The whoosh of the withered leaves and hissing of the crispy air took Mathias' thoughts aside. He didn't realize this foreign desire that sailed over him swiftly. Her swim in the glistening waters kept replaying in his memory, "Mathias!! The king is expecting guests today, King Aegeus and his daughter Irini will be here any moment now, see to what the princesses may need" Pavlos instructed Mathias.

"I think Penelope is just fine" Mathias responded with his face down.

"I wasn't particularly talking about Penelope Mathias...... what's wrong? Did she give you a hard time?" Pavlos asked

"No, father..... she's a delight........ I should retire for a walk, I will be back immediately"

He ambled around, disturbed by his abrupt sensations towards the princess. But a fellow can dream, can't he? But is he a man? Can he satisfy her? Can he be there for her in a certain way a man should be for a woman? He was a eunuch, bound to fulfil his duties as so.

"If only things were different" he soliloquized as he leaned against a tree, "What if they could be Mathias?" Aphrodite interjected.

"Who are you and where did you come from?!" startled Mathias exclaimed.

"Be afraid not Mathias...... I didn't mean to frighten you with my presence, I come in peace... you humans pray to us all the time asking us to permit your request and when we granted them, you run for the hills screaming"

"I do not know and I do not care to... What is your mission here?" Mathias threatened with a dagger pointed at her.

"I marvel at your opposition, Matthias I suppose I've not well introduced myself to you, I am Aphrodite the divinity of love and procreation, your exuding lust and desires attracted me to you, I couldn't resist the temptation to interfere" She narrated

"Such travesty! You're a fraud! How could you know what I desire?" he queried.

"Threats will do you no good....... Had I been in my true divinity, you will be down on your knees kissing my feet, worshipping me. Do not let this human appearance fool you" Aphrodite responded and rendered his sword useless as they turned to fluttering butterflies.

"What are you?!" Mathias asked in shock

"I know of your needs to be complete, you did not choose this path...... it was given to you, you deserve a chance every man is empowered to, you desire the princess, you lust for her but you cannot have her even if you were offered with the opportunity, I can be of great help....... Are you willing to accept my help, Mathias? I shall restore your manly scent and you shall be made whole anew, an Adonis-like man can charm any woman even a princess, you almost charmed me and I'm a divinity, that which your crave for so badly can be a possibility..... if you permit me to intervene......." Aphrodite enticed Mathias

"Even if I was whole again... It is treason to merely desire the princess let alone have her, I took an oath to serve, I shan't go back to my word... We were destined for different paths to lead, my feelings towards her are of no importance" Mathias responded.

"Very well... If you ever have a change of mind because your heart remains the same, you still want her maybe even more now, you can hide nothing from me..... nothing has changed and it never will, if by any chance the affairs of your heart overcome the reckoning of your mind, come by the myrtle tree, call on me and I shall answer," Aphrodite said and vanished.

It left Mathias astonished. Who is he that the goddess of love herself will want to attend to his wishes? He returned to the palace. "Mathias, I have searched far and wide looking for you, there's something I need you to do for me right away" Penelope beckoned on him, "Your wish is my command, your highness" he responded.

She pulled him away to a nook, "I need you to take this note to Anthemis, he is on the parapet.... please be discreet, just hand this to him... he knows what to do with it" she begged, her warm fresh breath made the hair on his skin stand on its end, he nodded in acknowledgement, "Thank you... this shan't be forgotten" she responded.

She walked away to attend to other things, Velkan's engagement party is afoot. It tempted Mathias to read what Penelope had written in that letter. Could she be having an affair with Anthemis? He wondered, after resisting the temptation severally, he finally gave in. He read the note, and it said...

"Greetings your highness...

I learnt of your interests to espouse me; It is quite flattering but I'm afraid I am not prepared for such obligation; I understand that I have no say in this and my father will approve of you without question, that is why I'm writing to you myself

Please withhold showing interest in me, you will receive this letter from my footman Anthemis at the gates of the palace, please do not speak of this to anyone, I respectfully ask you this favour, I'm eager to hear your response, your highness"

Mathias felt a streak of guilt for reading her letter. Now the seal has been tampered with. He hoped Anthemis will not notice or mention it to Penelope. Anthemis was indeed on the parapet, as Penelope said he would. He signalled Anthemis with a nod. He walked closer to him and handed over the note, "From the princess" Mathias said in a hushed manner.

Anthemis nodded and headed out to the palace gates, Prince Erik's carriage came approaching and Anthemis accosted him as Penelope instructed; "This is for you your highness, from Princess Penelope". He handed the letter to him. His mission has been fulfilled.

"This letter has no seal. How do I know it's from the princess?" Erik queried.

"I am but a messenger, your highness... Welcome to Aratheon"

He returned the letter to Anthemis to be handed back to its sender.

The engagement ball was in session, Erik spotted Penelope from Across the room and walked up to her.

"Forgive my effrontery princess but I am bewildered by your enchanting beauty, Prince Erik of Mycenae" he introduced himself with a bow and a kiss on her hand.

"I know who you are... I see you turned down my humble request... You got my letter, did you not?" she asked

"So you wrote the letter after all... Forgive me but I did not read it's content, it didn't have a seal, I was not fully convinced the letter could be from you, shall we promenade around the party?" he suggested

"But there was a seal... Unless...." She phrased.

"Unless what?... You seem tense, you do not have to be timid around me, you can tell me what you wrote in the letter, I won't bite, it will be a delight to hear it from your sweet rosy lips, your highness" he cajoled.

"Excuse me for a moment..." she exited.

Penelope was furious, she went looking for Anthemis when she found him she went frantic.

"How could you open my letter? Who gave you the right to do such a thing?" she berated.

"Your highness, I did no such thing I promise you, I gave the letter to the Prince just as Mathias handed it to me, I did not undo the seal of the envelope, I assure you, your highness" he ensured

"So if you didn't... That means he- you can take your leave Anthemis" she said. He bowed and left.

She went looking for Mathias. When she found him, he was with his father Pavlos, she approached them, "Your highness" they both said in unison as their eyes met with hers. Her countenance was not friendly.

"Mathias, a moment..." she reproached.

"Your highness..." he said and bowed

"You opened my letter... How dare you?"

"Your highness, let me explain.." he interjected

"I trusted you with something so delicate and you broke that trust, I do hope you are satisfied because my purpose of that letter has been defeated, he did not read it, you undid the seal, I believe you know the content of that letter, I shall have my father re-assign another eunuch to me and you will do well to keep your curiosities to yourself from now on unless you wish to be punished severely... remember I am a princess and you are just a servant, no one will believe your words over mine, especially my father"

She left angrily, leaving Mathias feeling guilty and utterly tight-lipped. On her way back to the ballroom she accosted her father and Prince Erik together.

"We missed you at the party, Penelope, I believe you have met Erik, I saw you two in the ballroom earlier, I'm glad you both are already fond of one another" King Va'Lar said.

"Father... I won't quite say-" Penelope said but got interrupted.

"I had a word with your father earlier and I couldn't help expressing my genuine interest to have your hand, my actual mission in attending this ball, my princess or should I say, my future queen, a stunning jewel to my crown." he said, bowed and kissed her hand.

"I accept!!! Penelope, you are now betrothed to prince Erik, splendid news don't you think? But let's not take away the attention from your brother and his bride to be, I shall leave you two to promenade."

Penelope, now bound to marry prince Erik. Her father's approval has made it final.