EIITAB - Chapter 112 < The Trust 6 Years Ago >
Even if it is Trampled and Broken
That night. The door to Hestia's room opened without knocking. The visitor was, of course, Aslan.
" You came?"
Hestia took a shaky breath and gently bit her dry lip, then released it.
'Why now?'
She felt dizzy like she had a fever. But right now, her conversation with Aslan was more important than her physical condition.
She stood up from her seat, putting down the tea she had been drinking to soothe her sore stomach on the saucer.
Aslan used his long legs to close the distance between her and looked down at the table with a frown on his face. The half-full tea water in the teacup was quietly drawing concentric circles. He suppressed the urge to click his tongue at any moment and shifted his gaze to gritting his teeth.
Aslan never thought she would become so thin again in just a few days. Even if he tried to reason, it wasn't easy to control the narrowing of the eyebrows.
Hestia, who didn't normally enjoy eating, lost her appetite at the slightest thing that bothered her.
'She probably didn't eat today either.'
Aslan's closed lips became bitter. And such was his concern that he became a horse with a sword, which split his lips and flew out.
"Did you decide to starve to death?"
"Aslan...."
He knows it upsets her when he says things like this. But Aslan did not stop. Even though he knew that wasn't what was important right now, he couldn't quit, like a broken brake.
Aslan glared at Hestia's teacup and lifted it up to his eyes. Then he slammed it back down on the table. He made such rough movements that the tea water overflowed and soaked the area around the table.
"Do you feel full after drinking tea like this?"
"That's not it...It's because other food doesn't work."
"Is it because it didn't work?"
Aslan sharply caught the tail of Hestia's words and asked back sarcastically.
"You're not protesting?"
Hestia's lips were tightly closed like a clam. No matter how angry he was, it didn't feel right to be sarcastic like this. She let out her voice by clenching and releasing the delicate flesh inside her mouth.
"If you think so, please release the High Priest. If you don't like him living here, you can just exile him back to the capital."
"So what do I get?"
"Aslan."
Aslan became increasingly angry.
"After I release that bastard?l, you will tell me the truth about everything. Is not it?"
From what he said, Hestia guessed that The High Priest had not opened his mouth about what happened six years ago. It's not a story that can be brought up easily. Aslan dealt with the High Priest and must have tried to cajole and threaten him. But since the High Priest didn't confess, she must have come to see her after all.
'Good...Is it better?'
Even when she couldn't meet him, she figured it would be better for her to speak first. Even though she had already made up her mind to tell the truth without hiding anymore, Hestia could not easily drop her mouth.
Her long-held secret was like hardened wax, holding Hestia's lips from falling. Purple eyes hidden by thick silver eyelashes were seen.
Even as she swayed precariously like a candle in the wind, her eyes focused on Aslan. After he learns all the facts, she wonders how Aslan will change.
Hestia was scared because she couldn't even imagine how his feelings for her would change.
'It's better to be hated.'
In other words, doesn't that mean he is conscious of herself?
And she's used to it now. Wouldn't he treat her like she doesn't exist because she deceived him for a long time?
Stupidly, Hestia was worried about that.
'I really don't have an answer either.'
Even in situations like this, she sees that he only thinks of her as his top priority!
Even though she knew that she was only wasting time, she couldn't stop her internal conflict.
A swear word flowed from Aslan's mouth in a low voice.
"Damn it. I expected that you would have changed your mind by this point, but I underestimated your stubbornness."
He clicked his tongue as he continued to brush his bangs with a rough hand.
Chewing her lips and lowering her gaze, Hestia secretly caught her breath.
'There is no need to worry anymore. Let's just talk. When he finds out the whole truth, maybe he'll get angrier.
Anger is Aslan's legitimate right. Hestia finally made up her mind to carry it out.
'But before that...She should send those people back.'
Hestia laughed inside. It was so absurd to see herself constantly asking for something from Aslan. Even in this situation, Hestia felt deeply disillusioned with herself because she could not completely prioritize herself. She felt like a fool for not finding a better way to do this, but she couldn't waste any more time, so she swallowed her sigh and opened her mouth.
"Aslan, I swear on my deceased parents."
"...?"
"Expel the delegation and pilgrims to the south. If you promise just that, I will tell you the truth from 6 years ago that you are curious about. Directly from my mouth."
Aslan looked at Hestia with his cold face. She didn't flinch from his gaze, she just stared straight ahead. Because this was the best way to show her mindset.
After a moment, he parted his lips and a heavy breath escaped. Hestia's suggestion was not a bad idea for him either. Both food and medicine have been supplied. So, he no longer has to see those disgusting Southern bastards running around on his own land.
Aslan didn't worry.
"I promise. If you want, I can at least leave a document."
"Then give the order right now."
"This suddenly?"
Hestia nodded her head with a heavy heart. Aslan looked at her for a moment with a look in his eyes as if he had no idea what was going on inside her, and then opened the door himself.
Then he gave orders to the knights guarding Hestia's door.
"Go tell Martin. As soon as the sun rises tomorrow morning, drive all those from the capital out of my land."
"Everyone.... Do you mean that?"
"Yes. Including the High Priest locked in the dungeon."
"Yes, I understand."
The knight who had been ordered took a step straight away, and only after watching him do so, Aslan closed the door.
He looked across at Hestia again.
"Are we done now?"
Aslan said to her, crossing his arms.
"I kept my promise, now it's your turn."
Hestia calmly took a deep breath as if she knew. The tension was evident in the slow movement. She didn't let go of her mouth easily, but she had nowhere to retreat anymore.
Fortunately, Aslan waited patiently, and Hestia, who had gathered her thoughts, spoke in a dry voice.
"Six years ago, the Oracle.... It was a lie."
"...What?"
As soon as she spoke, her eyes closed tightly.
"I am... I have never received such an oracle, nor have I ever said it out of my mouth."
Hestia's voice was trembling much worse than she expected. What kind of expression is Aslan making now?
Gathering her courage, which was steadily fading, she lifted her trembling eyelids. But she couldn't move her gaze upward at all. It was difficult to look at Aslan's face properly, so she was just staring at her toes.
She tried to take a deep breath, but her tangled breathing couldn't be straightened out, and in the end, Hestia had no choice but to continue her next sentence.
"Everything... It was a story created by His Majesty King Yorgos and the temple's High Priest who were worried about the losses the South would suffer."
The reason she did not reveal this fact to anyone until now was to make her own atonement.
She always regretted it. If only she had said that she had been given an oracle to help the North, as Aslan had asked...
If only she had fooled her conscience and lied just once....
If she had done so, she might have saved the lives of countless northerners who were destined to fade away. And...
She didn't know at the time. She never thought she would have to tell another lie that she didn't want that for this long.
'Conscience, what is it?'
After confiding her two most important facts, she still could not meet Aslan's gaze. Her eyes were hot and the bridge of her nose was sore.
'Don't cry.'
She didn't do anything well. Don't let tears come first.
Hestia lowered her head like an errant child. Her trembling voice escaped her lips.
"Sorry. It may not matter to you, but that wasn't what I meant either."
Still, no word came back from Aslan. She held her breath quietly as if waiting for her disposition.
Meanwhile, her consciousness began to review the events of the past one by one.
6 years ago. The fake oracle was created without Hestia's knowledge. Without any consultation, she was informed by Yorgos and The High Priest.
" Soon, an oracle will be announced in the name of Saintess Hestia. I'm telling you because I think it would be good for you to know in advance."
"Well.... What do you mean? I received an oracle?"
"Yes. So, Saintess Hestia, remember clearly. We received an oracle from the Saintess that we must build a wall to protect the southern part and prevent intruders from the northern part. Do you understand?"
"I have never received such an oracle! Why on earth are you telling me to lie?"
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