NOVEL NEXT Chapter 106: Queen Anteia
In the end, the moon goddess Artemis naturally did not release her arrow.
Not to mention Apollo was there watching, but also, with Promise so close to Atalanta, what if she accidentally hit Promise?
In myth, Orion died in one version exactly like this.
Apollo, the god of light, looked down on Orion from the bottom of his heart and thought that Orion was not worthy of the love of his sister, Artemis, the goddess of the moon, used an archery contest as a pretext, causing Artemis to draw her bow and shoot the distant, indistinct figure of Orion.
Thus, after one night passed.
The next day, when the sun god Helios and the night goddess Nyx exchanged their duties, there was some confusion about why Nyx left so late today.
As the morning sunlight filtered through the leaves and shone on Promise and Atalanta below the tree, Promise, with a slight twitch of his eyebrows, finally opened his still somewhat groggy emerald eyes.
He had slept very comfortably that night with a pillow that was not only soft but also fragrant, making the turning Promise want to indulge in a little more sleep.
Until he subconsciously looked up and saw Atalanta leaning against the tree, her head slightly tilted, sleeping so peacefully... The early morning breeze stirred the young girl's light yellow waist-length hair, and she was smiling faintly, seemingly enjoying a pleasant dream.
Thus, after a moment of regaining his senses and carefully getting up from her, Promise looked at her for a while and looking at the peaceful girl, he couldn't bear to disturb her.
Then, rising to his feet, Promise also leaned against the tree and sat down next to Atalanta.
He reflected on everything that had happened yesterday.
Though Hera's vow had given him a slight headache and a sense of helplessness in the end—it was, after all, not malicious but entirely well-meaning and indulgent.
Yet, ultimately, it was a fruitful night.
Not only had he hunted the monster, Chimera, adding another accomplishment to his heroic spirit life, but he also completed half of the paintings of the Olympian gods.
And thinking about the marriage, on deeper reflection, the problem wasn't really significant.
After all, given Hera's attitude towards Promise, as long as he disagreed, she would certainly not force him.
Thus, the control was actually in Promise's hands; he just needed to keep dragging it out.
However, because of this vow, it was very likely that Hera would prospectively choose one woman or goddess after another to matchmake with Promise.
And any woman who passed Hera's scrutiny must be extraordinary, which for any man wouldn't be a bad thing.
Zeus would probably be envious to death if he knew.
Unfortunately, the thought of getting married and the almost certain dramatic scenarios it would entail in the future meant he was genuinely uninterested!
But who could tell the future?
Even if it seemed unlikely, what if Promise later met a woman who truly moved his heart?
In that case, Hera's vow would no longer be a problem.
After all, this would be a marriage witnessed by all the gods, the grandest and most magnificent marriage on earth—how romantic that would be...
With these thoughts, Promise glanced at Atalanta, who showed no signs of waking and reached into the sky to pull out the pure white canvas of feathers.
With a gentle tap towards the sky, a painting materialized before Promise.
It was the painting of Pegasus, which he had torn up in the Underworld, but now it had returned to his hands.
This was the enlightenment that had come to him the night those six paintings appeared.
With this paintbrush in hand, any painting that belonged to him could be retrieved.
He shook the painting, tossing it aside, and then the sky Pegasus, which had returned to the stars, was called back by Promise.
Putting his finger to his lips, and signalling the winged horse to stay quiet, the boy took out the golden seven-stringed lyre from the luggage Pegasus carried.
This was the divine instrument of the god of light, Apollo, originally intended for Apollo's son Orpheus, but due to the events in the Underworld, it now belonged to Promise.
He remembered a small agreement he had with Atalanta from a few days ago, owing her a lyre and a painting.
Pegasus crouched down wisely to the side,
Promise then tuned his emotions and, closing his eyes, leaning against the tree, began to strum the strings of the lyre.
The lingering, subtle sounds of the lyre rang out like clear spring water flowing, cleansing the mind and body.
Under the sounds of his lyre, Atalanta slept even more peacefully.
It was not until a long time later, when the music stopped, that Atalanta finally woke up
Opening her eyes, she saw Promise next to her, holding the seven-stringed lyre and smiling at her in greeting, and then she looked to the side at the lying Pegasus.
Without saying much,
The two did not discuss the events of the previous night.
"What are you planning to do next?" Atalanta asked as she stood up and tidied her appearance, tying back the loose strands of hair by her ear.
"Um..." Promise thought for a moment but didn't immediately answer.
Instead, he turned his head to look to the side.
There, sitting on a nearby rock, was none other than one of the Olympian gods, the messenger Hermes, identified by his feathered hat and orange hair.
He had arrived earlier while Promise was playing the lyre and had taken a seat there.
And the Hermes that Promise and Atalanta saw now looked worn and haggard, unlike his usual elegant self.
His face even seemed swollen, as if he had been chased and beaten.
Seeing him like this, Promise blinked his eyes.
Although he was a little curious, he naturally would not ask directly.
After all, Hermes being beaten couldn't possibly have anything to do with him.
"Go to Tiryns; it's not far from here. King Proetus will receive you with great honors, and you can ask him for anything you want.
After all, you defeated the monster Chimera and solved their problem. You deserve a corresponding reward."
"After that, you should return to your teacher in Chiron's cave, where someone is waiting for you, someone you've always wanted to meet... Athena asked me to tell you this."
After speaking, Hermes, pulling his feathered hat down further, walked away.
He didn't want to stay a moment longer,
Such a disaster!
After all, who knew if Athena's threats of violence were serious, completely disregarding the camaraderie they had just shared plucking golden apples?
Moreover, Hermes knew he had to hide for a while.
The golden apple incident couldn't be kept secret for long; Hera would soon get wind of it, especially since the guards in the garden, who had been knocked out, were likely waking up by now.
Athena probably wouldn't dare return to Olympus anytime soon, let alone him.
In the goddess' words,
'If I can't beat Athena, can I beat you, Hermes?!'
In addition to the bad things he had done all along, Hermes was very confident that as soon as Hera just waved her hand and gave the word to beat him up,
Apollo and the others would definitely respond immediately, picking up their weapons and chase after them!
With that, Hermes left,
Atalanta, at his side, barely had time to react.
Only after he was gone did she turn her puzzled gaze to Promise.
"He is Hermes, the principal god... By the way, when I disappeared in the kingdom of Calydon, it wasn't that I left without saying goodbye; it was him who suddenly found me and took me away!"
Although Promise had indeed been planning to escape at the time, his words were nonetheless true.
Hearing this, Atalanta had only one thought.
Everyone who randomly appears around you is some incredible god!
Soon after, the two of them quickly prepared themselves and rode the Pegasus, led by the winged horse, they went to the kingdom of Tiryns mentioned by Hermes.
The king of this place had an exceptionally beautiful wife named Anteia.
She was none other than the queen in mythology who fell in love with Bellerophon at first sight, but ultimately failed in love, so she became angry and falsely accused Bellerophon of trying to force himself on her, which led to the incident of the monster Chimera.