Beauty of Thebes

Chapter 26: Dionysus

All of a sudden, the man turned to a completely different person. The smile on his face disappeared, leaving behind a flat line. His green eyes gleamed and gazed at her, piercing through the depths of her soul. In those eyes, Eutostea saw something resembling Apollo. If Apollo’s eyes were like a passionate fire, this man’s eyes were burning incense, a hazy smoke circulating them.

“You’re the only one who’s awake. Seeing as you’re able to resist my powers, there’s someone watching you—a god more powerful than me. I’m sensing this familiar feeling coming from you.”

The man thought over it for a moment.

‘Was it Apollo? No, that can’t be.’

He tilted his head.

“Are you Dionysus?” Eutostea asked.

It was a viable guess, judging from the pungent smell of wine coming off from his tattered-looking-beggar’s clothes and how he actively looked around the festival for humans to help out with.

Neither confirming nor denying her words, the man took the piece of cloth hanging off the waist of his trousers with his left hand and loosely draped it across his shoulder. He then started taking one step after another toward Eutostea, who had put some distance between them earlier.

The petals of the myrtle hanging from above fell down on the path he walked.

“Your motherland is Thebes. It’s been a while since I’ve had wine from there, so… it’s fine if I drink this, right?”

“It’s wine that’s to be offered as tribute to a temple.”

Eutostea did not find it tedious repeating the same words over and over again. She simply chose to show her manners towards Dionysus upon realizing his identity. She had no plans to hand over the wine.

“I’ll refill it after.”

“What would become of my kingdom if the container of the wine I was to offer to the temple had its contents changed?”

“I’ll make the exact same wine. You know that all the wine in the world is under my jurisdiction. It’s fine so long as I replace it with the same wine, right?”

“When something is offered for tribute, the item represents the genuine feelings of the person offering it. This wine must be the original in order for those feelings to be properly portrayed.”

“Argh,” Dionysus scratched his head in annoyance, “you’re so picky. Look, I’m so parched I could die. Just let me have one mouthful. Shall I tell you a secret? Apollo won’t be attending the festival at Delphi. He’s planning to vacation in Hyperborea. It’s a little earlier than his intended plan, so that’s why I’m going in his stead. Hence, all the tributes offered at the festival of Delphi will be given to me.”

“No,” Eutostea said flatly.

“Haaa… I’d put you to sleep right now, but I don’t even have the strength to do that.”

Dionysus’ ears turned red as he stamped his foot on the ground as if he was throwing a tantrum. The sound of grapes that at some point started growing out of vines at his feet being crushed could be heard. While he was distracted, Eutostea snatched the precious container of wine in his hands.

Noticing that he was barehanded, Dionysus let out a dejected laugh. “I’m normally given everything I want. This is the first time someone’s actually taken something out of my hands.”

“Please don’t be mistaken. This wine was something you stole from.”

“Ugh…” Dionysus stuck his tongue out like he was gonna vomit, “alright, alright! Fine, take the wine. I don’t know what’s so special about the festival at Delphi, but I guess I’ll taste it then. Enough with this shameful dispute. Let’s drink.”

A golden cup appeared in Dionysus’ hand. When he made a pouring motion with his hand, a rose-colored wine started filling the golden cup from the bottom up.

A lovely smell wafted through the air.

While Dionysus was pouring the wine, Eutostea put the container back in its place on the wagon before placing other precious items on top of it. She didn’t know when he’d try to pillage the wagon again, so she needed to camouflage the wine as best as she could. Having done that, Eutostea returned back to Dionysus, who offered her a cup.

He had already drained his own cup.

It looks like he wasn’t lying.

“I don’t drink.”

‘I won’t with you, at least.’

Eutostea drew the line between them.

Cough!

Dionysus, who heartily drank his wine, coughed at her cold words.

Eutostea stared down at Dionysus’ backside. He was bent over at the waist trying to clear out the wine that went down his windpipe.