"We've arrived!!"
"Yes! Now all that remains is to claim the Golden Fleece!!"
As we saw that the ship had finally reached Colchis, the heroes aboard erupted in cheers of delight.
Once we docked, we all disembarked and made our way toward the palace of Colchis.
Passing through the towering golden gates of the palace entrance, we entered the audience chamber and came face to face with the King of Colchis, who sat perched upon his throne.
"I am the prince of Iolcus in Greece. And those who accompany me are the most renowned heroes of my land."
"Honored guests from such a distance... I shall ensure you are treated with the utmost hospitality."
As soon as we met, Jason stepped forward to lead the conversation. The King of Colchis welcomed us warmly and ordered a lavish feast in our honor.
The banquet hall was breathtakingly opulent.
The King of Colchis treated the heroes of Iolcus as true guests of honor; the table was overflowing with delicacies so rare that even I, a king myself, had never seen their like.
"Come, eat your fill, warriors of Greece! You must have endured great hardships on your long journey."
Encouraged by the king's boisterous tone, Jason relaxed and immersed himself in the conversation.
However, the situation beside me was quite different.
Whenever the noblewomen and maids of Colchis, entranced by my silver hair and features, tried to edge closer, Atalanta would cut them off with lightning speed.
"Oh my, who is that silver-haired knight..."
"Move. He's eating."
Atalanta growled in a low voice, shoving the approaching women aside with her elbow.
In that moment, her gaze reminded me of a lioness protecting her territory from intruders.
"Atalanta, there's no need to be so aggressive..."
"Shut up and eat. The air here is foul."
She replied curtly, tossing a piece of meat onto my plate. I let out a hollow laugh and took a sip of wine.
As the banquet reached its peak, the King of Colchis raised his glass and cut to the chase.
"So. Why have the prince and heroes of Greece traveled so far to reach my shores?"
"We have come for the Golden Fleece kept within this land."
"W-What? You've come for the Golden Fleece?!"
The moment Jason revealed the purpose of their visit, the King of Colchis's expression hardened, and he fixed us with a piercing gaze.
"Yes. That fleece originally belonged to my kinsman, Prince Phrixus. And only by reclaiming it can I ascend to my rightful throne."
Jason, seemingly oblivious to the tension, continued in a confident tone.
"Much like the fellow beside me here."
He pointed toward me, shifting the King of Colchis's attention away from Jason and onto me.
"Jason. You... how dare you..."
"...Prince of Iolcus. Who is this man that you compare him to yourself?"
"I am Astellon, King of Eirene."
"A... King?!"
The King of Colchis jumped, staring at me in sheer shock.
"A reigning monarch... what business brings you here?"
"I entrusted the affairs of state to my father and joined this voyage as a warrior."
The King of Colchis's eyes changed instantly.
What he had assumed was a mere adventure of heroes had suddenly become a diplomatic encounter; the fact that a reigning king with actual power was sitting there as a warrior exerted a heavy pressure upon him.
He stroked his beard, scanning me from head to toe.
"The King of Eirene... To think the master of a nation would personally row and wield a sword to reach this place. The kings of Greece are indeed full of spirit."
His voice now carried a mixture of caution and curiosity.
Abandoning the casual manner he had used with Jason, he straightened his posture and faced me formally.
*Come to think of it, I'd be terrified too if a foreign king suddenly showed up after a long voyage... Damn it.*
"King Astellon. Why would a man of your stature join such a perilous voyage? Is it merely to help this young prince reclaim his throne?"
"There are several reasons, but..."
I set down my wine glass and answered.
"The primary reason is that I wished to see what kind of nation this is. I simply wanted to see for myself what lies at the edge of the world, and how the order established here differs from that of my own country."
Seemingly pleased with the answer, the King of Colchis let out a low chuckle.
But that laughter soon turned ice-cold.
"Very well. However, the Golden Fleece is the sacred symbol of Colchis. Even for a foreign king, I cannot simply hand it over for nothing."
Emptying his glass, he spoke as if issuing a royal decree.
"Tomorrow morning, come to the plains. There, you will find two bronze-footed bulls that breathe fire. Tame them, plow the field, and sow the teeth of a dragon. If you can subdue every warrior that rises from that earth, I shall gladly give you the fleece."
The banquet hall fell silent, as if a bucket of ice water had been thrown over the guests. Jason's face turned ashen, and Atalanta gripped her bow tightly, her eyes flashing with fury.
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