The wedding proceeded smoothly, albeit surprisingly so.
No one dared to stage a kidnapping for marriage, not after the bride had once slain many fierce heroes with her own hands. Though she appeared delicate now, akin to a princess in her chambers, she had earned her place as a formidable figure.
The townsfolk cheered as the Hero of Pure White, arm draped around their princesses, strolled the streets. Their jubilation was enough to satisfy Iasus, who was visibly pleased. Even Cyd, known for his indifferent demeanor towards marriage, seemed content, though Iasus knew better. He had heard the rumors—Cyd had earned the favor of the Goddess of Harvest, promising prosperity to his land. No man would dare run off with his daughter; that much he was certain of.
Cyd politely declined Iasus's attempts to share a drink, and Iasus, understanding the situation, gave him a thumbs-up. After all, why would a man choose to drink with a group when he had a passionate wife waiting for him at home?
"Stupid," Cyd muttered to himself as he discarded his wedding attire soon after leaving the banquet. Petite Medusa emerged from the shadows, handing Cyd a bundle of clothes.
"Ready to go?" Medusa asked, tilting her head.
"Mm," Cyd replied as he dressed, tearing off the sleeves of his robe with his nails, revealing scales on his right arm. The cloak made of tiny scales stretched as he pulled it off, then slowly fell to the ground.
"Ugh..." Medusa grumbled in dissatisfaction.
"I promised I wouldn't hesitate," Cyd said, tearing off the torn fabric from his right arm.
"What about the child?" Medusa sighed. "She's probably waiting for you."
"Say goodbye and leave," Cyd said, brushing his hand through his hair before heading towards his marriage chamber with Atalanta.
"I'll wait outside," Medusa said, pulling her hood over her head and walking towards a nearby window. "I don't mind waiting a bit."
"I know, but bid farewell," Cyd sighed, reaching for the door handle. "Now, that's all I can do."
...
Cyd didn't bother to open the door gently; the sudden noise made the figure sitting on the bed jump.
Couldn't she detect his approach from this distance?
Cyd rubbed his forehead.
"You... you're here!" Atalanta said, somewhat flustered, adjusting her wedding attire. When she saw Cyd's attire, her expression started to freeze. "You..."
"Surprised?" Cyd approached Atalanta, lifting her chin gently. "I thought you might do the same with me."
"I don't understand..." Atalanta avoided Cyd's gaze.
Cyd sighed. The wild, untamed Atalanta he knew seemed to have disappeared. Normally, she would have retorted by now, rather than appearing so composed.
"Bang—" Cyd roughly pushed Atalanta onto the bed, gripping her wrists firmly against the mattress.
Atalanta closed her eyes slowly, feeling the tension in the air escalate.
Was she unable to resist this, or had she willingly crossed a forbidden boundary?
But, despite her regret and reluctance, there was also a strange satisfaction.
"You said... you didn't know what to hunt," Cyd whispered into Atalanta's ear, his voice soft. "So come hunt me..."
Atalanta suddenly opened her eyes.
"Unfortunately, now I feel like running away from this marriage," Cyd said as he got up from the bed.
Atalanta lay motionless on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, seemingly unaffected by Cyd's words.
"It's not that you're not charming," Cyd continued, smiling wistfully. "You're beautiful, like a princess, but... I really prefer your original free-spirited self."
With that, Cyd turned and leaped out of the window.
Atalanta remained on the bed, unmoving. After a while, she raised her arm to cover her eyes.
"You really did it..."
Strange... Regret and reluctance seemed to have vanished, replaced only by a sense of fulfillment that was about to overflow.
"I won't forgive you!" Atalanta muttered. "To end our confusion like this... You actually hope I'll chase after you!"
"I'll chase you to the ends of the underworld..."
Atalanta's words seemed to echo, allowing her to face herself more honestly...
...
"You're impossible."
Faced with the sudden inquiry from the white-haired goddess, Cyd felt as though a flock of crows had descended upon him.
"What... What do you think I should have done just now?" Cyd asked, rubbing his temples in frustration.
"You... You should have... Should have acted like a man!" Artemis blushed, gesturing animatedly.
"As the Virgin Goddess, you really shouldn't be saying that!" Cyd widened his eyes. "Atalanta was your follower."
"It's true that I can't condone such behavior as the Virgin Goddess Artemis, but... compared to pledges and obligations, I hope that she finds happiness way more," Artemis said, her expression softening.
"Happiness? Will this really make her happy?" Cyd glanced towards the tall tower not far away, its highest peak shining as it housed their marriage chamber. Perhaps no one would expect that he would leave such a beautiful and charming young girl to wander...
"She loves you," Artemis asserted firmly, despite never having experienced romantic love herself. "Even if she hasn't loved anyone before, I'm confident in saying so. She won't admit it, but... wouldn't you rather let her decide her own fate than passively accept what others call destiny?"
Artemis paused, tilting her head. "That's what I mean!"
"I haven't loved anyone before, so I can't be sure of my feelings now. But I don't want Atalanta to be unhappy," Cyd chuckled. "In her eyes, you mean a lot to her. That pledge isn't a shackle; it's a source of pride. I don't want her to give someone else the power to make such a proud decision for her. She should decide for herself."
Artemis opened her mouth to respond, but couldn't find the words. She always felt that Cyd's perception of men was fundamentally different from her own.
"Why does it always have to be about that in the end?" Cyd sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"Isn't that how men are?" Artemis asked, puzzled. "At least from what I've seen—from my father, Zeus, to mortals—it seems no one can make the same decision from the same perspective. They might choose... to chase after progress."
"Please don't lump me in with them," Cyd sighed heavily. Controlling his lower half in Greece didn't seem to be as tragic or dramatic as it was on the table.
"You're... really are different..." Artemis stared blankly for a moment before patting Cyd on the head. "You've pleased me so much~"
A silver light gathered on Cyd's bracer, filling a new crystal.
"This is my blessing as Artemis," Artemis said mischievously, blinking.
"This is... certainly something," Cyd muttered, his mouth twitching.
"So, since you don't seem interested in what I said earlier, then..." Artemis smiled mischievously. "What do you think of me?"
"You really shouldn't joke about that..."
"I'm serious."
"I... I'm still too young to die!"
Cyd didn't want to risk being struck by lightning or shot in the head with an arrow.