Arsinoe was in her room in the Sacred Area of Artemis and in the arms of deep sleep. In her dream, she was running from someone. She hid behind walls and marble columns, looking around anxiously, but she couldn't see anyone. Although Arsinoe was used to fleeing in real life, she had been away from dangers for a few years in Ephesus, in the sacred area of Goddess Artemis. However, since she never felt truly safe, she was chased by someone in nearly every dream.

But this dream was different from the others. It was very realistic. As she looked around breathlessly, she saw the statue of Ephesus' Goddess Artemis before her. Artemis, who had protected her from her sister, the Egyptian Queen Cleopatra VII, for years was before her in all her glory. Arsinoe began to run toward the goddess she trusted so much. She was certain that with all her power and energy, the goddess was within her statue and would protect her again. Just as she was about to reach the statue of Artemis, a pit opened beneath her feet, and Arsinoe fell into darkness, unable to take refuge in Artemis.

**

Arsinoe woke up screaming, drenched in sweat. She took deep breaths, trying to shake off the effects of the dream. After putting on her daily clothes and slipping her leather sandals on her feet, she left her room and went to the Sacred Area of Artemis. Behind her lay the magnificent temple of Ephesus' Artemis, and the rays of the rising sun painted the temple's columns yellow.

What was this? One of the eunuch priests of Artemis in the temple had already woken. He was walking towards Arsinoe with a smile between the two columns at the entrance of the temple. Arsinoe smiled back at him, but she had never seen this priest in the temple before. Or had she, but she couldn't remember? When the priest approached her, she said, "Hello." But instead of a reply, the priest stabbed Arsinoe with a dagger. Princess Arsinoe, a descendant of the Ptolemaic dynasty, which had