My Will Did Not Mean This

While Vivian was struggling in the swamp of holy souls, Aslan held her shoulders and gently patted her as if admonishing her.

 

“It might be a bit sudden. But I hope you understand that we are already engaged, we just moved up the wedding date a little.”

 

Aslan dismissed her rebuttal by saying, ‘We are already engaged.’ The man’s hand around her shoulder was as careful as if he were handling a delicate flower petal, but Vivian could not take his words at face value. It was natural. How could she believe the words of a man who was pleased with making two facial expressions at the same time? A man who was more sensitive than a sunfish!

 

‘Are you trying to keep me by your side and keep an eye on me? To check whether I have discovered Aslan’s true identity or not?’

 

The fact that Aslan was cursed by Astaroth was a top secret. Even in the original work, anyone who discovered him transformed into a black lion was killed unconditionally, regardless of his status. She herself was no exception.

 

Vivian handed the marriage certificate back to Aslan.

 

“It was so sudden. I need time to think.”

 

“I thought you would also want to marry me.”

 

“I have to get permission from my father…”

 

“Send someone to the capital. If you use the fastest horse, it will arrive within a week.”

 

Cold sweat ran down Vivian’s back. No matter how much she racked her brain, she couldn’t come up with a good excuse. No matter how many excuses she used, she often got stuck.

 

Vivian pleaded with her struck brain.

 

‘Please, please tell me a good way!’

 

Of course, no such miracle occurred. It was a moment when Vivian cried out in despair. Aslan bit his lip as if to hold back his anger and gave an order to his servant.

 

“Everyone get out.”

 

“Yes.”

 

‘Don’t go! If you’re going to go, take this guy with you!’

 

Of course, the miracle of Vivian’s wish coming true did not happen. All of the employees who bowed their heads quietly left the bedroom as if the tide was falling. With a click, the door closed, and only Vivian and Aslan remained in the spacious bedroom. However, unlike when he vigorously kicked out the servants, he could not easily open his mouth. He bit his lips several times, as if choosing his words, and eventually called her.

 

“Vivian.”

 

Vivian suddenly looked up. She had only heard ‘you’ or ‘princess’, but hearing her name called for the first time sent shivers down her spine like a student about to be scolded. Aslan, who happened to make eye contact with her, also didn’t look very pleased with her expression. His face turned bright red and, uncharacteristically, he even avoided eye contact. She didn’t know why, but he was definitely angry.

 

Aslan sat at the foot of the bed, his eyes darkening.

 

“Seeing as you are avoiding answering, it seems that you are not interested in marrying me. Right?”

 

Because the shirt Aslan was wearing was very thin, his tall and muscular body was clearly visible. His broad, sturdy chest and taut biceps that looked like they were about to burst…

 

‘I’m definitely not scared, it’s okay.’

 

The intrepid Vivian revised her original plan to leave resolutely and decided to gently persuade him.

 

“Your Majesty knows. The only time I have left…”

 

“I don’t want to hear it.”

 

“Please listen. You don’t know because you don’t see it, but my body has already reached its limit. If I overdo it even a little, I may bleed blood and even pass out.”

 

Aslan also faced something like this himself. However, since he was in a magical state at the time, it was clear that he would have no memory. Vivian spoke with great strength despite the hemoptysis and fainting.

 

“I’ll admit it. I hoped for your highness. I was so desperate to the point where I would do anything just to be able to marry you.”

 

“Yeah, I know.”

 

Since the original female protagonist did not appear, ‘something’ had not yet been done. Nevertheless, seeing Aslan immediately agree made a bitter taste in her mouth.

 

“So you don’t want to marry me?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“You are about to die, so you will let go of everything.”

 

‘That’s it. You’re quick-witted!’

 

It was at that moment that Vivian, who no longer had to make excuses thanks to him, nodded her head vigorously.

 

“Vivian, you can’t reject me just for that reason. You know, right? I am a man who is greedier than you. I am the type of person who must get what I want.”

 

“Yes…?”

 

“Sign.”

 

Aslan approached her, wrapped his arms around Vivian’s shoulders and gently squeezed his right hand. His hand on the other side of hers quickly took the marriage certificate that had been thrown away from her. It was truly strange. After all, she and he were both human, but she couldn’t move as if she were stuck in a steel frame.

 

“Don’t reject me. You don’t want to see people go crazy…”

 

Aslan gave strength to her right hand and began to move it. The first letter of Vivian’s name was written beautifully.

 

“I will save you. I will do whatever it takes to save you.”

 

He muttered as if he was promising himself, not Vivien. A creepy sight seeped into Aslan’s eyes. Vivian, who was trying to escape from Aslan’s arms, eventually gave up on running away and urgently shook her head.

 

“Even if your highness says that, it’s already too late. The doctor said it too. There is no cure for lung disease!”

 

“I will cut out his tongue. In return for telling you nonsense…”

 

“It’s not nonsense!”

 

She felt like she was going crazy and jumping up and down. Aslan in the original story clearly hated Vivian. Still, no matter how much she thought about it, there was only one reason to push for the marriage.

 

‘As expected, you are doubting me. You think I saw Aslan transform from a black lion to a human!’

 

It was clear that she would become a prisoner on the day the marriage certificate was completed. There would be guards following her everywhere under the pretext of attending to the lady, and it was clear that she would not be able to move or say a word comfortably even in the bedroom, where she should be the most comfortable.

 

‘I have to stop it. No marriage!’

 

Meanwhile, Vivian’s middle name began to be engraved on the documents. Mogaji’s well-being was at great risk.

 

Vivian cried desperately.

 

“Yes, I will tell people that the engagement was broken off at my one-sided request. I will take care of everything so that your reputation is not harmed!”

 

“I’m not interested in that kind of thing in the first place. I’m curious about something else other than that. It seems like there is another reason why you are avoiding my marriage proposal.”

 

‘Any other reasons? Could it be that he realized that I know his identity?’

 

Aslan muttered something like there was another man, but Vivian, who was focused on survival, couldn’t hear it.

 

“No? No, absolutely not. Why are you suddenly having such ridiculous thoughts?”

 

“That’s right.”

 

“I just think that Your Majesty will find a much better match for him than me. For example, I plan to celebrate with joy even if Your Majesty remarries my father!”

 

There were some mistakes in what she said because she was speaking in a hurry, but she was sincere anyway. Even if Aslan remarried Duke Eleonora instead of its mistress, it would have made no difference. If necessary, she could officiate at a wedding and sing a congratulatory song. However, it seemed that Vivian’s sincerity was not conveyed to Aslan. His first reaction was-

 

“Duke Eleonora and I? Vivian, are you serious?”

 

A look of surprise came over his face. He looked like he had no idea she was thinking like that.

 

“Take your temperature. I think you’re not in a good condition.”

 

“No, I am perfectly normal…!”

 

Vivian shook her head vigorously, but Aslan’s attitude was stubborn. He forced Vivian under the covers and even placed a wet towel on her forehead before stepping back to look at her with a satisfied face.

 

“I knew you were in no condition to think rationally. “We’ll talk about this again in a few days.”

 

Was this human for really?!

 

“It would be good to prepare your mind in the meantime. Actually, we have already sent someone to the capital. To receive formal permission from the Emperor for your and my holy marriage.”

 

“…”

 

“What? It’s just a matter of procedure.”

 

Aslan leisurely kissed Vivian’s astonished forehead and left the room.

 

＊ ＊ ＊

 

“Shit.”

 

Aslan left the bedroom and walked down the empty hallway, shaking his head roughly. His face burned and his heart felt like it was going to explode. He couldn’t calm down without swearing. His own lips touched her forehead, and for a split second her eyes rested on his own.

 

“I’m going crazy.”

 

If he could wait a few more days, Vivian would become his wife. However, wherever his eyes landed, he felt hot as if he had been burned and could hardly come to his senses. A heat that was difficult to express in words consumed him. Aslan suddenly stopped walking. He couldn’t stand the thought of thinking like this about a patient who was clearly sick, because he felt pathetic. Wasn’t this something only dirty animals do?

 

‘Yes, I am not human to begin with.’

 

A hideous and disgusting demon beast wearing a human mask. When you open the thin shell, all that lurked inside was a seething instinct and desire for destruction. But now was not the time to indulge in self-deprecation. Vivian had to be saved at all costs. If there was no doctor in the South who could cure lung disease, he had to search the entire continent. He no longer wanted to see Vivian calmly accepting her predicted death.

 

“My lord.”

 

At that time, a vassal who was looking for Aslan bowed his head in front of him.

 

“Renovations on the mansion are complete. The southern mansion was purchased in such a hurry that we were unable to fully renovate it, but it will still be sufficient for the princess to stay and recuperate.”

 

“Vivian is not a princess. Be careful with her title.”

 

“I’m sorry, I misunderstood.”

 

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Translator Note: