I Became a Slave to a Mythical Shepherd

Episode 41. Ando

“My name is Paris, the son of Agelaos.”

“···Paris?”

“That’s right. I heard that my father brought me home in a backpack (Πᾰ́ρη, pare). So, you named me Paris (Πάρις).”

“Ha ha, that’s an interesting name.”

When I say the name, Anchises’ eyes open strangely wide.

It pretends to be calm quickly and skillfully, but that habitual motion of licking the corners of the mouth with the tongue to see if the lips are dry.

Those gazes that blatantly scan me without caring about other people’s gazes.

Anchises knows me.

more precisely

know my identity

“Oh my god, Aphrodite… you have such a beautiful face. I have been blessed by Aphrodite, the supreme beauty itself.”

“Thank you, Anchises.”

what a blessing An explanation that would be more in line with the facts would be that the bomb was dropped.

However, Anchises continued to look at me with admiration, as if he was sincere in his own way, and suddenly said something as if he had remembered.

“Oh, my son is just your age. Aeneas.”

Aeneas approaches me with a bewildered face.

And I, too, am terribly perplexed. Not only me, but everyone around me, including the elders, the governor, and Uncle Skleos, were not at a loss.

Calling your own son just to introduce you to a slave boy?

“Greetings.”

“hello. As I just said, my name is Paris, son of Agelaus. I am serving Skleos now.”

“You say you serve a blacksmith…?”

“yes.”

“Aren’t you a shepherd?”

“···yes?”

“Your right hand.”

Aeneas winks at my hand.

“I had calluses, so I often used a cane. Shepherds do.”

How else does a nobleman know that shepherds have hands?

When I couldn’t answer and looked towards Skleos, the uncle cleared his throat and stood between me and Aeneas.

“That’s right. Originally a shepherd, but the child seems to be intelligent, so I give money to the parents and I am temporarily in charge.”

“It’s embarrassing, but my son is quite observant. Like this, they reveal facts that I didn’t know and surprise me.”

“I’m glad you have a wise son.”

“of course. But it will be the same for you.”

“What are you talking about?”

Anchises looked at me once and winked lightly.

“I would like to have an attendant like that.”

“ha ha ha···.”

sh*t.

From the first meeting, I was completely hooked.

***

On the first day of his arrival in Antandros, Anchises stayed at the governor’s residence.

That meant that a sweltering welcome banquet would be held at the official residence.

Due to the unexpected visit of the envoy, the guests and food materials originally prepared for the banquet commemorating the completion of the road were allotted for Anchises instead.

And, if it was the usual Paris, the real power of Antandros, Paris now, the servant of Skleos, would not have to attend.

“Ha… I guess I shouldn’t have gone out to the north gate just to welcome you.”

Anchises said, ‘I would like a beautiful child like you to light up the table at tonight’s banquet. If your master permits it.’

“It would have been to no avail. Probably, ‘Scleos, there are rumors from the north that you have a clever young man named Paris. Why don’t you bring me one?’ If you say this, it’s over.”

“That is also true.”

Even if that were the case, I would have been called to the banquet without properly understanding Anchises or Aeneas. It’s rather a handshake.

only sighs come out

“At that time, there were quite a few servants and guards brought in.”

“okay. They’ll probably be scattered all over the city starting tomorrow, collecting information.”

A relative of the royal family, who knew my identity, came as an envoy without warning.

Its purpose is obvious. Of course, wouldn’t it be spying on a high-risk area for rebellion?

And it would be natural to pay attention to the ‘prince’ who is sure to be the leader of the rebellion.

“Hyung, while I’m out at the banquet, please keep the workers away from Antandros.”

“okay.”

“And, the number of servants was probably about 47.”

“I managed to remember everything.”

“of course. From now on, they are all humans that you will have to chase after.”

“···what?”

“No, it’s not like my brother is looking for them one by one. The guys from Troia speak different languages anyway, so you can tell, right?

Have the kids let them leak one by one in moderation. Yes. Well… I guess it’s possible with just this in moderation.”

I threw a bundle full of iron coins to Theo. Theo checked the contents and shrugged.

“Good idea. After all, the value of iron is higher in Troia than in this area. They will go crazy when they see this.”

“The details of how to charm the servants…”

“I am not a newbie.”

Theo hyung laughs and says.

“I’ll take care of it, so you’re cooking Anchises-nim and Aeneas-nim well.”

“Paris! Come out!”

“Scleos-nim is calling. Go see.”

Theo shoves me on the shoulder.

I pinned my reddish cloak and boarded the seat next to Uncle Skleos’ carriage.

Yes, this is the start.

The banquet of the first night passed by.

After all, everyone was impatient because they couldn’t meet the greetings from the capital.

People from nearby cities who were originally scheduled to come to the banquet to celebrate the completion of the road also clung to Anchises and Aeneas like leeches, making them unable to move.

On the second day, another banquet was held in the mansion of Anoitus.

“Paris, I called you to the banquet yesterday and didn’t speak a word to you.”

“You don’t have to apologize to every little slave. Mr. Anchises.”

“okay? ‘Insignificant slave’?”

Anchises gives me a meaningful smile and hands me a drink. I took the cup and followed where Anchises led.

And when he went to the corner of the banquet hall, he saw Aeneas, who couldn’t fit anywhere.

“Aeneas, this child can actually call this area his hometown. I lived on Mount Ida until I was five years old.”

“On Mount Ida?”

I was a shepherd on Mount Ida. How the hell did you not meet?

“I-I was raised by fairies.”

Aeneas’s small voice was a sufficient answer to him.

Did I notice the existence of the gods when I was 7 years old? Until then, I couldn’t face a mythical being other than Ino.

Since Aeneas and I are of the same age, I have been with the fairies. If I had left at the age of five, I would not have seen them

Before I knew it, Anchises put Aeneas and me together and started approaching Skleos.

After bowing to Aeneas, I began to endure the awkward silence.

“Aeneas-nim, then, you must be familiar with the geography of this area, right?”

“…I’ve never been outside the forest where the fairies lived. I know nothing.”

and silence again.

I said, ‘My child is timid, so would you like to play with me?’ I tried to talk to Aeneas like a child who heard the sound, but the conversation with Aeneas was often cut off.

…No, this is the cherished son of Aphrodite, the greatest hero of Troy, and the founder of Rome? Is this cute?

“The forest must be beautiful this season.”

“The fairies… that’s why they liked this weather.”

Whatever you say, a fairy, a fairy. I had no choice but to change the topic of conversation to that.

“Then, do you know any fairies?”

“Ah, Oh Inone-sama! She’s the fairy who presides over Mount Ida, and she’s really pretty…”

“Let’s move on to something else.”

…Somehow I feel bad.

I’ll have to ask Ino about this assa later.

The second night went like that.

By the third night, Theo skillfully led the servants of Anchises to iron warfare and merry gambling. They were probably just happy that they were strangely lucky.

And so the fourth night goes, and the fifth night passes.

A few days later, the banquet of the day was held at Uncle Skleos’ mansion.

Finally, Anchises came back to me as if he had finished searching for the adults around me.

“Paris, I’m sorry. It was as if I entrusted my son to you.”

“What are you saying? I lost track of time when I talked to Aeneas.”

Anchises laughed bitterly as if he had been hit by my irony, and soon whispered softly in my ear.

“I heard that you are the one who built this city’s forge.”

“Scleos-sama’s realization of a wild idea thrown out by a child is probably closer to the truth. People always enjoy exaggeration and bravado.”

“Be humble! hahahaha, there are many things I want to share with you today.”

For a long time, Anchises stayed by my side and said this and that.

To my surprise, none of them had any nutritional value.

“You are so beautiful. It’s as if Aphrodite put her precious jewels in your eyes.”

“thank you.”

“You look too good to live as a slave. Could I at least teach you how to ride a horse?”

“I’m not strong enough to hold my whole body with my thighs…”

It was all compliments on my appearance.

It’s only once or twice that I feel better after receiving a round pole. After listening to the greasy serenade of a middle-aged man for about 4 hours, I felt sick to my stomach.

Anyway, after this conversation, I hoped there would be no more banquets.

“I will return to the royal capital tomorrow.”

Surprisingly, that wish came true.

I quickly turned to Anchises. He gives me a comfortable smile, as if somehow relieved.

“You are a wonderful, smart and handsome boy.”

“···thank you.”

“You are well aware of your own situation.”

“I have always lived faithfully to my duty as a slave.”

“Not that.”

In an instant, I felt my whole body stiffen.

When he turned his head, Anchises’ expression did not change.

“Despite your tragic circumstances, you have always been honest and good.”

Anchises laughed and tousled my hair.

“A handsome and good-natured boy.”

After that, Anchises whispered something softly.

Only in that noisy banquet hall did I hear his last words.

he said.

“You didn’t even think of treason. This poor, good thing.”

***

The banquet is coming to an end, and everyone seems tired of eating and drinking.

About that time, Anchises left the mansion of Skleos for a while.

The sky was densely studded with clear and bright stars like the eyes of the gods.

On the floor, Gaia’s soft grass tickled his toes.

‘thank god.’

Anchises thinks so.

If a prince named Paris was plotting a rebellion, the people of the city should have known he was a prince and were ready to appoint him.

However, neither Skleos, his teacher, nor Anoitus, his patron, know his true identity.

Clearly, the beautiful Paris seemed to hold some authority in this city, but it was unclear what she intended to do with that authority.

There was no evidence that treason was intended.

There was full of circumstantial evidence that he had no intention of committing treason.

Above all,

‘There’s no way such a beautiful boy would commit treason.’

[My lover.]

Mr. Aphrodite.

Aphrodite comes down to visit her lover and caresses him.

He remembered the first time he met the goddess, when he confirmed her love for her, when she conceived Aeneas, his son.

He knew as Aphrodite’s first follower.

A boy as beautiful as Paris.

can’t be guilty

Something sparked in Anchises’ hand holding the flint, and it moved somewhere.

They are all wooden boards with letters engraved on them.

-‘… It’s definitely dangerous. It seems that the whole city has already been taken over by that boy…’

-‘···Even if there is no will to rebel, it must be punished…’

Things with crap written on them.

I remembered the names of the impious people who wrote these things.

Anchises, after burning all the reports, embraced Aphrodite.

And soon, a flock of pigeons with letters tied to their ankles fly up from the place where a goddess and a human man stood.

Flapping their white wings like torn clouds, the flock of pigeons finds the right air current for the direction they are going.

Riding the warm, northward south wind, they stop their toilsome flapping with their wings outstretched and lean on the power of the earth.

Some lose their direction and scatter, while others lose sight of the shelter or food in front of them.

Some of them run away in confusion at the appearance of their enemies and lose their lives forever.

But most continue to cruise.

They continue their long voyage by changing the lead and sharing the burden of cutting the wind.

And, reaching their bustling hometown, Troia, the hometown that fed them and taught them what they were to do throughout their lives, they lowered their altitude to end their multi-day journey.

The speed of flapping the wings gradually increases, reaches a peak, and then slows down again.

They land on the perch.

“What about the letter this time?”

“It is the mark of Viceroy Antandros.”

“This is something I will deliver directly to the King. Do not touch it, and I will deliver it to the king myself.”

A high-ranking eunuch trudges across the colorfully tiled court floor wearing a cloak with a depiction of a lark.

Many pay homage to him for serving the king, or ridicule his body for not being able to ‘act as a man’, but now that he is old, he doesn’t pay attention to such trivial things.

He exists only to function as his master’s extended neural network.

– Knocked up.

“My king. This is a letter from Nikis, son of Philip, governor of Antandros.”

“Give me.”

While playing chess with a guest, the king holds out his hand in the correct position without turning his head. And the eunuch also smoothly delivered the letter into the king’s hand.

This ruler-like, one-body movement was the pride of a mastered eunuch.

And he had one more pride.

“The time has come for the king to read an important letter.”

“Oh, ah… I’ve been rude.”

“No. I’ll leave the chessboard as it is, so I’ll put it again next time.”

He could guess his master’s feelings from the slightest trembling between his eyebrows and the subtle movements of his fingers.

Now the king of Troy had to be alone.

The eunuch closed the door and dismissed the guest while Priam pressed the back of his ear as usual to suppress his headache.

And hearing the king’s relieved sigh from beyond the door, he was sure that good news had reached him.

***

thank god.

Priam thinks as he strokes his wrinkled face with his wrinkled hand.

I’m so glad

Because I don’t have to kill my child with my own hands.

I don’t have to hold my wife, Hecube, in tears again.

In so many lives, there comes a moment when you can be genuinely happy.

He gets up from his chair for a moment and knocks lightly on the door four times.

Today, it means no more guests. That eunuch, who had been with him for decades and had become accustomed to it like a cloak, would understand his intentions well.

Soon, simple snacks and drinks are served to Priam, who enjoys leisure time after a long time.

Priams relaxes his tense mind by adding sweet fruit juice to his favorite nuts.

After even the attendants who came with their beaks were bitten off, there was complete silence in the courtyard with only whispers coming through the walls.

Only a man named Priam, his shadow, and the red haze of the sun setting behind the wall are all that remain.

To further enjoy this relief, Priam leans back more deeply in his chair. The densely woven cotton and cotton support the body of the king.

Looking at the sky slowly turning purple, I see someone opening the door and entering without permission.

“father? My servants, I wanted to ask why you postponed your schedule today…”

“…my daughter.”

Cassandra, my poor daughter.

Priam brought his daughter closer and hugged her tightly. The daughter was taken aback, but kept silent when she realized that her coat was soaked with her father’s tears.

“Oh, Cassandra. How fortunate it is that the gods still love Troy…”

“…”

How old is your father?

Now you are only entering the age of old, but you already have thick gray hair and wrinkles around your eyes…

Cassandra also had to hold back tears for no reason at her father’s tears.

“I’m sorry. Showing your feelings without telling you why. i haven’t matured He wasn’t even king.”

“No, Father.”

As Cassandra bows her head in obedience, Priam smiles contentedly and releases her from his arms.

“Don’t tell me what happened. It’s about your brother.”

Cassandra, gifted with the gift of prophecy, was one of the few children of his who knew about the abandoned second son.

“Agelaus, whom he adopted as his adoptive father, said his name was Paris.”

So, without hesitation, he brought up the name Paris.

I was taken aback when an uneasy tremble rose from Cassandra’s shoulder.

– Talgrak. Talgrak.

A match takes place in Cassandra’s body. Priam hurriedly got up and grabbed hold of the body that was about to lose its balance and collapse.

Suddenly, your body heats up like a ball of fire, and cold sweat flows from your forehead and neck.

“Come on, daughter. Why? why···.”

“F, the son of Priam and Hecuba… the second son…”

“Oh, my God, again…”

again

The daughter’s madness begins to flare up.

Tears again flow from Priam’s eyes, and the daughter’s body gradually slips from his arms and begins to rise into the air.

Cracks form on the surrounding pottery, and small cracks form on the floor.

Priam looked up with fear at his daughter, who had left her body in the air, ignoring the gravity of the earth.

[Pria, the son of Moss, Par, and Paris, destroy, destroy, Troy.]

Hearing from his daughter’s mouth, the memories of the past, which were like nightmares, were brought back to life.