Hestia's Hymn (10)
Perseus~!
The moment I stepped into the palace, two men's voices rose to greet me.
One was a king whose long chestnut hair was swept back behind both ears and tied in a ponytail, whose boyish, open features were matched by a pair of mischievous black eyes, and whose body was the ideal of a young Hermes — lean, well-proportioned, never overbuilt. A bright chiton and the short red chlamys at his throat completed the picture. Beside him stood a handsome man with short brown hair and matching eyes; the moment he opened his mouth, though, the word "regrettable" fit him a little too well. The helmsman held a wine cup and looked our way. The two of them had clearly been enjoying each other's company — the table was loaded with dishes — and though plenty of women stood about, his interest was fixed solely on Jason's body.
Jason the Eleventh, King of Iolcos.
Ancaeus, the helmsman of a certain inclination.
Greece's pride, and two men I absolutely could not do without.
"Jason! Ancaeus! It's been too long, both of you. Hope I'm not interrupting anything?"
"As if you ever could!"
"Another handsome man just walked in — why would I mind? Come, sit. Neither of us expected you. You gave us quite a start."
Ancaeus laughed without the slightest attempt to hide his tastes, and a chill ran down my spine — but he was still a friend, so I smiled and took the seat beside him. Before I sat, of course, I guided Hestia to her place first, making sure she was comfortable. Jason's eyes went round.
"And who's the beauty over there? Haha! You've already got Achilles, and you're still dragging women around! Between her and Medea, can you even function without a woman nearby?!"
"Hey — wait! This lady is not what you're thinking!"
"Come off it! Hogging a beauty like that all to yourself?!"
I tried to rein Jason in, but he was past a light buzz if not fully drunk, and he poured his gaze onto Hestia, who had seated herself demurely at my side. He stopped short of outright rudeness, but he clearly liked what he saw and went straight into charm mode. Watching him was giving me a headache.
"Ah, how radiant you are! That red hair, those half-lidded eyes — there's a sly allure in them that sets my heart racing! I inherited the name of the Jason of old; I am now King of Iolcos, and a sworn friend of the Perseus sitting here, which makes you, whom he has brought, a friend of mine as well. Since fate has arranged this meeting, might I have the honor of hearing your name?"
"Hehehe… What an amusing man…"
Hestia gave a playful little laugh, clearly not expecting a marriage proposal at first sight. My heart froze solid, but Jason had no intention of ending this idiotic performance. Even when I set Achilles's basket down with extreme care beside my seat, he never glanced our way — he just kept dancing at Hestia, hopping about like some brainless bird in a courtship display.
"But of course! I am a man overflowing with spirit and fun! Where else will you find a king so approachable?! And yet even a fine specimen like myself has one fatal flaw. Do you know what it is?"
Hold on.
No.
He wasn't about to—
With a line that stale, he couldn't possibly be about to…?
"I'm curious. What flaw could a gentleman as splendid as yourself possibly have?"
Hestia had clearly caught on to his foolishness; her already narrow eyes narrowed further as she smiled softly. Jason, taking it for encouragement, fired off the line at once.
"Hahaha! Simply this — that I have no woman worthy of me! I've become King of Iolcos and mixed with any number of people, but scarcely a one has caught my eye, so I've remained a bachelor to this day!"
He laughed and laughed and delivered the line with full commitment. Ancaeus, watching his friend's disgrace, roared with laughter and slapped his own forehead; the servants pouring wine turned their faces aside in secondhand shame. Jason alone remained oblivious and refused to stop the catastrophe pouring from his mouth.
"Some old women dress themselves up thinking they can fool me because I'm young; others try to force a marriage on me! I can't stand that sort — but the lady before me shines with a beauty like a goddess's, and her manner is so gentle… how could I not fall for her?!"
Wahahaha!
Whether he was genuinely trying to seduce Hestia or simply became like this when drunk, I couldn't tell — but the way he piled on the charm kept the laughter rolling. I alone knew that smile of hers was not the pure, innocent one she wore with children, so I decided to sit back and watch how she handled him.
"Hehe… You're quite the wit. But so many men have proposed to me only to regret it afterward that I worry you might be next. So please — don't ask my name. Think of today as a dream that lasts only this one day, and quietly step back. If you can restrain your desire and do that much, I will package everything that happened here as one amusing memory and bestow a blessing upon you."
In other words: I don't want to give you my name, so get lost — phrased politely. Fortunately she'd found it entertaining, so there was also an offer of clemency if he backed off now. The tone was courteous, but it was the kind of line that made it very clear she was a goddess. Ancaeus went pale at the words. Jason still failed to grasp them.
"Ah, how could I possibly? Even when the wine wears off and tomorrow comes, your face will not leave my mind! Even if it means imposing on my friend Perseus, I will follow you and learn your name! Would that still be all right?"
"Some women may enjoy being clung to so tenaciously, but I wouldn't know. As you can see, I am a woman who prefers to sit in a large, broad shade. A sun that rides so high, like you, is a little much for me."
"How can that be?! My own friend, my rival in love!"
"Hehehe…"
I had been wondering how long this farce would drag on — and then she pulled me into it. Whether "broad shade" meant me or not, Hestia, who almost never initiated physical contact, drew me into her arms and smiled with deliberate allure. Jason bristled at the gesture, but he didn't seem truly angry; he was already working a clever angle.
"It's so tragic I could weep — but sadly, that shade is already occupied by a warrior of great strength and lofty pride. She's a terribly greedy woman; she won't let anyone inside unless she herself approves of them. I'm certain you, too, will suffer for it."
"You mean Achilles."
"I do. You're acquainted with her, then?"
"Yes. She was of great help to me. Do you know her well?"
"Of course~! We crossed the sea with Achilles. The way she charged so bravely when we fought the dragon of Colchis is still burned into my mind. And since you say she helped you as well, it seems we have a great deal in common."
He was stubbornly persistent.
The drunken wink was grotesque.
Sober, he was a beautiful young man enough to make me jealous — so why was he like this?
"Hmm."
By now Hestia seemed to have a good deal on her mind; she held her breath, still smiling through those half-lidded eyes. She hadn't released her hold on me, and my friend was still trying to seduce her, which made the whole arrangement extremely awkward.
"You go so far as to invoke the bond between us and Achilles, and press so ardently, that simply refusing to answer has become difficult. Very well — I will tell you my name. But you won't mind making one small promise first, will you?"
"Anything you command, O beautiful one! What promise would you have of me?!"
"That upon hearing my name, you will not flee this place. And that no matter what we say afterward, you will not deny the bond between yourself and Achilles. — Simple enough, yes?"
"Oho!"
"?!"
Jason laughed as if it were nothing at all — but Hestia had just played a very strong hand. Alarmed, I reached out and tried to stop him for his own sake.
"Jason! Drop it! If you stop now, everyone here can write off your mistake as a single night's dream!"
"Haha! My friend Perseus! Why raise your voice like that~? Come on, how bad could it possibly be~?"
That is literally the line Greek heroes — no, men in general — say right before they die, you idiot!
"Wait, wait — I don't like this either. Jason? I understand you've taken a fancy to her, but a careless promise will ruin you. You don't even know who she is; you only just met. How did the conversation leap this far this fast?"
Ancaeus, startled as well, tried to stop him — but Jason only laughed more brightly.
"It's fine! Truly fine! Some birds you can't catch unless you take flight — it's the most natural thing in the world!"
"Then we have a promise—?"
"Yes~! Gladly~! Let's do exactly that~!"
Jason let both our warnings slide in one ear and out the other. He raised one hand, palm open, and swore.
"I will not flee upon hearing your name, and I will not deny my bond with the hero Achilles."
The oath itself was simple. The problem with it was enormous. The servants felt the air go cold and hastily cleared out; Ancaeus's drunkenness seemed to evaporate as his eyes went wide; and Hestia smiled with pleasure — but it was a dark, wicked little hum of a smile, nothing like her usual one.
"Uh… s-so… is that… all…?"
Only then did he seem to realize he might have made a mistake; his speech sobered. But it was already far too late. Hestia answered him with perfect cheer, and for Jason, this day was certain to be recorded as one of the worst of his life.
"Yes. That will do."
"Then please tell me your name. It seems I've made a blunder, so I'd like to apologize under that name first."
He had some social grace, at least, and managed that much after the fact — but Hestia let her displeasure show.
"Turning coward all of a sudden, are we? You're not thinking of running, I hope? If you are, that would be a truly grave mistake."
"Ah — no. Not at all."
"Then I shall tell you my name."
"………?"
Her anger subsided. She chuckled softly and beckoned; Jason bent at the waist and offered his ear. She spoke so carefully that Ancaeus could not overhear. In reality only a second or so passed — but to the rest of us it felt like a full hour of crushing pressure.
"……………………"
Jason's expression in that moment was a sight to behold.
No doubt Hestia's name had just been carved into his brain.
"Urgh—?!"
He now knew exactly whom he had been addressing, and exactly what kind of spectacle he had made of himself. The alcohol left him at once. He bolted for a jar, jammed his face into it—
"BLEEEEEEARGH!!!! Uegh! Uegh! UBLEEEEEEARGH!!!"
It was a palace jar, so it was surely expensive and precious — and he was vomiting into it, which told you just how hard the shock had hit. Ancaeus, watching Jason's reaction, quietly thanked the gods that he himself had not been the one to make such a fool of himself. Hestia kept chuckling, savoring every second of it.
"Please — just this once, look the other way. He may not look it right now, but when he hasn't been drinking he's a truly fine friend. So I beg you…"
"Hehe… Don't worry. I only brought up his bond with Achilles because he has his uses. He seems to have realized what he's done, so let's put this opportunity to good use."
"You mean to offer Jason up as a sacrifice?"
"No, no~? Of course not. I simply want a little help, that's all."
Like hell.
After forcing a promise like that, "a little help"? Who would believe that?
Hestia's aim was obvious.
So you're getting drafted into the Medusa hunt too, Jason… You finally became a king, and now you're being dragged into this…
Beneath that chuckling smile lay darkness. However kindly disposed, a god was still a god. I didn't know how many times I'd thought it today, but I had to say it once more.
Yes — Hestia, too, was a god through and through.