EIITAB - Chapter 9 < Aslan Kalati >
Even If It Is Trampled And Broken
Hestia immediately nodded and raised her lips.
"Then let's go see him right away."
"Yes! I'll take you there!"
Hestia followed Angela and took her steps toward the King's quarters.
"Your Majesty, Princess Hestia was here."
"Come in."
Permission was soon given to enter. The large two-door door opened quietly, and Hestia entered his office and, in accordance with her manners, greeted her uncle, King Yorgos, the lord of the Kingdom of Ellsword.
"Your Majesty, greetings after a long time."
"Welcome, Hestia. How have you been without any inconvenience?"
"You always take care of me with your heart, so what can I do to make you uncomfortable?"
Hestia smiled and replied calmly, but Yorgos gave her a disapproving look.
"Do you think I don't know that your heart is kind and you just endure it? It's not funny how the temple bastards are looking for Anette or whatever and only looking for a new Saintess."
Hestia smiled faintly.
"Everyone is good to me."
When she said that she would live for a while in the palace, the High Priests asked her several times. It is to keep quiet about the fact that she was sentenced to a terminal sentence.
'But I'd better say something in advance.'
The same demands were made in her previous life. So she said nothing until she officially announced at her shrine that she had become terminally ill. At that time, she belatedly found out about the contents of the oracle and was angry with Yorgos, asking why she hadn't consulted with him.
'First, let's take a little more chance. Today is not the day.'
Hestia spoke to him again to solve her more urgent business.
"Your Majesty, there is something I want to ask you."
"What is it? feel free to ask."
"I was wondering if the Duke of Kalati is coming from the north again this year,"
"Ah, outside."
Yorgos immediately frowned and rubbed his chin roughly. Just thinking of Aslan in his head made him feel uncomfortable.
'Why do you say outside?'
Hestia felt a considerable sense of incongruity in Yorgos' attitude. The northern part was also Ellsworth's territory, but her uncle seemed to treat it as a completely different country. In Hestia's heart, she felt cruel that she had already drawn the line.
'Maybe I'll be pushed out of the line soon too!'
Hestia held her breath and waited for her uncle's answer. Yorgos quickly nodded his head.
"It is as you say. Three days ago I received word from the wall that they had passed. He'll be arriving soon. At the earliest, tonight, at the latest, by tomorrow afternoon."
Yorgos frowned and clicked his tongue, perhaps thinking of Aslan.
"How many more will you be dying for?"
Hestia, who got the answer she wanted, hid her impatience and opened her mouth as nonchalantly as possible.
"Your Majesty, I would like to ask you a favor,"
"Ask?"
Yorgos's face darkened again. The royal family and the temple looked harmonious and close on the outside, but in reality, they were trying to eat each other off. That's why it was always easy to cut each other down with sharp words behind the scenes.
Yorgos grunted, crumpling his face even more.
"What is the temple trying to rob me of by using you again?"
Hestia quickly shook her head.
'No.'
This is my personal request.
"You don't even have to give anything away."
Then, as if unexpectedly, one eyebrow of Yorgos lifted up. When his niece, who had never been able to say a word of regret to someone in her life, uttered the word 'please', the King felt a sense of wonder.
"It's a personal request..."
Yorgos soon showed interest. Although they were uncle and niece, their relationship was indistinguishable because Hestia had spent much more time alone in the temple than in the years they had lived together. So, to Yorgos, Hestia was closer to the temple than her family. So, as if he had thought that it wouldn't be bad to erase one of the debts to the Saintess, the sullen smile on Yorgos's face grew thicker.
"Let's me hear."
***
Time seemed to flow slowly, but it passed like a bolt. After hearing from Angela that the Duke of Kalati had entered the capital this morning, Hestia immediately dressed up. She had no intention of dressing up fancy. He didn't like that, and he didn't have the right clothes or accessories. Thanks to that, she, Hestia, was able to reach her throne room before anyone else in her royal family.
'I'm nervous.'
She had already asked permission from Yorgos.
"I also want to attend the ceremony where Duke Kalati meets His Majesty. With your permission, of course."
Yorgos looked surprised. It was something he recommended to Hestia every year to assert his authority. However, she refused repeatedly because she was uncomfortable around Aslan. '
What made you change your mind?'
'Because I don't want to avoid my fate anymore'
Yorgos chuckled happily as if he had replaced the word fate with 'duty'.
"Hestia. It looks like you're all grown up now."
Yorgos didn't ask for more details. Thanks to that, Hestia didn't have to think about the cheap excuses, and it relieved her sighs. He said he was 24 this year!
Hestia caught her breath and checked the information about Aslan, whom she would meet soon. Unlike other aristocrats of his age who got engaged and married early, he was always alone. '
Until the moment I die, Duke Aslan never married.'
Of course, that's because the situation in the north he's protecting isn't good, and he's only focusing on defending it. While Hestia was continuing her thoughts, Yorgos arrived late.
"You're here early, Hestia,"
"Of course, you should keep your seat before His Majesty."
As if it was not a bad thing to humble yourself and support yourself, Yorgos slightly stretched his lips and nodded as he sat on the throne. Hestia greeted the Crown Prince, who was also her cousin, by simply making eye contact.
"I'll be back soon."
As soon as the words were finished, a commotion erupted outside the audience room door. The chamberlain came inside and bowed his head toward Yorgos, the Crown Prince, and Hestia.
"Your Majesty, the Duke of Kalati from the north is asking for an audience."
"Bring him in."
At the fake solemn voice, the large door opened wide on both sides. In the meantime, Aslan appeared. He was wearing armor, not robes. Foldrun on the surcoat, and the gauntlet. Although it was informal, he was in a state where he could leave as it was if he was ordered to participate immediately. Then, a clicking sound came from the throne behind her.
"I don't have money, so I'm wearing something like that."
Hestia clenched her fists as if she had been insulted. 'Aslan Kalati.' Hestia, who repeated his name in her mind, was speechless for some reason.
He kept remembering the hand that had eagerly held her hand in her past life, and it felt like her throat was full.
"Give me the sword and helmet."
At the words of the chief chamberlain, Aslan handed him the helmet worn on his side and the sword worn around his waist. Hestia unknowingly gave strength to the gaze that kept falling, and stood as if to stand up and stared straight ahead at him. At that moment, their eyes met, and she could see his golden eyes widening for a moment. And then, Aslan frowned. Hestia's heart sank.
'... That's bad.'
Just in case, but he was. Aslan didn't like her. It is, though. It's just eye contact, but she never thought she'd hate it to the point of trembling like this. Hestia unknowingly bit her lower lip. She wanted to spur this place right away because of her embarrassment, but she held back.
'Are you okay? It's not even a day or two that he hates me.'
Above all, she had no time to look for other suitable times. Because she never knew when Anette would move.
Besides, she couldn't even guess when Aslan's mood would get better. A day like that probably won't come in her lifetime.
She let out her self-deprecating laugh. So it would be better to get the story out as soon as possible. She swallowed her dry saliva to suppress her various negative emotions.
In the meantime, Aslan was steadily advancing in front of Yorgos. Cut it, cut it. The sound of iron dragging and clashing could be heard with every step he took. When he entered the entrance, Hestia saw him entrusting the sword to the chamberlain, but honestly, she wondered what use it was.
Hestia was overbearing just by being there. Every time Aslan took a step, she felt as if the line on her feet was shaking the space. Aslan's presence was so strong. Hestia swallowed dry saliva. It was because Aslan was radiating his ferocious energy without suppressing it at all. Aslan, as much as Yorgos had a face that said that this place was quite annoying.
'I'm choking.'
Hestia closed her lips tightly. As Aslan got closer, she found it increasingly difficult to breathe.
She seemed to be suffocated by the dangerous and ferocious atmosphere. At some point, she lifted both of her folded hands and placed them on her left breast heart. Hestia realized right here that the nickname of the Black Lion of the North wasn't given to him for nothing. He really was a beast himself. It's been starving for quite some time. At some point, she lifted her crossed hands and placed them on her left chest. Hestia realized right here that the nickname of the Black Lion of the North wasn't given to her for nothing. He really was a beast himself. It's been starving for quite some time.
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