[Greek Mythology] The Demons Under My Command - Chapter 3

In front of the French window on the second floor of the small Western-style house.

The woman stood before the full-length mirror, wearing a dress that the tailor had rush-altered to fit her size.

The champagne-colored lace and satin gown had a skirt that swayed like flowing moonlight, falling to the base of her calves. The waist was cinched with delicate wavy pleats, outlining an alluring figure. She paired it with silver, stiletto-heeled pumps adorned with rhinestones and delicate silver chains wrapped around her ankles.

Her flaxen, curly hair fell naturally to her waist. Her makeup was light, with a fashionable peach-pink blush swept across her cheeks, making her look playful yet dignified.

This was the makeup personally done for her by Frel.

Li Jia looked at herself in the mirror; only the word perfection could describe it.

Her mouth curved up involuntarily, and she bit her lip, trying hard not to laugh out loud.

Out of Melina’s entire wardrobe of gorgeous, vibrant gowns, she had deliberately chosen this one.

Because, in her memory, Melina had bought this dress at an auction just last week for a huge sum, and she had shown it off to the original female lead for three whole days, consciously or unconsciously.

Melina had planned to wear this dress to the next ball to steal the spotlight and elicit admiration from the other young ladies. Thus, the dress had been hidden in the deepest part of her closet.

She had easily pulled it out.

“Aunt, is this one really alright?”

Li Jia held her hands clasped flat against her abdomen, her eyes resembling a frightened fawn, looking timid and utterly pitiful.

Although Frel did not particularly like this unwanted burden residing in her home, she had to act kindly now that the girl was to take Melina’s place and go to the Holy Mountain. As her nominal aunt, how could she bear to criticize her?

Frel patted her shoulder, signaling her not to be afraid: “It’s fine, Li Jia. Unbeknownst to me, you’ve already turned seventeen. You’re a young lady now.”

Li Jia had thought this body wouldn’t be very old, but she hadn’t expected her to be a minor. She looked down at her ample bust.

No wonder they say foreigners have a short bloom time but open up brilliantly.

Housekeeper Anna informed them that the Holy Mountain had already dispatched a Pegasus carriage to pick up the person for the night banquet.

Melina stood at the doorway with Conrad, ready to welcome the divine messenger.

Four Pegasi with silver wings neighed and soared into the air. Their wings were like the brightest morning stars in the sky, and silver trails of starlight streamed from their manes.

The Pegasus carriage was forged from a solid block of gilded glass. Two small silver serpents were coiled on the shafts, their pupils set with rubies, the same color as their master’s eyes.

As the wheels rolled, they crushed the clouds, sprinkling starlight everywhere.

Li Jia slowly descended the stairs, radiant and dazzling, like a goddess descending to the mortal world.

The moment Melina saw Li Jia, she was practically furious. She shrieked, “How dare you! How dare you wear my dress! Do you know how precious this dress is?!”

Li Jia’s eyes immediately reddened, and she looked at Melina, her gaze full of the helplessness of being misunderstood. She choked and spoke with distress: “I’m sorry, sister, I didn’t know this dress was so precious.”

Li Jia slowly walked over to Conrad, looking sincerely at Melina: “Auntie asked me to choose a dress from your room for the night banquet. I saw this one placed at the very back, so I thought it must be the one you disliked the most.”

“It’s all my fault.”

Melina’s face turned ashen with rage, seeing her favorite dress worn by her and even altered to fit her size. Her eyes spewed fire as she glared at her, her teeth grinding audibly.

“You are nothing but a dependent orphan! What right do you have to wear my gown to the night banquet?! You should have died with your short-lived parents!”

Very well.

Li Jia suddenly let out a cold laugh. She walked closer to Melina, her eyes filled with an underlying ferocity, yet she smiled gently.

She disliked fools, and she disliked owing anyone anything.

She grabbed Melina’s wrist with lightning speed and, in a chillingly low voice, leaned close to Melina’s neck: “In that case, sister, you should go to the night banquet yourself.”

“The list says ‘the daughter of the Vanse family,’ but it doesn’t specify which daughter of the Vanse family. Sister is right; how can a filthy lowlife like me bear the Vanse surname?”

Li Jia’s words were light as a feather but sank into the hearts of everyone present.

Melina’s face instantly went pale. Compared to a dress, her life was more valuable.

“I was the one who told Li Jia to pick the dress, you brat!”

Frel scolded Melina. Her daughter had been too spoiled since childhood and had grown up ignorant of the world.

Conrad frowned, turned around, and with a quick backhand, “Slap,” he delivered a resounding slap to Melina. The sudden blow caught her off guard. She had no support and fell directly to the ground.

Conrad was extremely enraged. He pointed a finger straight at Melina’s nose: “You reckless idiot, who are you calling a lowlife? Li Jia is the daughter of my biological brother, the legitimate daughter of the Vanse family!”

The scene descended into chaos. Li Jia stood aside, watching the show unfold. She considered this the last thing she would do for the original female lead.

To reclaim the Vanse surname that rightfully belonged to her father.

“Uncle Conrad, my father is Fenrick Vanse, and my mother is Sersey Fenna. I am not a lowlife. I bear my father’s surname; it has nothing to do with you.”

Li Jia dragged out the lazy tone, a bloodthirsty smile curving on her lips, like a sharp dagger slowly slicing his throat.

“Uncle, we will meet again.”

“But at that time, I will walk toward you holding the silver coin my father clutched before his death, letting the clauses of the will you altered curl into ashes in the brazier.”

“Just like the one you pried from his fingers as he was dying.”

The last sentence was whispered right next to Conrad’s ear, in a volume only they could hear, calmly stating things that seemed to have nothing to do with her.

Conrad froze in place. Li Jia’s words left his mind blank, and a fine layer of sweat broke out on his head.

“You… how do you kno…”

Before he could finish, the divine messenger landed the Pegasus carriage smoothly on the Vanse estate’s grounds.

Standing on the Pegasus carriage was a young man with a clear and handsome face and a figure as straight as a pine tree. He was surrounded by a dazzling radiance. Most striking was the winged crown he wore—a golden diadem inlaid with light, feather-white wings, symbolizing his identity as a divine messenger.

Hermes, as a divine messenger, had close ties with all the gods, responsible for relaying messages among them and connecting the gods with the outside world. He was an intelligent and amiable person.

“Hello, beautiful Miss. It’s time for us to depart.”

“May I ask which Miss of the Vanse family you are?”

He had long heard that the Vanse family had two pearls: one treasured in a jewel box and the other buried in the mud.

Li Jia slightly bent her knees, holding the skirt, and gave Hermes a nod. Only after receiving the same gesture in return did she walk toward him.

“Divine Messenger, it is I.”

“Li Jia Vanse.”

Hermes looked at her shallow blue pupils, pure as the sky, sighed, and asked her: “Have you truly made up your mind, Miss Li Jia? As a daughter of the Vanse family attending the night banquet, you have the right to refuse everything before it even begins.”

“Yes, Divine Messenger, I am willing to attend the night banquet. If I can be chosen to serve the divine, it will be my blessing.”

“The road of thorns, I will surely use my own blood to pave a sturdy flower carpet.”

Hermes had never met such an interesting girl—the first one who wasn’t weeping or forced to leave home against her will.

He extended his palm to lead her into the carriage. Li Jia placed her hand on his wrist and boarded the Pegasus carriage.

The girl sat inside the carriage, silently looking out at the passing scenery, as still as a stone carving.

Hermes drove the Pegasus carriage. Li Jia was the most composed girl he had ever met, which made him feel a little soft-hearted.

He started a conversation with her, trying to help her relax, thinking she must be too nervous.

In reality, Li Jia was somewhat afraid of heights, and the feeling of weightlessness in the high sky made her feel nauseous, so she had to look elsewhere to distract herself.

Chatting with Hermes, Li Jia learned that twelve principal gods lived on the Holy Mountain:

Zeus, the god of lightning and the sky; Hera, the goddess of marriage and family; Poseidon, the god of the sea; Demeter, the goddess of agriculture; Athena, the goddess of war and wisdom; Apollo, the god of light; Artemis, the goddess of the moon and the hunt; Ares, the god of war; Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty; Hephaestus, the god of fire; Hestia, the goddess of the hearth; and Hermes, the divine messenger.

“So you are a principal god? Why are you willing to be a divine messenger, constantly running around?”

Li Jia was already very familiar with the twelve principal gods. She was just surprised that Hermes himself had come to greet her. It seemed he was a god without much pretense.

“Because I enjoy being the divine messenger. What’s the point of being a stiff, high-and-mighty figure? I’d rather be a simple shepherd, observing this world.”

He said, shaking the reins used to tame the horses, a gentle smile hanging on his lips.

The gods’ lifespans were infinitely long. He wasn’t like the others, living the same tedious days, year after year, merely fulfilling his divine duties.

“Then, for which five principal gods are the acolytes being chosen this time?” Li Jia asked casually.

“Athena, Apollo, Demeter, Artemis, and Hera.”

When he mentioned the last name, Hermes hesitated, fearing that if the malicious woman who tolerated no fault knew he was speaking ill of her behind her back, he would surely suffer the consequences.

“Then, Divine Messenger, which principal god do you think is the easiest to get along with?” Li Jia looked at Hermes with curiosity and added, “I hope I can be chosen by her.”

“That would definitely be Aphrodite. She is the embodiment of love and beauty, the exclusive name for kindness.”

“It’s just a shame she already has her acolyte.”

Hermes naturally assumed, How could anyone dislike Aphrodite?

She was so lovely, so pure and white, without a trace of impurity.

Correspondingly, another malicious and jealous figure appeared in his mind, like a venomous snake tightly coiled around him. The thought alone was enough to send chills down his spine.

Li Jia gently shook her head, a slight smile playing on her lips, forcing back a laugh, and murmured: “Interesting.”

Men, indeed, only look at the surface of beautiful things.

Stupid and superficial.

Love and anger are two sides of the same coin. You never know which side will flip over today.

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