Beauty of Thebes

Chapter 44: Hestia’s Words

“I can’t believe you’re not in Olympus. That’s a surprise, Hestia. Without you, who’ll protect the brazier?” Apollo bluntly greeted the goddess.

Hestia laughed with a relaxed face.

“It’s the night of Greece’s biggest festival and I had no choice but to visit Delphi. You’re the only one crying in the festival, Apollo.”

“What did you hear?” Apollo asked. He did not doubt that Hestia watched the whole scene from the side quietly.

Hestia descended their altar with a clatter of footsteps.

Apollo was anxious that as she approached him closer, his tear marks would become more pronounced to her view. However, his pride did not allow him to wipe it with his hands as if he were a child crying in front of an adult.

“I have much to say. My mouth is heavy, so don’t worry about it. I came here to tell you something,” Hestia said.

Apollo looked at the goddess with suspicious eyes. As an adviser to Zeus, she knew Olympus better than anyone.

Hestia’s gray eyes were reflected in Apollo’s eyes while he looked at her with suspicion and anxiety.

Apollo’s hand fumbled at his bangs.

“I took it off because I lost my bet against Artemis.”

“Hooo… when was the last time you lost? I can’t recall. I keep learning new things today,” Hestia said, admiring.

Apollo was on the edge of anxiousness. It was obvious that she came to tease him.

“Just get to the point. As you can see, I’m not very happy to lose a bet.”

“It’s because you’re afraid of a mortal woman dying that you didn’t care to lose your pride, isn’t it, Apollo?”

“Hestia.”

Her words cut through the prideful god’s heart.

“Why are you here, Hestia?”

Apollo was burdened with the gray eyes looking at him that seemed to know everything. It would be more accurate to say that he didn’t know how to act in front of her.

“Long ago, you asked me to be your wife and cut your hair. Do you remember? I still have it.” Hestia once again uttered in front of him the events of the past, which he did not want to remember.

Apollo breathed deeply.

“As soon as I got the chance, I threw it on the brazier. I shouldn’t have done it.”

“How valuable the meaning of Apollo, the god of light, to burn it. I remember long hair looked good on you, but after Penaeus’ daughter had that kind of ending, he cut it without mercy.”

“I didn’t know you were so interested in my hair,” Apollo said with a straight face.

Hestia pulled a glossy hair tie out of her sleeve. Appearing like a wig, it was a long braided hair offered by Eutostea. What was unique was that the golden hair woven together at the base belonged to Apollo.

“This is my present, Apollo. I made it to capture the heart of the woman who had cut off her hair for you. If the laurel water pipe’s seat is empty, it would be nice to use this instead.”

Apollo opened his eyes to look at the owner of the hair.

“This was the tribute she offered, Apollo. You had missed your chance to know what she meant because of your absence. Now she’s cursed by Artemis.”

The curse of oblivion. Her life would always be in danger and she’ll never be happy beside him. She may face the same fate as Daphne.

Apollo was facing his ends’ wits.

Hestia laughed lowly.

“Does the passion of the young days, which you’d been chasing after and crying out for love all day long, have gone away? What’s wrong with the curse? Sure, the curse of oblivion is dreadful. But has it ever frightened you? If you forget, you need to remember. You sound weak, Apollo. Here, think of this as a talisman. Though I’m not the goddess of fate, this hair might work out in your favor.”