Chapter 5
In the depths of a bottomless abyss, Aslan wandered through the labyrinth of long-forgotten memories.
“O cursed demon who tears apart my soul and seeks to take my flesh. What will you use this time to plunge me into despair?”
Creak, creak, creak, creak.
A chilling laugh echoed like tinnitus, and suddenly, the scene changed.
A grand banquet hall of the imperial palace. But it looked slightly different from the one Aslan remembered. His vision was soaked in dark red, as if blood had splattered everywhere.
Clack, clack. The rhythmic sound of high heels approached. Aslan lowered his gaze.
“Vivian of Eleonora greets Your Grace, the Archduke.”
A woman bowed her head with proper etiquette as always. And he — his past self — ignored her, as if it were routine.
Mocking laughter and hushed whispers arose from the surrounding nobles. As always, verbal arrows created by forked tongues were directed at Vivian.
She must have heard them. There’s no way she didn’t.
“……”
Her thin, fragile lashes fluttered like butterfly wings. That was her only reaction.
Had she screamed or cried, perhaps he would have felt pity for her weakness. But her eyes, which never revealed any emotion, felt detestable.
“Like a doll without emotions. Just like someone sent by the Empress.”
Unable to rule out the possibility that she was the Empress’s pawn, he had always stayed wary of her — at times publicly humiliating her.
More than anything, her very existence, Vivian Eleonora, was undeniable proof of his submission to the Empress.
He was filled with rage every time he saw her.
“How disgusting. When will she finally leave me alone?”
And yet, strangely, he couldn’t stop looking at her. Even though she was the Empress’s woman, he found himself drawn to her, beyond reason.
Days turned into months, and months into seasons.
On the third year of their engagement, Aslan finally declared their annulment.
“The position of Archduchess will never be yours. The annulment papers will arrive soon — wait quietly.”
“……”
At last, her expression changed.
In her deep, oceanic eyes, a bitter resentment brewed. Her lips were pressed tight, as if holding back sobs, and her breath trembled softly.
Blood spread across the handkerchief she clutched as she collapsed in a fit of coughing.
You will regret this day someday.
The demon’s mocking whisper echoed as the world faded to black.
Aslan was once again submerged in endless darkness.
* * *
“Don’t worry. I’ll save you — I’ll take responsibility.”
Who are you? Why can you speak to someone as monstrous and grotesque as me so easily? How can you smile like that?
Aslan’s consciousness returned after drifting through the abyss. Though his body had been overtaken by a demon, his eyes blinked open.
His vision cleared. Vivian Eleonora — that wretched woman — was right in front of him.
A thousand possibilities flashed through his mind in an instant.
He had been consumed by the curse during a battle with assassins. And when he woke, Vivian Eleonora was there. The thought was inescapable:
Did she lure me here?
That was his first suspicion.
Did she see me?
That was the next.
Did she see his true form? That the second prince, Aslan Rezef Astaroth — revered by knights and admired by nobles — was actually a hideous, monstrous beast?
But when he looked down, he realized something was off. His body was still covered in rough, shaggy fur.
Aslan realized he was still in the form of a beast.
Why is this happening…? Have I finally lost my mind?
Every time he transformed into a beast under the curse, he would lose his sense of self and all memory. But now, even in this form, he was fully conscious.
Just then—
Bang!
Vivian Eleonora began striking the iron bars with an axe.
Her face had turned deathly pale, likely due to a tuberculosis attack, yet she didn’t give up.
Finally, when the lock broke and Vivian collapsed in exhaustion, Aslan made up his mind — he had to kill her.
She had seen his monstrous form. Killing her now would be the safest course. Just one stomp on that delicate neck, and it would be over.
“……”
But why? Why couldn’t he move? It was as if something held him back.
Aslan looked down at her with a bewildered expression. Her flushed cheeks were rapidly turning pale.
His teeth clenched tightly.
Yes, I still need her. To fend off the Crown Prince’s political attacks, even if it means playing a ridiculous charade.
Heh… That’s not really why, is it?
Shut up.
He shook off the whisper ringing in his head and hoisted the unconscious Vivian onto his back.
Even in the form of a black lion, Aslan’s mind remained clear.
While hiding from the incoming storm in a cave, he observed her every move and realized something.
She doesn’t know my true identity.
She treated him like any other beast. She treated his wounds, spoke to him like to a child.
Her behavior was so natural that, without realizing, Aslan lowered his guard around her.
Now that I think of it, the lady used to enjoy taming beasts.
Before she fell ill, she loved hunting and was adept at taming the wild animals she captured.
Among them, the silver wolf she cherished most — Aslan had seen it a few times. She treated it like a beloved pet and took it everywhere.
Of course, she also used it to intimidate others — that was just a bonus.
She’s mistaken me for a normal beast. Good. At least she didn’t run off. Saves me the trouble of finding her again.
Seated at the edge of the cave, Aslan watched her movements closely.
Even though she could barely support herself due to her illness, she kept searching the cave without rest.
He couldn’t understand her.
Foolish woman.
She was constantly coughing up blood and fainting, yet she tore apart her warm dress and gave it to him — without a hint of hesitation.
She herself wore only a thin slip, trembling in the cold.
Her frail silhouette was plainly visible beneath her shoulder straps. Her limbs were long since drained of color.
I don’t want to see this.
Her emaciated, dying body.
Every time he looked at the signs of death etched into her skin, an inexplicable anger welled up inside him.
He wanted to turn away from the horror of it. It felt as if she was forcing him to etch this fragile, pitiful image of her into his memory forever.
Even though he knew it was impossible for her to do such a thing to a beast, he couldn’t help but feel irritated — as if she were doing it on purpose.
Thud—
Aslan gently nudged her to sit quietly beside him.
The moment she leaned comfortably against him, the chaos in his mind calmed. He even found himself wishing they could be a little closer.
Don’t think about it.
Turning his gaze away, Aslan looked outside at the pouring rain.
From the woman sleeping next to him came soft, peaceful breaths. He leaned his head gently against her warmth.
But the peace didn’t last.
“Did you hear something just now?”
“Where?”
Though they had hidden in a cave tucked deep into a steep ravine, the Crown Prince’s dogs had found them.
Aslan’s mind raced. What concerned him most was whether he could protect Vivian Eleonora.
She was a delicate noblewoman. And a terminally ill one at that.
Even a minor wound could kill her.
“No matter what happens, you must not kill her. Remember that—urgh!”
Cradling Vivian in his arms, Aslan glared around with deadly intent.
The command not to kill her, his fury toward Johannes, all of it — it overwhelmed his fragile grip on reason.
Before he knew it, Aslan had leapt and torn out the throat of an assassin.
A brutal, bloody battle ensued, many lives lost. But the tug-of-war of power didn’t last long.
“There’s something suspicious in the cave!”
“Something’s definitely inside. Break through!”
The enemies’ assault on the cave intensified. And Aslan, in desperation, fought even harder. He had to protect Vivian.
She must live. I need her…
But why?
Sure, her presence might make it easier to fend off the Crown Prince’s faction, but was her life more valuable than his own?
The forces he built after crawling out of hell, his hard-earned kingdom — were they worth less than the life of one noblewoman?
Aslan was confused. He didn’t understand why he was so desperate to protect her.
His mind went black.
“There’s an opening!”
The assassin didn’t miss the brief moment Aslan froze. By the time he realized it, the blade was already raised.
Damn, am I too late?
Just as Aslan clenched his jaw in anticipation of pain—
“Kyaaa!”
“Get a grip, you mutt! You wanna die here?!”
Vivian leapt in an instant, driving a dagger into the back of the assassin’s neck.
Aslan couldn’t believe his eyes.
Vivian Eleonora, wielding nothing more than a palm-sized dagger, swiftly dispatched the attacker charging at him.
Her flowing platinum hair mingled perfectly with the crimson storm. Like a war goddess cloaked in blood, she cut down enemies with ease.
That kind of skill…?
He’d never heard a word about the lady wielding a sword.
His shock lasted only a moment. Every move she made was etched into his mind like a painting.
Like a sunflower following the sun, his eyes instinctively sought her.
“You think I didn’t prepare an escape route? I’ll decide where I die. And it’s not here.”
When the cave collapsed, his heart nearly burst. But when she emerged from the rubble, twirling her dagger and smiling, her boldness left him in awe.
And then…
“I’ve prepared myself since I learned I had tuberculosis… But I didn’t want to die so lonely.”
The moment he wished to save her dying self, the black aura that had been egging him on began to fade.
The hideous, violent beast had transformed into a beautiful, alluring man.
Kneeling on one knee, Aslan gently cradled Vivian’s neck. Feeling his touch, she gave him a faint, sorrowful smile.
“So this is really… the end, huh…”
“Not yet, my lady.”
Aslan shielded her from the rain pouring down.
Brushing aside the hair clinging to her forehead, her pale face became more visible.
“Open your eyes, my lady.”
“……”
“Breathe!”
Her fading breaths terrified him. Stroking her cold skin desperately, Aslan made a decision and leaned down.
His warm breath touched her pale lips.
A faint, trembling breath escaped her.
Why is it that the more I touch you, the hungrier I become? I want to get closer — I want to feel your skin against mine. Like a ravenous beast…
What have you done to me…
Aslan tightly wrapped his arms around Vivian’s icy body.
And at last, he found his answer.
