EIITAB - Chapter 19 < It's Okay To Lie >
Even If It Is Trampled And Broken
On the outside, he had a calm face, but his eyes showed concern that he couldn't hide. Dean and Martin, who had a hard time meeting those gazes, lowered their heads and opened their mouths in despair.
"Be optimistic... It is difficult. There isn't enough medicine and bandages... Above all, you can hardly rest."
Only then did Aslan finally realize why Yorgos had called him today. He told him in detail about the situation in the North, which he had always kept secret, and the reason why he said it was time to return to Kalati.
"Damn it."
Aslan couldn't stand it anymore and gritted his teeth while swearing softly. Dean and Martin added with impatient looks on their faces.
"You must return. In order for us to unite, we need people who can stand firm and not lose their balance even during a snowstorm."
Dean and Martin chose their words carefully, but Aslan easily figured out the hidden meaning behind them. The fact that his father could no longer serve as the focal point of the northern knights meant that his condition was serious. No matter how inexperienced Aslan was, he could not help but become a force and center for the people of Kalati by his mere presence.
Kalati's only enemy. He is said to have spent the last three years at the royal palace, but since the first winter, Aslan has followed his father, Wayne Kalaty, in hunting down demonic beasts that haunt the northern plains.
Moreover, he was a natural genius in tactics and martial arts, so his absence of only a few years was not a problem at all.
"Winter is moving further and further south. Without support from the South, we will reach our limits."
It is five days later that Dean and Martin leave the palace. In the meantime, Yorgos will have a meeting with the ministers about how much support to provide to the North. But Aslan knew that it was just a matter of buying time.
'If there is no way to turn the situation around, it is difficult to change their decision.'
He took a deep breath. Aslan nodded his head, slightly avoiding the gaze of Dean and Martin, who were looking at him with earnest eyes.
'First of all... I have to know the situation."
He knows it's urgent, but he hasn't done his best here yet. So he too will wait for five days.
'It's almost now.'
Hestia's late debutante would soon be held at the royal palace. People who originally belonged to the temple do not hold such events. However, Hestia was a Saintess and a Princess, so her face occasionally appeared at social events. So even though it was late, it was thought right to have a debutante, so it was decided to hold a party.
'When I first heard that story, I was a little angry because I couldn't be a partner... I guess I'm just glad things turned out like this!'
In any case, she, as the debutante, had no choice but to attend that day. But he's sure she will leave the banquet halfway and come see him.
Aslan was thinking of trying his luck then.
'If it were her, she would listen to my story! There's something she and I have built up over the years they've known each other. So, he will definitely help me.'
Aslan had such faith.
***
Aslan, who returned from attending Hestia's debutante and only seeing her face, waited in his quarters for her to come to him. As expected, when the excitement was at its peak, she slipped away in the middle and came to Aslan's palace alone.
"Aslan."
It was a bright moonlit night. Although it was dark everywhere, Aslan, who had better eyesight than others, saw everything in Hestia clearly. Her cheeks were flushed, as if she had taken a sip of alcohol. Unlike usual, she was wearing a pretty dress and was moving towards him with one step as light as a butterfly.
The first time he saw her in the banquet hall, she was unbearable, and seeing Hestia only coming towards him made it difficult for him to take his eyes off her. But the thought that my father's condition was serious kept coming to mind, and it killed his heart.
Aslan tried to pull his lips up. First of all, he planned to congratulate her on becoming an adult and compliment Hestia on how beautiful she is today.
But despite his plan, he met her with a hard look on his face and was unable to say anything to her. Hestia, who had come a short distance away, looked at Aslan's hard face and looked worried.
"What's going on? Why don't you look so good?"
She stretched out her dainty hand towards Aslan's face. But before her fingertips could even touch his cheek, he turned her head to avoid his touch.
"Aslan?"
"... I have a favor to ask."
He let out a muffled voice.
"Please?....For me?"
Hestia asked back with a very calm expression. After looking at that face for a moment, Aslan's large body soon collapsed. As he knelt down to her, Hestia raised her voice with a surprised look on her face.
"Aslan! Why is this happening all of a sudden?"
Hestia, who lowered her posture, quickly tried to straighten his body. But of course, Aslan's body did not move. He knelt down on both knees and looked straight up at Hestia.
Then he loosened his clenched teeth and spoke in a sorrowful voice.
"Hestia, please. I have only you. So, please... Help me."
Hestia looked like she was about to burst into tears at any moment. It was painful to see Aslan, not anyone else, clinging to her in such a broken state. She tried to raise Aslan up first. So without thinking, she nodded her head and took his arms in both hands.
"All right. I don't know what it is, but I'll help you... So stop being like this and get up! Come on!"
But Aslan was steadfast. He continued his speech while still on his knees.
"It's okay to lie."
Before he knew it, his voice was drowned out. Aslan took another deep breath and continued. He knew it was extremely blasphemous, but he couldn't think of any other way to do it, so he just said it.
"Tell them that you received an oracle telling you to help Kalathi."
"... Yes?"
Hestia's movements to help him up stopped.
'Yeah, I guess she was surprised.'
This upright woman would never have done anything that went against her morals in her entire life. Embarrassed, Hestia stuttered her words.
"Well, how can I receive an oracle that I didn't receive?"
At that time, a cold voice flowed from between Aslan's lips.
"What's the problem? You say you can't hear God's voice anyway."
"... Ah."
At that moment, Hestia's face went pale, and Aslan gritted his teeth. That was something he learned from interacting with her. Aside from the moment when she was awakened to sainthood, she has never once received an oracle. So, she often confided in him her concern that the High Priest always seemed disappointed in her and that she seemed to shrink a lot. Aslan guessed that her own desperation would hurt her. But, despite this, she had no choice but to make this request.
As he watched her collapsed expression, guilt bound him. He wanted to immediately leave this place and avoid her, but Aslan himself knew better than anyone else that he couldn't do that.
He said,
'I can't turn it back anyway. 'Because I already said it!'
He sucked in his breath harshly, and Hestia squirmed, tightly intertwining his fingers with hers. Hestia, who had been unable to say anything for a while, stammered and carefully opened her mouth.
"Isn't there a way... Something different?"
Aslan immediately sensed Hestia's unwillingness. He also didn't like the situation where he had no choice but to force himself.
"I am... I am a Saintess, but how..."
She trailed off her words.
In the meantime, the implication was that she still dared to hide or fabricate God's will.
"Well, of course, I can't hear the oracle..."
The words that followed were small, almost like ants crawling. Aslan knew very well that it was because it was her complex that she had been holding on to for a long time. It was unavoidable because it was never easy to face something that made you cringe, not willingly but willingly.
Hestia sighed repeatedly as if she was quite frustrated with the current situation. The best thing would be for Aslan to apologize and say,
'I made a mistake, pretend you didn't hear it.'
But he kept his mouth shut as if he would not give in to his will. She glanced at Aslan several times but became impatient when he showed no sign of wanting to bite back what he was saying. Hestia chewed her lip, and her mind began to think of other ways to avoid being bothered.
"Isn't there a way without lying?"
"Which one?"
"I made my debut today, so I'm now an adult. So, my uncle will listen carefully to my story."
Hestia tried to make her bright voice sound and continued desperately.
"I will appeal to His Majesty, Please help the North. Send troops and ask for grain. So, Aslan."
Why? The appearance has changed. Aslan, he must beg Hestia. Strangely enough, she was constantly trying to change Aslan's mind.
Aslan thought it was strange to see her like this, but he didn't know how to turn her back. Aslan felt something hot rising inside Hestia again and again every time Hestia presented her improbable opinions in an attempt to change his mind. That was why. What he ended up saying was mean.
"Do you think His Majesty will listen to that?"
Comments
Post a Comment