Paris sat cross-legged on the floor in front of him. He lifted a bunch of grapes, plucked a few with his teeth, and ate them. After enjoying their sweetness, he leaned forward slightly and said in a low voice,
"Listen. You know all you have to do is order them to let you out. Then you can walk out of the palace without a problem. You can escape before the king even finds out tomorrow. Go far away from here. I'll take care of everything on this end."
Narcissus let out a bitter laugh and closed his eyes.
"Run away... and go where? Where do I even have to go?"
Paris fell silent for a moment, deep in thought. "That's actually a good point... Where could you go?"
"Let's see... You're Beauty. You could go to another kingdom and ask for a place to live. I'm sure, because of your beauty, anyone you ask would gladly find you somewhere to stay."
He grinned. "You could even ask another kingdom's king or queen—"
"Shut up."
Narcissus groaned in frustration. "Just go, Paris."
The green-eyed young man shrugged and got to his feet. "Fine. If you're determined to die, there's nothing I can do."
Instinctively, he reached down to dust off his clothes before remembering there wasn't a trace of dirt left in the dungeon.
"How does it feel knowing they polished this entire place just for you?"
Without opening his eyes, Narcissus replied, "It was their duty."
After that, the only sound he heard from Paris was the cell door opening and closing once again.
---
Residence of Hermes, God of Speed
"My lord, His Majesty is on his way."
His maid announced with a bow before quietly leaving the room. A few moments later, he heard the door open behind him as Nemesis entered. Hermes didn't even turn around to greet him.
"Control yourself."
Hermes gripped the iron bars of the window and squeezed them tightly. Staring at the storm raging beyond the palace walls, he murmured,
"Do you really think I can?"
Nemesis took a few steps closer.
"I'm ordering you to stop this."
Hermes released the bars.
In one swift motion, he spun around and shouted at his king, "I can't!"
The instant his voice echoed through the room, a deafening clap of thunder shook the palace. Nemesis stared silently at his younger brother. He had never seen him this furious... or this shaken.So he deliberately softened his voice.
"Aphrodite is missing. In this weather, the soldiers won't be able to find her."
Hermes had already thought about that countless times.
He had done everything he could to keep the clouds from shedding their tears, to keep his kingdom's missing queen from being drenched by the rain.
But controlling the freezing wind and the storm...
That was beyond him.
How could he calm the weather when his own heart was in chaos?
With his honey-colored eyes, he looked at Nemesis, who had removed his crown.
His crimson hair was disheveled, and he was still wearing the same red cloak that trailed across the floor.
"What are you bringing the queen back for?"
"So she can watch you execute Narcissus with her own eyes?"
"Have you really become that cruel?"
The king said nothing. The thought had never even crossed his mind. The image of Narcissus's death was already too painful for him to imagine. He couldn't even allow himself to picture it, let alone force Aphrodite
to witness it.
"You've spent your whole life trying not to become like Father."
Hermes stared at him bitterly.
"Now look at yourself."
"You're no different from him."
Nemesis clenched his teeth, afraid that if he lost control, he might set the entire palace ablaze.
"Don't ever compare me to that tyrant again."
Hermes boldly stepped closer.
His pale blond hair fell across his face as he let out an angry laugh.
"That bastard spent his entire life committing every crime imaginable just to protect his throne." "Now look at yourself."
"You're afraid."
"You're afraid of losing your crown."
"And because of that, you're walking down the exact same path he did."
"That's enough."
"The truth hurts, Your Majesty."
"Narcissus has power."
"So much power that if I ever became king, all he'd have to do is ask, and I'd hand him the throne without asking a single question."
"That's what you're afraid of."
"You're afraid he'll take everything you have."
His brother had lost his mind. Afraid? Afraid of the boy he had raised himself? Afraid that one day he would lose his throne Impossible. There was no doubt Narcissus was far more qualified to rule than his mad younger brother. But Nemesis had never once believed Narcissus would try to claim the throne while he was still alive. Narcissus wasn't that kind of person. He would never betray him like that.
Never.
He was about to speak when terrified screams from the soldiers outside suddenly echoed through the palace.