Chapter 21
Chapter 21
Aslan seemed very pleased with the way Vivian had personally attended to him, his eyes curving into a captivating smile.
"Since you've personally seen to it, my appearance is much better than usual."
"It's been a while since I've attended to someone, so I'm glad you like it."
"A while? It sounds like someone other than me has received your service."
Vivian regretted her words. She remembered briefly working at a men's clothing store before her possession, and that experience had unconsciously slipped out.
"Who was it? A man?"
"That, that's..."
"Come to think of it, the way you helped me dress was quite familiar. Who dares... to my fiancée..."
"Well, yes, it was a man, but..."
She was so flustered that her tongue twisted.
Judging by the sharpness in Aslan's voice, he was definitely suspicious. Who ever heard of a duchess attending to someone else!
Vivian frantically racked her brain and eventually decided to sell off her dead Duke.
He's already crossed the River Jordan, what can he do about it?
"My father..."
"Continue."
A murderous glint flashed in Aslan's eyes. Oblivious to this, Vivian squeezed her brain and struggled to speak.
"As you know, he was a bit sensitive. He said he couldn't trust the servants and wanted me, his daughter, to attend to him."
Perhaps because it was a hasty fabrication, she couldn't continue smoothly.
Her breathing was awkwardly cut off, and she even missed the timing to breathe, causing her voice to tremble.
It seemed like a complete failure. Even a children's speech contest wouldn't accept this kind of performance.
Vivian lowered her head to hide her dismay, but her chin was gently lifted.
His fingers touched her cheek.
"I shouldn't have asked. It must have been hard to remember..."
Aslan bit his lip and continued.
"From now on, you will only receive my service."
"Aslan."
"I swear on my heart. I will not allow any man, including myself, to dare disregard you."
She didn't know what was going on, but judging by Aslan's reaction, he didn't seem suspicious anymore.
'Oh, God. Thank you.'
Vivian breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.
＊ ＊ ＊
The audience with the Emperor was successfully concluded.
Whether Aslan's words about the Border Count soon falling from grace were true, the marriage with the Border Count was completely nullified.
He was said to be executed soon on charges of treason.
However, the issue of breaking off the engagement with Aslan seemed more complicated than expected.
As the conversation dragged on, Aslan sent Vivian out first. The Emperor also remembered that she was a Consumption patient and allowed her to leave first.
"The weather is nice."
So Vivian decided to take a leisurely stroll in the garden in front of the Imperial Palace.
Actually, she wasn't interested in admiring the garden, but rather because the contents of the original story suddenly came to mind.
In the original story, the female lead, after having an audience with the Emperor with Aslan, heads to the 'library' alone and encounters the Empress. She is then subjected to various insults under the pretext of her half-blooded, lowly lineage.
Eventually, the female lead offends the Empress and is imprisoned.
Aslan rescues the female lead, but she has already suffered severe emotional wounds.
"Such a thing probably won't happen to me, a mere supporting character, but it's always good to be careful."
She deliberately chose a garden on the opposite side of the library.
As if proving her choice was right, she saw people gathered in groups of three or five, having friendly conversations. She also heard boisterous laughter, as if they were playing somewhere.
"Shall I admire the gift Aslan gave me?"
Today, in the carriage heading to the Imperial Palace, Aslan gave her a second gift.
It was a court sword made by the continent's best artisan.
However, the court sword Aslan gave her was a little different from other swords.
Ordinary court swords are used for ceremonial purposes, so the blade is dull, but this sword was made with a strong and sharp blade so that it could kill.
'If there is anyone who offends you, stab them to death with this, whoever they may be. I'll take care of the aftermath.'
In other words, it was a weapon for killing disguised as a ceremonial sword.
"I don't know if I'll ever have to use this."
In any case, there was no harm in keeping it. Vivian was patting the scabbard with satisfaction when.
"Your Majesty the Empress, the Second Prince is currently in the Imperial Chamber. It would be better to come back another time..."
"That's why I'm saying I'm going to see His Majesty. Isn't that treacherous Aslan satisfied with having my limbs dismissed, so he ran to His Majesty!"
Sometimes, if a voice is too loud, it's hard to hear, and that was exactly the situation now.
But even in the midst of that, Vivian immediately recognized the words 'Her Majesty the Empress.'
She didn't know why someone who should be in the library had come all the way here.
'This is a clear warning sign.'
This was not the time to be leisurely passing the time. Vivian chose a quick escape.
But why was this garden so maze-like? It was easy to enter, but now that she was trying to leave, there were so many paths that she didn't know which way to go.
In the end, Vivian ran head-on into the Empress, who was coming towards her.
'Aaaagh!'
Cold sweat streamed down Vivian's back. The Empress's eyes narrowed.
"You are definitely Aslan's..."
But the confrontation between the two did not last long. From the direction where the boisterous laughter had been heard earlier, a piercing scream rang out this time.
"Ooooh, the arrow missed!"
"Dangerous!"
Hunting was forbidden within the Imperial Palace, but the reckless nobles had finally caused an incident.
An arrow flew straight towards Vivian and the Empress. If things continued as they were, one of them would be hit. Without a moment to think, Vivian swung her sword.
"Kyaa!"
As the frozen Empress screamed, Vivian leaped up, deflected the arrow, and landed safely.
The broken arrow fell weakly to the ground.
A jagged arrowhead.
It was clear that if she had been hit by that, she would not have been safe. The Empress seemed to have the same thought, as her face turned pale.
"Y-Your Majesty the Empress!"
"We're sorry! We didn't know anyone was there...!"
A group of young masters ran out and knelt down.
When they first found only Vivian, they looked relieved. But when they discovered the Empress standing behind her, they clung to her skirt, each trying to be the first.
The political world was in turmoil due to the recent downfall of Nicholas, the Border Count.
If they were accused of assassinating the Empress, they would be implicated as accomplices and would surely die. No, it was obvious that the entire family would be destroyed.
"Please, please have mercy!"
"If you forgive us just once, we will pledge our loyalty to Your Majesty the Empress!"
"How difficult can loyalty be when it's just playing with your tongue."
The Empress coldly pulled away the skirt she was being held onto and looked down at the arrowhead. The maid standing behind her quickly presented it to the Empress.
"I am disgusted by tongues that wag lightly. Ten words are not worth one action."
The Empress glanced at Vivian when she mentioned 'action.' Of course, the commoner Vivian was trembling in the corner and didn't notice it.
'What should I do? I ran into the Empress. I ran into the Empress! This isn't the library, so why?!'
It felt like walking on thin ice. Her spine tingled with fear that she would be entangled with those crazy young masters.
"So I will give you a chance. Whoever cuts off the tongue of the person who tried to harm me with this arrowhead."
"......!"
"Then I will spare only that one person."
The men, their eyes wide, rushed to the arrowhead all at once. They did their best to secure the arrowhead, not caring that their palms were being cut.
Even the maids turned away in horror, but the Empress watched the scene without batting an eye.
'As expected, she's a scary person, just like in the original story.'
Vivian naturally took a step back. Now was her chance, while the Empress's gaze was directed elsewhere.
But her plan was thwarted as soon as it was put into action.
"Duchess, come here."
The Empress's quiet call.
Vivian immediately flew like a butterfly and bowed her head like a bee.
"Vivian of Eleonora greets Your Most Honorable Majesty the Empress."
"I heard that you entered the Imperial Palace with Aslan today, but why are you out here alone?"
The Empress was very angry right now. You never knew when the sparks would fly.
Vivian chose an answer that lowered herself as much as possible. I am a flatter and more harmless being than an earthworm on the street.
"I am foolish and have no interest in politics. I dared not interfere in difficult matters, so I asked to leave first."
Whatever the Emperor and Aslan were talking about had nothing to do with her.
"I have never heard that the Duchess is so skilled in swordsmanship."
"My brother, Alex, said that a true warrior does not flaunt his strength. Also, my skills are meager and insignificant, so I am only sorry for causing trouble to Your Majesty the Empress today."
"Truly humble."
A long shadow fell over Vivian's head as she bowed. The Empress had come right in front of her.
"You act before you speak, and your actions are also prudent, so you are indeed an excellent example of a noble."
"I am deeply grateful."
"But it is not good to be too lacking in words. There is no benefit in making enemies, so you must at least be able to clear the stigma you have covered yourself with."
She couldn't understand why the Empress was suddenly saying this. But the Empress didn't seem to want to explain the reason.
"Raise your head, Duchess."
In the original story, the female lead was slapped after this line. She was slapped a dozen times, and the blood vessels in her face burst.
Vivian braced herself and raised her head.
"I will be watching you from now on."
But the Empress only raised the corners of her lips when their eyes met. Then, after belatedly ordering something to the guards who had rushed over, she left leisurely.
The blood-soaked men were dragged away like criminals.
Silence soon followed.
Vivian blinked, not knowing what was going on, but the Empress's maids surrounded Vivian.
"You were so amazing just now, Duchess!"
"It seems that Her Majesty the Empress thought well of you."
"She's been very edgy lately because of Nicholas, the Border Count, but thanks to you, we can breathe a sigh of relief."
She didn't know what was going on, but judging from the atmosphere, it seemed to have been resolved safely.
Vivian breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.
Unaware of what kind of aftermath the act of saving the Empress would bring.
