Jealousy Under the Moonlight
As dusk settled and the last rays of daylight faded, a goddess with silver-white hair and sharp, moon-like eyes descended along a beam of celestial light. The crowd that had gathered to witness the trial watched in awe at the mystical and majestic sight. The moment Artemis set foot upon the earth, many bowed their heads in reverence, overcome by awe and humility.
Among them were the gagged Agamemnon and Sisyphe, their mouths sealed shut. Only Atalante and Perseus remained seated, their expressions composed and unperturbed. Atalante sat with Danae in the foremost row among the spectators, while Perseus occupied his usual place at the center of the agora, gazing down upon everyone from his elevated position.
“I am deeply honored by your descent, Lady Artemis. I did not anticipate your sudden arrival and failed to prepare adequately. If my conduct has offended you in any way, I offer my most sincere apologies and bow my head in contrition.”
“Aha ha~! You worry far too much, you know~! It’s perfectly fine, perfectly fine~! I came down precisely because I saw you here, so there’s no need to fret!”
“Is that so.”
Artemis was as lively and beautiful as ever, generous toward those who did not displease her. Yet Perseus knew this was merely her current good mood; in his eyes she remained a volatile presence, a powder keg that could ignite without warning.
‘She smiles on the surface, but her eyes tell a different story… She looks at men as though they were mortal enemies. If I grow too familiar just because she seems pleased, I might earn her wrath…’
Even after receiving her permission, Perseus descended from the platform and bowed repeatedly with utmost courtesy. He judged her the sort who would outwardly forgive while inwardly nursing grudges, and Artemis, though she told him not to bother, inwardly praised his discernment.
‘This boy understands how to behave. I wondered if he might be taking a god lightly, but it seems not. Now I see why that gloomy man (Hades) took such a liking to him.’
After the formalities, Perseus guided Artemis to the seat of honor (Protoclisia)—the place of highest esteem beside his own, prepared in haste by the temple maidens in case a goddess should appear. The moment she sat, the maidens rushed forward to attend to her comfort. Artemis looked thoroughly satisfied, and Perseus exhaled in relief. Only then could the trial properly begin.
“Hear my words, all of you. The Moon Goddess Artemis has descended in person to observe whether this trial is conducted justly. This is a great honor. Those who have bowed their heads must participate with proper reverence. Even if you raise your gaze, men would do well to avoid staring directly at her face. Any who seek to covet the Virgin Goddess with their eyes shall not escape my wrath; their eyes shall be torn from their sockets. Remember this warning well.”
Normally such a declaration might have stirred murmurs, yet the entire square remained silent. Even when lifting their heads in accordance with Perseus’s words, the crowd moved with painstaking care, fearful of making a sound. Beneath the radiant moonlight, the goddess who embodied it had come to witness the trial’s fairness; silence was only natural.
‘This is fortunate. With such quiet, now is the perfect time to speak.’
Seizing the moment, Perseus issued one final warning before the trial commenced.
“Before we begin, I have one more caution. It appears some among you have been spreading baseless rumors about me. I trust you all know what I mean?”
『……………』
The single remark struck many as uncomfortably accurate, and a ripple of uneasy whispers spread through the crowd. Amused by the reaction, Artemis chuckled softly and discreetly beckoned Atalante to her side. Though summoning someone during the proceedings drew a few glances, Perseus’s words took precedence.
“Focus here and listen. If anyone feels a pang of guilt at my words, pay close attention. I will forgive once, but never a second time. Do not test my patience.”
Perseus’s sudden anger puzzled those who had sought to crown him king, yet he offered no concealment of his reason.
“Those who claimed they would support me as king are no exception. Each person holds a different view of King Acrisius. Some see him as weak and dislike him; others regard him as a man of peace and favor him. I will not declare either side correct. This is not the time for political disputes. Remember that he is, above all, a human being and a father.”
Perseus gestured with his chin toward the silent King Acrisius.
“At this very moment he stands on the brink of losing his only son. Though he is a pitiful, foolish man who nearly died at his own child’s hand, he was still a father who loved that son. Yet you have used this incident to belittle him and elevate me, driving a blade into the heart of a grieving father about to lose his family.”
『……………!!』
After fixing the crowd with his gaze, Perseus swept his eyes across the square once more. They could no longer hide their dismay at the edge in his voice.
“I do not understand why you wish to make me king, but if you truly revere me as such, it must mean you have seen many of my virtues. Very well—speak freely now. Do you truly wish for me to become your king?”
Perseus urged them on, waving his palm as if to coax an answer. When he pressed for a response, the crowd answered quietly in the affirmative. Since Perseus had begun holding trials, crime had all but vanished from Argos; naturally they desired his continued rule.
“My cheeks feel ready to split from smiling. I am truly grateful for your honesty, and so I bow my head in thanks. Please accept my gratitude.”
He bowed once, then lifted his head and spoke with sudden ferocity.
“I would like to grant your wish, yet questions remain. What exactly do you know of me that you would push aside a grieving father and seat me in his place? In your eyes, am I so cruel a man? Or do I appear blinded by ambition? Speak, anyone. Was that the sort of man I was?”
The carefully built tension shattered as his anger erupted, and the square’s atmosphere died once more. Someone cried out in desperate denial, and the voices merged into a wave of protest. None present wished to insult Perseus in such a manner.
“I know full well that no one here intended to insult me. You were simply swept up by rumor and made a mistake, were you not?”
The entire square nodded. Especially the elderly who fervently supported Perseus shouted their agreement with toothless vigor.
“I regard everyone here as family, and because you hold me in high esteem, we maintain this harmonious bond. Therefore, to prevent such insults from recurring, I ask that you refrain from spreading these rumors. If you respect me, I will respect you in turn and strive to make Argos an even better land.”
With those words he bowed once more and concluded the matter. While he paused for a drink of water before the trial proper, the square buzzed with conversation; the rumors were dispelled in an instant. Some protested their innocence, yet Perseus merely smiled innocently and waved, and the tension that had filled the air quickly settled under his calm demeanor.
“—That concludes this topic. You all seem satisfied, so let us move to the main matter. This trial is unusual in that there is little left to question. The perpetrator was caught red-handed, and Sisyphe, his accomplice, was captured without escape. All that remains is to pronounce punishment.”
The crowd nodded in agreement; they had come precisely to witness the sentencing. The sole dissenter was King Acrisius. The moment Perseus finished speaking, the king rose slowly and walked toward the platform where Perseus and Artemis sat, his face etched with sorrow.
“……King Acrisius?”
“I am sorry! I am sorry! I know punishment cannot be avoided! I understand full well that I am making a spectacle of myself before everyone! However—! W-well, principle is principle! It seems you have not even brought Styx water. How can you intend to execute anyone?!”
“This insolent wretch! We went to the trouble of saving you, and this is how you repay us?!”
Artemis’s mood soured instantly at the suggestion that nothing could be done without Styx water. Moonlight flared with the threat that she might pierce his skull on the spot, and many bowed their heads in fear of impending calamity. Yet King Acrisius did not retreat.
“For the sake of my only son, I would gladly fall into Tartarus if it fulfills a father’s dying wish! Please, step aside!”
“How dare you issue commands to me?! I personally lent Atalante to save you from your son’s blade, and instead of gratitude you raise your voice before me?! I worried you might harbor resentment toward Perseus, yet you did not, and I thought highly of you for it. You have made a grave mistake at the very end!”
“I know, but I cannot yield!”
“This is exactly why I wished to have nothing to do with mortal men~! You ungrateful beast of a slave~!”
A bow and arrow suddenly materialized in Artemis’s hands. The arrow, gleaming with lunar light, looked unmistakably dangerous to everyone in the square. Just as the moon’s power was about to sweep across the land, Perseus stepped between them. Had he not, the entire gathering would surely have suffered catastrophe.
“Lady Artemis! Please stop!”
“Perseus! What do you think you are doing?! Move aside at once, or even you—!”
“The trial must proceed. The story is not yet finished. Why are you doing this?”
“There is nothing more to hear! He will surely plead blood ties and appeal to sentiment! Am I wrong?!”
“He will. I am aware of that.”
“Then why are you stopping me?! I already knew they would die when I descended, so let me handle it myself!”
“That will not do. This is a human affair. There is no need for you to trouble yourself, Lady Artemis. Even if King Acrisius begs, I had no intention of granting his request. Please calm your anger. Look—everyone is terrified. If other gods witness this scene, they will surely speak ill of you. Especially if that one sees it, you will become the laughingstock of Olympus.”
Artemis hesitated.
“………Who are you talking about?”
“For example, the one with whom you do not get along. Of course, as a priest I cannot name names outright, but by blood you are closer to that person than anyone, are you not?”
“Th-that’s… true… If that fool finds out…”
Artemis lowered her bow and returned to her seat. To cool her temper she threw herself at Atalante, who yelped in surprise and looked to her brother for help, but Perseus was already occupied with his own duties.
“Then let us proceed according to principle.”
“W-what do you mean? You said you would not execute anyone without Styx water!”
“Indeed. I spilled the Styx water earlier today—an unfortunate accident. However, even without it, we can simply change the punishment. There is no problem.”
“If you will only spare his life… Please, I beg you… my son Sisyphe……”
“Merely surviving does not guarantee happiness. Life is like that, is it not? Somewhere beyond the sea there are people who say even rolling in a dung heap is preferable to death—how absurd that is.”
Perseus gestured. As if they had been waiting for this moment, attendants brought forward a new jar. The water inside sloshed loudly. King Acrisius stared at it in disbelief.
“The water should all be spilled!”
“Yes. There is no Styx water, so instead we have prepared Lethe water.”
“What?!”
At the word, Artemis sprang high into the air with a delighted squeal and burst into laughter. Atalante, still in her arms, soared with her, the two of them dancing through the air. The citizens, however, had no attention to spare for the goddesses; their eyes were fixed on the new water.
“Lethe… you mean the River of Forgetfulness?!”
“Yes. When I descended to the Underworld before, that was not the only thing I brought back. King Acrisius once told me that if someone loses their memories and becomes a stranger, he could not accept them as his nephew. What do you think of that now?”
“Th-that’s—!”
“Precisely. You said that losing one’s memories makes one a different person. You begged for Sisyphe’s life, and I am not entirely without mercy. Let us reach a compromise with this.”
“Perseus… Perseus… You remembered that incident… Ah, it is not… I am sorry… I am sorry… So please……”
“I do not particularly resent you. I never held that matter against you; in fact, I felt a certain fondness for your wise handling of it. However, because Lady Artemis witnessed everything from beginning to end, I cannot accept your opinion. This compromise is the best I can offer. Everything that has happened is my doing, so feel free to resent me to your heart’s content.”
“Aaaah… I will not resent you… I know this is the greatest mercy you can grant… But this is far too cruel…!!”
“I agree.”
Losing one’s memories was, in effect, death. At the very least, the Sisyphe King Acrisius knew would cease to exist; he would lose his son as he was. The king trembled at both Perseus’s mercy and his ruthlessness, and he no longer attempted to plead further.
“Lady Artemis. I intend to settle matters with this compromise. Would you be so kind as to show mercy, spare his life, yet strip him of everything else? I would be grateful if you could forgive him on those terms.”
“Hmm…… I’m not entirely satisfied……”
“Then I shall increase the punishment. After losing his memories, he shall be forbidden luxury and consigned to our temple as a servant. Of course, we will not inform him that his parents are King Acrisius. He will become an orphan who has lost his memories and spend his life bound to the temple. That should suffice, I believe?”
“Hmm~? I suppose that works. The moment he drinks the water, he is effectively dead once……”
“I humbly request this of you.”
“Ah, um, me too! Lady Artemis! I also ask this of you!”
“Ahem ahem ahem~! Even Atalante~? Very well! I permit it!”
Artemis granted her approval.
Yet she made one exception.
“Hear me! Since Perseus has handled this wisely, I shall forgive to this extent! However, King Acrisius, I cannot simply overlook your conduct! Not only did you raise your child poorly, but you also dared to defy me—the one who saved his life. I shall take half of that insolent tongue!”
“Hrk?!”
In an instant, moonlight descended and engulfed the king’s body. Blood fountained from King Acrisius’s tongue as it was severed in half.
“U-uh, uheh, ugh~?!”
A sudden miracle. The citizens, already shaken by a goddess’s true descent, now saw undeniable proof as the king’s tongue was halved before their eyes. Terror coursed through every body. Even those who had doubted whether the goddess was genuine had their doubts shattered in a single stroke; unintentionally, the temple’s prestige soared.
“You are far too flamboyant, my lady.”
“Ah, you think so?”
“Nevertheless, it was majestic. You were magnificent.”
“Hehe~! Of course~!”
Having restored Artemis’s good humor, Perseus stepped forward to conclude the trial. Though everyone feared incurring the goddess’s wrath, his appearance brought visible relief. At this point, Perseus seemed less a mere mortal and more a divine messenger or the very embodiment of divine will.
“You must all have been startled by the sudden events! As you can see, the goddess has passed judgment, and the moon’s wrath will not extend to anyone else here, so there is no need for concern! Originally, Agamemnon and Sisyphe deserved death, yet according to the trial’s principle, execution is forbidden when Styx water is unavailable! Without Styx water, which can reveal all truths, there remains the possibility—however slight—of error! Above all else, I pride myself on conducting fair trials, and I will never break this principle in the future!”
Anticipating confusion, he added further explanation.
“However, in this particular case, even without Styx water the circumstances are clear, and the Moon Goddess herself witnessed everything. Therefore, punishment shall be administered without delay! Lady Artemis has also respected our rules and agreed not to take life when Styx water is absent; instead, the punishment has been changed to the loss of memory and servitude! Thus, this trial’s outcome is not my decision alone, but the will of the goddess! If anyone harbors dissatisfaction with the verdict, step forward now and appeal directly to Lady Artemis!”
By invoking the goddess’s great name, Perseus ensured no one dared voice complaint. The punishment of memory loss and lifelong servitude was severe enough that discontent found no purchase, and the trial concluded on a positive note.
Yet amid the general satisfaction, there remained those who were far from pleased.
“U-ugh! Uuup! Uuuuup!”
“Uuaaauuuu!!! Uuuuup!!!!”
Sisyphe and Agamemnon, their mouths still sealed.
The weeping King Acrisius.
And…
Only the king’s wife, who would later take her own life in tears over the verdict.
1) In Greek, Protoclisia signifies both the first seat and symbolizes the most honorable position.