What I Gained by Giving My Body - Chapter 3.8

“Pardon?”

“Tell me more.”

Roxias grew quite annoyed. No matter how foolish humans could be, he didn’t expect even Chaser to display such irrational behavior.

“I dislike the Princess.”

Whether he hadn’t expected such a blunt statement, Chaser looked quite flustered.

“I don’t think you’ve seen her long enough to decide whether you like or dislike her.”

“The same would be true for the Princess of Solaris. What on earth could she have seen in me to say she loves me?”

Silence fell. It seemed Chaser couldn’t refute those words.

“……I’ll speak with Adele. Still, you won’t be able to escape a destined fate.”

“How very interesting.”

Roxias spoke slowly. Ah, how interesting humans were, speaking of destiny so carelessly when they knew nothing about it.

“I shall watch slowly to see what destiny is prepared for the Solaris Princess.”

* * *

Cassandra. Daughter of Priamos, the most beautiful princess of Troy, the woman whose purity was taken by Apollo……. People pitied her, yet envied her at the same time. But Cassandra had desired none of these things. In fact, even if everything in the world were laid out before her, none of it would be what she wanted.

At least, that’s what Cassandra herself thought. Until today, before she heard the voice of the god.

“Whether you become my lover and gain the power to glimpse the future, or live your whole life in ignorance and oblivion…… I shall do as you wish.”

Her body trembled. Cassandra knew instinctively. That her life from now on would change depending on what she said in this very moment. Perhaps…… forever.

“……I need time to think.”

“Hah.”

A strange laugh escaped Apollo’s lips.

“I thought it would obviously be the former.”

“I have heard well enough what became of those who received gifts from the gods.”

There was no need to even summon a bard. It was a story she had heard until her ears were sore since childhood. The one who received the gift of eternal life shriveled up into a grasshopper. The one who received the blessing of turning everything he touched into gold turned even his daughter and wife into gold. She might end up putting her own name on the list of those unfortunate people.

‘No, it will surely be so.’

Nevertheless, she wanted to accept it. She hated a life of being swayed by her father’s orders. If all the god demanded in exchange for foresight was this body…… it actually felt like a small price to pay.

“Are you hesitating for only that reason? Even if it’s just a normal prophecy without any side effects? Doesn’t your twin brother also go around making predictions?”

Cassandra shook her head.

“Even if I am but a human, I know that what my brother does is prediction, not prophecy.”

“True enough.”

Apollo agreed.

“The power I will bestow upon you is no mere trick like that.”

Cassandra mustered her courage and looked straight at him. The man, filled with shimmering light, made her eyes ache just by looking at him, but he was worth it. Because at least she could realize one fact.

The man before her was not a human, but a god. To him, she was nothing more than a lowly creature to be played with and discarded. Even if he no longer took women by force, his oath wouldn’t include staying until his feelings cooled.

Yes. Cassandra could ‘predict’ at least this much in this moment. Apollo’s interest in her would not last long. Perhaps once he took her body once, he would realize she was no different from countless other women and leave immediately. Then, she would……,

‘I would truly become like those rumors.’

Cassandra was swept by an impulse to laugh out loud. Except for the fact that she didn’t know what side effects the god’s gift would bring, wasn’t this the life she had desired so much?

Even Helenus would have to recognize her as a true priestess now. Unlike him, who saw hallucinations while drunk, she would be the sister who actually shared a bed with a god.

‘And, as for the side effects…….’

They were worth enduring for the chance to live the life she wanted.

“……I will accept.”

“You speak as if you’re making a grand sacrifice.”

Apollo spoke slowly.

“But rest assured. I have no intention of taking you right this moment.”

Cassandra blinked. She thought he would grab her and tumble right then and there, but he wouldn’t. And what on earth was this god misunderstanding? Her situation didn’t allow for the luxury of playing hard to get. But before she could even say that, Apollo’s fingertip touched the back of her hand. Cassandra shuddered as a sensation of heated rays filled her entire body.

“Now everyone will know that you are my woman.”

It wasn’t very difficult to grasp the meaning of those words. For there was no one who would fail to recognize the mark of the Sun God glowing gold on her white hand.