But why?
Even though it was truly odd, suddenly Hestia’s face came to mind.
His fist tightened even more.
The progress in their relationship happened in winter.
Many people had been coming and going in the palace since morning.
But the atmosphere was solemn, unlike other times.
Even Aslan, who did not participate directly in the event, could feel it.
“How time flies. It’s already been two years.”
“Indeed. Who would have thought both would pass away so unexpectedly?”
“Poor Saint Hestia, their daughter.”
“Don’t say that. Do you think they left this world easily, leaving their young princess behind?”
Aslan belatedly realized that it was the day of the memorial service for Hestia’s parents, the former king and queen.
For a moment, he wondered if he should attend now that he knew.
But after some thought, he decided not to.
“It might harm Kalati.”
He clenched his fist.
Although he was at the palace as a hostage, in a way, he also represented Kalati.
Every action of Aslan was connected to the reputation of Kalati, so he was cautious about acting rashly.
Anyway, he was still inexperienced, and Aslan humbly acknowledged that.
If he got swept away by emotions and made a mistake, the treatment of Kalati could worsen from its current state.
Winter’s grip was getting stronger, and the rejection from the capital’s people was intensifying.
There would surely be nobles at the memorial service who would recognize him.
‘If someone provokes me…’
He could tolerate insults directed at himself.
But he was not sure he could endure if his family, friends, or Kalati were slandered.
Aslan swallowed a sigh and silently conveyed a short condolence to the former royal couple in his mind.
He was well aware that Hestia’s parents had met their fate in the north while extending a helping hand.
‘They were good people.’
Before being brought to the capital by Yorgos, Aslan had met the former king and queen, who had come to Kalati, in his capacity as the heir to the dukedom.
They had promised to do their best to support and help rebuild the North.
‘They were similar to the princess.’
Well, they were parent and child, so maybe it’s inevitable they would resemble each other?
Anyway.
They were the kind of people who instilled trust in others, and Aslan too felt their sincerity.
So when he heard about the death of the former king and queen, both Aslan and his father, Wayne Kalati, mourned them deeply.
‘Where you commemorate isn’t what’s important. It’s better than causing unnecessary commotion.’
Aslan didn’t want to disturb Hestia’s mind.
Especially not today.
“Sigh…….”
Aslan exhaled a deep sigh to relieve his frustration.
It felt as if the always clear sky was unusually cloudy, as if reflecting someone’s heart.
‘She won’t come today.’
She must be preoccupied.
Aslan swallowed the bitter feeling, moved his Adam’s apple significantly as if trying to gulp down his emotions, then dropped his gaze from the sky.
All he wished for was that she wasn’t too saddened.
Despite his reason telling him she wouldn’t come, his body found itself in the garden at dusk, pacing restlessly.
‘How foolish.’
Even as he internally scolded himself, Aslan couldn’t bring himself to leave the garden.
He took a seat on a bench with a good view of the entrance and glanced at the garden gate every five minutes.
He tried to focus on the book he was holding, but it was a difficult task.
The book in his hand was merely a pretext; he hadn’t turned a single page.
Even when he forced himself to concentrate, he couldn’t remember what he had read and ended up rereading the same paragraph repeatedly.
After spending quite some time alone, he thought, ‘Maybe I should go in.’
Just as he was about to give up and close the book, the voice he had been inwardly waiting for, Hestia’s, reached his ears.
“Have you been well, Prince?”
Male lead is a Destined Young Husband (Female-dominant)
One-sentence summary: Wife-master, listen to my explanation!
Li Ruantang, a young lady from a prestigious family, stumbled and fell. When she woke up, she saw a noble and beautiful young man sitting by her bedside, wiping away tears.
The young master had slightly reddened eyes, and his every move exuded charm.
The sight made Li Ruantang’s eyes hot and her heart flutter. After all, she had made a bet with the young master Meng from the neighboring family. If she couldn’t marry a husband before the end of the year, she would have to admit defeat and give up the jade she had worked so hard to obtain.
Outside the window, the flowers were in full bloom.
Rather than losing the bet, the jade, and her face, Li Ruantang calculated that it would be better to seek marriage with the young master in front of her, killing three birds with one stone.
…
Meng Jun never thought that an accident during a spring outing would lead to them rolling down a cliff and into a river, yet still survive.
Now they were trapped in an unknown village, and Meng Jun had overheard that the family who had rescued them had their own intentions.
After all, it was Li Ruantang who had lost her mind and sought marriage first. He was only trying to protect himself!
Glancing at Li Ruantang, who was listing her own merits, the young husband’s voice softened, and he blushed as he lied, “W-wife-master, Wife-master, don’t you remember me?”
The young husband’s voice was clear and handsome, coaxing Li Ruantang’s heart to be soft and sweet, and she spared no effort to protect him.
It wasn’t until they returned to the capital that Li Ruantang suddenly remembered.
When they had fallen off the cliff, in order not to implicate Wei Yunruo, whom he secretly admired, the young husband had instead pulled her, who was slightly farther away, down the cliff with him…
Short summary by Yuushi L: Initially, the male lead (ML) liked another girl, while the female lead (FL) liked the ML. Both fell off a cliff. The FL temporarily lost her memory, and the ML, fearing others might take advantage of him, claimed FL was his wife while they were staying in a village. Later, when they returned home, the FL regained her memories and remembered that the ML liked someone else, so she kept her distance from him. However, during their time living together in the countryside, the ML’s view of the FL had completely changed. From this point, his pursuit of the FL begins.
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