The entire square, inside and out, suddenly fell silent. The priestess seemed oblivious to the scene outside; she walked slowly to the platform without looking sideways. Using her torch, she lit the brazier in front of her. The blazing flames represented the blessings of the deity.

Then, facing the square, she parted her lips slightly. A voice, soft yet incredibly penetrating, emerged from her seemingly delicate body, entrancing the people—a sound one could hardly imagine coming from her.

Led by her, the priests chanted the Hymn to Hera together. The song was filled with care for children, concern for women, admonitions on marriage, and protection of the family… Thus, the singing was neither high-pitched nor mournful, but like an elder speaking slowly and unhurriedly…

The hymn ended, and silence reigned inside and outside the square as if people were still immersed in the teachings of the hymn.

Just then, the flames in the brazier suddenly flared up noticeably with a whoosh.

“Hera has manifested! She is watching us!” The people immediately clamored, considering it a good omen.

Priestess Agnes smiled slightly. This smile was like sunlight pouring into the hearts of the people: “Great Goddess Hera blesses you!”

As soon as her voice fell, the people finally cheered, and melodious music sounded at that moment.

Couples were let in by the patrol one after another, entering the square. The entire square quickly became crowded.

They began to dance clumsily to the music. Greeks were a people adept at athletics but not dance. Davos had simply adapted ballroom dancing from his previous life and had trained couples perform it at last year’s Marriage Festival celebration, immediately attracting the people’s admiration and eagerness to learn.

This time, everyone summoned their courage to enter the venue and show off their family’s elegance. In the narrow space, couples moved to the beat, stepping simple steps, looking at each other, spinning, changing hand gestures… Although the movements were simple and repetitive, the people danced more and more happily. Even outside the square, people began to sing and dance.

In the dance, wives found their husbands more charming, and husbands found their wives more beautiful; everyone was intoxicated. This was precisely Davos’s intention in designing this segment: Family is the cornerstone of the city-state; when families are solid, the state is peaceful.

Even the priestesses on the platform couldn’t help but sway their delicate bodies slightly, humming along to the music in low voices.

At this moment, a lively priestess emboldened herself to whisper to Agnes, “High Priestess, this dance was created by the Archon. Do you also dance with the Archon at home usually?”

The priestess’s words made the corners of Agnes’s rosy mouth curl into a slight smile. She was a relatively traditional Greek woman. When the people of Rhegium rejected Dionysius’s proposal, causing no one to dare marry her, she had no complaints and silently entered the Temple of Artemis as a priestess. After several years, she thought she would live such a plain life until old age alone. Unexpectedly, Artemis pitied this beautiful girl. Syracuse’s power threatened Rhegium’s survival, and Agnes, shouldering the hopes of the entire city, was sent to the unfamiliar Thurii in bewilderment. She had thought the rumored famous general and wise Archon of Theonia would be a domineering person, but Davos surprised her with gentleness and consideration beyond this era.

But at this moment, she put on a stern face and scolded, “It is a celebration now. Hera above, we must devote ourselves wholeheartedly!”

The priestesses all knew that although Agnes was the High Priestess of the Temple of Hera, she had a gentle personality and treated subordinates kindly and friendly; she wouldn’t really be angry. Still, they obediently stopped talking and stood properly again.

***

Inside the shrine of Iris, Goddess of the Rainbow, Ephialtus felt a mix of excitement and nervousness; time seemed to drag. He looked around and found most men and women were the same. Only one young man attracted his attention; he sat upright on the ground, eyes closed tight as if asleep.

Ephialtus examined him curiously and realized he didn’t know this person. He didn’t know this man’s identity was extraordinary—Leotychides, the former Spartan prince. Having lived in Thurii for a few years, Leotychides was now a Theonian citizen and a Squadron Leader in the First Legion. Urged by his old servant, he had also found a partner. But Spartan aesthetics differed from ordinary Greeks; they liked physically robust women with distinct, even tough personalities—like his mother, who personally gave him a new bronze shield when he first went to battle, telling him, ‘Either return with it or on it.’ So, Leotychides was engaged to a strong-willed Bruttian girl from Besidiae.

“Everyone, please line up in order quickly. The blessing ceremony is about to begin! As soon as the music starts, follow me slowly into the square, couple by couple, understood?!” The guiding priest reminded these newlyweds again.

Ephialtus’s spirit rose: It’s finally starting!

A soothing, soft, yet solemn music drifted into the shrine. Priestesses holding flower baskets walked out of the shrine first. Ephialtus’s fiancée took his arm, following along…

The moment they walked into the square, both were stunned: It was a sea of flowers! Colorful petals were scattered from the hands of the people on the sidelines, from the hands of cutely dressed children weaving through the square… falling like snow, turning into a carpet of flowers for them to tread upon…

Outside the venue, thousands of people waved colorful cloths, cheering loudly for them. Acquaintances and friends even shouted their names directly, offering blessings.

In this lively scene under the gaze of thousands, every couple was excited, feeling as if they were the happiest pair in the world.

When the music ended, they were already standing at the foot of the steps in front of the Temple of Hera.

Agnes waited for the noise outside the venue to calm down before speaking loudly: “Young men and women, Cupid has shot you with arrows of love. Guided by Aphrodite, you fell in love. Under Hera’s watch, you came here.

“Hera asks the men in the square: Are you willing to become the husband of this beautiful woman beside you? Willing to respect her until old age, work tirelessly for the new home about to be established, not violate the law, and do your best to become an excellent citizen of the city-state, building and defending your home?!”

“I am willing!” Every man answered loudly without hesitation because the priest’s question was precisely their goal.

“Women in the square, Hera asks you: Are you willing to become the wife of this strong man beside you? Willing to love him, respect him, care for him until old age, manage the household for him, manage the slaves, and raise children to grow up into excellent citizens of the city-state?!”

The delicate women answered with incomparable determination at this moment: “I am willing!”

Agnes looked outside the venue. “Does anyone object to any couple in the square becoming husband and wife? If so, please speak now!”

No one expressed objection.

Agnes exhaled lightly, opened her arms, and proclaimed loudly, “I now declare, under Hera’s witness, you become husband and wife. I hope you will love each other forever! If anyone destroys your marriage and family, then no matter who it is, he will bear Hera’s wrath and the just judgment of the Theonian League! Now, every husband in the square may kiss his beautiful wife.”

As soon as Agnes finished speaking, the flames in the brazier beside her surged again, sparking stars of fire.

“Hera! Hera!” The people and the newlyweds exclaimed.

At this time, music sounded. Compared to the solemn and sacred melody upon entry, this music was beautiful, warm, sweet with affection, and full of happiness.

Ephialtus’s wife blushed and closed her eyes. When lips met lips, there was only one thought in her heart: Ephialtus was right to insist on attending the Thurii Marriage Festival. No regrets in this life!…

Leotychides’s wife kept her eyes open. Seeing the faint tears glistening in the eyes of her husband kissing her, she couldn’t help but be surprised: My husband, who has always had a tough personality, can actually cry?!

She didn’t know that amidst the blessings of thousands, Leotychides was thinking of his mother who had committed suicide in humiliation. At this important moment, he still lacked the blessing of his closest kin!…

By this time, it was already afternoon. The people who had rushed to the temple early in the morning and the newlyweds in the square were all tired and hungry, but not a single person turned to go home. Instead, everyone was eager because the final celebratory program of the Marriage Festival was about to begin.

As soon as Agnes uttered the word “Splash,” all the people immediately picked up clay jars filled with clean water placed on the ground and splashed them at those nearby. The children who had been responsible for scattering flowers earlier now drilled into the venue, splashing water on the newlyweds, eliciting screams from brides and protective gestures from grooms. Among the frolicking children were Cynthia, her brother Adonis, and classmates from school…

For a time, inside and outside the venue was a scene of boiling excitement, with water splashing everywhere.

Those who finished splashing rushed to the Crati River beside the temple, scooping water to continue the fight. This was one of the reasons why the Temple of Hera was built by the river.

The clean water soaked the chitons worn on their bodies. Men simply took off their upper garments, tying them around their waists to reveal their strong bodies. Greeks revered physical beauty, and Theonians were no exception. Moreover, the population of this newly established city-state league was mainly composed of immigrants, most of whom were young. Aside from work and life, they received far more military training than the average Greek city-state. They were stronger, more agile, and happier to display the results of this training.

Women, with their outer garments completely wet revealing their curves, didn’t mind too much either, because everyone was the same.