MWMT 09

Chapter : 09

> **“But just now, on the balcony, your eyes looked very lonely.”**

Aslan brushed the question aside smoothly and wiped his face, hiding his bitter expression.

“I didn’t know you liked the night sky. I didn’t know you hated servants staying close to you either. I thought I knew you pretty well.”

“……”

“That was a long introduction. What I mean is simple. I want to get to know you, even now.”

“I don’t like unnecessary trouble either, so I’ll get straight to the point. I heard that Your Highness is being attacked politically because of me.”

Vivian understood why Aslan was avoiding the topic in an uncharacteristic way.

He had saved her while risking the exposure of the Black Lion’s identity and brought her to his mansion because the opposition was attacking him over the will issue.

To fool the public, marrying her would be the fastest and most certain solution.

But no matter how she thought about it, marriage was not an option. Vivian offered a compromise.

“I’m responsible for this mistake, so I’m willing to hold a fake engagement ceremony. If you need my explanation for anything else, I’ll step forward anytime. I mean it.”

“That’s not it.”

“There’s no need to go around in circles. We haven’t known each other for just a day or two.”

“Vivian, I know why you misunderstand, but……”

For a moment, Aslan’s eyes darkened. But when Vivian looked at him again, his face was calm as usual.

> **“I really want to try being good with you.”**

“Are you serious?”

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

His answer was short, but unexpectedly human.

Watching Aslan awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck, Vivian thought:

Maybe she had misunderstood him. Maybe he wasn’t violent, just bad at dealing with people.

As if proving her thought, Aslan stood up cleanly without lingering.

“It’s late. Even a sleepyhead should go to bed now.”

“Yes, okay.”

“You’re surprisingly obedient today.”

Vivian doubted her eyes. Aslan was smiling down at her.

The man once called the Reaper of the Battlefield, the Lion of Death, was smiling like an ordinary person.

> **“Sleep well.”**

“You too, Your Highness.”

“I will. I’m leaving now, so don’t come out.”

Aslan jumped down from the second-floor balcony just like when he came in. His landing was steady, strong, and flexible, like a wild beast.

Just when she thought he would leave, he stopped and looked up at Vivian.

“……”

In the silence, his gaze was so intense it felt like it could swallow her whole.

Without realizing it, Vivian hid behind the curtain. Just his gaze made her feel hot, like she had been burned. She didn’t understand why.

After a long while, only when his presence completely faded did Vivian slump down as if released from a spell.

Her mind became a mess.

*If Aslan wasn’t lying, maybe I could get his help when the cure is developed later. But it could also be an elaborate act to make me lower my guard…*

After worrying back and forth, Vivian roughly messed up her hair. Thinking was never her strength.

It felt like it would be a long night.

—

The next morning, Vivian went down to the dining room after accepting Aslan’s invitation to eat together.

The atmosphere was pleasant, and the food was excellent. The chef himself came out and explained today’s menu.

Vivian nodded while listening carefully.

“It’s been a long time since I ate something that suits my taste this well. You’re young, but already the head chef. That’s impressive.”

“I’m honored by your praise, my lady.”

“Khmm!”

Vivian looked up. Aslan had been clearing his throat repeatedly, making conversation difficult.

“Your Highness, are you feeling unwell?”

“I’m not sure.”

He refused a doctor, refused water, and said nothing when asked why. Vivian tilted her head but decided it must be nothing serious.

She turned back to the chef.

“I look forward to your dishes in the future.”

“I’ll do my best to meet your expectations. Please call me Manuel.”

Manuel had strong features and a bright smiling gaze that felt a bit overwhelming, but he knew how to soften the mood.

Vivian naturally placed her hand on the one he offered. Kissing the back of a lady’s hand was a normal greeting in high society.

Just as Manuel lifted her hand—

> **“Vivian, your glove is torn.”**

Aslan, who had clearly been sitting across the table, suddenly appeared between them.

He firmly took Vivian’s hand from Manuel and even glared at the chef with murderous eyes.

Unaware of this, Vivian tilted her head and removed her glove.

“It’s torn? Where?”

“Hmm.”

Aslan relaxed his expression and lightly held her hand.

His large, calloused palm made her small, pale hand look like it belonged to a different species.

“Seems I was mistaken.”

“Really? Then where did Manuel—”

Vivian tried to pull her hand back, then froze.

That feeling again. Like being trapped in a steel frame.

It didn’t hurt. Aslan was holding her hand gently, like holding a feather.

But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t pull it free. Not at all.

At that moment, Aslan slowly leaned down while still holding her hand. His warm breath brushed her ear.

> **“Since the meal is over, I’d like to get to the main point.”**

“The main point? I thought this was just a normal meal. Also, my hand—”

> **“We need to continue the conversation from last night.”**

The unfinished conversation… did he mean getting to know each other?

While thinking, Vivian desperately tried to rescue her precious right hand. Twisting, pulling—nothing worked.

Meanwhile, the servants quickly cleared the table and reset it.

On the table lay—

> **“Now, sign.”**

A marriage certificate.

*This man?!*

So this was why he trapped my hand?!

Where did last night’s gentle, emotional man go?!

“We still don’t know much about each other—”

> **“Ah, I just changed my mind.”**

“What?!”

“Look on the bright side. If this keeps up, there won’t be any men around you left with intact necks.”

His voice felt like it dropped below freezing. But when she looked up, his face was as calm as ever.

Only the hand holding her showed no mercy.

> **“Now only the last name remains.”**

“Ugh—w-what is this—!”

The first letter of the last name *Astaroth* was written.

At this rate, she would truly become his prisoner, watched for the rest of her life.

*What kind of male lead is this?! He’s a perfect loan shark if you just look at his lines!*

I’ll pay all 120 million in cash, just let me go!

Desperately, Vivian looked around for a way out. She spotted a lit silver candleholder in the center of the table.

With her upper body restrained, she had no choice.

She put strength into her toes and kicked hard.

Bang!

The candleholder toppled over, and the fire cleanly burned the marriage certificate before dying out.

“……”

Vivian couldn’t make a sound.

Pain exploded in her toes after hitting the marble table, but fear crushed any scream.

The silence was terrifying.

*What if he says, ‘Whether you know the Black Lion’s identity or not, I’ll kill you to avoid future trouble’?*

Her body reacted instantly. Adrenaline surged through her entire system.

“Aslan, you—”

> **“Shut up.”**

“What?”

> **“I’ll talk first, so shut—shut—up!”**

Fueled by adrenaline, she exploded.

Not even knowing what she was saying anymore, Vivian let her thoughts spill out.

> **“They say even the wishes of the living are granted. Can’t you grant one wish for someone who’s about to die? I have at most one year left!”**

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

“Yes, you said you’d save me. But how? How are you going to save me? Are you a doctor? A prophet? Then let’s bet on whether I’ll be alive in a year!”

I don’t care anymore. Do whatever you want!

The cure would only appear far in the future. No matter how capable Aslan was, he couldn’t see the future.

Aslan opened his mouth as if to speak, but looked like someone blocked by an invisible wall. In the end, he wiped his face and looked away.

This was her chance. Vivian quickly patted the back of his hand.

For someone afraid of his Black Lion identity being exposed, reassuring him that she would die soon was the best move.

“I’m fine. You don’t need to pity me for having only one year left. I have no desires. I just want to quietly finish my remaining time—”

> **“Fine. I’ll accept your bet.”**

“What?”

> **“If you’re still alive one year from now, then you’ll marry me.”**

That’s a problem. I plan to take the cure and run away in a year.

Her original plan—living peacefully at a southern resort—was still valid.

“For the one year of the bet, our engagement will be firmly maintained. I won’t keep any other woman by my side, and you must do the same.”

That’s also a problem. What about my half-sister, the real female lead of the original story?

I already destroyed the ‘Cave of Engraving,’ which was essential to the plot, just to survive, and now you want me to steal her position too?!

“As fiancés, we should fulfill our duties. The engagement contract says you’ll live in my mansion in advance for bride training. I want that to start today.”

“……”

“You’re not thinking of running away from the bet, are you?”

The volcanic adrenaline cooled instantly.

Aslan pulled out a new marriage certificate and smiled like a villain.

Faced with silent pressure that hinted at unknown consequences if she refused, Vivian finally accepted the bet—one she had set herself.