Trampled and Broken (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 22
The distance from the royal palace to Duke Kalati’s residence was considerable.
After traveling for dozens of minutes through the quiet night streets, accompanied only by the rhythmic clatter of hooves,
the carriage finally came to a halt, and the coachman’s low voice reached her ears.
“We’ve arrived.”
“Thank you for your hard work.”
Hestia opened the carriage door herself and stepped down.
“You may return first.”
“Huh? Then how will you get back later…?”
“You can rely on the help of the mansion’s owner.”
His tone was gentle yet firm, prompting the coachman to scratch the back of his head briefly before nodding in agreement.
“Understood. Then I’ll head back first.”
“Good work.”
Only after sending the coachman and carriage away did Hestia finally stand facing the front of Kalati Mansion.
“A mansion that looks just like its master.”
Large, solid, and dark, the mansion was plain—devoid of even the most common decorations—yet exuded an overwhelming presence.
She took a deep breath, as if reaffirming her resolve, causing her small, delicate frame to rise and fall noticeably.
Swallowing hard, she took a step toward the mansion.
Even as she approached the iron gate, no one appeared. Judging by the complete absence of any human presence, it seemed no one stood guard at the entrance.
‘Then again, who would dare intrude here?’
After all, this was the residence of Duke Kalati, known as the Black Lion of the North.
Only someone like her—staring death in the face—would even consider such a reckless act. Of course, another reason might simply be that no one believed there was anything worth stealing here.
After a brief hesitation, Hestia pushed the gate open herself and entered the mansion grounds.
Having crossed the vast garden, where every tree and shrub had withered away, Hestia finally reached the main entrance of the mansion, panting heavily.
“No footman either.”
With no other choice, she lightly grasped the black lion-shaped door knocker and tapped twice—knock, knock.
After a short wait, the door fortunately opened from within.
“Who is it?”
Hestia removed her robe and introduced herself.
“My name is Hestia Elsword.”
The previously expressionless butler’s eyes widened in astonishment.
“Your Highness! What brings you all the way here…!”
Hestia gave a bitter smile.
She had just realized anew that this butler, too, was unmistakably a Northerner.
People from the North addressed her as “Princess,” but never once called her “Saint.”
Hestia knew well that this had been the case ever since the Great Purge.
‘It doesn’t matter what they call me—both titles refer to me.’
Besides, at this moment, being called “Saint” would only feel more burdensome.
“I’ve come to see Duke Kalati.”
“Ah… But I hadn’t been informed that His Grace had a prior engagement…”
The butler trailed off cautiously, watching her reaction, but Hestia responded with a faint smile.
“Of course not—I never made an appointment. Would you be so kind as to go ask him now?”
Seeing Hestia’s resolute stance, the butler of Kalati Mansion looked slightly troubled.
Nevertheless, he quickly realized he couldn’t possibly turn her away or dissuade her, and promptly adjusted his demeanor.
“Yes… I’ll go inquire with His Grace right away.”
“Please do. I’d appreciate it.”
As Hestia nodded, the butler stepped aside.
“Please come inside for a moment.”
But Hestia shook her head.
She might not know him as well as the butler did, but she understood Aslan to some degree.
He was a man who treated her with unusual harshness.
Therefore, she had no intention of dragging a third party into the tense standoff between them and causing unnecessary awkwardness.
“It’s fine. I’ll wait here.”
The butler looked at Hestia with a puzzled expression.
“Do you happen to know…”
She gave him a gentle smile, conveying that this was no big deal.
“…whether your master’s heart might soften upon hearing I’m waiting outside and decide to see me?”
Hestia hoped that even if Aslan felt uncomfortable, he would at least let her in quickly, hear her out, and send her away.
‘So this is what it feels like to act so weakly.’
Or perhaps she could only behave this way when dealing with Aslan.
With a self-deprecating smile playing on her lips, Hestia straightened her posture.
“I’ll return as quickly as possible.”
Reluctantly, the butler closed the door and went back inside.
Hestia finally let out a sigh.
Not long after, a rumble of thunder echoed from the clear night sky.
Glancing upward, she saw dark clouds slowly gathering across the previously clear heavens.
“Looks like it might rain.”
Anxiously, Hestia pulled her robe tighter around her neck.
It hadn’t been long before the butler of Kalati Mansion returned to Hestia.
“I’m terribly sorry, Your Highness.”
He bowed his head apologetically the moment their eyes met.
“His Grace has just entered an urgent meeting with his aides.”
Hestia couldn’t help letting out a deflated chuckle.
The fact that he’d returned so quickly meant Aslan hadn’t hesitated at all before refusing her outright.
“A meeting—at this hour?”
The butler himself knew it was a flimsy excuse, but after a brief pause, he cleared his throat awkwardly.
After all, as the one currently receiving the guest, he felt it his duty to maintain the utmost courtesy.
“His Grace asked that you arrange another appointment at a later date.”
Robert, having delivered his rehearsed lines, looked visibly relieved.
Since Hestia hadn’t sent prior notice of her visit, she had essentially been the one to breach etiquette first; thus, the butler assumed this excuse would be enough for her to leave quietly.
But she stood lost in thought.
“At a later date…”
She began murmuring to herself in a voice lower and softer than usual.
‘Will I even have another chance?’
There was no time to spare.
Sneaking out of the palace like this wasn’t easy.
Aslan would surely assume she’d come on a whim, acting on a sudden impulse.
In that state of mind, he wouldn’t listen to a word she had to say.
‘I need to show him that my desire to see him is genuine.’
To do that, she couldn’t afford to preserve any shred of dignity in front of him.
Aslan was a man who had already closed the door to his heart against her.
How could she possibly create even the tiniest crack?
Hestia already knew the answer.
‘I have to show him my lowest, most pitiful self.’
Ironically, the more she suffered and made herself uncomfortable, the more likely he was to acknowledge her sincerity.
Thus, she had only one possible reply for the butler.
Taking a deep breath, Hestia spoke.
“Then I’ll wait.”
“…Pardon?”
The butler’s eyes widened in shock. Staring at her face, he looked as if he couldn’t believe what he’d just heard.
At first, he thought she was merely testing him.
But seeing the determination in her expression, Robert quickly realized she was serious.
“But Your Highness, the night sky looks ominous.”
Desperate to send her away, the butler pleaded earnestly.
Yet Hestia stood firm, her spine straight, making it clear she had no intention of leaving.
Normally, she would have withdrawn after being refused—it would have been easier on her nerves, too.
But doing so would change nothing.
“I have no intention of changing my mind.”
Hestia was determined to try.
“This isn’t a battlefield, and they won’t be holding a meeting all night. I just wish to see him, even for a brief moment.”
“But Your Highness—”
“I’m perfectly fine. I’ll wait right here.”
Though the butler tried to persuade her with worried eyes, Hestia firmly shook her head.
“Or has he ordered his knights to drag me away?”
“Of course not! No such order was given.”
“Then it’s fine for me to wait.”
A faint curve appeared at the corners of Hestia’s lips.
Slightly softening her gaze and lowering her voice, she continued.
“I’m truly sorry for troubling you, but this matter is important to me—I have no choice.”
Perhaps her earnestness finally got through to him.
The butler, who had been staring at her with utter incomprehension, eventually looked away and nodded.
“I’ll inform His Grace.”
“…Thank you.”
Once again, the door closed before her eyes.
Hestia moved to stand just outside the porch.
If what he wanted from her was to feel utterly wretched, then she would gladly give him that. Taking a deep breath, she lifted her head.
The dark mansion—only one room was lit.
Gazing up at that window, she whispered inwardly.
Please, Aslan.
‘Open the door.’
Just give me one more chance.
She prayed he would hear her desperate wish.
Time had already passed midnight.
The sky, which had shown ominous signs earlier, finally began to release raindrops that formed round beads on the windowpane before sliding down.
Inside the dimly lit room,
Aslan stood close to the window, dressed somewhat casually, his brow furrowed even deeper as he stared outside.
In his hand was a glass of bitter liquor.
Though the rain blurred his vision, Hestia standing on the first floor remained clearly visible.
Her face was hidden beneath her robe, but as always, picturing her features came easily to him.
“How stubborn.”
She could at least have stood under the porch roof.
The sight of Hestia standing resolutely in the pouring rain irritated him.
After Being Cheated On, She Picked Up a Treasure (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: The husband I married on a whim had been secretly in love with me for a long time.
On the day when Jun Shao finally obtained the imperial decree for her marriage, Lan Qu, the person she had admired for six years, defied the decree and ran away.
Her gentleness and devotion, her promise of a lifetime together, were all disregarded by him. Instead, he dreamed of entering the palace to serve the Emperor’s sister as a sixth-rank attendant.
News of this incident spread throughout the capital, and the alleys in front of and behind the Lan mansion were crowded with people who came to watch the commotion.
Jun Shao should have been embarrassed and angry.
But someone stepped in to protect her dignity.
The figure was in a miserable state, yet still possessed an undeniable elegance and handsomeness.
The young lord struggled to climb the wall of the Lan mansion and shouted to her, “If he won’t marry you, I will!”
So, Jun Shao took advantage of the situation and married the person.
She thought the young lord did it to save the Lan family from the crime of defying the imperial decree, but never imagined that from beginning to end, what he coveted was her.
*
After the wedding, Jun Shao felt like she was living in a dream.
Her Wife-master was as beautiful as a fairy in a painting, skilled in the six arts, well-versed in poetry and literature, capable of being gentle and attentive, and also grand and dignified. Most importantly, she was the only one in his heart and eyes.
Jun Shao didn’t know how Lan Shiwu, as a illegitimate son without a father and blessed with beauty, had managed to preserve his purity, recklessly escape, and use his last ounce of strength to ruin his own reputation, all because of his love for her, just to stand before her.
She could only see him gazing at her with eyes full of love, and when she bestowed a name upon him, his eyes shone like stars.
“You have come to me like a weary bird perching on a branch. I shall call you A Qi.”
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