MWMT 10

Chapter : 10

So Vivian came to a decision.

> **“I have to escape from this crazy mansion right now. Immediately!”**

The antidote was no longer the problem. Because of Aslan’s burning obsession with keeping secrets, her own neck was now in danger.

She never imagined Aslan would react this strongly.

> **“The travel money is already in a secret account, so I’ll take nothing and just leave with my body. I’ll say goodbye to this place cleanly and lightly, like a spring breeze!”**

She could just think of it as her plan being delayed by a small accident.

She would change her identity as originally planned, hide in a luxury resort in the south, and live the rest of her life in peace.

A paradise with no surveillance, no need to watch others’ eyes, and no threat to her life.

While throwing off her dress to move more comfortably, Vivian suddenly froze. A bad feeling crawled up the back of her neck.

> **“But if I disappear right now, won’t Aslan suspect me even more? That I figured out his secret and ran away…”**

Her clean and light farewell quietly stepped back. Vivian groaned and ruffled her hair.

> **“But even if I stay by Aslan’s side, the ending is the same.”**

If she ran away, his suspicion would turn into certainty—death ending.
If she stayed, she would be watched, caught on something, and then—death ending.

No matter where she looked, there was only a death ending.

> **“Is this really the end? No, there has to be a way.”**

Vivian thought of the grace period given to her. One year left until marriage.

> **“If I can pretend to die of tuberculosis before that year is over…”**

There was no doubt that “death” was the most effective way to escape Aslan’s surveillance.

Of course, she couldn’t actually die, so the plan was to make it look as close as possible.

She would escape the mansion, receive the completed antidote from one of Aslan’s colleagues she had already bribed, and then leave cleanly and lightly.

> **“Yes, that’s it!”**

Vivian jumped around happily, then suddenly noticed her reflection in the mirror.

She had thrown off all her clothes and was running wild wearing only a thin nightgown. She looked like a very neatly insane person.

“*Ahem.*”

Vivian was awkwardly touching the back of her neck when—

“Vivian, there was no answer, so—”

“Eek!”

The door burst open.

Aslan stepped inside, then immediately turned around with a red face, even faster than Vivian’s scream.

“W-what are you doing?! Why all of a sudden!”

“I’m sorry. I thought you had collapsed.”

“That makes no sense!”

“More importantly, shouldn’t you put some clothes on?”

Aslan’s voice cracked slightly as he spoke with his back turned. Only then did Vivian check herself and quickly hid behind the full-length mirror.

Then she realized something.

Aslan had reached the highest level of a magic swordsman and had extremely sharp perception. No matter how fast he turned his head, he must have clearly seen the mess of the bedroom.

As expected, the atmosphere around Aslan quickly worsened.

“Why is the bedroom like this?”

“……”

“It looks like someone trying to run away.”

Cold sweat streamed down Vivian’s back.

She should have denied it immediately, but he hit the mark too precisely, and her weak mind shut down again.

She had to clear his suspicion right now. Vivian muttered without thinking.

> **“The weather was nice, so I wanted to go for a walk with Your Highness…”**

No, this was bad. She needed to answer firmly and maturely, but her tongue twisted and her voice dragged out like she was acting cute.

Wiping her sweaty palms on her nightgown, Vivian continued.

> **“I looked too plain and thin, so I wanted to look pretty…”**

“……”

“So, so…”

As if that wasn’t enough, her breathing also faltered. Her voice trembled like she was holding back tears.

Everything was ruined. Completely ruined.

> **“Just say something, please.”**

She waited with her head pressed to the wall, but Aslan said nothing. Only heavy silence continued.

Unable to bear the curiosity, Vivian slowly peeked out from behind the mirror.

Aslan was wandering around the ruined bedroom. He rubbed his dry face, ran a hand through his hair, and sometimes bit his lips.

Then he suddenly looked up, sensing Vivian’s gaze.

> **“Vivian, you are not plain.”**

“…What?”

“So don’t ever think something so ridiculous again. Needless worries are bad for your health.”

He clenched and unclenched his fist in the air, then walked over as if he couldn’t hold back. His long, thick fingers roughly brushed up Vivian’s bangs.

> **“Of course, you are very beautiful. So beautiful I can’t stand it. Just thinking that other men might see you like this drives me crazy.”**

“……”

“But whether you dress up or not, it’s the same to me. I just want you to be comfortable by my side.”

Aslan gently placed a linen robe that had been hanging on a nearby chair over Vivian’s shoulders. In his hands it looked like doll clothes, but on Vivian it was slightly loose.

A heated light filled Aslan’s eyes as he looked at his fiancée.

> **“If you want anything, tell me. Don’t hesitate.”**

“Then…”

Aslan’s expression was warm, like he would grant anything. Because of that, Vivian almost muttered without realizing.

*Please break off the engagement.*

But Aslan spoke first.

> **“Let’s go for a walk, just as you wanted. Since the weather is warm today, we could even go down to the city.”**

“Uh… yes?”

“Still, dress warmly just in case, Vivian.”

After nodding in satisfaction, Aslan kissed the back of her hand like sealing a mark and left the bedroom.

Left alone, Vivian thought:

> **“Ah… I’m doomed.”**

—

“Wow, look over there!”

Vivian’s face, which had looked like she was being dragged to a slaughterhouse when leaving the mansion, was now bright and lively.

Everything she saw felt new. As Vivian ran around excitedly, Aslan followed behind with a pleased smile.

Even so, he didn’t forget to worry about her condition.

“Be careful not to get swept away. There are a lot of people.”

“Then you’ll protect me, right?”

“That’s true. I am your fiancé, after all. Do whatever you like.”

The guide had given permission. Vivian looked around even more excitedly.

When Vivian lived at the Duke Eleonora’s estate, she had been almost confined to a separate building, supposedly out of fear that her tuberculosis might be contagious.

In this world, tuberculosis wasn’t contagious, which felt strange, but Vivian accepted it anyway.

> **“No one likes getting an incurable disease. And even the annex was huge and luxurious, like a hotel, with a wide garden, so no complaints.”**

After writing her will and running away, she had suffered through all kinds of hardships.

Afraid of being chased, she even disguised herself as a commoner and traveled through back roads.

So this was almost her first time truly seeing the outside of this world.

“Wow, what is this?”

Vivian picked up a fist-sized stone. It looked rough, but the center glowed faintly.

“That’s a magic stone. The higher the quality, the stronger the light it gives off.”

“Oh, so this is a magic stone.”

Vivian recalled what she had read in the original story.

Magic stones were too hard to process, so they couldn’t be made into jewels or accessories. Only mages could handle them, making them very unfamiliar to ordinary people.

Then a merchant who had been listening jumped in.

“My goodness! Madam truly has a husband with great taste!”

“Huh? Husband?”

“Yes, yes! I’ve never seen such a well-matched pair! A handsome man and a beautiful woman!”

The merchant flattered them skillfully, giving a thumbs-up.

Aslan’s eyes softened slightly, but unaware of this, Vivian ignored the praise and turned the magic stone around.

It looked like an ordinary rock, yet it glowed from the center. She didn’t know the principle, but it felt amazing.

“Is there any way an ordinary person like me could use this?”

“That would be difficult. Magic stones amplify a mage’s power.”

“I see. Then I guess it can’t be helped—”

> **“I’ll take all of them.”**

Before Vivian could finish, Aslan handed over dozens of gold coins.

The merchant’s eyes widened, and he bowed again and again.

After paying, Aslan gently wrapped Vivian’s hand around the magic stone. Responding to his mana, the stone’s light flickered brightly.

> **“From now on, it’s yours.”**

“Are you sure? Ordinary people can’t use them. And for you, the quality is too low…”

Aslan was one of the greatest magic swordsmen. Ordinary magic stones would shatter just from containing his power.

More than that, he owned one of only two magic stone mines on the continent. He could get the highest quality stones anytime.

Even so, Aslan shrugged as if it were nothing.

> **“Making you happy is more than enough value. And most of all, we’ve promised to marry.”**

Emphasizing the word “marry,” Aslan picked up a few stones and ordered the rest to be sent to the mansion.

Vivian wondered why he was wasting money, but decided not to think deeply.

> **“Well, it’s not my money.”**

After that, they continued walking around the city.

Next, Vivian became interested in a blacksmith’s shop. She had lost her long sword and two daggers in the forest.

Borrowing Aslan’s weapons wasn’t an option. His greatsword was almost as tall as she was, and nearly as heavy as her weight.

> **“A sword is something you should buy well and use for a long time.”**

It was a shop run by the most skilled blacksmith in the south. Even to Vivian’s eyes, the blade’s shine was clearly different.

As she held up a sleek, long sword recommended by the clerk and examined it in the sunlight—

“Help! Thief! Please help!”

A woman’s piercing scream rang out nearby.

In an instant, Aslan pulled Vivian into his arms and checked her face.

“Are you okay?!”

“It’s just loud. I’m fine.”

Vivian didn’t worry much. They were moving under hidden identities, and the guards would handle a thief quickly.

But then—

> **“It’s my mother’s keepsake! Please, help me!”**

Ah. A mother’s keepsake—she couldn’t ignore that.

Vivian twisted her body in an instant and knocked down the running thief in one clean move.