Blissfully unaware of any danger their happy and prosperous kingdom faced, Psyche’s parents were delighted with the growth and development of their daughters. All were beautiful and well-accomplished. Surely they would all find fine husbands. 

In fact, it just so happened that daughter number one had managed to secure an engagement to a high king from a faraway land. 

Good. 

Very good, indeed. 

The whole town was abuzz with excitement. As the first royal wedding approached, flowers and flags decorated every corner of the kingdom. 

Psyche, sadly, was largely absent during the multiple stages of the wedding preparations and celebrations. Even before this exciting event, the palace had tried to keep Psyche on some kind of predictable schedule where she could be in one place and let the people come to her (rather than having to search high and low for Psyche). 

But Psyche preferred to mingle among the people. 

Her parents tried to insist that Psyche see reason, but there was always some emergency — a sick child or downtrodden attendant — that took her away. 

They eventually gave up and decided it was better to let Psyche be Psyche. 

Well, by her sisters’ measure, it seemed Psyche felt above the duties required of her as a princess and they were constantly picking up her slack. 

For example, Psyche missed the couple’s first reception where Aglaura and High King were properly introduced to the kingdom. She also missed most of her dress fittings, didn’t show up for the additional receptions and ceremonies, and barely stumbled in just in time to raise a glass on the eve of the big event. 

Well, today was the actual wedding day. 

She had better not miss that!

But where was she?

As the whole kingdom frantically prepared the remaining last-minute details of Aglaura’s wedding, Psyche emerged from the midwife’s house. The midwife had been working tirelessly the last few weeks. Apparently there was a new trend among the worshippers. Pregnant visitors, with their families, came to the kingdom to give birth. It was said being born in the same kingdom as Princess Psyche would set their children on the path to great success.  

Needless to say, the midwife was more than worn out. She was very grateful for Psyche’s visit, which gave her much needed encouragement to handle the next wave of births, as well as the idea to look for a few more midwives to train. 

It was all very nice, but that didn’t change the fact that it was late morning and Psyche still wasn’t dressed! She needed to hurry back to the palace and get ready!

Psyche took no more than a few steps from the midwife’s house when she was intercepted by a small group of worshippers. 

Isn’t that what the shrine is for??

Except this visitor presented her with an especially extravagant gift — a sparkling jeweled necklace. 

That was considerably better than a chicken or a goat.

Psyche graciously, and thankfully quickly, accepted the gift and hurried towards the palace.

Sadly, she didn’t get very far. 

As Psyche cut through the village square, she couldn’t help noticing a man hunched with his head in his hands, sitting on a bench near the fountain. 

Psyche approached the man. 

“Adonis,” Psyche said gently. “Is everything alright?”

Adonis didn’t answer. 

Psyche sighed. 

“How much did you lose this time?” Psyche asked. 

Adonis looked up, his face red with shame. Was his reputation really that bad that even the princess knew of his repeated failures? 

“Don’t bother yourself with my troubles, Princess,” Adonis said, looking away. “You have more important things to attend to.”

He couldn’t bear the shame of what he had done and he certainly didn’t want to talk to Psyche about it. 

Psyche sat down.

“How much did you lose?” Psyche asked again. 

Adonis had never really been a Psyche worshipper. His wife certainly was. For his part, he’d never understood what made the princess so special to everyone. Sure she was pretty, but so were the other princesses. 

He looked at her.

As Psyche held his gaze, Adonis felt strange. It was as if she could see into his very soul. She seemed to already know what he had done and it didn’t change the care and concern she had for him. She wanted to help no matter how wretched he was. 

But it was too embarrassing. Too humiliating. 

Adonis hesitated.

What could she do? What was done, was done. There was no way to undo the trouble he’d gotten himself into. 

“I want to help,” Psyche said, trying to encourage him. “Won’t you let me?” 

Adonis finally relented. 

“I knew I shouldn’t have put it all in,” he said, bowing his head again. “I knew I should have been more careful, but I had hoped — .” 

Adonis sighed.

Emotions started to flow under the attention of someone so kind. 

“My wife,” he said quietly. “She deserves better —”

His voice trailed off. 

“Chloe loves you,” said Psyche, putting her hand on his shoulder. “She doesn’t want or need anything else. She just wants you. She needs you — not to give her things — but to really show her you care.

“What is the amount of your debt?”

“Too much,” Adonis groaned, turning away again. “It’s simply too much. We’ll never be able to pay it all back. We’ve done better this season, but I — I don’t know how we’ll manage!” 

“Adonis, look at me,” Psyche said. 

He reluctantly looked at her. 

“Go to Chloe and talk this over with her,” Psyche said. “Let her help you. Work together. Figure out a way so that you don’t have to turn to such methods again. It never works. Trust each other. Help each other. Everything will be alright.

“And use this to settle your debts.”

Psyche slipped something into his hand and with sudden haste, got up from the bench and continued on toward the palace.

Adonis sat for a moment speechless. 

In his hand rested a beautiful, studded necklace.  It was the most valuable thing he’d ever held. 

This would certainly pay off his debts – with plenty to spare!

How could this princess be willing to help him? He was the biggest loser, in more ways than one.

He felt ashamed that he’d been so careless. He was always getting himself – and Chloe – into trouble. 

Something would have to change.

Adonis wasn’t sure what to do. He thought again about what Psyche had said. 

Talk to Chloe. Trust each other.

But how could Chloe ever trust him again?

And how could he talk to her? Would she want to talk to him? Would she even know what to do?

Chloe was rather clever. 

But talking to her, opening up at such a time when he had failed so horribly.

It felt impossible. 

But the princess seemed to have hope for him. She seemed to think everything would be alright. She had certainly given him everything he needed to pay back those who had trusted him and his foolish scheme. 

Maybe he could just use the necklace and pay everyone back. Pay everyone before even having to go to Chloe and face her in the shadow of his shame. 

No one would be the wiser. 

But.

The princess. 

He felt like he’d be letting her down somehow if he didn’t at least go to Chloe first. It wasn’t what he preferred, but it was the least he could do as a thank-you for the gift she’d given him. 

Adonis got up and started for home.

He hoped things would be alright. He hoped Chloe wouldn’t be too mad; hoped she’d be willing to talk to him. 

He faltered slightly at the idea of an angry Chloe. The news of losing all of their savings certainly wouldn’t bring a hug and a kiss. 

He decided to turn slightly from his path and made his way towards Psyche’s shrine. 

He had always been glad that the shrine had drawn visitors and business prospects. More opportunities to grow one’s wealth.

This time, however, as he approached the shrine, he said a silent prayer. 

I’m trusting you, Adonis thought as he gazed up at Psyche’s statue. Please help me know what to say to Chloe. Help her not be mad at me. Help her understand I only want us to have a good life. 

The statue continued to look down at him, humble and sweet. 

He thought about how he’d felt when she’d talked to him.

She had hope for him. 

She is more than a princess, he thought, kneeling. 

She is divine.