Free Web NovelChapter 58: Chapter 58
"What might we do to ease your pain?" Hera asked as a few tears slipped from her eyes.
Penelope grimaced. "May the gods help us," she mumbled. "You’re a lost cause, you know that, Hera ?"
"Leave her alone, Penelope, can’t you ever stop antagonizing the people around you?" Niko retorted.
"Oh shut up, Niko, what do you know about anything?"
"You know what, I’d like you to leave. I don’t want you in my home. There’s no comfort with you here."
"Of course, you won’t expect that I ever provide comfort. Because you know, you’ve never done the same for me. In fact, for anyone. I really hope you release Hera from whatever spell you’ve cast on her, because you’re only prolonging her suffering.
"Get out."
"Sure, no problem, I’m leaving already."
Penelope got up and was about to leave when Iris joined her. "You don’t want to stay?" she asked.
"There’s nothing to do here except to be a third party to whatever it is they’re about to do, and I am certainly not in the mood for that one bit."
"Are you serious, Iris?" Hera asked.
"Yes, I am. I want to give the two of you as much space to conduct your business. We’ll see each other back in the palace. Have fun." Then she held Penelope’s hands and guided her away.
"Was it so necessary to drive them away? I’m sure Penelope was only trying to joke around."
"Please, Hera, can we not talk about her? She always manages to dampen my mood somehow, and I don’t want that near me right now. Look at the state I’m in, does it look like I need anything aside from sympathy and comfort right now?"
"Ok, ok, you’re right," Hera tried to calm him, and placed a hand gently on his lap while the maids weren’t watching.
Niko shifted away from her touch. "So, I hear that Theo was the best among all the fighters? Is that true?"
Hera took in a deep breath and sighed. "He really was nothing short of marvellous if I’m being honest. The fight was sensational. He had to battle not just his opponents but three or four strong opponents when he’d already been fighting for so long and had little strength left."
"Oh, so he was godlike in a sense then?"
Hera could sense the jealousy and irritation in his voice.
"That doesn’t mean anything, Niko, not everyone has to be a fighter."
He scoffed. "So, you’ve already categorized my personhood. And it seems that even to you, I am no warrior."
"Yes, Niko, you are not a warrior, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Everyone has their strengths and their weaknesses as well."
"Spare me the rubbish, Hera. My family has had no one to take over from my father, and if that were the case, we would lose all our fortune."
"I understand that Niko, I really do."
"No, you do not when you practice for long hours because you have so much on your shoulders, but somehow, you still manage to fall flat on your face in failure."
"Niko..."
"You know what, I am extremely tired and I would like to retire to my bed. Thank you for coming to visit." He said to the servants. "Help me up, I’m tired."
"Yes, your majesty."
Hera sat stunned. She’d done nothing wrong to be treated like she’d said something nonsensical. Now, she had to walk back to the palace because Penelope and Iris would have already left.
She got up, walked out of the inner courtyard, toward the door, and left the Aetos house.
She walked down the street, past the rows of houses beside her, until she reached Thoe’s home. She’d been so focused on getting to Niko that she hadn’t appreciated the beauty that was the home. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓
She passed a few questioning glances as she walked on, but she was in no mood to care.
"We hardly ever meet under better circumstances," someone said behind her.
She turned around to find Theo on a horse, and she reeled back.
"My lord," she said and bowed.
"I take it that you must have come to see your lover?"
"That is none of your concern; you do not need to take any interest in the things that I do."
Theo laughed. "Would you prefer that I leave you to walk back to the palace on your own? It’s a long journey back, princess Hera."
Hera scowled at him but looked at the road. There was still a long way ahead. "Fine, " she grumbled.
Theo smiled at her and gave her his hand, then pulled her up behind him. Then he rode off.
"You seem in much happier spirits today, my lord," Hera said after a while of silence. " I guess you’ve finally recovered from the battle."
Theo smiled to himself. "Yes, I am much happier. And I thank the gods for my victory."
"Yes, the gods."
Theo took another route, different from the one Penelope’s driver had used while they were coming. "This is not the way," Hera said in a panic.
"It isn’t," Theo chuckled. "But I would like to show you something."
"And what might that be?"
"Calm down, princess, you’ll find out soon enough." frёeωebɳovel.com
They reached a river, and along the bank there was a little boat to move across. Theo dismounted from his horse and held out his hands to guide Hera down. She looked wearily at him but accepted his help.
He led her to the boat, and he paddled them across the length of the river.
"What do you think?" Theo asked quietly, smiling at her.
Hera looked around. The fields beside it were covered in flowers, and she could see little rabbits running around.
"It’s wonderful," she gasped.
"I come here to relax when everything seems so bleak. You may come here as well if you like; not a lot of people come here."
Hera turned her gaze back to him. "Why would you show this special place of yours?"
"Because I like you, Hera. Unfortunately, I do not have a chance because your heart has been captured by another."
