“?”
Apollo sent Dionysus a furious glance that seemed to communicate “have you gone crazy?” and said, “Me?”
Dionysus, whose ears were red, violently answered, “Then who else, you son of a bitch?”
A vein in Apollo’s forehead popped at the heavy insult. As drinking buddies and brothers-in-law, they were very close friends, but in terms of divinity, they were not equal. Furthermore, Apollo wasn’t the kind of person to accept being criticised.
“Are you drunk? Or have you finally gone mad? Why did you suddenly get so excited on your own like a dog when thrown a bone?”
Dionysus breathed loudly and laughed. His green eyes turned into slits glaring at Apollo seated next to him. The beautifully sculpted face was slightly tilted to the side.
“You’re the dog in heat, Apollo. Think about the words you said thinking you were in love. Eutostea was hunted by your sister just a few days ago. After being pulled out from a life or death situation, she can barely move now. You said she was your woman.”
The finish line of Dionysus’ words striking at Apollo’s heart like a dagger, made his anger stop and he regained his composure.
“…You said she was your woman.” Dionysus dropped the same words another time while wiping his face. The green eyes melted a little. “You’re the one who’s riled up because you miss Eutostea, and because you’re afraid she’ll forget about you because of the curse. That’s selfish. Lingering around Eutostea purely because you want to imprint your face in her memory like a stamp, that’s just selfish.”
“…”
Apollo kept his silence for a while watching Dionysus, who was riled up and whimpering in anger. He could gently listen to Hestia berating him. But Dionysus was a third person who managed to stick his nose in the matter between him and Eutostea. What could have provoked him this much? This question came to Apollo’s mind.
Suspicion planted itself in his chest like a stubborn seed.
“That’s right. I miss her,” said Apollo.
“…”
Dionysus listened again to Apollo’s statement, which sounded like a confession, with a sharp look on his face.
“You’re wrong. I won’t hurt Eutostea again. No one can hurt her. I can swear to that on the river Styx.”
“Please, suit yourself,” Dionysus muttered.
Seriously, the river god’s ears must be itchy because there are so many people mentioning the River Styx today. Dionysus was as sarcastic as can be, but Apollo’s expression wasn’t affected.
“Lastly, I left her to you, because you’re the safest choice. It’s the safest home in the world. That’s no reason why I can’t visit.”
“Yes, yes.”
“But I’m curious about something.”
“?”
“Dionysus, does the worry you’re harboring now spurn solely from the caring heart for your only priest?”
Dionysus, who was answering sarcastically and nonchalantly, straightened. He smiled hastily.
“Of… of course…” Dionysus stammered back.
“You gave the two leopards you adore to Eutostea because she is your priest?”
“Because I have to guard her. Like you said, she’s there to be protected. Even if she’s in my territory, I have to be on guard…”
“And the golden crown of Ariadne on Eutostea’s brow?”
“There’s nothing wrong with dressing her up nicely…” Dionysus, who was flexing his tongue with a string of lies, choked on his words because this wasn’t a question he expected.
“Do you give your wife’s ornaments to the priest who serves you?”
“…..”
Apollo looked at Dionysus with cold eyes, without a touch of emotion, with his hands clasped together.
“As soon as the Moussa saw that a human woman came in, they hurried to dress and adorn her like a puppet,” replied Dionysus. His fist was squeezed shut so tight and sharp veins rose like branches on the back of his hand. “You know they like that kind of stuff.”
“Your wife’s belongings? Without your permission?” Apollo smiled. “You, who lived hugging the phantom of a woman who has long since become dust and drank yourself to oblivion every day, sending one up to the night sky and saving the other as a keepsake. You put that on Eutostea like you’re playing house?
“…..”
“I don’t know who the selfish bastard is.” Grumbling with a low voice, Apollo stood up from his seat.
A purple cloth flowed down to the floor following his gesture. Apollo looked at the thick curly hair of Dionysus with his head downcast.
It is most foolish to project the vision of the dead on the living.
It’s not like this idiot’s foolishness was news to him, but he couldn’t stand it if the target of his foolishness was Eutostea.
“Dionysus.”
“?”
Apollo sent Dionysus a furious glance that seemed to communicate “have you gone crazy?” and said, “Me?”
Dionysus, whose ears were red, violently answered, “Then who else, you son of a bitch?”
A vein in Apollo’s forehead popped at the heavy insult. As drinking buddies and brothers-in-law, they were very close friends, but in terms of divinity, they were not equal. Furthermore, Apollo wasn’t the kind of person to accept being criticised.
“Are you drunk? Or have you finally gone mad? Why did you suddenly get so excited on your own like a dog when thrown a bone?”
Dionysus breathed loudly and laughed. His green eyes turned into slits glaring at Apollo seated next to him. The beautifully sculpted face was slightly tilted to the side.
“You’re the dog in heat, Apollo. Think about the words you said thinking you were in love. Eutostea was hunted by your sister just a few days ago. After being pulled out from a life or death situation, she can barely move now. You said she was your woman.”
The finish line of Dionysus’ words striking at Apollo’s heart like a dagger, made his anger stop and he regained his composure.
“…You said she was your woman.” Dionysus dropped the same words another time while wiping his face. The green eyes melted a little. “You’re the one who’s riled up because you miss Eutostea, and because you’re afraid she’ll forget about you because of the curse. That’s selfish. Lingering around Eutostea purely because you want to imprint your face in her memory like a stamp, that’s just selfish.”
“…”
Apollo kept his silence for a while watching Dionysus, who was riled up and whimpering in anger. He could gently listen to Hestia berating him. But Dionysus was a third person who managed to stick his nose in the matter between him and Eutostea. What could have provoked him this much? This question came to Apollo’s mind.
Suspicion planted itself in his chest like a stubborn seed.
“That’s right. I miss her,” said Apollo.
“…”
Dionysus listened again to Apollo’s statement, which sounded like a confession, with a sharp look on his face.
“You’re wrong. I won’t hurt Eutostea again. No one can hurt her. I can swear to that on the river Styx.”
“Please, suit yourself,” Dionysus muttered.
Seriously, the river god’s ears must be itchy because there are so many people mentioning the River Styx today. Dionysus was as sarcastic as can be, but Apollo’s expression wasn’t affected.
“Lastly, I left her to you, because you’re the safest choice. It’s the safest home in the world. That’s no reason why I can’t visit.”
“Yes, yes.”
“But I’m curious about something.”
“?”
“Dionysus, does the worry you’re harboring now spurn solely from the caring heart for your only priest?”
Dionysus, who was answering sarcastically and nonchalantly, straightened. He smiled hastily.
“Of… of course…” Dionysus stammered back.
“You gave the two leopards you adore to Eutostea because she is your priest?”
“Because I have to guard her. Like you said, she’s there to be protected. Even if she’s in my territory, I have to be on guard…”
“And the golden crown of Ariadne on Eutostea’s brow?”
“There’s nothing wrong with dressing her up nicely…” Dionysus, who was flexing his tongue with a string of lies, choked on his words because this wasn’t a question he expected.
“Do you give your wife’s ornaments to the priest who serves you?”
“…..”
Apollo looked at Dionysus with cold eyes, without a touch of emotion, with his hands clasped together.
“As soon as the Moussa saw that a human woman came in, they hurried to dress and adorn her like a puppet,” replied Dionysus. His fist was squeezed shut so tight and sharp veins rose like branches on the back of his hand. “You know they like that kind of stuff.”
“Your wife’s belongings? Without your permission?” Apollo smiled. “You, who lived hugging the phantom of a woman who has long since become dust and drank yourself to oblivion every day, sending one up to the night sky and saving the other as a keepsake. You put that on Eutostea like you’re playing house?
“…..”
“I don’t know who the selfish bastard is.” Grumbling with a low voice, Apollo stood up from his seat.
A purple cloth flowed down to the floor following his gesture. Apollo looked at the thick curly hair of Dionysus with his head downcast.
It is most foolish to project the vision of the dead on the living.
It’s not like this idiot’s foolishness was news to him, but he couldn’t stand it if the target of his foolishness was Eutostea.
“Dionysus.”
