Beauty of Thebes

Chapter 10: Throwaway Princess

Dawn came.

Eutostea refused to bathe in the morning light and immediately sought her father… no, the king’s presence. Aphelius, the king, was at the sauna. No one was to interrupt his schedule until after breakfast, but regardless, Eutostea sent his personal servants a signal urging him to hurry.

While Eutostea waited, the king dressed up before opening the door. Eutostea walked in and bowed to the king.

“Father.”

“What happened?”

There was a clear set of irritation found within his brown-colored eyes, the color similar to Eutostea’s.

“I have a request.”

“What is it?”

“The request is to send a white ribbon around a bird’s leg. The bird, a hawk, will set out on a journey to Delhi to receive an oracle as soon as possible.”

“Oracle?” the king furrowed his brows, his lips hardening. “How do you know an oracle will arrive like a thunderbolt in Delphi? What else can it be when one ties a white ribbon to a bird’s leg?”

“I cannot explain how I know or why but it came from the mouth of a trusted person. Soon, an oracle will arrive in Delphi. For now, trust me and let the bird go.”

Aphelius looked at his daughter’s determined expression. She was not lying, he could tell. She’d normally never request for anything unless it was of special occasion. Though he did not cast aside his doubts, he granted his youngest daughter’s request.

He ordered a body-able servant to seek an official to send their hawk to Delphi and specifically instructed the servant that a white ribbon must be tied around its leg.

“Father, I have another question.”

“What is is, Eutostea?”

“We’re you the one who deliberately ordered the repairman to prevent my window from being fixed?”

“!”

The king’s eyes widened.

Eutostea woke up in the early morning with a clear thought in mind. Recently, the behavior of those around her was… awkward — her maidservants refused to make eye contact with her and showed an overly anxious response when the window’s condition was pointed out.

She had her suspicions, suspicions that her deed with a man would be exposed. She knew it was bound to happen and it would come; her lost virginity would spread like a wildfire. But… there was no news. She had not been caught. Apollo was able to cover his tracks well while the latch broke continuously.

She’s sure the repairman hadn’t done his job properly on purpose.

“Why do you think that?” Aphelius did not deny.

“A mere conclusion reached by reasoning alone.”

Aphelius sighed and praised his daughter unemotionally, “You are far more brilliant than the scholars who work for me.”

Eutostea felt that his reply was a cowardly evasive response. She now realized the truth and tried to keep her emotions in check.

Aphelius looked at his daughter and said, “What’s wrong? Why are you trying to ease your anger?”

Eutostea’s eyes glinted. “Father, am I a throwaway daughter? I’m not beautiful… I’m hardly someone you consider precious given the care you’ve shown me… am I bait for my sisters?”

A long silence followed thereafter.

“For your sisters’ safety, your sacrifice is the best way to protect our kingdom. This is your duty as the princess of Thebes,” Aphelius replied.

Then, he bit his lip and looked straight at his daughter and asked the question he was most curious about. “So who tipped you off that an oracle will arrive in Delphi? Was it the man who entered from your bedroom window?”