**King Zircon's POV:**
Nine years ago, the war between Greece and Troy first began.
It all started when Paris, a prince of Troy who was unaware of his lineage, was raised as a shepherd on Mount Ida due to an oracle's prophecy that stated, "Paris would be the downfall of Troy."
After bathing in the spring of Mount Ida, the goddesses Athena, Hera, and Aphrodite appeared to him, either vying for his favor or at his request. Paris ultimately judged Aphrodite to be the fairest, promising to award her with the most beautiful woman on Earth, thus earning the enmity of the other two goddesses.
Prior to this, Menelaus had already received Helen, the most beautiful woman on Earth, by promising Aphrodite a hecatomb-a sacrifice of 100 oxen-if he won her. Unfortunately, Menelaus forgot to fulfill his obligations after becoming king of Sparta, which earned him the wrath of Aphrodite.
In revenge, she used Paris, the prince of Troy, under the guise of a diplomatic mission. He traveled to Sparta to take Helen and bring her back to Troy, now recognized by his royal family.
Not long after, King Menelaus sent his Achaean troops to retrieve Helen, leading an expedition to Troy alongside his brother Agamemnon, the king of Argos.
The journey was fraught with challenges, as the goddess Artemis had punished Agamemnon for killing one of her hares and its young, boasting that he was a better hunter than she. To exact her revenge, Artemis sent fierce winds and storms, preventing the Greeks from setting sail to Troy.
The only way to appease Artemis was to sacrifice Agamemnon's eldest daughter, Iphigenia. Though Agamemnon initially refused, he eventually relented after being tricked by Odysseus, the king of Ithaca. However, Artemis took pity on the girl's tragic situation and brought her to serve as a maiden in one of her temples, substituting a lamb in her place.
Finally, they arrived safely at the shores of Troy, but even with their full force assembled outside the city, they couldn't simply storm in and take Helen home. A vanguard guarding the entrance made it impossible for even their greatest heroes to breach the well-prepared walls of the Trojans.
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Time passed, and King Menelaus did not abandon his dream of returning Helen to Sparta. He learned that the wrath of Aphrodite was not to be underestimated. His men besieged the city of Troy, waiting for the Trojans to lower their guard, while King Menelaus continued to send more reinforcements to strengthen his forces.
However, this was a recurring problem they faced over the following years. As their food and resources dwindled, the arrival of supplies was delayed by shipwrecks, mysterious bad weather, and barbaric ambushes.
Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, suggested that King Menelaus search for resources near Troy, making the neighboring cities surrounding it their suppliers, training grounds, and expansion camps. As the lands around Troy became colonies of the Greeks, King Menelaus' forces grew stronger with each passing year.
Years of battling colonial revolts ensued, and several of these kingdoms managed to survive, starting to form an alliance with Troy against the tyranny of the Greeks. But no one knew how long they could withstand the Greeks' increasing power.
King Zircon: Until when? Shall this war ever end?
Gema: King Zircon, I am delighted to assist you with your problem.
I looked behind me and saw my daughter, Gema. I answered her in return.
King Zircon: How many times must I tell you? You can call me Father instead of 'Your Majesty.'
Gema: Nicko has taught me to always show respect to the king of Dardania, even if we are related, Your Majesty.
I was amazed by my daughter's courtesy, reminded of the very same trait she had inherited from her mother.
Your mother...
King Zircon: You look exactly like your mother.
I hugged her tightly and kissed her forehead.
She hugged me back and said:
Gema: Everything is going to be alright, Father.
