The next morning, King Cepheus and Queen Cassiopeia of Ethiopia gathered all the citizens of the kingdom and announced a piece of news to them:
"Because my Queen Cassiopeia arrogantly claimed that my daughter Andromeda's beauty surpassed all the sea nymphs, thus angering the great Sea God, as the King of Ethiopia, I will take responsibility for this."
Cepheus slowly glanced at the beautiful princess beside him, a look of sorrow in his eyes:
"As the price to appease the Sea God's wrath, my daughter Andromeda will be offered by me as a sacrifice to the great Sea God!"
As soon as these words were uttered, the entire nation was in an uproar, but the citizens who had previously angrily demanded Cepheus take responsibility no longer said anything.
The King had already offered his own daughter as a sacrifice; if this still couldn't appease Poseidon, then it could only be said that Ethiopia's national fortune had run out, and fate willed their destruction.
After announcing this news, Cepheus immediately ordered Princess Andromeda to be taken to the cape of the Ethiopian kingdom and sacrificed to the Sea God Poseidon there.
After Cepheus gave the order, two guards from the royal palace immediately took action. Surrounded by the citizens of Ethiopia, they led the dejected Andromeda to the cape and used heavy iron chains to shackle the princess to a reef by the sea.
When they saw the waves mercilessly licking the princess's bare feet, the citizens of Ethiopia were satisfied. Under such circumstances, even Cepheus could no longer snatch food from the tiger's mouth of Poseidon. If he did, it would be a great disrespect to all the gods, and in this era and this world, such a person could not survive.
Thus, the citizens of Ethiopia also gradually left the cape and returned home to attend to their respective affairs. Only King Cepheus and Queen Cassiopeia remained on the cape, looking at their daughter with tear-filled eyes, full of worry.
"Your Majesty, Queen."
Just then, the "prophet" played by Ares also arrived here with a mysterious person cloaked in a robe. After seeing the princess chained to the reef, he nodded and then said to Cepheus and Cassiopeia:
"I've brought the person."
"Prophet."
Seeing Ares arrive, Cepheus and Cassiopeia quickly said:
"Please save our daughter."
"No need to rush, no need to rush."
Ares looked up at the sky and said, "Let's wait until night to make the switch."
Not long after, Helios, God of the Sun's chariot galloped around the Greek World, then returned to Olympus to sign in and punch out. The veil of the Goddess of Night also covered the entire world at this time.
Under the dim cape, Ares, who had been waiting there, suddenly opened his eyes and said to King Cepheus and the Queen beside him, "It's time."
After speaking, he stood up, and the mysterious person who had come with him also lifted her robe, much to the astonishment of Cepheus and Cassiopeia. The mysterious person under the robe actually had a face identical to Princess Andromeda, and her attire at this time was also exactly the same as the princess bound by iron chains on the reef.
This mysterious person ignored the shocked King and Queen. After revealing her true appearance, she followed Ares to the edge of the cape. Ares raised his staff and lightly tapped it, and the iron chains binding Princess Andromeda automatically unlocked and fell into his hand, while Princess Andromeda was carried by a force and landed steadily by the sea.
"Your Highness, please follow me."
Ares draped the robe previously worn by the mysterious person over Andromeda, then pushed her towards a natural rock crevice by the cape. As he passed by the King and Queen, he nodded slightly to Cepheus and Cassiopeia, saying:
"Your Majesty, Queen, just as we discussed, after this matter concludes, I will return Her Highness to you. We will be back shortly."
Cepheus and Cassiopeia's lips moved, but they finally said nothing more. They also knew that, facing the threat of the Sea God, this was their daughter's only chance at survival.
As for the hero who was about to arrive, according to the prophet, he was a fanatic of Athena. In his eyes, there was no room for any other woman besides the goddess. It was estimated that even if he married Andromeda, it would only be due to Athena's command. Following such a person, Andromeda would not find happiness.
Ares and Andromeda's figures disappeared into the darkness of the rock crevice. A moment later, Ares returned, but Princess Andromeda was gone. Afterward, Ares, having settled Princess Andromeda, approached the mysterious person who looked exactly like the princess. With a somewhat respectful attitude, he asked the mysterious person to stand on the reef herself and began to bind her with iron chains.
As he bound her, Ares spoke to the mysterious person in front of him in a voice that the Cepheus couple could not hear:
"Remember, Master, from now on, you are Princess Andromeda of Ethiopia. Your expression should be tragic, your hair a bit disheveled, your eyes a bit desperate, and if you can squeeze out some tears, that would be even better."
"I know, you're so particular."
Hecate, controlling the body identical to Andromeda, frowned as she looked at the iron chains wrapped around her body in circle after circle. She shifted uncomfortably and asked:
"By the way, can't you tie these chains a little looser? I won't run away."
"We have to put on a complete show, otherwise, we can't deceive Athena. Please bear with it for a little while, Master."
Ares comforted her:
"I've added a magic that severs sensation to this body. If you feel uncomfortable, Master, just cut off your sense of touch."
Hecate thought for a moment, then shook her head: "Forget it, this feeling is quite new. When will your clone come to save me?"
"In about two days."
Ares glanced at the dark sea beneath the reef.
Originally, a monster like a narwhal should have been lurking here, but that monster had been instantly killed by a petrification ray from the demonized Medusa when it interfered with the battle between Ares and the demonized Medusa. Theoretically, the reef where Hecate was currently staying was relatively safe, but Ares wondered if his annoying second uncle would send any more strange sea monsters.
Therefore, to be safe, Ares still carved protective magic on this reef to prevent Hecate from being suddenly swallowed by a sea monster.
Then, Ares helped Hecate's clone touch up her makeup, arranging her clothes and hair to look disheveled as if blown by the sea breeze all afternoon. He also applied a special solution to her cheeks, disguised as dried tear stains from crying all afternoon. Afterward, he looked at his handiwork with satisfaction.
With this, everything was ready, all that was needed was the opportune moment.