MWMT 02

Chapter : 2

*What kind of insane plot is this? And he’s not even human right now!*

When Aslan took the form of a beast, he lost all human reason. He became a wild animal without a leash.

In that state, the only one who could control him was the original female lead, the one he was bonded to.

*And I’m just a random extra, nothing more!*

The moment she opened that cage, she would die. Without a doubt.

But if she pretended not to see him and ran away, then Aslan would be the one close to death.

His condition was terrible even at a glance. It looked like he had been stabbed by spears and shot with arrows. His wounds were torn open, and dark red blood pooled beneath his feet.

Even knowing the black lion was Aslan, Vivian couldn’t bring herself to ignore a wounded, speechless beast that had been abused so badly.

Her mind in chaos, Vivian decided to at least try talking to him like a rational person.

“Y-you won’t eat me if I free you, right?”

“Grrrr…”

“S-say yes! Hurry!”

“Grrrrr…!”

Vivian felt despair.

She hadn’t expected human-level intelligence from a beast, but still.

Even so, she was his fiancée. Yet the way Aslan looked at her was exactly how one would stare at a premium, perfectly aged steak.

*Damn it, what is this?! I’m your fiancée!*

The “premium steak” cried silently inside. But of course, that changed nothing.

She didn’t know how Aslan ended up trapped in this cage, but the more he struggled, the worse his wounds became.

The amount of blood soaking the ground clearly showed that he didn’t have much time left.

*At this rate, he’ll really die. Isn’t there something I can do?*

Vivian stepped closer to the cage.

The black lion, who had been baring his fangs and growling, lifted his gaze to her.

Sharp golden eyes examined her every movement. Even with the iron bars between them, the pressure was crushing.

*I really can’t just leave him. I’m way too weak to animals…*

If she turned away now, Aslan would die.

This was a deep mountain with no people around. She was the only one who could save him.

> **“Don’t worry. I’ll take responsibility and save you.”**

Even though she knew he had no reason left, she still spoke.

> **“So please… spare me too. Okay?”**

She found an axe nearby and began smashing the thick lock with all her strength.

When the black lion realized she was trying to break the cage, he rose in surprise and stared at her.

He showed his teeth as if ready to bite her to death, but there was confusion in his golden eyes.

“Cough, cough!”

While focused on the lock, Vivian suddenly stiffened.

A hot lump of blood surged up her throat. It was a tuberculosis attack.

“Hngh—cough, cough!”

She couldn’t think straight as her breathing tightened.

She knew she wouldn’t die from this alone—she’d lived with it long enough—but it still hurt badly.

Gritting her teeth, Vivian swung the axe one last time.

With a sharp cracking sound, the shaking lock split in two.

Relief flooded her—and so did exhaustion.

Vivian collapsed at the same moment the cage opened.

A terrifying growl echoed close by.

It seemed Aslan had no intention of sparing her.

*So this is it… I hope at least my body stays in one piece.*

She couldn’t breathe properly. It was already too late to run.

“ROAR!”

A massive shadow lunged over her.

That was the last thing she saw before losing consciousness.

—

### **＊ ＊ ＊**

“Ugh…”

When Vivian woke up, she blinked blankly.

She was lying inside a very dark cave, with no light at all.

Why had she woken up here?

She tried to calmly reason through what had happened.

*This gloomy place… is this the afterlife?*

She didn’t know whether she died from her illness or became the male lead’s meal while unconscious.

But Aslan had been wounded and starving, so he must have been very hungry.

Her mind filled with heavily censored, red-tinted images.

*Well… thank goodness I don’t remember.*

So what happened to her now?

As she sighed and tried to sit up, heavy footsteps sounded outside the cave.

Golden eyes flashed in the darkness.

A huge black lion was staring straight at her.

“Grrrr…”

Sensing danger, Vivian scooted backward—but Aslan was faster.

Boom—

A massive paw slammed down on her chest, pinning her to the ground.

Aslan climbed on top of her like a predator and glared at her fiercely.

Staring into his golden eyes, Vivian thought,

*Does he… have reason?*

She had never met Aslan after possessing this body. She had already been diagnosed with tuberculosis by then.

Yet even so, she felt confusion in his eyes.

He looked more flustered than anyone—as if he didn’t understand his own actions.

*No… that can’t be it.*

She shook her head.

If he had reason, he wouldn’t have slammed her head like that.

*That really hurt!*

Her head hit the stone floor directly.

The cracking sound was painfully clear.

And yet—look at his shameless face.

Anyone would flinch at that sound, but he was glaring like he’d done something impressive.

“Do you even have a conscience?”

“Grrrr…”

“…Sir.”

She immediately switched to polite speech at his low growl.

In the original story, Vivian didn’t know about Aslan’s curse. It was a top-level imperial secret.

So speaking casually to him as a beast made sense.

But with those terrifying eyes, she couldn’t treat him like a normal animal at all.

Then she noticed something.

“My goodness—your wound!”

Aslan’s left side was torn open badly. Not just one place—his body was covered in deep injuries.

She was scared of his claws, and worried he might kill her—but she couldn’t ignore wounds like that.

“Move your foot.”

“……”

“I said move. I won’t run!”

Whether he understood her sincerity or was overwhelmed by her forcefulness, Aslan hesitated and stepped back.

She quickly stood and examined his wound more closely.

Blood kept seeping out endlessly.

He needed treatment immediately—but there was no medicine or bandages in a cave like this.

Worse, she had lost all her belongings when the carriage overturned.

“What do I do…”

Pity overwhelmed fear.

She remembered Aslan’s childhood from the novel—unfairly cursed, abused by his father, the Emperor.

Locked in cold rooms, binding his own wounds, swallowing pain alone…

“You didn’t even show it… You must have been in so much pain.”

The worst injury was clearly his left side. It was deep enough that his organs could have been torn.

If he had been a normal-sized lion, he would have died instantly.

“First, I have to stop the bleeding.”

“Grrrr!”

Aslan bared his teeth, unable to endure her touch.

But Vivian ignored it and untied her dress.

She stripped off the skirt layers, leaving only a thin underskirt, tearing the fabric into strips.

Rip—tear—

The luxurious dress, worth more than a townhouse, was shredded like paper.

Her expression didn’t change.

She wrapped the makeshift bandages tightly around his wounds.

Aslan struggled as he was pulled close to her.

“ROOOAR!”

“I don’t care if you hate it—I’m saving you! You have to live first! Don’t you feel angry dying like this without knowing who did this to you?!”

Aslan suddenly froze.

He blinked and silently stared at her.

After finishing the bandaging, Vivian stepped back and let out a deep breath.

“Okay. That should do it.”

“……”

“It must have hurt. You did well enduring it.”

She smiled weakly, exhaustion clear on her face.

Dizziness washed over her.

Aslan hesitated, slowly leaning his head toward her—

But Vivian suddenly collapsed to the ground.

“Cough—cough!”

The attack returned.

She had stripped down in the cold cave, and freezing air rushed over her body.

“Ugh—cough, cough!”

Her chest burned painfully. Blood rose in her throat as her breathing tightened.

Gasping for air, her vision darkened.

Everything went black.