Jealousy Under the Moonlight (3)
A banquet was held to celebrate my return, and a crowd of self-proclaimed celebrities whose names I didn’t even know gathered to sing my praises. I finished introducing Achilles as well, and when I declared that I wanted to hold the wedding with her right away, everyone burst into hearty laughter, saying it was far too soon, yet they all offered their joyful blessings.
After the banquet ended, Atalante—who had played so happily with me—fell asleep as quickly as any child would. The sight of her calling my name and drooling in her sleep was so endearing that I felt certain I would personally stand in the way of any suitor who came for her someday. Thanks to Atalante, our gathering remained harmonious to the very end, save for one person whose mood felt distinctly off: King Acrisius.
“Hmm…”
He possessed a cowardly streak and was easily swayed by others. Fortunately, he was aware of this flaw and had apparently tried to correct it, though success seemed elusive. Today, after Agamemnon visited and whispered something to him, he ended up confessing everything.
“So, brother, you’re worried that my son Perseus might try to usurp the throne?”
“It’s not so much that… I’m more concerned that this child might actually be some kind of monster…”
“You have to say things that make sense! Just look at his back! It’s obvious that many gods are watching over him, yet you’re fretting over something so trivial? Have you finally turned into a fool now that you’re sitting on the throne?!”
“But… how could a mere child have flattered the gods and accomplished such feats? I… I found that unnaturalness terrifying… I tried not to distance myself because he’s Danae’s son, but as my distrust grew and I heard those words, I couldn’t help falling into suspicion…”
“You used to be close with our Perseus! Are you going to flip your palm just because he lost his memories?!”
“That’s exactly why it was even more frightening… After Perseus opened his eyes, he was no longer the child I knew, so I naturally kept my distance…”
“How pathetic for someone who calls himself my brother! Hmph! If you hadn’t confessed your true feelings today, I would have hated you for the rest of my life!”
“I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…”
Fortunately, the misunderstanding was cleared up quickly, but Danae was left extremely angry. Because they had lived together for so long, her tone and manner were exactly like the way Atalante spoke to me, and King Acrisius hid none of his helplessness before his younger sister’s scolding. I didn’t mind since the misunderstanding had been resolved, but Achilles, who was about to join our family, seemed to find the whole scene so ridiculous that she couldn’t stop laughing.
“Hahaha~! He called you a monster, a monster~! Uhehehe~! What kind of nonsense is that… Hahaha~!”
“Yeah, it must be hilarious, right? Is it that funny because someone else treated you like a monster at your first meeting too? Huh?”
“Er, ahem~! That’s different~! My case and King Acrisius’s misunderstanding aren’t the same~!”
“Different, my foot. Stop talking nonsense.”
“Come on~! We agreed not to bring that up. Stop it.”
Achilles waved her hands and begged to drop the subject, but since the topic had come up anyway, I decided to lay everything out. Danae and King Acrisius looked curious about our relationship as well, and clearing the air now seemed the best way to prevent future misunderstandings. So I told them about how Achilles and I first met, and why we had set out on our journey. Of course, I also explained that Epiphos was our son, and that we had taken some time because we were afraid the nymphs might spread the news far and wide.
““………?””
The way Danae’s and King Acrisius’s expressions soured in real time was quite amusing. Danae’s reaction was especially intense, while the king let out a low groan of dismay.
“I wondered why you left in such a hurry… Wait, hold on! Then that child is my grandson…?!”
“That would be the case. He’s an exceptionally intelligent boy. Lately he’s even learned to communicate through drawings, so I’m not joking when I say he’s smarter than Atalante is now.”
“Heh… It’s a hard story to believe… But this is reality, isn’t it…”
“If I were truly a monster, I wouldn’t be telling you a story that makes me sound like one. I have no interest in the tiresome business of usurping the throne, and I never could, so rest assured. If you wish, I’ll even make a public declaration in my name that I have no interest in the throne.”
“More importantly…”
Leaving the stunned Danae behind, King Acrisius approached me with a serious expression. The contrast between him and me—still stuffing the remains of the banquet into my mouth—was stark. I worried he might still be harboring doubts and was about to stab me with them, but fortunately that wasn’t the case.
“Perseus. I’m sorry to say this, but I still cannot accept you as my nephew.”
“Brother?!”
“This is my true feeling. As you said, I was very close with the old Perseus, but now that he has lost his memories and become a completely different person, the Perseus of that time must be considered dead. Therefore, I cannot recognize this child as my nephew, and I still feel uneasy.”
King Acrisius stepped back from Danae and adjusted his tone.
“Listen… Perseus… What do you think of me? A king who fears his own sister’s son and, swayed by a complete stranger’s words, even utters such things—how do I appear in your eyes? Don’t hide it. Speak honestly.”
His demeanor was unmistakably that of a king.
Yet somehow, he resembled me.
“Achilles.”
“Hm!”
I decided not to answer directly and instead entrusted his evaluation to Achilles. If anyone could speak bluntly, it was her, and she delivered exactly the response everyone expected.
“Compared to Jason, who vowed to become king of Iolcos and actually did, he lacks both spirit and courage—he’s not even worth calling a coward! Unlike Queen Hypsipyle of Lemnos, he doesn’t have the broad heart to welcome someone he doesn’t know! And compared to Medea, who became queen of Colchis and drove many to their deaths, he shows not even a shred of ruthlessness, only a weakness that fails to protect his own position! It’s hard to see him standing on the same level as the kings we’ve met!”
“Achilles!”
“But it’s the truth.”
Even when Danae scolded her, Achilles did not retract her words.
“So I really am a coward? Compared to other kings… I’m unfit for this seat… Is that what I am…?”
“I don’t think you need to be so discouraged. Honestly, being able to accept the truth is a very big strength. Don’t you think so too?”
“Exactly. When you think about how many kings died because they couldn’t do that, it’s not necessarily something to despair over.”
“But… I…”
I stopped eating and decided to praise King Acrisius, who had come closer. He was the type who couldn’t hide his true feelings yet was easily discouraged, so he needed a warm word. Since he had spoken seriously while maintaining his dignity, I responded with equal seriousness.
“Ahem. King Acrisius. It’s only natural that Mother is venting her anger at you, but that doesn’t mean you’re wrong. Because I also believe what you said is right.”
“Why? I’m doubting you. Even now, I’m wondering if you might be deceiving me with smooth words. I’m harboring so much distrust that I’m even drawing a line between us with my words and actions—how can you say such a thing?”
“It’s perfectly natural for Your Majesty to be suspicious. As you said, I lost my memories and became someone you don’t know. So all our relationships have returned to the beginning, and this is our first meeting. Therefore, there’s something we must do first.”
“Something we must do?”
I stood up abruptly. Worried that something might be stuck to my palms, I shook them clean and then extended my hand toward King Acrisius.
“What is this?”
He looked puzzled by my outstretched hand, but I did what I had to do regardless.
“King Acrisius! It’s a pleasure to meet you!”
“…Pleasure?”
“Yes. This is our first meeting, isn’t it? I am Perseus the Second, Danae’s son over there. I have put down roots in the land you rule and receive its blessings. It’s an honor to meet such a distinguished person. I look forward to your kind guidance in the future.”
“Ah—!”
When I greeted him respectfully, the king finally understood my intention and, ashamed of his own ignorance, firmly grasped my hand in return.
“Perseus! It’s a pleasure to meet you! As you explained earlier, I am Acrisius, king of Argos! I hear rumors of you every day, so meeting such a great hero is an honor for me as well! I am Danae’s brother and your relative, so I hope we can get along well from now on!”
“Of course.”
We finished our handshake and sat back down. Danae and Achilles couldn’t understand what we had suddenly done, but King Acrisius was different.
“I see. So that was it. I wasn’t wrong, but my method was.”
“That’s right. When you first meet someone, you should greet them and build familiarity, but trying to accept them as family right away made it difficult. From Your Majesty’s perspective, it must have looked like your sister was raising a complete stranger, so it’s only natural.”
“Indeed, indeed, that’s what it was… I wondered why that vague anxiety wouldn’t go away… Hahaha! To think I didn’t know something so simple!”
“Do you feel a little better now? Has your suspicion been dispelled?”
“Now that I know my own shame, it’s fine. Aaah, no… It’s settled now. Let’s not do this anymore.”
King Acrisius dropped the formal pose and became awkward again. Then he buried his head on the table and laughed loudly.
“To be tricked by a scoundrel like Agamemnon into doubting my own kin! I have no face left to apologize to Danae a thousand times! Thinking about how foolish this brother must have looked makes me tremble with shame!”
“You’ve always been like that, brother. But in the end you make the right choice, and you did this time too, so I’ll forgive you.”
“I also did something I’m sorry for to Perseus…”
“No, it’s fine. I’m just glad the suspicion has been cleared.”
I shrugged. Honestly, it hadn’t been a problem at all, so I hadn’t been worried. The warning I received before leaving the sacred forest had helped me stay on guard in advance.
‘For someone like that, he accepted it far too easily. Easily swayed, but quick to change his mind.’
A thought occurred to me: perhaps the threat Demeter had divined wasn’t this man after all. If so, then who on earth was jealous of me?
‘Is it still Agamemnon?’
At least for now, no one else came to mind besides that man.