EIITAB - Chapter 22 < Open The Door >
Even If It Is Trampled And Broken
The distance from the royal palace to Duke Kalati's residence was considerable. Hestia walked through the quiet night streets for dozens of minutes, listening only to the sound of horses' hooves. The carriage stopped, and the driver's low voice was heard.
"We're here. You had a hard time."
Hestia opened the carriage door herself and got out.
"You can go back first."
"Yes?
"Then how are you going to come back later?"
"I just need help from the manor owner."
Because her tone was soft but strong, the coachman scratched the back of his head and then nodded.
"All right. Then I go back first."
"Good job."
After sending the driver and carriage away first, Hestia stood facing the front of the Kalati Mansion.
"It's a mansion that looks exactly like its owner."
The large, solid, dark mansion was monotonous without any of the usual decorations, but it felt intimidating.
As she took a deep breath, as if reminding herself of her determination, her small and delicate body shook violently.
She swallowed her dry saliva and took a step toward the mansion. Even as she approached the wrought-iron gate, there was no one in sight. It seemed like there was no one guarding the door, as there was no sign of presence.
'Well, who would dare invade this place?'
Isn't this the mansion of Duke Kalati, known as the Black Lion of the North? If you weren't someone like me who was facing death, you wouldn't even dare to think such big things.
Of course, one of the reasons might be that they don't think there's anything to steal here.
After hesitating for a moment, Hestia opened the door and entered the mansion. Hestia took a deep breath as she passed the large garden where all the trees had dried up and reached the entrance to the main building of the mansion.
"There's no footman."
Without any choice, she lightly held the black lion-shaped door knocker on the door and knocked. After waiting for a while, fortunately, the door opened from the inside.
"Who are you?"
Hestia took off her robe and introduced herself.
"My name is Hestia Ellsworth."
The butler, who appeared expressionless, widened his eyes and made a surprised face.
"How did the Princess get here...!"
Hestia smiled bitterly. This was because she realized once again that the butler in front of her was definitely a Northerner. The people of the North called Hestia a Princess, but they never spoke of her title as a Saintess.
Hestia knew very well that it had been like that since the incident with the War.
'It's a title. They both refer to me, so it doesn't matter what they call me.'
She actually felt more burdened by being called a Saintess at this point. She said,
"I came to see the Duke of Kalati."
"Ah... However, I never heard that the Master had a prior promise...?"
Hestia smiled brightly as the butler continued to talk as if he was watching her.
"Of course. I didn't make any promises. I know it's hard for you, but can you go and ask him now?"
The butler of the Kalati Mansion looked a little embarrassed as Hestia stood there with a stubborn attitude. Still, he quickly realized that he could not turn her away or break her heart, and he soon set his course on her.
"Yes... Then I will ask His Excellency and come back."
"So be it, Please."
As Hestia nodded her head, the butler stepped aside from her.
"Please come inside for a moment."
But Hestia shook her head. Although not as good as the butler, she also knew the man named Aslan to some extent. He was a particularly harsh person to herself. That's why she e didn't want to cause trouble by involving others in the war of nerves between him and herself.
"It's okay. I'll Wait here."
The butler looked at Hestia with a puzzled expression.
"Do you know anything?"
She smiled
brightly and continued her story as if it was no big deal.
"Your master's heart will be weakened when he heard that I was waiting outside, and he wants to meet me."
Hestia was hoping that even if Aslan was uncomfortable, he would think of letting her in, hearing the story quickly, and then expelling her.
'I can be this weak, too. No, can this only happen against Aslan?'
With a self-deprecating smile on her lips, Hestia braced her back and stood.
"I will return as soon as possible."
Finally, the butler reluctantly closed the door and went inside.
Hestia finally caught her breath. Before long, a rumbling sound of thunder was heard from the dry sky. When she slowly raised her head, she saw dark clouds slowly gathering in the clear night sky.
"Is it going to rain?"
Hestia nervously adjusted the collar of her robe.
***
She didn't have to wait long, but the butler of Kalati Mansion quickly returned to Hestia.
"I'm sorry, Princess."
As soon as their eyes met, he bowed his head toward Hestia as if he were apologizing.
"His Excellency is now in an urgent meeting with his adjutants."
Hestia let out a shaky laugh without even realizing it. The fact that he came back so quickly meant that he immediately rejected it without thinking for a moment.
"Meeting, at this time?"
The butler also thought it was a ridiculous excuse, but he was silent for a moment, then cleared his throat awkwardly.
In any case, since he was the one currently greeting his guest, Hestia, he felt a sense of duty that he had no choice but to be as polite as possible.
"The owner told you to make an appointment again at a later date and come back."
Robert, who had finished speaking his prepared message, looked relaxed. In any case, Hestia did not contact him in advance about her intention to visit.
The butler thought that Hestia would obediently back down if he made an excuse like this since it was as if she had committed the rudeness on her part first.
But she had a thoughtful look on her face.
"It was later..."
She began muttering to herself in a lower and quieter voice than usual.
'Will I have the next opportunity?'
It was not time for her to relax. It is not easy to sneak out of the palace like this. Aslan must have thought she came here suddenly on a whim. Even if she met him in that state, there was no way he would listen to her story.
'I need to let him know that I'm serious about wanting to meet him.'
In order to do that, she also must not lose any face with him. Aslan is a man who has already closed his heart to her.
What should she do to create even the smallest gap?
Hestia knew the answer.
'I have to show you my bottom.'
Ironically, the more difficult and uncomfortable she was, the more likely he was to acknowledge her sincerity. So there was only one answer for her to give back to the butler. Taking a deep breath, Hestia opened her mouth.
"Then I will wait."
"... Yes?"
The butler's eyes widened. At the unexpected answer, he looked at Hestia's face with an expression as if asking if she was serious. At first, he thought it was just something she said out of nowhere. But looking at her innocent face, Robert soon realized that she was sincere.
"But Princess, the night sky is unusual."
The butler spoke in an earnest tone, thinking that he had to send Hestia back no matter what. However, she straightened her back and showed with her whole body that she had no intention of backing down.
By nature, she would have withdrawn because she had been rejected. That way, her mind will become more stable. But then nothing will change.
"I have no intention of going against my will."
Hestia thought she would try.
"This isn't a battlefield, and he won't be holding meetings all night. I want to see him in person, even if just for a little while."
"But Princess."
"I'm really fine. I'll wait here."
The butler looked at her with concerned eyes and tried to cajole her, but Hestia shook her head adamantly.
"Or did he order the knights to pull me out?"
"No way! No. He did not give such an order."
"Then that means it's okay to wait."
The corners of Hestia's mouth drew a curve. She said in a softer voice after drooping both eyes slightly. She said,
"I'm just sorry for the inconvenience I caused you. But it's important to me too, so I can't help it."
Could it be that her earnestness was conveyed? The butler, who was looking at her with an expression of complete incomprehension, quickly withdrew his gaze from her and nodded at her.
"I will report this to my Master."
"...Please."
The door closed before her eyes again. Hestia moved outside the porch. If what he wanted from her was to feel miserable, he could give it to her.
She took a deep breath and raised her head. A dark mansion, only one room with a light on. She said to herself as she looked up at the window. Please, Aslan.
'Open the door! Give me one more chance.'
Hoping he would hear her own deepest wish.
***
It was already past midnight. The sky was unusually strong, but the raindrops that eventually began to fall formed a circle on the window and then slipped.
In a room with reduced lighting, Aslan, who was standing at the window in a somewhat untidy outfit, looked outside with an even more frowning expression. In his hand was a bitter liquor. Although the view was not clear due to the rain, Hestia standing on the first floor was clearly visible. He was covered in a robe, so her face couldn't be seen. But as always, drawing her impression was relatively easy for him.
"It's foolish."
At the very least, she would be standing under the roof of the entrance porch. It was annoying to see Hestia standing as if holding on to the pouring rain.
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