The woman before us introduced herself as the queen of the Amazons, her gaze sweeping over the two of us.
"...I am Heracles."
"And I am Astellon, King of Eirene, here at Heracles’ request."
Under her scrutiny, Heracles and I gave our names. Upon hearing them, Hippolyta’s expression shifted to one of surprise.
"A Greek hero and a king... You are quite the powerhouses. So, what brings you to the land of the Amazons?"
"We have come for your girdle."
"My girdle?"
As Heracles stated their purpose, Hippolyta looked back and forth between us.
I suspected that her girdle, beyond its sheer beauty, served as a symbol of authority for the Amazons; it wouldn't be something she would surrender easily. And yet...
"Very well. I shall give it to you."
"Really?"
Hippolyta granted the request far more readily than either Heracles or I had anticipated.
"However, there is a condition."
"A condition? Do you want my girdle in exchange?"
"No."
At the mention of a condition, Heracles hastily began to unfasten his own belt, but Hippolyta's immediate refusal stopped him in his tracks.
"Then what is the condition...?"
"It is..."
When I asked, Hippolyta fixed me with a direct, piercing stare.
Her red hair flickered in the candlelight, and her eyes seemed to bore into me with relentless intensity.
Even Heracles swallowed hard, unsettled by the sudden shift in atmosphere, and looked between us with confusion.
"The condition is simple, King Astellon of Eirene."
She rose slowly from her seat and stepped toward me.
Then, leaning in, she whispered into my ear in a voice like honey.
"Spend this night with me. I wish to see a daughter who resembles you."
"...!!"
Heracles and I both recoiled, staring at Hippolyta in sheer shock.
"W-what exactly do you mean by that?"
I finally managed to gather my wits and looked her in the eye.
"Exactly what I said."
"...I already have three wives."
"Three? I had heard you were unmarried. When did you wed?"
"Not long ago. Therefore... that proposal is quite difficult for me to accept."
"...Other Greek heroes would have welcomed such an offer with open arms."
"I am a bit different from them."
She was right; any other man would have accepted instantly and probably never left.
But I was a newlywed, and the fact that one of my three wives was a goddess made the potential fallout terrifying to contemplate.
Then there were Atalanta and Medea, who had recently become very... attentive... regarding my relationships with other women.
I might be able to talk Atalanta around, but Medea was a different story entirely.
Before we left for the Amazons, she had explicitly warned me: "If you bring back another woman from there, neither she nor you will leave this world unharmed."
"Furthermore, if my wives found out, they would not leave me in peace."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. In fact, I must ask—why make such a proposal to a man you've only just met?"
"Perhaps you are unaware, but the women of the Amazons marry foreign men for a single day to conceive. If a boy is born, he is killed or sent away. If a girl is born, she is raised as a warrior."
"...And you want to raise a child born of me as a warrior?"
"Yes. You seem highly capable... and above all, I find your appearance pleasing."
The moment she said that, I recalled the comments of the friends I'd made while studying under Chiron, including Jason and Heracles.
They told me it would be strange if a woman didn't feel an immediate attraction to me.
They said that if I actually tried to seduce someone, she would fall for me instantly.
They even joked that if I were a woman—or if they were women—they would have confessed their love to me already.
Ah. Just remembering that last part makes my head spin.
A child...
Though I had been intimate with my wives—Hecate, Atalanta, and Medea—we had not yet had any children.
If she were to bear my child first... those three would certainly not take it lying down.
As I spiraled into these worries, Hippolyta noticed my hesitation and spoke up.
"...I... I have never been with a man before. And..."
"Wait. You don't have to force yourself to say that. I'm just... a bit conflicted."
I looked into her eyes as we continued our conversation.
"...I don't believe in treating women lightly. So, tell me: what is the kind of 'king' you seek?"
The sudden, unexpected question caught her off guard, but she answered honestly.
"...A fence. A wall that gathers and protects the weak. And... a path to preserve our order."
As she spoke, Hippolyta looked more serious than I had ever seen her.
"...Not bad."
Her answer resonated with my own belief in the importance of protection.
"Then..."
At my words, Hippolyta slowly approached me, her cheeks tinged with red.
"Ahem!"
Heracles, sensing the thick, romantic tension between us, let out a loud, awkward cough.
"...I'll be outside for a while."
"Huh?"
Before I could even respond, Heracles was already halfway to the door.
"The girdle isn't going to run away."
With a mischievous grin, Heracles opened the door and stepped out.
The sound of the door closing echoed through the room, leaving a lingering silence.
The air in the room grew heavy, almost tangible.
"...Now it is just the two of us."
Hippolyta's voice had dropped an octave, becoming far more subdued.
"...I suppose it is."
I replied, and for a long moment, neither of us moved.
The candle flame flickered.
The light danced across her red hair, spilling over her like liquid gold.
I watched her for a moment before finally speaking.
"...I will ask one last time."
Hippolyta's gaze snapped up to meet mine.
"We can still stop this."
Her breath hitched, a tiny tremor in her chest.
"...I do not want to stop."
She took a step toward me.
"I do not want to run away."
Another step.
Now, we were close enough to feel the warmth of each other's breath.
"And..."
Her hand rose slowly, gripping the lapel of my clothes.
"I do not want to let a man like you slip away."
I closed my eyes for a heartbeat, then opened them.
"...Hah."
I reached out and lightly grasped her wrist.
Startled by the touch, Hippolyta's pupils dilated.
"...Are you afraid?"
"...A little."
"...And yet, you still want this?"
"...Yes."
With that final confirmation, I pulled her toward me.
A sharp, short intake of breath.
The distance between us collapsed as if gravity had suddenly shifted.
Hippolyta's eyes widened, but she didn't pull back.
"...Too late," she whispered, clutching my clothes even tighter.
There was no longer any reason to hesitate.
I pulled her into a fierce embrace.
Hippolyta's breath stopped for a moment, as if the air had been knocked out of her.
"...Ah."
A soft moan escaped her lips.
Overwhelmed by a sensation she had never known, her body stiffened momentarily.
"...Don't let go."
Her hands gripped my back with sudden intensity.
It was clumsy, but her resolve was unmistakable and clear.
I looked down at her.
Trembling eyes.
A flushed face.
Heavy, ragged breathing.
"...You..."
"Don't speak. Right now... I don't want to think."
She took the final step, closing the gap entirely.
Our chests pressed together, our breaths entwined, and her forehead rested lightly against my chest.
"...Strange. I've never been this nervous before."
"...Is that so?"
Hippolyta let out a tiny, breathless laugh.
She tilted her head back to look me straight in the eyes.
"...Astellon."
My name sounded different coming from her lips.
I didn't answer with words.
Instead, I slowly tilted her chin upward.
Our breaths merged.
And that night became something that could no longer be described in words.
The candle flickered repeatedly, shadows merged, breaths crossed, and hands lost their hesitation.
Because it was a first for both, we were clumsy, and thus, all the more careful.
Yet, neither of us would let go.
Time stretched, and the night refused to end.
Eventually, Hippolyta whispered my name again.
"...Astellon..."
Her voice was lower now, a quiet, intimate murmur.
I opened my eyes.
"What is it?"
"...Remember this."
Still clutching my clothes, she spoke softly.
"...Was my first time... truly that good?"
"...Come here for a second."
"Huh?"
Hippolyta hesitated, then carefully leaned toward me.
Without a word, I took her wrist and drew her close.
Her breath hitched again at the proximity.
"...Again...?"
A small, questioning voice.
I didn't answer. Instead, I pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead.
Hippolyta froze.
"Ah..."
Her grip on me tightened.
"This is..."
"...The answer to your question. Is that enough?"
"...I didn't expect you to express it this way..."
"Words make it feel too light."
Hippolyta fell silent.
She lowered her head slightly, clutching my clothes even tighter.
"You are a coward, you know."
"Maybe I am..."
"But... I don't dislike it."
I gave a short laugh at her bashful admission.
"That's... a relief."
She quietly leaned against me, her movements far more natural than before.
"...Strange."
"What is?"
"This was supposed to be a condition... but now... it doesn't feel like one anymore."
"...."
I didn't respond.
Instead, I placed my hand on her shoulder and drew her closer.
Hippolyta didn't resist.
"...Astellon."
"Yes?"
"I'll ask one more thing."
"What is it?"
"...Do you... regret this?"
"...No. I don't regret it. It was my choice, after all."
"...I see."
Hippolyta let out a faint smile.
"You're honest."
Her eyes softened significantly.
"...Yes. That's all I needed to hear."
Hippolyta asked nothing more.
She simply closed her eyes, resting peacefully beside me.
The candle had nearly burned down, but the night was far from over.
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