The Queen and the Lion - Chapter 33
“I never imagined that the illustrious Lord Yilmaz would be reduced to nothing more than a kept man. Or perhaps it’s because you’re Lord Yilmaz that you can have the Queen of Florea. I must say, I’m impressed. Truly.”
The sarcastic remark struck Aslan like a blow. His face flushed with anger at being dismissed as a mere kept man. Even if it were true, he didn’t want to hear it from Kaplan. Aslan gritted his teeth. Of all people, it had to be Kaplan who noticed.
Although it was an open secret in Florea, Aslan was still considered the “Black Lion” of Heiban. It was concerning how Kaplan might spread rumors about his situation back home.
But what bothered him even more was the idea of Kaplan settling in Florea as a prince. Was Kaplan going to easily seize the position that Aslan so desperately desired simply because he was royalty? Aslan glared at his rival. He wanted nothing more than to shout at him to stop talking nonsense.
But Kaplan was not easily intimidated. He would undoubtedly find a way to twist Aslan’s words and make him look bad. Whatever Aslan said, it would only reflect poorly on Lysian.
Not wanting to harm her reputation, Aslan remained silent, standing as still as a statue despite Kaplan’s insults.
“…”
When Aslan didn’t respond, Kaplan assumed he was being ignored. A smug smile crept across his lips.
“Hmph.”
Aslan was always like that. Typical of a Heiban, he was crude and rough. Despite his prowess with a sword, he looked down on others as if he were superior. And to think that he, a prince, had been taken prisoner. Kaplan had been overjoyed when he heard the news.
Kaplan had been sent as an envoy to Florea because he was the only member of the Heiban royalty who was considered worthy of being sent to Florea. It was calculated that with Kaplan’s appearance and eloquence, Florea would not underestimate Heiban. And Kaplan, who had always despised Heiban and admired Florea, had eagerly accepted. Of course, he was also eager to see Aslan in a defeated state.
But the Aslan he saw was far better off than he had expected. His treatment seemed to be quite good, and his expression was bright. He even seemed somewhat happy.
How could that be?
When he had encountered Aslan leaving the queen’s chambers, he had been puzzled. A loose thread had been tugging at his mind.
Today, he finally understood what that thread was.
This was it.
Aslan seemed unaware, but the Florean clothing he was wearing was of higher quality than Kaplan’s.
For someone who was merely a prisoner, he was wearing clothes finer than those of a prince and envoy! It was clear that he was acting all high and mighty, as if he had accomplished something significant by satisfying the queen. Kaplan found it intolerable.
“The Queen has refused to accept you as her consort. But she wants peace. I didn’t understand what she meant at the time, but now it’s clear as day who she was referring to.”
Kaplan had deliberately mentioned the term “kept man” to provoke Aslan. If Aslan knew about his appointment as consort, he would have shown some displeasure. But Aslan had merely gritted his teeth without responding. It was then that Kaplan realized Aslan was unaware of the Queen’s intentions towards him.
Was it just a one-sided affection from the Queen? Or was it a purely physical relationship?
What did Aslan think of the Queen?
Kaplan pondered how he could most effectively wound Aslan with his words. Perhaps he could insult the Queen. What if he suggested that Aslan was merely a plaything to the Queen, and that she had ultimately chosen him, Kaplan, as her consort? He was curious to see Aslan’s reaction.
If Aslan was truly in love with her, he would feel betrayed by her choice of another man. If his pride came first, he might join in condemning her. But whatever the case, Aslan would undoubtedly be hurt.
