After Putting the Slayer of the Night to Sleep, I Ran Away - Chapter 100

Leo languidly rose and leaned against the headboard.

Turning his head, he saw Isla, who had pulled the blanket over herself, peeking out and looking up at him.

Leo asked with a chuckle in his voice.

“Aren’t you hungry?”

“I’m hungry. I don’t even have the strength to move.”

He chuckled sheepishly at Isla’s whining, and stroked her hair.

“Rest. I’ll have the meal prepared here.”

“Here?”

Isla’s eyes widened at his words.

“That’s a bit embarrassing.”

“Embarrassing?”

“Well, it’s long past the time to get up. They’ll think it’s strange.”

Leo smiled, raising the corner of his lips at Isla’s small voice.

“What does it matter? They probably know what we were doing anyway.”

“Ugh! If only I had held back this morning…!”

Leo tucked Isla’s hair behind her ear and silenced her lips with his own.

Then, as if finally satisfied, he pulled away and leisurely got out of bed.

“Then I’ll have the meal prepared in the drawing room.”

Leo said soothingly, gesturing towards the door leading to the drawing room next to the bedroom.

“Do you need anything? I’ll bring it to you.”

“…Water. Cold water.”

“Cold water? I’ll get it right away.”

He grabbed a robe, slipped his arms through the sleeves, roughly tied the belt, and turned back to her with a soft smile before leaving the room.

Naturally smiling at his tenderness, Isla sluggishly got out of bed and adjusted her clothes while he left the bedroom.

“W-what is this?”

Isla screamed as she inadvertently looked in the mirror.

Red marks bloomed like scattered flowers on her white skin.

The memories of last night flooded back, and her face flushed.

As Isla fanned herself with her hand, Leo returned with a tray holding a glass of cold water, and she fastened her robe up to her chin.

Leo, watching her actions, placed the tray on the table and chuckled as he approached.

“…Do you think that will hide it?”

Isla glanced at him through the mirror as he wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, and her face turned red.

Seeing herself embraced by him in the mirror made her heart flutter in a different way.

Hiding her excitement, she pouted.

“How could you do this to me? What will people say if they see?”

“Why worry about that? Is there anyone in this mansion, in this room, who doesn’t know what happened? They all know anyway.”

“Do you have to say it like that?”

Leo ignored her small protest. He simply smiled and took her wrist.

“Let’s go. Let’s fill our stomachs first.”

Opening the door to the drawing room, they saw a table set with food.

Freshly baked bread and warm soup. All kinds of fruits and desserts that Isla liked.

As if they had been prepared to be brought in at any moment, the table was quickly set, and Isla carefully sat down on the chair he pulled out for her, feeling a little embarrassed and a little excited.

“Looks delicious…”

Seeing the well-prepared food, Isla suddenly felt a surge of hunger and began to eat voraciously.

Leo, who was sitting across from her and eating, watched her with a pleased expression, then rested his chin on one hand and said affectionately.

“Eat a lot, and rest in the room.”

“What about you?”

“I’m going out for a while.”

Isla’s hand slowed at his words.

She had hoped to be with him, at least today.

Feeling a sudden wave of disappointment, she said in a disgruntled voice.

“Do you have to go?”

“Wouldn’t it be better?”

Seeing her frown at his ambiguous reply, Leo slowly raised the corner of his lips.

“I think you’re going to collapse if we keep being together.”

“…Huh?”

“It’s good to rest, Isla. And I need to be gone for you to do that, right?”

Isla’s face flushed as she finally understood what he was saying.

“…I mean. You should be a little more moderate.”

“You’re making a difficult request.”

He clicked his tongue and laughed.

“As you know, my self-control isn’t very good. You don’t think I held you too greedily last night, do you?”

Isla read the desire in his eyes as he looked directly at her.

As if he would pick her up and head to the bed right away. No, as if he would pounce on her right here, she closed her eyes tightly and shouted.

“Okay…!”

“…I’m glad you understand.”

Leo, who seemed to be smacking his lips, continued his meal.

In the atmosphere that had barely eased, Isla, who had even eaten fruit for dessert, cautiously asked while watching him.

“Can I ask you something?”

“What is it?”

“It’s not that important. I was just wondering how long we’ll be staying in the Imperial Capital.”

“…?”

He put down his fork and knife and asked.

“Do you want to leave soon?”

“No, it’s not that. I was just thinking about the two days we stayed at the Grand Duke’s castle. When we leave here, that’s home, right.”

Isla suddenly thought of the man she had met in the tower.

“Come to think of it. I met a man at the Grand Duke’s castle.”

“A man?”

Leo’s brow furrowed.

“In the small spire in the back garden. He had black hair like you, and long hair down to his waist. Do you know who he is?”

Leo’s expression became serious as she tilted her head and asked.

“That castle has been empty for decades. There’s no way anyone else could be there besides us.”

“He said he hadn’t been there in a long time either. He seemed to be a mage.”

“A mage?”

Leo’s already serious expression became even more serious.

Only a very small number of people could become mages, and most of them were eccentric people who stayed cooped up in the magic towers they had built and rarely came out.

“Yes. It was strange. I just followed the night, but hot tea was prepared as if he knew someone was coming. It was strange that there was such a space inside the tower. When I came out of that space and looked back, everything had disappeared like a mirage. I thought I had dreamed it?”

“Isla. Why didn’t you tell me about that right away?”

Isla blinked at Leo’s worried rebuke.

Come to think of it, why didn’t she tell him right away?

“I… I didn’t think about it.”

Ah. He came out while taking a bath.

“W-well, you were sick then. And we were busy coming down to the Imperial Capital the next day.”

“You should have told me anyway. Did anything bad happen?”

“He didn’t seem like a suspicious person. He was so natural, as if it were his own home. Oh, he said he had a long relationship with the owner of the Grand Duke’s castle.”

“A long relationship?”

“Yes. He definitely said that. He said he came because he was thinking of that child that day…”

Isla clapped her hands as she recalled.

“Come to think of it, I heard his name. It was a familiar name, but what was it, Artien…?”

“Artien?”

“Yes. That was the name. Do you know who he is?”

Leo shook his head from side to side in front of Isla’s curious eyes.

“I don’t know. It’s a common name in the North…”

“Ah!”

“Anyway, tell me everything right away from now on, even if it’s trivial. And don’t go around alone before that. What the hell was Ian doing?”

“Don’t blame the squad leader. I went out to the garden on my own.”

“You did a great job. Huh? Not knowing how dangerous the world is.”

“It was inside the Grand Duke’s castle, though.”

“That Grand Duke’s castle isn’t ready yet. I’ll have to strengthen security while we’re in the Imperial Capital.”

Leo muttered to himself before returning to the main point.

“Going back to the North. Can you wait a little longer?”

“I don’t mind.”

“His Majesty! It’s because of my father.”

“His Majesty told you not to go?”

Leo smiled bitterly at Isla’s question.

“He’s not the kind of person who would say that. He doesn’t think you deserve it.”

“……”

“I promised to participate in the Crown Prince Competition to get permission for this marriage. It was only until the second competition, and then I said I would return to the North.”

“Ah, so that’s why you’re in the competition. I didn’t know. I thought there was a reason, but I didn’t think it was because of me.”

“It’s not because of you. It was entirely my choice. I was going to quit the competition and go back because of this incident.”

Leo covered her hand as if seeking her consent and continued.

“I feel uneasy leaving like this.”

He had gone to the Empress and warned her, but he didn’t think that was enough.

Even if he went back, he wanted to go back with a clear mind.

He was sorry to Isla…

Then, Isla smiled softly as she took his hand and held it.

“Let’s do that. Stay until you feel relieved, I’m okay with it.”

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