Saving Astynome (1)

Astynome had always been raised by a loving and gentle father. Her earliest memories were of his kindness, for her mother had passed away when she was too young to remember her face clearly. Her father's presence was constant, a source of strength, even though he harbored a secret about Astynome's true lineage—a secret that could have shattered another man's heart. Yet, Chryses, her father, embraced it without hesitation. Astynome was beautiful beyond compare, with a sharp mind and a spirit that reflected her mother's unwavering devotion to the god Apollo.