“Huh. Anyone who sees that guy would think he’s the main character of the banquet.”
From the top seat overlooking the banquet hall, Vanessa rested her chin on her hand and looked down, unable to suppress a smile. In the banquet hall, Aslan was shepherding a huge crowd like a shepherd.
That damned guy.
This isn’t some dance party; it’s a welcome event for the Fourth Legion Commander.
But he’s acting like the star even before the event has started?
Is he out of his mind?
Or is he just recklessly relying on me?
For a moment, I wondered if Aslan had become overly arrogant.
‘Ah. Neither of those, I see.’
I caught the earnest look in Aslan’s eyes as he glanced my way.
His eyelids were blinking rapidly, as if pleading for help.
It seemed that drawing such a crowd wasn’t part of Aslan’s plan.
“I guess I should go down now.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
How could I ignore him when my subject was pleading for help like that?
Vanessa uncrossed her legs and slowly rose from her seat.
As she did, the guards hidden in the shadows rushed out, surrounding her.
‘Usually, they keep their distance more than this, but now they’re overreacting…’
Perhaps they felt a sense of crisis upon hearing that I had hired secret guards.
It seemed the guards were on high alert compared to usual.
Of course, that wasn’t unwelcome news.
The ideal scenario would be for Aslan Vermont to resolve the situation without needing to act as a secret guard.
I didn’t want to owe that guy anything again.
Last time, I had to give up the location of Neomium as a condition for debt relief, but what would he demand next?
Sometimes, the look on his face was so cunning that I worried he might later make it a condition to become his consort.
“What is this commotion about?”
“Y-Your Majesty…!”
“Everyone, maintain your dignity. There will be another opportunity to hold a hearing for Count Vermont, so calm down.”
“Yes. We will do so, Your Majesty.”
At Vanessa’s words, the nobles, who had been clamoring to say something to Aslan, all turned away in unison.
As soon as the order was given, they dispersed in all directions.
Only then did Aslan let out a sigh of relief and wipe the cold sweat from his brow.
“I’ve turned down over thirty marriage proposals, and everyone rushed at me asking why, which caused this commotion. Thanks to Your Majesty’s joke, I’ve gained ten years of life.”
“A joke? Ah, are you talking about the public hearing? If that’s the case, it wasn’t a joke but the truth, so just keep that in mind.”
“…?”
Faced with Vanessa’s smile, Aslan’s expression hardened.
Was mentioning the hearing just a fabricated excuse to scatter the nobles?
Being summoned to a hearing could only mean one thing: a new appointment to an official position.
For Aslan, who knew very well what those with official positions looked like when they reported to the palace, it was like a bolt from the blue.
“Your Majesty. Please reconsider that.”
“Ugh, ugh. After sucking up all the honey around me, you say you won’t do any work? Do you have a guilty conscience?”
“That’s not it; for someone like me, I can do more outside the palace than inside. Please make a wise choice.”
“Well, if I let someone like you, who’s chasing efficiency, go, I might end up with a sense of crisis that you’d escape at the first opportunity.”
“…”
Aslan froze under Vanessa’s piercing gaze.
It would be a lie to say that he had never thought of fleeing, but he was proud enough of his loyalty to say he only thought about it maybe ten times a day, so he felt somewhat wronged.
“You know I wouldn’t run away. Please, just this once, forgive me…”
“Forgive? I’m simply valuing your abilities and considering bringing you into the palace. What talk of forgiveness is this? Just wait patiently for some good news.”
“Your Majesty, sister… I don’t know what it is, but can you please let Mister go just this once? If Mister goes to the palace, it seems like he’ll be too busy and won’t have time for us…”
“Cough! Cough! Hmm! Thinking about it carefully, you have a point! I will reconsider!”
Charlotte peeked out from behind me and pleaded.
Faced with her pitiful expression, Vanessa quickly averted her gaze and pretended to clear her throat.
Damn it, that bastard Aslan Vermont. Using the children to further his own interests.
It was so irritating that I wanted to punish him again, but when I turned around and faced the children’s faces, those harsh thoughts melted away like snow.
‘What an utterly despicable guy…’
To be raising not one but two such kind-hearted and adorable children.
How many countries did Aslan save in his past life?
When I saw the children standing beside Aslan, following him around with eyes full of admiration, I felt both love and envy, sending chills down my spine.
That said, it wasn’t as if Aslan was undeservingly blessed.
Even as sl*ves, to take in children and assume full responsibility for raising them was not a choice just anyone could make.
To treat someone he didn’t even know with such sincerity, perhaps he treasured them even more than a family of blood.
‘Wait a minute. Family…?’
At that moment, Vanessa stopped in her tracks.
Stopping in place, she recalled an unsettling possibility.
The reason that damn guy treated the children like family couldn’t be because they were going to be family someday, could it…?
Vanessa turned back with a heart full of doubt and glared at Aslan Vermont.
“Aslan Vermont. I never judge a person based on rumors, but…”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I must ask just to be sure. You’re not raising the children with the intention of eventually taking them as your partners, are you…?”
“…!?”
As Vanessa cautiously posed the question, Aslan’s pupils began to dart around aimlessly.
Meanwhile, Charlotte and Julia swallowed hard, waiting for his answer, their eyes fixed on his lips.
‘Her Majesty said “children”, so of course he’ll answer no, right? He’s only interested in Julia…’
It was clear that the only person Aslan wanted to be engaged to was Julia.
Not me…
She mustn’t feel regret.
She made a promise long ago to make Julia a countess.
In order to alleviate her disappointment, Charlotte whispered to herself as if to hypnotize herself, preparing for the shock.
‘Is it true? No matter how I think about it, it’s just the maids and people around us making a fuss; Aslan doesn’t seem to have any interest in marrying us… If he has any interest, it seems to be much more towards Yuri…’
On the other hand, Julia felt her heart racing wildly.
The maids and Charlotte always said that Aslan was eagerly preparing to get engaged to her, but that was merely a wishful thought; she knew that Aslan treated them with pure intentions.
Aslan probably had no interest in marriage at all…
She had believed that all along, and she thought she had long abandoned any expectations.
Yet, Julia’s heart began to flutter at the thought that perhaps Aslan might give an unexpected answer.
‘If he answers, he’s dead.’
And Aslan recognized that he was in the most critical situation of his life. He could sense the subtle killing intent emanating from the Empress Sister.
What would happen if he told the truth?
He would probably die.
What if he lied?
He would likely be found out and then die.
It was a dilemma.
However, keeping silent wouldn’t help either.
Silence would imply agreement.
He had something to feel guilty about, so avoiding the question would only make it seem more suspicious.
So how should he respond? In a short time, Aslan’s mind raced, and he parted his lips.
He had just thought of a brilliant solution.
“That’s a good question, Your Majesty. To answer it, I must tell a story from the time I was still living in seclusion. When Vermont was still the most underdeveloped region, the most backward in the Empire…”
“…?”
As Aslan’s answer grew longer, Vanessa, who had initially listened intently, began to tilt her head in confusion.
It seemed that the Spirit King could see through his true intentions, but soon her expression clouded, making it impossible to discern her thoughts.
“…I can feel it. So that day, I bought some alcohol and went into the mansion. While opening the drinks, I thought, is this really okay? Is this all Vermont will ever be? Just as I was thinking that…”
“Enough! Just get to the point! Do you have a desire to get engaged to the children or not!?”
“Your Majesty! General Reinhardt of the Fourth Legion has arrived! He is passing through the main gate now!”
“Ahhh!”
Of all times!?
Reinhardt had to arrive at this critical moment?
Vanessa had never hated Reinhardt more than she did today.
“…I will go out to meet Reinhardt.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
With the main guest of the grand event finally arriving, it wouldn’t do to neglect this moment just to hear one answer.
Vanessa clicked her tongue in annoyance and turned around, her steps heavy with regret.
With a rush, she headed towards the main gate with her guards.
“I survived…”
“Mister, Mister! So what’s the answer? Please tell us!”
“I-I’m not that curious, but I’ll listen anyway…!”
As Charlotte and Julia clung to him and pleaded, Aslan let out a sigh of relief, feeling all his strength drain away.
He had aged ten years.
