The Tale of Eros and Psyche - (3)
The sun god, who had rushed over after receiving a message from Morpheus, wore an inexplicably aggrieved expression. Oh, that face tells me everything. You’re definitely involved in this.
“Apollo. Speak the truth. Why did you deliver such an oracle?”
“Uncle. That is…”
“As far as I know, there is no mortal woman in this era destined to marry a monster. As the god of prophecy, you should know that better than anyone.”
“......”
“Do you have any idea what rumors are spreading among the humans in the cities right now? They say the gods, jealous of Psyche’s beauty, are trying to marry her off to a monster. Sympathy for this mortal named Psyche is surging. Isn’t this precisely the kind of act that undermines the dignity of the gods?”
After a brief silence, Apollo finally opened his mouth.
“It’s… this whole matter is Eros’s fault.”
“…? What does Eros have to do with it?”
I thought he’d reflect on himself after being forced to work in the Underworld. Apparently not.
“Eros desired that mortal woman, Psyche, and that’s how this all started.”
“Explain in detail.”
“As you know, Uncle, I possess considerable knowledge as the god of prophecy. From that human Psyche’s mouth, I sensed a bitterly acrid scent, yet her hair carried a sweet fragrance. Those are unmistakably the bitter and sweet waters from Aphrodite’s spring. Since Aphrodite has not left Olympus, it must be that wicked Eros who coveted Psyche and caused this. That’s why I issued such an oracle.”
At least the reason Apollo had given that oracle was now clear. Having once been struck by a golden arrow and fallen for the nymph Daphne, Apollo naturally held a grudge against Eros. So he must have tried to sabotage Eros’s love by claiming she would marry a hideous monster.
But Eros was a male god who outwardly appeared as a boy uninterested in goddesses… Why would he suddenly desire a mortal?
Eros’s mother was the goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite. Could she have ordered him to do it? Still, there was no clear reason to torment a single human… Wait a moment.
“I heard she has an extraordinarily beautiful daughter…”
Lady Lethe had mentioned it. There were rumors that Psyche was unbelievably beautiful. And the goddess who presided over beauty was none other than Aphrodite. Hmm.
“This isn’t something I can settle by talking only with you. I should summon Eros and Aphrodite as well.”
“Understood…”
The three gods—no, the three deities—gathered in the Underworld. Once I had called them all together, it was obvious they each knew some part of the story, because they immediately began arguing.
I tried to intervene, but—
“Eros! Isn’t this all because of your disgusting golden arrows again?!”
“What?! You could have just told Psyche she was destined to marry me!”
“Hmph… Why should I do you any favors? Well? How does it feel to have your own medicine shoved right back down your throat?”
The scene was so absurd that I simply watched in silence. Let’s see how far this goes.
“Eros, didn’t I tell you… You should have just quietly shot her with a lead arrow! Because of you I’m stuck in the Underworld again… ugh…”
“No, Mother, you’re not exactly innocent either! Getting jealous of a human who won’t even live a hundred years!”
“Your body may have grown, but that childish personality is exactly the same. Manipulating other people’s emotions however you please…”
“Lord Apollo, do you want to get hit by my golden arrow again? Was it really that hard to just give a simple oracle?”
“Go ahead and shoot. I’ll show you the taste of my sun arrows.”
Look at these idiots… Not a single one of them did anything right.
Aphrodite, who grew jealous of a mortal and ordered Eros to punish her. Eros, who fell for the woman’s beauty and sprinkled her with the bitter magical water to claim her for himself. And Apollo, who still couldn’t let go of past grudges and tried to prevent the human Eros loved from being with him.
“Shut up. All of you, close your mouths.”
“But Hades!”
“Aphrodite. Must I repeat myself?”
This was a complete and utter mess. Why were all their personalities like this? At least they had quieted down a little.
Now, how should I clean this up? If the full story spread, human faith in the gods would plummet. To resolve this peacefully…
“Eros. You say you love this mortal named Psyche?”
“Yes… I can never give her up.”
“If she comes to love you as well, then take responsibility. However, you must give each other enough time to truly get to know one another.”
“Ah…! Yes! Thank you!”
“Still, pouring bitter water on an innocent human was not acceptable. We’ll discuss your punishment for that later…”
The young god’s face crumpled as if recalling his not-so-pleasant days working in the Underworld. No—the god of love, who had now matured into a young man after realizing true love, slowly nodded his head.
“Aphrodite. I won’t stop you from punishing that human. If faith drops so low that dust gathers in your temples, even I would be angry.”
“Hmph… Fine.”
“But do it in moderation. You understand what I mean? Do not torment her beyond testing her worthiness as your son’s wife.”
“But… because of that insolent wench…”
“Aphrodite. Is the greatest beauty in all of Olympus nothing more than a shallow thing that changes according to mortal perception? In my opinion, no matter how beautiful this Psyche may be, she could never surpass you. As the goddess of beauty and love, show a little generosity.”
“R-really…?! Even Lord Hades thinks I’m far more beautiful than that girl…!”
I had somehow managed to persuade Aphrodite, but… why was she blushing? She looked incredibly embarrassed. You’re the goddess of beauty. Of course you’re the most beautiful. Isn’t that obvious?
Finally, I turned to Apollo.
“Do not keep using oracles to satisfy your personal grudges. You know full well that to humans, your oracles are law—absolute commands.”
“I understand, Uncle. But it’s because Eros keeps firing his golden arrows everywhere that—”
“I only shot Lord Apollo with my arrow because he provoked me first!”
I had already heard about what happened on Olympus. Apollo had teased Eros about his tiny bow and arrows, so Eros got angry and shot him with a golden arrow. Then Apollo shot a lead arrow at the nymph named Daphne whom he loved. In the end, Apollo’s love was ruined, and Daphne transformed into a laurel tree to escape him.
“Eros. If you have a problem with Apollo, the two of you should settle it between yourselves. Why drag an innocent nymph into it…”
“Hmph… Uncle is right. Playing with people’s hearts like that, your golden arrows…”
“Apollo. You’re hardly one to talk.”
You’re incredibly petty. I’m certain you were also behind Orion’s death last time, weren’t you?
“Ugh… Uncle, that was…”
This incident was the result of countless old grudges, tangled fates, and divine pride all colliding at once. Unless the three chief gods—me, Poseidon, or Zeus—stepped in to cut it short, the problem could keep growing. It might even spiral into an endless cycle of vengeance breeding more vengeance.
Should I just make all three of them work in the Underworld? A good scolding might straighten them out. No. How long am I supposed to keep disciplining them? I can’t handle every incident here. I should leave this one to Zeus.
“How long am I supposed to clean up after you three while I’m stuck in the Underworld? I’ll inform Zeus about this matter as well.”
“Yes…”
“Understood, Hades…”
“…I’m sorry, Uncle.”
“I’ll tell Zeus to punish all three of you severely, so prepare yourselves.”
I looked at the three dejected gods, then jerked my chin to signal that we should move. Instead of the audience chamber, perhaps I should continue thinking in the nearby office… The events had already occurred and couldn’t be undone, but right now the king and queen were still praying, along with the human Psyche. I needed to determine the best possible resolution.
Apollo is supposed to be the god of reason… Tsk. I really should make sure he receives proper punishment.
“Lord Hades. A messenger has arrived from Olympus.”
“What is it?”
“Lord Poseidon, who is currently on Olympus, is looking for Apollo… What should we do?”
“Tell him that once Apollo finishes his duties in the Underworld, I will send him back to Olympus.”
So Poseidon had learned that his son Orion was killed. I clicked my tongue as I watched Apollo’s face turn deathly pale at the news.
That’s why I told you not to do it…
The next day, Psyche’s parents, who had been prostrating themselves and begging in front of the temple of Pluto, lit up with joy as if they had met their savior. The high priest of Pluto had personally approached them, saying there was an oracle, and invited them inside the temple.
“Lord Pluto has declared that to avoid the fate of marrying a monster, Psyche must spend one hundred days on a mountain without once seeing her husband’s face.”
“I-if that’s all it takes… will my daughter truly be able to marry a normal husband instead of a monster?”
“Of course. He said that if so, she will live a happier life than anyone else.”
Psyche’s parents breathed a huge sigh of relief. They offered prayers to every statue of the gods within the temple, thanked their daughter’s fate for providing a way to escape her doom, and hurried back to the kingdom at full speed.
“Stay on the mountain and her husband will come… for a hundred days?”
“Yes, Psyche. Since Lord Pluto himself has given the oracle, you must do as he says… Sob.”
“…Please don’t cry, Mother. I’ll be fine no matter where I am.”
Psyche left the palace and climbed to the summit of a nearby mountain. But no matter where she looked, she saw nothing. Was her husband somewhere around here?
Whoooosh—
“…?! Kyaaah!”
A sudden gust of wind knocked Psyche off balance. Yet instead of falling down the mountain, she was swept up by the powerful current and carried away somewhere.
It didn’t feel like an ordinary wind. It was as if some mystical force had wrapped around her and was pushing her toward a distant place…
“I don’t know why Lord Hades asked Euros instead of any other wind god, but…”
“Hehehe… So all I have to do is deliver the new bride to her new groom. This kind of thing is my specialty, Eros.”
“Lord Euros? What do you mean by specialty…”
“Kuhuhuhu… Don’t worry and just wait inside the mansion.”
…Let’s set the gods’ personal circumstances aside for now.
Psyche squeezed her eyes shut against the wildly shifting scenery. A moment later, her feet touched solid ground. Had she finally landed?
Relieved, Psyche didn’t have time to think about the mysterious wind that had just carried her.
“Wow…”
Before her stood an incredibly luxurious mansion—the place where she would spend the next hundred days with her husband.