Considering that Pandora was still nothing more than a newborn child, Alaric didn't tease her for such a blunt question, he simply nodded.
'Yes, Miss Pandora is the most beautiful woman.'
Hearing this, Pandora's beautiful eyes lit up with a smile.
What a child so easily satisfied.
However… isn't she the only woman in the world? What's there to be so proud about?
Still, a mere compliment to her looks seemed far from enough to satisfy Pandora's vanity, so she continued questioning Alaric.
'Why do you look at me like that? Your gaze seems different from the others.'
Now, how should he answer that?
Before speaking, Alaric cast a detection spell, making sure no gods were watching the scene like a live broadcast. Only then did he let out a small sigh of relief.
To Pandora, the tool created by the gods to destroy humankind, Alaric actually felt some pity. After all, she had only been brought into existence for a few days.
Besides, he planned to study her in the future, to explore the secrets of her body (purely in the name of research, of course). So, raising her favorability toward him now was only natural.
With that thought, Alaric spoke to Pandora in a gentle tone.
'Unlike those ignorant humans who only see your beauty, what I see is your sorrowful future.'
'Sorrowful future?' The words seemed to touch a nerve. Her voice instantly turned dissatisfied.
'No, you're wrong. I am the perfect creation of all the gods, the one favored by them. And you, a mere mortal, dare to make such a claim about me? I won't believe it.'
So, she was rather proud after all.
Understandable. She had been created by the combined hands of many chief gods, she had the capital to be proud.
But when the day of disaster finally came, Alaric wondered whether that pride could still hold.
Of course, such offensive words were left unspoken. Instead, he left her with a single line in a mysterious tone.
'The more you disbelieve a prophecy, the more the calamity in that prophecy will befall you, the source of that disaster lies in the box given to you by the King of the Gods.
Believe me, His Majesty the God-King created you and granted you that box with no good intentions. It's a trap.'
With that, Alaric turned and walked away without the slightest reluctance.
Yet his words seemed to have angered Pandora.
'What calamity falling upon me? What bad intentions from the God-King? I will never believe that!'
She could not accept the idea that her very creation was the result of a conspiracy.
'You're just a jealous mortal, aren't you? Jealous of my origin, jealous of the gods' favor toward me! I've seen right through you!'
Saying this, she even made a face at his retreating back.
Just like a little girl.
But when she finally understood Zeus's scheme and the true reason for her creation, perhaps then she would truly grow up.
Alaric didn't get angry. He simply rejoined the others at their work, quietly waiting for the wedding to arrive.
…
Twilight fell in the blink of an eye.
The wedding site was already prepared.
Though the weddings of these ancient Greeks were primitive, at least both bride and groom would dress up and host a banquet.
To Alaric, the ceremony seemed exceedingly simple, but for the people involved, such a wedding was a rare and precious event, especially for humans of this era.
Not only could they eat and drink to their hearts' content, but they could also see the gods they worshipped. Such chances were exceedingly rare.
The guests were all in high spirits, raising their cups to toast Epimetheus, their guide, offering sincere wishes for his happy marriage.
Pandora, naturally, was the center of attention. The only woman in the world drew every gaze, with everyone praising her beauty and offering blessings for her future.
Her soon-to-be husband, Epimetheus, whispered sweet words to please her.
This love from her husband and the envy from others filled Pandora with joy, her vanity thoroughly satisfied, except for one thing.
The words Alaric had spoken earlier still sat like a fishbone stuck in her throat.
So she scanned the crowd, searching, until she spotted Alaric standing alone in a corner.
Unlike everyone else, this man did not blend into the festive atmosphere. He did not join in the wedding merriment, choosing instead to drink alone.
The sight left a deep impression on Pandora, reinforcing her memory of just how unusual he was.
From afar, she threw him a provoking look, as if to say, See my happiness? All of this was granted by the gods. Do you still cling to your ridiculous opinion?
Alaric paid no mind to her girlish provocation, merely returning her gaze with one of pity.
The happier you are now, the more pain you will feel later.
He then went back to tasting the crude food and wine of early humankind.
Yet that look of pity, paired with his dismissive attitude, once again infuriated Pandora.
This woman, only a few days old, displayed perfectly the temperament of one who draws closer in defiance and grows bitter when kept at a distance.
Even her future husband's sweet nothings failed to capture her attention, while Alaric's disregard and pity seared themselves deep into her heart.
She wanted to argue with him face to face, to prove her happiness, to make him admit that his words were wrong.
But now was not the time. She was the bride, the focus of the crowd, and the gods had yet to arrive to bless her. She knew she couldn't act willfully in this moment.
Still, one thought, one she'd had from the start, grew even stronger inside her.
'Open the box given to me by the God-King. See what's inside.'
Ever since she'd received the box, this curiosity, bestowed upon her at creation, had been circling in her mind.
Zeus's warning had kept it in check at first, but now she remembered Alaric's prophecy.
'Believe me, His Majesty the God-King created you and granted you that box with no good intentions. It's a trap.'
If she could prove that the God-King's gift was no trap, then she could refute his words, prove that she truly was the gods' favored creation.
Without realizing it, she had found herself another perfect excuse to open the box.
Alaric didn't know that his well-intentioned warning had backfired, bringing humanity's disaster forward by quite some time.
Indeed, Pandora was the very first woman of the world, in her, both the virtues and the flaws of womankind shone in full.
Perhaps only the trials of reality could bring her true growth.
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