitates their great king to decorate the palace. No, rather, I will send soldiers to help.”

Lessos bends over and looks at me. The innate sense of intimidation given by the huge body dominates the area.

“Not everyone at this banquet will be as hospitable as I am.

Everyone who saw the landscape of Antandros sensed the shift of hegemony, and some would welcome it, but some would not.”

Saying that, Lessus opened a bottle he had hidden in his arms and drank the contents.

The bottle smelled familiar. Smell of alcohol.

I pretended not to know, and Lessus knew I was pretending not to know.

He was deliberately showing me a weakness. to make you believe in yourself.

“The Pamphylians (Παμφυλία, the southern region of ancient Asia Minor) right next to Lycia seem to be very fond of the trade network and peace maintained by Hattusha. Well, the mutiny attempt failed not too long ago, so everyone who didn’t would have died.

It is certain that numerous other monarchs, even those who are somewhat satisfied with Hattusha’s rule, are horrified at your behavior and are already preparing letters to send to Hattusha.”

“How about the rest?”

“I will watch. hiding like a coward When the winner is decided, they come belatedly and try to lick the fruits of victory.”

“Are you different?”

“Am I different?

It’s different.

Because I know how to pay the price. I do not mean to be a trustworthy ally. All of that is false unless you bet it on the River Styx, but I assure you that it will make a useful ally.”

“Then you know what I am going to say.”

“You’re trying to say it’s none of your business.”

“Yes, everything will be decided by my father. I am his son and subject.”

“…”

Lessus stepped back with a suspicious look on his face. And when I finally opened the door to the banquet hall and left, I turned around and watched me.

“exactly. You are the second son of the wise Priam, noble and renowned lord of Antandros.

But for some reason I have a hunch that you won’t end there.”

And the door to the banquet hall closes.

In silence, the banquet night passed like that.

***

After that, there were no coy eyes and subtle spirit fights, of course it wasn’t.

On the contrary, as the last day of the banquet approached, the leaders of each city and tribe approached me more openly and told me various stories.

Needless to say that Priam and Hector were almost crushed by the countless requests for a handshake.

However, that was fine.

It was better to go through the frustrating and complicated world among people like that.

At least, rather than what needs to be done.

“Paris? Why are you so down?”

“…”

“Paris?”

“never mind. It’s the moment when we become a couple now. Happy.”

“Your face is white?”

“…”

Hector, who couldn’t look at me, brought me a towel to wipe off the cold sweat and spoke to me.

“Paris, do you have any gifts from Hephaestus? Or even received from other gods.”

“There is.”

“Be sure to keep it on your body.

Hera-sama won’t do anything to harm you.”

“···yes.”

If you are going to marry a couple, you must be blessed by the god of family and marriage.

Now we had to go to the temple of Hera.

“Son, don’t worry. In a place where so many people and fairies gather, Hera will not be able to curse you or curse you. ···maybe.”

“You are my master’s favorite boy. Don’t worry too much, I’ll protect you somehow.”

“Pa, Paris-sama… you have to survive…”

In addition to Hector, Priam, Anchises, and Aeneas throw out a word at a time.

In particular, Aeneas said, ‘I will never forget the meeting with Paris-sama…!’ When I threw the same words and wiped away tears, I had to make a pretty big effort not to wield violence towards my relatives.

Anyway, I have to go to the temple of Hera.

Just like when I went to the other temples, I held hands with Ino and led a long procession.

No, rather than leading, it would be more accurate to say that when I came to my senses, I was being pushed on my back.

With the power of the pavement I laid with all my heart and soul, we were able to reach the temple on the outskirts of the city quickly and effortlessly.

I have never regretted my road paving business more than at this moment.

“Paris? I have to walk now.”

“…”

“…what’s going on?”

“huh,”

“Isn’t it hard to tell me?”

“···Not yet.”

Ino squeezes my hand tightly.

And go up the stairs first. I was surprised for a moment and went up the stairs of the temple of Hera, accompanied by Ino.

Ino said in a whisper.

“Let’s be brave.”

I felt ashamed.

And, I walked along with Ino.

Behind me, the royal family of Troy came up the stairs in a row, and behind Ino’s back, the elves of the nearby forests, streams, hills, and mountains chattered and formed a rank.

In the distance are my parents, whom I put in the front row, dressed to the fullest and stuck in the crowd.

and.

The door of the temple opens.

The two of us kneel in front of the statue of Hera in front of everyone watching.

“…the guardian of the home.”

I call the goddess cautiously.

Holding a peacock feather in one hand and wearing a crown on its head, the god statue came out with inorganic eyes and looked down at everyone in this place.

I opened my mouth again.

“…You noble daughter of Kronos. Since the sacredness of marriage comes from you and is kept, peace comes to the family and order reigns in the world.”

[···and.]

voice.

A voice as if suppressing some emotion.

Looking around, the others looked blank, as if they hadn’t heard the voice.

Instead, their gaze was directed to one place. I also looked after them.

Flames rose from the golden crown resting on the marble statue of the goddess.

[I am the Queen of the Gods. The highest goddess, the greatest goddess.]

A voice that seemed to strike right into my heart, not my eardrums. Still no one hears the voice of God but me.

“…the greatest goddess. I am here today to complete my marriage with a woman. I will gladly accept any price.”

[…]

God’s silence had its own strength and dignity. Feeling a suffocating presence, I swallow once.

“Queen of queens, we want to be one because we love. We ask for divine assurance upon this oath and promise of ours.”

[…]

The silence, as heavy as a mountain, continued for a long time, and still people did not stop being surprised at the strange change in the statue.

and,

The flames of the goddess weakened.

[Guaranteed.]

In my ears, I hear a voice that is smaller than before.

[However, keep that oath.

certainly.]

“I will definitely keep it.”

[An oath made in front of a god is never worthless, so make an oath to your father-in-law.]

···master?

When I turned my head back, an old man was watching me with blue eyes.

A deep, brilliant blue light swallowed me like the scales of a freshly caught salmon.

No one seemed to notice the old man’s presence among the fairies.

[Swear.]

“I swear.”

Ino speaks first. He probably didn’t even hear the voice of God, just like destiny.

I also close my eyes and exhale as if muttering.

“I swear.”

And finally, the flames that burned over the statue’s head were extinguished, and the melted remains of the golden crown flowed down the goddess Hera’s hair, forming beautiful blond hair.

People praised it as auspicious.

Only me and the few people who knew my circumstances left the temple with a firm expression on their faces.

I was about to fall because I lost my strength along with the tension, but Ino held my hand tightly. Thanks to that, I was able to walk properly again.

we, the two of us,

now they are a couple