I Became a Slave to a Mythical Shepherd

Episode 51. itineracy

In the late Joseon Dynasty, during the reign of King Yeongjo, the Yi In-jwa rebellion broke out that shook the southern part of the Korean peninsula.

The cause of the rebellion was a medical experiment.

King Yeongjo, an innovator in oriental medicine, developed a new method of prescribing raw persimmon and crab sauce for the treatment of indigestion.

Modern medicine also could not escape the ‘prejudice’ that persimmons and stale seafood were bad for digestion, so it was a medical revolution of the time.

Since there was no concept of animal tests or clinical trials, King Yeongjo’s new therapy was immediately tried on the patient King Gyeongjong, and the results were successful.

As soon as the patient is removed, the disease also disappears.

But just as Ignas Semmelweis was treated as a madman in the 19th century for forcing doctors to wash their hands, pioneers always face hardship and adversity.

The scholars of the Samnam region, who preferred the old-fashioned treatment of reviving the patient, raised a large-scale rebellion claiming medical malpractice, and even after that, the genius doctor King Yeongjo had to suffer from unreasonable harm for over 20 years.

At that time, Prince Milpung, a descendant of Crown Prince Sohyeon, who watched an exorcism and ate rice cakes at home, had to sacrifice his head just because he was promoted by the rebels.

Politics is like that, so is rebellion.

There are many times when a person’s political position and the will of the people around him are more important than someone’s will.

Neither the warm brotherly love of King Yeongjo, who would have developed a new remedy thinking of his brother Gyeongjong, nor the actions of Milpunggun, who said he had no connection with the ringleaders of the rebellion, were important.

What matters is the circumstances surrounding them.

No one knows where the capricious waves will sweep them.

Because Soron greatly shrank during the reign of King Yeongjo, who supported Noron,

Because they insisted on the poisoning of Gyeongjong by King Yeongjo and promoted Milpunggun.

Yeongjo had to kill Milpunggun.

“…So, are you saying that the Hittite loyalists can rally through me?”

That’s how I understood Priam and Anchises’ words.

In short, I am a storm trooper.

Priam and Hector don’t seem to have much medical knowledge, but they stand in a similar position to Yeongjo.

Ironically, Priam wielded the mighty kingship without worrying about rivals, thanks to Hercules drying all the seeds of the Trojan royal family.

Thanks to that, even a ruined country could be rebuilt in one generation.

However, not everyone welcomes the powerful kingship.

Priam’s policy of gradually establishing himself and keeping his distance from the Hittites, as well as the situation in which their voices are reduced due to the strong royal authority and the unity of the royal family.

Nobles were not welcome.

Until now, I had been silent because I had no means of resisting, but unless I was a fool or a masochist, I would try anything to avoid being suffocated.

and,

“Look.”

Anchises takes my hand and, one by one, begins to explain the possibilities they could try.

“First of all, your existence itself must be attractive to them.”

“Why?”

“There are two reasons.

First of all, because you are handsome.”

“···yes?”

I looked around, wondering if this was also the nonsense of Anchises, whose mind was manipulated by Aphrodite.

Surprisingly, Priam and Hector’s reaction was quiet.

“Thanks to your beauty, it won’t be too difficult for the citizens of this city to like you.

Besides, he’s quick-witted, so he won’t easily do something that’s worth hating.”

Anchises’ words surprisingly made sense.

In this small city, the likes and dislikes of the governed toward the individual ruler are bound to be of great political importance.

And isn’t appearance the most intuitive factor that determines the likes and dislikes?

“That’s why they’ll try to embrace you rather than oppose you. Has it been a day since you came to Troia?”

“Yes···?”

“Wait a minute. You will be bombarded with invitations from those who are eager to make friends with you.

And there must be some ‘guys’ among them. Keep your mind straight.”

It felt strange to hear the most insane person around me tell me to come to my senses, but I stayed silent and focused on the conversation.

“Then what is the second reason?”

“Because you’re a slave from the countryside.”

“Because it’s easy to knead?”

“It’s good that you understand so quickly! Great too!”

Anchises looked excitedly back at Priam and smiled. It’s like, ‘Look! I said! I said it was a thing!’ with a boastful expression.

When Priam beckons, Anchises nods and continues his excited explanation.

“but! You’re not going to make fun of it! Isn’t it?”

“you’re right.”

“Even that confidence is very good. Didn’t you eat a city with the body of a slave? I trust that you will not be led by their shallow tricks.”

I thought quietly as I listened to Anchises’ story.

What would happen if the opponent they were trying to capture didn’t fall into their hands as well as they thought, and even judged that it was over their heads?

Then they’ll call me ‘Steamstorm’.

Therefore, I must stay out of all that mess.

Not in Troy.

Clear logic, clear conclusions.

There were a few points that bothered me, but this was the solution that Anchises, Priam, and Hector had in mind.

“however.”

But I have a question left.

“Then where should I be?”

“…Antandros.”

Hector, who had been keeping his mouth shut, spoke quietly.

“But Antandros? Weren’t you announcing me as a prince?”

“You’re right. In a few days, at a grand banquet, you will stand by my side as the king’s second son.”

“But how am I in Antandros? Is it not a city ruled by citizens and supervised by a governor?”

. . . Paris the shepherd slave may stay in Antandros, but Paris the prince is not.

Its mere existence would violate the authority of the Governor-General and the Elders.

“There will be no governor in Antandros from now on.”

“However, if there is no governor in the colonial city, how can it be controlled…”

···ah.

To the colonial city of Troy, the king retrieves the governor and sends the prince.

Then there is only one conclusion.

“Paris.”

Priam opened his mouth again.

He slowly approached me and held my hand.

“You will become the lord of Antandros.”

Mother, father, Skleos, villagers, governor, Anoitus…

uh, uh…

How do you explain it to your hometown people?

***

“Did you just see Paris’ expression? Sometimes the king also behaves like a politician who tumbled on the floor, isn’t it cute when it’s like this again?”

“Don’t do that too much. Wouldn’t it be confusing for the child?”

“Isn’t that why we got together again so that Faris doesn’t get confused?”

Faris, stricken by Priam’s declaration, went back to his room. So did the rest, except for Paris, who had made an appointment to see them again in the middle of the night.

Priam and Anchises are left here.

“···Hector? Wouldn’t you like to go out for a while?”

“All right.”

only two people

Priam watched Hector’s back as he left the room, then turned his head again at Anchises’ words.

“How is it? As I said, isn’t he an intelligent, beautiful, and good-natured child? Did such a child even receive the love of the gods?

From nob le mt l. co m

Lord, another hero has come from our veins!”

“…”

Priam was accustomed to Anchises’ hyperbole, so he heard it in one ear…

He too was surprised.

As soon as they arrive at the capital, they clearly inform only those who need to know about their situation.

It is a cleverness that was difficult to expect from a prince who has lived buried in the soil all his life.

In this era, in the civilized world, governance and politics are closer to innate ‘senses’ than duties assigned autistically.

Because things such as precise analysis of the situation, strategic judgment, and outlook and decision on one’s own position are allowed only to a very small number of people in terms of social status.

The act of entrusting the governance of a country to someone who was born and raised in a lower social class is equivalent to entrusting the operation of a complex excavator to someone who has majored in law for the rest of their lives.

Paris, however, did not seem to have much trouble transforming himself into a ruler.

Of course, most of the stories about Anchises, such as taking control of all of Antandros or mass-producing steel, would be exaggerated.

Originally, Anchises was a bit of a ‘literary’ figure.

However, Paris, who stripped off the exaggeration and faced it directly, was not far behind Anchises’ exaggeration.

he’s a weird kid

“Yes, cousin. Maybe a demigod-like hero came from my family.

Of course, as the second son.”

Dangerous.

Priam predicted that Paris should have been ‘moderately’ handsome and ‘moderately’ intelligent.

Just enough to not threaten Hector’s authority, in moderation.

“I don’t think Paris will commit treason… but I don’t know if Hector can handle that child. You haven’t been friends since childhood like the other siblings.”

Priam was deeply troubled, and Anchises said to Priam.

“Then you should give it a chance.”

“opportunity? But soon the Prince’s presence will be announced. After that, I will go to Antandros in a few days, but what time is it in Troia…”

Speaking with his own mouth, Priam gradually realized what Anchises had to say.

“I am against the expulsion of Paris from Troy. However, if that is the will of the lord, we must come up with the best plan according to that will.

. . but there is no time in Troia.”

Tapping on one side of the map used in the meeting earlier, Anchises says.

“There is time on the way to Antandros.”

Yes. It is also necessary to discipline the collateral royals, who will be shaken by this announcement anyway, so that they do not think nonsense.

Besides, there’s nothing quite like building a personal bond between Hector and Paris.

“Let Paris follow Hector on the way back to Antandros.”

“While touring the cities ruled by other collateral royals…”

“All you have to do is teach them the health of the royal family and the priorities of succession to the throne that will never change.”

Anchises’ words made sense.

Priam nodded easily.

“···but.”

Until Anchises twirled his fingers and spoke to himself.

It’s a gesture when you’re anxious and regretful about something.

“I also want to give my son the acquaintance of the princes.”

blast furnace,

“How about sending Aeneas along on the journey?”

It’s not difficult. Priam nodded slightly and turned his head. Anchises bowed at what he thought was the right time and withdrew.

Indeed, now Priam is alone.

‘…Anyway, it was fitting that Aeneas was also with us.’

Starting with Anchises and Aeneas themselves, they were the rulers of the most powerful royal family and the first people to be persuaded.

In addition, in order to correct the principle of succession to the throne, which will inevitably be shaken by Hector and Paris, it would be better to restore the authority of the first prince while touring the kingdom at least once.

…Finally, Paris.

three like this

The three of them go on a tour while sending them to Antandros.

“Meanwhile I…”

‘Clean up’ the situation for them.

Perhaps, for the first time in a long time, there will be a large number of death row in Troia.

***

A few days passed like that.

From nob le mt l. co m

Like a secret agent right before a sortie, I had to thoroughly hide my identity. I didn’t have to suffer. It was because some of the attendants who were secretly ordered took care of it.

To those who don’t know, I pretend to be the prince of one of Troy’s many allies.

My movements are strictly controlled so as not to attract attention.

Of course, from the moment I return with Anchises, it will be difficult to hide my entry from everyone, but at least it prevents the rumor from spreading like a fire.

And, by the time rumors about ‘The Prince of the Damned’ began to be heard in people’s ears.

“Paris, are you ready?”

“Uh… yes, can I use Theo as my escort?”

“Are you talking about Theo of Podarkeia? I’ll pass it on. Here, I will wrap the cloak around you.”

“I’m doing it… it’s not. Please.”

I’m ready

A woolen cape, tightly woven one by one, which cannot be found in Antandros, wraps around my shoulders.

The cloak is fastened with a gold brooch that is so richly decorated that you have to look at it through a microscope.

After washing her face with rose water and removing the dirt, she applied balm to her face and hair.

Theo, who has come to my side before I know it, lightly kicks a knife and scans my surroundings.

“Let’s go.”

Soon I heard the door open.

Numerous gazes in the spacious venue are focused on this unfamiliar participant.

My appearance, my extravagant attire, and the open escort in the palace caught my attention.

walk slowly through them

When I close my eyes for a moment, the village of shepherds near Antandros comes to mind. The place where Uncle Phillips roasted sheep intestines with brother Theo, and where my real mother and father cut firewood while tending sheep.

open your eyes again

I stood before my father, Priam, and my mother, Hecuba.

I got down on my knees there. And shout out to everyone to hear.

“Father, I have returned to my hometown.”

Priam and Hecuba hugged each other with shocked faces as if seeing me for the first time.

As practiced, Priam shouted.

“Today is the happiest day of my life. The gods love me!”

I cried and cried the same way.

“My lost son is back like this!!”

…Of course, at this point, a third of the banquet hall would have known who I was.

“A prince. Were the rumors true?”

“My God, Apollo, you’ve got another prince to line up?”

“You guys, have you heard the rumors about the oracle? Ah… that’s not what I’m talking about here.”

They also pretend not to know each other.

Politics is so boring.

Now, officially, Paris, son of Agelaus, could become Paris, son of Priam.

And, like Anchises’ boastful words, countless requests for handshakes pour in.

In front of the gate of the palace where I was staying, in the presence of Theo, who was said to be the closest escort to me, attendants sent by influential people left invitations every day.

Of course they all declined.

‘Cause I have a place to go

Before long, the heralds ran through the streets of Troy, shouting to all.

“Paris, the second son of Priam, was immediately appointed lord of Antandros!”

“Hector, Aeneas, tour the cities with him, reaffirm the loyalty of the counties and strengthen your friendship with them!”

Soon, the day of departure approached.

***

The night before leaving Troia, the gates of the palace were opened again and a banquet was held for farewell.

It was a very noisy time.

Everyone tried to pretend to know me, so I was exhausted.

After serving customers for several hours, people were exhausted. One by one, they led their tired bodies and stood up from their seats, leaving blessings for the king and the royal family.

That’s when

“Father or mother?”

Me, Priam, and Hecuba, who could be considered organizers, were able to get up from their seats.

The three of us exited the empty venue and chose a less-traffic hallway to walk together.

“Tomorrow… you’re leaving.”

My biological mother, Hecuba, was weeping, blotting tears with her sleeve.

“It’s not like I won’t see you again… and since you’re a grown son, it’s no wonder it’s like this…”

Unfortunately, Hecuba couldn’t speak properly and hugged me several times and let me go.

I patted her on the back and comforted her crying. Then she put her lips lightly on my forehead and said.

“Okay, let’s go. You are talking to your father.”

and went back to the room.

Now it was just me and Priam.

I led my father into my room,

“Fortunately, I saw some merchants from Antandros.”

I showed him the box I had prepared.

“These are the offerings I bought from those merchants with my identity.”

Priam looked puzzled, biting the guards and opening the box.

Then he looked back at me with trembling eyes.

“···ah.”

A box big enough for two or three three-year-olds to lie down in.

Gold and steel filled it up.

“It belongs to my parents. I will give it to my father.”

“Our share?”

“Ah… no. You made a mistake.”

I closed the box and spoke to Priam again.

“It is the price of my ‘parents’ freedom. All the land around it, the animals, the house and the furnishings.”

Priam, who did not understand my words for a while, soon put on an expression that his head was beaten.

Then I laughed bitterly.

“So, you mean your ‘parents’?”

“yes. Together with him, I will buy all the freedom of the 133 shepherds around me.”

“…”

“Because they are my parents. And they are my neighbors.”

“Agelaos and Rishimake. All of my own slaves around him.”

“father.”

I squeezed Priam’s cold hand.

The wrinkled hands that rebuilt Troia through countless lives and deaths.

“My father is also important to me. but···”

When I looked back, the clouds had cleared through the window.

The moonlight pooled in the middle of the room, and the gold coin drank in it and glowed like fire.

“It is my precious people who have made me come this far.”

Hearing my words, Priam was silent for a moment.

Then he stepped back for a moment and said.

“Should I take that money? Shouldn’t we just give the freedom of Agelaos and the other slaves as a gift?”

“Yes, I want to buy it back with my own hands.”

“okay. I understand, my son…”

Priam let go of his stiff expression and laughed. It seemed somehow sluggish.

“I hope that someday I can be your precious person.”

Now, everything that needs to be done in Troia has been completed.

Priam also went back to his room tired of fighting Souma, so I returned to the venue again.

There, Aeneas, who was also weak, was waiting for me.

It’s a start.

“Outside, Hector is waiting for you, Aeneas.”

Back to Antandros.