Chapter 25
Chapter 25
"Are you serious? Vivian liked that kind of proposal?"
"Yes, she said she was touched by the effort."
In the late afternoon, as the sun was setting, Vivian and Dylan returned to the Grand Duke's residence after their outing.
Dylan escorted Vivian safely to her bedroom and then hurried off to find Aslan, intending to deliver the results of his investigation.
"If you practice for a few days, my lord, you can do it too."
Dylan was utterly serious.
His lord had lived his entire life without experiencing human warmth. He was also unfamiliar with treating someone with sincerity.
To kill or be killed.
Those were always the only two paths he could choose.
Perhaps that was why Aslan seemed unable to believe Dylan's report. He paced back and forth, running a hand over his face with a troubled expression.
"I can't believe it. Vivian really liked that..."
"It's only natural that it feels awkward at first. But you were willing to give her your heart, my lord. What more is there to fear?"
He didn't know when another opportunity like this would arise. Perhaps this was the only time in his lord's life he would experience such an emotion.
He wanted his lord, who had lived a lonely life, to finally experience the happiness of life.
"First, go to the madam and make an appointment to go out. She's in a very good mood today. It would be good to make an appointment and have more conversations with her."
"What did Vivian do today?"
"Nothing special. She just seemed very happy to meet Iris."
"I see. That woman is more useful than I thought."
Aslan patted Dylan on the shoulder after he finished his report and left. He seemed to be planning to talk to Vivian as advised.
Left alone, Dylan watched his lord's disappearing figure and nodded with satisfaction.
He had a pretty good feeling about this.
＊ ＊ ＊
A few days later, it was the day Vivian was going out with Aslan for the first time in a while.
She got into the carriage, receiving the Grand Duke's residence staff's extremely warm send-off. They were always warm, but today they were even more so.
Everything was different from usual. Vivian had a bad feeling.
'Come to think of it, the way Dylan looked at me was strange too. His eyes were strangely teary, as if he couldn't contain his overwhelming emotions...'
Vivian glanced at Aslan, who was sitting next to her in the carriage.
It was just a simple outing, but he was wearing a sharply creased uniform and even had a sword at his waist.
His expression was so fierce, like a commander-in-chief about to go into battle.
'What on earth is going on? I haven't breathed a word about Aslan's true identity!'
No matter how hard she racked her brain, she couldn't think of anything that would have aroused suspicion.
Dylan was so talkative that he tended to distract people, but she hadn't fallen for his tricks and had answered all his questions carefully and ambiguously.
Vivian was deep in thought when a gloved hand suddenly appeared in front of her.
"We've arrived, Vivian."
"......"
"Vivian?"
The carriage had stopped before she knew it. Aslan, who had gotten out first, was waiting to escort her.
Vivian quickly looked around. It was an ordinary downtown street with many people.
Even though Aslan was the Emperor's son and a Grand Duke, he wouldn't commit murder in a place like this.
'Probably.'
Of course, she wasn't sure.
Vivian got out of the carriage, wary of her surroundings. Aslan, holding her hand, moved leisurely.
"I've rented out all the places we're going to today. No one will bother us."
Aslan's face looked quite satisfied as he said that.
Yes, he would be satisfied. He had eliminated the witnesses and was close to committing the perfect crime, so of course he would be satisfied!
Vivian felt a chill down her spine at Aslan's meticulousness.
"That's, that's amazing. But was it really necessary to rent out the whole place?"
"Of course. You'll soon find out."
I don't want to know?!
A warning signal went off in her head. Vivian's movements, which had been focused on securing an escape route, suddenly stopped.
Although it wasn't clearly visible because it was in an alley, it was exactly as described in the original novel.
'The Wizard Guild run by the heroine's mentor.'
In the original story, Iris undergoes Magical Awakening. Jesus, the head of the Wizard Guild, helped her.
Jesus didn't reveal his identity, so it was a miracle that Iris came to regard him as her mentor.
But now, that miracle had happened to her too.
'Of course, I don't need a mentor, but someone to confirm the Pentagram on my chest.'
It would be difficult for someone with Jesus's skills not to know any magic circles.
"Vivian, what's wrong?"
Her silence was only for a moment. But Aslan, who was perceptive, seemed to have noticed that she was thinking about something else.
The arm around Vivian's slender waist tightened.
"Even if the weather is warm, you'll catch a cold if you stay outside for too long."
Aslan led her into a jewelry shop. The employees, who had been waiting at the entrance, bowed politely when they saw them.
Vivian thought quickly.
'If I miss this opportunity, what are the chances that I'll be able to come here again without attracting attention?'
And she made a decision.
"Cough, cough!"
"Vivian?!"
There was a famous restaurant that Aslan had mentioned, right across from the Wizard Guild building.
That place must also have been rented out by Aslan, so it wouldn't arouse much suspicion if she suggested going to the restaurant first.
"Cough, I've been moving around for too long, and I'm a little cold. I think I'll feel better if I have some warm mulled wine at the restaurant."
"No, I think it would be better to go back as we are. There will be other opportunities, so don't overdo it."
"I've been looking forward to today..."
Vivian took out a handkerchief and dabbed at the corners of her eyes.
Aslan's eyes were slightly shaken when he glanced at her. It seemed to be having some effect.
"You don't know how much I've been looking forward to this since you asked me out."
"Vivian, that's not what I meant."
"How many days will I be able to walk around like this in the future? My symptoms are getting worse every day... Cough!"
Of course, her symptoms weren't getting worse at all, but the situation was urgent, so her acting skills, which she didn't even know she had, soared.
Fortunately, Aslan didn't seem to be cold-blooded enough to ignore the last request of someone with a terminal illness. He muttered to his subordinate that he was changing the plan.
She wanted to hear more, but Aslan shut his mouth when he felt Vivian's gaze.
"Let's go in."
"Thank you, Aslan."
Whatever it was, it was clear that today's outing wasn't just a simple trip.
Vivian brightened her eyes, determined to run away today if necessary.
＊ ＊ ＊
Vivian was becoming more and more confused. She had no idea what was going on.
She ate the Mediterranean sea bass that Aslan had placed on her plate and scratched her chin blankly.
The manager, who happened to be approaching, smiled broadly as he looked at them.
"Thank you for visiting our restaurant on this important day. Do you like the food?"
"It's good. What about you, Vivian?"
"Me too..."
She had no disagreement with that.
The food was excellent and the staff was friendly. Even though they were the only customers, a quartet was playing romantic music.
Frankly speaking, it was an atmosphere that could be mistaken for a proposal.
'I feel sorry for Dylan's cousin. He could have done the basics with just this, but he went with that crazy proposal.'
Her train of thought naturally shifted in that direction. It was because the memory was so vivid.
"Vivian?"
"Ah."
Aslan, who was putting scallop dishes on Vivian's plate, called her. He seemed to think it was strange that she was spacing out.
"I'm sorry. I was just thinking about something else."
"What were you thinking about?"
"It's nothing. I was just thinking about a sad story I heard a few days ago."
A question mark appeared in Aslan's golden eyes. He seemed ready to suspect her if she didn't explain.
She was reluctant to reveal someone else's tragedy in this way, but survival came first. Vivian apologized to the unknown woman in her heart.
"A few days ago, Dylan's cousin got proposed to by her fiancé."
"Ah."
"Do you know about it?"
"No, I don't."
Aslan, who had been nodding as if he knew, suddenly shook his head with a serious expression.
Vivian didn't notice because she was focused on the scallop dishes.
"But the proposal was a little strange."
"In what way?"
"I don't want to talk about other people's business, but, um..."
She revealed the truth that she hadn't told Dylan.
"If I had been proposed to like that, I would have been so ashamed that I would have broken off the engagement right away."
"What?"
"What was that in front of all those people? He completely made his fiancée a spectacle."
The knife that Aslan was holding folded neatly in half.
"Dylan must really care about his cousin. He was so upset that I told him it was okay, but don't say anything to Dylan."
The fork in his other hand was charred black and turned to ash. It was metal, by the way.
Aslan put down his utensils and leisurely wiped his hands. His eyes were particularly ominous, and the atmosphere was unusual. This time, Vivian felt it too.
"I remembered something I had forgotten. Will you wait here for a moment? I'll be right back."
"Yes, I will."
"Sorry. I'll hurry as much as I can."
Aslan gnashed his teeth as he left the restaurant. Only a very few people who knew the situation prayed for Dylan's soul.
Meanwhile, Vivian, who was left alone, looked out the window. The Wizard Guild sign in the alley across the street was particularly eye-catching.
'You have to seize the opportunity when it comes.'
The knights had followed Aslan, and only the restaurant staff and the manager were left inside.
Normally, he would have left one or two guards behind, but everyone seemed to be in a hurry because it was such a sudden event.
Vivian naturally got up from her seat.
