King Hector I, the day after sharing everything with his stunning wife Lysandra, the echo of beauty. Queen Lysandra was the jewel of Mycenae, a woman whose beauty was praised in both halls and marketplaces. Her presence was like dawn over the Aegean—radiant, unhidden, and impossible to ignore. Her eyes, dark as polished obsidian, conveyed both the warmth of a hearth and the fire of authority, and her voice could soothe a child or silence a council with equal ease.
But it was not just her beauty that gained her fame. Lysandra was celebrated for bravery uncommon among queens. During the war, she stood on the walls alongside the soldiers, her presence reassuring the frightened and inspiring the hesitant to act. In peaceful times, she moved with Hector through the markets and fields, her hand on her people's pulse, understanding their needs and earning their affection.
Her garments, woven from the finest threads, shimmered with the colors of Mycenae's wealth ,deep crimson, sea-blue, and gold ,yet no ornament outshone the strength of her spirit. To the nobles, she was a queen; to the common folk, a guardian; and to King Hector, the partner of his mind and the keeper of his heart.
In Lysandra, beauty and bravery went hand in hand, and Mycenae was improved by her rule. The king and his wife have decided to seize the city, as it is their only remaining option. He called for another council, this time with not just his men but also nobles from across the kingdom, army commanders, and all the important figures. The gathering resembled a feast, with drinks and food generously laid out on the tables, yet beneath the modest grandeur lay the quiet discipline of an organized realm.
The Herald struck the butt of his staff on the stone floor, and his voice echoed throughout the Megaron, reaching every ear.
"Hearken, all nobles; Hector, the first of his name, a ruler set apart, a man whose name carried weight from the Aegean shores to the markets of Rome. His greatness was not won by the sword alone but by the wisdom with which he wielded it. When others rushed into war, Hector first measured the field, knowing when to strike, when to wait, and when to win by word rather than blade. Many said his true weapon was not bronze, but his mind.
Throughout his reign, the coffers of Mycenae swelled with gold and silver, tribute from allies and spoils from rivals who bowed before him. Ships from distant coasts arrived carrying olive oil, wine, and fine cloth, as merchants sought the favor of his court. His storerooms overflowed with grain, his vaults with treasure, and his herds wandered so widely they darkened the valleys like living rivers.
But wealth alone did not make him feared; it was his influence. Kings and princes considered their actions carefully against his counsel, for his voice carried more weight than armies. Where Hector gave blessing, cities thrived; where he withheld it, they withered into obscurity. To his people, he is not just a king but the anchor of their fortunes, the mind that guided them through storms and abundance alike.
Thus, Hector was praised as both conqueror and keeper, a ruler who united wisdom and might. His reign was a guiding light in a time of shifting thrones, and his legacy, like the stones of Mycenae, seemed built to last. Let all who dwell under the sun know: Hector of Mycenae rules by strength and wisdom, and his reign is eternal"
As the king walks in with his wife and daughter, Thaleia, a young maiden whose beauty reflects her mother's grace, they all sit in front of the council. King Hector I rises to speak: "My lords and honored nobles," he begins.
"I thank you all for gathering on such short notice. I trust you have been well received and that the messengers have faithfully conveyed my words. On behalf of my family and myself, I am grateful for your service to this great kingdom. Without you bearing this burden beside me, my shoulders would have long since withered"
"Oh my Lord, don't sweeten us with such praises, for it is you who made this kingdom great. We are all but part of the process, 'ALL HAIL KING HECTOR, THE FIRST OF HIS NAME!" the crowd repeated with cheers, clicks, and a resonant bang on the table.
"My king" the conclusion of Kleon's words, the brother of the king.
"Thank you, my brother, for I am surprised you think you're part of the process, Hahaha," the king said.
The entire council laughed, and Kleon lifted his glass with a uneasy smirk.
"By the way, where is our heir?" asked Philemon. The king's gaze shifted to the empty seat beside him. A shadow of disappointment crossed his face, and he drew breath to answer, but Lysandra spoke first. "He is unwell, my lords," she said calmly.
"Let us keep him in our prayers," she added, giving a subtle side-eye to the king in an attempt to calm him.
Yes, my lords. He will recover from this illness soon," the king replied with sarcasm of the kind only the family understood.
Meanwhile, Eraga, the son of Hector, was in a bar, drinking himself into a stupor with several boys and maidens he had just met there. Soon, Aeres entered,the son of Adrastos, the commander of the armies and the mastermind of the battlefield. Aeres looked at him with disgust as Eraga was already asleep, drooling. He walked in, grabbed a bucket of water, and splashed it over him. Eraga jolted awake in shock and reached for his knife, only to realize it was Aeres.
"How dare you pour water on your prince, the heir to the throne!" Eraga snapped.
"An heir who acts like hair between a woman's legs."
"You'd love that, wouldn't you?" replied Eraga, followed by a loud laugh. But the humor died in the awkward silence that followed." What? You didn't find that funny? I thought that was hilarious," Aeres sighed, shook his head, and then proceeded to carry him out of the bar. He paid the owner not to speak of it. Aeres is a family friend of the king,very close. The king liked him because of his seriousness, strength, devotion, and will to protect his kingdom. Sometimes, the king wished Aeres was his son.
Back at the council, the king announced that the new city would be captured and used for their benefit without casualties. "But my king, we must be cautious. We cannot trust the words of a traveler. We must not believe that a whole city lies defenseless," pressed Leontios, a noble.
"Perhaps they made a deal with another kingdom to protect them; maybe that's how they acquired such goods," Orestes, a noble, added.
"Would you make a deal with a cursed city ?" Kleon probed
"We must not be caught unaware by any means, my lord," Timaois insisted, a noble.
"And who says we are getting caught unaware?" Adrastos countered.
"We will be prepared, but not for casualties," Philemon stated.
"Are you saying we should take the city through negotiations?" asked Leontios
Philemon replied; "It is not impossible."
"My lord, we have to know the exact details of this city," Freya the priestess commented. Then, the king summoned Dorian to the council.
"Sir Dorian, what did you notice about the defense?"Adrastos spoke profoundly.
"There was no such thing, my Lord commander, not that I know of," Dorian answered swiftly.
"This man knows nothing about war or defense; they must have been invisible to his eyes," Leontios uttered.
"And you do?" Kleon countered.
"My lord, among all my travels, I have been through wars, prisons, and palaces. I've been stabbed, stoned, sentenced, and persecuted. With all due respect, my lord, you have no idea how much war I have seen," Dorian claimed. Leontios suddenly fell silent.
"So you're saying you would know if the city has defenses, right?" Commander Adrastos pressed.
"Yes, my lord, I am certain of it," Dorian answered.
" But regardless, we can't go there unarmed," Queen Lysandra spoke.
"You're right, my queen. We shall prepare an army but not pose a threat," the king decided.
"And how shall we do that, my lord?" Menandros questioned.
"You are too impatient. Beside you sits Lord Commander Adrastos. I believe that answers your question," the king replied.
"Ah… yes, my lord. It definitely does," Menandros agreed, recognizing Adrastos's strategic wisdom.
"So it is settled. Let us enjoy the dinner the gods have blessed us with—"
At that moment, Eraga and Aeres entered, interrupting the gathering.
"My lords and highnesses, I apologize for my tardiness and belatedness, as I was unwell. Now that I am able to attend, I wouldn't miss this entire meeting for anything else," with a bow, just reciting what he was told. The nobles and lords smiled and welcomed him, while his father was furious because he knew what had really happened. His mom was somewhat disappointed, while his sister was holding back her laughter.
"My king," Aeres said as he walked to his seat with a bow.
"Thank you for escorting my son in," the king expressed.
"Yes, my lord," Aeres replied. Eraga immediately bowed before the king and said, "I apologize, father-... my king, for not coming sooner."
"You may have your seat," the king answered, and Eraga sat down close to his sister, who was still holding back her laughter. Eraga noticed this, pinched her, and made silly faces to make her burst out laughing. Their mother noticed this and coughed, and suddenly they all understood.
The king then spoke, saying, "Sorry for the interruption. It has been decided. Please enjoy your dinner."
The herald continued, snapped his fingers, and music filled the hall. The gathering ate and conversed until night fell.
Later, Eraga returned to his room, still groggy from the drink. A knock sounded at the window. He paused, staring at it, then continued toward his bed, but the knocking persisted.
Reluctantly, he moved to the window and opened it. To his surprise, Helene was standing outside, and his eyes widened completely.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Eraga asked.
"I came to see you," Helene replied
"I know you're reckless and don't value your life, but this is too much, even for you," Eraga said.
"Are you implying that I'm stupid for coming to see you?
"Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying, are you drunk?" Eraga pressed.
"No, but you were when you asked me to come see you tonight.
"Really? I said that? I might still be drunk because I don't really remember who you are," Eraga mentioned.
"Are you serious? I was the barmaid's friend you made out with tonight," Helene claimed.
"Sheesh, don't let anyone hear that," Eraga said, looking to see if anyone was approaching.
"Are you saying I had sex with you? * he said quietly* "Oh, good heavens, everyone does look good when you're drunk, don't they?"
"Are you saying I am ugly?"
"You're not?"
"That's not what you said when you were sinking your balls in my-"
"Hey, hey, hey. Alright, I get it, I remember. Okay? Thank you. "
"You arrogant piece of shit, what do you take me for?" Helene snapped.
"Whoa, relax now. You're talking to a prince and an heir. By the way, how did you get in here?"
She didn't respond as she walked away. "Hey! Hello! The prince of this great kingdom is talking to you, young lady."
no response, and she walks away
"Hmmm, I wonder if what I said was wrong. I'm a prince; I should probably order the guards to catch her and bring her to me. No, that's definitely not right."
As a maid who had walked in earlier to deliver a fresh blanket got scared because Eraga was talking to himself, she dropped the freshly ironed mattress and blanket and ran away.
"Why are all women running from me? Hmmm, it must be because of my looks. They can't stand it sometimes." As he smirks in the mirror, he then jumps on the bed and suddenly falls asleep.
The next morning, he told Aeres what happened, and Aeres was disappointed.
"Why didn't you capture her? She broke the law." Then Eraga realized he shouldn't have told Aeres because he's so hung up on politics and duty, never on matters of the heart.
"*sigh* you're so boring" eraga muttered and he walked away , aeres was confused because he thought he said the right thing ,eraga then walked into his sister's room without knocking and she was just putting on her dress, then calista the senior maid in the palace , closer to them than thier own mother, struck him on his head
"You have no manners. How many times have I told you to knock first?" Calista questioned.
Ouch, I forgot, you can't just knock me like that," she struck him again.
"Ouch! What's your deal? Thaleia"
"What?" his sister replies.
"You're not saying anything."
"What should I say?" She walked close and struck him, too, as she and the maid high-fived and laughed at him. Soon, Eraga told them about last night, and they were so disappointed that they struck him once again.
"You really have no manners, my lord," Callista argued.
"That's not how to talk to a lady, you pervert," Thaleia added.
"That is why I'm here now. I'm sure what I said was wrong. I might have hurt her feelings, but....she really was ugly though " he said in an attempt to be funny.
They both struck him again, this time with fury
.