MWMT 11

Chapter : 11

Vivian’s way of taking down the thief was simple.

The thief happened to run straight toward where they were standing, so she just naturally tripped him with her foot.

> **As a result, the man fleeing at full speed collapsed pathetically.**

She could have used her sword, but she chose this method to avoid drawing too much attention.

The thief, of course, didn’t understand Vivian’s intentions and glared viciously. By the time he stood up, he was holding a dagger with a sharp blade.

> **“You woman, are you trying to die?!”**

Vivian’s face remained calm.

The Eleonora family was famous not only for swordsmanship but also for martial arts to reach the highest swordsmanship levels.

Vivian saw the man’s attack path in slow motion. It was so obvious and weak that it barely made her smile.

> **“Nothing good will come of being noticed now. Maybe I should just pretend to take a hit.”**

But the thief’s dagger didn’t even touch a single hair on Vivian.

> **“How dare you lay a hand on anyone.”**

Aslan’s eyes turned crimson as he grabbed the thief’s wrist.

“Aaagh!”

> **“I asked, how dare you lay a hand on anyone.”**

The sickening sound of bones snapping echoed from the thief’s wrist. Aslan was crushing the bones with his sheer grip.

> **“Even I dare not act recklessly. And yet you, with your filthy hands…!”**

Vivian felt a terrible premonition. The air around them froze with fear.

Sure enough, Aslan’s neck darkened. He was on the verge of losing reason and transforming into his demonic form.

> **If he mutated here, it would be an unprecedented disaster. Who could stop the power of the Great Demon Astaroth in his rage?**

“**Aslan!**”

“……”

> **“Aslan, I’m fine! You protected me, not even a hair is hurt!”**

Vivian clung to his arm. The red glow from above his head was terrifying, but she held onto his waist firmly.

> **“Aslan, I’m fine. Please release that man!”**

“Why?”

“Huh?”

> **“Why stop me? Do you have feelings for him? Did you fall for him?”**

Vivian was dumbfounded by the nonsense.

> **‘No, think of survival. If Aslan mutates here, my escape plan ends!’**

Holding back curses that reached her jaw, Vivian forced herself to speak.

> **“Who else would I have but you? I only have one fiancé.”**

“Who are you?”

Aslan was clearly unsatisfied. He pressed his grip harder on the man when Vivian hesitated to answer.

The thief, unable to withstand Aslan’s magical power, foamed at the mouth and fainted. Vivian panicked.

> **“Ah, Aslan…”**

If this failed, she really didn’t know what to do.

Vivian buried her face in his chest, waiting for judgment, when suddenly the black energy spreading around faded quickly. Aslan’s red glow returned to its original golden eyes.

> **‘Phew, is that… the right way? What exactly happened?’**

Exhausted, Vivian let out a sigh of relief.

> **“Ah, thank you so much!”**

The woman who had retrieved her mother’s keepsake bowed repeatedly to them.

Vivian dusted off the bundle that had fallen and handed it to her.

> **“Are you okay? Are you hurt?”**

“Thanks to you, I’m fine. I thought it was over because no one would help, but you boldly tripped him to stop him… I can’t thank you enough.”

Her voice sounded like a young woman around Vivian’s age. Her face was hidden by a deep hood.

> **“I owe you a lifetime of gratitude. I need my mother’s keepsake to prove to my father that I’m his daughter, since I’ve never met him before.”**

“You’ve gone through a lot, haven’t you?”

“Yes…”

Vivian guessed the woman had many struggles. Not wanting to pry, she just squeezed her hand and encouraged her.

> **“Stay strong.”**

She gently refused the woman who wanted to repay her and sent her away. The woman tearfully promised to repay her someday, but Vivian didn’t care. By then, she would already have disappeared, pretending to be dead.

> **‘She doesn’t even know my name, how would she find me?’**

Watching the woman’s retreating figure, Vivian realized they had drawn too much attention. Aslan had caused quite a scene.

> **‘Oh no, they can’t recognize my identity!’**

Before the guards arrived, Vivian pulled Aslan’s arm and quickly left the city.

—

> **“Phew, I’m exhausted.”**

> **“I didn’t even get a chance to intervene.”**

On the outskirts, panting, Vivian heard Aslan’s low, gruff voice behind her.

> **“You got involved despite being unwell. What if something had happened?”**

Aslan’s glow gradually faded. Vivian realized she had been far too energetic.

> **“W-well, no one else stepped in…”**

No reaction. Vivian quickly switched her reply.

> **“You shouldn’t intervene in such trivial matters.”**

“Why shouldn’t I?”

> **“You’re the empire’s top magic swordsman. You can’t use a flamethrower to catch a fly.”**

She flattered him carefully, but Aslan’s stern face barely relaxed. Vivian felt a little frustrated.

> **“You have no right! How could I possibly have feelings for the first thief I ever met?”**

Aslan subtly avoided her gaze, which convinced Vivian she was right.

> **“Don’t just avoid my eyes, explain yourself, Your Highness.”**

Aslan’s eyes wandered into the distance, clearly at a loss for words.

Vivian calmed her puffed-up cheeks.

> **“Don’t do that again. I was really startled.”**

“Was it that bad?”

> **“Yes, it was!”**

Vivian nodded firmly to ensure Aslan understood her. He seemed to agree.

> **“Vivian, you are right. This was clearly my mistake. I don’t deserve to be called Duke.”**

“No, that’s a bit…”

> **“Call me by my name.”**

“Eh?”

Things started to feel awkward. Cold sweat ran down Vivian’s back.

> **“Prince Astaroth, Second Prince?”**

“Name.”

> **“Duke Blackford?”**

“…Name.”

> **“Ah, Aslan?”**

It seemed so, and his expression softened slightly.

> **“You mean… really call me by my real name?”**

“Is there a problem?”

“Yes, no problem. None at all.”

Seeing the faint wrinkle on his brow, Vivian quickly changed the subject and gave a thumbs-up.

> **‘Ah, life is so hard…’**

While she muttered and kicked small stones at her feet, Aslan reached out his hand.

> **“It’s getting late. Let’s head back.”**

“Alright, Aslan.”

Vivian silently took his hand. Perhaps due to the setting sun, his earlobe glowed red as he turned his head.

—

At the same time, the southern Adrian Palace, used as a royal villa, was bustling.

> **Crown Prince Johannes of the Astaroth Empire had suddenly arrived without notice.**

“This leisurely, lazy atmosphere… the south is comfortable after all.”

Johannes stepped off his horse, murmuring to himself. His bright blonde hair shimmered in the sea breeze.

His attendant nodded in agreement.

> **“Your Highness’s maternal family is from the south.”**

“Yes, my mother is from the south.”

The servants at the palace entrance bowed as Johannes approached.

> **“We greet the little sun of the empire!”**

“Don’t all act so stiff. Am I really that unfamiliar just because I haven’t visited in a while?”

As Johannes said, he had often visited the south with or without his mother, the empress, since his support base was concentrated there.

> **But the second prince Aslan was currently in the south.**

Although Aslan had never openly sought power, he didn’t hide his sharp, predatory nature.

The officials couldn’t help worrying about potential clashes between the brothers.

Yet, Johannes’s cheeky jokes slowly eased the tense atmosphere.