way. By the time we reached your palace, we agreed that none of us could take on the obligation of protecting you.”
“Protecting me from what? My father hasn’t had any problem looking out for me,” I said, dropping Krios’s hand.
Krios closed his eyes and exhaled. “I simply don’t have the armies, Psyche. I can’t afford a war for you.” He added in an apologetic whisper, “None of us can.”
Although I knew what he was talking about, I couldn’t believe all of Greece was so consumed by fear of another Trojan War.
“I’m not Helen!” I stood up and shouted at Krios.
Conversation and eating came to a halt as all eyes turned to me. I felt the stares boring into my back as I loomed over Krios, gritting my teeth to keep from spitting out my accusations.
“You don’t even know me, but you assume I’m the sort of person who’d run off with another man. Why? Because I have a pretty face? Because I’m Aphrodite’s new daughter?” I balled my hands into fists to keep them from trembling at my side. “You have misjudged me. I’m as fiercely loyal as any woman you’ll ever meet.”
My father rushed to my side. “Psyche, no one is questioning your loyalty, or even Helen’s. Helen was powerless to resist the will of Aphrodite.”
“She’s a goddess, not a puppet master,” I shrieked, turning my outrage on my father. “I turned down her marriage choice once and I’ll do it again if I have to.”
Father’s teeth audibly crunched when he clamped his jaws back together. Guess I’d forgotten to mention the whole Aphrodite-proposed-on-behalf-of-Eros thing. More damn secrets. I was over it.
Pushing past my father, I stormed to the center of the room. “My sister is gone and you don’t want to marry me, so I assume you’re just here to eat our food. Maybe hear a good story. Well how’s this for gossip? Aphrodite asked me to marry her son, and I said no.” I met each of their silent stares and patted my heart. “Yes, I refused an arrogant, pompus god because I knew, deep down, that one of you would be better. But apparently I was wrong.” Let that sink in for a minute . “Can it really be that none of you are brave enough to take on a pretty wife?”
No one answered.
I faltered. The challenge hadn’t worked and my father was bearing down on me now.
“Psyche, that’s enough.” My father spun me away from the men before handing me off to Maia, who’d rushed over as if on cue.
Speaking loud enough so that the entire room could hear, Father told Maia, “Psyche is obviously feeling ill. See that she gets the rest she needs.”
As Maia led me away, I could hear my father apologizing for my outburst and explaining that I was overwhelmed by my sister departing so recently. Under normal circumstances, he promised, I would never be so bold and would be an obedient wife, very respectful, et cetera, et cetera.
But I knew he was wasting his words. Krios hadn’t been lying to me. Why would he? He had nothing to gain from a lie. As I slowly climbed the steps to my room, I knew none of these men would be taking me home.
Which is a thought that should’ve brought relief. After all, I didn’t want to be married yet. As I thought back on it, I didn’t even know why I’d challenged those men to marry me. I already recognized it as a stupid burst of pride getting the better of me. So why was I so upset by the whole thing?
As I crossed into my room, it hit me. What if never finding a husband was Aphrodite’s punishment for turning Eros away? I didn’t necessarily want to get married now, I wanted it some day. A princess without a husband is nothing once her parents die. I’d probably have to rely on Chara just to survive. And how likely would she be to help?
Slumping on my bed, I studied my reflection in a hand mirror. Although the room was only lit by oil lamps, I could make out all of my features. I
“Protecting me from what? My father hasn’t had any problem looking out for me,” I said, dropping Krios’s hand.
Krios closed his eyes and exhaled. “I simply don’t have the armies, Psyche. I can’t afford a war for you.” He added in an apologetic whisper, “None of us can.”
Although I knew what he was talking about, I couldn’t believe all of Greece was so consumed by fear of another Trojan War.
“I’m not Helen!” I stood up and shouted at Krios.
Conversation and eating came to a halt as all eyes turned to me. I felt the stares boring into my back as I loomed over Krios, gritting my teeth to keep from spitting out my accusations.
“You don’t even know me, but you assume I’m the sort of person who’d run off with another man. Why? Because I have a pretty face? Because I’m Aphrodite’s new daughter?” I balled my hands into fists to keep them from trembling at my side. “You have misjudged me. I’m as fiercely loyal as any woman you’ll ever meet.”
My father rushed to my side. “Psyche, no one is questioning your loyalty, or even Helen’s. Helen was powerless to resist the will of Aphrodite.”
“She’s a goddess, not a puppet master,” I shrieked, turning my outrage on my father. “I turned down her marriage choice once and I’ll do it again if I have to.”
Father’s teeth audibly crunched when he clamped his jaws back together. Guess I’d forgotten to mention the whole Aphrodite-proposed-on-behalf-of-Eros thing. More damn secrets. I was over it.
Pushing past my father, I stormed to the center of the room. “My sister is gone and you don’t want to marry me, so I assume you’re just here to eat our food. Maybe hear a good story. Well how’s this for gossip? Aphrodite asked me to marry her son, and I said no.” I met each of their silent stares and patted my heart. “Yes, I refused an arrogant, pompus god because I knew, deep down, that one of you would be better. But apparently I was wrong.” Let that sink in for a minute . “Can it really be that none of you are brave enough to take on a pretty wife?”
No one answered.
I faltered. The challenge hadn’t worked and my father was bearing down on me now.
“Psyche, that’s enough.” My father spun me away from the men before handing me off to Maia, who’d rushed over as if on cue.
Speaking loud enough so that the entire room could hear, Father told Maia, “Psyche is obviously feeling ill. See that she gets the rest she needs.”
As Maia led me away, I could hear my father apologizing for my outburst and explaining that I was overwhelmed by my sister departing so recently. Under normal circumstances, he promised, I would never be so bold and would be an obedient wife, very respectful, et cetera, et cetera.
But I knew he was wasting his words. Krios hadn’t been lying to me. Why would he? He had nothing to gain from a lie. As I slowly climbed the steps to my room, I knew none of these men would be taking me home.
Which is a thought that should’ve brought relief. After all, I didn’t want to be married yet. As I thought back on it, I didn’t even know why I’d challenged those men to marry me. I already recognized it as a stupid burst of pride getting the better of me. So why was I so upset by the whole thing?
As I crossed into my room, it hit me. What if never finding a husband was Aphrodite’s punishment for turning Eros away? I didn’t necessarily want to get married now, I wanted it some day. A princess without a husband is nothing once her parents die. I’d probably have to rely on Chara just to survive. And how likely would she be to help?
Slumping on my bed, I studied my reflection in a hand mirror. Although the room was only lit by oil lamps, I could make out all of my features. I
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