Chapter 24
Chapter 24
Vivian recalled Aslan's inverted Pentagram. She had seen it on his chest in his Black Lion state when they were trapped in the cave due to the heavy rain.
Next, she thought of the mark of the seal in the original story. But she immediately shook her head.
"This is different in color and shape from what I knew."
In the original story, the male and female leads' seals had the exact same shape.
Moreover, it was a dark, crimson color, darker than blood, so the original female lead had to wear a dress that covered her entire chest to hide it.
But hers was slightly different in shape, and especially the color didn't resemble it even as much as dirt under a fingernail.
"Then what is this? I wish I could ask someone, but there are no magicians around..."
The Pentagram was the basic form of a magic circle.
Aslan was one of the best Swordmasters in the empire, but she was a little embarrassed to expose her chest to ask him about it.
Besides, if this wasn't beneficial to Aslan...
There was no point in revealing a weakness to him when he was already suspicious.
"Well, I've already possessed someone else's body, so what's a magic circle like this?"
She said that, but she couldn't help but feel concerned.
She was about to tie her dressing gown when she thought she should find a suitable magician soon. Heavy footsteps echoed from the hallway. Aslan was coming.
Vivian quickly composed her dark expression. At the same time, the door burst open.
"You're here?"
"I kept you waiting. I had some official duties to take care of."
"I just got out of the tub."
Aslan's eyes softened as he strode into the bedroom. Then, when he encountered Vivian coming out of the bathroom, he froze on the spot.
Hair swept to one side, still damp, flushed cheeks and lips, and breath coming in ragged gasps as if she was out of breath.
Anyone who saw her would have their mind go blank.
Aslan was no exception, but he swallowed the surging impulse, biting hard on the inside of his cheek.
He barely managed to maintain a gentlemanly smile as he stood before her.
"You're not in good health, you shouldn't stay wet like this."
"I waited because you were coming soon."
In fact, she had sent all the maids out to check the Pentagram on her chest.
Aslan seemed very pleased with Vivian's excuse, and he chuckled as he sat her down in front of the vanity. Then he brought up what he had been thinking about all the way here.
"The weather outside is warm these days. How about we go out together for once?"
"Suddenly go out?"
"We can do some shopping you want, and a foreign court chef has opened a restaurant, so I thought we could go there."
"I didn't know you were interested in that kind of thing."
Vivian's reaction was lukewarm. Neither shopping nor restaurants were appealing choices. But she soon changed her mind.
'I need to go out at least once to find a magician. I don't know the geography of the capital at all, so I need to familiarize myself with it.'
Vivian quickly nodded.
"Now that I think about it, it sounds fun. Are we going today?"
She looked up at Aslan reflected in the mirror.
He smoothed Vivian's hair with his large, rough hands, then slowly curved his eyes when he felt her gaze.
"In a few days. There are some things I need to prepare in advance."
"Prepare? What kind of preparation?"
"Oh, this and that... I have some urgent official business to take care of in the territory."
Vivian clicked her tongue inwardly. She wanted to get it over with while she was in the mood, but today wasn't the day.
Still, she decided not to dwell on it too much. It would be nice if the Pentagram disappeared after waiting a few days, and if not, she could deal with it again then.
"Then can I visit my family today?"
"Eleonora, you mean?"
"Yes, I'm worried about whether my sister is adjusting well to the family. Eleonora's servants aren't very attentive. I want to take care of her myself."
Actually, she wasn't too worried about Alex.
Despite his young age, he had already reached a considerable level of swordsmanship.
He was still inexperienced in politics, but he was also the most likely candidate to become the Minister of Military Affairs in the future.
But he was simple-minded. He wouldn't be able to look after the family's more intimate affairs.
"Don't worry about that. I personally took care of everything about Eleonora's servants."
"You did?"
"It's your family's business, so it's only natural that I care."
Vivian's hair was almost dry. Aslan ran his long hair through his fingers and continued.
"If you're going to Eleonora, take Dylan with you. He's one of the few people I can fully trust, so keep him by your side at all times."
In the original story, Dylan was Aslan's closest subordinate and comrade.
He was a highly skilled person, the second-in-command of the royal guard led by Aslan, one of the few people who knew the identity of the curse, and more than anything...
'The female lead's bodyguard and watcher.'
From her point of view, he was someone she couldn't fully trust.
But if she refused here, it would arouse Aslan's suspicion. Besides, she had no intention of revealing Aslan's identity to the outside world, so there would be no problem.
"I will."
"Have a good trip. Be careful, and don't stay out too late."
"Yes."
Vivian nodded obediently.
＊ ＊ ＊
Vivian got out of the carriage with Dylan's utmost escort.
"Madam, we have arrived at the Duke's residence. Please watch your step."
"Thank you."
"Speaking of footsteps, I was just thinking, what kind of flowers does Madam like? My cousin recently received a proposal from her fiancé, and I tell you, he has no sense at all..."
Vivian let Dylan's nonsense go in one ear and out the other, and smiled vaguely.
In the original story, he was described as a serious character. It was only natural, since he had gone through hell with Aslan.
But when she actually met him, he had a considerable tendency to be a chatterbox.
Especially since he cherished his cousin so much, he criticized her fiancé and listed the process of her proposal.
It was so detailed, it was almost as if he had received it himself.
"So I don't really like it, but what does Madam think?"
Dylan asked for her opinion from time to time, but it was hard to say anything about someone else's proposal, so she answered as ambiguously as possible.
"Um, I don't think it's bad. The fact that he danced and sang himself is proof that he put in a lot of effort, right? Even if he's tone-deaf and can't dance, I think his effort is commendable."
"Ah, that's right! My cousin said she was also touched by his effort."
His cousin had received a very strange proposal.
Her fiancé had laid out candles in the shape of a heart in a crowded park. Then, he stood Dylan's cousin there and sang and danced.
He approached her, swaying his shoulders as if to seduce her, pretending to give her a rose, then moving away, and teasing her by stepping aside.
In the end, Dylan's cousin caught a passing carriage and ran away.
'I would have done the same. I wouldn't have been able to lift my head in shame.'
Of course, she didn't say her thoughts out loud. She just became solemn about the tragedy that the unknown woman had experienced.
"Greetings to Madam."
"Please rest comfortably since you've come all this way."
Vivian was surprised when she entered the Duke's residence.
Many servants were all out waiting for her. Moreover, they even knelt on one knee and greeted her with utmost respect.
She slowly took a step back and checked the crest attached to the gate.
'The sword that defeated the devil. It's Eleonora's, right?'
She had only spent a little over a month in the Separate Residence, but she thought she knew most of the servants' faces...
'Why are they all strangers?'
While Vivian was scratching her chin awkwardly, a welcome face ran out from inside.
"Vivian!"
"Iris, sister!"
Iris ran out and hugged Vivian tightly.
She had a very confused look on her face at the Duke's funeral, but now she had a much brighter expression.
"You came at the right time! I was worried because we seemed to have parted on bad terms at the end."
"I came because I was worried about you too, sister. As soon as I arrived in the capital, Father passed away like that..."
"I heard the hidden circumstances from Alex. The Duke is my biological father, but I don't think I can ever forgive him."
Iris and Alex were the same age, but Iris's birthday was earlier. So it seemed they had agreed to call each other comfortably without honorifics.
"Let's go in. You're going to have a meal, right?"
Despite all the things that had happened in a short time, there was no wavering in her eyes. She was indeed as strong as the original female lead.
'Maybe I can start my plan again.'
Vivian hadn't given up yet. The so-called 'Let's connect the male and female leads according to the original story' project was just that.
'I'm sorry, sister, but what can I do? I have to survive first...'
Anyway, Iris would undergo Magical Awakening in the middle of the original story.
Considering how precious magicians were in this world, Iris was much more suited to be by Aslan's side than she was.
'Of course, of course.'
Vivian nodded and entered the mansion first.
Unaware that a new history was beginning behind her back.
"Ah, I'm sorry! I'm not used to dresses, so I tripped."
"Lady, are you alright?"
"Yes..."
A strange light flickered in the eyes of Iris and Dylan as they looked at each other.
Vivian's project was sinking miserably before it even started.
