EIITAB - Chapter 27 >Anette's Plea >
Even If It Is Trampled And Broken
Hestia looked at him blankly and then lowered her gaze. Her wrist caught by Aslan caught her eye. No, more than that, The power felt very stable.
"...Of course. I knew it."
"So why?"
Aslan urged her to answer in his irritated voice. Hestia paused for a moment, then lifted the tip of her chin again and rounded her eyes as she looked at Aslan. The moment Aslan met that smile that did not contain any intention, he felt his body harden like a stone.
"Just like that. You were the first thing that came to mind."
She knows that she will not be a sufficient answer to Aslan. But she couldn't explain it any other way than this.
Hestia slightly twisted her wrist and took her hand away from him. Compared to his grip strength, the bonds were released too easily. So she turned around, leaving only an answer that confused Aslan. She looked like she had no regrets, but she was not Aslan.
He had to resist the violent urge to go in there and pry through it himself, wondering what on earth that little head was thinking.
"I hope you have a good night. I'll just head back."
Aslan knew that she was saying good night in vain. His mind is already filled with only his thoughts, and he will be tossing and turning all night.
***
Hestia returned to the palace before the sun rose and spent the day quietly. And the next day she asked for a private meeting with Yorgos.
"What on earth were you trying to say by asking to see me alone?"
Perhaps irritated by the long-awaited rain that prevented him from resting. Yorgos' words were sharp. In order not to offend her uncle, Hestia first expressed her gratitude.
"Thank you for your time."
Hestia grinned, not frowning even once despite Yorgos' continued disapproving comments. She didn't expect much from him anyway, so she wasn't particularly hurt.
"I recently received an oracle, Your Majesty."
"... What?"
Yorgos immediately adjusted his posture and looked at Hestia with his eyes shining.
"Then why hasn't the announcement been made at the temple yet?"
"The content...Because it's an extremely personal matter."
Hestia calmly informed Yorgos that she would die a year later.
"Is that real?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
She naturally nodded her head. Fortunately for her, it seemed like she was able to fool Yorgos as well as her high priests.
"Huh..."
Yorgos repeatedly clicked his tongue with an uncomfortable look on his face.
"Okay, anyway, thank you for letting me know in advance."
Her uncle was silent for a moment. It was because he couldn't decide for a moment what to say to his niece who was about to die.
After not being able to find the right words to follow for a long time, he asked an unfamiliar question.
"But Hestia, do you really have to quit your job as a Saintess?"
His hidden disapproval was revealed. He was transparent about his intentions. She will serve as a bridge between the royal family and the temple until just before her death.
Hestia secretly took a short breath and spoke in her calm tone.
"Isn't there already a new Saintess named Anette in the temple? You probably won't regret my existence that much."
"Hmm."
"So, I thought that if I first announced my intention to step down as a Saintess, I would be able to save the royal family's face in many ways."
"To do so, That makes sense."
Yorgos roughly massaged his chin and complained.
"The temple guys need to be a little shrewd."
He clicked his tongue again and again and turned his question to Hestia.
"So, what do you want to do after you leave the temple?"
"First of all, I just want to spend the rest of my life quietly."
"That wouldn't be bad either. How about going down to the territory you inherited?"
"We will consider that issue together."
"Okay, go back first. Let me think about it too,"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Hestia returned to her room after greeting him politely, and her entire body felt weak and she slumped down in her chair. She slightly tilted her head, and gravity caused his silver hair to fall down like a waterfall.
In that state, she took a deep breath and caught her breath. Her stamina quickly diminished.
'I have to make a decision soon.'
Aslan, who eventually rejected her offer, will not change his mind even if the world falls apart. She felt helpless in the fact that although she could shake him with anger, she had no influence enough to change his decisions.
Hestia swallowed her sigh, tucking her messy hair behind her ear.
"Who should I marry?"
Her voice was full of sighs due to her frustration. Actually, it was best not to do it. However, there was no other way to avoid spending the rest of her time being swayed by the royal family and the temple.
Even though she had selfishly told Aslan that she would find another man, she had no alternative. This was because other nobles other than Aslan had no power to protect her from the royal family and temple.
"In the end, it will most likely lead to Sir Stephan."
Anette will bless him. The marriage will proceed regardless of one's will, and then, like in the past life, one will be betrayed and die a meaningless death on the wedding day.
"If it can't be avoided, I don't think it would be a bad choice to recruit Sir Stephan to my side..."
The more she thought about it, the more she became convinced that there must have been some kind of deal between him and Anette in a previous life. So this time, she thought, it might be a good idea to give Stephan a more appetizing prey than Anette.
As she chewed her lip, the fishy taste of blood began to linger in her mouth. At that time, a knock was heard outside the room.
"Come in."
After she gave permission, the door opened and Angela's face was clearly visible through it.
"Princess, are you okay for a moment?"
"Yes, Angela. What's the matter?"
As Hestia was greeted with her smiling face, her maid opened the door a little further and she came fully into her room. Angela bowed politely with a simple bow and then announced her purpose in a very cautious voice.
"I'm sorry you're taking a break. But now someone came from the temple. He wants to meet the Princess urgently...... What should I do?"
"From the temple side? Who?"
Hestia opened her eyes wide and then tilted her head. At some point, she started to revolve around Anette, so she couldn't think of anyone in particular who could come to see her.
"That is... This is High Priest Bosewa."
"Ah."
Hestia slowly closed her eyelids and then she raised them. Angela thought that Hestia did not seem to welcome her at all and that she seemed reluctant to visit with the High Priest, as she had a look of dismay on her face. She put her hands together and opened her mouth with a solemn look on her face.
"Since he didn't come after he contacted you, should he ask you to come back later?"
From Angela's perspective, the high priest was a very difficult person to deal with. With her position as a maid, it would be difficult for her to even put the words into her mouth to return to him.
"No. It's okay."
Hestia hastily shook her head. She raised her body with difficulty, holding on to her armrests.
"Is he in the parlor?"
"Yes. By the way, do you mind? Your complexion is pale."
"It's okay. There is no problem."
Hestia asked Angela to bring her tea, and then she headed to the parlor alone.
As she entered her boudoir, the High Priest, who had been sitting, slowly got up.
"How have you been, Hestia?"
High Priest greeted her with a smile on his face. At first glance, he was polite, but Hestia noticed that his mood had strangely changed.
However, she also met the High Priest without showing any signs of it.
"Welcome, High Priest."
After a while, Angela brought out the tea. She took a sip of her tea first and then Hestia opened her mouth.
"Without further discussion, let's get straight to the point."
"Haha."
The minister smiled sheepishly. He clasped his hands together and opened them with difficulty.
"After Hestia moved to the palace, I had a long conversation with Anette."
"I see."
Since she could guess the content, Hestia just smiled quietly and stared at the chin of the High Priest. The High Priest cleared his throat a couple of times.
"Ahe also said that he received an oracle similar to what Hestia said."
Afterward, the High Priest continued to sigh.
"This is it. I have no idea how things work."
Hestia just sipped her tea and nodded without saying anything. With this, the verification of the oracle was completed, so the temple could no longer ignore Hestia's request outright.
Quieting putting the teacup down on the saucer, Hestia finally faced the High Priest properly. She asked quietly, looking into her High Priest's eyes.
"Now that the authenticity has been confirmed, you can accept my request."
"That's it, Hestia."
High Priest raised the corners of his mouth with an embarrassed expression on his face. He said,
"Anette has heard further oracles."
Hestia took a deep breath. In the end, it seemed that Anette had delivered the means of 'marriage'.
He said.
"Saintess Anette begged the Gods to figure out a way to extend Lady Hestia's lifespan."
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