Enjoy reading, My Pearls 🕊️🤍

The Corinthian War has come to an end. After eight years of conflict and fierce battles, peace came. The people of Corinth were slowly returning to normalcy. Farmers resumed tilling the land and herding animals, and fishermen sailed out into the calm waters of the bay to fish. Trade flourished again. Merchants staged stalls displaying all sorts of things from food and daily necessities to beautifully decorated vases, colorful garments and expensive jewelry shimmering in the sun. The Agora was bustling with a social life full of religious worship, political debates and lavish parties spiked with wine. It would seem that Corinth had returned to its carefree monotony, but one small detail did not let people forget the recent war. Ares' emissaries appeared in the city. A division of Sparta's finest warriors led by Jeongguk, who, on behalf of the king, was to exert Spartan hegemony and have supervision over the fulfillment of the king's peace.

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The sun rose over Corinth, waking the sleep-deprived city with its gentle rays and letting Jeongguk know that his night patrol had just come to an end. A broad smile graced his handsome face hidden beneath a bronze helmet adorned with a red plume. He adjusted the heavy armor protecting his broad, muscular torso and set off along the harbor to make one last round.

He walked with a calm step, wielding spears and shields in his hands, which he practically never parted with. He bowed to the crews of the ships moored to the pier he met along the way, and thought back to yesterday evening, when his ebony-black eyes caught sight of a figure in white he had never met before.

The image of a beautiful man with a storm of brown, gently wavy hair gazing into the boundless dark sea quickened his heartbeat. He wanted to know everything about him, and the only person who could tell him the stranger's identity was the elderly woman who had taken him under her roof so that he would experience the warmth of home and not have to live in the barracks with his troop, with whom he had come to Corinth to serve after winning the war.

He couldn't wait to talk to her, that's why when he spotted a shifter heading in his direction, and he gave a shout of joy. He gave him a brief report on his patrol and, as much as his equipment allowed, ran toward the oikos. On the way, he stopped by the Agora, saying hello to the familiar residents, and purchased fresh bread for breakfast, to relieve a woman close to him. Reaching the homestead, he ran into a large courtyard. He approached the well in its center and left his spear and shield beside it, on which he placed the still-warm loaf of bread.

"Eudokio!" He called out, looking around, and headed toward the gyneceum. He knocked on the door, which he immediately opened and looked inside. The room contained several young women who were engaged in an animated conversation. He grunted to get their attention, which he immediately regretted, hearing the protracted sighs and loud squeals that his appearance in their sight had provoked. He just wanted to ask if they had by any chance seen the woman he was looking for, but quickly gave up on that, slamming the door and fleeing from their lustful gazes. He shuddered, and his body was covered with goosebumps, because nothing filled him with such terror as these gentle creatures, whose only desire was to catch him and entrap him, and he, frankly, was not interested in that at all.

He sighed heavily, cursing in his spirit that he didn't start with the kitchen, but instead stepped into the lion's den without a second thought. He always did first, then thought, which often turned out to be his doom.

Hearing the door opening behind him, he jumped away from it and cut across the courtyard at a run, falling impetuously into the andron. He slammed the door behind him with a bang and stuck his back to it, trying to normalize his breathing and calm his heart. The sternly decorated, typically masculine room was the only one in the entire large oikos that gave a sense of security, as no woman could cross its threshold.

"Such a brave, powerful, even awe-inspiring warrior, and at the sight of the ladies he runs for the hills."

The Spartan lifted his gaze, hearing a man's voice, and seeing the posture of a man he knew well, he smiled broadly, showing a row of even white teeth.

"Oh, Kyros, I swear by the hammer of Hephaestus that they are like harpies. They are just waiting for a convenient time and a moment of my inattention to snatch my soul. They are more dangerous than a whole squad of the enemy," he replied, putting his hand to his chest to add drama to his statement, and the grey toga-clad blacksmith laughed heartily.

"They are just innocent girls who can at most steal your heart," he said, approaching him, and pulled his helmet off his head to comb a hand through his long black hair. "How was it on patrol? You're probably exhausted. Come, have breakfast and lie down."

"Oh, I doubt that I will sleep tonight," he muttered, and his cheeks were covered with a generous blush. "Besides, it's probably too late for any of them to be able to steal my heart," he added, smiling gently.

"What are you talking about? Have you fallen in love? With whom?" He asked, wrinkling his thick black eyebrows and looking intently at the embarrassed Jeongguk.

"I don't know, but today I met him in the harbor and felt the arrow of Eros pierce my heart, destroying the wall around it and making it beat harder than ever before," he whispered, once again returning his memories to the young man standing on the pier, whose hair was blown away by the tide, revealing a beautiful face.

"Tell me what he looked like, maybe I'll know who it is. I know many people in Corinth," he encouraged him to confide, noticing the sparks in his ebony eyes.

"Oh, Kyros, although our eyes only met for a fraction of a second, I can swear that he is the most beautiful man standing on earth," he began, looking away from the elder's piercing gaze. "He was dressed in an ankle-length white toga trimmed with gold thread that glittered in the moonlight. An equally white cloak, and his brown, wavy hair was adorned with a garland of freesias between which pearls shimmered," he sighed dreamily, and his cheeks tinged even more red.

Kyros looked at the flustered boy for a moment, concluding that indeed Eros had gotten to his innocent heart. He processed in his head the words that left the Spartan's mouth and opened his eyes wide when their meaning finally reached him.

"For Zeus' sake!" He exclaimed, scaring the warrior standing in front of him, and pressed the helmet he still held in those of his own into one hand, and caught the wrist of the other in a strong grip. "We need to find Eudokia right now!"

He tugged hard on Jeongguk's hand, pulling him away from the door, which he then opened and pushed the boy out into the courtyard, coming right after him. A giggle reached their ears, of the girls staying in the courtyard, which gave the Spartan a cold shiver. He snatched his hand from the blacksmith's grasp and hid behind his back. The elder gave a loud snort, thus drawing the attention of the women, who began to sigh and wave in their direction.

"Just look at them. Pure harpies," he whispered in the ear of the elder. "O gracious Tyche, give me some luck and make them unstuck from me. So many Spartans in the city, and they had to stick just to me," he mumbled under his breath.

"You better pray to Nike to let you prevail as you run away from them, and now come on. With me, you're in no danger," he said, holding back his laughter, and set off toward the kitchen, and passing the girls, he raked them with a glance, which made them fall silent in an instant and flee to the gyneceum. The blacksmith breathed a sigh of relief, for although he enjoyed the company of the women, he could not allow them to surround the young man whom he had been treating as his own son for several months.

"I still can't believe that you really met him," he spoke up after a short while.

"Who did I meet? Who is he?" He asked, politely walking behind the man, and reaching the well, he picked up his equipment and bread, which he handed to Kyros.

"Son of Aphrodite," he said mysteriously, and pushed open the door, entering the chamber that was the heart of the household.

Jeongguk stopped just before the wooden surface, opening his eyes and mouth wide in amazement. He had heard a lot about demigods, but was convinced that these were ordinary myths spread by priestesses serving the gods. After all, no one had ever had the pleasure of meeting a half-divine child.

He came to his senses after a while and entered the sunlit room. It was modestly furnished and kept impeccably clean. On the right was a small hearth, near which various kinds of clay pots and wicker baskets were piled up. To the left was a large wooden table with chairs, behind which was a door to a tiny pantry. He sat down in his usual place at the head of the table, putting aside the equipment he held in his hands, and smiled at the sight of the couple coming out of the pantry, cooing to each other like lovebirds. He enjoyed watching them, secretly dreaming of an equally beautiful love. It wasn't until he came to live with them that he felt what it meant to be loved and how much family warmth is needed in a person's life. His parents never gave him this, as his mother died in childbirth, and his father raised him with a firm hand, preparing him to be the best warrior in Sparta. He achieved his goal, as Jeongguk ended up leading the Spartan army.

"On Ares, what a handsome warrior he is!" Eudokia exclaimed, spotting Jeongguk and snapping him out of his reverie. She approached him, taking his face in her hands and looked at him carefully, then placed a gentle kiss on his cheek. "I heard from Kyros that you need to talk to me urgently about something, but he didn't want to reveal the secret."

"Oh yes," he murmured, and a dewy blush once again set in on his handsome face. He tried to escape with his eyes, but the woman prevented him from doing so, still holding his face in her hands. With no way out, he looked at her still beautiful face, despite the passing of time. "I met someone."

"Rather, you have seen. You still have a long way to go to get to know someone," the blacksmith snarled, rolling his eyes in amusement, and his wife sent him a murderous look, after which he began to wonder if this was the right time to start praying to Tanatos, or if he would still give him a moment to live.

"Don't listen to that old grump and quickly tell your aunt what a boy you saw," she said, finally letting go of his face, and headed to the hearth to boil water for tea.

"Kyros claims it was the son of Aphrodite," he said, and Eudokia tensed at the words. She had heard various rumors about him, but didn't believe any of them were true. She thoughtfully took three clay cups and poured dried Lebanese sage flowers into them, and after a while the delicate aroma of Gentian sage spread through the chamber. She handed the finished brew to the men, then took her portion and sat by them.

"Pearl," she whispered. "Good, now tell us where and under what circumstances you met him."

Jeongguk took a few deep breaths to give himself courage, then looked at the couple, who sent him encouraging smiles. He knew he could count on them to confide in them about everything, and that they would surely do their best to help him find the mysterious stranger.

"Like every night, I did my duty and patrolled the harbor. It was late, and there wasn't a living soul around me, so I let myself rest for a while and sat down on a bench, having a perfect view of the pier, and that's when I saw him. He was walking with a quick step toward the pier, and, although he was far from me, I could sense his fear. He was looking around, as if making sure no one was following him. I wanted to approach him and ask him if he needed help, but I refrained at the last moment. He stood at the end of the pier and stared into the dark abyss of the sea, while a breeze blew the hood of the white cloak he was wearing off his head and blew his softly wavy brown hair away, showing me the profile of his beautiful face," he interrupted his speech and swallowed his saliva, as his mouth suddenly became dry, and Eudokia and Kyros watched him closely, sipping tea from the Gentile and waiting patiently for him to continue. "At that very moment, I felt a pleasant warmth wash over my heart, shattering the protective wall that had been there for years. I watched him as if enchanted, and my heart raged in my chest and, oh sweet Ganymede, I was gone completely."

"See, Eudokio, our little Jeonggukie has fallen in love," Kyros muttered, wiping away a tear of emotion, and the boy lowered his gaze to his hands, which he clenched from nerves on his thighs, covered with a short red toga.

"Don't embarrass him," the woman growled in her husband's direction, after which she already spoke more gently to the Spartan. "Have you even exchanged a word with him?"

"I gathered my courage and got up from the bench to move toward him, but he suddenly sprung to a run, as if something had frightened him. He stopped, looking in my direction, which again paralyzed me, and before I knew it, he had disappeared into one of the alleys leading to the hill," he replied, visibly saddened.

Do you think he felt the tide was running out and had to return to Acrocorinth? - The blacksmith asked his spouse, and Jungkook didn't understand what the tide had to do with it. Eudokia, seeing the confused expression on the young warrior's face, smiled encouragingly.

"Slowly, Kyros, because our Spartan has probably never heard the legend of Aphrodite's Pearl, right?" She asked, and when Jeongguk nodded in agreement, she added: "Let me introduce you to the story."

"Jeonggukie, listen carefully to what you've gotten yourself into, because if those two jokers had their divine fingers in it, you are, to put it mildly, fuc..."

"Kyros!" Eudioka's shout interrupted the wordsmith, who fell silent in a split second. "You'd better serve us breakfast," she muttered, and her husband obediently got up from the table and, pacing around the room, began serving the food the woman had prepared earlier.

"How does this legend sound?" Jeongguk spoke up, unable to bear the prolonged silence any longer. He was consumed by curiosity. He wanted to find out as soon as possible what secret the beautiful stranger was hiding.

"It is said that Aphrodite's son was found off the coast of Corinth by one of her priestesses' servants. The boy was asleep, floating on the water, and his naked body was wrapped in foam, like the arms of a loving mother. The woman wanted to call for help, but some force stopped her and would not let her leave the toddler alone. Apparently, when asked about this moment each time, she replied that she stood on the shore, looking at him, and the next moment she was cuddling his body to her breast. She didn't remember what had happened, and her robe was only wet where the boy's body was clinging to, as if someone had handed him to her," she began her story, and Kyros finally sat down next to her and watched Jeongguk listen to his wife with a flushed face and bated breath. "So she took the boy to Acrocorinth, to the high priestess, to advise her on what to do. The woman, seeing the pretty boy with dark, curly hair and large sapphire eyes, concluded that the goddess had blessed them by giving her son into her care. Thus, his home became his mother's temple, and her priestesses became his guards. He was carefully guarded so that no one would learn of his existence, but eventually rumors surfaced. As the boy grew older, he began sneaking out of the temple, always during high tides, supposedly the only time his mother could protect him through her covenant with Poseidon. But he never showed himself to anyone, he always blended in with the crowd," she paused to add after a moment's thought: "Looking at this legend and your meeting with Pearl, one thing intrigues me... What prompted him to appear in his true form, and why did he choose you?"

Silence fell in the chamber once again. Jeongguk twisted restlessly in his chair and put his hands on the table, tapping his nails against it and thinking intensely about what this could all be about. He wondered why the young man had been hidden all this time. A flash of lightning suddenly flew through the storms of his thoughts, igniting an uneasy feeling within him.

What if harm was done to him behind the walls of Acrocorinth?

He tense all his muscles as fear began to encompass his entire body.

"Eudokio, do you think this is a cry for help?" Kyros quietly spoke up, turning to his spouse and voicing Jeongguk's fears out loud.

"I very much hope that the boy is safe, and no harm comes to him, but you know very well what the priestesses of Aphrodite do," she replied, and her heart squeezed painfully at the thought that the young man could be forced to do these things.

"Jeongguk, envoy of Ares, in you is the only hope. Find the Pearl and find out the truth," Kyros asked, grabbing his hands, which he nervously began to squeeze.

"Drawing strength from Ares, I promise to do everything to save the son of Aphrodite," he said, returning the handshake to the blacksmith, and bolted from his seat, and the chair he was sitting on fell over with a bang. He picked up his equipment, still lying on the floor, and moved toward the exit door, but was stopped by Eudokia.

"I'm glad to see your attitude, warrior, but you need to eat breakfast first. Praying to Ares alone is not enough, and there is still some time before the tide comes in," she said, bringing smiles to the men's faces.

"True, Eudokio. May Hestia bless you," he said, placing a gentle kiss on the woman's cheek. He sat down at the table and, busying himself with the prepared dishes, had a lively conversation with Kyros, while Eudiokia silently began to slowly put together a plan to escape Corinth, as her feminine intuition told her that Pearl was in danger. She had to do everything she could to prevent the story of the emerging love between the men from turning into a truly Greek tragedy...

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The young man stood on the platform, gazing out at the dark shell of the sea, which gently swayed. The wind moved his white robe, eventually rolling the hood off his head and revealing his beautiful face, gently blowing his brown hair away. He lifted his gaze of sapphire eyes to the moon illuminating the harbor. He had always hidden himself so that no one would discover his existence, but today he wanted to be noticed and arouse curiosity.

He wanted his attention.

He was well aware that he had earned it, even before his sandal-clad feet stepped onto the pier. He was terrified and excited at the same time. He never spoke to the people of the city, much less to the warriors who came after the war. He spent most of his time alone, locked in the temple under guard, which he sometimes managed to elude, and his only companion in misery was the daughter of the priestess who found him.

He felt the burning gaze of the Spartan on his body, which sent shivers down his spine, and begged in his mind for him to finally take that first step. However, the seconds passed, and they both remained motionless. Suddenly a strong wind broke, buffeting the calm sea, and the boy already knew that he could not wait any longer.

The safe time had just ended.

He took his long white robe in his hands and started running down the platform. As he ran down the steps, he only noticed that the warrior twitched and got up from the bench. A heavy sigh left his lips, and tears gathered in his eyes. He cast a longing glance in his direction and ran away, never looking back again.

Too late... It was too late...

He ran into one of the dark alleys that led to the hill and increased his pace to leave the city as quickly as possible. When he reached the path leading to Acrocorinth he no longer held back the tears that rolled down his flushed cheeks in an avalanche.

He was afraid, so afraid that he had lost his last chance for rescue.

He knew the way by heart, so he pushed forward, despite his vision blurred from tears and the darkness shrouding the hill. He stumbled a couple of times, eventually spotting the main gate where the guards kept watch. The last thing he felt like doing now was discussing the matter with these unprincipled, royal thugs, so he turned into a narrow pathway, which he used to reach the eastern part of the wall. He climbed over it, injuring his calf, and jumped down clumsily, landing on his knees. He quickly picked himself up and moved toward the temple, passing through the beautiful garden surrounding the courtyard. He stopped in front of the majestic stone building, which seemed to be trundling toward the sky in the light of the burning torches, and fixed the gaze of his sapphire eyes on it. He took a few deep breaths to give himself courage, and ran up the stairs. He passed a row of columns, between which stood large vases filled with fresh flowers, and slipped into the pronaos. He stopped again, and a cold shiver ran along his spine. Fear gripped his entire body, and his intuition alerted him that he was heading in the wrong direction. However, he didn't listen to it, and stepped into the naos, where the darkness was dispersed by the glow of candles spread on the stone floor. At its heart stood a massive statue of Aphrodite, carved in pink marble. The goddess proudly flexed her beautiful body, standing on a large shell. Her face with delicate features gazed up at her raised hand, on top of which sat a dove, holding an olive branch in its beak. Long, curly hair adorned with garland cascaded down the goddess's naked breasts, and her intimate place was hidden by the robe she held in her other hand. At her feet was a low, long altar on which all the sacrificial gifts were piled, and marble benches stood on either side of it.

The young man crossed the entire cellia and fell to his knees, bowing to his mother, once again raising prayers that she would protect him from the future that awaited him.

"Where the hell have you been!" The woman's voice reverberated off the walls of the building, frightening the bent young man, who rose from his knees in a second, and looked intently at the marble goddess, as if she were the one to speak to him. After a moment he saw, emerging from the adyton, the high priestess, at the sight of whom his heart froze.

"Taehyung! I asked where have you been!" She shouted again, approaching him, but he was unable to get a word out. The woman swung and hit him on the cheek. The force of the blow was so great that it knocked the garland of freesias out of his hair, and the pearls inside it sprinkled on the floor.

"I was in the garden..." He replied quietly, pawing at the sore spot.

"Don't lie!" She shrieked in anger and hit him on the other cheek, cutting his lower lip. "I know very well that you were in the city. What were you looking for there!"

"I wasn't looking for anything there, because I was in the garden the whole time," he said, cowering within himself, and tears gathered in his eyes. This was not the first time the priestess had treated him like this. He had always been humiliated by her, and when he began to become more and more beautiful every year, outshining even carved gods with his beauty, she began to go as far as hand-to-hand.

"I don't believe you! Admit it, you sneak off to some Spartan to fulfill his whims," she snorted, looking at him with disgust. "You are just like your mother!"

"I am not a harlot like you!" He threw in the face of the priestess, gaining courage for the first time, for which he was hit by her for the third time. Despite the pain, he was not going to show weakness. He clenched his hands into fists, raising his head proudly and added: "I, compared to you, respect my body and do not intend to serve anyone in this way, even if I were to pay for it with my life. I will give myself only for love..."

"I have to disappoint you, but no one will love such a poor counterfeit of a god as you are, so finally get down to earth from your clouds and obey! You're not to move an inch from here! Tomorrow will finally be the day for you to do your duty, so don't try to run away again!" She thundered and, tugging on his wrist, pulled him towards the adyton.

"What duty! What are you ranting about?" He asked, trying to pull himself out of her grasp, but she was stronger than she might have seemed.

"I can't tell you the details yet, but know that the king is already waiting to get at your divine body," she growled, and Taehyung went pale with fear. He knew the woman wanted to give him hell on earth, but he didn't expect something like this. Not only had he heard a lot about the King of Corinth and his brutal bed preferences, but he had also witnessed several situations that filled him with disgust. He didn't want to be in the place of all those priestesses who willingly and gladly served him.

"You sold me to this bastard! How could you!" He shouted in despair, and the priestess only laughed out loud and, forcibly shoving him into the adyton, bolted the entrance with a stone slab.

Taehyung fell into a small, dark room, hitting his head against a cline standing against the wall. He reached his hand to his temple and felt a sticky ooze on his fingers, and a metallic smell entered his nostrils.

He was bleeding.

He rose from the floor and approached the barricaded entrance. He leaned his curled fists against it and tried to hit it, but it didn't budge.

"I beg you, let me out of here! I'll do anything, just let me out of here!" He shouted, clearing his throat, but no one heard him, because no one was allowed in the temple at night, and the high priestess left as soon as it closed. "I beg you! Don't leave me here alone! I'm afraid of the dark!" He sobbed until he slumped to the floor from exhaustion. He put his arms around his knees and, drawing them to his chest, began to sway from side to side. He was terrified by the vision of meeting the king, but tried to calm down. He thought back to the ebony-eyed warrior who had ruled his innocent heart for months.

He had to meet his Spartan as soon as possible.

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"Taehyung."

A quiet voice awoke him from the sleep he had fallen into as soon as he imagined a man surrounding him with strong arms. He rose to sit down and directed his gaze to the barricaded entrance, which after a moment was opened, letting in the gentle rays of the sun.

"Arete, is that you?" He asked in a trembling voice, and seeing his beloved friend, he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Oh, gods! Tae, what happened to you?" She exclaimed, terrified, as her gaze fell on the wounded face of Aphrodite's son.

"The high priestess..." He managed to choke out before his voice faltered, and hot tears flowed from his sapphire eyes.

"Oh, don't cry, Pearl," she said in a soothing voice and knelt by his side, immediately embracing his petite body. "Let Nemesis witness for me that this wicked woman will get justice, and your true destiny can be fulfilled."

"I think it is already too late for that. She sold me to the king to take away my innocence and desecrate my body..." He whispered in her ear, his hands tightening on her white robe, which was very similar to the one he himself wore.

"What did she do! What a mean harlot! Let me just get my hands on her!" She shouted in nervousness, pulling away from the young man. This was too much for her. She couldn't believe that a high priestess could commit such treachery and give away their greatest treasure into the wrong hands. Their dearest pearl. She took a few deep breaths to calm her nerves and spoke again, looking into Pearl's sad eyes. "It's never too late to change the course of events. We just need a little help. Did you talk to the commander of the Spartan army?"

"I was afraid to approach him and waited for him to make the move. Unfortunately, he didn't, and I ran out of time and had to return to the temple. And yet I did not manage to get here before the high priestess and what happened happened," he muttered, pointing to his face with his hand.

"Wait, I'll take a clean toga, and we'll go to mine to clean you up and treat your wounds. And then you will take matters into your own hands and go to him. Is that clear? You still have another tide. You can't let that hypocritical bitch win," she said and, without waiting for his answer, rose from her knees. She crossed the adyton, entering the opisthodomos. She looked around the treasury full of hand-painted vases, expensive jewelry and robes woven from the finest materials, among which was the one she wanted with a blue hue. She took it in her hands and returned to Taehyung, who did not move even a millimeter.

"Pearl, please get up from this cold floor," she said, and a hint of sadness could be caught in her voice. She gave the young man a hand, helping him up, and led him out of the temple.

"Arete," he spoke up as they walked through the gardens to reach the residential part of Acrocorinth, which also housed a pleasure house. Priestesses were happy to host there not only men who wanted to satisfy their lusts, but also women who wanted to experience fulfillment.

"Yes, Pearl?"

"Do you think this Spartan has found out who I am and will try to find me?" He asked, and his heart beat anxiously.

"I'm sure of it, now come on, you need to wash the blood off you," she said and directed their steps to a bathhouse reserved exclusively for priestesses, which they entered after a while. The room concealed a large, square bathtub with ornate columns all around it, and on either side of it were stone blocks providing a secluded place to satisfy physiological needs.

"Undress and get into the water, and I'll go get some ointment for your wounds," the girl said, putting the toga down on one of the benches that were close to the tub.

Taehyung agreed with a nod and began pulling off his bloodstained robes, watching the girl leave the baths. When he was completely naked, he walked to the edge of the tub and slowly stepped into it, immersing himself in the cool water, whose gentle touch soothed his aching body. He washed his body thoroughly, and his brown hair twisted to form springs under the influence of the moisture.

Arete returned to the bathhouse after a few minutes, carrying in her hands a soft cloth to dry the body of Aphrodite's son and an ointment, which she set aside next to his toga. She helped Taehyung out of the bath, then, blushing in embarrassment, carefully wiped his beautiful body, with its delicately defined muscles. She reacted the same way every time, even though she had done it a million times. She hastily discarded the cloth and reached for her toga so she could cover the naked demigod.

"Sit down, and I'll smear your wounds," she requested, and the young man wordlessly obeyed her command. She rubbed the pain-relieving ointment into his temple and lower lip, then knelt down and lubricated his abraded calf.

"Thank you for helping me," he whispered and grabbed the girl's free hand, squeezing it tightly.

"That's what friends are for, Pearl," she replied, smiling charmingly. "You are ready to meet the Spartan. We must hurry, because the tide is about to start," she added, rising from her knees.

"What if the high priestess catches me again," he asked, slowly getting up from the bench on which he was sitting.

"Don't worry about her. I can cover for you during the day, so I take it upon myself," she assured him and pulled him toward the exit. Leaving the baths, they looked around, and spotting several priestesses in the distance, they broke into a run to reach the eastern part of the wall as quickly as possible. They stopped, breathing heavily, and Arete approached a wild rose bush and picked one flower. She pulled a gold bobby pin out of her high bun and pinned it with a small burgundy rose in Taehyung's still damp hair.

"May Aphrodite protect you, Pearl," she whispered and placed a butterfly kiss on his cheek.

"I don't know how I will repay you," he murmured, cuddling her into his body.

"Go fight for your freedom, that's enough for me," she replied, returning the hug. "Go, because time is running out," she added and, pulling away from him, helped him climb the wall.

"Take care," he said and, sending her one last look, disappeared on the other side.

"Good luck, son of Aphrodite," she whispered, hoping that he would finally be able to bring rescue.

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Jeongguk swung open his bedroom door and looked out onto the courtyard. His chamber was in the outermost part of the house, so he had a perfect view of it. Seeing not a living soul nearby, he left the room, slamming the door behind him. Holding his shield and spear in his hand, he moved toward the exit of the oikos. He walked slowly so as not to make unnecessary sounds that might give away his location.

"What are you sneaking around like that?" Hearing a man's voice, he jumped up in fear, assuming attack positions.

"By Zeus! Kyros, could you not scare me?! Someday, because of you, I'll go down with a heart attack and Hades will have reason to celebrate!" He shouted at him in anger, at which the blacksmith laughed out loud.

"Ares wouldn't be proud that you shake at the very thought of meeting women," he said, once he got his laughter under control.

"Don't remind me of those harpies," he fumed, and, correcting his equipment, started toward the exit again. "I have to find Aphrodite's son and find out if he is safe."

"I can see that you are really into it. All the way out here, you can hear Eros and Ganymede high-fiving each other," he said in amusement, trailing behind the warrior.

"I just want to check it out. You know very well that I do not support violence and will always protect the weak. The use of force is a last resort," he muttered, sighing heavily. He hated himself for becoming a killing machine because of his father, but he swore to himself that he would only take a life if someone stood in his way, giving him no other choice. He adhered to this principle, because human life was very precious to him. That's why he chose to live in Corinth, hoping to avoid further battles.

"An attitude worthy of divine praise. I am glad that you are at the head of the Spartan troops. We are in good hands," he said proudly, patting Jeongguk's uncovered, muscular shoulder.

"Thank you, Kyros, your words mean a lot to me," he said, stopping before just leaving. He turned toward the blacksmith and crossed the gaze of his dark eyes with him. "Tell me, Kyros, what do you think? Will I succeed in finding Aphrodite's son? Will he get the courage to reveal himself to the people a second time?"

"You forget that he revealed himself to you, not to people. He must have been watching you for a long time. He came to the port because you often hang out there, so he was sure he would meet you. And by choosing the night, he didn't risk his identity being discovered. That's why I advise you to go to the place where he was found by the priestess. It is away from the people, so if he dares to show himself in the daytime, it is on the beach where it all began."

"I will! Wish me luck, Kyros!" He exclaimed, smiling broadly, and left the oikos, and the blacksmith returned to the andron, raising prayers to all the Gods to have his crazy Spartan in their protection.

🕊️🕊️🕊️

By the time Jeongguk reached that beach, the tide had long begun to come in. He walked at a brisk pace, afraid that he would fail and not make it in time, but when he saw a faint figure in the distance, he breathed a sigh of relief. The young man was standing near the shore, his bare feet covered by frothy water. He was dressed in an airy blue toga over one shoulder, which was encircled at the waist by a white belt with pearls. The wind blew his curly hair, in which he had a rose flower tucked in, showing his beautiful face.

He didn't want to startle him, so he stopped a few meters away from him.

Taehyung tensed up, sensing the warrior's presence, but a gentle smile came to his lips. He turned toward him, crossing their gazes. Jeongguk held his breath and his heart started pounding hard against his ribs when he saw the sapphire eyes of the man standing before him. He had never seen such beautiful eyes.

"I am glad that you have graced me with your presence, warrior of Ares." Taehyung spoke up first, chasing away the intimidation and bowing to him, and a hot shiver ran along the Spartan's spine at the sound of that wonderful low voice.

"It is I who should bow to you, son of Aphrodite," he said, then fell to his knees before him, thrusting his spear into the sand in a gesture of respect and pressing his shield to his muscular chest.

Taehyung looked at the warrior leaning in front of him, and tears gathered in his eyes. He didn't know if they were tears of happiness or relief, or perhaps both feelings tugged at his youthful heart. However, one thing he was sure of, this man was able to save him. He approached and knelt down opposite him. He reached out his delicate hand and lifted his chin with slender fingers, crossing their gazes again. He was already about to say something, but the Spartan preceded him.

"Who did this to you?" He asked, looking at his injured lip, and Taehyung let go of his chin and, looking away, stood up. He walked away a piece, trying to chase away the memories of another humiliation by the priestess.

Jeongguk leaned his shield against the impaled spear and, rising from his knees, approached the son of Aphrodite. He gently placed his large hands on his shoulders and, blowing hot breath in his ear, asked again:

"Who dared to raise his hand on you?"

"I'll tell you. I will tell you everything, just promise me one thing," he asked, trembling in the warrior's arms.

"I promise," he replied without the slightest hesitation.

"I haven't even managed to tell you what I'm asking yet," he muttered.

"I'll do anything for you... Pearl..." He whispered, placing a gentle kiss on the lobe of his ear, and a flock of butterflies awoke in Taehyung's lower abdomen, making him want to last in the Spartan's embrace until the end of the world.

"I need your help, warrior of Ares, so please do me the honor and come at midnight to the temple of Aphrodite. I will be waiting for you there, and I will tell you my whole story," he said, turning toward him.

"I don't know if I am worthy of you confiding it to me," he replied.

"My fast-beating heart gives me a sign that you are the only one I can trust," he said, looking with his sapphire eyes at the helmet-covered face, and when he finally sank his gaze into the warrior's black eyes, he added: "May I?"

Jeongguk at first didn't know what the young man was asking him, but when it occurred to him that it was about the helmet, he nodded, closing his eyes. After a moment, his face was exposed, and the wind blew away the strands that had managed to slip out of his braided hair. He heard the helmet fall to the sand at his feet, and his heart stopped when he felt the young man's warm, gentle hands touch his heated cheeks. Taehyung scanned the Spartan's face, outlining his accentuated, sharp jaw with his fingers, hooking his raspberry lips as well.

"Jeongguk-ah... You are so beautiful," he sighed, and the warrior immediately opened his eyes.

"How do you know my name?" He asked, surprised, and saw the most beautiful smile in the world, which made his knees soften.

"I will tell you all the secrets when you arrive in Acrocorinth," he replied mysteriously.

"And at least will you tell me your name?" He asked, looking hopefully into his eyes, in which he was falling more and more in love with every second, and grabbed one of his hands, with which he was still wandering over his face, to direct it to his lips and place a kiss on it.

"Taehyung," he introduced himself, once again showing his white teeth in a wide smile. "My name is Taehyung."

"Taehyung-ah," he whispered, checking how the name of Aphrodite's son sounded in his mouth, and he liked it. He wanted to utter it for the rest of his life. "May I?" This time it was he who asked permission, extending his other hand, and subtly ran his thumb over his wounded lip.

The young man looked at him with incomprehension, and Jeongguk smiled and moved closer to him, leaving only a few inches between their lips.

"Oh," he sighed, because he didn't believe that someday his little secretive dream could come true, and covered the last distance, putting his trembling lips to those of the Spartan. He slid his hands off his cheeks and embraced his neck, and the warrior arranged those of his own, much stronger, on his narrow waist, drawing him even closer to himself. Time stopped for them as their lips explored each other's texture, placing butterfly kisses, and their hearts beat in a common rhythm, vowing to embrace their souls with love. They would have continued in this gentle embrace, but a gust of strong wind brought Taehyung back to earth. Reluctantly, he pulled away from the Spartan's sweet lips and released himself from his strong embrace.

"I have to go now," he whispered, turning his head toward the sea, and noticing dark clouds looming on the horizon, he swallowed his saliva hard.

"Don't go away. Stay with me," Jeongguk said, grabbing Taehung's hand and intertwining their fingers together.

"I would love to, but I can't," he replied, and regret could be heard in his voice. "Not yet. Please come to the temple at midnight," he added and kissed the scar on his left cheek, which was a reminder of one of his fights.

"I promise," he whispered, and let Taehyung's hand slide out of his, taking the pleasant warmth with it.

"I will be waiting for you at the eastern part of the wall. Watch out for the guards. See you," he said goodbye and, without waiting for the warrior's reply, began running toward the hill where they were to meet later.

Jeongguk stood still until the son of Aphrodite completely disappeared from his sight. He was so afraid for him, unable to believe that someone dared to raise his hand against such a wonderful and fragile being who had divine roots. His blood boiled in his taut veins, and he swore to himself that he would save him at all costs, and all those who committed this heinous act would face harsh consequences.

No one will ever hurt his Pearl again...

Translated by Ayashee11

JustVtine:

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