VIVIAN
Vivian’s footsteps came to an abrupt halt.
Her heart nearly leaped out of her chest.
"..."
Vivian slowly turned around.
"...Arin."
"Yes, Miss?"
"...Run."
"...Too late." Arin said.
Vivian sighed. "I know."
Arin stepped in front of her without hesitation.
The timid maid who usually trembled before everyone suddenly bared two sharp ivory fangs. A low growl escaped her throat as her eyes narrowed protectively.
"If you wish to harm Miss..."
"...you’ll have to step over my body first."
The soldiers behind Caelan immediately raised sleek blue gunblasters, their muzzles glowing with blue energy as they pointed at Arin.
Vivian’s scalp tingled.
One shot from those things would probably turn both of them into smoke.
Caelan lifted a finger.
"Stand down."
The soldiers instantly lowered their gun Blasters.
The woman standing beside Caelan, dressed in a navy military uniform, frowned.
"Commander..."
"I said stand down."
"...Yes."
She obeyed, though her hostile gaze never left Vivian.
Caelan slowly walked closer.
Each step echoed like a hammer against Vivian’s chest.
He stopped only a few feet away.
His blue eyes shifted toward the restaurant behind her.
"Who was that man?"
Vivian blinked.
"...Who?"
"Him."
Caelan’s voice grew colder.
"The man you were dining with."
Vivian scratched her cheek.
"Oh..."
"Him."
"He..."
"My brother’s friend."
Caelan’s jaw tightened. His fists slowly clenched.
Then he pointed directly at her. He said loudly.
"You vicious woman."
"You are carrying my child..."
"...yet you went on a blind date with another man."
Silence. Complete silence. Every soldier behind him froze.
The officers exchanged terrified glances.
Did... Did the Commander just admit...
He had a child on the way?
One soldier silently lowered his head.
"Hearing such a big secret!! Please let me survive today..."
The female officer’s face darkened.
Her fingers dug into her palms as she glared at Vivian.
Vivian wanted to explain.
She opened her mouth..
But suddenly...
Her legs moved.
"...Huh?"
She hadn’t taken a step.
Yet her body walked forward on its own.
"No..."
Vivian tried stopping herself.
Her muscles refused to listen.
"What is happening?"
Another step...and another.
"No!"
Inside her mind she screamed.
Stop moving!
Her body ignored her completely.
Before everyone... She threw herself at Caelan.
Her knees hit the ground.
She wrapped both arms around his legs.
Tears streamed down her face without warning.
Even her lips betrayed her.
"Caelan..."
"I love you..."
"I love you so much..."
"I can even die for you..."
"My mother forced me to come here."
"I didn’t want to meet another man..."
Vivian’s eyes widened in horror.
I DIDN’T SAY THAT!
WHO IS TALKING?
She desperately tried to close her mouth.
Nothing worked.
"I only love you..."
"Please don’t hate me..."
The surrounding soldiers stared in complete disbelief.
The female officer’s expression turned ugly.
Caelan himself looked slightly stunned.
He had expected another one of Vivian’s schemes.
Not...This.
He bent down and grasped her wrist.
"Enough."
He pulled her to her feet.
The moment she stood...
Her arms moved again.
"No..."
She hugged him tightly.
Vivian nearly cried.
Real Vivian! Please! I’m begging you! Let me be!!!!
Fortunately...
This time her mouth remained shut.
A few seconds later, control returned to her.
Vivian immediately released him and took three hurried steps backward.
She secretly sighed in relief.
Thank goodness...
I’m back.
Caelan looked at her for a long moment.
Then his gaze slowly swept over her dress.
It exposed most of her smooth back, ending just above her waist.
The long slit revealed one pale leg whenever she moved.
His brows furrowed.
"If your mother forced you..."
"...why did you dress like this?"
Vivian blinked.
"...Eh?"
He frowned.
"You dressed beautifully."
She froze.
Beautiful?
Did he just call me beautiful?
In the novel...
Caelan only ever praised Elena.
He once described Elena as having the purest beauty in Haxia.
So...Why was he complimenting Vivian now?
Has the plot changed again?
Vivian quickly composed herself.
She lowered her head.
"Commander..."
"You already told me..."
"...that you would never marry me."
"You also said I should hide the pregnancy from my mother and my sister."
"So..."
"How could I reject the blind date?"
"If I did..."
"My mother would keep asking why."
Caelan fell silent. His eyes remained fixed on her.
Finally he spoke.
"Then..."
"I’ll keep you in my residence."
Vivian’s eyelid twitched.
"...What?"
"I’ll lock you there."
"No one will arrange blind dates for you again."
He said it so naturally...
As though imprisoning people was the most reasonable solution in the world.
Vivian forced a smile.
He’s serious...
This man really wants to lock me up.
She waved both hands.
"N..No!"
"My love for you won’t disappear even if you marry my sister."
"I already rejected the blind date."
"You can ask anyone inside."
Caelan stared at her for several silent seconds.
Then he removed his military coat.
Without warning...
He draped it across her shoulders.
Vivian blinked.
"...Commander?"
His expression remained indifferent.
"Next time..."
"Don’t wear something so revealing."
She looked down.
Revealing?
The dress only exposed her back and shoulders.
This world is surprisingly conservative...
"I’ll take you home."
Vivian immediately shook her head.
"I can’t."
"I have to report back to my mother."
Caelan’s eyes narrowed.
But after a long pause...
"...Very well."
He stepped aside.
"You may go."
Vivian bowed awkwardly.
"Thank you."
Before he changed his mind...
She grabbed Arin’s hand and hurried toward their flying car.
Only after the doors closed behind them did she finally collapse into her seat.
Her entire body went limp.
She slapped both cheeks.
"Ow..."
"What the hell was that?"
Arin hurried over.
"Miss?"
Vivian grabbed her own head.
"Who keeps controlling my body?"
"The author?"
"The original Vivian?"
"Or is this body’s love brain completely insane?"
She leaned back and groaned.
"How COULD she kneel begging him? I almost died from embarrassment...!!!"