MWMT 07

Chapter : 7

While Vivian struggled in the swamp of marriage arrangements, Aslan slowly held her shoulders and stroked them gently, as if to calm her.

> “It might be a bit sudden. But we are already engaged, and I just wanted to bring our wedding a little earlier. I hope you understand.”

With the words *“already engaged”*, Aslan dismissed her objection in an instant.

His hands on her shoulders were careful, like handling delicate flower petals, but Vivian could not take his words at face value.

It was natural. How could she trust a man who disliked seeing two expressions at once? A man more sensitive than a sunfish!

‘Is he trying to keep me close to watch me? To see if I’ve discovered his true identity?’

The fact that Aslan had been cursed by Astaroth was top secret.

Even in the original story, anyone who discovered his black lion form was killed, regardless of rank. She would not be an exception.

Vivian handed the marriage certificate back to Aslan.

> “This is too sudden. I need time to think.”

> “I thought you wanted to marry me too.”

> “I need my father’s permission…”

> “Send someone to the capital. The fastest horse will get there in a week.”

Cold sweat ran down Vivian’s back. No matter how she thought, no good excuse came to mind. Any explanation would be blocked quickly.

She pleaded silently with her stubborn brain:

> ‘Please, please give me a good plan!’

Of course, no miracle happened.

Just as Vivian silently cried out in despair, Aslan bit his lip to hold back anger and gave an order to the servants.

> “Everyone, leave.”

> “Yes, sir.”

Don’t go! If you must, take him too!

Of course, the miracle Vivian wished for did not happen. All the servants bowed and left the room silently like the tide going out.

*Thud.* The door closed. The spacious bedroom was left with only Vivian and Aslan.

Unlike when he sent the servants out confidently, he now hesitated to speak.

After moving his lips a few times, choosing his words carefully, he finally called her:

> “Vivian.”

Vivian quickly looked up. Hearing her name for the first time instead of *“my lady”* or *“princess”*, her spine tingled like a student about to be scolded.

Aslan, meeting her gaze, didn’t look happy either. His face was bright red, and unusually, he looked away first. Whatever the reason, he was clearly angry.

Sitting at the foot of the bed, his gaze darkened.

> “Avoiding the answer… I take it you don’t want to marry me. Right?”

Aslan’s thin shirt left his tall, muscular body fully visible. His broad chest and tight, strong arms…

‘Not scared at all, of course.’

Vivian, usually brave, decided to revise her plan to escape and try to calm him gently instead.

> “You know, Your Highness, I don’t have much time left…”

> “I don’t want to hear it.”

> “Please listen. You might not notice, but my body has reached its limit. If I push even a little, I could cough up blood, or even faint.”

Aslan had seen her like this before, but back then he was in beast form, so he wouldn’t remember.

Vivian emphasized *coughing up blood* and fainting as she spoke.

> “I admit it. I wanted you. Desperately and passionately. If I could marry you, I would do anything.”

> “I know.”

Since the original heroine hadn’t appeared, she hadn’t actually done anything extreme yet. Still, seeing Aslan accept immediately left a bitter taste in her mouth.

> “So you don’t want to marry me?”

> “Yes.”

> “Because I am about to die and you would give up everything?”

Exactly. Quick on the uptake!

Freed from needing an excuse, Vivian nodded strongly. At that moment,

> “Vivian, you can’t refuse me for such a reason. You know me. I’m a man who wants everything I desire.”

> “Yes…?”

> “Sign it.”

Stepping closer, Aslan held Vivian’s right hand firmly while pulling the thrown marriage certificate with his other.

It was strange. Both human, yet neither could move freely, like trapped in a steel frame.

> “Don’t refuse me. I don’t want to see someone go mad…”

Aslan applied force with his right hand, and the first letter of her name was beautifully written.

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

He muttered as if promising himself, not Vivian. A chilling aura filled his golden eyes.

Vivian struggled to escape, but eventually gave up and shook her head urgently.

> “Even if you say so, it’s too late. The doctor said there is no cure for my lung disease!”

> “I’ll cut that tongue of yours for speaking nonsense…”

> “It’s not nonsense!”

She felt like jumping madly.

In the original story, Aslan clearly hated Vivian. Yet he pushed for marriage now for only one reason:

‘He suspects me. He thinks I saw him transform from black lion to human!’

The day the marriage certificate was complete, she would be a captive.

Even in her own bedroom, she wouldn’t be free.

> ‘I must stop this. I can’t marry him!’

Meanwhile, her middle name began appearing on official papers. Her neck was in serious danger.

> “I’ll tell everyone I canceled the engagement by my own request. I’ll handle everything so it won’t damage Your Highness’s reputation!”

> “I don’t care about that. What I’m curious about is why you avoid my proposal. I feel there’s another reason.”

Another reason? Could he have noticed her knowing his secret?

Aslan muttered something about another man, but Vivian didn’t hear.

> “No, no, that’s not it! Why would you think such nonsense?”

> “Exactly.”

> “I just thought… there might be a better match for Your Highness. Even if you remarried my father, I would happily congratulate you!”

Though she spoke hastily and made mistakes, it was sincere.

Aslan did not seem to understand her honesty. His first reaction was:

> “Remarry Duke Eleonora and I? Vivian, is that sincere?”

His face showed surprise. He didn’t expect her to think that way.

> “Let’s check your temperature. You don’t seem well.”

> “No, I am perfectly fine…!”

Vivian shook her head, but Aslan was firm.

He forced her under the blanket, placed a wet towel on her forehead, and finally stepped back satisfied.

> “You are not thinking clearly. We’ll discuss this in a few days.”

This man is unbelievable!

> “You should prepare yourself. I already sent someone to the capital. To get the Emperor’s official permission for our marriage.”

> “…”

> “It’s just a procedure, of course.”

Aslan kissed Vivian’s forehead slowly before leaving the room.

—

> “Damn it.”

Walking down the empty corridor, Aslan ruffled his hair roughly. His face burned and his heart felt like it would explode. He could not calm himself without swearing.

The brief moment when his lips touched her forehead, when her gaze met his…

> “I’m going crazy.”

In a few days, Vivian would be his wife. Yet every glance from her burned him, consuming him with a heat he could hardly describe.

He suddenly stopped. Feeling lustful thoughts while facing a sick patient disgusted him.

*This is what a filthy beast does.*

> ‘I was never human.’

Beneath the thin human shell lurked a monstrous, cursed beast. Inside, only instinct and desire to destroy.

But now was not the time for self-pity. He had to save Vivian by any means. If no doctor in the south could cure lung disease, he would search the entire continent.

He could no longer bear to watch Vivian accept her fated death.

> “My lord.”

Just then, a servant who had been looking for him bowed.

> “The mansion repairs are done. The southern mansion was bought in a hurry, so not everything is fully ready, but it is sufficient for the princess to stay and recover.”

> “Vivian is not a princess. Be careful with titles.”

> “Apologies. I misspoke to my lady.”