Chapter 4

That afternoon, I went to the Temple of the Styx.

It was where Theron handled underworld affairs and covenants among the divine houses.

Outside the temple, obsidian pillars rose into the clouds, and the waters of the Styx flowed slowly along the side of the hall, gleaming with cold silver light.

I placed the access sigil to the Erebius palace, the key to his private study, and the secondary seal of the family covenant into a black silk pouch.

The messenger in the front hall bowed respectfully when he saw me.

“Lady Selene, you are here. I will inform His Highness at once.”

“No need.”

I handed him the pouch.

“Just give this to him for me.”

The messenger froze for a moment, then lowered his head and accepted it.

“Yes.”

I turned to leave.

At the end of the carpeted corridor, I suddenly heard Theron’s voice.

“You want me to accompany you tomorrow to try on the golden bridal crown?”

My steps stopped.

From behind the half-open door came Daphne’s light laughter.

“I just want to look beautiful at your wedding rites. But Selene is so petty, she’ll definitely misunderstand.”

Theron’s voice carried amusement.

“All right. I’ll go with you. I’ll explain things to Selene.”

My fingers tightened around the strap of my pouch.

The wind from the Styx was cold enough to pierce bone.

But my heart was colder.

I had already decided to let go. What was I still hoping for?

I shook my head lightly.

At that moment, the message scroll suddenly flared with divine light.

Inside the hall, Theron’s voice became instantly alert.

“Who’s at the door?”

I did not stay. I left quickly.

By the time Theron stepped out to check, the corridor was already empty.

He passed through the front hall with Daphne.

The messenger carefully spoke.

“Your Highness, these are the things Lady Selene left behind…”

But Theron was lowering his head, listening to Daphne talk about the pattern for the crown. He did not even slow his steps.

The two of them walked past the messenger just like that.

The messenger stood awkwardly in place, holding the silk pouch filled with keys and sigils.

By then, I had already boarded a carriage, left the main city of Olympus, and returned to the seaside town of Leukakti.

There was an old house there that my parents had left me.

It was also the last place I wanted to clean before leaving the divine realm.

Leukakti stood by the sea.

At dusk, sea wind swept across the white cliffs, carrying the damp scent of salt.

Dragging my trunk behind me, I pushed open the door to the old house.

A thin layer of dust covered the rooms. On the windowsill still sat the empty flowerpots my mother had once kept.

Aunt Kleia and Uncle Rhodion, who lived nearby, came to help me.

As she wiped the table, Kleia asked, “Selene, why didn’t Theron come back with you?”

I shook my head.

“I don’t know. He’s probably busy.”

She frowned, as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she remained silent.

That evening, the pre-wedding family feast began.

Three obsidian royal chariots stopped outside the courtyard.

Stygian guards stood at the gate, their cloaks snapping in the sea wind.

Theron stepped down from the lead chariot.

Daphne held his arm and stood beside him like the lady of the house.

When they saw me, the smiles on both their faces stiffened.

“Selene?”

Theron frowned.

“Why are you here?”

I looked at him and suddenly found it ridiculous.

“The pre-wedding family feast was always arranged at my uncle’s house. Is it strange for me to be here?”

“Besides, this is where I grew up. Am I not allowed to come?”

The air fell silent.

Rhodion’s face darkened.

“You don’t even know where your own bride is. What exactly have you been busy with?”

Daphne immediately smiled and took my arm.

“Selene, we meant to bring you with us, but you didn’t answer the sending.”

I glanced down at the Hermes message scroll.

There were no unanswered summons.

Not one.

I pulled my hand back and did not expose her.

During the feast, Daphne poured wine for Theron and answered the elders’ questions for him, skilled and easy as if she were the future mistress of this family.

I sat to the side like an unnecessary guest.

After the meal, Rhodion instructed Theron, “For the next few days before the wedding rites, you two should not see each other. Let there be some anticipation. Tonight, take Selene back to the Hera’s Temple of Vows and let her prepare properly there.”

Theron nodded.

“I understand.”

I turned back to my room to fetch my trunk, confirming that my sea-passage permit, gold drachmae, my parents’ necklace, and my divine travel permit were all inside.

But when I dragged the trunk to the door, only the fading glow of torches remained outside the courtyard.

Theron’s chariot had already left.

I stood in the doorway, frozen.

The message scroll lit.

Theron had sent a line of text.

Daphne was in a hurry to return to the High Temple to check the guards and arrangements for the ceremony, so I took her there first. I forgot you were here for a moment. Go back to the temple by yourself.

Forgot.

Again, he forgot.

How many times had he forgotten me?

I stared at that line, so tired I no longer had the strength to feel hurt.

The next moment, the silver seal of a sea-passage writ appeared on the scroll.

Sea-passage writ sealed: Whitecliff Harbor to the Aegean Isles. One-way. Departure: tomorrow night, third watch after moonrise. Hermes’ Silver Gull Seal affixed.

I stared at the words one-way for a very long time.

Then I erased Theron’s message and closed the scroll.

I was not going back to the Hera’s Temple of Vows.

I was going to the harbor.