Beauty of Thebes - Chapter 18

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 – 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 vain at Apollo’s wanton arrogance. A moment ago, he had touched her affectionately, patted her head 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 him.

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 clown, 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 that were 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.