Pherenike - Chapter 65

Swallows will return to Evdokia from Arcturus’ day, cutting through the winter’s end mist following the ancient order of Gaia and Uranus.

That signaled spring.

During those days, intertwining the end of winter and the beginning of spring, the queen’s chamber was as hot as standing under the summer sun.

Three hearths were placed near the queen’s bed, and most windows were firmly shut, with only a couple of small windows near the ceiling allowing some air to circulate.

In the midst of this, the king and queen were present.

The queen, curled up in a large fur despite all efforts to keep warm, shivered from the persistent cold.

The king sat motionlessly beside the queen’s bed, staring long into her dreaming face.

Pherenike had made excuses about the weather to Actor, but it was beyond the blame of the innocent weather at the junction of winter and spring. Although it wasn’t yet warm enough outside to be considered spring, it wasn’t so cold that someone would freeze to death.

The queen’s attendants counted the passing time with fear and anxiety. Unfortunately, there were signs of premature labor, and with the queen’s condition already poor, it was uncertain if the child could be born in time.

Midwives had declared it likely the child would not survive.

The king merely nodded, accepting the fact as it was, with no expression on his cold face. The best-case scenario, they said, might be that only the mother survives.

“That would be better than both dying.”

Indeed, it was an excessively indifferent statement for a father about his own child, but having at least one survive was preferable.

The issue was the queen’s condition, which seemed like it wouldn’t be surprising if both were to die.

The queen now barely had the strength to make eye contact or converse with anyone, gasping for breath and often unable to respond to most questions.

Midwives, looking like shamans, closed their eyes, praying to their goddesses as if waiting for the foreseen misfortune.

They were not the priests of Kybellar but served the daughter of Hera*.

Brought from the cold lands by Actor’s command, these solemn old women were renowned for successfully delivering children and they did not mince words even with the king.

They believed God’s curses stemmed from a human’s destined misfortunes or sinful deeds.

Could it be that Kybellaune had acted so wickedly as to deserve punishment from God? Was she not the goddess’ favorite child?

Then, one had to look at the father of the child.

“The king of this land was either born to be a hero or to commit sins, and in the end, it comes down to one of the two.”

“…….”

“Past sins can lead to present woes. The sins that should rightfully return to you seek out your child and parents instead… It’s as if God is deliberately aiming the arrows askew to inflict greater suffering upon humans.”

Implying, ‘Were you born into this land to commit sins?’ To the extent that someone else takes the arrow meant for you.

He quietly looked down at Pherenike’s gaunt face before speaking.

“My sins… it seems so.”

As the young king somewhat agreed, the old women gleamed as if they had been waiting for this, suggesting that the daughter of Hera was withholding her blessings from the queen’s childbirth.

This was beyond the influence of their goddess. If Eileithyia does not uncross her arms, no divine aid will be of any use……

Even the great Zeus, the king of gods, could not save his own son and daughter*. What was the reason Alcmene* suffered in childbirth for 9 days? It was the will of Eileithyia, the goddess overseeing all childbirths, and hence the will of the goddess Hera, who reigned over her daughter.

The oldest head shaman burned sage to purify the space around the queen’s bed. In truth, it was him they were purifying.

Actor barely hid his amusement at all this, yet looked at his wife with a face that mocked himself the most.

His hand brushed across Pherenike’s cold forehead. It wouldn’t be surprising if she died like this.

In the end, it was as if he was the one killing her.

“If you die, you won’t be able to speak ill anymore.”

The maids wringing out hot water-soaked cloths below looked up at the king, as if they couldn’t believe their ears. Had Ino, his nanny, been there, surely there would have been an uproar.

Even the usually noisy priests of Eileithyia fell silent.

Then Pherenike opened her eyes groggily and looked at him.

“……Who’s dying?”

*Referring to the goddess of childbirth, Eileithyia, daughter of Hera and Zeus. Eileithyia was commanded by Hera to hinder Leto’s childbirth, preventing the birth of Apollo and Artemis.

*Apollo and Artemis

*Alcmene: Wife of King Amphitryon, who bore Heracles, a son of Zeus.