The Queen and the Lion - Chapter 16
As Lysian had hinted on their wedding night, she quite enjoyed restraint.
One day, she brought out a collar, the kind used for hunting dogs, and unceremoniously placed it around Aslan’s neck. The leather was thick and sturdy, clearly not meant to be easily broken. Lysian seemed delighted to have a man on a leash. She then tugged on the leash and urged Aslan to go for a walk.
Lysian walked ahead, and Aslan reluctantly followed a step behind. Guards and attendants trailed behind them, their eyes fixed on Aslan, wary that he might harm Lysian.
In contrary, Lysian walked with confidence and no shame, Aslan felt like he wanted to hide if there was a mouse hole.
When people of the Florean Kingdom saw Lysian, they parted like the sea, but they couldn’t help but glance at Aslan. It was a ridiculous sight. As much as Aslan disliked the attention, he couldn’t refuse Lysian when she looked so happy.
After walking for some time, the number of people they encountered dwindled. Aslan looked around, noticing that they were in a more secluded area.
One of the attendants following them spoke up.
“Your Majesty, you’ve walked quite far today. We’re already at the edge of the outer palace. The forest is dangerous, so we should turn back.”
They had reached the foot of the mountain behind the castle. Florea’s capital was situated on a mountainside for defensive purposes, but it was also home to wild animals.
“Oh, is that so? I guess I got carried away walking with Aslan. I didn’t even notice my legs were sore.”
Realizing her legs ached, Lysian stopped. The head attendant asked, eyeing Lysian cautiously.
“Shall we bring a palanquin?”
“No, that’s alright. I have Aslan.”
“…What?”
Both Aslan and the attendant looked at Lysian, puzzled. She frowned slightly at their reactions and tugged on Aslan’s leash.
Aslan could have resisted, but he simply relaxed and allowed himself to be pulled. His body was pulled close to Lysian’s face.
“Ugh, you’re so slow. Carry me.”
Lysian wrapped her arms around Aslan’s neck. Her soft touch sent shivers down his spine. The place where her hand touched him felt on fire.
And then, it happened.
A primal instinct, honed from years on the battlefield, alerted Aslan. Something was there. A shiver ran down his spine, and he reflexively pulled Lysian close, tensing his body.
Crack!
Simultaneously, there was the sound of leaves being torn apart. A colossal shadow was charging towards them.
“Ah!”
The maidservants behind them screamed.
It was a boar, as large as a house. Aslan, still holding Lysian, quickly dodged the charge. The sudden appearance of the boar sent the Floreans, including the attendants, into a panic.
“Protect Her Majesty!” they cried.
The boar, having failed its charge, snorted and pawed the ground. Its long, sharp tusks glinted dangerously in the sunlight. It was obvious that a single stab from those tusks, as thick as a man’s arm, would be fatal.
It was a mystery how the boar had managed to bypass the multiple traps and defenses put in place to prevent wild animals from entering the city. It suggested that the boar was unusually intelligent. The guards swallowed hard, their spears pointed at the boar, but none dared to attack the creature that must have weighed at least 300 kilograms. While everyone hesitated, the captain shouted,
“Your Majesty, flee!”
Lysian’s violet eyes wavered. She should be the one to flee, so the guards could focus on the boar. However, she knew the guards would be overwhelmed before reinforcements arrived, and her feet felt rooted to the spot.
Then, Aslan spoke.
“I’ll handle it. Release the chain.”
His sudden words caused a stir. The captain gritted his teeth and protested.
“He’s a prisoner. It’s too dangerous to let him go.”
“It’s already dangerous enough.”
Aslan replied nonchalantly.
Lysian hesitated. She wanted to trust Aslan, but she was also afraid that he might get hurt. Aslan urged her on.
“I am a black lion. A mere boar is nothing to me.”
Lysian furrowed her brow, then nodded slightly.
“…Be careful.”
With her permission, the chain fell from her slender fingers. Clang! The sound of the chain hitting the stone floor echoed loudly. The boar’s gaze immediately turned to Aslan.
Freed from his bonds, Aslan strode towards the guards and the boar. The captain, while wary of the boar, also addressed Aslan.
“I can’t give you a sword.”
“I don’t need one.”
Aslan snorted.
The boar, having targeted Aslan, charged again. Its speed was lightning-fast, belying its massive size. The guards raised their spears, but they were too slow to evade the charging beast. Aslan, however, remained motionless, waiting for the boar’s attack.
As the boar drew closer, it seemed to grow larger, like a mountain. It must have been the king of its domain, having faced no rivals in the mountains and thus grown overconfident.
Just as the boar was about to gore Aslan with its tusks, he punched it squarely between the eyes. A bone-cracking sound echoed through the air.
“Eeek!”
The boar let out a piercing shriek.
It staggered and then collapsed with a thud. The earth trembled beneath the weight of the 300-kilogram beast.
Everyone was speechless, gaping at Aslan who had defeated the monstrous boar with a single punch. They should have been cheering and praising him for saving the queen, but another thought dominated their minds. If he could so easily kill a boar, how easy would it be for him to kill a human? Overwhelmed by Aslan’s terrifying strength, no one dared to speak.
“Let’s go.”
Aslan shook his numb hand and spoke indifferently. A strange feeling churned in his stomach. Why had he intervened? It was the Floreans who would have died, not him.
Aslan stood in front of Lysian. He handed her the leash with a nonchalant gesture. Her violet eyes examined him worriedly.
