Lion.
No word could better define the man known as Aslan than this. He was more often referred to by his epithet than his actual name, Aslan Kalati.
Barbarian of the North, Hound of Elsword… most were terms of derision. But there was one exception: The Black Lion. This was more a title of honor, used primarily by knights who revered Aslan’s martial skills and temperament, rather than by socialites.
Even Aslan himself seemed to embrace this symbol, proudly displaying a black lion on his banner.
The reason for his nickname was not grandiose. His hair was as black as a starless winter night. Yet, his eyes were a stark contrast.
The moment Hestia envisioned his vivid golden irises, she felt as if she were locking eyes with Aslan himself.
“Beautiful.”
Startled by her own utterance, Hestia quickly covered her mouth with her hands.
‘Was I looking at him that way?’
She hadn’t realized how she truly perceived him.
This sudden revelation warmed her cheeks, and she fanned herself to cool down.
Though she was surprised, it wasn’t a lie. His eyes were mesmerizing, holding and not releasing one’s gaze.
But they were also intimidating. His eyes, burning and boiling, resembled molten gold.
Whenever he glared at her with those fiery eyes…
Her legs would shake, and her mouth would dry up. Pretending to be unfazed and casually averting his gaze was a considerable ordeal for Hestia.
Aslan was taller and more muscular than any other knight in Elsword. His forearms were thicker than Hestia’s thighs.
His imposing presence was palpable even from afar, so she avoided getting too close to him. However, Aslan seemed to notice her discomfort, glaring at her more fiercely whenever she distanced herself.
‘He still looks at me with eyes full of hatred.’
Though she wouldn’t willingly keep an undesirable person in sight, Aslan persistently kept her in his view.
Facing him was still frightening, but she couldn’t give up on Aslan, the only person in Elsword beyond the influence of the royal family, the temple, and Anetha.
‘And…’
His voice haunted her.
〈I didn’t want this. So open your eyes.〉
His voice, just before her death, sounded like he was about to cry.
〈…Because I, … you.〉
She was curious.
What did he say to her?
What did he promise to do as she was dying?
Could being near him help her hear those last words again? Or at least guess?
Hestia sighed deeply, trying to compose her emotions.
“No harm in trying.”
She took a deep breath, remembering her desperate situation, and steeled her resolve.
But then she faced a dilemma.
‘How do I meet the Duke of Kalati?’
Her brow furrowed in contemplation. Aslan lived beyond the long wall that stretched between the north and south.
There was no way for her to leave the south.
‘Despite being a saint and a princess, I am powerless.’
The only thing she had left was her name; her current life, where even a single decision required others’ permission, suddenly felt like shackles.
“I won’t be allowed to go north for security reasons.”
This was probably true not only for Hestia but for most people living in the south. The restriction on travel solidified the perception of the north as a frightening place, deterring anyone from even considering going there.
The Kingdom of Elsword was currently divided into north and south, centered around a long wall, referred to as “the insurmountable wall.” This division wasn’t due to mutual hostility but rather due to external circumstances.
It was all because of the strange phenomenon that began in the north.
“……Winter.”
For over 14 years, the north had experienced an endless winter.
It seemed trapped in perpetual snow, with winter relentlessly persisting.
“What could be the reason?”
Hestia mumbled, sighing to herself.
This phenomenon was gradually moving southward, expanding the territory known as the north.
Now, nearly half of Elsword’s land was encompassed under the name ‘north’.
Monsters continually emerged in the ever-wintering areas.
Fortunately, after a significant thaw a few years ago, the winter had stopped expanding further south.
With winter seemingly fixed, the southerners erected a wall, choosing to completely disconnect from the north.
This situation facilitated Anetha’s easy acceptance into the temple.
People in the south, constantly fearing the expanding winter, welcomed Anetha’s miraculous power that brought life to plants wherever she went.
While fastening the locks on her bag, an idea suddenly struck Hestia.
“……Ah!”
A way to meet Aslan dawned on her.
“My mind, how could I forget that?”
Aslan Kalati entered the royal palace around this time every year.
It was the only time he could move, as the winter’s intensity in the north was relatively mild.
He would report the northern situation to Yorgos and receive nominal praise.
Staying in the capital’s mansion for ten days to a month, it was time for his annual visit.
It was rare for Aslan to attend social events, having been so only a handful of times since his debut.
Once his audience with the king ended, he would confine himself in his mansion and not budge.
“Still, it’s much easier to find him in the capital than in the vast north.”
So, Hestia’s conclusion was clear.
“To meet Duke Kalati, I can’t stay in the temple.”
The one place in the capital Aslan would surely avoid was right here, this temple.
“Leaving here as soon as possible would be wise.”
The high priests disliked Kalati, considering him unclean for directly confronting and being stained with the blood of monsters.
‘But first, I should confirm if he’s really coming to the capital.’
Today, Hestia had prevented Anetha’s intended actions, which could have unforeseen butterfly effects.
As she pondered, thoughts of Aslan persisted in her mind.
Setting her packed bag aside, she climbed back onto the bed and hugged her knees.
“But that man.”
She mumbled quietly, resting her chin on her knees.
“He surely hates me.”
The events that transpired right before she turned back time involuntarily came to her mind.
Although her senses were fading and she couldn’t remember exactly, Hestia knew that he was holding her.
Despite usually glaring at her as if he wanted to kill her, treating her as though he wanted nothing to do with her…
The rough and clumsy touch of his hands, desperately holding onto her as she was about to cross the river of death, was intensely earnest.
“What exactly did he say in the last moment?”
〈Wake up.〉
〈…because.〉
〈I will, …〉
No matter how much she tried to recall, she couldn’t grasp the content of those words.
Thus, Hestia spent a long night alone, restless.
Curious about what that man, who disliked her, had said, she couldn’t fall asleep.
The temple carriage carrying Hestia arrived in front of the royal palace.
There were some complications in leaving the temple, but the timing worked in her favor.
As a ‘princess’, it wasn’t easy to reject Hestia’s intention to fulfill her duties, so the high priests had no choice but to let her go.
Angela was waiting at the palace gate, presumably informed by the temple.
As Hestia stepped out of the carriage, Angela approached her with a bright face and greeted her warmly.
“Princess! It’s been a long time since we’ve seen each other!”
Hestia hugged her back and responded.
“It’s been a while, Angela. Have you been well?”
“Of course!”
Hestia felt warmed by Angela’s genuine enthusiasm to see her.
She wanted to catch up more, but knowing there were urgent matters to attend to, she decided to delay their reunion.
“Angela, where is His Majesty? I need to pay my respects.”
“He’s in his office. In fact, he instructed to bring you to him as soon as you arrive.”
Yorgos was always a difficult person to deal with. Hestia bit her lip and took a moment to gather herself.
Turns Out He’s Been Secretly in Love with Me
One-line summary: He acts like he doesn’t like her but is actually playing hard to get.
Synopsis:
Xu Muzhou like her. He has liked her for a very long time, and through repeated schemes, he finally closed the distance with her.
But this is still far from enough.
He wants to be the one who stands out among her many suitors, to fight for her attention, and to make her take the initiative to pursue him.
_____
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