Prologue—A Royal Ruse

"All I've ever wanted is to be loved in the same way I love him, but why must I work to earn his love? It should be the other way around!" Her heart squeezed as she listened to her aching thoughts.

Queen Vasiliki's gaze remained fixed on her reflection, scrutinizing every curve and dip of her naked flesh. Her mind raced with a jumbled mix of anxiety, dread and disgust for herself.

She contemplated the path she was about to take. A path of no return. "What are you about to do, Vasiliki?" she whispered with a voice thick with self loathing, "All for a man?" The very thought had her physically cringing at her soon to be actions.

A deep commanding voice cut sharply through the thick silence, it was devoid of any emotion. "Bend over and spread your legs woman, so I may grant you your heart desire," he stated. The words flowed out of the figure behind her, echoing through the dimly lit hidden chamber like a cold, unforgiving edict.

Yet, it's everything she's been praying for for the past couple of months and so her heart skipped a beat as she did what she was told.

The air grew heavier with tension the longer Vasiliki stared into his bright golden eyes in the mirror's reflection. She could feel the cool air of the evening hit the warmth between her spread legs. All the more increasing her anxiety despite her efforts to calm herself down.

Her pulse pounded in her temples as she awaited his next move. Suddenly she instinctively flinched away from the cool touch of his slightly glowing yellow ethereal hands that contrasted subtly against her warm pale skin.

She closed her eyes and accepted the fate that the three Fates had woven for her. Or was it she who had woven her own thread? She didn't have an answer to that. All she knew is that she had managed to summon and bargain with a powerful titan god to grant her a child.

Finally, she was going to bear an heir for her king, even if the child wouldn't be his. It was long overdue, and this was the only way for her to escape shame and disgrace of being barren.

The long night filled with her unexpected moans of pleasure and cries of ecstasy passed. Vasiliki awakened as the morning came, her gaze wandered across her now empty bed. Her mind was still foggy from the lingering effects of the ritual and sex she partook in the night before.

Her body felt heavy as her muscles screamed in protest as she slowly sat up. The memories of the previous night came flooding back like a tsunami.

She couldn't believe it but she had offered herself as a living sacrifice to Hyperion, the titan god of heavenly light. As part of the exchange for his intervention in her desperate quest for an heir, he demanded to use her body for his pleasure and to surrender one thing he asks for.

Vasiliki's mind drifted to the three months of failed attempts to summon his presence and the countless nights she spent in prayer which had taken its toll on her mentally, physically, and emotionally. But she had refused to give up, she refused to accept that her fate was sealed.

A few months ago, she had paid the northern country of Mu a visit. The elves living within Mu were renowned for their wisdom and expertise in medicine and nature.

Unfortunately, the experience had been a bitter pill for her to swallow. She received a heart-breaking confirmation of her barrenness it had left her completely shattered, but she had refused to let it ruin her.

With a newfound determination, Vasiliki threw off the covers and rose from the bed, with slow and deliberate movements. Her long reddish copper hair swayed gently with every step she took. Well, more like she limped towards the mirror. Her reflection revealed the toll the ritual and Hyperion had taken on her body.

Especially Hyperion, his manhood was much larger than she had anticipated when she agreed to his demand. Well, she should have expected nothing less from a titan of his status.

She groaned loudly as she took in her appearance, the dark circles under her dull brown eyes made them look duller and sunken. Even her once ivory skin now appeared dull and she noticed streaks of faint glowing dried sperm still smeared on different parts of her skin.

She took in a deep breath trying to settle down her racing mind. As she realized her success she couldn't stop the cunning smile that grew on her lips, she almost couldn't believe it.

She had truly succeeded in summoning Hyperion's presence? And he agreed to impregnate her? And to think all he wanted in exchange was for the child to return to serve him when the time comes and to please him.

Everything her had turned around for good, for her future, for her well deserved crown and for her king. The scenarios she already knew would take place swirled in her mind like a gleeful whirlpool, but she calmed herself down and pushed them aside. She had to focus on the present moment and setting the remaining part of her plan in motion.

She had taken the much needed bold step towards ascending the throne and now nothing would stand in her way of claiming her crown completely.

Vasiliki might have been the king's mistress but she became his queen the moment her plan was complete. And she couldn't have done it without Hyperion.

After that day, nine months seemed to fly by like a fleeting breeze on a summer's day and with it came a royal wedding, along with anticipation and expectation in everyone's hearts soon after.

Nevertheless, no one but the king had the most expectations of that very moment when his wife would bring a child into their world.

The king's tall and lanky frame paced back and forth in the candle-lit corridor in front of the Queen's chambers. His white velvet handkerchief in hand wiping the sweat from his blonde brows while he anxiously awaited the arrival of his new heir.

Even though his blue eyes were bright with excitement and shone like stars in the night sky, his face remained etched with worry lines that displayed his deep concern for his newly wedded wife, Vasiliki.

On the other hand, the servants' faces were lit by the flickering flames as they scurried about with a sense of urgency, each of them found a way to attend and assist the midwives. Their hushed whispers and hurried footsteps were a showcase of the gravity of the moment.

The Queen had finally gone into labor after twelve months of being with a child. For a moment they had all worried that the child had died in her womb even though the royal doctor Uduak had said otherwise. On this account, her loud cries brought with it a sense of relief to their ears. Soon it would all be over.

Meanwhile, stationed at the entrance of the Queen's chambers, the royal palace guards stood like statues with their eyes fixed and stoic. They and their silver armor looked more like added decor to the well-lit white corridor.

The echoes of their silence were drowned out by the sounds of footsteps, hushed orders, and the queen's screams. Their eyes instinctively followed King Lycaon's anxious pacing body, and with each movement they could feel the tension quietly rise.

And then in the blink of an eye, the silence was shattered by the loud piercing cries of a newborn. The king's face lit up like a sunrise, his eyes shone with joy as he burst into the room.

Vasiliki laid on the bed with a pale face but her eyes were radiant as she cradled her newborn child in her arms. As the king closed the distance between them, his heart raced with anticipation as his mind continuously pleaded with the gods that the child would be a boy. He obsessively needed a male heir for many reasons but mainly to secure his legacy and replace the one he had lost.

The room remained abuzz with activity as the servants and midwives still scurried about tending to the queen and the child. The king's eyes stayed hopefully locked onto the tiny bundle of joy in Vasiliki's arms. His heart skipped a beat as he beheld the small delicate features, the tiny hands and feet and the soft gentle cries that filled the air.

And then, the midwife spoke the words that would change the course of their lives forever: "It's a girl, Your Majesty!" she cried in excitement, unaware that she had just crushed her king's hopes.

The king's face fell instantly, his eyes quickly clouded with disappointment and despair. "A girl, oh gods, why?!" His mind raced, "What would I do now? I don't have much time left!" he thought to himself.

But as he gazed into the eyes of his newborn daughter, something strange and unexpected happened within him. His heart soon swelled with love and pride along with it his fears and doubts melted away like snow in the sun.

It was at that moment he knew he would do anything to protect his child. He would have to find another way to solve the underlying issue. And it's not just that he needed a male heir, it was for something else entirely.

The king's eyes then met with Vasiliki's and he saw the deep love and devotion she had for him. He realized she had never once said it out loud but he knew without a doubt that she would do just about anything for him. He couldn't help but wonder how soon she would be willing to carry another child for him and hopefully the next time would be a boy.

Vasiliki's eyes sparkled with a newfound love for her baby girl, but it was dimmed a bit when she noticed Lycaon's expression.

"Hey," she called softly, "What got you so deep in thought, my love?"

Lycaon's face flushed as his eyes darted away as though he feared she might read his thoughts, he just couldn't stop thinking of securing an heir.

"Oh, just thinking about the best way to announce our child's arrival to the country. Princess Cyllene of Arcadia! Has a nice ring to it, doesn't it dear?" He lightly caressed her reddish copper hair as he spoke.

His soft touch wasn't enough to stop Vasiliki's frown, although subtly it did. As she spoke, she did her best to make her voice firm with the little strength she had left. "I told you before, Lycaon, I don't want her to be called Cyllene."

Lycaon's expression turned neutral, already giving up on his act while his mind still danced elsewhere. "Oh, right. You did say so a few times before. Well, what do you prefer, then?"

A soft smile graced Vasiliki's face and her eyes were gentle as she said, "Selene. I think it suits her perfectly."

Lycaon's face relaxed even though his mind still remained preoccupied with the thoughts of having a son, yet he nodded with acquiescence. "Selene it is then. You carried her in your womb, after all. So it's only fitting you choose her name."

Vasiliki's eyes sparkled with a knowing glint but she said nothing further. Her smile remained soft and gentle in the eyes of others. All the while, she did a victory dance in her head because she knew she had managed to do the undoable and no one knew about it except Uduak.