My Will Did Not Mean This

Aslan also looked very satisfied with Vivian’s personal care, and his eyes widened in a fascinating way.

 

“It looks much better than usual since you took care of it yourself.”

 

“It’s been a while since I’ve served anyone, so I’m glad you like it.”

 

“Long time? It sounds like there was someone else besides me who attended to you.”

 

Vivian felt sorry for saying this. She remembered working briefly at a men’s clothing store before Bing, and that experience jumped out at her without her realizing it.

 

“Who is that? A man?”

 

“Well, that is.”

 

“Now that I think about it, the hands that dress me are very familiar. Who dares to tell my fiancee…”

 

“So, you are a man…”

 

He even twitched his tongue in embarrassment. Aslan’s voice became sharper, so he must have been suspicious. She thought, “Where in the world is there a princess who waits on others?” Vivian, who was thinking quickly, eventually decided to sell the dead duke. He has already crossed the Jordan River, so what could they do?

 

“Father…”

 

“Keep talking.”

 

Aslan’s eyes glowed with death. Vivian, who didn’t know that, strained his brain and spoke with difficulty.

 

“As you know, you have a bit of a sensitive side. The servants couldn’t believe it, and he wanted me, his daughter, to wait on him.”

 

Perhaps because she was in a hurry, her words could not flow smoothly. Her breathing was interrupted awkwardly, and her voice even trembled because she missed the timing of her breathing. No matter how she looked at it, it seemed like it was ruined. It was clear that if the children’s speech contest was conducted this way, it would be disqualified. Vivian lowered her head to hide her frustration, her chin lifting with a cautious force. His fingers touched her cheek.

 

“I asked something pointless. It must have been hard to remember…”

 

Aslan chewed his lips and continued.

 

“From now on, only me will serve you.”

 

“Aslan.”

 

“I swear on my heart. I will not allow any man, including me, to dare to ignore you.”

 

She didn’t know what happened, but looking at Aslan’s reaction, it didn’t seem like he was suspicious.

 

‘Oh, my God. Thank you.’

 

Vivian sighed in relief.

 

＊ ＊ ＊

 

The audience with the emperor concluded successfully. Perhaps Aslan’s words that the Margrave would soon be overthrown from power were true, and the marriage with the Margrave was completely nullified. He said he was scheduled to be executed soon on charges of treason. However, the problem of breaking off the engagement with Aslan seemed to be more complicated to resolve than expected. As the story became longer, Aslan sent Vivian away first. The emperor must have remembered that she was a patient with a lung disease, and he allowed her to leave first.

 

“The weather is nice.”

 

So Vivian decided to take a leisurely walk in the garden in front of the Emperor’s Palace. Actually, it wasn’t that she was interested in appreciating the garden, it was because the contents of the original suddenly came to mind. After the original heroine had an audience with the emperor with Aslan, she headed to the ‘library’ alone and encountered the empress. She suffers all kinds of insults on the pretext of her lowly bloodline. In the end, the heroine went against the Empress’ wishes and was imprisoned. Although Aslan rescued his wife, she has already suffered serious heartache.

 

“It’s unlikely that something like that will happen to me, who is only a supporting character, but there’s no harm in being careful.”

 

She chose the garden, which was directly opposite the library. As if to prove that her choice was right, people were seen gathered in groups of twos and threes having a friendly conversation. She could also hear boisterous laughter as if they were playing somewhere.

 

“Should I enjoy the gift Aslan gave me?”

 

Today, on the carriage heading to the imperial palace, Aslan gave her a second gift. It was a court sword made by the best craftsman on the continent. However, the court sword Aslan gave was a little different from other swords. While typical court swords were used for ceremonial purposes and therefore have blunt blades, this sword was made with a strong and sharp blade to enable killing.

 

‘If there is anyone who offends you, stab them to death with this. I’ll take care of the situation.’

 

In other words, it meant that it was a weapon for murder disguised as a ceremonial sword.

 

“I don’t know if I’ll ever use this.”

 

Anyway, there was nothing to lose by keeping it. It was a moment when Vivian was tapping the sheath of her sword with satisfaction.

 

“Her Majesty, the Second Prince is now in your presence. Better come back next time…”

 

“So, I am going to meet your Majesty. Aslan, that wicked thing was not satisfied even after destroying my hands and feet, so it came running to your Majesty!”

 

If your voice was too loud, you may not be able to hear it well, and this was the situation right now. But even in the midst of all this, Vivian immediately recognized the sound of ‘Her Majesty the Empress.’ She didn’t know why someone who should be in the library came to this place.

 

‘This is a clear danger signal.’

 

This was not the time to spend some free time. Vivian chose to run away quickly. But what kind of garden was this maze-like? When she came in, it was easy, but when she tried to leave, there were so many different paths that she had no idea which way to get out. In the end, Vivian ended up running into the Empress head-on.

 

‘Aaaah!’

 

Cold sweat ran down Vivian’s back. The Empress’s eyes narrowed.

 

“You must be Aslan’s…”

 

However, the confrontation between the two did not last long. This time, a tearing sound of shock rang out from the direction where the boisterous laughter had come from earlier.

 

“Uh oh, the arrow missed!”

 

“Dangerous!”

 

Hunting was prohibited within the imperial palace, but immature nobles ended up doing it. The arrow flew straight towards Vivian and the Empress. If things continued like this, either of them would get hit, so Vivian swung her sword without thinking.

 

“Aaaah!”

 

At the same time as the frozen empress screamed, Vivian jumped, knocked away the arrow, and landed safely. The arrow with a broken stem fell helplessly to the floor. A sharp arrowhead shaped like a gear. It was clear that if she had been hit by that, she would never have been safe. The Empress must have been thinking the same thing, and her face became contemplative.

 

“Woe, Your Majesty the Empress!”

 

“I’m sorry! We thought there was no one there…!”

 

A group of spirits ran out and knelt down. When he first found Vivian, he looked relieved. However, when he noticed the empress standing behind her, he clung to the hem of her skirt without anyone else taking notice. The political world was in turmoil recently due to the fall of Margrave Nicholas. If he had been accused of assassinating the empress, he would have been implicated as an accomplice and would have died without a single move. No, it was obvious that the entire family would fall apart.

 

“Please, please have mercy!”

 

“If you will forgive me just once, I will be loyal to Your Majesty the Empress!”

 

“Is loyalty that is teased with three inches of tongue really that difficult?”

 

The Empress coolly pulled away the hem of her skirt that was holding her and looked down at her arrowhead. Her maid standing behind her quickly handed it over to the Empress.

 

“I am a person whose teeth tremble at lightly teasing tongues. Ten words are not worth one action.”

 

The Empress glanced at Vivian when referring to her ‘her behavior’. Of course, Vivian, a small citizen, didn’t notice because she was trembling in the corner.

 

‘What do we do? She ran into the Empress. I ran into the empress! This isn’t even a library, why?!’

 

She felt like she was walking on thin ice. A shiver ran down her spine, fearing that she would become entangled with those crazy young people.

 

“So, I’ll give you one chance. Use this arrowhead to cut off the tongue of anyone who tried to harm me.”

 

“…!”

 

“If you do that, at least that one person will be saved.”

 

The men, with their eyes wide open, all rushed at the arrowhead. She didn’t care that her palms were cut, she did her best to protect the tip. Even the maids turned their eyes to the horror, but the Empress watched without blinking.

 

‘He is truly as scary as the original.’

 

Vivian naturally took a backstep. Now was an opportunity for the Empress to turn her gaze elsewhere. But her plan was blocked just as she was executing it.

 

“Come here princess.”

 

The Empress’s soft call. Vivian immediately took off like a butterfly and bowed her head like a bee.

 

“Vivian of Eleonora sends greetings to Her Majesty the Empress.”

 

“I heard she entered the palace with Aslan today, so why is she out alone?”

 

The Empress was very angry now. She didn’t know when the spark would fly. Vivian chose a self-deprecating answer. She was flatter and more harmless than a street worm.

 

“Small people are stupid and have no interest in politics. I didn’t dare get involved in a difficult conversation, so I asked to go out first.”

 

Whatever conversation the Emperor and Aslan have, it has nothing to do with me.

 

“She has never heard that the princess is so good at swordsmanship.”

 

“Alex, Soin’s older brother, said that a true warrior does not show off his power. Also, since Soin’s skills are low and insignificant, I can only feel sorry for the inconvenience she caused Her Majesty the Empress today.”

 

“You are truly humble.”

 

A long shadow fell over Vivian’s head as she lowered her head. She came right up to the Empress.

 

“Actions speak louder than words, and he is also careful in his actions. He is indeed an excellent example of a nobleman.”

 

“I am devastated.”

 

“But too little of words is also not good. There is no benefit in increasing your enemies, so you should at least know how to explain away the stigma you have created.”

 

She couldn’t understand why the Empress suddenly said this. But the Empress seemed to have no intention of explaining her reasons.

 

“Raise your head, princess.”

 

In the original, the female lead was slapped after this line. She was hit fifteen times and all the veins on her face burst. Vivian steeled herself and raised her head.

 

“I will watch over you from now on.”

 

However, the empress who met her eyes only raised the corners of her mouth. Then, after giving an order to the guards who came running late, she leisurely left. Men covered in blood were dragged out like criminals. The silence that finally came. Vivian blinked without understanding what was happening, but the empress’s maids surrounded her.

 

“You were so amazing just now, princess!”

 

“I guess Her Majesty viewed the princess favorably.”

 

“You’ve been very nervous these days because of the Margrave Nicholas affair, but thanks to you, we can take a breather.”

 

She didn’t know what happened, but judging by the atmosphere, it seemed like it was resolved safely. Vivian sighed in relief. She had no idea what kind of repercussions saving the empress would cause.

 

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