Beauty of Thebes - Chapter 28

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.

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 gazed 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 rested 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 lips.