The Queen and the Lion - Chapter 49

For a moment, Aslan wondered if he had misunderstood the Floreans. Knowing it wasn’t true, their casual attitude as if they hadn’t heard their conversation made him think so. The calmness in his golden eyes suggested he was accustomed to such contempt.

“If he’s going to be a Heiban anyway, I’d rather have Prince Kaplan.”

“…”

Aslan, who had been patient, couldn’t help but contort his face at the mention of Kaplan.

Dandelion watched to see what Aslan would do. Would he get angry at them, or would he endure it and pretend not to notice? Neither choice would be wrong for a consort. The former would establish his honor, and the latter, his mercy.

Aslan took a step towards them.

The moment the servants turned around; they saw him.

“Yik!”

As soon as they saw Aslan, the servants flinched and let out strange cries.

“…”

It was ridiculous how they trembled so much. Instead of being angry, Dandelion felt pity. He shook his head inwardly as he looked at them.

After all, Aslan was a consort candidate, and their conversation, even if it was just gossip among servants, was a serious insult to the royal family. It was common to say bad things about the king when no one was listening, but if those words reached the king’s ears, he would naturally be punished. How dare they gossip so lightly in the royal palace. Dandelion had no intention of saving them from Aslan’s wrath.

Aslan’s gaze fell on them.

His golden irises, as sharp as a beast’s, were incredibly fierce. The servants trembled at the intimidating aura of the battlefield lion. They looked at Aslan’s fist. If that hard, large fist hit them even once, they would be seriously injured. They quickly bowed their heads to Aslan.

“W-we made a mistake! Please forgive us!”

They knelt and begged for forgiveness. Dandelion watched to see what punishment Aslan would give them.

But strangely, Aslan simply glanced at them and passed by. The servants were bewildered by Aslan’s silent disregard. They had avoided immediate punishment, but their hearts were uneasy.

Dandelion quickly followed Aslan. Aslan didn’t say anything about the incident the whole time.

Perhaps he planned to tell Lysian discreetly. It was unlike the Aslan he knew, but it was best to keep that possibility in mind.

Lysian would certainly be furious to learn that Aslan had been insulted by the servants. She would surely punish those servants who had gossiped about the consort she had chosen.

In that case, Dandelion needed to dispose of them beforehand and report the situation to Lysian.

As always, Aslan and Lysian had dinner together after their schedule was finished.

Lysian was overjoyed with Aslan’s unusually natural table manners, and Aslan smiled awkwardly. Dandelion was at a loss as to what to make of Aslan’s nonchalant attitude.

Late in the evening, it was time to report on the day’s events.

Dandelion submitted a report to Lysian, who was reviewing important and urgent documents in her office, and casually mentioned,

“There was a small problem this afternoon, but I handled it.”

Dandelion’s gaze swept over Lysian. He didn’t want to include the matter of the servants in the report and planned to mention it verbally, depending on Lysian’s reaction.

Did Lysian know anything about what happened earlier? Aslan had plenty of time to tell Lysian about the incident. Dandelion observed Lysian’s expression, which he had been doing for over a decade.

Lysian laughed softly and said,

“Yes. Aslan was late, wasn’t he? Rosebay was furious.”

“…”

It seemed Lysian knew nothing about it. She asked if there was anything else and then lowered her head to her desk to examine the urgent documents. Dandelion had imagined Lysian looking up and questioning him several times. But Lysian was simply focused on her work.

Then Dandelion was certain that Aslan hadn’t told Lysian anything about the humiliation he had suffered earlier. Why? Was he going to handle it himself?

No. If Aslan had intended to handle it himself, he would have done so right then and there. Did he really intend to pretend nothing had happened? The words were insulting, even to Dandelion’s ears. The Aslan he had seen at the beginning, when he was first brought to Florea, would have been furious.

What was going on? It was even more suspicious now. Dandelion’s suspicions about Aslan’s actions deepened.