Helen's Royal Ambition
Hmm... So this is how it plays out. I never expected some simple rom-com where Helen falls head over heels for me at first sight. If anything, her unconventional princess aura put me on high alert—wondering what kind of scheme she was cooking up.
"What do you require, Your Highness?"
"Just call me Helen."
"Hmm... Very well, Helen. What request do you wish to make? I'm hardly equipped to be of much help."
"Let's keep today's conversation our little secret—just between us."
Helen laid out her intentions plainly. I listened quietly, realizing she was far more ambitious and pragmatic than I'd imagined.
—If she'd turned out to be some dreamy girl fantasizing about ditching her princess life for adventure, I'd have shut it down flat.
The Secret Book agreed with my honest assessment.
—Her reputation as a naive, sheltered princess would be spot on. But she's exceeding expectations, even at her young age.
I pieced together everything she'd said so far and asked point-blank.
"Helen, you want to inherit the throne yourself, correct?"
"Yes. I want to be queen. I don't want to hand power to a husband through marriage. I want to rule my father's kingdom myself. I can't just surrender everything—including myself—to some outsider because I'm a woman."
Her resolve was ironclad, her jewel-like eyes sparkling with determination. I couldn't help but admire it.
"Your aspirations... they are truly noble and lofty."
"I'm still just a foolish, immature girl."
I shook my head at that. Helen was seventeen. Back then, I couldn't even dream of thoughts like hers. Hell, on Earth at that age... I was just grinding away at PC bangs with my buddies.
"I can guess why you chose me."
"Yes. You're a prince from a distant land, unentangled in the power struggles of the neighboring kingdoms."
The others all had their agendas. Idomeneus, who'd clashed with me at the banquet, was king of Crete. Diomedes nearby was lord of Argos. Even those who weren't kings were regional powers or rulers—no one among the suitors had come to the Spartan court without political motives.
"Truth be told, I came for political reasons myself."
Same boat here, so I confessed honestly. Something told me dealing straight with this girl required candor. If I played coy after she'd opened up, she'd bolt.
"What are your goals, Prince of a foreign land?"
"Call me Peleus. That's the name I use here."
"Hee-hee, got it, Peleus."
Helen tilted her head with a soft laugh, her molten-gold hair cascading over her pale shoulders.
"I was pushing for Prince Menelaus."
"Menelaus?"
"Yes. If he became king of Sparta, I figured I'd gain his patronage later. I have ties to the Mycenaean princes. Make Agamemnon king of Mycenae and Menelaus king of Sparta..."
"And you'd have powerful kings as allies?"
"Exactly."
She didn't seem offended by my aims. But she clearly opposed them.
"That's not what I want."
"My apologies."
"But I can help you achieve your goals, Peleus."
"Really?"
She edged subtly closer, her voice teasing.
"Do kings have to be just friends? Ever thought of them as lovers?"
"Lovers?"
"Or a wife would work too. Simple, really. Friend, lover, wife—whatever form you prefer. Just hand the power to me."
"You want me as your consort."
Not to be king, but the queen's husband. The other suitors all wanted Helen and the crown. But since she craved queenship herself, a suitor uninterested in the throne was ideal.
"If you grant me power, I'll give you all my love and devotion."
"Helen, we just met today..."
"Love grows as we live. If our bond is right, won't good feelings follow? If a husband cherishes his wife, how could she not love him back?"
"Well..."
This woman was no ordinary catch. Was Helen always this ruthless? Then again, I'd never met her in person—rumors and tales weren't enough to judge a soul.
"Or have you changed your mind? Do you want to be king yourself?"
Her question gave me pause. King of Sparta... No real dilemma there. I shook my head immediately.
"I don't want to be king."
I had to run as the apocalypse's executor. No time for playing house with a kingdom. I needed powerful friends, not a crown's burdens.
Helen seemed pleased with my answer.
"Then it's a fine deal, no? And if it's beauty you're after, am I lacking compared to the kingdom?"
"Ha ha..."
A dry laugh escaped, but she wasn't wrong. Daughter of Zeus, beauty enough to topple nations. She more than matched Sparta.
Still, was it wise? If Menelaus didn't take the throne, history would derail. Unpredictability ahead.
"No need to overthink. Take me, and it'll sort itself out. Want me tonight?"
Her gaze turned provocative. The watching Secret Book egged me on, amused.
—Peleus, just pounce already. You got this.
—No way. My adventure can't turn full 19+ like that.
—True, a chicken like you wouldn't dare with a beauty like her. Keep chasing romance in your dreams. Puahaha.
As I bickered mentally with the Secret Book, the temptress Helen chuckled lightly.
"Sorry. Just teasing. Wanted to see if you're the lustful type, Peleus."
"I have some self-control."
"Strange. You seem shrewd and deep, yet your eyes on me are so pure..."
The Secret Book objected.
—Nah, he's just a chicken. Pathetic.
Who're you calling chicken? Anyway, her words boiled down to: You love shady schemes but don't chase skirts—fascinating.
"Somehow, I think we'd get along great, Peleus."
"Hmm..."
Helen wanted the queenship. No point forcing Menelaus now that I knew her. Better to back her and build goodwill. Power was power—king or queen, didn't matter.
"Alright, Helen. I'll help you. But lovers is tricky—friends it is."
"Unexpected. Am I not appealing?"
She twirled her hair, feigning surprise.
"Far from it—you're overflowing. But I have an unstoppable mission. Forgive me."
"Very well, then."
Sorry, Menelaus, but you're cut tonight. He probably didn't even know I'd picked him. Head home with big bro later. Sparta would be Queen Helen's soon enough.
"But there are mountains to climb."
"No confidence beating the other suitors? I know little of duels as a woman, but with Zeus's sword, you seem more than capable."
"Brawling? I've got that in the bag."
Confidence overflowed. Limited power, sure, but Divine Manifestation one-shots most heroes. Anguillper screamed it out, didn't he?
"Then what's the issue, Peleus?"
I rubbed my temple with a pained grimace.
"One suitor's a crafty fox. He fights with brains, not brawn—no guaranteed win."
"Who?"
"Odysseus."
Who could outwit Odysseus? Not me. But Helen solved it effortlessly.
"Beating the unbeatable is simple: make him an ally. You two already seem chummy—the one beside you was Odysseus, right?"
"Yes."
We're cordial now. But without knowing his true aims, allies?
I voiced it. "He's not here just to woo you."
Helen showed her wisdom.
"Odysseus serves Athena, yes?"
"Indeed. She favors him greatly."
"Think from Athena's view. She'd hate me marrying an Apollo worshiper—doesn't want his influence spreading in Sparta."
"Of course."
"Ideally, he'd wed me to extend Athena's sway. Secondary goal, though—nice if it happens."
Her insight clicked it all into place. Always see the gods behind the heroes.
"If I become queen, Athena's content enough. No Apollo expansion in Sparta."
"But Odysseus might still push hard. Success means bonus gains—not just blocking Apollo, but planting Athena's flag."
Helen smiled slyly. Easy fix.
"To extend Athena's influence, he'd need to marry me. What if we kill that drive?"
"Kill his drive?"
"Yes. Introduce him to a woman as beautiful and wise as me. He'd back off, satisfied blocking Apollo."
"Oh..."
Helen would make a stellar queen. Why hadn't history let her? Brains alone weren't enough before. Now she had my muscle too.
"Who for Odysseus? You have someone in mind?"
"Of course. Penelope—a noble princess."
"Ah."
Penelope. How'd I forget? Busy times. In canon, she's Odysseus's wife, waiting 20 years post-Troy without remarrying. Epitome of loyalty.
"Perfect. Let's arrange it now."
Easier than thought to flip Odysseus. Deadly foe, but stellar ally. Teamed up, we'd crush the rest.
"Agamemnon too."
I recalled history, grinning.
"Introduce him to your twin sister, Clytemnestra."
Canon had Agamemnon marrying her instead. He'd drop out naturally.
"Great. Hee-hee-ho. Agamemnon joins us. Now, the rest?"
"One by one. Bribe some, bully others, buy a few."
We schemed through the night, princess and I.
"Peleus, we click so well."
"Indeed."
Who knew? Helen, black-hearted vixen. The watching Secret Book sighed.
—Sigh... Villains doubled from one to two. What's the world coming to with these creeps popping up?
What else? It's doomed—that's why.