After Putting the Slayer of the Night to Sleep, I Ran Away - Chapter 103

Marcus stared blankly at Leo for a moment, as if at a loss for words, before quickly regaining his composure.

Leo had appeared just as he was about to return empty-handed again today.

It wasn’t the situation he had hoped for, but it was something he had to face eventually.

With that thought, Marcus steeled his resolve and opened his mouth.

“I want to see Isla.”

“Why?”

“Do I need a reason to see my daughter?”

“Yes, you do.”

Leo stated firmly, adding coldly,

“Because I don’t want you to see her. So, persuasion comes first, wouldn’t you say? If you want to meet my wife, that is.”

It was an absurd reason, but Marcus couldn’t argue.

Calming himself, he replied calmly.

“I want to talk.”

“About what?”

“Do I have to say even that?”

“Yes. I’ll listen and decide.”

“…As you know, I believed Isla was my wife’s illegitimate child until now.”

“Ah, so you thought.”

Leo chuckled and replied.

“I was completely fooled too.”

“…I’ve done many wrong things to that child. So?”

“That’s laughable.”

Leo’s expression hardened coldly.

“Such a shallow denial, Duke. Wouldn’t you agree?”

“……”

“Your heart changes so much depending on whether blood is mixed or not.”

“…I’m just as bewildered by this situation.”

“That’s your problem.”

Leo’s voice clearly drew a line.

“Isla was surprised, but that’s all. What does it matter now that you’re her biological father? Don’t you think?”

“I know that much too.”

“Do you? Then do you also know that Isla was sorry to me that you’re her biological father?”

Marcus’s expression instantly stiffened.

Leo stared directly at Marcus’s face and said sharply.

“She knows. That the family that sent me to the North was Everett.”

“……”

“Ha. Thinking about it makes me angry. You broke someone else’s family without a second thought.”

Leo didn’t hide the murderous intent that was slowly rising, and took a step towards him.

“Dare you bring up the pathetic reason that you’re blood-related?”

“Kuh…”

Marcus, who directly felt the Sword Master’s murderous aura, distorted his face.

Leo barely suppressed the urge to cut his throat and spat out the words.

“You should be grateful to Isla, Duke.”

“Kuh-uk…”

“The reason you’re being allowed to live is because of that damn blood.”

Then, as Leo turned away, Marcus, who had barely caught his breath, grabbed him, coughing.

“Isla!”

“……”

“Let me see my daughter!”

Marcus, desperately shouting, fell to his knees with a thud.

“Please! Let me see her. I was wrong about everything.”

Leo’s steps slowed and then stopped abruptly.

Turning back to Marcus, he looked down at him and said.

“Fine, I’ll give you a chance.”

“……?”

“If you truly want to see Isla, come here at this time every day.”

“Every day you say?”

“Yes, every day. If Isla happens to find you and says she wants to meet you, I promise I won’t stop her then.”

“Does that mean, you won’t tell her I’ve been coming to see her?”

“Is that all you think?”

Leo added with an amused smile.

“I’m going to meticulously prevent it from happening altogether. I’m going to be thorough and precise so that Isla doesn’t pay any attention to what’s outside the window.”

“……”

“Wouldn’t it be fair for you to experience the neglect and disdain Isla has received all this time? Wouldn’t that help you understand your daughter’s heart, even just a little?”

“……”

“Don’t worry, I’m not forcing you. I, for one, hope you’ll lose interest in Isla.”

With those words, Leo turned away.

Marcus stared blankly at Leo’s retreating figure before sighing and getting to his feet.

How had he become so pathetic that he couldn’t even see his daughter’s face as he pleased?

It was so absurd that he wasn’t even angry, but he lost his words when he realized that he was the one he should be angry at.

Marcus got into the carriage, ignoring the knights who were looking at him with contempt.

For some reason, he didn’t want to open his eyes.

A few days later.

News arrived that the second task of the Crown Prince Competition had been decided.

“They want us to come up with a solution to the slums on the outskirts of the Imperial City.”

Dex said, reading the letter sent from the Imperial Palace.

“The solution must be feasible and realistic, and it must be implemented immediately after the competition is over.”

“What’s the deadline?”

“Two weeks from tomorrow. And…”

Dex paused for a moment.

“The two princes are ordered to stay in the slums for a week.”

“…Stay in the slums?”

“Yes. They say that’s the only way to truly understand the situation in the slums. It’s written that any prince who leaves the slums without permission even once during that period will be disqualified.”

“Tsk. They’ve used their heads a bit.”

Leo clicked his tongue softly.

It was obvious that it was a consideration for Edward.

He was used to camping in the middle of the forest, but it wouldn’t be easy for Edward, who had grown up pampered in the Imperial Palace.

The intention was for him to learn by seeing, hearing, and experiencing things during that week, but who knows.

Whether he’ll be able to read his father’s true intentions.

Leo clicked his tongue again, recalling Edward, who had been pale throughout the monster subjugation.

Anyway, two weeks from tomorrow.

‘Annoying.’

Putting everything else aside, he didn’t like the fact that he had to be away from Isla.

And Marcus Everett was still coming to see her.

“How are the Empress faction nobles moving?”

“Fortunately or unfortunately, their leader, Marcus Everett, is out of his mind. There’s no movement worth paying attention to.”

“What about the Empress Palace report?”

“It’ll probably come around evening. We should have some expectations since it’s a spy we managed to get in with difficulty.”

“Call me as soon as it arrives. I need to see it myself.”

With those words, Leo got up from his seat.

He felt impatient at the fact that he had to leave the mansion tomorrow.

There were many things to check and prepare, but before that, he wanted to see Isla first.

“You’re leaving tomorrow?”

Isla asked with wide eyes at Leo’s sudden words.

“That’s how it is. If I had known this would happen, I would have quit a long time ago.”

Isla opened her mouth to soothe him as he grumbled as if dissatisfied.

“But it’s the last one now.”

“Yeah. I can go back in just two weeks.”

Leo hugged Isla tighter and urged her.

“You should relax here and prepare to go back. You’ve been to the Grand City once, so you should know what’s missing and what you need. I’ll call a merchant to trade with, so order what you need. You can buy anything you want to take with you in advance.”

“Don’t worry about me. What about the night of the Supermoon? I won’t be able to sleep for two weeks.”

“It’s only two weeks. The night of the Supermoon will pass somehow.”

“Only two weeks…”

Isla frowned as if it was absurd and said with a determined expression.

“I’ll visit you often. Even if you can’t come out, I can go.”

“No. It’s a dangerous place for you.”

“Don’t try to stop me. I’m going no matter what.”

Leo couldn’t hide the smile that was spreading across his lips at Isla’s firm tone.

“I told you not to come. But I’d be happy if I could see you that way.”

He buried his face in her neck, pretending to be unable to win.

“Promise me instead. Promise me you’ll come with a lot of guards. I’ll tell Ian. Okay?”

“…I will.”

Isla’s expression softened.

She was sad that she had to be away from him from tomorrow, but she was simply happy to see him happy at her saying that she would come to see him.

Was it okay to be this happy?

“It’s strange.”

Leo’s low voice echoed in Isla’s ear as she quietly rested her cheek against his chest.

“I like you so much, Isla, that I can’t explain it.”

Isla raised her head without realizing it, and Leo’s red eyes were slowly getting closer in her sight.

“That one word, that you’ll come to see me.”

With his gaze mixed with desire and thirst,

“Makes me incredibly happy.”

And with his hot breath coming over her.

Isla felt like she was going to stop breathing as well.

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