บท 16: Going Out With Aslan
Rosie pulled the reins to speed up the horse's pace so they could get there faster. When they arrived near the lake she had seen yesterday, Rosie gave Aslan her horse's reins. She was worried that if she tied it carelessly like before, the man would get angry again.
Rosie passed through the bushes and trees. After tying their horses to the branches, Aslan quickly caught up with the princess and helped the girl to clear the way to the lake.
It had been a very long time since Aslan visited this lake, so the trails were covered by shrubs and tree branches. This area was still part of his territory, thus no one could enter here without his permission.
Rosie exclaimed loudly, admiring the scene in front of her. "Natural scenery like this wins second to none!"
"Doesn't the palace have more beautiful lakes?" asked Aslan, who followed behind the girl.
Rosie just laughed because she honestly knew nothing. She hadn't visited the palace yet, so how would she know?
Rosie looked around the lake. However, it wasn't maintained well. Across the lake, she saw a small dock with a white gazebo that was about to collapse and a boat that had broken in half. Even the leaves littered on every side of the lake.
It would be beautiful if the lake was cleaned and maintained. Perhaps if the lake was in its original state, it would become a cozy place to read a book or spend some time resting.
"Does this lake connect to the river behind the garden?" Rosie asked, pointing at the river in the distance.
"That's right. It connects to the river that surrounds the castle."
"Why is the lake not maintained?"
"There is no point in doing it," Aslan replied nonchalantly.
"Hm… it is unfortunate because this place is beautiful. If it was cleaned and well cared for, maybe I would have spent my time here."
Aslan did not answer. He didn't have the slightest intention of revitalizing the lake. It's no use, he thought. Besides, it would be better if he didn't clean it up, so there wouldn't be any reason for the princess to approach the lake again.
Rosie suddenly turned and left Aslan alone.
"Where do you want to go?" Aslan asked.
"Well, of course, to continue our stroll. I just wanted to take a closer look at the lake. Or… could it be that you intend to ask me out on a date here?"
Aslan closed his eyes for a moment, then he shook his head.
"Right, we will continue then," he replied, making Rosie chuckle.
Rosie didn't know why she liked to tease him so much. She knew that her position as a royal princess as well as Howland's sister made Aslan unable to reject or argue with her word.
An adult man who followed her wish obediently like a puppy irked Rosie's mischievous soul.
The girl waited for Aslan to catch up with her, then the man untied their horse. Rosie got to her house, and they continued their journey to the village.
Aslan took Rosie around the village. Everyone who recognized the duke stopped their activities and bowed their heads respectfully. After Aslan and Rosie passed them, they continued their activities.
"You seem to be greatly admired here," Rosie said, slowing her horse to match with Aslan.
Aslan kept his mouth shut.
"Oh, that's right..." Rosie looked at the candy stall she saw yesterday. She couldn't buy anything because she left Aslan's castle in such a hurry that she forgot to take any money with her.
Her eyes couldn't stop staring at the children licking their candies. Envious, she grabbed Aslan's arm to stop him.
"What's wrong, Princess?"
Rosie turned to Aslan with sparkling eyes. "Can we… take a walk?"
Aslan looked at his surroundings. It seemed that everyone was tense because of his presence. Maybe they didn't recognize Rosie, but Aslan's presence certainly made them feel uncomfortable.
"Come with me for a moment," said Aslan.
Rosie followed him, and the man stopped in a small alley behind the second floor house. There was no one there, and Aslan tied the horses to a tree.
"Is it okay to leave them here?" Rosie asked, looking around at the deserted place.
"It's better than leaving them in the crowd."
"But if someone stole them, then no witnesses could see who stole these horses."
Aslan put on his coat so no one would recognize him later. The man turned towards the princess, who was still waiting for his answer.
"I know this place better than you, Your Highness. So don't worry," he replied, putting on Rosie's hood.
The girl, who didn't like her face being covered, pulled her hood back down.
"You have to wear it. The people had seen you coming with me. It will be uncomfortable if anyone recognizes me or you," Aslan insisted.
"But it's so hot today. Using this will only make me sweat," Rosie protested, pulling her hood back down as Aslan pulled it back up for her.
"You can't, Your Highness. You must wear it. If you don't, I will take you back to the castle by force," Aslan threatened firmly, making Rosie silent.
The girl pouted her cheeks like a chipmunk. It shouldn't be like this. Rosie couldn't lose to Aslan's intimidation. Aslan should have obeyed her.
However, the girl complied and walked away from Aslan with her shoulders down in disappointment. It was not that easy to tame the man.
Aslan just shook his head resignedly, seeing the princess leaving with a dejected look. He followed her and walked two steps behind Rosie. The first place that Rosie went to was a stall selling candy cane.
"Buy me one. I'll change the money when my brother comes back," she ordered languidly.
Aslan frowned, deep wrinkles were on his forehead. Even so, he did not voice his confusion. He took out his money bag and paid the man selling the candy cane. Then, they stopped in front of a seafood stall.
"I want to buy this, that, that, that, and that. I'll pay it when my brother comes back," Rosie said once again as she licked her rose-shaped candy cane.
Aslan obeyed Rosie's orders without much protest. Since Rosie's hand was still busy holding the candy cane, the girl left her shopping for Aslan.
Then, they stopped in front of a hair accessory stall, and Rosie pointed out a hair clip and some hair ties she would use. She didn't like to untangle her hair. She used to have short hair, so having long hair was very difficult for her.
"I'll pay for it tomorrow," Rosie said once again, asking Aslan to pay for her shopping.
The girl received a small bag containing some hair accessories that Aslan had paid. After paying, Aslan glanced at the princess, who had not yet returned to her usual cheerfulness. Her back was still drooping while pouting her lips.
"Anything else you want to buy?" Aslan asked, trying to hold back his annoyance as he was being dragged here and there to buy everything the princess pointed to. The girl even gave him the same words again and again, she would pay it later once her brother returned.
However, that wasn't what Aslan was upset about. He didn't care at all if Rosie didn't pay him back. Money never weighed him on. It was just that escorting the princess was a more complicated and tiring job.
He often escorted Howland wherever the man went. However, the man had a clear destination. Unlike his sister, who had to stop long enough to think about their next destination.
Rosie thought for a moment. The candy in her hand had run out, and she threw the stick into the trash can.
"Apparently not. I want to eat my food first," she said, taking the bag of grilled sea fish skewer Aslan had been holding.
Rosie walked down the same buildings she passed by yesterday. While biting her skewer, Rosie looked for the whereabouts of the old woman's tent.
She stopped in front of a vacant lot between the two houses. She remembered this place was where the old woman's tent was. Rosie caught a man who happened to be passing by.
"Do you know where the old granny's tent was here yesterday?"
"Ah.. that old granny. Maybe she is opening her business in the field to the north of the village. I heard that there are many people from the neighboring village who fled to that place as the border conflict subsided."
"Oh, I see… Thank you," Rosie said after getting the information.
Aslan pulled Rosie's arm, so the girl faced him. "You know that old woman?" Aslan asked sharply.
"Um ..." Rosie lifted her finished skewer in front of her face so that Aslan wouldn't stand too close. "To be honest, yesterday when people were looking for me, I hid in the old woman's tent and spent the rest of the night talking with her. That was the reason I came home at night."
Aslan was speechless. How did the girl get along with that swindler? The old woman had been warned to stop her business by Aslan, but she deafened her ears.
Aslan never wanted to punish her because the old woman had worked in the castle of Montgomery before the incident twenty years ago. Or maybe she was the only survivor besides Aslan.
So Aslan never wanted to punish that person despite the many reports complaining about her scam.
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