Chapter 20
Chapter 20
I finally arrived at the Imperial Palace. Vivian got out of the carriage with Aslan's escort.
"You've been quiet since a while ago. Are you not feeling well?"
"No, I'm just a little nervous."
"You have nothing to worry about. The Emperor may have called us because of the annulment issue, but..."
Aslan carefully checked Vivian's complexion.
He gently stroked her flushed cheeks with his fingers, and when she laughed, saying it tickled, he seemed relieved and continued.
"I won't let that happen. So just stay by my side. I'll take care of the rest."
"But will it be okay? The Border Count is a national meritorious subject..."
"Don't worry about him either. He'll soon be discredited and collapse."
"How do you know?"
"I have my ways."
If he coveted what was mine, he'll have to pay the price.
Aslan smiled meaningfully, but Vivian was lost in thought and didn't notice it.
'It would be nice if it goes as Aslan says, but if not, I'll just kill him and run away.'
Due to the Duke's sudden death, all major and minor affairs of the family were suspended.
But Alex had safely inherited the Dukedom, and the family's turmoil had subsided to some extent, so it was time to resume the discussions that had been postponed.
In particular, I heard that the Border Count is strongly insisting on the fulfillment of the marriage. How greedy can he be?
'Ah, my head hurts. Anyway, I'm not getting married right away, so let's think about what's in front of me first.'
Vivian recalled the contents of the original story.
Aslan is outwardly known as the Emperor's son born to the Empress, but in reality, he was the child of a chambermaid.
Therefore, the Empress hated Aslan to death, and the Emperor didn't like his existence either.
The original female lead, who was engaged to Aslan, was also a thorn in their side.
'But I'm the one engaged to Aslan now? Hahaha...'
While Vivian was lamenting her fate, the Crown Prince was seen walking from across the hallway. He was with his vassals.
Johannes also recognized the two and smiled, crinkling his eyes.
"Aslan, and the Princess Consort came together?"
"Greetings to His Highness the Crown Prince."
Vivian bowed her head, and Aslan silently nodded.
But Crown Prince Johannes, who I thought would just pass by, stopped in front of the two.
To be exact, he stopped in front of Vivian.
"I haven't felt good since we parted last time. I didn't know the Princess Consort's condition was so serious, and I think I pushed you too hard until you fainted."
"No, don't worry about it."
It wasn't you who made me faint, but Aslan's muscles.
'But that doesn't mean I forgive you, you bastard.'
If I had fallen for the Crown Prince's test back then and caused Aslan's misunderstanding, I wouldn't be alive right now.
Or I'd be in a living hell.
"So, would you come to my palace after you've had an audience with His Majesty? I want to have a proper conversation with the Princess Consort this time."
"That's..."
You don't mean to drag me into that mess again, do you?
Vivian hesitated, unable to answer easily, when her waist was held with a strong force.
Aslan, who wrapped his arm around her slender waist as if to show off, continued.
"I refuse. Vivian is not feeling well, so I plan to let her rest early today."
"I asked the Princess Consort?"
"Vivian is considerate, so she would agree even if she knew it was too much."
"This is an overreach, Aslan."
A cold spark flew in the eyes of the two brothers.
Vivian, caught between them, could only sweat profusely.
The strongest person in the world and his rival are fighting, what can a small and precious commoner do? I can only beg them to fight without me!
"Besides, you shouldn't hold the frail Princess Consort so roughly."
"..."
"She's having a hard time."
Johannes, who approached leisurely, stood to Aslan's left. He seemed to be giving friendly advice, but Vivian soon realized the truth.
He was crushing Aslan's side with his elbow.
'Left...?'
The injury Aslan sustained when he faced the assassins in his Demon Hand state. A serious wound that exposed his internal organs.
Johannes is deliberately touching that spot.
Vivian quickly looked up at Aslan. His expression was indifferent, but his breathing became a little rough.
"Your Highness, thank you for the invitation."
Vivian pretended to face the Crown Prince and quickly moved to the left. Johannes, pushed by her momentum, naturally stepped back.
"The dogs I saw at Adrian Palace last time were so cute, did you bring them to the capital too?"
"Of course. I knew the Princess Consort would like four-legged animals."
Tch, I was going to refuse, saying I would be disappointed if I said no...
Vivian hid her burning inside with a bright smile.
"But it's almost time to see His Majesty. I would be happy to accept if you invite me another day."
"Oh, I've kept a busy person for too long. Then I'll send you a formal invitation later."
"Thank you for your consideration."
Johannes smiled contentedly and waved his hand as he left. The vassals followed the Crown Prince, and only Aslan and Vivian remained in the hallway.
But her relief didn't last long. Aslan, whose expression was fiercely distorted, trapped Vivian in the corner of the hallway.
His breathing became rougher than ever.
"Aslan?!"
"Why..."
"Yes?"
"Why didn't you refuse? Do you like Johannes? Huh, Vivian?"
Well, who would dislike a face that looks like a prince in a fairy tale, but that wasn't the problem now.
I didn't notice because Aslan's uniform was black, but his left side was strangely wet and shiny.
The wound had finally burst.
"You endured it well."
Vivian silently took off his coat. His eyes, filled with murderous intent, gradually became mixed with confusion.
"I saw you having a nightmare the other day. You had a wound on your side."
I couldn't say that you encountered it in the Demon Hand state, so I quickly added, but it seemed to work. Aslan accepted Vivian's touch without a word.
"How on earth did you get hurt?"
"..."
"His Highness the Crown Prince is too much. Why is he doing such a terrible thing in front of all the vassals?"
"Are you, worried about me?"
Aslan's eyes, looking at Vivian, were filled with a small expectation. His gaze was fixed on Vivian's small and cute lips.
"Do I even have the right to worry about you? You're a much more amazing person than me."
"Still."
Vivian wondered why Aslan was suddenly like this, but she soon figured out the reason.
For the Aslan of the original story, the Imperial Palace was a place with terrible memories.
He was abused by the Empress from a young age, and the Emperor condoned it. The contempt and humiliation he received as a cursed person were a bonus.
But today, he was persecuted again for no reason, so it was natural for his heart to weaken.
"Don't forget. I'm always on your side."
"..."
"If anyone touches you, I'll fight them all off. Just trust me."
"Vivian, you always exceed my expectations."
Aslan, who lowered his head deeply, leaned his forehead on Vivian's shoulder.
Then he carefully hugged her thin and frail body. It felt like a touch caressing a glass doll that would break at any moment.
'Was the answer comforting? Although he's a fiancé who will break up in a year, I've grown fond of him in the meantime, so my heart feels heavy.'
Vivian grabbed a passing servant and ordered him to bring a new uniform from the carriage.
Since the shirt he was wearing was already ruined, she tore it and used it to stop the bleeding from his wound.
"Go a little further inside. It'll be a bit much if people see us."
Aslan obediently followed Vivian's lead.
She found an empty room and went inside, then locked the door.
If it were a mansion, she would have called a servant to attend to him, but this was the Imperial Palace, where Aslan had no allies. There was no benefit to showing weakness.
"Here's a new set of clothes. I'll turn around, so change."
"Take it off for me."
"Yes?"
"I think the wound burst badly, so it's hard to move. I'd like you to help me."
Aslan, who suddenly staggered, leaned against the window frame as if collapsing.
When the Crown Prince crushed the wound, he didn't even flinch, so I didn't know he was in so much pain.
"Does it hurt a lot? This won't do. I think it's better to call a physician..."
"Don't, Vivian. I just want you to help me."
"Are you sure that'll be enough?"
When Vivian turned around, Aslan, who had been clicking his tongue, started breathing heavily again as if struggling when she met his eyes.
"You're all I need. I don't need anything else."
Aslan seemed wary because this was the Imperial Palace. He refused even a doctor, let alone a servant, so there was nothing I could do.
Vivian began to unbutton his shirt one by one. Aslan's breathing became even rougher than before.
Soon, his upper body was completely exposed without a single thread left.
The muscles, trained to the limit, revealed their presence to a frightening degree, but Vivian tried to maintain her composure.
'Aslan is a patient. If you're thinking of suffocating me between your muscles again, I'll dig into your wound and run away. I can do it...'
Aslan leaned on Vivian or hugged her shoulders from time to time because it was hard for him to stand.
She succeeded in changing his clothes while constantly gauging the angle of attack.
When I finished, he looked so neat that I wondered if he was really injured.
