EIITAB - Chapter 114 < Fall >
Even if it is Trampled and Broken
Because of the closer distance, Aslan's eyes were clearly visible. Hestia silently lifted her head and looked into his eyes. The image of herself trapped in Aslan's eyes flickered. Was it because of the shadow of the candlelight, or was it because of his emotions that he could not swallow?
Hestia opened her dry lips.
"I'm fine. You don't have to worry about it."
A small voice that seems to be whispering. Aslan's thick eyebrows narrowed the gap as if they would touch at any moment. As he strained his eyes, his gaze became more diagonal, creating deep shadows.
"That doesn't answer my question. So make sure you answer properly. Why did you endure me treating you like that?"
The emotions that he had suppressed until now emerged through a small crack. What came out as he scratched his airway was a sound like the howl of a wounded animal.
Hestia was able to fully understand Aslan's feelings. It was at that time that Hestia tried to look away again, as the more she looked at him, the more her heart pounded.
"Don't avert your eyes."
Aslan's hand grabbed Hestia's chin and stopped her. He looked at Hestia with a persistent gaze and demanded an answer from her. Hestia swallowed her dry saliva and barely opened her lips.
"I am... you..."
Hestia spoke with difficulty, taking in a wet breath.
"I wish I could at least place the blame like that."
"...What?"
"I have to endure because the rest of us will endure."
Only after a long time had passed since the false oracle was announced, Hestia regain her composure and face one fact. Even if she had accepted Aslan's request and announced a false oracle...
That she might not have been able to save all the northerners. She wasn't trying to rationalize. But that was the reality. This was because the momentum of the Great War at that time was unprecedentedly strong.
In retrospect, Wayne Kalathi, the ancestral Duke of Kalathi, was also injured before the South shut down in earnest. Even if there had been support from the South, someone would have been sacrificed, and Aslan probably cared about that.
Now she doesn't think Aslan notices it because of his anger towards her.
What if Aslan one day had to face that fact like she does now?
Hestia stopped breathing without realizing it.
'Can Aslan survive? Will he be able to endure it?'
He was stronger than anyone else, but he was also weak. Hestia knew better than anyone else how much his feelings of self-destruction mixed with his helplessness were eating away at him.
Just as any hope becomes the driving force of life, any resentment prevents one from giving up on life. Then, Hestia willingly became the object of that resentment and decided to bear the yoke. She thinks Aslan will hold out then. She thought he would feel at ease if she did at least that much. That was why she stayed silent for so long.
"How long are you going to deceive me?"
The harsh voices scratched at each other's hearts mercilessly. Aslan let go of Hestia's chin and turned away as if he couldn't control his anger. Because of his rough breathing, his back and shoulders became overly tense and he rose and fell in awkward movements.
"It's like a lifeless body.'
Aslan gritted his teeth and cursed himself internally. Actually, what he should do now is not get angry. He owed a sincere apology. He misunderstood... No, he was so stupid that he didn't even think to listen to her story. If only he were given the chance, he would have to kneel at Hestia's feet once more and ask for her forgiveness. He turned away and closed his eyes like this, he would only end up inflicting the same hurt on Hestia.
Only after everything became clear did Aslan realize. All this time he has been avoiding it most easily. And that too against the weakest. Against the biggest victims. He was also the same guy as Yorgos and the High Priest.
'Do I have the right to curse the King and the High Priest?'
A deep and profound disillusionment with himself consumed Aslan. She properly confronted him with the fact that he, who was called a barbarian because he was fearless and had no mercy in his hands, was actually a terrible coward.
Aslan moved to cover his face with his hands as if trying to hide everything ugly inside him. After just walking a few steps, the distance between the two suddenly widened. Hestia's lips softened as she looked at his back. She wanted to call him, but when he turned around, she had no idea what to say. It was then.
"... Ugh."
Hestia frowned and touched her temple. She instantly felt her eyes spinning. From that moment on, her body's balance collapsed.
'Why all of a sudden... Why at a moment like this.... !'
She reflexively closed her eyes. She pushed her eyelids back up again, but she saw everything blurry. Hestia stumbled. She tried to focus on Aslan, but the edges of her vision darkened as if she were being eaten by darkness.
Soon, her world was engulfed in darkness, like a stormy night sea with heavy rain clouds.
"Ugh, ugh."
Bleep!
Her intense tinnitus was heard, and her uncontrollable stomach pain engulfed her.
"Ah, Aslan..."
Just before leaving her world, Hestia kissed her lips. But she could barely utter his name, and even that was beyond her strength, and she fell without warning.
"Hestia?"
Aslan's pupils dilated as he looked back in strangeness. Anxiety ran down his spine, sending goosebumps all over his body. Is that all he is?
His heart tightened as if caught in a snare. He stopped short of breath without realizing it, but the moment he ran out of breath, he burst out again. From that moment on, his breathing, which resumed, became a mess, far from being calm.
The sight of Hestia falling helplessly seems so slow. Even though Aslan was watching the scene himself, it didn't feel any more real than when she had jumped into the pond all those years ago.
Only after the purple eyes had completely disappeared under the eyelids did Aslan come to his senses and hurriedly stretched out his arms.
"... Shit."
He held Hestia's body as if it were barely collapsing. With one knee on the floor, he hugged a small and frail body that was much smaller than his own. Thanks to that, Hestia wasn't shocked, but she couldn't even open her eyes.
"Hestia!"
Aslan was so surprised by her that he shouted at her in a loud voice. But again, there was no response from her. Why did things happen like this?
Aslan's mind couldn't keep up with the situation. However, the reason he felt scared was because of Hestia. Her arms and legs and even her white neck. In Aslan's firm and strong arms, everything that made up Hestia lost its strength and became limp.
Tuk.
When her hand fell to the floor, Aslan's heart also dropped. He felt like he was falling into an abyss with no end in sight. What followed him in a state of panic was darkness, desperation, dazedness, confusion, and fear. It felt as if all the words that could collectively describe darkness had become a tidal wave the size of a house, crashing over him and drowning him.
"Why?"
He raised his hand, Without realizing it, his fingertips were trembling. Aslan cupped Hestia's cheek with his large hand. The skin that touched his fingertips was so cold. Aslan finally felt reality. He opened his lips before thinking about waking her up first.
"Hestia."
His muffled voice said,
"Hestia."
The more he put her name into his mouth.
"Hestia, please."
He was shaking terribly.
"Open your eyes, please."
But there was no response from Hestia. She quickly cooled off in Aslan's arms. Aslan rubbed his hot lips against her cheek, the back of her hand, and the nape of her neck, as if trying to share his heat. But it was useless. Now he felt as if he was holding his dead body.
Feeling desperate, he cursed harshly.
"Shit! Why are you doing this? Hestia! Open your eyes!"
However, as if his voice could no longer reach her, Hestia did not move an eyelid.
"Hestia! Damn it. Is there anyone out there?"
At Aslan's shout, the door opened, and Jerome and the knights appeared.
"What's going on?"
"Go quickly and call Dr. Vito. Hurry up!"
The knights seemed quite surprised to see Hestia lying unconscious in Aslan's arms.
Crash!
The sound of the knights running quickly receded. Aslan strengthened his arms around her. The moment he saw her lips, which were turning blue from the loss of blood, he begged again, even though he knew that his voice would not reach her.
"Hestia, please."
He started kneading Hestia's fingers, but it was no use. Aslan, who felt that he could not help her, hugged her body even more tightly. She was the one losing her body heat, but for some reason, his body was shaking even more.
"Hestia, come to your senses."
A certain uneasiness plagued his heart. He tightened his hold on her as if he could hold her like this.
"Please open your eyes. There's something I haven't told you yet."
'There's something you need to hear from me. So, so, please. Please open your eyes.'
Aslan prayed, more earnestly than at any other moment.
A New Series, The Male Lead's Nephew Like Me So Much was out!You can check it here!
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