EIITAB - Chapter 122 [ Ominous Ray of Light ]
Even if it is Trampled and Broken
Aslan's office.
Martin was just staring at Aslan's empty seat from afar.
'It's been a few days already.'
He pressed his thumb against the front of his eye. As he was doing various things on behalf of Aslan, his workload was heavier than usual and he was quite tired. And then, the office door opened without a knock. The person who came in was Dean.
"Ah, Sir Martin. It's already here."
Dean pretended to know in a weak voice and quickly came to stand in front of Martin. Martin greeted him with a brief silent salute and then got straight to the point.
"Are you still doing that today?"
In response to Martin's question, Dean nodded his head with a sad look on his face. He had no idea how heavy that movement made the hearts of those who saw it.
"Whoa......."
Martin sighed deeply with a very complicated face. Dean patted Martin's shoulder with his large hand encouragingly, as if he knew how he felt.
"Then let's go."
"Cheer up."
"Lord Dean, please cheer up."
Even though everyone was encouraged with dying faces, it didn't help at all, so Martin countered. Then a bitter smile appeared on Dean's face.
"What am I?"
Dean groaned and placed his hand on his waist, his shoulders and neck tensing up. He took a deep sigh and opened his mouth.
"Miss Dulcinea keeps crying, so I'm not making any progress."
Dulcinea's title changed from Lady to Lamb. It was a small but very definite change that occurred immediately after Aslan took the castle of Penlot from her in person. In a way, it was natural.
"As I have no information to obtain from her, I beg you to submit my report of the ineffectiveness to His Excellency."
Martin felt a deep sense of kinship. Because soon he too would feel the same shame as Dean. Dean's complaints continued a little longer.
"Miss Dulcinea is a sheep, but I feel like I'm going to die every time I encounter servants. Since not everyone was there, I guess it's because I heard it from someone and don't know the exact circumstances... .....Tsk, they told me not to push Dulcinea too hard. Phew, I don't know people's speed."
As if the rumor had caught on, the information about Dulcinea's treatment spread throughout the Kalathi territory. Among the residents of the territory who did not know the details, some felt sorry for Dulcinea.
This was because the Penlot family's network of people was that deep. However, because Aslan gave such a harsh order, he could not even ask for reconsideration. As a result, the three generals under Aslan are being roasted instead.
Dean, who was sighing heavily, scratched the back of his head roughly and gestured towards the door.
"Ah. I wasted too much time talking about myself. Sir Martin, go quickly."
"Yes."
After silently nodding his head, Martin left the office with a straight posture. The destination, of course, was Duchess Kalathi's room.
***
"Sir, this is Martin."
"Come in."
As soon as he finished knocking, Martin was given permission to enter the room. However, Martin could not shake off his nervousness, so unlike usual, he was unable to go inside right away.
He took a short, deep breath to calm his mind before finally turning the door handle.
After Hestia fell, Aslan rarely came out of Hestia's room. All his work was put on the back burner. Nevertheless, the reason why Kalathi Castle was running was because the head butler, Lady Philippa, and the generals divided Aslan's work on their own.
Thanks to this, Aslan was able to focus his attention solely on Hestia. Of course, he had no choice but to make time for things that required him to receive direct reports and give instructions, but even that was short-lived.
Even though Aslan was out of his mind, he gave some orders directly to the head of the estate. For Dean, it was Dulcinea's interrogation, and for Wharton, things like the security of Kalathi Castle and surveillance of those from the capital.
Therefore, the three chiefs had to visit Hestia's room periodically to report how Aslan's orders were being carried out.
As soon as he entered the room, Martin bowed his head towards the inside.
"Forgive me for being late."
Instead of answering, Aslan slowly stood up from where he had been sitting the whole time. Although he hoped more earnestly than anyone else for Hestia to open her eyes, he was afraid that talking right next to her would make her uncomfortable, so he avoided her presence.
Aslan's actions revealed how much he thought about Hestia. So Martin also did not get close to the bed, but stopped at a distance and waited for Aslan to come.
"Martin."
Aslan came and stood in front of him. Over his broad shoulders, Martin caught a glimpse of Hestia lying quietly.
"How is the Princess?"
There was no answer. Aslan let out a long breath as if he was tired and rubbed his face with an impatient hand. His impression seemed even more sensitive, perhaps because of the darkened under his eyes and the expectant look in his eyes.
Before Martin set foot here, he had heard about the atmosphere from Dean, who had been there before. But it feels much heavier and suffocating than he thought.
Many days had already passed since Hestia had not even regained consciousness, let alone regained consciousness. The atmosphere in the castle became increasingly sinister.
Martin glanced at his master. Although he pretended to be calm on the outside, it was not difficult to notice that he was reaching his limit.
Martin's head lowered even further. Even though he knew what that action meant, Aslan dared to ask out loud.
"Where is the Saintess of Spring? Did you find her?"
"...... Sorry."
Martin clenched and released the flesh inside his mouth as he uttered words of apology. It was the first time he failed to properly complete the task that was entrusted to him. Martin slowly continued his report, feeling his own helplessness.
"I checked with both pilgrims and missionaries, but I didn't know anyone."
"When exactly did she disappear?"
"It looks like when the Princess is about to collapse."
"Whoa......."
Aslan clicked his tongue briefly as if his stomach was complicated.
Anette suddenly disappeared from the Duke of Kalathi Castle. The pilgrimage group was using that as an excuse to not carry out Aslan's command to leave.
His thick, straight eyebrows furrowed mercilessly. Looking out the window at the white landscape, he said to himself.
"Where on earth are you hiding?"
It was a voice filled with frustration. Aslan knew. How sorry Martin is for him right now, and how he is trying his best to look for Anette.
Martin is not incompetent. But it doesn't make sense that he can't catch her tail like this.
"Does she know the geography of this place better than any native? On a Southern subject."
Aslan frowned mercilessly and raked his long hair with a rough hand. The youthful irritation in his golden eyes hardly subsided.
"I know you're having a hard time. Still .... Look a little further." "
Yes, Your Excellency."
Martin answered politely and quickly left the room. Only then did Aslan quietly clench his fist. It took quite some time just to catch his rough breath.
"Haa... "
When he took a deep breath and turned his head, a pale Hestia appeared at the end of his gaze.
He must meet Anette.
***
After sending Martin out, Aslan stayed by Hestia's side again. As if it was its place.
How much time has passed?
The sunset was already setting, and the red light was seeping through the window. The light gradually grew longer, eating away at the edge of the bed, and extending to around Hestia's ankles. Then it climbed up her calves, her waist, and her chest.
Yes, like a snake. The red light eventually reached Hestia's neck. At that moment, Aslan's face crumpled as he watched blankly. For some reason, it felt as if that red beam of light was strangling Hestia.
"...... Shit."
For some reason, his heart was filled with an ominous feeling, and Aslan roughly got up from his seat. He gritted his teeth as he went to the window and drew the curtains harshly. The room suddenly became dark, and Aslan, taking a deep breath, lit the candles he had placed throughout his room. Indeed, it was a foolish act.
Only then did Aslan return to Hestia's side, standing in front of her and looking down at her. Hestia was still lying motionless with a pale face. No ominous rays of light, no one....
Although he didn't harm her now, for some reason, he couldn't escape the feeling that Hestia would never open her eyes again. The dark, soggy feeling that had begun to eat away at Aslan rarely went away.
Aslan's face, which had been staring at Hestia for a long time, gradually fell.
"Hestia."
As if he was in pain, he took Hestia's hand and placed it on his forehead. She was a woman who did not have much will to live to begin with. She grabbed it herself, pulled it up, and saved it, and then she let him go first. He knew what it meant to her, what hope it took away from her, but he ignored it all along. Until it gets to this point.
"My...... It's my fault."
The emotions that had been suppressed all along burst out without warning.
"I think it's me who keeps putting you at risk. If that's the case, eventually.... Am I going to kill you?"
It was an impulsive thing. Those words came out of his mouth. Aslan felt like he had finally encountered what he truly feared. He knew full well why he was so cruelly angry only at Hestia, even though he had always ignored it.
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