Hephaestion, also known as Faker, was once Iskandar’s most trusted advisor and retainer. The two were close companions, with Faker serving loyally by Iskandar’s side for many years.
However, as the years passed, the seeds of jealousy began to grow within Hephaestion’s heart. She couldn’t help but envy Coronaria, who had quickly become a valued companion to her master.
She was provoked by these visions, bitten by a hidden pain. Troubled day and night, she groaned and melted with misery, wasting slowly, like ice attacked by feeble sunlight. She was burned by Coronaria’s happiness when serving Iskandar like prickly grass when fire is applied to it – it emits no flames but burns up with a slow heat. Often she wished to die. Often she wished to confess all to her king, as if she were guilty of a crime. In the end she went and sat on the threshold opposite of Iskandar’s chamber, to keep the nymph out when she came. As for Coronaria,she was oblivious to Faker’s jealousy towards her,since her heart was too pure to know the negative qualities of humanity. She didn’t really care and continued her duties as usual.
Eventually on one spring afternoon, Faker did the unthinkable by trapping Coronaria in a glass jam jar so that she won’t be able to see Iskandar.
But still,when Iskandar saw Faker,he asked her where Coronaria was. In a fit of anger and jealousy,she inadvertently blurted out, “Enough! I will not move from here until the nymph has been driven off.Do I not have a place in your heart as well?I have served you ever since you became king and this nymph…she just arrived a week ago!Shouldn’t I have a higher chance of being honoured than her?”
Iskandar's anger flared as he heard Hephaestion's outburst. He could not believe that his most trusted advisor, someone who had served him faithfully for years, would speak of Coronaria in such a jealous and venomous way.
“Enough!” he boomed, his voice filled with fury and disappointment. “How dare you speak of Coronaria in such a manner! She is a kind and loyal nymph, who has done nothing but serve me with all her heart and soul. You, on the other hand, have let jealousy and bitterness consume you!”
As Iskandar turned away from her and began to walk away, Faker attempted to rise to her feet, but her legs betrayed her, refusing to obey her bidding. She tried to stand, but a cold, paralyzing chill spread through her body, as if a bitter poison were seeping into every inch of her being, turning her into a statue.
Meanwhile, Iskandar started looking for Coronaria, since he was worried about her and he didn’t know where she went.Suddenly,a tiny voice came out from the kitchen.
“Your Majesty!I’m here!”
Iskandar went inside and saw the tiny figure of Coronaria trapped in a glass jam jar. She was slamming her tiny fists against the glass walls of the jar,trying to escape,but to no avail.Iskandar was stunned and horrified to see Coronaria trapped inside the glass jam jar. He quickly went to her aid and picked up the jar, holding it up to his face so that he could see her better.
"Coronaria, can you hear me?" he asked urgently, his voice filled with concern. "What happened? How did you end up like this?"
Iskandar quickly got the jar from the shelf and uncapped it so that Coronaria could fly out of it. Happy to be free again, Coronaria thanked Iskandar for saving her,then she explained what had happened. She told him when she was going to get some seeds, she was confronted by Faker, who trapped her inside the jar to prevent her from meeting him.Once he heard Coronaria’s explanation, Iskandar’s face turned pale with horror, for he had never expected that his trusted retainer would go through great lengths to harm Coronaria,all for the sake of his affection.
"This cannot be..." he muttered, his face pale and his voice shaky. "I cannot believe that she would go so far as to harm you like this... How could she be so blinded by jealousy?"
“You know what this means,Coronaria,” he added, “I am not letting anyone with bad intentions harm you. Perhaps I should be more careful in selecting my retainers.”
“I don’t get it,Your Majesty.Why?” Coronaria asked in confusion.
“Before I was made immortal and returned to the living,I have made a solemn promise to your mother,Mother Nature,that I would take care of you,just like in my previous life.If I didn’t,she’ll punish me severely,” he explained, “And there’s one thing I must tell you. Jealousy only leads to self destruction.”
Coronaria listened intently to Iskandar’s words, her heart swelling with gratitude and awe. She was moved by his deep affection and respect for her and his commitment to keeping her safe.
"Then I understand your words,Your Majesty," she said quietly, her eyes wide with realization. "So you promised my mother that you would look after me, and that's why you're so protective of me."
She thought for a moment, absorbing the weight of his words.
"Jealousy... It’s a very powerful and destructive force, isn't it?”
And from that day onwards,Coronaria kept Iskandar’s words in her mind and would often think deeply about them,since she didn’t want her heart to be tainted by jealousy.Besides,she was always happy with what she had and never compared herself to others.As for Faker,she was transformed into a marble statue,except that the stone was not white but black,for her mind had already darkened it.
