EIITAB - Chapter 16 If Someone Catches Me
Even If It Is Trampled And Broken
Hestia's mind was racing all day. It was always like that this time of year.
"This day has come again..."
In her mind, she wanted to fall asleep the night before and not wake up until the next day. She was only 13 years old and the death of her parents was not of an acceptable nature to her. Besides, she wasn't given enough time to grieve. She held the funeral frantically, noticed her uncle's intentions, awakened as a Saintess, and moved her residence to a temple.
"You must behave politely, Hestia."
"Yes, uncle."
"Saintess, Your expression is dark. Is it because we neglected to take care of you that you are worried?"
"No. I am doing well and comfortably. Thank you for your consideration. "
No expression was allowed on her other than her smiling face. No matter how noble her position was, it did her no good.
Hestia was a 13-year-old child with no adults to protect her. She has more responsibilities than things to enjoy. She was crushed every day. She was struggling to hold on because she didn't want to be abandoned, but on days like today when her parents passed away, her feelings subsided before she could do anything about it.
'I feel like crying today.'
She can't cry. Even her clouded expression was just at an acceptable level. A crying child is annoying. So rather than soothing and comforting her, they turn their backs.
Because it's easier that way.
Hestia suppressed her cries several times. She was just uncomfortable in this position.
Even though it was only the second anniversary, there were only a handful of people actually paying tribute to her parents, and most of them were forming their own factions and socializing.
While Hestia was welcoming the. guests, she exerted her strength to the point that her hands turned white as she held them together. She wanted to run away from the world of pretense.
'But... Where?'
At the end of the resigned question, a blunt boy's face suddenly appeared. Hestia took a shaky breath.
'I miss him.'
She won't say anything, though. He may not grieve with her.
'... Still.'
Still, it's better than here, better than these people. The moment she realized where her most comfortable resting place was, she caught her breath. All she wanted to do was get out of there and run to the palace.
After barely finishing her memorial prayer, she left her place, saying that she wanted to take a walk alone. As if her steps were natural, she headed toward the palace she had previously used, where Aslan was now staying.
She gave a brief greeting to Aslan, but there was no reply.
However, Hestia was not disappointed because she could read the concern in the eyes that were looking at her so well, but... It was difficult because she felt like she was going to burst out crying, which she had been holding back all along.
'If you cry here, that boy will be in trouble.'
Hestia moved her neck a few times and swallowed down her emotions.
"For a moment... I'll just take a walk."
She quickly turned around and, as always, moved to the bridge in the middle of the garden pond. Tears streamed down her cheeks like a dam bursting at the thought that no one was watching her anymore. She lowered her head, leaning on the railing to muffle her cries.
Then, through her blurred vision, she saw the familiar face floating above the water.
"Father... Mother..."
The sound in the voice is clearly watery, but why is her mood so dry?
Hestia continued to look at the surface of the water, trying hard to suppress her emotions. The faces of her deceased parents seemed to overlap her face. This was possible because Hestia resembled her parents half and half. Her hair color represents her mother, and her eye color represents her father. The high nose represents the father, and the neat eyebrows represent the mother.
However, although she may be able to catch a glimpse of their appearance on her face, it will never be possible to face them properly. Hestia felt like she was missing her parents even more today and couldn't control her emotions.
A sob that she couldn't stop flowed out between her tightly closed lips.
"Why... You left me alone."
Hestia impulsively stretched out her hand out of longing, and at that moment she lost her balance and fell into the water, with a plop!
The slightly dazed feeling, as if she had been drugged, immediately disappeared as coldness enveloped her entire body.
'I feel stupid.'
Hestia, who came to her senses, struggled and stretched out her arms. However, the drapery of the clothes she was wearing was long and quite cumbersome. Then, strangely enough, the thought of giving up entered her mind.
'I can't swim anyway!
Foolishly, she felt that way. Soon she lost strength in her arms. Unlike the world outside the water, there was no sound here, and her body and mind soon felt at ease.
The water, although a little cold, surrounded her body with just the right amount of pressure. She also felt as if she was being hugged by someone. She said, 'It's like I'm wrapped in a membrane.'
She was calm and peaceful. The purple eyes slowly closed under the eyelids. Anyway... There's no reason to live anymore. When her parents passed away, her perfect and flawless side disappeared from this world. There was no one who could hold her back so that she could survive on this earth.
As her resignation consumed her mind, all her senses quickly became dull. It was a time when she was trying to shut herself off from the world.
With a plop, a strong impact spread through the water, causing the current to become slightly stronger. What...
"... It's work, right?"
Just as her breathing slowed, her thinking also slowed down.
Because it was out of focus, it was difficult to identify objects in the dark water. No, perhaps it would be honest to say that even that is considered a nuisance. Unable to immediately confirm what was happening, Hestia immediately tried to close her eyes again. The moment her body lost strength and slowly sank to the bottom of the pond.
"Princess!"
She stopped when she heard something. She also noticed that the previously dark water slowly became brighter.
'What?'
The bright light was pouring in from above the water. Her vision finally became brighter, and she was able to recognize who had caused the commotion a moment ago.
Aslan, who should not be here, appeared in the field of vision.
'How did he get here...?'
Hestia's eyelids, which were about to close, lifted again. And then Hestia realized that Aslan's eyes met hers. He was standing in the water like her.
He neither approaches nor moves away. He was just watching her do her best. Hestia unconsciously raised one of her arms towards him. It was something she did while in a slightly dazed state due to lack of breath.
How did Aslan interpret her meaning?
Aslan opened his mouth with a frown on his face.
'Princess!'
His voice dissolved and muffled in the water. Hestia, who finally came to her senses, realized that Aslan had jumped into the water to find her.
'Me...... To save me?'
Her heart swelled as if it were a lie. Hestia reached out her hand toward the boy without realizing it. Then, as if he had been waiting, she saw Aslan swimming through the current towards her. Her lips parted and bubbles burst out. Aslan was yelling at her with a very desperate expression.
'catch!'
It was as if he was saying that. At that moment, Hestia stopped. Little by little, her dazed pupils began to come into clear focus. It was the first time since her parents passed away. When someone purely cares about her and reaches out to her.
In an instant, Hestia's eyes heated up. Even though she was underwater, tears were flowing out as if they were trying to warm her cold skin.
When Hestia opened her lips, her breath burst out and bubbles escaped.
'I want to live.'
The feeling that she didn't care if she died
changed in an instant.
'If anyone can catch me if they will.'
She moved her hand to catch Aslan. There was a sense of urgency in her movements that was different from her slow movements until now.
'I want to live. I want to live. I want to live.'
She struggled. Aslan quickly waded through the current and came to her.
'Ugh...'
She was short of breath. At the moment when Hestia's face was twisted in pain, Aslan held her hand firmly.
'Come on!'
His golden eyes, which were focused only on her, seemed to be saying that. As if he would never let her go, he held Hestia's hand tighter and pulled her toward him.
Hestia closed her eyes as she moved gently as if swimming and fell into Aslan's arms. His firm and warm embrace instilled stability in her anxious and turbulent heart. The comers of Hestia's mouth were drawing a new line that she was unaware of.
Aslan moved her into the inner room and immediately brought Hestia dry towels and sheets without even bothering to dry himself.
"Wipe it."
"...... Thank you."
Hestia, who had barely stopped coughing, accepted what he handed her with a weak hand. Squeezing the moisture out of her hair with her towel, she curled her lips and bit. Aslan, who clicked his tongue as he felt sorry for her frail, trembling body, flopped down and sat down in front of Hestia.
"Now speak up. Why on earth did you do such a reckless thing?"
"......"
"Were you planning on dying?"
Hestia swallowed her dry saliva. Like the previous question, she took her time, hoping that Aslan would skip it.
But this time, she felt pressured as he stood in front of her with a look on his face that told her that he needed to hear the answer.
Finally, Hestia let out a sigh and lowered her head helplessly.
"Maybe."
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