The Queen and the Lion - Chapter 73
After much contemplation, Lysian went to find Aslan, but Aslan already knew that Heiban was going to be invaded. It wasn’t surprising that Aslan knew, as all the attendants had been whispering about it.
Lysian let out a deep sigh.
Aslan spoke to Lysian.
“If you’re going to send reinforcements, let me lead the army.”
“No.”
Lysian firmly cut him off. But Aslan didn’t back down. He persuaded Lysian again. His amber eyes glowed resolutely, as if he had made up his mind.
“Bullet is not an easy opponent. The Florean army has never fought against the Bullet army directly. But I have. I can win.”
“You are mine, Aslan! Even though we’ve made an alliance with Heiban, I don’t want to send you to fight for them. What if you get hurt…!”
Lysian raised her voice. For a moment, it seemed her emotions got the best of her, and she took in a sharp breath. Her pale face flushed, and the fabric of her beautiful dress crumpled beneath her tightly clenched fist.
It was the first time Lysian had shown such excitement. Aslan gave her a moment to calm down. His palm gently rested on her round shoulder. As he stroked her, he met her gaze and softly spoke.
“I’m not fighting for Heiban, Lysian.”
Lysian, who had thought he was merely comforting himself, shook her head. She also acknowledged that it would definitely be more effective if Aslan took charge. But her emotions wouldn’t allow it.
Aslan acted as if it were his duty to go. When Lysian thought it was due to his lingering attachment to and yearning for Heiban, she couldn’t bear it. Lysian bit her lower lip. She didn’t want to act like a child, but she couldn’t help it.
Aslan shook Lysian’s shoulder to snap her out of her agitation. Lysian blinked and looked at him. It was rare for Aslan to assert himself so strongly. His expression was firm. With a determined attitude, he said,
“I know Heiban well because I am from there. They are eyeing Florea. Even in Heiban, there have been whispers about attacking Florea several times. I thought they had given up on it, but it seems not.”
Lysian’s eyes widened at Aslan’s words.
Although their relationship with Bullet Kingdom had never been especially close, it had not been hostile either. Florea generally preferred peace and had no ambitions.
She had never imagined that Bullet Kingdom would be eyeing Florea, and now, with the new information, Lysian’s mind started to reassess the situation.
Her gaze sharpened into that of a decisive leader, and she looked at Aslan. Aslan gently ran his knuckles along Lysian’s soft cheek.
“I want to go to war to protect Florea. I am the Kingdom’s King, not just a figurehead. I want to do something for this country. War is what I do best.”
Aslan added it as if joking, but it was sincere. No matter how much he had learned the etiquette of Florea, he could not support Lysian with social activities like the other Kings had done.
Lysian thought that Aslan’s mere presence was a help to her, but she felt conflicted that Aslan could not do what every other King before him had done. He wanted to help Lysian, and that desire was perfectly aligned with wanting to help Florea.
Lysian suddenly threw her arms around Aslan’s waist, burying her head against his chest. She murmured, unable to shake her unease.
“I don’t want to become a widow.”
“At least for the next fifty years, you won’t have to worry about that.”
Aslan reassured her confidently.
Fifty years. Lysian didn’t even think she would live that long. She let out a small laugh, a soft chuckle.
She could no longer stop Aslan. Lysian nodded slightly, a gesture of permission.
The courtiers fell silent at the statement that the true target of the Bullet Kingdom was not Heiban, but Florea. At last, everything seemed to make sense. Heiban was not a land worth conquering. It was clear that Bullet intended to either provoke Florea’s intervention by attacking Heiban or, perhaps, use Heiban as a base to invade Florea.
General Ranunculus cautiously asked,
“Then, who do you intend to appoint as the general?”
“King Aslan Yilmaz will take the role.”
At Lysian’s words, the meeting room erupted in murmurs.
They could not believe Lysian’s words. The King’s participation, especially as the general? They looked to Lysian for an explanation, but she said no more and kept her lips tightly sealed.
At that moment, the door to the meeting room opened, and Aslan appeared, clad in black armor. His hair, which was usually messy like a lion’s mane, flowed loosely over his armor.
With his golden eyes gleaming, he entered the meeting room like a lion, exuding a commanding presence.
