Pherenike - Chapter 35

Pherenike consistently remained by Actor’s side, regardless of what initiated their union, as if conforming to their twisted fate. She endured all the comments that poured in from all sides, was indifferent to criticism, and never looked back at what she had left behind.

At least that’s how it appeared to the outside world. From ‘that day’ onwards, she carried herself as if she were cut off from her original life, as if her limbs had been severed.

Whatever deal Pherenike had initially made with Actor, to the world, she was a woman who completely abandoned Deucalion to be by Actor’s side. A woman who surrendered herself to her once-enemy, betraying her love for the one who grew up with her like a brother.

Nobles in Lykke speculated that she was not satisfied with the sanctuary’s honors alone. She had always weighed the brother all along for the possibility of becoming queen, willing to be with any man if it meant achieving that status.

They laughed, saying she ultimately chose the man destined to be king. This showed her worldly greed despite her blessings from the goddess.

No one liked her. In the eyes of Deucalion’s people, she was a traitor with no sense of gratitude or shame, and Actor’s people didn’t view her much differently.

Everyone knew that Queen Axiothea had raised her like her own daughter. She had laid with the second prince in the cradle, replacing the second prince’s deceased twin sister. Pherenike had grown up cherished like a princess, to the extent that people joked the dead princess in her grave might be jealous of Vasillios’ daughter.

It was even more so when the prince had adored her more than his own sister since they could walk and talk despite not sharing a drop of blood. He vowed to protect her for the rest of her life.

As a child forcibly betrothed to Actor, she received their deep sympathy. Back then, she was just a young girl, a precious treasure enveloped in the goddess’ radiance. Their engagement was nothing more than a hostage exchange between factions.

Although she was the least willing party in the marriage, no one cared for the thoughts or will of a young girl. Neither those on the opposite side nor those on her own side.

But now, everyone saw ‘free will’ in her actions. They were eager to comment on how sordid she was, from her apparent willing presence to her very skin as a seemingly brilliant woman.

Now the sanctuary couldn’t even bound her, what else but greed could have driven her back to Actor’s side?

Pherenike never responded to Axiothea’s calls. Even when Axiothea, who was like a mother to her, was dragged out of the palace in tears and called her name.

The previous Queen’s handmaids went to the Thasos family, trembling in shame and delivered this heartless news. Pherenike’s father was a man who grew up in the shadow of the Thasos house and became a general. Her mother, who died young, was Axiothea’s close friend.

Losing her own daughter as a baby and then seeing her close friend die leaving a daughter of similar age, the queen saw it as destiny.

We were meant to meet like this. I was destined to love you, right?

Once, Axiothea asked the young girl, Pherenike. Though not born of Axiothea, Pherenike was undeniably her daughter, bound by the threads of Moirai.

This absolute love was apparent to anyone who saw them, even those who loathed Axiothea as a villainous figure.

Throughout the life of the first prince, Axiothea appeared closest as a villain. Yet, to Pherenike, she was undeniably a good mother. Could she be so heartless towards someone who had raised her?

For Actor’s people, Pherenike Vassilios was always a woman of impurity. While her engagement to Deucalion once garnered sympathy from his people, it had always been a source of disgust for Actor’s people.

Raised by ‘that’ Axiothea. The woman who had given her entire soul to the second prince, leaving nothing for their first price….. They never considered whom Pherenike was originally promised to her future to.

What did it matter? Pherenike’s body was already marked with Actor’s name, yet they resented the young girl for always looking towards the second prince, unable to recognize her true master.

The annulment must have stemmed from the misdeeds of Vassilios’s daughter, they believed.

That woman, who had abandoned their prince so blatantly, shamelessly returned to his side. It was when they were close to complete victory, abandoning her lover like a defeated dog. Throwing away all that had ever loved and cared for her, and mercilessly abandoning their enemy.

But could she truly abandon everything? Her love, her family, the fruits of predetermined politics, everything that had surrounded her from birth? Their suspicions were rational, and in fact, always correct. Because she had not abandoned any of it.

Yet, she appeared as if she had completely abandoned everything. As time passed, her turned back seemed only to solidify further, showing not even a crumb of regret.

Sometimes, it seemed like she even forgot where she came from.

* Moirai: The three sisters, goddesses of fate. Clotho spins the thread of fate, Lachesis measures it, and Atropos cuts it to end a person’s life.