After that, she said no more.
She simply lowered her head in silence before me.
"...I will see you again at the wedding, Astellon."
"...Yes."
After that brief farewell, the sea split apart, and she vanished into the waves.
What remained was only the now-calm sea and a lingering afterglow that felt strangely out of place.
And as time passed, the day of Thetis’s wedding arrived.
When the ceremony began, not only the people of the kingdom but also the gods of Olympus attended the wedding between Thetis and me.
Zeus, Poseidon, Hera, Athena, Aphrodite, and countless other deities were present at the ceremony.
"A human... is standing there?"
"Ugh... Thetis...!"
The gods who had come to the wedding murmured about the bride and groom, who had yet to appear.
But then—
"..."
The moment Thetis and I entered together, every sound fell silent.
"...That is..."
"...Unbelievable."
"They’re even more striking than the rumors said..."
"Ugh...!"
Even the gods were left speechless for a moment.
For before them stood beauties from whom even their own sex could not look away.
After that, the wedding proceeded without incident, and under the blessings of the gods, Thetis and I were formally joined as husband and wife.
And at one side of the ceremony, Hecate, Atalanta, and Medea—already married to me—were staring at me intently, while Hippolyta, still unmarried, looked at Thetis, the star of the day, with eyes full of envy.
Then, in the midst of it all, a certain presence slipped into the venue unnoticed.
"How dare they not invite me...!"
It was none other than the goddess of strife, Eris.
Having been snubbed, she slipped in secretly, evading the eyes of the gods and humans alike.
Clack.
"Let’s see how well you all do."
She placed a single golden apple on the table and vanished.
"...What is this?"
The first to notice the golden apple on the table was Aphrodite.
"...A golden apple?"
When she lifted it, Athena and Hera, standing nearby, also noticed the prize in her hand.
The gazes of the two goddesses turned at once to the golden apple in Aphrodite’s grasp.
"...There is writing on it."
Athena spotted the inscription on the apple and read it aloud.
"‘To the most beautiful goddess’..."
"....."
The instant those words were spoken, the atmosphere around them turned ice-cold.
"Then."
Hera was the first to speak.
"...This must be mine."
"...What are you saying?"
Aphrodite answered with a mocking smile.
"...If we are speaking of beauty, surely you aren't claiming it over me?"
"...Wisdom and dignity are also parts of beauty."
Athena, listening to the two, quietly cut in.
"...You are both mistaken."
"...."
And so the three goddesses’ war of nerves began, until finally—
"...Let us leave the judgment to Lord Zeus."
Unable to reach a decision, the three goddesses stood before Zeus, the King of the Gods.
"...So."
Zeus looked down at the golden apple they had brought.
"...You are quarreling over this?"
"...Yes."
"What is there to think about? Naturally, it should be me, the Queen of the Gods."
"No. That golden apple belongs to me, the Goddess of Beauty."
"Beauty is not merely a matter of appearance."
"...Hm."
Zeus pondered for a moment. He realized that no matter whom he chose, bearing the wrath of the two rejected goddesses would be an exhausting ordeal.
Glance.
Then, someone suddenly entered Zeus’s line of sight.
His gaze landed on a hero and king known as the most beautiful man in Greece.
Having made his decision, Zeus spoke.
"...Very well."
He tossed the golden apple toward Astellon, who stood there receiving the gods’ blessings.
"...?!"
"Astellon, you who are counted among the most beautiful in Greece, make the judgment."
***
While I was greeting the gods at the wedding, a golden apple came flying toward me.
I caught it reflexively.
"...Me?"
When I responded to Lord Zeus, three gazes locked onto me simultaneously.
Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite.
The goddesses who had been fighting over the apple were now looking at me, their eyes urging me to choose one of them.
This is... a disaster.
I had to pick only one.
But no matter who I chose, I would end up making two goddesses my enemies.
Ha... why must such a trial be laid upon me...
Taking a breath, I looked down at the golden apple.
‘To the most beautiful goddess.’
That short sentence was the catalyst for this entire mess.
"...Ha."
A short, dry laugh escaped me.
"Lord Zeus."
I raised my head and looked at the god who had dumped this responsibility on me.
"This is... far too much for me to handle."
"Too much? I merely gave the choice to you, as you are someone who understands beauty. You need only make the decision."
Lord Zeus replied with a nonchalant smile.
"If it is you, then you should be able to judge fairly."
Fairly...
He seemed completely oblivious to how irresponsible those words were.
I closed my eyes for a moment. And then—
...Thetis.
I felt the presence of my new bride standing beside me.
Right now, this was my wedding to Thetis.
I decided that, in my heart, the apple should go to her.
But just as I stepped toward Thetis to hand her the golden apple—
"Hmm~"
"Ah..."
From a distance, I spotted Hecate smiling as she watched me and the apple.
"Ahem."
When our eyes met, she gave a deliberate cough—something she never usually did—and stared at me expectantly.
Ah. I shouldn't have looked.
From that look, I realized she too wanted the apple. If I handed it to Thetis right now...
Would I even survive the night?
If it were Thetis, she would surely tell Atalanta, Medea, and Hippolyta as well.
One or two might be manageable, but taking on four at once would be a nightmare even for me.
Such thoughts flashed through my mind in quick succession.
How on earth am I supposed to handle this...
As I stared at the golden apple, the source of all this trouble, I racked my brain for a way out.
Ah! That'll work!
A thought struck me.
I lifted the golden apple high.
"...Before we speak of beauty, we must first establish the criteria for this apple."
"Criteria?"
"Yes. Beauty does not refer only to outward appearance. It must include the heart as well."
As I spoke, I looked at the three goddesses staring at me.
No, to be precise, the four goddesses, including Hecate.
"In that case, I am not qualified to judge."
"What?"
Hera’s brow twitched slightly, but I continued.
"I am already a husband with wives."
I looked at Thetis beside me.
"...And for me, the most beautiful one has already been decided."
The surroundings fell completely silent, and everyone looked at me with newfound interest.
"Hmm..."
Lord Zeus also murmured, sounding intrigued.
"Therefore, this should not be entrusted to me, but to someone more impartial."
And with that, I handed the apple back to Lord Zeus.
"...!"
The gods’ gazes stirred once more.
"Since you hold the highest position, it is only right that you resolve this matter."
"...Ha."
Lord Zeus took the apple and looked at me.
"...Very well. Then this matter shall not be left to me, but to another human—one who is beautiful and pure of heart."
With those words, Lord Zeus ordered Hermes to find such a mortal man and entrust the choice to him.
Somehow, I survived...!
I cheered inwardly. And then—
To think he would dare pass this choice back to me... I shall reduce the offerings at the next sacrifice.
While breaking into a cold sweat that I kept hidden from view, I looked up at Lord Zeus.
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