After Putting the Slayer of the Night to Sleep, I Ran Away - Chapter 107

Ayla, imprisoned in the Imperial Palace, still clutched her trembling fingertips.

She took a deep breath and slowly closed her eyes.

‘Where did it all go wrong?’

Was it the day after she received the invitation from Friedrich?

She had run into Alexander by chance in the shopping district while out choosing a thank-you gift.

“A thank-you gift? I know the wine Friedrich likes. Perhaps this will be of assistance.”

He said he had also been invited and gladly helped her choose a gift.

He even accompanied her to a shop that occasionally sold the rare wine, albeit at a high price.

She was delighted when the shop informed them that there was only one bottle left, and she purchased it…

‘Was that the trap?’

Perhaps.

Looking back, she wondered if meeting Alexander on the street had truly been a coincidence.

It was even more suspicious that there was only one bottle left, as if he had been waiting for her.

If not that, she couldn’t rule out the possibility that the wine glass the maid had brought was the problem.

Of course, the glass was already broken, so it was useless to think about it now…

‘Is His Majesty alright?’

The Emperor had drunk the wine she had gifted him, and collapsed before her eyes, vomiting blood.

She had frozen at the unbelievable sight, and then Alexander had shouted, “Imprison her!”

She was bewildered.

And terrified.

She had become an Emperor-assassin in an instant, but she was able to regain her senses thanks to Ian and the Grey Wolf Knights, who had rushed to save her.

“His Highness has forbidden it. Anyone who lays a hand on her will be considered an enemy.”

Ian and the knights, swords drawn against the Imperial Knights, had awakened her.

The thought that this couldn’t be allowed to happen dominated her.

Ayla had to stop Ian and the knights.

“Stand down. In this situation, even I would suspect myself.”

“But Your Highness!”

“What good will it do if something happens to you as well? How could I face His Majesty then?”

And so, she had turned Ian and the knights away.

Ian, with a resentful expression, watched her being imprisoned, and whispered to her as she passed him, as if making a vow.

“Just hold on a little longer. I will definitely save you.”

In that moment, Ayla realized.

That Leo would move if things continued this way.

She turned back to Ian urgently, her lips moving with a firm tone.

“Squad Leader. Tell His Highness never to act emotionally. Do you understand?”

“But Your Highness.”

“Promise me.”

A chilling sensation ran down her spine.

She hoped it wasn’t true, but she had a feeling that this whole thing might be a trap for Leo.

If that was the case, she couldn’t just sit idly by.

‘I absolutely cannot become a burden to him.’

She had to think.

Why this had happened, and what they wanted to achieve with it.

Only then could she respond.

“Tell me again. What exactly happened?”

Leo’s voice was chillingly sharp.

“The Emperor was poisoned… Ha. And imprisoned, you say.”

“It is the truth, confirmed with my own eyes. His Majesty vomited blood after drinking the wine Your Highness gifted him… Your Highness has been imprisoned.”

“This is insane.”

“We were prepared to fight the Imperial Family, but Your Highness stopped us. And told us to rush to Your Highness and tell you not to react emotionally…”

Leo clenched the document in his hand as if he would crush it.

He wanted to rush there immediately.

To retrieve the imprisoned Ayla, and to check on his fallen father.

But her judgment was correct.

Going there without any preparation would only put them at a disadvantage.

“They’re playing an obvious game.”

The mastermind was obvious.

The Empress, terrified of losing the Crown Prince position to him.

And one more person.

‘Uncle…’

Leo bit down on his lower lip until it bled.

The betrayal of Alexander, who had always been a kind uncle to him, even though they didn’t meet often, was truly heartbreaking.

“In the end, it’s all about blood.”

It was clear that he was trying to strike down his father and use Ayla to get rid of him, all to protect his son’s position.

There was no other reason he would do something like this.

He regretted it.

He should have planted familiars in the Empress’s palace, as Jade had suggested.

What did it matter if he took the lives of a few animals, that he had hesitated and created this mess?

He felt pathetic and wanted to go crazy.

Dex, hearing Leo’s muttering, frowned and asked.

“What are you talking about? In the end, it’s all about blood?”

“Edward is the Empress and Uncle’s son.”

“What?”

“That damn father of mine. To hold some kind of competition because of a guy who isn’t even his son…”

Resentment welled up inside him.

His father clearly didn’t know.

If he had known that Edward wasn’t his son, he wouldn’t have suggested this competition to him.

Then something like being poisoned and collapsing wouldn’t have happened…

“Good heavens. Those crazy bastards. How could they hide something like that…”

Dex’s shocked muttering reached his ears.

“Hey, then isn’t this a real rebellion? It looks like the Empress is determined to get rid of you…”

“Don’t make me laugh. Who’s getting rid of who?”

He wasn’t afraid of the Empress.

Honestly, if it weren’t for his father’s country, he would have wiped out all the Empress’s faction nobles in the first place.

“It’s best to get out of here, Leo.”

“I think so too, Commander. The Imperial Knights could arrive at any moment.”

Leo, who had been thinking for a moment at Ian’s words, ordered.

“Go and bring Edward here.”

“The Second Prince?”

“They laid a hand on Ayla, didn’t they? I should have a hostage too, to balance things out.”

Leo’s expression as he said he would take Edward hostage was beyond anger, it was pure coldness.

“I’ll bring him right away.”

Ian, understanding Leo’s intentions, immediately moved out with the knights.

Dex, seeing him silent as if lost in thought, asked.

“What are you going to do?”

“I have to think about it now.”

Leo laughed, low and deep.

“How to pay them back in a way that will be truly satisfying.”

“Haa! This is really absurd.”

Dex clicked his tongue and scratched the back of his head roughly.

“To dare to touch a guy who had barely become docile.”

The one he was worried about wasn’t Leo.

“Are they really crazy?”

“Stand aside.”

At Alexander’s cold voice, the knights guarding the door quietly retreated.

With Friedrich unconscious, he was taking control of the chaotic palace, using his status as a former Crown Prince and member of the Imperial Family.

Alexander, with an expressionless face, slowly entered the room and found Ayla standing on the balcony, gazing outside.

He nonchalantly passed her as she slowly turned around at his appearance, and sat down at the table.

“Sit.”

At the brief command, Ayla slowly walked away from the balcony and took a seat opposite him.

It had been a full day since Friedrich had collapsed, vomiting blood.

In that one day, Ayla’s atmosphere had completely changed.

“Ayla.”

Her eyes were filled with layers of distrust, resentment, reproach, and blame.

Alexander forced himself to ignore the discomfort he felt from that gaze and continued.

“I will give you a chance.”

“…A chance, you say.”

“Yes.”

“That’s strange. I thought an investigation would come first.”

Ayla continued calmly.

“Does the absence of an investigation mean that you already know the truth about this matter, Alexander?”

At her words that hit the nail on the head, Alexander’s lips tightened.

A look of anguish briefly crossed his face.

But as if he had quickly made up his mind, he sighed and opened his mouth again.

“I know there was nothing wrong with the wine you brought. But it is a fact that Friedrich collapsed, and everyone present saw that scene.”

“Is His Majesty, alright?”

At her question, which sought to confirm Friedrich’s well-being first, Alexander swallowed a low groan.

“…He will not die.”

Keeping Friedrich alive.

That was the last line Alexander had decided to protect.

All members of the Imperial Family developed resistance to various poisons from a young age.

Tatiana had overlooked that fact, and Alexander had not bothered to correct her mistake.

Thanks to that, Friedrich would not die, but he would also not recover enough to become Emperor again.

It was a decision made for Edward, but he didn’t want to kill his brother.

Long ago, he had relinquished the Crown Prince position as if fleeing from the nobles’ strong demands to weaken the imperial power.

Friedrich his brother had taken on his burden instead.

Even losing the woman and son he loved.

Alexander closed his eyes tightly and then opened them.

After everything was over, he intended to take good care of Friedrich.

Above all, now was not the time to weaken his resolve with old memories.

“The trial will be held in a few days.”

He bluntly got to the point.

“At that trial, testify that it was all Leo’s doing.”

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