Pherenike - Chapter 72

Axiothea and Peleus decided the fate of their son and daughter when they were just babies in their cradles. That was Pherenike’s first betrothal.

“I regret having you two meet like that.”

“Given that Kybellar chose me, Epicydes would have eventually led me here.”

“Sure, he would have. But did it have to be so burdensome for you?”

“…”

“Even in the same position, everything is easier without love, Pherenike.”

“…”

“You love as if it’s a divine punishment, making everything difficult.”

Divine punishment. Peleus looked down at his daughter as if she were foolishly frail.

“No matter how much I cared for Deucalion, it’s nothing compared to you.”

To the young general, who was quick to leave for the battlefield after returning to the royal capital, teaching noble-born boys seemed far from an attractive task.

Yet, General Vassilios once took Deucalion, the Second Prince, as his only student to teach him swordsmanship and military strategy, for one reason only.

Because he believed that boy would one day become his daughter’s husband. That was the only reason.

The King’s son. The grandson of Lord Thasos. Those were merely unnecessary decorations.

Of course, Peleus now says he finds the current Deucalion extremely displeasing. Precisely, everything surrounding him.

“You were willing to sacrifice anything for that boy, yet his world calls you a w***e, not even knowing what you’ve been paid with.”

“…”

“How could I possibly join hands with them?”

“They know nothing because I made it so.”

“Sometimes ignorance is also a sin.”

“Then I made them sin.”

A smirk briefly played on his stern lips.

“How did you get Deucalion to accept this situation?”

“…”

“If he had willingly sold you out, I would have to strike him down before Actor.”

“…Deucalion wanted nothing. I just threatened him with my life.”

“Indeed. I may not know your dark heart, but his is clear. Deucalion would cut off his arm rather than give away your fingernail. For such a man, sometimes living is harder than dying.”

“…”

“That is the life you’ve handed to your love.”

He chuckled dryly.

“Doing as you please, forcing him to accept, yet claiming all this was a noble sacrifice for him?”

“…”

“Just doing what you want.”

“Because what I want is for Cal’s sake.”

“But the shame you’ve let Deucalion live with will forever dominate him. He will never forgive himself, nor your times together.”

“…”

“You two will end up not being happy.”

She looked up sharply at her father. Peleus gently smoothed the creases around his daughter’s eyes with a seemingly tender touch.

“Even if only obvious misfortunes await you, I’ll still support you. After all, all your stubbornness comes from this Father.”

A year had passed since the child’s birth, and spring had returned. The Princess’s first festival had come.

The King ordered a festival to be held in honor of Kybellar for the well-being of the Princess. The whole kingdom buzzed with preparations before and after.

This temporary festival lasted for six days. It started with a grand sacrifice to Kybellar.

Every day, various competitions and matches were held in the central amphitheater of Lykke, from chariot races and running to bare-handed combat, everything that the people of Evdokia could be enraptured by.

Officially, betting was not allowed as these were sacred games for the Princess. However, in practice, it was permitted.

Every evening, there were processions of people dancing and singing from one end of the city gate to the other. In the middle of these processions, carts always carried large jars filled with wine, intended for the free people to drink and shatter. A gift from the King.

Throughout the festival, the King generously provided drinks for the people. There were corners at every street end where water and wine flowed like a never-ending spring.

Thus, women from nearby farms cheekily and irreverently set up shop near the royal palace, selling various foods they brought from home to travelers.

But the guards of Lykke let these women make their profit happily, just like the men who engaged in forbidden betting.

Everyone was commanded to be happy; it was the King’s decree.

Fundamentally, this was a ritual to please their goddess, and ultimately, an event to make the people happy.

In essence, it was about making everyone aware that all this happiness and joy originated from the one-year-old Princess. It was akin to accumulating blessings for the Princess.

The young King, holding the Princess in his arms, sat on his throne and watched all the games held for his daughter alone.

The Princess, too young to understand the proceedings, would burst into laughter upon seeing the animals in the arena, causing the king to smile faintly.

It was a face that seemed like it would never learn to smile. As if he had learned to smile belatedly from his young daughter.

He kissed the top of his baby’s head.

“May you live long, Leuce.”

The King loved the Princess dearly. After Leuce’s festival, everyone came to know of it.