4 Chapter 3 – The Temple of Athena (1)

'Starategos' was the position currently held by Alexei. He was a respected general and often gave brilliant results in ground battles. Sparta was a country known of their strong military. Currently they was still at war with Thebes and their allies. while the city of Athens was oftenly neutral.

She went back to dug into Portia's memories of Alexei. The man was her personal bodyguard when he was just started his military career. He was six years older than Portia and even though he rarely had a chance to looked after her - Alexei always bothered her.

Portia was uncomfortable with Alexei's attention. Even though the man claimed to think of Portia as his sister, the princess knew that Alexei's concern was not sincere. Because she also had an older brother and they all never cared when Portia is sick or injured.

The general was obsessed with her. He wanted Portia and the king surely noticed his feeling. The king tried to get rid of Alexei. But because of his achievements in the military-the endeavor was not easy. Portia had caught Alexei watched her many times.

All his attention was weighed her down, Since Portia wasn't felt the same way. Her father also forbid her to got too close with Alexei.

As a stalker, Alexei was too attractive. He had light brown hair with a handsome face line. His gray eyes gave off a masculine feel. His body was also naturally shaped through the forging of military training since he was young. That person is clearly not on steroids let alone consuming protein drinks to build muscle. But his good looks still wasn't helped. Alexei frightens Portia with his excessive attention.

Alexei also started his approach wrong. He threatened any man known to be interested in the princess. He wanted to made sure that he was the leading candidate for Portia's future husband — if the king changed his mind and allow his beloved daughter to marry.

For the sake of his goal—Alexei stayed single to wait for her.

Jill walked side by side with her servant but felt Alexei watched her intently behind her.

"Princess Portia," he called. But Jill chose to walked faster.

"You hear me?" He said again.

"What is it?" She finally turned around and asked coldly.

"Could you walk slower? I want to talk with you,"

"Aren't you here to escort me? If we talk too much you will fail to notice any snakes or wild boars that can harm me," said Jill again, tried to made her point towards Alexei.

All this time, Portia had been too doubtful and didn't dare refused Alexei frankly. Her heart was too kind.

"Don't talk like that, you can't keep running away from me," Alexei tried to grab her hand, but the girl brushed it off.

"Watch your hand General Alexei! If the king finds out about this-" She spoke a little loudly. The maid looked restless.

Alexei's face turned tense and slightly angry. The girl spoke back to him. whereas all this time even though Alexei had realized her faked smile towards him - Portia had never spoken loudly to him. Because Alexei knew that Portia didn't want anyone to hate her.

"I want to save you! Do you think I can let you be taken to Mount Olympus? to indulge in all the nonsense of marriage to the lord Ares? They are all scammers! The king has been tricked!" Alexei argued.

"What if that's true Alexei? Violating the will of the gods could result in the land of Sparta being cursed. The king would have chosen his people over me," she responded. although she herself did not believe that she would be married off to a real god.

Alexei was silent, he didn't dare to refute all of that clearly because there was a speck of faith in him who was also a worshiper of Ares- that could be the truth. However, Portia who should be dead is now able to live and walk again because of taking the medicine given by the god Ares. The entire palace believed that it was a divine miracle.

"Do you really willing to go to Olympus?" Alexei asked.

Jill thought for a moment. She didn't knew. She didn't really enjoyed lived in Sparta. All the attention on her was started to tire her out. But being taken to the mountains by people who might just be swindlers didn't sound too much fun either.

The girl still believed that she could return to her original body. if her soul could transfer to portia's body. That means there is a way to do the opposite. She just didn't knew how.

"I don't want to, Mr. Alexei. But this is my duty as a princess of Sparta. Please do not bother me again." She spoke softly this time to the man. Portia's half-hearted attitude all along had raised hope for Alexei. It was time for Jill to set the poor man free. With his title and handsome physique, he would had no shortage of beautiful women. It would be pity if he still waited for a princess who is forbidden to marry by the king. especially now that she would be sacrificed to become the bride of the god of war.

She asked her servant to walk faster away from Alexei.