The Queen and the Lion - Chapter 76
The Florean army secretly felt a sense of humiliation at being under Aslan’s command, but at the same time, an inexplicable excitement thrummed in their hearts. Having feared Aslan more than anyone else when they were enemies, they now looked forward to seeing what kind of battle would unfold now that he was on their side and in full command.
One thing was certain: Aslan’s mere presence was boosting the morale of both the Florean and Heiban armies.
Expectation soon turned into certainty.
The reputation of the Black Lion was no idle boast. Although he had been absent from the battlefield for a while, his years of experience and instinctive sense led him to victory.
The Bullet Kingdom was taken aback by Aslan’s unexpected intervention. However, if they could just capture Aslan, it would be like capturing a queen in chess, both symbolically and practically.
They expected Aslan, being a Heiban, to react fiercely to provocation. They thought that by luring him out of his group and into acting alone, it would be entirely possible to capture him. After all, the Florean army had done it once. Surely the Bullet Kingdom army could do it too. That was what they believed.
But it wasn’t easy. Aslan was more cautious and cunning than they had expected. He stood tall like a mountain, exuding a powerful presence, but he never moved easily. Knowing his own worth, Aslan only moved when necessary, using the Florean and Heiban armies as his tools. There was no way to deal with him while he was surrounded by so many Florean soldiers.
News of Aslan’s continuous victories flew to the Florean capital. Even the nervous ministers cheered at Aslan’s triumphs.
“They say he’s won again! He’s driven the Bullet Kingdom forces out of Heiban and is now advancing beyond the Bullet Kingdom’s border.”
“Truly, he is the Black Lion. It was a wise decision to leave warfare to the King, just as cooking is left to the cook and medicine to the physician.”
“They say the Bullet Kingdom army is running away as fast as they can.”
Although they weren’t exactly on bad terms with the Bullet Kingdom, their relationship had never been good either. The finance minister, who had always been stressed out by the constant trade friction, added excitedly. Everyone was praising Aslan, and even those who had distrusted him couldn’t deny his achievements and joined in with small voices.
The only person in the meeting room who didn’t look happy was Lysian. No matter how many victories there were, the situation could change in an instant. Every time she heard news of Aslan, she felt a pang of anxiety, but as queen, she couldn’t show her unease. She could only nod silently, maintaining a neutral expression.
“With Lord Yilmaz as king, the Bullet Kingdom will… Your Majesty?”
Prime Minister Primula, noticing Lysian’s serious expression, stood up abruptly. She was sweating profusely. Lysian waved her hand, saying she was fine and told her not to make a fuss. But soon, she felt dizzy and fainted.
“Your Majesty!”
“Call the physician!”
The ministers and officials gathered around Lysian, not knowing what to do.
Even if they won the war, if the Blossom royal family were to end, Florea would be like a fallen leaf. A heavy shadow fell over the ministers’ faces.
Having completely defeated the Bullet Kingdom, Aslan returned to the capital as a triumphant general. When he had first set foot in the Florean capital, he had been confined to a cage and met only with scorn and hostility. Now, as he entered to the sound of cheers and flowers, he felt a deep sense of fulfillment.
The Florean army, who had initially hesitated to follow Aslan, had developed a deep respect for him after several battles. They were amazed that they had once captured the Black Lion and were proud that Aslan was their king.
Lysian, who had fainted in the council chamber, worrying about Aslan, and had thus frightened the ministers, finally went out to greet the man she had been waiting for. She saw the soldiers marching through the gates of the palace. Smiling brightly, she looked at Aslan who stood proudly at the head of the procession.
The procession stopped, and Aslan dismounted and knelt before Lysian.
“Your Majesty, Aslan Yilmaz. I have returned, having defeated the enemy as you commanded.”
Aslan’s bold voice drew cheers from the nobles and soldiers. It was not only Lysian who had been worried. Aslan, who had been picturing Lysian on the battlefield, looked at his beloved with burning eyes, seeing her for the first time in a long while.
