"Hah. Anyone who sees this would think that guy is the protagonist of the banquet."

From the upper seat where the banquet hall was visible at a glance,
Vanessa rested her chin on her hand and looked down, wearing an uncontrollable smile.
In the banquet hall, the sight of Aslan, like a shepherd, leading the crowd was unfolding before her eyes.

That damn guy.
This wasn’t a ball; it was the welcoming event for the 4th Legion Commander.
Yet, before the event even started, he was already acting like the protagonist?

Was he completely losing his mind,
Or was he recklessly acting like that because he trusted me?
Just then, it seemed that Aslan had grown overly cocky.

‘Ah. Neither of those.’

I could sense Aslan’s desperate gaze from the upper seat.
His eyelids blinked rapidly, almost as if pleading for help.
It seemed that gathering the crowd wasn’t part of Aslan’s plan.

"I guess it’s time to go down."
"Yes, Your Majesty."

How could Vanessa ignore such an urgent plea from her subordinate?
She uncrossed her legs and slowly rose.
At that, the guards hiding in the shadows rushed out and surrounded her from all sides.

‘They usually maintain more distance when guarding, but now they’re in such a rush...’

Did they feel a sense of danger upon hearing that a secret guard had been hired?
The guards were clearly on high alert, much more than usual.
Although this wasn’t exactly unwelcome news.
The best-case scenario was that Aslan Vermont would not need to step in as a secret guard and the situation would resolve itself on its own.

I didn’t want to owe him anything again.
Last time, I had to give up the location of neodymium as a condition for debt relief—who knows what he’ll ask for next?
Sometimes, his expression was so sly that I worried he might demand the title of Duke as a condition next.

"What is this commotion?"
"Y-your Majesty…!"
"Everyone, maintain your dignity. The hearing for Count Vermont can wait until later. Please calm down."
"Yes, Your Majesty."

At Vanessa’s words, the nobles, who had been trying to engage Aslan in conversation, immediately turned around.
As soon as the command was given, they scattered in all directions, dispersing.

Finally, Aslan let out a relieved sigh and wiped the cold sweat from his face.

"I’ve rejected more than thirty marriage proposals, but they kept pestering me, asking why I rejected them. That’s what caused this ruckus. Thanks to Your Majesty’s joke, I nearly lost my life."
"A joke? Oh, you’re referring to the hearing. If that’s the case, it wasn’t a joke but a serious matter. Just know that for now."
"…?"

Facing Vanessa’s smile, Aslan’s expression stiffened.
Was the mention of the hearing not just a lie to scatter the nobles?
Being summoned to a hearing meant one thing—appointment to a government position.
For someone like Aslan, who knew how officials at the palace arrived at their posts, this was an unexpected and shocking announcement.

"Your Majesty, please reconsider."
"Heh, heh. You’ve sucked up all the honey from my side, and now you don’t want to work? Have you no shame?"
"That’s not it! As a servant like me, I can do more outside the palace than inside. Please, make a wise choice."
"Hmm. If I let you go, you might escape at the first chance you get."
"…"

Aslan froze under Vanessa’s sharp gaze.
It would be a lie to say he had never thought about running away, but he prided himself on his loyalty, which only led to the feeling of unfairness.

"You know I wouldn’t run away. Please, just once, forgive me…"
"Forgive you? I’m trying to bring you into the palace because I value your skills, not to forgive you. Just wait quietly for the good news."
"Your Majesty… Please, can you just let me go? If you take me into the palace, you’ll be busy and we’ll have less time together…*"

"Ugh! Ugh! Heh, you might have a point! I’ll reconsider!"

Charlotte, peeking her head out from behind me, begged.
Vanessa, facing her pitiful expression, quickly turned her head and pretended to clear her throat.

Damn, Aslan Vermont, that damn guy.
He was using the children to his advantage, trying to further his own benefit.
It was infuriating, but when I turned to face the children’s faces, that cruel thought melted away like snow.

‘What an infuriating guy…’

He raised two such kind and adorable children.
How many countries did Aslan save in his past life to deserve such a fate?
Whenever I saw those children standing beside Aslan, gazing at him with admiring eyes,
I truly felt a shiver run down my spine, both out of admiration and envy.

But that didn’t mean Aslan had been unfairly blessed.
It wasn’t an easy choice to take in children as a slave, fully responsible for them within the family.
To treat strangers with such care—it seemed he might value them even more than a blood-related family.

‘Wait… family?’

At that moment, Vanessa’s steps halted.
She stopped and, realizing something strange, looked back.
Could it be that Aslan treated the children like family because they were going to become family?

Shaken, Vanessa turned around to face Aslan Vermont.
"Aslan Vermont. I don’t judge people based on rumors, but…"
"Yes, Your Majesty?"
"I must ask. The reason you’re raising the children, is it possible that you intend to marry them in the future?"
"…!?"

Vanessa carefully asked the question.
Aslan’s pupils wildly darted, and his eyes lost focus.
At the same time, Charlotte and Yulia swallowed nervously, their eyes fixed on Aslan’s lips, waiting for a response.

"Your Majesty said 'children,' so naturally, he’ll say no, right? He’s only interested in Yulia, not me..."

It was obvious Aslan was only interested in Yulia for marriage.
Not me…
I shouldn’t be disappointed.
I had already decided to make Yulia my Countess long ago.

Charlotte whispered to herself, trying to convince herself and prepare for the worst.

‘Is it really true? I’ve always thought he was more interested in Yuria than us…’

Meanwhile, Yulia felt her heart racing.
Charlotte and the maids always said Aslan was determined to marry me,
But I knew Aslan treated us with pure intentions.
I thought he wasn’t interested in marriage at all, and I had long since given up on any expectations.
Yet, a small part of me couldn’t help but feel a flutter in my chest, wondering if Aslan might give an unexpected answer.

‘If he answers, I’m dead.’

And Aslan, realizing he was in a life-or-death situation,
Could almost feel the subtle bloodlust emanating from the Emperor’s sister.
If he told the truth now, he would probably die.
If he lied, he would be caught and die anyway.

It was a catch-22.
But would keeping silent help?
No, silence would be interpreted as agreement.
He had no choice but to answer, though any answer would spell his doom.

In a brief moment, Aslan came to a quick decision, opening his mouth.
He had just thought of a way out.

"Good question, Your Majesty. To answer that, I must tell you about my life back when I was in hiding. Back when Vermont was still the most backward and isolated region in the Empire..."

"…?"

As Aslan’s response dragged on,
Vanessa’s head tilted in confusion.
At first, she listened attentively, but soon her expression became clouded, unable to grasp his intentions.

He kept talking without any sign of ending,
And just as Vanessa was about to lose her temper,
"…This is what I felt. So that day, I went to buy alcohol and entered the mansion. I thought to myself: is this really enough? Is Vermont going to remain just this land…?"

"Enough! Get to the point! Do you want to marry the children or not!?"
"Your Majesty! Count Reinhardt from the 4th Legion has arrived! He is now passing through the main gate!"
"What!?"

At this moment!?
Reinhardt arriving at this critical moment?
Vanessa had never hated Reinhardt more than she did right now.

"I’ll go to meet Reinhardt."
"Yes, Your Majesty."

The guest of honor, arriving for the grand event, couldn’t be neglected for the sake of one conversation.
Vanessa clicked her tongue in frustration and turned, her steps heavy with reluctance.

"I’m saved..."

"Uncle, uncle! So, what’s the answer? Please tell us!"
"I’m not really that curious, but… I’ll listen for now! …"

While Charlotte and Yulia begged,
Aslan let out a sigh of relief, feeling his tension evaporate.
He had narrowly escaped with his life.