(Fate) Chapter 198: Choose me!

(Fate) Chapter 197: Make the judgement, Promise ...

A few days later, on the Mount Pelion...

A grand wedding was underway. 

Gods and goddesses gathered to offer their blessings to the beautiful sea goddess, Thetis, and her groom, the hero Peleus.

The wedding was arranged by the noble goddess of marriage herself, Queen Hera, and given the highest regard by Zeus, the king of the gods. 

So they invited almost all the gods to participate, including the three goddesses of fate.

But as in myth, they did not extend an invitation to Eris, the goddess of discord.

However, even though she was not invited, this time Eris did not take out a golden apple with the inscription “to the fairest,” for the simple reason that she had none left.

Due to Promise, and especially the fact that Athena, Hermes, and Heracles stole the golden apple tree, with the latter taking away a whole branch, the gods’ reserves of golden apples were now depleted.

Yet despite this, a golden apple did indeed appear at the wedding feast.

And the one who quietly set it upon the banquet table was none other than one of the wedding’s honored guests—Peleus.

It didn’t take long before the gods noticed the apple.

And then…

"I am the rightful owner of this golden apple."

Queen Hera lifted her head confidently as she gazed at the apple. "I am the most revered goddess on Olympus, respected by gods and mortals alike. Naturally, this golden apple should belong to me."

Hearing this, Athena's eyes flashed with a hint of amusement as she looked at the golden apple in front of her and couldn't help but laugh. "But wisdom and compassion surpass mere power, so, clearly, I have more claim to it than you."

"What are you two talking about?"

Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty, scowled as she approached and gazed at the apple bearing the inscription. "To the Fairest," she spoke in a matter-of-fact tone, "Can't you see? It’s dedicated 'to the fairest,' and I am the goddess of love and beauty. There's no one fairer than me."

The three goddesses refused to give in to each other and started a quarrel that cast a shadow over the once joyful wedding celebration.

“They are so boring.”
Seeing this, Artemis, the moon goddess who was not involved in the fight, said, "What's the point of fighting over this?"

Hermes chuckled at her comment and looked at her as he spoke, "Artemis, are you sure you don’t want to join in? If you keep standing back, you might miss your chance and never get it again."

"Not interested," Artemis shook her head, indicating that she had no interest at all.

As time went by, the quarrel among the three goddesses not only did not stop but instead tended to gradually expand so much so that even the king of gods, Zeus, was unwilling to stand out in this horrific Shura field.

Realizing that the escalating tension would ruin the gathering, Zeus finally turned his gaze toward Hermes.

The latter had been waiting for this cue.

With a smirk, he adjusted his winged cap, then stepped forward to address the crowd.

"To the fairest, you say..."

Hermes came to the golden apple and picked it up, casting a mischievous glance at the assembled gods, especially the three hopeful goddesses, who were looking at it with anticipation.

Laughing, he continued, "This indeed is a tricky dilemma, for I believe every goddess present today is worthy of it."

As soon as Hermes finished speaking, he immediately aroused the dissatisfaction of the goddess of beauty Aphrodite and the queen of heaven Hera, but Athena did not react particularly strongly.

"So I must admit I don’t know which goddess to entrust it to... but," he added with a smile, "I happen to know someone who could make the fairest judgment."

The moment Hermes said this, Queen Hera and Goddess of Beauty Aphrodite were stunned; even Artemis was stunned for a moment, and then stood up with eyes wide open as if she thought of something.

"After all, his judgments are fair enough that even the goddess of justice herself holds them in esteem... isn’t that right, Goddess Themis?"

Hermes looked over to Themis, the goddess of justice, whose eyes were covered by a white cloth.

Hearing his suggestion, Themis, who also understood Hermes' intentions, nodded in agreement.

"So, noble Father Zeus, should we invite that child here to act as the judge for this matter?" Hermes held the golden apple labeled "to the fairest" and winked at the god king, Zeus.

The god king, fully aware of Hermes’ meaning and who this "child" was, couldn’t help but chuckle at his words.

He looked at Hermes and then at Hera, the Queen of Heaven, Artemis, the Goddess of the Moon, and Demeter, the Goddess of Agriculture, who had all become visibly excited at the mention of this idea.

Zeus knew quite well that Hera had "let go" of Promise, and now every goddess had been quietly vying to be the one he would worship next. 

Therefore, bringing that child here as the judge would not only calm this scene down but also escalate it beyond a mere contest over a golden apple among Hera, Aphrodite, and Athena.

"Of course!" Now fully entertained by the idea, Zeus immediately agreed to Hermes' request.

Shortly after, Pegasus brought the black-haired, green-eyed young man to the gathering.

As Promise entered the grand banquet and was handed the "To the Fairest" golden apple amid the' gaze of all the gods, even Athena, the goddess of wisdom, who had half-expected this turn of events, looked at the boy with a newfound intensity.

In that instant, Promise became the absolute center of attention at the wedding.

"My child, it has been a while."
Zeus greeted him with a gentle smile.

"It has indeed been a while, great King of the Gods." Holding the golden apple, Promise respectfully bowed to the king of the gods in front of him.

"Are you clear on what’s happening?" Zeus asked with a knowing smile.

"Lord Hermes already explained it to me on the way here," Promise replied.

"And can you make a fair decision?"

Upon hearing this, the young man instinctively glanced around. 

Facing the piercing, watchful eyes around him, even Promise, who had been prepared, had to swallow hard.

"I’ll... do my best."

Just then—

"Quick, Apollo! Hand me your lyre!" Hermes came over to Apollo and called out urgently.

Apollo raised an eyebrow. "What for?"

"To play a song for this thrilling moment, of course! A little music to liven up the mood!" 
Hermes replied with an innocent smile as Apollo shot him a skeptical look. 

He really felt this guy's memory was so weak.

He had been "hunted" by Promise before, and he was still so eager to seek death like this.
Unlike him, who was very honest and had no intention of tempting fate today.

But after a moment, Apollo handed over his lyre, and after getting it, Hermes immediately began to play a somber, melancholic tune, matching Promise’s own anxious feelings.

So the moment the music of the Lyre sounded, even Zeus almost couldn't help laughing, and he barely managed to control the expression on his face.

Promise, who was so angry that his teeth were itching, turned his head and glared at Hermes.

'Hermes, I'll remember you!'

“We all believe in you, child. Whatever decision you make, I’m sure it will earn everyone’s respect,” Zeus said, barely able to contain his laughter as he patted Promise’s shoulder in encouragement.

Hearing his words, before Promise could respond, Zeus, finally unable to bear it any longer, turned away, finally bursting into an unrestrained laugh as he walked off.

Zeus had barely left when Queen Hera eagerly leaned toward Promise and said. “Promise, this ‘Golden Apple to the Fairest’ is obviously meant for me! 
Don’t forget, you’ve told me countless times that I’m the most beautiful goddess in your heart!”

Athena gave Promise a knowing smile as she said. “Promise, dear, I trust you’ll make the wisest choice. Don’t let power cloud your judgment.”

Then, Artemis, the moon goddess, pushed Aphrodite aside and rushed forward, saying. “Pick me, pick me, Promise! If you give me the golden apple, I’ll give you Atalanta as a reward!”

“But isn’t Atalanta your follower?” Persephone, the queen of the underworld, joined in with a gentle smile. “As for this apple, it's meant for me, isn’t it? After all, Promise, I am your elder sister.”

"Then shouldn't it be given to me rather than you?" Demeter said.

"No, mother, please! Why are you even joining in?”

In an instant, the place became a chaotic chorus of claims, each goddess insisting on her right to the golden apple.

Meanwhile, Hermes seamlessly shifted his melancholic tune to a lively, festive melody, perfectly mirroring the increasing clamor.

“Now, now, no need to rush, and no need to make things difficult for our dear Promise,” Hestia, the elder sister, chuckled, approaching with a serene smile. “If you ask me, I will say Promise will definitely give it to Clotho, right? After all, in his heart, little Goddess Clotho has always been the cutest."

“Exactly, exactly! My Clotho is clearly the one who deserves Promise’s golden apple!” Lachesis, the second sister of the goddess of fate, praised and pushed her younger sister Clotho towards Promise.

“Um…” Themis, the goddess of justice, whose eyes were still covered with a white cloth, suddenly spoke in her usual calm but suggestive tone. “Actually, I feel I, too, might be worthy of Promise’s golden apple.”

When she said this, silence fell over the room. 

All the gods, even Zeus, stared at the goddess of justice with an incredible look on her face.

At this, even Apollo, the god of light, couldn’t help it. 

He pulled out his own lyre, joining Hermes in a lively duet, pushing the atmosphere to the hottest level!

"What exactly are you all trying to do?”

Just then, the gentle goddess Thetis moved to stand beside Peleus, who was also observing the unfolding scene and looked at him with curiosity.

She had noticed how Peleus quietly placed the golden apple in the center of the gathering.

And considering the preciousness of the golden apple today, how could Thetis not guess that this was a play directed and acted by Promise himself?

“I’m not entirely sure,” Peleus glanced at Thetis and shook his head honestly.

“In our duel, I lost to him, and placing this golden apple here was his only condition. He said that by doing so, he could rewrite your fate.”

Hearing this, Thetis, who had rarely felt confusion, now found herself just as perplexed as the rest.

Looking at the intense drama around them, she struggled to comprehend Promise’s true intentions.

And then…

“If it were any other day, I’d likely be carefully considering which one of you goddesses I would choose.” 

Looking at the goddesses in front of him who wanted to swallow him up, Promise gritted his teeth and said, “After all, in my heart each of you is beautiful and kind beyond compare; it’s impossible to rank one above the other.”

Slowly, and with no small amount of caution, he withdrew from their intense circle and turned around, walking towards Thetis, who looked at him, equally uncertain.

“But today, on this special day of celebration, I believe there is only one who truly deserves the title of ‘the fairest,’ don’t you?” 

With these words, he came before Thetis.

He looked at her deeply and then handed the golden apple to her.

Thetis stood frozen, staring at Promise, then at the apple in her hands.

And at this moment, she experienced firsthand how a single look could kill a god... She felt that even if she and Promise had fought the gods on Mount Olympus, the danger level would not have been even one-tenth of what it was like now!

The golden apple in her hand suddenly felt scorching hot.

But...

This Golden Apple, 'to the Fairest,” was offered to her by Promise himself, so Thetis had to admit that even at the risk of being torn to pieces by the goddesses in front of her, she still could not resist the allure of this golden apple.

And so, with a deep breath, she reached out and took it.

The moment she did, she saw Promise lean over as he whispered softly in her ear, "Goddess Thetis, I... have come to seek revenge on you."

Thetis froze, her beautiful ocean-deep eyes staring blankly at the young man, who turned around and turned to face Hera.

Promise now directed his gaze toward the queen of the gods herself, Hera, who was biting her lips, with a jealous expression written all over her face without any concealment.

“My esteemed Queen Hera,” he began, “I have bestowed this Golden Apple 'to the Fairest’ and found the goddess I believe to be the most beautiful. So now, let us honor our vow together.”

“Vow?” Hera subconsciously asked Promise in confusion:. “What vow?”

“The vow we made together, Goddess Hera, have you forgotten?” 

Promise chuckled and spoke words that left everyone stunned: "You promised me, Goddess Hera, that when I found the one I deemed most beautiful, regardless of who she was, you would satisfy me and grant me the grandest wedding of all, with all the gods present to give their blessings.

Well, today, I have offered the golden apple 'to the fairest' to Goddess Thetis."

The gods were stunned.

The gods fell into thinking.

And then the gods realized.

Was this... a marriage challenge?

Even Hermes, who had suspected from the very beginning that Promise had come with ill intentions today, looked at the young, who spoke these words, with wide eyes and great shock, finding himself utterly speechless at his audacity. 

While Hera, though momentarily stunned, recalled her vow to Promise and realized... it was, indeed, exactly as he’d said.

"Promise, are you saying... you wish to marry Thetis?"
Hera stammered as she stood up. 

In her mind, a question bubbled up: 

Yes, why hadn’t she thought of pairing Thetis with Promise herself? 

Compared to that guy named Peleus, Promise was clearly a better match!

“Whether I like her or not, she is, by the gods' unanimous recognition, the'most beautiful goddess’ in my eyes. 

Although I may no longer be your follower, Goddess Hera, you will always be my goddess in my heart, and so I cannot ignore my oath to you,” Promise answered steadily. “So, noble Lady Hera, I implore you—grant this marriage to me.”

As soon as Promise finished speaking, Hermes nearly stood up to applaud. 

After he said this, Zeus, who had originally noticed what Promise was going to do and had frowned and even looked a little angry, now regained his composure.

The gods attending this grand wedding did not view Promise’s claim as a problem.

Instead, they all looked at Hera with incomparable envy because, by granting this marriage, she might even reclaim Promise.

"I think it sounds wonderful." Queen of the Underworld Persephone was the first to respond, breaking the silence.

Although she was slightly disappointed that she did not receive the golden apple, she had a fond respect for the gentle, kind-hearted Thetis.

Demeter, the goddess of agriculture, also chuckled, adding, “Indeed, they do make a handsome pair, don’t they?”

Meanwhile, Apollo, the god of light, took action and immediately restrained Artemis, who was trying to leap forward. 

'Calm down, calm down, remember—you're a virgin goddess; you really can't jump out at this time!

On the side of the goddess of fates, the second sister, Lachesis, looked helplessly at her older sister and then looked at the goddess of fate, Clotho, who was silent beside her.

Ah, my sister is angry, so scary!

“This, that…”

Just when Hera thought that this was a good idea, as it would allow her to fulfill her promise to the child Promise, and perhaps through this, she would be one step closer to regaining his faith...

“But noble Lady Hera, the mighty King of the gods, Zeus, you’ve already blessed me with the hand of the sea goddess Thetis!” 

At this moment, Peleus stood up in an unusually 'untactful' manner.

"Could it be that, great gods, you are going to take back the gifts you have bestowed upon me and break your word in front of all present?"

Peleus’s words triggered immediate tension, as some gods scowled at him in disapproval, and Hera felt an instant surge of irritation, about to say something.. when...

"Watch your tongue!” Promise turned to him and spoke in a sharp tone. “How could the noble goddess Hera and the great king of gods Zeus go back on their word?"

"If they say they will honor a promise, then they will!”

When Promise made his declaration, most of the gods were left thoroughly baffled, unable to understand what he wanted to do. 

However, Athena covered her mouth, laughing softly, and a playful expression spread across Hermes's face. 

Zeus, too, seemed to catch onto something, sitting quietly as he looked at Promise and then at Peleus.

At that moment, a cool, clear voice rose above the murmurs.

"The marriage promised by the noble King and Queen of the gods will, of course, be upheld."

Themis, the goddess of justice, stood up, holding the shaking scales of judgment in her hands, and said in a cold and gentle voice. "But the oath of Hera, the queen of heaven, with Promise is equally valid, witnessed by all the gods. Therefore...

"Goddess Thetis," she asked, turning to the sea goddess, "do you wish to choose them both?"

Thetis was stunned for a moment. 

She glanced first at Promise, then at Peleus, before gently shaking her head.

"That would be unfair to them both," Thetis responded softly. "I cannot make such a choice."

The gods nodded in understanding at her words; after all, they knew that Thetis, the goddess of the sea, had always had this kind of character.

"In that case," Themis continued, "Promise, Peleus, would either of you be willing to forgo your claim to the goddess Thetis?"

Promise straightened and spoke with a look of deep respect, "I would never go back on my vow to Goddess Hera!"

Peleus echoed him with equal resolve, saying, "Nor would I bring dishonor to the god King Zeus by letting him be seen as unfaithful to his word."

Well, the scene fell into silence.

Even Artemis, who had been struggling, now stood quiet. 

Because, at this moment, her mind was confused by the seemingly sound reasoning on both sides.

"Well," Hermes interjected with a smirk, continuing to add the fuel to the fire. "Under these circumstances, we may just have to split Goddess Thetis in two halves and give each one to both to satisfy both of you."

"What are you talking about? How can you cut the goddess Thetis in half?" Hestia smiled and said, "After all, she has done a kindness to the gods of Olympus; has she not?"

"Then," Athena also added her suggestion thoughtfully, “Then make it like Persephone’s case: each one gets her for six months.” 

“No, we don’t want to make things difficult for the goddess Thetis.”

Peleus and Promise spoke in unison, as if they’d rehearsed it before.

Then, the two of them looked at each other.

“I have a vow with Goddess Hera, the Queen of Olympus.”

“And I have been granted marriage by the mighty King of the Gods.”

So, neither one could convince the other.

Zeus chuckled.

At that moment, he couldn’t help but laugh heartily, his laughter full of joy and amusement.

“Go on, child, how will you judge this matter?”

Zeus then looked at Promise and said, “I have heard that your judgments even earn praise from Themis, and you have never disappointed everyone. Today, let me witness one myself.”

As he finished speaking, the scales of justice in the hand of Themis, the goddess of justice, fell into Promise’s hands.

The latter held them up, looking first at Thetis and then at the gods.

“This wedding is the vow of Queen Hera, and it is a marriage bestowed by the king of gods, Zeus. Therefore, it is naturally witnessed by all the gods present.”

All of you are witnesses, so you cannot be participants.

“I do not wish to break my vow with Goddess Hera, nor does Peleus wish to defy the grace given by God King Zeus, and at the same time, neither of us wants to put the gentle Thetis in a difficult position. So... Goddess Thetis, you are the only one who can make this decision.”

“So, may I ask, are you able to make a decision now?”

Thetis looked at Promise, remained silent for a time, then finally shook her head.

“In that case, there is only one conclusion to this judgment: until Thetis makes a true decision, this wedding, witnessed by the gods... shall continue indefinitely.”

“And until this wedding ends, remember, Goddess Thetis, you will not be able to accept love from anyone.”

Hearing this, Thetis quietly looked at Promise, gazing into his beautiful emerald eyes. 
Holding the golden apple in her hand, she smiled and nodded.

Hmm... is this really alright?

Faced with this judgment, the gods looked at each other in confusion.

“Well, why worry so much? Look, Queen of heaven, Hera, the god king Zeus, and even they themselves have accepted it.”

But most of them didn't care about it.

They simply found today’s spectacle amusing and thought it would provide gossip for a long time.

So, what was supposed to be a wedding turned into a casual feast after this little spectacle, though no one minded; after all, they were all having fun.

Then...

“Noble King of the Gods, please allow me to offer my sincerest apology.”

Promise came over to the king of the gods, Zeus, saying this while presenting a golden apple to him.

Zeus, feeling a bit intrigued, accepted the apple and saw that it bore two words: destiny.

In that instant, Zeus immediately understood what Promise meant to say.

He looked at the young man in front of him in silence, thinking of the originally destined destinies that had been rewritten by this young man.

They gazed at each other for a moment, and then Zeus accepted the golden apple.

“Child, I hear you have yet to choose a god to follow.”

Promise nodded instinctively, then suddenly sensed something was not right.

“Then choose me.”

Zeus laughed loudly. 
The more he looked at the young man in front of him, the happier he became, as he said. “I assure you, my affection for you will be no less than Hera’s or anyone else’s!”

Promise’s body froze instantly.

Staring at Zeus, the King of the Gods, sizing him up...

No way!