Eutostea, the third princess of Thebes, is visited by the mysterious guest calling himself the God Apollo in bed. In pitch-black darkness, only an outline of him said, “I have come to share a one-night love with you. Once the night passes, you will not remember me, nor shall we meet ever again.” Soon, the three princesses band together to reveal his face while he is sleeping. But the candlewax melts off the tip of the candle in Eutostea’s hand and falls on the god’s shoulder. Apollo wakes, grabs the second princess, declaring, “Princess of Thebes, admire to your heart’s content. ‘Tis the face of the mere shell you sought so dearly.”

Eutostea revealed her true identity to the puzzled mother and son. 


“Before Dionysus took me in, I was the third princess of Thebes who did something disgraceful and was expelled from the palace.”


The old lady stepped back as she found herself blasphemous to touch the princess. Her son, Marche also looked dumbfounded. 


“Now that I’m a priestess, I’ve given up that title. But, our country is at war for months…? It feels absurd. Because when I left to pay a tribute to Delphi, our country was in a very peaceful mood… So it’s unbelievable to hear that. Are the stories all true, and not misrepresented after they’ve been passed from person to person?”


“If you’re mentioning the celebration of the Temple of Apollo, do you mean the first day of May? Priestess, you really don’t know? Right now, it’s January. It’s a new year,” Marche said, tilting his head in wonder.


Chapter 39 - Chapter 39