EIITAB - Chapter 33 < I Was Always Curious >
Even If It Is Trampled And Broken
Rather than just whispering. It was extremely quiet because everyone was paying attention to what she was saying.
So, even though the distance between the two children had grown considerably, the content of the conversation, no matter how small, reached Hestia's ears without any filtering.
People still remained silent and looked at Hestia. Her breath caught in that gaze.
"Sa, Saintess..."
The teachers at the orphanage looked at Hestia in confusion. But before she could open her mouth to say anything, her priests hardened her face and started to stop her orphanage director and teachers.
"How do you usually take care of your children? How dare you leave a Saintess..."
' ... !You misunderstand. We're not like that...."
It felt very pitiful to see the director and orphanage teachers trying to resolve the issue somehow. Hestia quietly raised her right hand. Everyone shut up as if she had made a promise.
Hestia turned to the priests, pulling up the corners of her lips.
"Don't do that."
Her priests frowned at her as they tried to dissuade her.
"I beg your pardon, Saintess, but this is not a matter to be ignored."
"You all heard what Jack said."
Taking a deep breath, she made up a bright voice with her effortlessly nonchalant face. Like that's the only thing she has to do here, now.
"Jack said she just woke up. Children are weak at sleep. She said it in a dream, so there's no need to listen to it, right?"
The person who was insulted said it was nothing. It will probably end on its own like this. Even if not in reality, she is anyway a Saintess, the highest position in the temple.
Now that she has decided to ask, no one will be able to hold her accountable for this anymore. Hestia spoke once more forcefully as if making a request.
"Of course, I don't think there's a person here who is leisurely enough to move a child's words in his sleep."
It was a mild warning. She knows that this won't reduce the people saying things about her. But if everyone is being stung, they won't use their mouth carelessly anymore.
"Of course. Of course, Saintess."
The nobles and the teachers at the orphanage all tried not to offend Hestia, nodding their heads with nervous expressions on their faces.
Only then did Hestia take in the faces of her attendees once more. But there was one place that her gaze could not reach. This was the location where Aslan was located.
In fact, her cheeks were almost stinging from his intense gaze earlier, but she stubbornly did not look at him. She was miserable and miserable. She's showing him the side of herself she most definitely doesn't want to see. She felt it would be much better to stand naked in front of him.
What kind of eyes is Aslan looking at me right now? Is this a pitiful expression? She didn't have the courage to face it. Hestia pursed her lips and held her head still until the end.
Anyway, the atmosphere of the event was ruined to the point where nothing could be done. The remaining children were also watching and were unable to eat properly. Hestia decided that in many ways it would be better for her to stay away.
Anyway, wouldn't this event be able to end properly if everyone had time to take a breather?
"Then please excuse me for a moment."
Hestia turned around, managing to keep her smiling face. Behind her, her maid, Angela quickly followed with her face filled with worry.
"I will take you there."
"It's okay, Angela. I'm just going to fix my makeup for a moment, so please do the work for me."
"But Princess..."
As if Hestia didn't have the energy to say anything more, she lightly waved her hand and walked away alone. No matter how much strength she put on her legs, her body slightly swayed.
However, Angela, who understood Hestia's intention to be alone, did not dare to follow despite her restlessness. Just like that, Hestia entered the lounge inside the orphanage building alone. Without even realizing whether she had closed the door properly or not, she collapsed onto the couch.
"It's a shame."
As she let out a long, frustrated breath, she heard a low voice and the sound of clicking his tongue from the doorway.
"... Duke Kalati?"
Hestia turned her head and involuntarily took a breath. She really didn't know. She didn't know that Aslan would follow her.
While she was panicking, Aslan entered the living room without asking for permission. It was a reckless invasion.
Aslan closed the distance between her in a flash and looked down at her with a frown on his face.
Hestia looked up at him, running her fingers through her disheveled hair and tucking it behind her ear. Her breathing became rough as if she was holding something back.
After a while of him wheezing at her, he asked her a question.
"Why did you hold back?"
"...."
"Did you just want to pretend to be a good person?"
Even though it was difficult, Hestia smiled.
"It would be great if I could be that good of a person."
She seems like a speedless woman. Is she laughing now? Aslan tilted his head crookedly and crossed his arms.
"Is the Princess stupid? Why on earth do you put up with being treated like that?"
"Then what should I have done then?"
"You should have been angry. He should have warned those who used their mouths carelessly and held them accountable. Or you can kick up your ass and leave this place right away."
Hestia was unfamiliar with Aslan's reaction. A man who doesn't even blink at all kinds of insults directed at him, such as being a barbarian or something, reacts so harshly to the humiliation she experienced a little while ago.
'I think you're mistaken.'
She held her breath and straightened her posture.
Actually, she wanted to lie down on the sofa right now, but it wasn't good for Aslan to find out that she wasn't feeling well.
She asked in the most unwavering voice she could, clasping her own hands tightly and placing them on her thighs.
"What difference does that make?"
Aslan wrinkled his eyes. But Hestia paid no heed and continued her words calmly.
"When it comes to treatment, it's not something I can receive the way I want to be treated. What can I do with that?" "Princess."
"So don't be angry Duke, either."
"...."
"This is not something to get angry about."
Calm attitude with a calm face. Aslan gritted his teeth without realizing it. He was angry because of that face that said he had no regrets and was not concerned about anything.
He clenched his fists, trying hard not to raise his voice.
"It's nothing to be angry about?"
A voice as chilly and eerie as the early winter wind that sheds the last leaf fell on Hestia's head.
"Princess, do you not understand this situation? Those bastards were whispering about you. How dare they say this and that to the Princess, I said something cheap purely out of interest, and then you caught me."
"I know it too."
"But still, that's not something to be angry about?"
Aslan eventually couldn't hold back the discomfort inside him and clicked his tongue harshly.
"Well, that's a very generous spirit of tolerance."
Even though he thought it was a very perverse and ugly word, Aslan couldn't help but spit it out. Hestia seems like a cruel and cruel woman only to him. The benevolence and charity she showed were annoying. She didn't even like having to worry about other guys.
"Do you really have no ears? Why is there no answer?"
He was annoyed that she was just listening to the harsh words he poured out without showing any signs of being upset, so he ended up scolding Hestia.
Only then did Hestia's purple eyes meet him again.
"Did you come after me just to get angry like this? Why did you attend the charity event?"
Aslan clenched his fists. He didn't know why, but it was difficult to control his anger.
"Have come to a place I can't come to? Or am I someone who shouldn't come?"
Hestia's brows narrowed as if she had heard such a ridiculous question. Hestia looked at him for a moment without saying anything, but eventually parted her lips as her eyes persistently demanded an answer.
"I never said that. I was just asking a question. So I hope you don't take it so crookedly."
"Alright."
"Even if you come to the capital, you don't show up at social events. Yiu didn't even come to your welcome banquet that was held a while ago. So, I was surprised that you attended an event like this, and I was curious about what drew you to this place, so I asked you."
At that moment, Aslan stopped. His eyes narrowed and took on a very sharp light. Hestia did not avoid that gaze. She had no reason to avoid it. Because it was sincere, whether Aslan believed it or not. Eventually, his lips opened again.
"It's a big deal. Do you have any questions about me?"
The voice was much softer. Hestia couldn't figure out why his mood suddenly changed.
'Still... I guess it's okay because he's no longer angry.'
As she calmly caught her breath, Aslan slightly tilted his head, grinning and muttering.
"It's really a big deal. I can't believe the Princess is showing interest in me. It's not like you."
At first glance, it seemed similar to sarcasm. It would have been fine to just pass it on as is, but Hestia insisted on correcting it.
"I was always curious."
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