My Will Did Not Mean This

“But just now, on the balcony, the look in your eyes felt so lonely.”

 

Aslan waved off the questions and hid his bitter expression as he washed his face.

 

“I didn’t know that you liked the night sky or that you hated having servants by your side. “ thought I knew you pretty well until now.”

 

“…”

 

“The introduction was long. What I mean is, I just want to get to know you, even now.”

 

“I’m the kind of person who doesn’t like being a hassle for both of you, so I’ll get to the point first. I heard that Your Highness is being attacked politically because of me.”

 

Vivian understood why Aslan was speaking in an unusual way. The reason he saved her life and brought her to the mansion at the risk of revealing the identity of the Black Lion was probably because he was being attacked by the opposition over the will issue. The quickest and surest way to deceive people would be to marry her. But no matter how much she thought about it, it wasn’t a marriage. Vivian proposed a conciliation plan.

 

“It was my mistake, so I am willing to fake it until the engagement ceremony. Besides that, if you need my explanation, I’ll come forward at any time. I’m serious.”

 

“It’s not like that.”

 

“There’s no need to go through the trouble of going back. We haven’t even seen each other for a day or two.”

 

“Vivian, I don’t know why you misunderstand, but…”

 

For an instant, Aslan’s eyes darkened. But when Vivian faced him again, Aslan had his usual calm expression on his face.

 

“Now I really want to have a good time with you.”

 

“Are you serious?”

 

“I understand that you don’t trust me. But if you give me a chance, this time I plan to wait until your heart opens.”

 

Aslan’s answer was concise, but surprisingly humane. Vivian thought as she looked at Aslan, who was awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck. Maybe she had misunderstood him. Aslan wasn’t violent; he was just a person who was bad at dealing with others. As if to support her thoughts, Aslan stood up neatly without further ado.

 

“It’s late at night. It’s time for you to sleep in, even if you sleep in late.”

 

“Well, I will.”

 

“Why are you so obedient?”

 

For a moment, Vivian couldn’t believe her eyes. Aslan was looking down at himself and smiling. He, who was called the messenger of death and the messenger of dawn due to his cold and merciless personality, was smiling like an ordinary person.

 

“Have a nice dream.”

 

“Your highness too.”

 

“Of course. I’ll just leave. Don’t come out.”

 

Aslan casually jumped from the second floor balcony just as he had when he first came in. His posture as he landed stably was strong and flexible, like the movements of a wild animal. She thought he was going to leave, but he stopped and looked up at Vivian.

 

“…”

 

In the silence, the look in Aslan’s eyes was so intense that it seemed as if it could swallow her whole. Vivian hid behind the curtain without realizing it. Just by touching his gaze, the heat rose as if she had been burned. It was a feeling he couldn’t even understand. After such a long time, Vivian fell down helplessly, as if she had been freed from a spell only after he moved away.

 

Her mind became confused.

 

‘If Aslan’s words are not false, wouldn’t I be able to receive his help later when a cure is developed? However, there is a possibility that it was just a sophisticated act to catch me off guard…’

 

Vivian, who was struggling here and there, ruffled her hair. She also didn’t like using her head. It was going to be a long night.

 

＊ ＊ ＊

 

The next morning, Vivian went down to the restaurant at Aslan’s suggestion that they eat together. The atmosphere was nice and the food was great. The chef came out and explained today’s menu to Vivian. She nodded her head as she listened to the chef’s detailed explanation.

 

“It’s been a long time since I’ve had something this tasty. It’s amazing that you’re already a head chef despite your young age.”

 

“I don’t know what to do with your praise.”

 

“Keuhum!”

 

Vivian, who was talking to the chef, looked up. Aslan had been clearing his throat ever since. Thanks to this, the conversation hardly continued.

 

“Your Highness, are you uncomfortable?”

 

“Well.”

 

He said it wasn’t necessary to call a doctor, he shook his head when she offered him water, and kept his mouth shut when she asked him why. Vivian, who was tilting her head, agreed that it was no big deal. She turned her gaze back to the cook. She kept a busy man around too long.

 

“I look forward to it in the future.”

 

“I will do my best to live up to your expectations. Please call me Manuel.”

 

Manuel was the type that was a bit burdensome with his dark features and bright smile, but he was still a man who knew how to create a gentle atmosphere. Vivian naturally placed her hand on the hand held out by the chef. Kissing the back of a lady’s hand was a natural way of greeting people in society. Manuel, who gently raised the corner of his mouth, was about to kiss her on the back of her hand.

 

“Vivian, there’s a blemish on your glove.”

 

Aslan, who had been sitting across the table just a moment ago, suddenly came over and grabbed Vivian’s hand. She couldn’t even feel him moving, but he even snatched Manuel’s outstretched hand. He slowly turned his head and glared at Manuel as if he were going to kill him. But Vivian, who didn’t know that, tilted her head and took off her gloves.

 

“Is it gone? Where?”

 

“Hmm.”

 

Aslan suddenly cleared his expression and gently squeezed Vivian’s hand. The thin white hands beneath the large callused palms looked like they were of a different race.

 

“I guess I was wrong.”

 

“Is it so? But where is Manuel…”

 

Vivian, who was naturally about to take his hand away, stopped. This feeling again. She felt like she was stuck in a steel frame. The hand that Aslan was holding obviously didn’t hurt, and he was also gently curling his hand as if holding a bird’s feather. But no matter how hard she tried, her hand wouldn’t come off. She just couldn’t fall out! Just as Vivian screamed inwardly, Aslan slowly lowered his upper body while holding her hand. The man’s hot breath touched her ear.

 

“Once the meal is over, I’d like to get to the point.”

 

“The main point? I thought it was just an ordinary meal place. Well, give me a hand…”

 

“I need to finish talking about what I left off yesterday.”

 

If they were just talking about it, was this an extension of last night’s proposal to get to know each other? Even as Vivian thought, she worked hard to save her precious right hand. She twisted it around and gave it a bounce. Of course, her hands didn’t move. Meanwhile, the servants quickly cleaned up the finished dishes and set the table anew. The place Vivian looked down on… 

 

“Now, sign.”

 

There was a marriage certificate.

 

‘This human?! You sealed my hand just for this!’

 

Where had that moist emotional man from last night gone? Where was that emotional man who told her his innermost feelings while asking to get to know each other?

 

“There are still many things we don’t know about each other…”

 

“Oh, I just changed my mind.”

 

“Yes?!”

 

“I think it’s good. If you keep doing this, there won’t be a man around you with a neck left.”

 

At that moment, Aslan’s voice felt like it had reached a freezing point. But when she suddenly looked up, his face was as clean as usual.

 

Of course, his hand holding Vivian was not at all generous.

 

“Now only the last name remains.”

 

“Ugh, uh, what is this…!”

 

The first letter of Aslan’s last name, ‘Astaroth,’ was written. At this rate, she would truly become his prisoner. She would be under surveillance for the rest of her life!

 

‘What kind of male lead is this! Just by looking at the lines, he’s a more perfect loan shark than anyone else, right?! I’d rather pay the entire 120,000 in cash. Release me!’

 

Vivian urgently looked around to find a way to overcome this crazy situation. Suddenly, she saw that the silver candlestick in the center of the table was on fire. Since the upper body was grabbed by Aslan, there was no other way. Vivian tightened her toes and kicked him vigorously.

 

Bang!

 

The candlestick, which had rattled loudly, fell down without any help. The fire was extinguished after completely burning the marriage certificate.

 

“…”

 

Vivian couldn’t make any sound. A fanfare of pain rang out from her toes as she slammed hard against the marble table, but she could not make any sound. It was because the pressure of silence was so anxious and scary. She was in a hurry so she had to commit it, but her heart was pounding because she was afraid that Aslan might say, ‘Whether you know the true identity of the Black Lion or not, I will kill him first and get rid of his troubles.’ And Vivian’s body responded immediately to the emergency situation. She felt a rush of adrenaline rushing through her nervous system and throughout her body.

 

“Vivian, you…”

 

“Shut your mouth.”

 

“What?”

 

“I’ll speak first, so shut your mouth!”

 

Fueled by adrenaline-like support, she went on a rampage. Now she didn’t even know what she was saying, and Vivian just let her tongue wander to her stream of consciousness.

 

“You say you can grant the wishes of the living, but you can’t even grant the wishes of someone who is about to die? I only have one year left at most!”

 

“I told you not to sound like you’ve given up on everything.”

 

“Is it so? You said you would save me, but how? How are you going to save me? Are you a doctor? Or even a prophet? Oh, then you can bet on whether I will be dead or alive in a year!”

 

‘Oh, I don’t know. I don’t know everything, I just have to say it!’

 

Moreover, the discovery of a cure was a matter of later. No matter how good Aslan was, he would not be able to read the future. Aslan pursed his lips before her question. He seemed like someone who wanted to say something but couldn’t because he was blocked by a huge barrier. He ended up dry washing his face and avoiding his gaze. Now that Aslan’s momentum had waned, it was an opportunity. Vivian quickly patted the back of Aslan’s hand. He was afraid that the Black Lion’s identity would be revealed, so the best thing she could do was reassure him that he was going to die soon.

 

“I’m OK. There is no need to feel sorry that I only have one year left. I don’t have any greed, I just want to end the rest of my life quietly…”

 

“Okay, I’ll take your bet.”

 

“What?”

 

“If you are still alive a year from now, then you will marry me.”

 

That’s difficult. She planned to take the cure and run away alive in a year. She was caught up in the situation and forgot about it for a while, but her original plan was to spend the rest of her life leisurely at a southern resort. And the plan was still in effect.

 

“During the year the wager lasts, our engagement will remain intact. I have no intention of having a woman other than you by my side, so you must do the same.”

 

That too was difficult. So what about her half-sister, the real female lead in the original? For a small citizen like her who suffered from guilt day and night for destroying the ‘cave of imprints’ that was essential to the development of the story in order to survive, huh? Now she wanted to take the original female lead’s place too? For real?!

 

“As fiancés, we must faithfully fulfill our obligations to each other. Our engagement certificate states that you will come and live in my mansion in advance for bridal classes, and I would like you to fulfill that starting today.”

 

“…”

 

“You’re not planning on running away from the bet, are you?”

 

The adrenaline that exploded like an active volcano quietly subsided. It was because Aslan, who took out a new marriage certificate from his arms, twisted his mouth like a villain. Under the silent pressure of not knowing what would happen if she refused, Vivian ended up agreeing to the seemingly foolish bet.

 

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Translator Note: