Chapter 2

My head tilted to one side. I gave a self-mocking smile.

My mother's hand was still trembling with anger.

"You still dare to make a scene? We spoiled you too much all these years. How did such a perfectly good child become so willful and domineering?"

"And you want to leave? Leave for where? Are you trying to stir up gossip across the city and make everyone think we favor one child and mistreat you? Cleione, when will you learn to be sensible? How did I give birth to a child like you? You can't compare to even half of Lyra!"

The taste of blood spread through my mouth.

I licked the corner of my lips.

Yes. In the past, every time, I would make a scene.

Because I could not understand.

I could not understand why, when Lyra had clearly broken the sacred cup Father brought back from Delphi, they insisted I had smashed it.

I could not understand why, even with the temple's water mirror recording everything, they refused to believe I had not pushed Lyra down the white stone steps.

Even the flowers I offered to Aphrodite, which triggered Lyra's allergy, became proof that I had deliberately bullied her.

This was not the first time Mother had struck me.

The last time was only two days ago.

Lyra wanted to wear my wedding robe, and I refused.

Then she suddenly fainted.

Mother came up and shoved me, then used ceremonial shears to cut apart the white gauze robe I had waited half a year for.

Because of Lyra, my own mother and I had nearly become enemies.

So I made scenes.

I wanted everyone to judge who was right.

But this time, I truly had not made a scene.

I was the only daughter of fate in this world.

Only those connected to me could receive the blessing of the golden thread granted by the three Fates.

On the second day after my parents gave birth to me, the Shen royal family, whose treasury had been empty and whose kingdom stood on the verge of collapse, suddenly discovered an entire gold mine beneath the sea and became the wealthiest city-state in the Aegean.

Even Father's liver disease, which Apollo's priests had declared incurable, healed by some miracle.

Because Lina had been my friend since childhood, the old scar on her face gradually disappeared, her voice grew clearer and brighter, and she eventually became the most dazzling songstress in the Muse temple. Even kings were willing to offer gold for the sound of her lyre.

As for Phaethon.

He had once been nothing more than a petty merchant in the market, selling fake bronze wares.

He was chased by city guards and beaten by his rivals.

Then he saved me when I got lost in the night market, and I fell in love with him at first sight.

From then on, he built his own fleet and army. His business prospered, his battles never failed, and at last he became the most valued chariot commander under Ares.

For more than twenty years, they held me like a treasure in their palms. Phaethon, especially, cherished me as if I were the apple of his eye.

They also gained everything they wanted because of me.

But later, Lyra was brought back to the palace.

And everyone changed.

Father ordered in a heavy voice,

"Someone, take away all her things. She is not to carry a single item from the palace."

"Cleione, if you want to leave, fine. But this time, no one will come coaxing you back. Once you leave, we will hold a city assembly before Athena's temple and sever our parent-child ties with you. From then on, you will no longer be our daughter."

They did not even let me take one piece of clothing before they pushed me out the door.

Phaethon sighed and quietly handed me the key seal to a small shrine-house.

"You can stay in this cottage. Cleione, we're truly tired. We don't want to keep indulging your tantrums."

"How good it would have been if the person I saved back then had been Lyra."

I gave a cold scoff. "You can marry her now."

Phaethon sighed helplessly.

"There you go again. Cleione, you know I swore before Hera that I would marry you, and I will not break my word."

"Lyra is a pure, kind girl. I won't allow you to toss her around in your mouth like some object. Don't let me hear you say that again."

He turned and walked up the steps.

I threw the key seal onto the ground and was about to leave.

Lyra suddenly rushed over and grabbed my sleeve.

"Sister, don't go. I shouldn't have longed for warmth that doesn't belong to me. I'm not worthy."

"Don't leave. I should be the one to go. I'll leave the palace right now..."

I knew exactly what Lyra was planning.

So I simply stood there and let her clutch me while she pretended to cry.

But when she saw that I did not push her away as I used to, she immediately began struggling for breath and fainted at my feet.

"Lyra!"

"Call Apollo's priest! Lyra, my daughter!"

Everyone rushed over in panic and surrounded her.

Phaethon's eyes were vicious as he seized me by the throat.

"Cleione, you still dare lay a hand on Lyra? Do you think I truly can't bear to hurt you?"

So this was what it felt like to laugh when words failed you.

I had not even bothered to touch her, and somehow it had still become me attacking her.

"Phaethon, I hope none of you regret this later."

"Guards!"

Father roared, pointing at me.

"Lock her in the underground shrine room and punish her according to family law!"